iiiv> ^oAavaaniv'* 'JJUDNVSOl^^ v/ia]AINn3rtV' ^OAMvaaniv^ ^<9Aava8iii^^ -^J^lJOWSOl^ ^1 ■Wr- ^jclOSANCEl/ \INn-3Wv ANCElfj> \mi^ ^0FCAIIF0% ^OFCAIIFO/?)^ S ^OAavaani^"^ CO o u_ vvlOSANCElfj,. o "^^/saaAiNiiawv^ ^lllBBARYQf^ ,jFCA1IF0R)^ ^OAavaan-i^ ? '% ^WE■UNIVER% -'% m ^5 i ^ < m SO 4? ,^V\EIINIVER% dO>' %0dnV3JO^ ^JJlDNVSOl^ "^adAINnJViV^ ^.JOJIIVJJO'^ ^tfOJllVJJO'^ %13DWS01^ ii<^ •^CAavaaiH'^^ -^ .^WEUNIVERS/A • ^OFCAIIFO% .^OFCALIF0% J^^/iaaAiNiiJiV^ "^OAavaani^ .. . != •^OAavaaiii^ ,^WEUNIVERy/A ^.^IIIBRARYO/^ "^^/yaBAINfldttV** so RV/, ^lOSANCElij-^ o ^ ^OFCAllFOff^ ^OFCAllFOff^ ,^WEUNIVERJ/,. J,- ^^lOSANCElfj-^ \iNii3WV^ '^''CAavaaiii'*^ '^OAavaani^ "^xjijowsoi^ ^ - I ^OFCAllFO/2^ •jo>- '% ^\^ElJNIV[Rj'/A ^ ^. ^^OJIIVJJO^ "%a3AiNn3WV^ -v^^lllBRARYQ^ ^^IIIBRARYO/: •i3 1 I /-^ ^ '%0J11V3J0>- '^.i/OJIlVJJO'^ .^MEUNIVERJ/A ^TiHDWSOl^ .^WE•L'NIVERVA vj^lOSANCElfXx HN^" ^aAavaaii-3^'^ ^tjijdnvsoi^ %a3AiNii]W^ ^OFCAUFOR^ ^OFCAllFOff^ '^AavaaiH^ ^OAavaain^' .\WEUNIVER5-/A >- o ;R% ^lOSA»ICElfj> <;^IHBRARY0^ ^lllBRARYd//^ ^W^EUNIVERVa ^lOSANCE[fj> ^ILIBRARYO/r l(e^l WHiWdi il^liret:! iJU^i \UVUUII 3* ^-•rtU f UUII J* "J IJJIII JUI •OUJ/ 111*11 Jl* <^/\\j vuuii :i* ^'/vuTuuii a» EUNIVERJ/A ^ILIBRARYO^ IJONVSOl^ v'AS3MNIl]V\v ^aOJIlV3JO>' '^' -^^tllBRARY^?^ ^5.WEl)NIVERJ/^ ^lOSAN'CElfj> . ^ o "^ASJMNnJVW^ o ^lOSANCEtfj> ^OFCAllFOff^ ^0FCA1IF0% .^WEUNIVERy/A ^lOSANCELfj> o u. ^OAavaan# ^CAavaani'^ "^jjuonvsoi^ ^ajAiNnjwv' LIBRARYO/:^ ^;J\l•llBRARY<9/: aMEUNIVERJ/a >i^lOSv\NCElfjVj. DO > -.- -I ^^ILlBRARYQr^ ^>^tllBRARYQ^ I —: ce ^aOJIlVJJO'^ ^OJIIVJJO"?' F-CAllFOfl'^ ^OFCAIIFO/?^ (.avaaii-^^ ^(?Aavaaii-#- .^MEUNIVERVa ■ o %a3AINn3WV ^OFCAllFOfti^ ^0FCAIIF0%, ^OAavaaii-^^"^ ^OAavaan-^' f ^„ Et)NIVERS/A o IJDNVSOl^ vj,clOSANCElfj> "^Aa^AINdirtV ^;^l•llBRARYO/^ ^tUBRARYdV ^^OdllVDJO'^ ^\WEUNIVERS/A ^lOSANCflfj> o ^xiijwsoi^ %a]AiNii3WV^ %oim EUNIVERS/A ^lOSANCElfjv o J' IJDNVSOI^ ^OFCAllFOff^ j^OFCAllF0fi>^ %a]AiN(i]WV ^OAHvaaiii^'^ ^OAavaan-^v^- .^WEUNIVERVa ^lOSANCElfj> o "^AadAINHJWV^ 4s> on OJIIVJJO FCAIIFOP^, ^,^^MIBRARYQ^ ^ — 1^ _j^OFCAllFOff^ , \WE LNIVERy/A ^vlOSANCflfj> mmni"^ ^^AavaaiH^"^ ^tjudnvsoi^ '^/sadAiNinviv' ^5^l•lIBRARY<9/^ A^lllBRARYQr ^OFCAIIFOS"^ %JllVJdO'f^ ^OFC § ^CAavaaiii^ ^CAavaaiii^ 1EUNIVERJ/4 .VlOS,\NC[lfj^ ^MlBRARYQr^ -^lUBRARYOc, -^1 1(^1 iJuiTi ijuni >- < ^\«•L'NIVERJ/A ^lOS/VNCElfj-^ y^ — -^ \\1L till * LnO//^ .;Nj<^'^-* '^^"l^tj^ ^;i;\»- UPIUMI I '^ i,^;^>^ ^yy^^^n^ ^ ^^^^.^^ /VJy^^i. {y^^^^Ti^ / , y^yiP ci-^7 ^^'^%^-7,::^^^.^->^ A^^^^^^^y^/^/:;^z'7 c^^y .^^-(iV A. ^ y^^*yryhyi^ \^y^^^^'^ Q^t-.'^/t^ .^/^^^/C vi5^.'. ' ^^^^^ t^ <■< \ ^x 0i^c^ ^^ g^i-^ .^^y^-^ ^y^^,>^ J yyy^ z / < << ^"t ^^jL^' «/> x^ -.^•:^ y^^"'^ m i^ ^""^^^ j(i '■^^^. ^ ^A ^^^ k^ THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES, CAIXED GENESIS. lie, or Rook, for so Bible signities. NVc cull it tht- Rook by w.iy ofctninoucy ; for it is in- r was writti'ii, the Book of Books, sinning like ilie sun in tlic (iiiiiiiment ol k'iirnJDo ; other s, borrowing their light from it. Wc call it the Holy Book, because it was written bv holv Wchavc now bofon- us, 1. The Holy Bible comparably, the best Book that ever valuable books, like the moon and stars, ,, ., ... ._ „ men, indited by the Holy Ghost, it is perfectly pure from all falsehood, at\<\ corrupt iolention, and the inanilest leudencv of it i^ to promote liDliiicss among men. 2. \Vc have before us that part of the Bible which wccall the Old Testament, containing the nets and monuments of the Church from- the creation, almost to llie coming of Christ in the (lesh, which was about four thousand years. This is called a Testament or Covenant, because it was a settled declaration of the will of dod concerning man in a lederal way, and had its t'orce I'rom the death of the great Testator, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It is called the Old Tr:,tamcnt with relation to the Ncv*-, which doth not cancel and supercede it, but crown and [lerfect it, by bringing in that better hope which was typified and foretold in it. The Old Testament still remains gloti nHA. .b ut (he New exceeds in glory, '^ Cor. iii. C). 3. NVi-havi- bi'fore Us tlie Pentateuch, or live brtSSnjf Moses, that servant of the Ix>rd who cxcelhd all other prophets. In our Saviour's . Of the firmament, the second day, (i-S. Of the sea, the earth, and its iVuils, llie third day, <)..lj. Of the lights of heaven, the fourth day, J+..l<). Ofthellshand fowl, the (iftli ,lav, ':()••■:). Of tin beasts, 24, 'Jj. Of man, iJti'-JS, And food lor both, the sisth d.iy, 29, 30. III. The review and approbation of the whole work, ;!l. I \ itic bcsinnins; God rrcated the heaven and the cartli. 2 And the earth was without forni, and ClIAl'. I. 1. It is the visible part of the civaliun that .Moses here desipns to iiccimnt for, iheiefore he mentions imt the crea- tion of angels but as the earth has not oidy its surface adorned with'grass and llowers, but its bowels eniiched with metals and precious stoms, which partake more of its solid nature, and are more valuable, yet llje crention of them M not mentioned here; so the heav U GENESIS? mcnt in the midst of the waters, and let it di- vide the waters tVoni the waters. 7 And Clod niadrthe iirnian)ent ; and di- vided the waters whieh uc/r luuUr tlie tir- mament, from the waters wiiieh zcere above the hrniament ; and it was so. 8 And (jod ealled the firmament Heaven : and the evening and the morning were the second (hiy. 9 ^ And (Jod said,, I-et tlie waters nncU^r the heaven h(' gatheM'ed together niito one j)hice, andk't the dry /iiikI appear: and it was so. 10 And (iod ealled the (hv hind Earth, and tliegatiiering together oltiie waters eall- ed he seas ; and God saw that it reus good. 11 And God said, T.et tluM^arth bring forth erass, the lierb yiekling si-ed, ««<^/ the frnit tree yielding iruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth : ;ind it was so. 12 And the earth bnnight forth grass, aiu/ lierb yielding seed atter his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, wjiose seed uas in itself, alter liis kind : and God saw that it uas good. ii;;lil lliis wmld out of confusion, nnpliiicss, and darkm-ss, tan brini; our Mil- Imdirs oul of llic j;niM-, ilioui;li it lif llii- land uf darkiiisi, ami w illiout orilir, and niaki- tlicni {^lorions bullies. 3"5. A furtlur account of tlif first days work. 'I'lie first fif all visible liein;: llial (iod cri'ated, was liylit ; not tliat he liiinself niii;lit sec to work, for llie d.-irkness and tin- Imlit are bolli alike tci liini. but that we nii^lit si-e his work and Ins (jlory in them, and niii;lit vork our works while it is day. Li;4ht is the pnatest beauty and blesimi; of the uni\erse. It doth, of all visible bein^, most re-. wmble its ureal parent in purity, bii;;hlness, and beneficence. Jli the new creation, the fiist ifiinj! wrought in the soul is lii^lit. The blisscd spirit captivates the will and alfections by enlli;lilenin:; the luideistandin;;. We that by sin wi'fe darkness, by i; race uie light in the Lord. I,ij;htwas made by the wurd of (i'xi's power, 1 !e said, let there !)<■ light. and there was liiht. I le spake, :in- -8. 'riie'seC(.'.id day s work, the cm'ation of the lirmament. The llebrtw word sii;nitiese.\i)ansion, like a sheet spread, or a cur lain ilrawn out 'I'liis includes all that is visible above the earth, betwix'U it, and tin' third heavens ; the air, the celestial ^lobe, and all the orbs of li^dit abow. (.Iod hath in the fninament chambers, store eliambers, wlu-re he watereth the earth, I'sal. civ. 13, and l.wi. ;), IC. He hath also treasures or magazines of snow anr lij^lit to ruk; the day, and the lesser light to ride the night ; he made tiic stars also. 17 AndGod set them in the firmament of the heaven, to give light u[)on the earth. 18 And to rule over tluuhiy, and over tlie night, and to divide the light from the dark- ness ; and God saw that // u^.v good. 10 And the evenintr and the morning were the fourth day. 20 , hIidh- Imlk mid striMi^lli c\ci'< 'liiij; ln;'t til' any uil.i'i- aiiiiniil, air n maikalili- [irndls ' poui'i ami ciiuincbs cjld.u Civatur. I'li'' cuiiinis loiiniith'ii uT tlir lj"llciici' llir nLi- icctions oC iiiliili Is, but lo raise lii^h tliouj^lits, and li i^li iiriiisc^ ol ( iod ill piiilis iiiid devout SouK. •J<)..'J8. Mum's triatlon was a more sif;iial act nl" ili\iiic \«i-di>iil and |i(i\vor tliaii tliat id' oilier (realliris. I'li'sli aiu! spiiit, heaven and larlli, iniijt be pul loiietlief in liiiii, xnd lie must be allied to bulb uiirld> ; tliereluie (Iml Iiiiiim It not oiiI\ nnderlakes to make, but is pb ased so lo eNpiess biinsell iis if be called a counsel to Consider ul tlie inakini; ol liiiii : ibe tlirei ] ernoiis of tlic 'I'rinilv, Kalber, Son, and Holy Gliost, (vn^ill about il, and c errors in iiis know- led|;e ; Ills will complied readily and universally with tlie will III God : liis iilleclions were all regular, and he had no Mior- ilinate appetites or passions. 'I'hus holy, thus happy were our first paienls, in haviiia the iniane of God upon llieni. But liiiw arr llioii fallen, O Lucifer, Son of the iiioriiinj; ! Itow is this iyiai;e of God upon man delacej ! The l/iid renew it oil .lur souls by Ins saiictifyi indebted, how careful should we be, us we live on God's bounl), lo Ini ..» I. IS t'oiy ! , au». Food IS provided for beast. God tak« cnre not only ft GENESIS. ed from all his work, which God created/ 10 And a river went out of Eden to water und made 4 f 'J'liesc arc the o-enerations of the hea- vens and of the eartli, when they were ci-ca ted : in the day that tiie Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 5 And every pUint of the iiokl, before it was in the earth, and every iierb of the fielil before it grew; for the Lord God had not caused it to raiu upon the earth, and there Kas not a man to till the ground. 6 But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the Lord God formed man o/' the dust of the m-ound, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life : and man became a living soul. 8 ^ And the Lord Goo planted a garden east-ward in Eden ; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the TiORo God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good tor food ; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledgeof good and evil. oxon, but cvrn thi- youii!; lions and yoiin^ nivciis arc the caro of liis proviiliiuf ; llicv ask and they rccciM' tlioir meat iVtini (iinl. Jx't this cncourajjo tiod's people to cast their can- on lii?ii, and not be solicitous wluit tiny shall eat or what thiy shall drink. •Tl. When we nview our works we lind much ha"- heen l>ad, but when God rexii'xved his all was. very yood. All that God ina(h' was Well, there was no tlaw or defect in it. All his works l)liss him, therefore bless thou tin- Lord, () my soul. CH.M'. M. I. Cnalures both in heaven and I'arth are the hosts fir armies of them, numerous but disciplined, ;irid under command. God useth iheni as his h(>sts for the defence of his ]H-ople, and the (Icstrtiction of his enemies. 2. God hath soendeil his works, as tliat thou;;h in his providence he worketh hitherto, pnservint! and novivning the creatures, and pnrticularly forming the spmt (>t inan within him, yet he doth not niakeany n!w species of creatuns. In miracles lie' has controlled rmtiiro, but has never ixpcaled or added to any of its establish- nioiits. 3. Sabbaths are a« ancient .is the world ; and .is they were msti- tyted in inivocency, were no dloyrafnt> \mI! wry well tonsist \ wiUi a stall- 111 iiiiioci'iicv ami a (il'i- ot' cumiiiuiiicni uitli Ciod. I Ttic soii-iatul Ik irs ol' lii'iivcii, wliilr llnyaiv iii tliib wi/ikl, liavc JOfiiclhinj; to do about tins caitli, wliicli imi>t have its share ol I ttiiir tiiiio and thought?, and it they do il with an cyo to CJoil, aK- M truly scMv.ri« hiin lu itas when liny an- upon ttitir klur!.. l6. Merc is a confirmation ol Adaui'M na|lpinl,•^s in that jjrai t, of I'M ry tufiil the gunlcn thou ina\i>t Ini ly lat ; lor llic tiiv ol life U iiy put in the niidvt ol' tliv j;aiden, liuuhth^s doil had an ry<- to that, t'spicially in tills wraiit, and thculoic \y\.tn upon his ri^oll this i;rant i-) ri talli'd, no nolicr i- lakrn ot any other tixo ol ilic garden as prohibitid to him, but only the tree ot' life, which il is sjkI he might have eati n and lived lor ever. 'I'liiis on eondition ol perfert personal oUdience hi was sure of paradisu to him and his heir- forever. I?. .Ailam ill innocence was.iwed with a threatening; if hellieii needed tlii> lied);ij much more Jo we now. It .vas propel to try Adam's obedience bysucli i\ conimand as this, beCiiUje the rcasoi of it is li.'tched puixly Iroin the '.viU ol tia; law maker. Ad i.i. hu.-i »u aversion to that which "as evil ol Itself, and tlierel'ore hu is tri-d in a llun;: whieli wase\il only be- Caufe It was forbidden. Tins prohibilioii clycl^ed boiij his appe- lit.' towards sensual dci);ht.s, r.nd his aiiibition of curious kiK>w- I<'die; that [(is body ini^lit be ruled by his soul, and his sold by his (.10(1, 1 S. lii.our best slalc in this world we ni ed rach olhi r's help ; the eye cannot say to iho hand, 1 ha\e no need of thee. l;l, 30. God Rave names to the day and iiii;hr, to lie flrma- lueiit, to the earili and seas, and lie called the il..rs bv tliiir names, to.'Imw that ho WHS tlK'Siipreme l.<'.nl id these ; but iie gave .\i\\m leave tonamo the beasts aii iiume, heput some cfhishuudur iit'oii hill'. Vol. J. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. CHAP. IIL Moro particularly wc have here, I. The innocent temptfd, 1««5. 11. Tlie tempted tr.Tiis^ressiiij;, 6, 7, 8- III, Transgressors ar- raipned, 5, 10. W . Upon their ariai'iimciit convicted, H '-IS. V. Upon their conviction s<'ntenc>(i, 1+..19. VI. After sen- tence reprieved, 20, 21. \"I1. Notwith4tandii:g their reprieve execution in part done, 2i, ad tin. NOW the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field Avhich the Lord God had made. And he said unto the wo- man. Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden ? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the liuit of the trees of the garden : 3 I^iit of the fruit of the tree wliich is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Yc shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Yc shall not surely die. .5 For God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil. 21 ••24.. The niakini; of the woman took place on the sixth day, as did iNo the placing .\dam ill par.'ufi^e, tlioiij;h liep' mentioiieii alier an account of the seventh day's rest ; but what i-- "-aid in gene- ral, chap. i. 27, is more distinctly related here, .\da-iii was lirst formed, then I''.ve, I Tim. ii. lo : she was made of the man and lor ihe man, 1 Cor. ii. >S, J); .tII which .ire iirj;. d there as lea^ol^s foi: the humility and silence of the se.\ in geiieial ; ai.d particularly the siib|eclion and reverence which wives owe to their husbands ; IjUI man being made last of the creatures, as tl.o mott excellent of ill, I'.ve's being made alter Adam, and out of him, puts an houcur on il.at .sex astlie glory of the man. If man be tin- head, she is iho crown, a eiown to her husband, the crown of the \isible creation. 'I'he sabbalh and marri.ige were two ordinances institiiU'd in iiJ- noceney, the former lor tia- r.reservaTion of the church, ihe latter for liie |)reservatioii of inankind, \ man mn.st leave all his icia • tions to ileave to his wife, 'lo wh<'ni can we be more tirniiy r»'- lated than to the father that bigal ii£, and the mother thai bare MS ? yeiihe son must (juit them I'l be joined to his wife, and the daughter forget them lo cleave lo her fiilsbaud, llow dear ought the alleclion to be between husband and wile, such as there is to (HM own bodies. They two are one iKsK, let liiem then be one soul. ■.! J. Our lir-t parents needed no cltJthes lor defence against cold or heat ; for neither could be injurious to them ; tiiey needed none for ornamenl ; S'llomon-in all his glory was not arrayed like one ot thive : nay, they needed none for decency ; t'ley were naked, and had no i'ea-.on to be ashamed : they that bad no sin. in their con- sciinci'.. r'.;i'jlil well have no shame in tliiir lacrs. Cn.M'. 111. 1-5. The tempter was the dwvil, in the sliape and liki ne-i> of a serpent. 'I'lio de\ il .ind sntan is llic old serpent, a malignant spirit i by creation an angel of lifjli!, suii! an immediate atleiulant on Cioil's throne; hut by sin becarue an apostate I'loiu li.s first state, and a rebel ngninsttlod's ciown and dignity. MuU uuides il them f II, but ih:-. that attacked our first parents was auii ly the prince of ilic devils, (be rii^^leudcr in rebellion. Whetiicr 6 Antl when the wonuui saw that the tree ky/s good tor lood, and that it ucis plea- sant to tlic eyes, and a tree to be deshcd to make one wise, she took of the iVuit thereof, and (hd eat, and gave also unto her husband nitli her ; find he did eat. 7 Ami the eyes of them l)oth were oj>cned, and they knew that they jcerc naked : ;ind they scwrd fig-leaves togethei', and made tliemselvc^ aprons. * 8 And they heard the voiec of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool oftlu- day ; and Adam and his wife hirl themsi'lvcs from the ()rescnce of the Lord (Joo among the trees of the garden. f) f And the Lord Gonealled unto Adam, and saiil unto him. Where art thou ? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was alraid, because I zcas na- ked : and J hid mvself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou zi'dst naked? Ilast thou eaten of the tree whereof 1 eomnumded thee that thou should- est not eat .'' 1'2 Ami llic HUM! said, The woman, whoni thou gavcsl lo he withuie, she gave me of the tree, and 1 diti eat. 13 And the Lord Cod said imt«) the wo- man, W^ha-t/.v this^//^/Mhou hast done? And the woman .said, Tiie serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the Lord Goi-» said unto the ser- pent, BiH-ause thou hast done this thou art eursed above all cattle, and • above every 11 w:t.>, (.Illy tlif Msililr ^\u\]n and :i[i]i<':i;aiictM>l a sprpciil. :is Siiiiu lliiiik llmso wtre, ofu liirli \vf rcail, I'.xcul. vii. 1'2 ; or, «hiih<'r it \Tns a nal living sii|)rnl That wab luwv aclcit ami |uib«-.M <1 by itic (!i\il is not curtain ; Ly tiod's lii'niii:>ii<'n il mislit ijofillicr. 'riu' )i'-rsoii toiiiiiU-il wa^ ihc wdinaii : it A\ab llu- ilf\irs Miliiilty Ui a'-saiiit llic weakest vi ssel ui'.li liis Irmiilalicn , lliiiiii;li pcrleet in J«ei kiMil,yet we may siipimse intVnor In Adam in kiim\ IciIl;! and pri- vnee Dt'iiijiid. Satan li-ni|'Ied I'm-, tijat Ijv licr Ik- iiii;;ht Irinpl Aiiam ; »< he tempted .IdIi liy liib wil'e, ami t'lirisl [,\ I'etei. It ii lii^ jii.'licy 10 --end leinptalipiCt'llli.ijt interest in us, anil" inllnenre npnii lis. 'I'he two s;re;itesl instances wv lia\o ol' ihe wiles nl' Satan wire in his leiiiiitin;; the twoAihtms lieiv and Matthew iv. What he spake tn iheiii, ui wlioni iio litui nn liuld by any corriiptinn in them, he ipake in us l)\- our deceitful hearts, and their carnal reasi)niiii;>., which makes hlsassjiults on us less disCLrnable, Inil nut less ilanj^erous. That nhichthe tle\il aimed at Was to persuade I've tii eat fnrhiddi n iruit, and to do this lie took tiie same imthiij he doth still. M,- fiiNt ipieslions wliether it were a sin to eat ol"this triA', anduliether the iVuil of it was lorliiddeii : Vea, hath Ciod said, \ e shiH Hot eat : It is the suhtilty of Satan to blemish the fepntatiou of the divine law as uncerlain, or unreasoir.ible, and so to draw peoidetosin; jiiul it is thvrefore our wisilom to keip up a lirni beliel of, and hl^ii respect forlhe coniman of a vain mind. Wliv , there was in it the unbelief of Ciod"s M vvoid, and conlldeiice in ihe devil's; discontent vvith hi' present stall', pride in his own jiierits, an. I an ambilioii of the honinir tlial comes not from Ciod : envy at God's |>erfectioiis, and indul.ni'nic of the appetites of the lindV. lUit the eivati'sl assvavation of his sin was that he in\ any piiiple. I'earseized lliem immediately upon their eating the forbidden fruit. Ciod was become a terror to them, and then no woii'kr if thev were become a terror to themselves, and lull of eonlu^inn, .All that ainazin;; fear of Ciod's aiipearance^, the ac- cusal ions of coiljticL'Cc. the apjiroucili'S of trouble, the a5'~iiulls ol inferior creatures, and tlie atfisls of lirr.th. viliich are eoinmu.i :niion;; men, is the elVecl of sin. .Vdam and live I but vrere pi-irfneu III ^in were shareis in the shame, lor that atteii.led it ; and llioiitU. v. hand joined in hand Could not animate one another, miserablu .^ comforters they were ijeCome to each olliel *), 10. The'cnquiry of Ciod after Adam mav lie looked upon as a nracious pursuit !ii order to his recovery : this lust sheep IrM vvnndeiod endlessly if the good shepherd had not sou;;lit alter hiin »o bring him back, and in order to that minded hiHi he was where he could not be either I'asy or happy. .'\ii».idrriil as lr\iHt'd at thf iKaII, «1(i> nidy iiladt- iisi' of llu' mi|h HI as Ids vcldcli' in ihisaji- l>i-,crancc, but was hims.lf till' |)iin(i|Ktl antnl. Uridi-r tin' com 1 of llu- SI i|M III III- is lull' ^( (itrpccil lo be dirradid and accnrscil (il;doni ollhi' di'\il ainonq men. Il is iho frnit oflliis rnmily llial llu re i^ a lonlimial conllicl brlwrcii sracr anil corruplion in iln- hearts <>l ( I'id's jnoiile, and all llie malice ol' |KiMrulors is ilie I'rnil ut liiis 1 nniity, which vvdl continue whik' ihere is a j;odly man uii lliibbide hi a^en, and a wicked nisii on ibis sid<- In II. A I)^olId^e is here made of C'hrisi as iho iWlivpivr of fallen man from Kie piiwer of Salari. Nonce is here jjiveii ihem of the incar- nalion of Christ ; ib:i| be should U- ihe seeil of ihc woman; ofhis sutli rin;;>. and death (HMiited at in Satan's bruising his hcfl, thai is, his human nature, and llie \ictory he iheieby ol>lained ovir Salan. IW his dealb he Ra»e a fatal and incurable blow to the devils kni;;iiom, a wound to llu- licail of this beast that can never be hl.ded. I'i. Sin brouchi sorrow into the wnrlil : had we known no cuill, we shduld have kiio« n no ('.ricf. The pains of clnld-bearini;, « liich are i;riat to a (iroMrb, an- the ellicis of sii^ ; everv (lann, cM'ry prminofthi- lra\ailin;j woman, spi-aks aloud the falal coMsei|uences of sin. The whole v\. which by crealioii was eipial w ith man, is lor sin made inferior. This seiiU-nce lunou'ils imi only to that com- mand. WiMs be ill sulijiriicin to your hii--b mhU ; l>ul ^in made that ilnty a punishmriit whiili otherwise il Mould iioi h.i\e been. If man hail not sinned, he \M)uld have ruled with wisdom and love; and if the woiiian jiud not sinned, she w-ould always bii\e olx-yed with hniiiiliiy rind mi-i-knest; iind then the dominion had lio-ii no gill vaiice, but our ohii sin and folly make our yoke heavy. 17 -''0. I he i;ioiind, i>r eiirlli. Is hen- pill fur the whole \ikible Civatioii, H liich by the sin i.'f man is made sulviecl to vanity, ihc -ie- v. iir. 19 In tlie sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wHst thou taken : for dust thou «;•/, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20 And Adam ealled his wife's name Eve ; because she was the mother of all living. 121 ^ Unto Adam also, and to his wife, did the Lord Gou make coats of skins, an-d elotluxl them. I2lj f And the Lord Gon .said, Ikhold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil : and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, ?in(X eat, and live forever ; 2,3 'J'ltcrefore the Lord Gon sent Iiini forth from the garden of ]''den, to till the ground trom whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man : and he placed at the east of the garden of Kden eherubims, and a Haminii' sm ord which turjv- ed (!very wav, to keep the wav of the tree of life. vcral iiaris of it beiiis; not so service.iblc to man's comfort as ihey w»ndd have bet n if he had not sinm-d. 1 lis business before was-.i constant pleasure ; the !;arden w;is dressid «ilbouI any uneasy la- bour, and kept without any uneasy care ; but now liis labour is ;i weariness, and wastes his body; his Care is a toiiuent, and alllicti his mind; his lile also is bill ^hort ; his body, thai part of liitii which wa-. t.ikrii out of the'fJiMnnd, iiinriisloit anain. Thussiu broiisht death into the world. Ciod eiitrusled .'Vdam with a sjiark of iniinoilalily, which he, by a |KHient coniinnanco in weUdoini, mi^hthave lilown i|p inio e\erhlsting lile, but be foolishly blew it out by wilful sin, and now death is the waues of sin, and sin tlio sliii'iof ih-alh. How admirably the salisfaciion made by the siif- feiin^s of Christ answered the senleuce passed on i>ur lirst parenls. Did the curse Conic in with sin.' Christ was made a curse for us; died a cui-sed death, (ial. iii. 13. Itiil siurow come in with siii ? Ill- was a man of sorrow and .icnuainted wiili ijrief ; liissoul was in a^ony e.xceediii; sorrowful. Did death coHii- in with stn ? be be- lame obedient uiito death. Thus is the plaister as bij; as the wound, lilesseil be (tod for .Iisus Christ. 'i\. Clothes came in with sill : we sliould have had no occasion for Ihem eilher for defence or decency, if sin had not made us naked to our shame. I.iiile reason theiefure wo have U) be proud four cloihes, »hich are but the badges of our infamy. 'ii--'Z\. Sentence l»i 111; 'passed upon the otTeiiders, wp have here execution in jiart done iipo- lliejn immt-diali ly : they were justly disi;raced before Ciod and the holy antels, by that iroliical iipbraidin^ of them with the issueof their cnlerpii/e, IJehold ihc man is become as one of us to kni»vv<;ooil and e\ il. '1 hey won- justly discarded and shut out of paradise, which was .i parj of lliescn- lence implied in that, ihon shalt eni the herb of the lield. The l\?iy loihetne of life «as sliut vij) , lliat wny that he was tifst put into, till- "ay of spoiless iniioceiicy. It was In nci forward vain for liira and his to ex|K'Ct rijjhteoiisiHss, life, an 1 li.ip]>iiK-ss by \irlue of llm lii-st covoiiant; for ii was irrepanibly broken, and could never be pleaded, nor any benefit taken by il : God revealed this In Adam, mil to dri\e him to ili~.p.iir, but lo obli•^■ him to look for life xnn ha|ipiness in ihe promised set-d : by whom llu llamiiii; swoid is remoM-d, and a new iiiid bung way into the holiest, cutisi'crutcil and laid opcH for us. GENESIS. HAP. IV. WenavefMire, I. The l.irtli, name, and Citllings of Cnin and Abel, 1, 2. 'I. Their nliiiion and diffeivnt succets in it, 3, 4, and part of 5. 111. Caiiih .inger at God, and tlic ivprouf of liim for that unj;ei, 5- -7. IV. Cain's murder of his brother, and the process against hijii fnr th:it mtirder. 'i'lu- nuirder coniniit- tod, 8 ; his arrais;nr.ieni and pica, 5 ; ids conviction, 10 ; • the sentence passed on him, 11, I'J; his complaint agamst the sentence, lo, 14; the mtiiication of the sentence, 15;;. the execution of the sentence, 15, lt>. V. The posterity ot Cain, I7..24. \l. Th« hi'ih of another son ai>d grandson to ^dam, 25, C6. Adam knew Eve his wife; and conccired, and bare Cain, I hare gotten a man fi"om the AND J\ she and said, Lord. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel, And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an oft'ering unto the Loup. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the first- lings of his flock, and of the. fat thereof. And the Loud had respect unto Alx^l, and to his offering : ' ** 5 But unto Cain, and to his offering, he against Abel CIIAI'. IV. 1, "2. -Xdain ;ind Kve had many sons and dfaighters. bi\t Cain and Abel seem to be the two eldest. Cain signifies pos- session ; F.ve when she bore him, said with great joy and faith, thankfulness and great expectation, I have gotten a man fn>in the Lord! Many supposv iluu she hanan, his lieart was ii|)iight, and his life was pious, therefore .God had resjH'Ct to his uttering as a lioly ofi'ering. Cain's was only an offering of acknowli d^nicnt to the Creator ; the mcat-oll'ering of the fruit of the ground was no more, and for aught we know, might have been offered in innocencv; but Abel brought a sacri.- hce f.r.itoni ment, the Idoodof wliich was shed in order to remission, then by owning himself a .-inner, dejirecating God's wr;ith, and im- jdorii'g his mercy in a Mediator. Abel ottered in faith, deiicnding on the proinisf »)f a Redeemer ; Cain did what he did for company, (>i to save his cretiit. Ca-n was wroth with God Tor making such a difTirence lielwtai his ot?'riiig and his brother's. It is cunmion for Uiosc who have rv;iui.iTd themsilves unworthy of God'i favour Iliad not respect. And Cain was ver_y wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the J.oud said unto Cain, Why art thou wrothr and why is thy countenance fallen.'* 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be ac- cepted ? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his de- sire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 ^ And Cain talked with Abel his bro- ther : and it eaine to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up his brother, and slew him. 9 ^ And the Lord said unto Cain, Where /.s Abel th}-' brother ? And he said, I know not. A>H I my brother's keeper ? 10 And he said, What hast thou done ? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the gmund ; 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to re- ceive thy brother's blood from thy hand. 12 When tliou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength ; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou tie in the earth. y presuni])tuous sins, to be angry with those who are distinguished by lii/n. 0, 7. To reduce Cain to his right mind again, it is hse oidy that conf lUnied him ; a fugitive niu\ a vagabond sh.-vlt thou be in the earth. By this he w;ls condemned to perpetual disgrace and reproach among men, as well as to )ierpetur.l disquiet- inent and horror in his own jnind. I'here is not a mure restlov fugitive upon earth than he that is continually i)ursued by his own uilt, nor a viler vagabond th.AU he that is at the beck of' his own lists. 13, 14. Cain complains of liis sentence as hard and'scvere. Some niuke him sjjiak tlie|hiiiguase of despair, and read it. Mint iniquity is greater than [hat it niiglit be for{*iven ; but Cain seems rather lospiak the laii!;uagr of iiuiignation, iny punishment isgnat- t r than I can b< ar : instead nt juslilying Ciod in the si nleiice he cun- deiiMis him : not acripling tlie i)unishment of his iiui|uitv, but mianelliim with it ; To justify lliis complaint he descants' upon the sentence : he sees himself excluded bv it from the hivour ol his God, esiielled from the comforts of this life, cut otffioin the church, and exposed to the hativd and ill-will of all iiKiUKind. Wherever he w-andris he thinks himself in peril of his Ivfe. Ther.- Were none alive but his iii>ij relultoiis, yet even of them he is justly ^Jraul, who haU hiniiwlf been so baibarous lo hb own biother. Vol. I. fi gat Methusael ; and Mcthusacl begat La- mech. 19 1[ And Lamech took unto him two wives ; the name of the one uas Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 And Adah bare Jabal : he was the father of such a* dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 9A And his brother's name ti^'os Jubal : he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. '22 And Zillah, .she also bare Tubalcain,. nn instructor of every artificer in brass and iron : and the sister of Tubalcain zias Naamah. 23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, hear ni}' voice ; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech : for f have slain a man unto my wounding, and a. young man to my hurt : 24 If Cain be avenged seven-fold, truly Lamech seventy and seven fold. 15. Cam IS protected in wrath. Had ho bcenslain prcseotly he had been forgotten, but now he lives a more feart'ul and lasting mo- nunient of God's justice. The LctsI set a mruk upon Cain to dis- tinguish him from the rest of mankind, niul to notify that this is the man that murdered his brother, whom nobody must hurt, but <:vervbody must hoot at, l6'. Cain tamely submitted to that part of his sentence by which he was hid from God's face : but endeavoured to conlmnt that ■part by which he was made a fusiilive and vag;ibond. He went and dwelt on the east of Cden, somew here distant from the place where Adam and his religious family resided, distinguishing himself and his accursed generation from the holy seed. But his attempt to settle was in vaiii, lor the land he dwelt in was to him the' land of Nod, i. c. of shaking or trembling, because of the continual restless- ness and uneasiness of his own spirit Those that depart from God cannot Mnd rest any where else. 17- He budded a city in token of a fixed separation from the church of God, to which he l-.ad no thoughts of returning. This city was to be the head quarters of the a])ostacy. 18. The names of his posterity are but just mentioned, not as those o( the holy seed, chap. v. where we have threi' verses con- cerning each, whereas here we have three or lour in one verse. Tluy are nu nbei'ed in haste, as not valued, iu comp.irjsou wiih God's chosen. 19' '22. U was one of thu d<>gcnpratc race of Cain that first transgressed that original law of marriage, that two oiiiy should l>c one (lesh. Hitherto one man had but one wife a^ a time, but l«i- mecli took two. Though liw sinned in marryin? two wives, yet he was blessed witU chiUircn by both, and those such ;is lived to bo fa- mous in their generation, not for their piety liHt for their inge- nuity. Thi'V w\re not only thi insi l\es ITU n of business, but men 1 uuneiit for llie inventioi: or taste in the improvement of some usc- Uilails. Those thiit are destitute of the knuwledfte of (;>)d, yet may be eiwlued with many e.NCelliiit accomplishments. Common jil'is are aiv( n to bad inen,whik God chuscih to himself the fooUsb ihings of the world. 23, 'H. Lami'ch owns himb«'lf a man of a fierce and cruel dis- position, that would slay all that sI.hhI in the way, bf it a m,in,or a young man ; nay, thouch he himself weix- in danger lo bi- woui'deil or hurt in the fray. I le piisumcs on Ciod's prolettiou in his w ietcd , way. He had heard thai Cuiu should be a>cnged seven-fold, i^ e, GENESIS. 25 f And Ailam knew his wife a'^ain : ;and slie bare a son, and called his name Setli. For God, said she, hath appointed nie another -seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26' And to Seth, to him also there was born a son ; and lie called his name Enos : then began men to call upon the name of the LoKD. CHAP. V. \\V Iiave here an account, I. Concorniijs Ailnm, I'-S. II. Srih, <).-8. III. Kiios. 9-.11. 1\'. Cainai), 1':--1V. V. Maliul.i- l.il. 15--I7. VI. .Taivd, 1S.-20. Vll. Knoch, 2t--2t. VIII. Methuselah, '25- 2S, ad fill. IX. Lametli and his son Noah, ^l^iJIS 25 the book of the generations of JL Adam. In the day tliat God created man, in the likeness of God made he him ; 2 Male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. 3 f And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own like- ness, after his image ; and called his name Seth. 4 And the days of Adam, after he had begotten Seth, were eight hundred years; and he begat sons and daughters. 5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years : and he died. 6 ^ And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos. 7 And Seth lived, after he begat Enos, eight hundred and seven years, and begat i sons and diingliters. ' 8 And all the days of Seth were nine hun- dred and twelve years, and he died. .9 % And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Caiiian. 10 And Enos lived, after he begat Cainan, eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years : and he died. 12 f And Cainan lived seventy years, and | begat Mahalaleel. ^ IS And Cainan lived after he begat Ma- halaleel, eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters. 14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years ; and he died. 15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared. 16 And Mahalaleel lived, after he begat Jared, eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years : and he died. 18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Ersoch. 19 And Jared lived, after he begat Enoch, eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. that if any man dared to kill Cain hi- should be suvcrcly punished ; and hence he infers, that if any one should kill him for the murder he had committed, God would much more avenge his death ; as if the special care God took of the life of Gain were designed for a jirolection to all murderers. 25, 26. -Adam and Eve saw another seed instead of Abel. This son, hy a prophetic spirit, they callcd|5elh, that is, settled or fixed, because in his seed mankind should coiituiue to the end of time, and from him the Messiah should dcscemj. To Seth was born a son, called Knos, which is that general name fur all men, which speaks the frailly and mi^el■y of man's state. God lia^'i" our first parents to see the revival of relii;ion in their family. Now men began to worship God, not only in their closets and families, but in public and solemn assemblies. The worshippers of God be;;an lo distinguish themstlvef, so the margin reads it, then began men to be called by the name of the Lord, or to call themselves by it. Now began the distinction between professors and profane, which has been kept up ever since, and will be while ■the world stands. CH.-VP. V. l'-5. fhf. first words of this chapter are the tttle or argument of the whole chapK r, it is the book of the genera- tions of Adam, the catalogue ot his posterity, not of all, but only of the holy seed of whom as concerning the flesti Christ came. The jenvalogy begins with Adam himsilf : here is first a brief rehearsal of what was before at large related conceiiung ihecieation of man : this 15 what we need frequently to hear vi, and carcfnlly acquaint wrselvcs with. Secondly, the birth of his son Seth: he was born in the JSOtli year of Adam's lite : and probably the murder of Abel was not long before. Many other sons and daughters were born to Adam besides Cain and Abel, before this, but no notice is taken of them, because an honourable mention must be made of his name only in whose loins Christ and the church were. Adam was made in th« image of God ; but when he was falli ii he begat a son in his own image, sinful, frail, and inis'TabIc like himself; not only a man like himself, consisting vt body und soul, but a sinner like himself, guilty, degenerate, and corrupt. Even the man after God's own heart was himself conceived and born in sin, Psal. li. 5. Adam lived 930 years, and then he died,'according to the sentence passed upon him, to dust thou shall return. Though he did not die in the day he ate forbidden fiuit, jet in that very day he became mortal, then he began to die; he uas not oidy like a criminal sen- tenced, but as one already crucified, that dies by degrees. 6 20. We have all that the Holy Ghost thought fit to learc upon record concerning five of the jialriarchs before the flood; Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, and Jared. Their lite is reckoned by d, and proi)liisi( d of Christ's Second coming, J ijde V. 14. As he did not liu' like the rest so tie did not dii likV the nst. he was not, for Ciod took him, that is, as it is explained, Heb xi. .'i, he was transhitc-d that he should not see ileath, and was not fo.ind because God haditniiislated him. (iod took hiin, body and miuI, to himself in tin- luavenlv paradise, bv llie ministry o(angi Is ;us hi- afterwards took Elijiii. ll^' was changeil as those saints shall be that will b<- lound alive at (.'lirisl's second comiiii;. Enoch's irinslation was not only an cvidence-lo faith of '.he reality of a future state, and of the possibility of ihc bodies ex- •stinc in Rhry in that sta.e ; but it was eucour.igement to the hope of all that walk with (kkI, that they shall be foi ever with him; •ignal piety shall bv crowmd with signal honour. '2ri- C". Methuselah lived nine liuiulnd sixty aiuj nine years, .«nd yet h«! died. I'he longest liver must die at lust. Noiivcan, Noah, five hundred ninet}^ aud five years, and begat sons and daughters. 31 And all the days of Lamech were suven hundred seventy and seven years ; and he died. 32 And N'oa)i was five hundred years old ; and Noah begat Shcm, Ham, and Japheth. CHAP. VI Wherein we have, I. The abounding iniquity of that wuKcd world, 1 5, and II, IC. 11. The ripliteous CJod's just rescRlmci-.t of that abounding iniquity, and his holy resolution to punish ;;, (', 7 III. Ihe sjneial favour of God to liis servant Noah, liiM, in the character given of him, 8, 9^ 10: second, in the conimumcation of God's purpose to him, 13. .17: third, in the directions he gave him to make an ark for his own safety. 14-16": fourth, in cinplovi:!g him for the preservation of tlip rest of the creatures, KS.-CJ. I\'. Noah's obedience to tiie in- structions given him, '>2 A pass, Avhen men began ND it cdUie to to multiply on the face of the earth and daugiiters were born unto them, 2 'J'hat the sons of God saw Ihe daughters of men that they ucre fair ; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the Loud said, My spirit shall not always strive with nian, for that he also is tlesh : yet his da\"s shall be an hundred and twenty, years challenge lite by long prescription, nor make that a plea ajaitisl the arrests of death. '28-. 32. Noah signifies rest. His parents gave him that name with a prosjifct of Ins being a mo;v than ordinary blessing to his generation. \'ery probably there were some prophecies that wr dcbauco the good, thjin the good reform tlicbad. 3. The spirit then strove by Noah's pivaolving, a.ndbyinwnna checks, but it was in vain with the greater part k\ men, tncrot'ore, •uuth God, he shall not always strive. The corrupt nature and ibc inclination of the soul towards tin- flesh, opposed the sp4ra'sitn»- iiigs, and rendered ihem iiiel}ectu:il. A rcpriuve w«$ graatcd ruI- GENESIS. 4 Tliere wcic giaiUs m the earth in those days; unci alsoalier that when the sons ot'God eame in unto the daughters of men, and they bare cJiildren to them, the ^nmc became mighty men, which a-c/rorold men of renown. 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thouaihts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man, %vhoni 1 have created, from the face of tlie earth ; both man and Ix^ast, and the creep- ing thing, and the fowls of the air ; for it rcpentcth me that I have made them. 8 l>ut Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 % Thess are tlie generations of Noah : Noah was a just man, and perfect in his ge- nerations, and Noah walked with God, 10 x\nd Noah begat three s*ons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth was also corrupt before God : and the earth was filled with violence. ■wilh-5ta!uliiii;yi t liis (layssli;ill bo an hiimlnd and iNVi-nty years; so K'lig will 1 (kil'i' the jii'dgnK'iit tliey deserve, and give "them space to prevent it by their repentance and reforniation. The time of God's patience towards provoking sinners is sometimes long, but always limited. Reprieves are not pardons. 4, 5. When the sons of G(«l had matched with the daughtei-s of jTien,"though it was very displeasing to God, yet lie did not presently cut thrm otf, but waited to see what the product of these mar- riages would be, and which side the children would take after; and it proved as it generally dotii, that they took after the worst side. They were giants and men of renown ; they became too hard for all about ihem, ar.d tarried all before them l)y their great bulk and grrat name. The evidence produced against them was iticon- testable; God saw it, and tliat iv; instead of a tluuisand wilix'sses, God observedjiot only the streams of sin that llowed in men's lives, but also the foimtain of sin that was in men's hearts. The heart was nought, the principles were corrupt, and the dispositions evil. U was bad indeed, for it was only evil, continually evil, and eveiy Jinagination was so. 6", 7. The expressions here used nrc after the 'mariner of men, and must be understood so as not to reflect on the honour of God's immutability or his felicity. It doth iiotsp.-ak any passion or un- t asiness in Ciod, nothing can create disturbance in the eternal mind, but it speaks his displeasure ;rgaiiist sin and sinners ; against sin as pdious to his holiness, aiid against sinners as obnoxious to his jus- tice. It doth not speiik nny change of God's mind, for he is of one mind, and who can turn him? but it speaks a change in his way. When God made man uprigiit he rested and was refresln-d ; but now man was apostatized, he could do no otherwise than shew hinisell riispk-ased, so that the change was in man, not in God. When Ciod Tep'-nted that he had made man, he n'solved to destroy man. The liriginal ^vord is very significant, I will wipe o3' man from the earth : ^o some) as dirt is wiped otT from a place that shouhl be clean, and K thrown to the dunghill ; or I will blot out man frem the earth ; (so others) as these lines U4R- Llcts out of a beok which displeases., 12 An«l Goil looked upon the earth, and, behold, :t wascoTupt : for all tiesh had cor- rupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God ^aid unto Noah, Theend of nil tlesh is come before me ; for the earth is filled with violence through them : and, be- hold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 <[[ Make thee an ark of gopher-wood : rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 1.5 And tin?, k the fashion which thou shall make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above : and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof: with lower, second, and third stories shall thou make it. 17 And behold I, even I, do bring a flood of waters u[)on the earth, to destroy' all fies^i wherein is the breath of life, from under hea- ven : and every thii>g that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my co- venant : and thou shalt come into the arli:. the author, or as the name of a citizen is blotted out of the roUn uj the freemen when he is dead or disfranchised. 8. When God was disi)leased witli the rest of the'world, he fa- voured Noah: this vindicates God's Justice in his displeasure igainst the world, and shews that he had strictly examined the character of every person in it before he jironounced it tuiiversally corrupt ; for there being but one good man, he foiuid him out anit smiled upon him. It also magnified his grace towards Noah, that he was made a vessel of God's mercy, when all mankind besides were become the generation of his wratlr. p. When the rest of t'le world was corrupt, Noah kept his irtc- grily : 1 le yas a just man, justified before God by faith in the pro- mised seed, for he was an heir of the righteousni'ss which is by faith, Ileb. \i.7. He was perfect, not with a sinless perfection, but a perfeelion of sincerity. He walked with God as Enoch had done before hijn ; he was not enly honest but devout. Tlius he was, and thus he did in his generation, that degenerate age in which his t was cast. It is easy to be religious \vlien religion is in fashion, but it is an evidence of strong faith to swim against a stream to hea- ven, and to appear for God when no one else appears for him. 1 1, 12. .Ml kinds of sin were now to be found among men : for the earth was corrupt before God, i. e. in the matters of his wor- ship: and it was also tilled with violence and injustice towards inen. It was not some particular nations or cities th'at were thus wreked, but the whole world of mankind was so, there was none that did good, no not one besides Noah. 13-.'.21. God here makes Noah the man of his counsel, coT»- mimicating to him his purpose to destroy the wicked world by watrr. He lirst told Noah in geneial that he would destroy the world, and afterward told him particularly that he would by a flood f waters. Observe the rthi! end of time, notwithstanding the interruption the flood would fiivc it ; and the covenant of grace, that (iod would be to him a God, aiid that out of his seed God would take to himself a people. God makes Noah a moiuiinent of sparing mercy by puttr.ig him in a way to secure Ininseif in the appri)acliin^edience to the commaml of tiod in faith, we ourselves shall certainly have the comfort of lii-st or last. The reason for this imitation is a very honourable leslimtMiy to Noah's integiity; rortheehave 1 seen righteous before me in this generation. Those tliat keep themselves j)urc in times of common iiiii(uity, C'ud will kiep safe in times of common calamity. Necessary orders were given concerning the bnite creation., r.veii unclean beasts were preserved alive in the ark, lor (iod's h n- der mercies are over all his works. \vl more of the clean were preserved than of tlie unclean, because the clean wcie most lur the service (>f man, as well for sacrilices to God, and then lore in ho- nour to him more of them were preserved, three couple for-breed, anil the odd seventh lor sacrifice. 4. While Noah toUl them of the judgment at n ilistance, ihey were temiited to put oil' their lepeiilaiice, because the vision was for a great while to come; but no« he is ordered to tell ihdn that thry have but one week nioix: to turn themselves in, one Sabjialh monto improve, to see if that would at last awaken them to con- sider the thing-; that belonged In their peace, which I'thervvise vvouhl siion bo hid trom thi'ireyes. liut it is common for those that have Ixsn caridess of their souls during the yenis of their health, wl.-(ii ihey hxiked \ipon death at a distance, to be as careless durin;: ll.o days, ihe seven days, of th^ir sickness, when ihi'V s<-eil appiuaci;- • iiig, their hearts bemj hardened by the deci iil'ulncss of sin. ,S..Ui. .\s Noah hail prepared the nik by faith, in the warning giv. 11, that the llood would come, so ho went into it by liiiih in this warning that it would come quickly; tliiuigh i>robnblv he ilnl not s<-e that ihesecni^l caus-s had yei U-^an to work, IIl- look all his t.iinily along vviih him, his wife, liLs sons, and his soiw>' \vivts» Olisorvo, though men were ivduccj to .sosir.all a iiumbLr, ?.ud jli GF,N 10 f And itcainc to pass, after seven days' .diat the waters of the tlovd were upon the '•e;iMh. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noali's life, in tlie seeond month, the seventeenth day of the niontli, the ^auie d;iy were all the fountains of the great deep bnvken up, and the windows of lieaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nigiits. 13 in the self-same (hiy entered Noali, and Shem, and Ilani, and .laplieth, tlie sons ol' Koah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark : 14 Thev, and every beast after his kind, and all tiie cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that erecpetii upon the earth after iiirkinil, and every fowl after his kind, every l)ird of every sort. 1.5 And they went in unto Noah into the aik, two and two of ail tiesh, wherein /*■ the breath of life". 10" And they that went in, went in male and female of all tlesh,as (iod had command- ed him : and the liOun shut him in. 17 '^ And the flood ^vas forty days upon the earth ; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lilted up above the earth. 18 And the waters prevailed, and were in- creased greatly upon tlie earth ; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills that ucrc under the whole heaven were covered. '20 I'ifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail : and tlie mountains were covered. 'Jl ^\ And all tlcsh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepcth upon the earth, and every man : '22 AW in whose nostrils teas the breath of life, of all that r:Y/.v in the dry /(ind, died. 23 And every living substance was de- stroyed which was ui)on the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creep- ing things, and the fowl of the heaven ; and ihey were destroyed fro-. n the earth: and Noah only remained aUic, and they that zccrc with him in the ark. winilii t)c Miy lii-biiiiblL' U> liavi- ilu- woilil spcnlily rf-mopKil, yd . Nuiili's s"!i'^ li:iil i-iuli l)iit OIK' v\ ill-, u iiicli vtri-iii;llicii-. Ilu- ar!;iniK'iit ncaiiisl having many \viv in- nanu'i), bn.ll^hl llirm Id Niiah lo bo ]il>!ni\x-il. 'riu- dX iiou liUows \\\> owiu^-, and liir av-. Iii"; imitcclor'!. cnb ; nay,(vcn liio uildi'-l cica- luirs llcirki'd III it, bnl man was brcome more biulish llian llic brulis ihcmM'lvi'S, an.! did not know, did niU cnHNidir, l->a. i.3. I !, l'^. Thi- dale of lliib great I'wnl is cai'iTiiUv ri'iuidi-d liir the givat<-v ccrtaintv id' the stoiy. It was in the six liiimlredth yi-aml' Noah's litV, "Inch by cornpulatinn apiicars l; (d' NiAendxr; so t!;at Noah had a liarvi-st jii^t liehire, from wliich to virtual his nrk. In the self-same day that Noah was fixed in the ark, the in- llMdation be;;an. Desolatuig jiidumenis come not till (iod has )iro- vided for ihi'S.riiriiy id'liis own peoiile. Wr lind, Rev. \ii.3, the viiidsare held till tlie servants of Ciod are sealed : the foimtains of The i;real ilei-)) are broken up. I'erhaps there jirecedi-d no new crc- aiion of water; what were already madilo beui the common caurse of providence blessings to the earth, were now by an . Here is repealeil what was related hrforc of Noah's entrance into the nrk with his family and the creatures that were marked for iircservalion. All enmiliis between the creatures ceased, fort he wolf and the lamb lay down together, ajidlhc lion did ♦•at straw like tin' on; yet when this occasion was over the ristraint «as taken off, ;inil they were still of the same kind as ever, the ark dill nut alter their constitution, liypocjites in the church vhal e.Nternally conform to the.lawsof tliat ark may yted. 'I'lial which to imbeiievers is the savour of death unto death, is lu the failhl'ul the savour of life unto life. 21 ••'24-. All the cattle, fowl, and creepin^j thiii^s died, oxce]it the few that were in the ark : and w hyso? man only hud o]i lln' fartii ; in which, first, Noah's departure out of the ai'k, I.:)..l<) ; second, his sacrilice of praise that ho olfered to C'od uimn his tr.larsi'nuiit, CC : third, (lod's acceptance of his sacrilice, sinil tlu' promise iu> made iherenpon not to drowu the world again. '~l 'Z~- AKJ; Ciod remembered Noah, and rve- ry livinir tlnng, and all the cattle that ti'as -with kini in the ark : and God made a Aviiul to j)ass over the earth, and the waters assu;i<:;ed. 2 The fountains also of the deep, and the windows of heaven, were stopped, and the niin from heaven was restrained : 3 And the waters returned from orf the ^arth continually : and after the end of the hiuulred and iifty days the waters Avere abated. 4 ^ And the ark rested in the seventh jnonth, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually imlil the tenth month : in the tenth i/ioiif/i. We may suii|>oso the preservation, but all ii.s^i ■ in this posture death surprised them. tned idl means pos'-ible for their preservation, but all 'ii \aui 'I'hose that are not found in ('hri^t the ark are certainly undnni', Mndone for ever. Noah laiidy nk'rred to, Kzekiel .\iv. i-t, Noah, Daniel, and Joh, s|i;dl but deliver their own sonls. CII.M'. \'in. I. .3. Mere is an act of God's nrace : God re- membered Noah and cwyy \\\ ni;^ thini;. 'I'his is an eNpression at'tei the mannerof nun : for not any of his creatures, much less any of )iis people, aie lorLiolien of God : but the w hole race of mankind. c\cept Noah and his laeiily, was now e\tin;;uished. and ;e of the latter wmild onlv servo to gratily his c\\- (h^e of ih know. _ _ . .. the concealing it from him would bo the lu-edlul exer- ■d his and know 1 but the riosiiy, cisccH his fiilh and iiatieiice. 1 le by faith expected Ills enlarge- nunt, and bv iiationco waited for it;'yi't he was imiuisiiive con- cerning it, as' one that thought it long to' be thus confined. Desires of reh^ise out of troilbh' will vii v well consist with the Mlicerity of faith and patience. Noah sent iorth a raven througli the window oWi GENKSIS. 14 And in the second niontli, on the scv(mi and twentieth day ol" the niuutli, as as the earth dried. 1.5 ^ And God spake nnto Noah, sayinc, 1() (iu torth of tlic ark, thou, and thy wile, and thy sons, and tin' son's wives with thee. 17 Jhing forth with thee every hvin<2; thing that /.•>• with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that cr("ejK'th upon the earth; that tiiey may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruit- ful, and multiply upon the earth. 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, ard liis wife, and his sons' wives with him : 19 Every beast, ever}' creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever crcepcth upon the earth alter their kinds, went ibrth out of the ark. 20 % And Noah buildcd an altar unto the liOni), and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and oifercd burnt- etferings on the altar. 2\ And the Loun smelled a sw'eet savour ; and the Loud said in liis heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake : for the imagination of man's heart /,s evi! from hisyouth ; ncitherwill I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the eartli remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and sum- was moi", sensible of it than vc iirc, fmniaiul to ro into the ark, so how tedious soever his confinement was he would wait for a command to M out of it a£;ain. We must in ail our ways acknowledi;e tiod, and set him before us in all our removes. 'I'liounh Noah had been now a full yeariand ten days a prisoner in the ark.xet u hen he found himself preserved not only for anew life, but for a new world, lie saw no reason to complain of his long continemeiu. 20..'2'2. Hitherto he had ence of care and pains, yet he did not grudge to give Goil his dues of a great increasi- of men to occupy and enjoy. Lheiu. Cod sets the v. hole earth before them; CHAP. IX. require it, and at the bcind of man, at tlie hand of every man's brother will I require the Ufe of man. 6 Whoso slieddeth mnn's blood, by man shall his blood be shed : lor in the image of God made he man. 7 And you, be ye fi'uitful and multiply ; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. 8 ^ And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with hhn, saying, 9 And 1, behold 1, estabHsh my cove- nant with you, and Avith your seed alter you ; 10 And Avith every living creature that ?,s Aviiji you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you : fioiu all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 11 And I will establish my covenant with you : neither shall all tlesh be cut oil" any more by the waters of a llood ; neither shall there any n)orc be a Hood to destroy the earth. 12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which 1 make between me and you, ((•lis ilicm it is all tlii'ir own while il nrmaiiis, totlicm and to tlioir hoiiX He also nivcs llu'iii il bkbsiiij;, by \iittR' of vrliirli niiuikiiid Bhoiililbc bniii iimllijilifd ami {nr(>L'tii;il('(l on ilic i.irtli ; so iliiii Uuni;;ii oiu'gciiciiilion piisscth iuvay iiliotlK-r should come. Tin; carih should never be a^aiii dis|Ki)i)lrd, but still ie)ilenished. Second, A giant of power over the infeiior creatures: ho grants u title to llieni, and a domiiiiou over iheni, without vliith a tilh wnidd avail little. Thii re\iv<-s a formerilraMl, (ien.i. 'JS, with this ditlerence, thai man in ininiceiicy ruled by love, fallen man rules by fear. Third. A prant of maintenance and sustenance, 3. Hitherto (most think) man had been lonlined to feetl oidy upon the |)io- ducis ;ed the grant, and allowed nun toealllesh, which perhaps maii wotdd never have ihoUght of, till that God di- rected liiin to it. The precepts and provisos df this cinirlev are no less kijul and crucious, and instances of Clod's good will to man. 'I'Jie jirecepiN licre given all concern the lil'c- of man. I irsi, man must not pre- judice his own lili' by eating that which is unwht)lesome. I'lesli, with the life theriof, which is the blooil ihereot, i.e. raw lle>h,ihall yu not (at as the beaSts of pri-y do. It was necessary to add this li- mitation t^> the grant of liberty to eat flish, IcM instead of nourish- ing iheir bodies the\'sh(>idd di'strov them. SeCond, man must not lake away his own life, 5, Vour blood of your lives « ill I refjnire. t)ur lives are noi so our own as that we may quit ihem at our own jileasure. Third, the beasts mii^l not be sullered to hurt the lile of man, at the hand ofi voi-y be;ist will 1 re<|uiie il : to shew how tciulrr (iod WHS of the life of man, he will have the beast put to ileulli that kills a man. rouilh, wilful murderers must tie put in death. \VIkIi (iod icquires the life of a man at the hand ol hiiii ihiit took il away unjustly, he < annot reiider thai, and ihendori- he must render liis own in lieu of it, which is the only «,i\ hi! of luiikiiii restilulion. Befyiv thi> Uou»l, «s kl >l«iuld _M.eiu bv ihi' \ el. I. and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations : 13 1 do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud : 15 And I will remember my covenant which is betAveen me and you, and every living creature of all Hesh ; and the w:aters shall no more become a ilood to destroy all riesh. 16' And the bow shall be in the cloud ; and 1 will look upon it, that I may remem- ber the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that /.? upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant Avliich I have estab- lished between me and all flesh that is upon the earth, 13^ And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Ja[)hcth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. story of Cain, God took the punishment of murder into Ins own hands, but now he committed this punishment to man, to masteis of families at first, and afterwards to the hea..17'. Articles of agiwmcnl among men used to l»o sealed, that the performance of the covenant might be the more sure ; Cnid therefore being willmu more abundanirv to shew llie heiis ol pro- niisi' the immutability of his counsels, Inith coUliiiiied his cove- nant by a seal. 'I'lieseal ol his covenant was the rainbow, w'IikIi il is likely was seen in the clouds beli>re, when second causes con- curred, but was never asoal of the Covenant till now il was made so by divine institution. .'\sGod looks upon llie bow that he may renumber tljc covenant, s" should «e, that we may also be ever minilful of the cmenanl with lititli and thankfulness. l^>, l.i). The names of Noah's sons are again iiientioln-d as those from whom ihr.w hole earth was uvei-spi\-ad : by which il ap|Har^, that Noah after iIk- llood hud Jio mure ciiildVen : all the world came Uom these llirte. 19 These are the three sons of Noah ; and of thcni was the whole earth overspread. !K) f And Noah began to be an husband- man, and he planted a vnieyard : 21 And he drank of the vine, and was drunken ; and he was uncoijercd within his tent. 2'2 And Hani, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. 23 And Shcni and Japheth took a gar- ment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went br.ckward, and covered the na- kedness of their father: and their face.'s fa/r backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son hud done unto him. 25 And he said. Cursed be Canaan ; sciviuit of servants shall he be unto his brethren. , 26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Sheuj : and Canaan shall be his servant. 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he GENESIS. shall dwell In the tents of Sheni, and Canaan shall be his servant. 28 % And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty 3'ears: and he died. CHAP. X. In t1ii'< rliapter vfe liiivp n. biicf acrounf, I. Of the po^tf ritr »f Jupholh, •;-•.''). II. Of thi- (HistcTiiy t>f Mini, ()■••;<', :iiid itt that (larticuliir iiwlirc is taken from Nimnxt, 8. 9- HI. Ol the jjostprity of Sln'iii, il, ;ul I'm. NOW these ar^ the generations of the- sons of Noah, 8hen), Hani, and Ja- pheth ; and unto them were sons born alter the flood. 2 % The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tuhel, ar.d Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and 'J'ogarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan ; Elishah, imd Tarshish, Kittini, and Dodanim. 5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands ; every one after his tongue, alter their families, in their na- tions. 20"C3. The busiiicbs Noah applied himself to was that of hushandmaii. He plaiiled a vineyard, ami when he had gathered his vint;i^e, pndjably he appointed a day of mirth and fi'astins in his laniily, and liad his sons and their chifdrcn al)out liim to rejoic wiih hiin in the increase of his liouse as well as in tlie increase ol his vineyard. At this feast he drank the wine; for who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit of it? •But he drank too liberally, more than his head or his aye could bear ; for he was drunk. The fairest cofiy that ever mere man wrote since the fall, luis its blots and false strokes. It was said of Noah that ho w:is per- fect in his generation, chap. \\. J) : but this shews that it is meant of sincerity, not of a sinless perfection. We have need to be very can-ful when we use God's i^ood creatures plentifully, l»'st we use ihem to excess. Christ's disciples must take heed lest at any tim( their hearts bo overcharged, Luke x.\i. 34. The consequence ol Noah's sin was shame : he was uncovered in his tent, made naked to his shame^ Drunkenness disgraces men, and exposes them to tont( nipt, lleh. ii. 15, Ifi. Ham saw the nakedness of his tiither, and tiihl his mo brethren. Perhaps Ham had sometimes been him- self drunk, and reproved for it by his go awoke from his wine. The spirit of prophecy comes upon him, anil, itke dying Jacob, he tells his sons what should befal them. He pronounces a curse on Canaan the son of Ham, \n whom Ham is himself cursed, either be- cause this son of his was now more guilty than the rest, er because the posterity of his son were afterwards to be rooted out of their laud to make room for Israel. He witaib a blessing on Shera and Japheth : he calls the Lord the Clod of Shem : and happy, thrice happy is that peo[)le whose Ciod is the Lord. Some think reference is here haui'^; and tUc)u;;li fvciy msn l)aro nili' in his own Iioum', vti no man pri'tcntli'il any UirMuT; N'ininul's iispinii); mind could iioi n'sl uiih this jiarity, but Uv would ti>[iliis luiyhhours, and woiHd not only bo cmincni above ihi'm, but lord over llicin. 'rhcs|iiiii '>t ihi' j;iuiils thai lived before the llood rx'vived in liinv, so soon «as lliHt tremendous judkiinen? forgotten. Niinrcjd was a inij;litv Sl project to rule all tin- sons of Noah was battled by the confusion of loiipues out of that land, he wfiil forth into Assyria (so the inaruiii reads it, v .1 I) and built Nineveh, Ac. that hav'ine built these tilies he might rule over them. Ob-- srrve in Nimrod the nature of ambition, it is boundless, restless, uiiil daring; it will slick at nothing; Nim rod's name siRiiities re- bellion, which leaches us that lyruiHstu men are rebels to Ciod. | from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza ; as thou goest unto Sodom, and Go- niorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim even unto Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their coun- tries, and in their nations. 21 ^ Unto Shcm also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him "were children born. 22 The children of .Shem ; Elani, and Ashur, and Arphaxad,and Lud, and Aram. 23 And the children of Aram ; Uz, and Hul, and G ether, and JMash. 24 And Arphaxiul begat Selah ; and Se- lah bcs;at Eber. 25 And unto Eber were born two sons ; tiie name of one xvaa Peleg ; for in his days" was the earth divided ; and his brother's name TtY/i' Joktaii, 2b' xVnd Joktan begat Ahnodad, and Shc- leph, and Hazermaveth, and Jerah, 27 And Hadorani, and L'zal, and Diklali,, 28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Slu-ba, 29 AjkI Ophir, and Havilali, and Jobab ; all these wtrc the sons of Joktan. 30 And their dwellinleasanlly seated, and yi I Canaan was under a divini- cvirv. Those that are under the curse of Ciod may yet ^xrhaps prosper or< ally iti this world ; lor wo cannot know love or hatred, the bloMin-; or the cui>o, by what is before us but by what is within iu>. 'J1..3'J. Miein was the fatluT of all'iho children of I'.bef. Abra- liani and his seed, Cuiil'i coMiuint i«(iple, not only descended iVuih K.ber, but I'roni hini were called llebixnrs, CJeii." .\iv. 13. JllK-r liinisell ue may suppose was ti man emiuonl fur religion in a Mitiie of general apostucy ; and the holy tonnue bttiiig calhil the liebu \r it is probable ho retaint-d it in his family in thocotifUsiuli of ISnbel, as a '<]K'cial token ul Ci xl's lavourtohim. I'he ninieof I'l by was i;iseii, betaiisi- about the time of his birth the earth was diviilid.oiihir wlu-ii NtMh made an orderly dislri- billion ut it. Its .liishua iIkI of the land of Canaan, or whenGud.iii justice ilivideil m,ii liy the Contusion (if toiioues. Justly miiv uiir ns bo called by the sjiine name, loi in our days ihcettith, i.V. lh( church, is most »rolcliedlv dividcil. GENESIS Noah, after their generations, in their na- tions and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood. CHAP. XI. 1 'The (lisfK'rskin of the sons of men at Balx-l, 1'«9; wlicre we have, tii>t, llioirprcMiniptuous dcsipii to build a city anil a tower, 1--4: Mcoiul, the righteous jiiHsmi'iU of (mxI upon tlicm, in disappointing thoir di-iign, by C(infouiulin5 lljeir languages, and so sciitteiing tlieni, 5--9. II. The |X!ii:;Tec of ti!.' sons of God, down to Abialiani, 10-.26"; with a genra! afcount of his family,, and iviuoval out of his nalivo country, 27, ad fin. AND the whole earth was of one lan- guage, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the etist, that they found a plain in the land ofSliinar ; and tlicy dwelt there. 3 ^ And tiiey said one to another. Go to, let us make brick, and bum tlicni thoroughly. And they.had brick for stone, and slime liad they lor mortar. 4 And tlicy said. Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top inai/ reach unto lieaven ; and let us make a naifie, lest we be scattered abroad u])on the face of the whole earth. CllAl'. XI. 1..4. Tlie close of ihe foregoirij; chaptc-r tells us, that bv the sons of Nuali, or an^ong the s.mis ol Xnali, the iialions wore divided after the flood; they were (l^.-.|i^oui^iK■d into several tribes or Cdh.nics, and it was apiinnited bv Noah, or agreed u])on among Ins sons, which way each tribe sfiould Mei r its coni-bu to remove to a greater distance Ihmi each other, as the increase of theirsi'veral coMipames shoul.l relaces, iliey con- trived to.kwplogellier, and w< re slack to go to lake possesion of the land which the F.ord God of th.ir failieiN ha.l given ihem, Joshua wiii. 3. Their unanimous ivsnlutinii was, Let us build a city and it tower. Some think tliev inleiided herebv to secure them- selves against the waters of another lluod ; but if ihev had had this intheireye they would have chosen to build upon a"rnoiintain ra- ther than upon a plain. But ihr.v ihing> ii seemed ihe\ aimed •It in buildHig this tower. First, it se( nis designed f m' an afl'ront to (lod hims lenish the earlh. (i.xl or- ders them to scatter : no, say ihey, we will not; we will live and die together : in order hereunto, thry engage in ibis vast unegat 'JVrah. 25 And Nahor lived, after hobegat Terah, 31 f And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Aaron, liis son's son, and his son Abram's his daughter-in-law. Sarai wife ; and the}' went forth with them irom Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan : and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hun- dred and fne years: and Terah died iu Haran. CHAP. XII. If i)ro rumiiii'ii Mi'd, will) nus Ni. rmd Mutt. i. t<>- I'MIN Christ as IH-rsoii ill 111" God, and Iviuh fuitliii to CIn isl tlit- llif sou of Abram, so llmt |nil (Icii. gi'tlur, and yuu liuM' such an iiilirepi'lwalo);\' oi cannot bo |iiodilCid, lor oiiL;bt 1 know, conci-rnilig any the world, out of his liiii' and at sue h udistaiico lioni the fountain head. Nolliing is li,ft mion ncord ronci'ming those of tiiis line but their naini's and ajjis, the Holy Chost sci'iniajj to hasten thro' thcni to the story of Abram. There was an observubh', gradual decrease in the years of their lives. Shein reached 600 years, which yet fell short of the ago of the patriarchs before the "llood, the three next came short of .000, the three iie.xt did not reach 'MtU, and after tiiut we rend not of miy that attained to 200 but 'I'erali, and not many ages after this Moses 'reckoiu (I 70 or SO to be the utmost men ordinardy arrive at. When the eaith begun to be ru- idenished, nun's lives Uvaii to shorten ; so thai tlie d(creas<' is to lie imputed to the wise disposal of providence rutlux lliuatu any decay of nature. ■27-'3'2. Here Iiogins the story of Abram, who is so fitinous lienceforvvard in both Testanieiits: his ctiuntrv was L'r of the C'.lial- dees.an idolatrous count i>, where even the diildii'tiof Kber tlieni- M-lvis were deg. iierated. Uis nlatioiis are nicntioued for hi^ s;Lke, (■cause of their iuleresls iu the foilowiug story. Hi* father and be wasTerdi, of whom it is sujd, ,)o»ii. wiv.'Z, that be served other ide of the Aood. 'I'iiough il is here said that III tliis chapter we have, I. God's call of Abrftin to the land ol C'aiuiaii, 1, "2, 3. II. Abram's oliedielice to this call, 4, 5. III. His weUoine to the land ofCanaan, 6'.-f). I\'. iKs oc- casional remove to Kgyjit, with nil account of what happened to iiiiii lliere: .Abram's iliglit and fault, 10. .13. SLiai's danger ;mi.| ileiiveraud-, 14. .■:()'. (Is on ilr,' other Vol. I. wlieu'leiah «;is seventy years old he liegat, Abram, Nahor, an(l llanui, which seem to t< 11 lis that .\bnnn was tlir eldest son of 'I'liiih, and born in his seventieth year: yet, bv iomparing v. 3C» which makes 'IVnih to die in hLs 'JOAth year, with Acts vii. 4, wheiie it is said that .'\briiin removed from Haran when his lather vviif , dead ; and chap. \ii. when- it is said that he was but seventy-livo vears old when he ii'moved from Haran, it appears that he was born in the hundred and thirtieth your of 'I'eiali, nnd urobabl* \»a.s bis youiig<-st son ; for in God's choice oft times the last shall bi' first," and the first last. We liave lome account of his brethren ; Nahor, out of whose family both Isaac and Jacob took tb< ir wives ; Ilafan the father of Lot, of whom it is here said that he died befoit, his fatlur 'reiah : his wile was Sarai, who some think wasthesamc with Iscah. the daughter of Haran. Abram himspl£ siiith of hrr, that she was the daughter of his father, but not the daughter of his mother, chap. x.\. 1"': yhe w;ts teu years younger than Abram. He ikparted out of l'r ol the Chaldeis with his father Terah, his nephew L(it, and the nst of his family, in obedience to the call of tiod, of which wf shall ivad mon-, chap. xiK.l, \c. this ( hajiter haves them in Haran or Chanan. a place about midwjiy betweei* l'r and Canaan, where tiny dwilt till Terah died, probably br- eausc he was unable, through llic iiirtrmiti«.s of age, to conlinue- his lournev. I Chap." XII. I..3. Wc have here tbc call hy wluch Abra» li fESIS. NOW tliG Louuhftd sakl unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will sIkmv thee ; 2 And I uill make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great ; and thou slralt be a blcss^ing : 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse hitn that cnrseth thee: and in tliee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 ^ So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken unto him ; and I/)t went with him ; and Abram ky/.v seventy and live years old M hen he departed out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wile, and Lot his brother's son, and all their s'ubstance that they had gathered, and the souls that I hey had gotten in Haran ; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan ; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6 ^ And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain oi ^Nloreh. Andtlifi C{Uiap,uito K'as thcniu the land. 7 And the Lord appeared, unto Abram; and said, Unto thyi^eed will I give this land^ and there Inu'lded lie an altar unto the Loud, who appeared unto him. 8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east «f Beth-el and j)ilched his teiit, having Beth-el on the west, and Mai on the cast r and there he builded an altar unto the Loud, and called tipon the name of the Loud. 9 And Abr^uii journeyed, going on still toward the south. 10 ^ Aiid there was a famine in tJieland.; and Abram went down into Egypt to so- journ there ; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it cam^ .to pass, when he was come near to cnter'int() Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his Mife, , Jlehold, now, 1 know that thou aft a fair woiiian to look Upon : 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when was i( niovoil out nf lliu land of liis iiuliviiy to ihu laiwl ol' tiromisi , which was (lesiniicl lolly his lailli and obichcncc ; and also lose - pai'.Uc him aiulsoHiim apart 6)r iGod, ami lor sixcial sci vices and (avours which were f«illuT him 1(1 "ivc him this call, apix^aifd in such od inustdtal on trust ; we must quil the things llial are seen lor ihe things thai arc not seen, and submit lo the suHi rings of the pri'seiit time in liojies of a ghiry that is yet to U- revealed, Rum. viii. I S. 'I'he promise gisen to Abiam is rather a eoinplif;!tion of promises. All C'od'ii pieceiils are atlended with promisis to the obedient, j'romisc 1. I will make of thecaitreat nation. 2. I will bless th(v ; cither particularly with the blessings of Iruitfulm-ss and inrnaso, as !»• had blessed .Adant and Noah, or in g(neial with all manner of bUssiiics both of ihe Hpfx-r and netln i springs. 3. 1 will make thy name j>real. Having no chilil he f( art d he should have no lutnie : but God will make i.ini a great nation, and so make Iiitu a fiii-sit name. 4. 'I'hou slialt be a blessing. Thy hap|)iness shall be an examulc of himself, and thy life H blessing to the [ilacis where thoi» 'shall sojourn, tiood men arc the blessings of iheir country, and it IS ihcir unspcukiiblu honour and happiness to be made so. 5. I will bless them that bless lliee, and cuisehim ijial curselh lliee. This madeil a kind of le;u^ieott'ensive aii'il tKlejisivl' bet<\i-en (•o(t and Abram: Abram heartily espou^f (^ jGoil's cause, and (iod pi'omi'>od to interest himsilf-in his. 6. ,In thcinle.s. It wasAbmm's hoijour lo be his father by nalurc; il will be the honour of Christians lo be Ids brethren by grace. , i .. . ■ 4, j. .Mirain was not disobcilienl t<> the heavenly vision, but did as he Wits bidden, not coiifening w ilh (lesh ami blood. Wlieii he removed Ih- was seveniy-five years old, an age « hen Ih' shouhf have rest and sollleitiMit ; bul if God, Sami would leave ull to follow Abram, liiough neillKT of fhem knew whilher. It is very comfortable when husbanil and w ife agri'c lo go together in ihe way lo heaven. Lot also, his kinsman, was inlUu-nced by Abram's i^ood example, and he was willing to "o along with him too. Thiv liKik all tlieirelVecls with ihi'm, .ill llieir substance and nidveabU" goods ihul ihey had selytes I hey had persuaded lo attend ttie won>hiii of the irneGiMl, and to go wilh them to Canaan. They Went forth to go lo the land of Canaan, so ihey did before, chap. xi. 31, and then look up short, but now ihey held on iheir way, and to the lai^l of Canaan they came by the good hand of their God upon ihein. 'I'hose that st t otit for heaven must [lerseveri' to the end, still reaching forth to those (hings that are beloie. fi'.y. Abram had but litlle comfort in the land he came lo : he found the country peopled aiul possessed by Canaaiiites, who wcK likely to be but bad nei^^hbuui's, »nd worse landlords, and, fur n CHAP. XIIT. tlic F.yryptinns sball sec tlieft, that tliey shall Siiy, This is his wife; and they wiU kill me but ihcy will save thee alive. 1:3 Say, I })niy ihec, thou art my sister : that it jnay be well with nie tor thy sake: jiikI luy soul shall live because of tliee. 14 ^ And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Euyi^tians beheld the woman, that she was very fair. 15 'I'he princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and connnended lier before Pharaoh : and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And he entreated Abram -well for her sake ; and he had sheep, aud oxen, and he- nsses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels. 17 Ajui the LoKU plagued Pharaoh and his house with sireat j)lagues, because ol tSarai, Ainam's wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, what is this that thou hast done unto me? if ought iippcai's, lie could iiol Imn-Rround lu (lildi lli^ u-nt (Ui but by thrir pirmisMciii. IIo li;ul mcii si sckIiiih hi in it: In- pabM il tnrougli llif liiiiil, 6; lie icimivrd to a ninuniairi, S; liejounicyiil going on ilill, 9- All good pioplr miiil look upon ihcmM'lvo as klraugi'i-band sojouiiuiii in lliis vvoild, and 1)\' lailii sit loosr to it its a stianpc countrv. He found, liowovii, jivai cuiiifort in the Ciod he followcil. \\'lu'n he could ha\c little sali^l'aclion in convci-so with ihc Canaanitos, lu- found thcR> In- had abundance of iilcasun-, in coMiniunion w iili ihat Ciod who bad brought him ihiiln r, and did njl have hini. (tod appiared lo Abiam jirobaldy in a vi.sion, ami spoJM U) him go4)d and comfortable \vor;rant in icm ision to his seed, which yit it should seem Alii-am under^tood also as a firaiit to hiniselfol a belli r land in reversion, of which this was a tyjH; ; for wc loukeil for a hea\o lo IV'vpt, whiih lav soiitl.-wvsi, ilu contrary way, that he mi;:ht nut' so much as sV.ni lo look back. .Mnam was thirepiilly of annat fault in denviiii: liis wil., am/ pretendinjt tl.at she was his sister, lie had ii' jealmis, tunorouS Jiuic) UiUl OIK- or oilier of the Lg>ptiiuu would U! so cL^uiutJ with w'h}' didst thou not tell ine that she iras thy wife ? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister.-* so r misiht have taken her tome to wife ; now, therefore, behold thy w il'e, take /icr, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerninsi; him : and they sent him away, and his. wife, and all that he had. CHAP. XIII. In thisch.iptcr we have a furthcraccouiu concerning Abram. J. tn general of hjs conilition and brhaviour initio land r.>f jaomise, which was now the land of his i)ili>i linage ; lirst, his leinuves, 1, 3, 4, IS; second, his riches, 2: third, liis devotion, 1, 18. II. .A jiarticular^accounl of a (|uarrcl that happeiiod between him and l>ol : lirsl, the occasion of their strife, 5, 0: second, the parlies concenail, 7 : third, the making tip llie quarrel by the piudence of Abram, », J): fourth, I.ol'» de- parture iVoin .Abram to ihe plains of Sodom, 10, 13: filili, God's a)ipearaiice lo .Abnim lo cunlirm the iiroinisc of the him! of Canaan to him, J4..17. AND .\bram went up out of Egy|)r, ne, and his wife, and all th? Lot with him, into the .south. hat he had, and the beautv (if .Saiai, that if they shoi'M know he was her husband, they wciuld lind soineuav to i:ike him oil, llial they might marrv her. The fearof man brin^eth a snare; and many are driven iJi sm by fear of death. Abram was eminent forlailh, and yet liR thus fell lhroii;;li unbelief anil distrust of divine providence", even after Ciod had appeared to him twice. Alas! what will beCoiiK- ol" the willows when the cedai-s are thus shaken. l-V..?*.). Sarai was in fieat danuer of having her chastity vio- lated by the kiiijnf I'.iypl, ami, without ilimbi, the d.ingcr of sin is the preaUsl dan^irv\e ci-n be in. Pharaoh's jninces saw hep, and commended her before lum, not for that which wiu, really her praise, her virtue and modi sty, Inr failh and jiiely ; ihi-sc we're n« excelU-ncies in I heir eyes; but liny um-ssis vthich we biini; ouivlves into IkV our own sin and folly, \vi- had Uen ruined loni; ere lliis. I ledeuU not v< ilh us according lo our desert. Cioil chastised I'haraoh, and so pnveiiled the jirogiiess of his sin. Not only fharaoh bui his house was phiuutxl, probably those princes eS|H'ciallv thai had comineiidid Sinai lo Phar.ioii. I'arlners in sin ari jiisily niade )iarlnei-s in the punishment. 'Jliose that Vive other's lusts, must e\]H'CI lo share in their plagues. I'liaiaoji reproved .Abram, and lluii dismisvd him with rt-S|H'Cl» Mis reiiioof was cnlin but very just. What is this lh:il thou hast doner U'lial an ill ihinj;! How unlK-comiii" a vvise and pi ml man ! If those ihat profess lelif^ion do that which is unfair, esperially if they siiy ihat which bordeiMin a lie, lliry" must ex|H-ct to hiaVof il, and have reason to thank those that will tell them of it. liis dismission vv«s kiiiil and very geneiiMis. He retnined hini his viilt- wiihiuil otl'erins any injuiy lo her honour, and sent hiinaway in peace. 1 le commanded his men coiu'erninj; him, that is, chargi-d till 111 lo do him no injury, tu' he appoinird ihein when .Aliraiu \va» Jis|mM'il lo niiiiu afiei liie famine, to conduct iheiu .safe out oflhc country. IVrhaps il I'lioliioh Imd not .sent him aw.-iv, lie would have been lemiiied to slay in JCsiypt, and foit^et ihe liuid of pnuiiiso. Somei lines God makes use of the i nemii-s of his jHople lo convinca them llial this is not their n si, but iliey must think of deparliiu;. ()bs«ivea ivseinblance Ulwixt this tlelivei-iince of Abnim oul of .'■".^l'',i "">' 'hat of his xt d loiu hiindiX!d years after. .Abr.im went iiilo K-M-pl on occasion of a l.oniue, so did they. He was fetched out wiU)gival]>laj;ui-s uj'oM I'haraub ; so \tcfe tliey. .A* Abrnm GENESIS 2 And Abijim was very rich iii" cattle, iii|r.'77/ take tlic left hand, then I will go to the right, or it" thuu dtpdrt to the liglit hand, silver and in irojd 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Ueth-el, unio ihe pliiee where his tent had been at the l)eginning, between Beth-cl and ihii ; , 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the iirst : and there Abruui called on the name ol" the Loud. 5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had Hocks, and herds, and leiils. 6 And the land was not able, to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 ^ And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and tlu;herdmen of Lot's cattle. And the Canaaniteand the Perizzitc dwelt then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen, for we be brethren. * 9 h not the whole land belore thee? Se- parate tiiyself, I pray thee, iVom me: \[' llwu • ;is diMnisNcd by l'l\;iian|», siiul cmirlH-il uiih the !,[ii>il uf iln l\ji,[>lmiis !•" wiif tiny. Icr Ciiiil'.-> Ciii'c of \\h I'diplu is ilic sanif ycslfrl InV i-vcr. - ' Cll.Af*. Xlll." 1 . Aljiiini rouiriicil out of I'-Rvja ; lie canic liim- stlf, siiiil bii)iif;lil all In-) willi liiin buck again lo Canaan. 0. 111.' was viTV rifh.niil unly in faitli and (;o(>ii umks, and in I In' tiionnys, but ho "as iirli in calllc.and in silver, and in 2'>ld. 'I'lir richt'sof coiid nun arc llic fruils o( (imrs blibsin;;. Ciml had said In Abram, 1 «illlbic>s ilicc; mid that bltssing made him rich witli- t)ut sorrow, I'liiv. x.',?'^. 3, 4. Ill- ivniovi-d 111 Bi'lhi'l. Thillicr ho wenl, noi onlv bocanse thiTc he had lonmrly his Icnl, but because ther<' he hail Cornierly hisaliar : ami though ihe aliar was (lone, yet he canie to tiie phice of the altar, either to ivxive iIk' reiinnibraiice of t)ie sweet com- iiitinion lie iiad with (lod at that (dace, or jierha|>s to pay the vciws he there made to God when lie niiderlook bis journey into J"."V|il. As Ids aliar was uone he could not oflersaeiifice, but in. f.dlril ii|ins;bt wiih theirCiod, must be lon-taiil and pi-i'severinc in the seivices of lelinimi. Abianiilid lint lea\( his religion behind liim in l:l};y|>l, as many do in their (lavels. j/.p. We have nil unhappy fallinj; out Ix-fMoen Abram and I^it, who had hitherto been inseparable companions, but now parteil. 'IIk; occasion of tlnir quarrel was ilieir riches. We read, v. '2, how rich Abram was, now we are told lliat l^ot who went with .Abram was rich loo, and tlierefoio C>od bli'ssed him with riches, bee au"* he went with .Abram. Kiches are often an occavioii of Miil'e amoiit; relations aiiil neighbours. I'overtv and travail, wants and wanderings, could not separate between Abram and Lot, but riches did it. The strife began between the herdmen of .Abr.im's cat- tle, Gild the herdmen ol Lot's catth'. It is likely they strove which sliould have till' L»cttir pasture ami the better water, and both in- terested thcik masters in the quarrel. 'I'hat vvhicli aficravated the quarrel was, thai the ICanaanite and the IVrizzite dwelled in the liuiil ; this niaile (he quarrel bi.ilh very dangerous and very scanda- then 1 will go to the left. 10 ^ And J/ot lifted up his eyes, and be- held all the [)lain of Jordan, that it xrns well watered every where, before the Loud de- stroyed .Sodom anil (jomorrah, even as the garden of the Lokd, like the land of Egypt as tl'.ou comest unto Zoar. 1 1 'J'hen Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and I^ot journeyed east ; 'iX\n\ they separated themselves the one froju the other. \1 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the ])lain, and [)itched his tent toward Sodom. 13 JUit the men of Sodom -ucrc wicked, and sinners before the Lou n exceedingly. 14 <(| And the Lohu said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where tliou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward ; 1.3 Vox all the land whicli thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. lolls: iioiice would be taken of it, ami improvemeiil made of it ti> their reproach by ibe Canaaniles and I'eri/ziles. 'I he muliuii for slaying their sli lie was made by .Abiam, though he was the senior aud superior relation ; his plea for peace was very alleClioliatc and very cogent. Ixt there be no slrite between me and thee, for we are bielhreii. Why shoiilil weqnaiitl for room, while theie is room enoiigli for Us both. 'I'lionsh dod had [ironiised Abram to givi- tins land to his seed, chap. sii. "; ami it doth not appear that any such pKunise was mnile lo Lot, yet he allows him to become part- ner with him, and tenders an equid sliaie to one that had not an equal righl ; he e\eii gives him bis choice, and oflers to take his leavings. 'I'liere wasall the reason in the world that Abiam should chtise ("list, yet he reci-des from his right. Not only the punctilios of honour, but even interest itself, should in some cases be sacrificed to peace. 10..) 3. Abram having ofleretl Lot tlic choice, he accepted ii witlioul a compliment, and made his election. In the choice which he made he had an eye jirincijially to the goodness of the land : l^e Uhelil all the plain' ol Jordan, the Hat country in which Sodom stood, that it was admirably well watered, and so Lot chose him all tliat jilaiii. 'I'hat valley, that was like tlie garden of Lden, now yiehled him a most iileasant prospect, and therefore he donbteil "not but it \»oiilt ill that war, lO. III. Abniin's rescue of Lot iVoiu tliat caj"- tivitv, with the victory he obtained over the cotiquerors, 1.3. .16'. IV. A brain's return from that e.spedition, 17 ; with an .iccouni of what passed, (list, between him and the Liiigol Salwni, 18. .'.20: second, between him and the king of Sodom, 21. .2*. AND it came to pass, in the days of ^mrajilicl king of Sliinar, Arioch king of Allasar, Cliedorkiomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations ; 2 That these made war M'ith Bera king ol Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Be^a, Avhich is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale ofSiddim, which is the salt sea. 4 Twelve years tliey served Chedorhiomcr, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. kinsman ! y whose departUR' his hands were weakened, and iii- he.irt !>;iddened, then God came to him with good and comfortable wonls. Communion with Ciod may at any time ser\c to make up the want of conversation with vHir friends ; when our relations are sepaii'ted from us, God is not. Ciod assurrd .\brH'm of two thiin;s, a nood land, and a numerous issue to enjoy it. He here shews him (he land as he had promised, chap. xii. 1 , and alterwanls shewfd it to Mosr-, I'rom the top of Pisj^ah. He si^cures this laml to linn and his seed for ever, LI; he pives him Iri lake possession of ii tbouuh it was a reversion, 17; Aiise, mid walk through the land ; enter and take, jx)ssession, survey the parcels, and it w ill app( in bettares llie holy seed : lie that cives florv (Jives 'jnice to make mi'i't lor >{lory. CHaI*. XIV. L.l'J. We have here an account of the first whf th«t ever «<■ lead (.if in scri|>tuie, which we had not had the re- Cord of, had iKjt .Abram and l.oi been coiiceriied in it. The in- vuderr wi-re four kiiii;s, two of them no less tliHii the kiiij;s of .Shiiiar mid Klain, Clialdia and I'l I'sia, probably not thev sovi-reiciis in pirsoii, but eithi r oflieers under ilu'in, or the heads of colonies th.it came out from these undsclllcd ucarScHluiH, but ictuiiicd the Aol. I. .5 And in the fourtecth j'car came Che- dorlaomer, and the kings that were with hiui, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth-kar- naim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6" And the Hoiites in their mount .Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 ^VikI they returned and came to En- inisphat, which is Kadesh, and smote all tlic countiy of the Amalekitcs, and also the Amoritcs that dwelt in Ilazezon-tamar. 8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the kingof Ciomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Keboiim, and the king of Bela, (the same is Zoar,) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim ; 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amra- phel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar ; ibur kings with five. 10 And the vale of Siddim teas full of slime-pits ; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there ; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 1 1 And thi\v took all the goods of Sodom,, and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their Avay. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, (who dwelt in Sodom,) and his goods,, and departed. names of the countries whence they had their original. The in- vaded were the kini;s of tivi: cities tliat lay Hear together in the iilaiii of .lordaii, Sodom, Gomorrah, Adam. Zi-buiiin, and Zoar. riie occa:.ion of this war whs the rev(dt of the live Vings from un- der the government of Cliedorlaomer. They had served him Iwehc years, in the thineenih they rebclleil, and in the fourteenth year, liter soim- pause and preparation, Chedorlaomer, in conjunc- ioii with his alliis, set himself to chastise the revoltors, and, since he Could dot have it otherwise, to fetch hence his tributi- on tie- point of the sword. Pride, covetousness. and Ambition, are tbe luvjsfrom which wars and fii^htings come. The four kiiij^ laid the neighbouring countries waste, and enriched themselves wilhthu ^poil of them, .S..7, upon the alarm of which it had been the wis- dom of the king of .Sodom to submit,. hiuI desire conditions of jH-ace ; hut he would rather venture the utmost extremity. The I'orces of tin- kiiigof Sodom and his allies were routed, and it should seem many of them perished in the slime-pits that esca]K'd thtf sword. Tlie cities well- plundered, and I>ot carried awav captive. Lot may !><• eonsideivd, lirst, as shuring with his neighbours iii this common ealanuty. Though he wun a righti-ous man, and Vbrain's limllier's son, yet he was involved with thenst in this trouble. .'Ml tliin;^ hap|M-ii alike to all. Sicond, as suiaitiiig lor the foolish choici' he made of as<'ltlemiiit hen-. When we gu out ofiheway of duly we cannot expict that the (luiiees whuli are made by our liisis should issue in the way of Comfort. Partu ulur mention is iniiile of their lakine Lot's goods, ihoM- gooiis which had occa'-ioued ills coutest wiUi .\braui, i.-d lu* s' puiuliuu fruiv kiiu 11 GENESIS. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew ; for he dwelt in the plain of Mam re the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner : and these tty/'e confederate with Abram. 14 f And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained .servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued tlietti unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods and the women also, and the people. 17 ^ And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, (after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that zterf with him,) at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18 And Melchizedekkino-ofSalcjn brought It is just with God lo ^ake. Though they were strangers to him, my, though thev were Sodomites, sinners before the Lvird exceedingly, yet he brought back all the women, and the people, and llieir lods. As we have an opportunity we must ilt> good lo all men. .his victory which Abram obtained over ihc kings, the prophet seems to reler to Isaiah xli. 2, 3. Who raised up the righteous man from the east, i.nd made him rule over kings, 17 ••20. The rabbins, and most of ouf rabbinical writere, con- clade that Melchizedek was Shcm, the son of Noah, who was king and priest to his descendants, according to thepaitriarchal model. f forth bread and wme : and he was the j)ricst of the most high (jod. 19 And he blessed him, and said, BIes>ed he Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth : 20 And blessed he the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave liim tithes of all. 21 f And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the pei-sons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king ofSodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Loud, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I ■will not fake from a thread even to a shoe-latchet, and that 1 will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich : 24 Save only that which the j'oung men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre ; let them take their portion. But this is not probable; lor why sh(jidd his name be changed : and hou came he to settle in Canaan.' Many Christian writers have thought that this was an a|)peaialice ol the son of God him- self, who ap])iared as a righteous king, owning a righteous cause, and giving peace. It is hard lo think that any mere man should be said lobe willioul father, wiihout molher, and without descent, having neither beginning i>f days nor end of life. Ileb. vii. 3. It is witnessed of Melchizedek that he liveth and abiileth a priest conti- nually, 3"8, nay, the ajiosllc makes him, of whom these things arespoken, lo be our Lord who si>iaiig out of Judah, 13, 14. The most received opinion is, that Melchizeiiek was aCanaanitc prince, that reigned in Salem, and kel)t up the woi-ship of the true religion there. But if so, why he should occur here only in all the story of Abram ; why .Abram should have altai-s of his own, and not atti'iu! the altars of his ne'mhbour Melchizedek, set ins unac- countable : iMelchizedek brought forth bread and wine for the re- freshment of Abram and his soldiers, ami in congiatulatitjn of their victory. Thus he diil as king, teaching us to do good, and to com- municate. .As i)riest of the most high Clod he blessed Abram, which wi; may sujipose was a greater refieslimelit to Abram than his bread and wine were. Tl;iis{ioil raisi'd up his son Jesus, an:a;h : he also backed his refusal with a good reason, l^est thou sin. ablest say, I have made .Abram rich ; which woulil have cast a reproach both oil the promise of fiod, as if that would i have enriched .Abiam without the spoils of Sodom, and on the character of Abram, as if he undertook the e.Npedilioti lociirichJjinisclf. lamiikinj vows «(e CHAP. XV. CHAP. XV. In tliis chaptf r we have, I. A bi'iuthI promise of God's kindness and goud-will to Abram, 1. 11. A particular drclanilion of the jmrposf of his love, concerning him, in two things : fii-sl, that he would give him a numerous issue, 2 • -7 : second, that he would give him Canaan for an inheritance, 17>to the end. A ITER these things the word of the Loud came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram : / ayn thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward, 2 And Abram said, Loud God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus ? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed : and, lo, one bora in my house is mine heir. 4 ^ And, behold, the word of the Loud came unto him, saying. This shall not be thine heir; but he that shidl come forth out of tliine own bowels shall be thine heir. .5 And he brought him forth bread, and said. Look now toward heaven, and tell tiie «iiigfit caietuUy to insert the necissary exceptions, that wo niav not afterwards say before the an^id. It whs an error. Keel. \. (). Abram hire exci-pts the food ot his soldieis, ami the shan >>of his confederates. Those who arcstrict in restraining liieirowii liberty, VLt ought n.t to impose- restraints on the liberty of others. <)HA1*. X\'. 1. (lod manifested himself and his will toWbrain in a \ision, whieli Mipposeth .Xbrain awake, and ^oiiie visible ap- pearance of the Scheclunah, orsome sensible token of the presence of the divine glory. He called him by name, which was a great honour to him, cautionedhiin against disquieting lears.and assured him of safety and happine-s. 'Iliat ho should be as safe as God himself could keep him; I am thy shiidd, or somewhat more iin- phatically, I am a shield to thee ; present with ihee, actually carin" i'or ihee. The consideration of this, that God himself is and will be a shield to his people, to secure ihem from all destructive evils, should be sulficient to silence all tormenting fears. He was to be a.s happy as God could make him, I will Ih; thy exceeding great reward; not only thy rewarder, but thy reward. God him-;elt is the chosen and promised felicity of souls; chosen in this world, promisi'd in a better. • C, 3. The ga-at adliction that sat heavy on .\bram was the want of a child, and the complaint of this hi' here pours out liefon- the l/ord, and shews before liim the trouble, ("id had already told him, that he would make of him a great nation, and his seed as the dust of the earth: but had let'l him in sus|)ence, whether it should be his Med begotten, or his seed adopted by a son of his loins, or oidy n son of his house. If we suppose that .\bram looked no farther than a tempmal Comfort, this complaint wjus culpable ; but if wesupposi- that .Abram herein had an eye to I he promised Sivd, the importunity of his desire was very commendable, though thus far the complaint wasculpabh-, that there was some diftideiice of the promise at the bottom of it, niul uneasiness of waiting Ciod's time. 'J'nie belie\«rs sometimes lind it hard lo nconeile G»>d's promis<'s, and his providenres, when liny seem to disagree. 4, 5. In answir to this rimiplaint, God gave him an express promise of a son, and to alTect him the more with this promise', he tiiok him out and shewed him the stars; and then tells liim, S> »h»l| thy si'i'd !>•, 5. Abrani's seeil, according to the llesh, wer<- like the dust ol the earth, chap. xiii. 1 (', hut Ins spiritual s«-eil werx' like the stars of heaven, not only numerous, but glorious and very preciotas. 6. Aliram believed in tbeLord,.bc believed tbc promis* resting on stars, if thou be able to number them : And he said unto him. So shall thy seed be. 6 ^ And he believed in the liOuo ; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 % And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. 8 And he said Lord God, whereby shall 1 know that I shall inherit it.'* 9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three yeais old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took unto him all tliese, and divided them in the midst, and laid eacii piece one against another ; but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them awa}'. 12 5f And, when the sun was going down; a deep sleep fell upon Abram ; and, lo, an horrorof great darkness fell upon him. the power and faithfuliu ss ol liiiu that made it, and (iod counted it to him for righteousness. This is urged in the New Test.imeiil, to prove that we are justified by faith, without the works of the law, lloin. iii. Gal. iii. 6, for Abram wasjustitiiil while he was yet un- ciicumcised. If .-Vbram, who was so rich in good works, was not justilied bv them, much less can wu who are so iiiior in them. 7. God here minds .Vbram of three things for his encouragement concerning the promise of the good land : first, what Goil is ii) himself; I am the Lord Jehovah, and therefore 1 will make good my promise to thee : second. What he had done for Abram ; he liad brought him out of I'r of thi- Chalihrs. God six'aks of this as that which he gloried in, lam the Lord that brought thee out. He glories in it as an act of power and grac>'. Compare Isa. xxix. 'J2. uheii he glories in it long after ; thus ^aith the Lord who redeemed Abram; redeemed him from sin : third. What he intended to do t(.rhim; I brought thee hither on purpose to give thee this land to inherit it ; not only to possess it, but to possess it as an inheri> tance, whicli is the sweetest and surest title. 8. .Abram (lesires a sign. Whereby shall I know that I shall in- herit it ? 'lids did not proceed from distrust of Goiiie» ot tiie nutiiua << GENESIS. 1.3 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thv seed shall be a stran2;er in a land that is not tlieirs, and shall serve them : and thcyshall afflicttheni tburhundred years: 14 And also that nation, Avhoni they shall serve, will I judge ; and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace ; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither iigain : for the initjuity of the Amorites is not yet full. 17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, beiiold, a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp, that passed between those pieces. 18 In that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto tlic great river, the river Eu- phiates : 19 The Kenites, and the Keni^zites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rcphaims, ' God's dealing wirh his seed, and an indicatioivoCthc nalinc ol that Covc;uiut of piTuliavity, which God was now about to make witii Aljnim. The Old Testament dispensation was a dispensation ot (iaikness and honor, Heb. xii. 18. 13. .16'. Hi.iv is tlie prediction itself, in which several thiiicrs are foretold : first, the suftiring state of Abram's seed foralonj; time. They sliall be stranj;ers, servants and sufl'erers, for those wIkmu they serve !-halI afflict them four hundred years, lliis uei-secution began with mickinir, wli.n Ishmael, the son of an Egyptian, pei-secuted Isaac, who was bov:. after the spirit, Gen. .\xi. .9, Gal. iv. >:;<-), and came at last to murder, the basest of murders; that of their new- born children. So that, more or less, it continued 400 years ; though in extremity not so many. 'I'his was a long but limited time : second, the judgment of the enemies of Abram's seed ; That oation whom they shall serve, even the Egyptians, will I judge. This points at the plagues of Egjjtt, by which God not oidy con- strains the Egyptians to release Israel, biit punished them for all the hardships they had i)ut upon them, "Though God may sufler perse- cutors and oppressors to trample iifon his people a great while, yet he will certainly reckon with them at last, tor his day is coming, Psalm xxx>ii. VZ, 13 : thinl, the deliverance of Abram's seed out of I^jjypt. It is here promised that they should not only l)e en- larged, but enriched: They shall come out with great substance, this was fulfilled, Exod. xii, 35, 3<) : fourth, their happy settle- ment in Canaan, 16', they should not only coin< out of Egypt, but they shall come hither again: hitherto the land of Canaaniwht re- in thou now art. The re.ison why they must not have tlie land in possession till the 'ourth generation, is because the iniquity of the Amorites is not y. i lull. Israel cannot be possessed of C;maan till the Amoriirs he dip issesscd, and thev are not yet rip<- for ruin : lifth, .Abinm's quiet death and burial before these things shoulii come to pass, 15. MeflKill not only die in i'e:icr, but die in ho- uour, and b" buried decently ; not only die in pi-ace, but die in sea- son, Job v. C ^, 26'. 17.' Here is the covenant ratified. The sigi» .•^bram desired was 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. CHAP. XVI. We have four things in this chapter, I. Hagar's mamagc to .Abram her master, I •■3. II. Her tnisbehavicur towards Sarai her misties'-, 4 •(). III. Her discourse with aai angel that met her in her flight, 7-^i- IV. Her delivery of a son, 15, 1ft. >TOAV' Sarai, Abram's Avife bare him no ^ children : and she had an hand-maid, an Egyptian, whose name nas Ilagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Loud hath restrained me from bearing ; I pray thee go in unto my maid : it may be that 1 may obtain children by her. -\nd Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai, Al)ram's M'ife, took Ilagar her maid, the EgA'ptian, after Abram had dwelt ten 3'ears in tlie land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 *[[ And he "\vent in unto Hngar, and she conceived ; and, when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 And Sarai said unto Abram, n\y wrong he upon thee : 1 have given my maid into thy bostmi ; and when she saw that she had given at h ngth, when the sun was gone down, so that It wai dark, for that w:is .a dark dispensation. The smoking lurnact signilied the affliction uf his seed in I'^jvpt. The burning lamp speaks comfort in this ailiiction, and this God shewed Abnim at the same time that he si, i wed him the smoking furnace. The ))a>>sing of these be- tween thi.' pieces w!us the contirmiiig of the covenant (iod now made with him, that lie might have stniiiii consolation, being fully per- suaded that what God promiseil lie would certainly perform. 18 ■•'21. Here is .a rehearsal of the graiii, and a recital of the particulars granted such as is usual in the grants of lands. He spe- cifies the boundaries of the land intended to be granted, 18, and then for tlie givater certainty inentiims in whose occupation these lands no« were, Tlii'y were not jiosscssed of all these coun- tries when Ciod brought them into Canaan; but in David's time and Solomon's their jurisdiction extended to the utmost of these limits, '2 Chion. ix. 26. The j^resent occupiei-s are immed to mag- nify God's love to -Abram and his seed in giving to that one nation the possession of many nations; so precious were they in his sight, and so honourable, James iv. 3, 4. CHAP.iXVT. 1--3. We have here the marriage of Abram to H;igar, who was his secondary wife. Herein, though he may be excused, he cannot be justified, for from the beginning it was not so. The maker of this match w as Sarai herself, who used lier bar-'' renness as an argument with Abram to marry his maid. If our wishes be not kept in a submission to God's providence, our pur- suits will scarce be kept under the restraints of his precepts. .Abram's compliance with S;uai's proposal we have i-easOn to think" wasfr.'in aji earnest desire of the promised seed. God had Cold him that his heir should be a son of^ his body, but had not yet told himit should be a son by Sarai, therefore hi' tlought why not by Hiigar, since Sarai herself proposed it .' I'oul temjitations may have very fair pretences. 4 • 6". Hagar no sooner perceives herself wit h child by her master than she looks scornfully on her mistress; thinks herself a better woman than Sarai, more favoured by-ftuven, and likely to be bet- CHAP. XVI. conceived I was despised in her eyes ; the LoKJ) judge beiwccn me ;ind thee. 6 liul Abnun s;iid vintoSarai, ]5elio]d, thy jiiaid IS in thy hand : do lu her as itp.easelh iheK. And when Sanii dealt Imicily ■\vilh her she tied iVoiu \\v.i ("ace. 7 ^\ And the nn<2;('l of the Loiu) ibiind her hv a fountain ol" water in the wilderness ; by tlic fountain in the way to Sluir. 8 And lie said, lJau,ar, 8arai's maid, whence earnest tliou .' and whillier wilt thou _uo ? And she said, I tiee from the face of my mistress Sarai. 9 And the angel of the Lokd said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and subuiiL thy- self under her hands. 10 And the angel of the Loud said unto her, I will multi[)ly thy seed exeeiclinLi, y. that it shall not be numbered for multitu(i<\ 11 And the angel of the J^ord said unto tiT Uldvi-d liy Aljiaiii, iiml tlicixtori' will not scr.\c lirr ;is ^lic liu-- ([■iiu-. We jusllv sulli r by tliobi- vvIkidi we liiivc- siiiliiUy iijiUilyril, :iiid it i^ 11 nulinous lliii);; wiili (Joil to makr those tlif iiistruiiuiits ol'oui lidiilir , v.liDin \vr li:ivo niadi- tin- inslriiimiils ol' our sin. Sur.ii iiliatus .Miiiiin iiidixi iilly, Mj^imiiii); (uitli ;i most uiirci- Sdimblcjialdiisy) llr.ll In- i;;ir's iii^(]|i-iiCf ; iind :is one- not \\illinj;t<> liriir ulmi Abrain bad to sjiy, lor the nclilyini! wlllu- jni^lakc HMcl tlii- (Icaiilig id' liiiiiMir, slic raslily aiipcaUlu tlod ill ihf rase, as il 'Al)rani liad rrluvd to riglit lior. ll is an idiMMiliiy wiiicli |)a»ioMuti: i)io|jlf arr olliii guilty of, tocjuarnl Willi (lllM■l^ for ihiit wliicli tiny tliiMi'M.lics must bear llu' blaiiu' ol. Sanii could not but own ifial she bad i;iviii iicr maid to .Vbrain, and yrl sill- cries out, -My wron;; be vi)ion lliee. Abram ineekK re- signs llie matterot" tlie niain>ent, but tolallv abMiited liersirvice, and ran away from htress, and that she lier>i-h kad viven tin- liist imtvocatioii. I'ridc will hardly be ri'stniiiied bv the bonds of duly. 7--.9. Here is the first mciiiion we h.ive in scripture of the ap- iHaianteof an angel, linear was a lyiHof the law which waspiven by the disposition n( angels ; but the worhl to come is not out in SMbjectioii to tlicin, lleb. ii. j. The angel arreslid her in In r Jligllt which she was making towards her own country, for she was in the way to Shu r, which lay toward* ly4y[it. (ioil sulVer> tlioM- that are out id thi' way to wander awhile, that when thev ve their folly, that till V have brought ihems.Ucs to, ihey may betlie belter dispoM il to return. Ilagarwa, not stopped lilTsh.- was in the wil- derness, and Ml down weary eiMiiii(h,anil cbtd of f.iir water to re- fresh herself with. 'I'he ixngel Ciilh-d In r S:!lai'v maiil, as a check to her priih', and a rebiiki' to her llinht. Siiraia maid oni>|,t to be .iiSarai'sUMii, and not wandering in the wilderness. The i|iieviions he put to her were very pertinent. \Vliein,T comesi thoif? Con- sider ihtii thou art running away, both from' thedulv ihnn wast iHiunil to, and the pri> ilexes thou wa»t blest with in .Vlinim'i tin!. Whither will thou go? '! Iiou art running th\-j If inio s»n In I'.ijypt, uiid ititoUiinser in thf wildoriKS-s, through w'l;i. ?, I'.efinn to Uiv mi»«r.-!imiid sub- * ol. t. »» ■ her, 13ehold, thou art with child, and .shali bear a son, and shall call his name ishmael ; bceau.se tlic Lf^itn hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man ; his hand Kill he against every man, and every man's IkukI against Ifnn : and he shall dwell in the pn'scnce of all his brethren. 13 And she called the name of the Loiti> that spake unto her, 'I'hou God seest me : for she said. Have I also here looked after liim that set-ill me P ■ \ 14 W heri'foie the. well Avas called ,Beer- laliai-roi: behold, i/ /.v between Kadesh and Jiered. 1.5 €[ -Viul Ilagar bare Abram a son : and -Vbiain called his son's name, which Ilagar" bare, Jshniael. 10 And Ahiam rciix foui"score and six yi'ars old when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. mil thyself under lu'r lian suppose ihal the angel having gi\en ila^it tliisgood counsel, she immediately j)romised to obey it, and iheii llie angel eiKdur.ii[i-d her with a prediction concerning her pos- Urily. lie assures her of a sate delivery, and that of a son whicli Abram desired. lie names her cliild, which was an honour bolji to hir and il ; calls him I>limael, (ioil will liear, and ihe hmmiii h because ibe Lord hath heard ; he hath, and theref.iiv he will sea- ,oiiably succour ill a day i>f allliciion, \ihHli ouL'l.t lo Le nnietn- bfied wiih tliaiikfulne>s lo CJod ; sucli a time, in such a strait the Lord heard, llie Lord heard ihe mice of my alliielion and helpeil me, Lsal. \.\\i. '2'2. lie i)ri)inises hera numerous olVspring : 1 \til| nuilliply thy sad exceedingly. It is supposed that the .Alabiain at lliis day descended from Ishlnael, am! ll.iy are a ;;uat |K(iide. lie also gives a character of the child she should bear. He will be a wild man, rude, bold, and uniraclabW', living at Ian?-, tuid im- patient of sirvice and restraint. It was loivlojd limi he should live in stril'e, and in u slate of war; his hand against every man, and every man's hand againsi him, and yet that he should live in safety, and hold his own against all the world, Iv shall dwell in the pivsence of all his brethren. .Many that are espOMil by their ovMi imprudence, are yet •trangely preserved bv iliviiie jirovidenc*-; so much better is God to tliein than they ilfscrvc, who not-Olily forfeit their lives by sin. but hazard them." K), 14. llagar made ii jmoiis reflertion on this grnciotis nppinr- anceof(;od lo her. Oliserve iu what she said, first, hernwlut adoration of (I oil's omniscience and providence, villi application id' it to herself; she called the name of the l.ord that spake \ii:fo her, thou { Mill seest me ; this should be with her bis name, for ever, by which she vvill know liim, and rememlier him whiS she lives, (owl is. a.s the a!iciei;is cNpix ssed it, all evr. Second, her humble iidoi-.iiion of (muI's favour to her ; havr 1 heir :.l»o looked after him, that sirth me? I lavr 1 here seen the lack j'artMtf him that seetli me ? so it mijiht be read, for the word is rinch the >:.me with that, r.Nod.Nwiii. '^.T, she saw no; fare to free, but as ihrouch a glass darkly, I Cor. Niii. 10 : third, the n:;me which she gave to tlie'])lace. Heer-lahairoi ; i. e. the wi Hot him that lives Knd sro me. Jl is likely llagar put this name upon it, and il w.i* r(tsill<■^ after, for a perpeiiinl ineinorial. ('od'- gmcioi'S t^lalUle9lutioI^ of himself to us should nvur be forcoitin. I."), l(i. Ishmael was the r-oii of liic hnrd-vvprnan, fhr.t was l.o"i after the fli-sh. (ial. \v. C3, rei)ri«< t:tiMjr the tinbrlipving Jrwt. .Many who mil At)nim father, yvi arc bur.i r.lV itc (V-»b, GKXESIS. CILAP. XVir. Itu-ccn 1110 aiul thro, and tliy sreJ aficr tlu-f, Horeis, l.Tlii-rircuiHst:.nr<>.sufthcmiikins«i'iliiscovcnuia: tin- jjj i[^^.\y o;(.iior;( tions, ibr Jui rvcriastino- »i!;ii' :iiiu maim'T. 1 : ainl tlie pcsturc Aln.iiii u.is la, . o ' — II. Thi" ("oviiinnt it'si'll'; in llic t'liu'ial scdju- iif it ; 1 ; and aCtoriu the parlirular ill•-t:lli^•^■^, liiM, llial lie nIiouM bu rtic lii- lluT ot' lua.ij Iialii.'lis, 4---0: and in llic lokoii dl'lliat hi^ Jiauiv was rhangcd, 5 : sccmul, fliat C>od won lit bi- a God lo liim and )iissrcdi ajid would (live thciii llic land ot Canaan, 7, S ; and the soal of this pm I ol' till' covenant was circumcision, P"*!'*'- and third, thai he shoiilil haw a son by Sjarai, and in tokoii of that hor name \v:is < lianiicd, 13, lOi: thi^ jircniiscAbrahani received, I"; and hi-, request for IshniHi 1. IS, "as answered abund«ntly to lii.. satislarli(Hi, IJ)'-'2J. 111. 'I'lic circuincivion ol'Abrain and hi-) laniily according to God's ajiiioinlineiit, 24, ' ad fin. AND ^\•l)on A brain was ninety years old ynd nine, the I.okd appeared to Abrani, and said unto liiin, I am the Al- mighty God ; walk before me, and be thou poifoct. 5 And I Avill make my covenant between inc and thee, and will multiply thee exceed- iiigly. 3 And Abram fell on liis face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As ibr me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many na- tions. .5 ^ Neither shall thy name any jnore be rallod Abrain ; but thy name shall he Abra- ham ; for Ji father of many nations have J inadc thco. 6 And J will make thee exceeding fruit- ful and I will make nati-ons of tliev, and kinsfs shall come out of thee. 7 And 1 will establish mv covenant bc- mael. So lonji tlie ] correct Abrani s over GIIAI'. Xyil. 1..3. Wlien God maiie Abram this visit IS ninety-nin(' vearsoUl, full thiileen years iil'ier i|ii- birth of Mi- So Ions 'n'' promise of Isaac wa> dc ("ei red, perhaps both tn lasty marryiii!; of llai;ar, and that Abram and Sarai beinijsofar stricken in a-je, God's pout r inipht lu' the niere imignJIi'cl, and their f»ilb the more tried : see Dent, x.wii. 3(>. Joiin I. j,e to iivaki- himself know n to .Abram rather than by his name .h huvali. I'.Noil.vi, .■). h speaks the almighty power of Cioil, either as an aM-n;:' r, or as a beni-faclor : second, \Vlial God requires that v»e bo to liini. Walk bel'oix- me, and be thou perfect, that i-. upright and sincere; for herein lhe ; and «ccond. ail m cvenasting cove- nant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed alter thee. 8 And 1 will give unto thco, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art n stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an evoi- lasting po.ssossion : and 1 will bo their God. 9 ^ And ifod said unto Abraham, 'I'huu shult keep my covenant therefoi'c, thou, and thy seed after thee, in their generations. 10 'ihis /*• my covenant, whicii ye shall keep between me and you, and thy seed air tor thee : Every mun-child among vou shall be circumcised. 1 i And ye sliall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin ; mul it sliall be a token ollhe covenant betwixt me and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be cHcumcisod among you, every man-child in your generatif)ns ; he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger whicli is not of thy seed. 13 lie that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money must neotls he circumcised ; and my covenant shall be in your tlesh Ibr an everlasting covenont. 14 And the uncircumcisi;d man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcis- ed, that soul shall be cut oll'li'om his people, he hath broken my covenant. true believers in every agi' should be looked uimu as his spiritual ~eed. In token of this his name wiis changed fiom .Xbrain, a hi'ih falliel', to .-Vbraliani, the falherof a multitude. God calleth ihiii'tS ilial are not, as tlioii;;li tiiey were, lioin. iv. 17 : he called .Abraham the father of a multitude iliouf»h as yet he had butono child. 7. .14. 'I'he continuance of the covenant is intimated by three thlu;;s : first, it is est.iblished not to be altered or revoked : second, it is emailed, beiiij; made not only with Abrnhani, but with his seed . nil 1 him : third, it is eiei lasting in the evalieelical sense of it. The covenant of urace is I'rom everlastin}: in the ciniimls of it ; and to everlasting in the coiiMquenccs of it : the eternal adiniiiistratii^n of it is transmitted with the seal of it to ihoseed of believers, and till' internal ad miiiittriilion o( it by the Spirit lu Christ's seed in every age. It" is a covenant of promises, oxceedingoreaf .Tiid precious pro. niises. Here arc two which are indeed all-suiricient : first, that Ciod would be their Ciod, 7, 8. What God is in himself that he will b, to his people ; his wisdom tin ir's, toguide and counsel llieiu; his goodiuss iheir's, to suiiply and comlort them. Second, tlnrt Ca- naan should be their everlasling possession. God had before pro- mised this land to .Abraham anil his seed, chap, sv. 1 8 ; but In re where it is promised for an everliLsting inheritance, sure it must b« looked upon iis a type of heaven's happims', ihat everlasting lest thai remains ioi the people of (iod, I leb. iv. y. The lokeii of the covenant is circumcision, for the sjtkr of which ill. roveiianl is itself called the covenant of circumcisloii.Actsvii. S. li wasH toiiliriiialion to .Abraham and hib bceii of lliosj;i»romisvf 15 f And God Baitl unto Aibrahain, As for Sami tJiy wife, thou slialt 'jiot call Ider imnic Sarai, but Sarah shall her name he. 16" AjkI 1 will bless her and give thee a son also of her; yea, I will bless her, and siie shall be a viothir of nations ; kinos of j)e()ple shall be ol her. 17 Then Abrahuui fell upon his faee, and laughed, and said in his heiirt, Shall o child he born unto him that is an hundred years old P and shall Sarah, that is ninety ^ears old, bear? 18 And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Islnnael might live before thee ! IJ) And God said, Sarah thy wife shall l)ear thee a son indeed : and thou shalt eall his name Isaac: and 1 will establish n)y co- venant with hjni for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed alter him. LH) And as Ibrlshmael, I have heard thee: Behold, 1 have blessed liim, and will make him iVuitful, and will multiply irim exceed- ingly ; twelve princes shall he beget ; and / will make him a great nation. 2J ]kit my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. 22 And he left off talking with him mm.] Ciod went up from Abraham. wliiih v»(H- (mhI's )):irt of llir (..M-iiaiit, iiiiil an ulilipilidli U|iiin Jtiiiii III ih.it iliiti, uliicli l^il^ llinr j)iilt of llic ciiviiiant ; iml i)u|\ i llir tiuiy ol ;iic.|iilnjr i|h- cmiuiiit, iuul fjulliiip u.tt;iy llic ciui uii- liim iiliUr llish, J)ut ill ecnci-.il to tiie olj-Mivalioii!, of ull' God'i c<>iiiini(iiil>, ;»s ilicy slioiildat ;iiiy tiiiicilicrcaflcr l>f made known to ih'iii : (on irctinicisioii niadcim'n lUbtors lo ilifwliolu lavv.Gal.v.,!. Cii'iuiiicisioii was a blooily onlinann-, for nil lliiiins bv iln- law Mciv piirErd uiih l,l(M.rl, I \A>. ix. 'J2. Hilt l\w blood ofCluisl bciiij; slu'd, all bloody ordiiiaiuis aiv iiou- abolisli.d ; ciixumcMsion llurc- tinv uasdonr away, 'riie icli';iiius obsiTvamc of tills insiiiiition was r>(|iilivil iimlir a viry mmiv penally, 14. If pannts did iini cimimcisc ihcir childiiii, it was at tlit-ir piiril, as in liio ca.s<- of Mew s. r.Nod. iv. Of, ':.i. And lliosc lliat wm- iidi circvinuiscd in lluir iiifancv, ifwlu'ii llii-y cnnv up llu-v did not Comu uiuln- lliK ordinance, liod would cut tlicin off from ibrii- p« uplr. It is ii «l;in^ir(.iisihiii(> to make light of diviiiu in^tituliolls, unii livt' in llic III nlil t of llicin. l.i, JO', (ioii rcvials the purjioscs of his good-will to his pcopli- liy d. sivis. (iod had told Abialinm loii;j bifoir ihat he should hau-awin, but m-vti till iiou lluil hi- shoiild iiiivo a son bv Saiai, This nidmisc was ratilii!d bv tin- chaiigo of her nnnie from hwiiii, «hirh signifies my pnncfss as if her Ikmioui' wcrr coiilinrd to ono luiiiily only, lo Sirah which si^niliixa priiictss, viz. of iniiUiludos, «)i si..Miilyiiii; that fio-n htr slioiilil comu the ^J^■5^i.lll, the I'liiitc, cviii thi- l':iiici-of lhi.-|»iin<»sOi tin cuitli. 17. On this occasion Aijudiain expressed gnat huniiliiv; hr fell on his fare ;.5ivat Joy; he lnuj^hnl, not with a latiuhirr ol'cliMrust, bill.. I diliglii . also "uat iidniMalion. Shall a child l>i' born to on,! that IS an hnndred ycaiN old! he doth not spnik of it as iitalj tloiibtliil ; I'o;- we an- sum thut ho staagercd imt at the pioiiinr. Honi. IV. 'JO, hut IIS lerv won.Urful ; and thi; iiiui-caUc-ctina as il .15 txtivnu-lv su'piiiina, ''»'! c.xxvi. I x.vni. ,23 ^ cAnd AltfaUttm lopk Jijhmaelhis sop, anid ail J-l4i*t were born in his house, and all ihatwer.e bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and cir- cumcised the liesh of their foreskin in the seit-same day, .as Gttd had ssjiid unto him. 24 And Abraham nas ninety years old and nine wlieu he was CM'CUjjicised in the riesh of his. fore»ikin. 25 And Jshmael his son cr/.s thirtp.eu years old when he was wcuweised in the flesh of his foreskin. 2j6" In the sclf-sa.ine day Mas Abiaiham cir- cumcised and Jshniael his spn. 27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and btnight with money of the stranger, were ciicuuicised with Jiim. CHAP. XVIII III re IS, a.l'hcKljul \isit ultich God made )iim, and llio kiiitlnt- |rUiiiniiic;rit he g.ivc to that \isit, J.-8. II. Tlic luaIlcl^ ilis- couisi-il of bclwii-ii lluni : liist. On- purposes of God's love con- cirninj; Saiah, !)..|.'>: second, llie puipuses of C'oJ's wrallj (iinceniiiii; Sodom, l.tho discovery (."ul made to Abraham of Ills desljiri tci destroy bodnlil, IO"'J J ; '0. the illlerCissloii Ab'a- haiii made foi° boilolu, 23 ■■3j. AND the liOKD a|)peared unto liim in the plyhis of Mamie: and he satin the tent door in the heat of the dav : 2 And he lifted uj) his eyes, and looked. IS. .Atirahaiii prays lor Isbinnel. It is the duty of parents Irt pray lor all their children ; as .lob, who olleii.'d buriit-o!leriii«vu(5- torijinj; to the luiiiibei (if ihein all, .lob i. 0. Ip'*-''^. CiodclMs liini an answer of peace. Cnminuii blrssiugs arc secured lo Ishmael ; iiis poslciity shall be immeious, and moiv so than his neiehbouis, and very considerable, for tweUe princes shall he bepl. Great plenty of outward good ihiiiRs is often niveii to those children of godly jiarents who are born after tlio llesh for their parents' sake. Covenant bles'-inps are riserveil for Isaac, IfJ'-CI. God reiH'als the iiromisc of u son Ih.' Sar.ih, names hiin Isaac, laughter, becaase .Miniliiim ivjoiced in spirit when this sou was promised him, and iniails the covenant upon that child, I will eslaiilisli my covenant with iiim. Thus wu^ thu covoiianl .stablisliid with Islnnael, yt t he wascii- cumrised ; for childrvii of bmham seems lo lui\e.hnd in it mon- of fiiailiarily mid levsof iii-nje^ly than tlHisc vkti kavo Uubprtw rrad uf, ai^ theii-futv niitrt: trsciublfS.tiiat GENESIS. and, lo, tliree men stood by him : and when he saw thtin he ran to meet them from the tent-door, and bowed himself toward the ground, '3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favoMr in thy siglit, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy senant. 4 Let a httle water, I pray yon, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves un dcr the tree ; 5 And I will fetch a moreel of bread, and comfort 3e your hearts ; after that yc shall pass on : for therefore are yc come to your servant. And they said, so do ^h thou hast said. 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent un- to t5arah,and said,^Iake ready (luickly three measures of fine meal,. knead iV, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a -calf tender and good, and gave it unto a vouna: man : and he hasted to dicss it. 8 And he took butter and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it IxHore (hem; and ho slood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 9^ And they said unto him, Adhere /•. Sarah thy wife? And he said. Behold, in the tent. eitat visitVhicli in the fiilm-s^ of timir tlic Soil of GoH wiLs to mukt lo tlic worlil : "hen llu- uonl woulil be mao*tle improves tiiis for rlie enconrasenitMit of hovpitality, Ileb. NJii. 'J. 'I'iiose that lia\< l)»-en f-.irvaiil lo enlertain Mraiigers have entertained angels to their unviH'akalile himoiir and vati^^laclion. The fallier of the faitliful was fiimoii5 f >r charily anen that SanJi should be in hearing, the promise is then niM'Wed and nitifnd, that he should have a «iin. This is th.it word of jiromise which ihe apostle Huotes, Rom. ix. p. ss that by virtue of winch ls*aac was born. Sarah laughed, within herself ; it was not a pleasing laughter of faith like Abraham's, chap. .Nvii. 1", but it was a laughter of doubting and distrust. 'I'he same thing may In- drtne from very eariiig. in a course of rKirure, and my loni also is ohi. Sar.ili c.ills .\brafiam h.r lord. It-was the only jtood word in lliis raving; and the lloly Ghost takes notice of it to her honour, and Ti-iommends it to the imitation of all christian wive?., I Pet.iii.5,t) . Sarah obryeil Abraham, calli^H him Turd, in token of nspect «iiKi 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee accortling to the time of lite; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent-door, Avhieh a us behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah iccrc old o/?r/well stricken in age; mni it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Tlierelbie Sarah lauohcd within her- self, saying. After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also ? 13 And tlic LojiD said unto Abraham, ^Vhercibre did Sarah laugh, saying, Sliali I of a surety bear a child wliich am old .'' 14 Is any thing too hard for the Loiti) 'i Xt the time aj)j)ointed 1 Avill return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Saraii shall have a son. 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, 1 laughed not : for she was-afraid. And he sjiid. Nay ; but thou didst laugh. 16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them, to bring them on the way. 17 And the Lokd said, Shall 1 hide from Abraham that thing which 1 do ? 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely be- •orneagreat and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth sha.ll be blessed in him ''' subjection. Thus must the wife reverence her husband, I'.ph. v. jo; the ailgel uproves the inilecent expri-ssions of herdistriis*, \:\ 14. Though Sarah was now nii>sl (leuerously enti'rla.iuing llien' angels, yet when she did amiss tliey re|)roveil her for it, as Christ reproved Martha in her own hon-e. l.uke ,\. 40, 41. If our frientls be kind to us we must not iherefoie K-so unkind to lliem as lo suf ft r sin upon ihem. 'J'he reproof is plain, and backed wiih a good reason. J lere isaqnestioti asked, which is eniuiiih to answer all the cavils.of flesh anil blood : Js there any thing loo bard forthel^rdr or too wonderful ? i. e. is any ihiim so si crel ;is to escai)e his cog- nizance? or so difficult as lo ixreed his power.' Sarah foolishly enrloavours lo conceal her fault, and told alio bicause slw was afraid. Tear of rebuke often betrays us into this snare, lint we del live ourselves if we think to impose upon God, he can and will bring truth lo light to our shame. He Ihat covers his sin caunol prosper ; for llie day is coming which will discover it. \b. The mtsviigers from heaven had now dispatcheil one p.iri of iheir business; which was an errand of grace to .Abialism and Si! ah, and which they delivered fii-st ; btit now they had before liieui a work of another nature, Sodom is to be di-sl roved, ami lliey lunst do it. I'lirsuaiitto this commis.sion we here lind ihal ihey looked towards Sodom ; i. e. they went towards Sidoni, 1'2 : aixl Iwo of them arrived there, chap. xix. 1. Whelhev the thud was the Lord, befori; whom Abtaliam yet stood, ami to whom be divw near, 23, .-ls most think; or wherher the third |.|| iheni before they came lo Sodom, aud llw l.oril, before « I; 1:0 .-XbialKim stood, was the Shechinah, or that apiMaraiue of he dn ine gUii> whif h Abiahiuii had formerly seen and conversed w iih is unciruiii. 17--iy. God heregivifs mo reasons why lu-would make k>iuw> CHAP. ly For I know him that he will command his cliildrcn and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to dojustice and judgment ; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which lie bath spoken of him. 20 And the Lord said. Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and be- cause their sin is very grievous, 21 I will go down now, and see whethei they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto mc ; and if not, 1 will know. 22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom ; but Abra- ham stood vet before the Lord. 23 f And Abraham drew near, and said, ^Vilt thou also destroy the righteous with the ■wicked .' • 24 Pcradventure there be fifty righteous vithin the city : wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that arc therein .' 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay tlie righteous with the wicked : and that tlie righteous should be as the wicked, tiiat be far liom thee. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? 26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then 1 will spare all the place for their sakes. XIX. 27 And Abraham answered and said, Be- hold now, 1 have taken upon me to sj)eak unto the Lord, which am tu/ dust and ashes. 28 Peradventure there ishall lack fi\e of the fifty righteous : wilt thou destroy all* the city for lack of five ; And he said, If 1 find there forty and five I will not destroy it. 29 And he spake unto liim yet agam, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I -will not do it for forty's sake. 30 And he said unto him. Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak : Perad- venture there shall thirty be fi)und there. And he said, I will not do it if I find thirty there. 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord ; Perad- venture there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's Scike. 32 And he said. Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will sptnik yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. oS And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had let't communina; with Abraham : ,and Abraham returned un^o his place. CHAP. XIX. I. [t was found upon trial that Lot was vory good, 1, 2, 3. II. That the Sodomites were very wicked, i. Jlj. Special care to Abraham his purposrs concerning Sodoun, brcause, first, that hf IS a Iritnd and a favourite, and one that C!od h.isyreat things in store for: socond, because he will leach his huusehoid after nini. Mastersof families should instruct and inspect the manners of all I under their roof. The pooiTst s»'rvaiits have precious souls, thai must Ik- looki'd after. Abraham hail hirein an eye to poster! I v, and was in cure not only that his household with him, but his house- liolil alter hiin,*liouKl keep the way ofihe Lorm, 06, lhi> try of S.xloin is great, and of lheenc[uir\ he would make upon this evidencp, 'i\, 1 will uo ilown and sei". Not a»iflh< r ■ iv.tsuiiy thing conceriung whieli tind is ludoulit, bul he is pleaS'-d llius lo expii'^s hiinsv It alier x\w inanmr of men, i(, •htw tiiec.|uily of his judicial procix-dinj^s, aiii^lo;;ive example lu tktne in nuih'irily y> emiuire into the merits ol a cJu^e before ihev give jut, a charilublc opinion of i>odoni"s cliaraeier, as bad as it was, he thcHight there wen- tome good people in it : second, a charitable desire (d Sodom's welfare, he used all his interest at the rhroru.- of i;race tor mercy lor them. We never find him thus earnest in plead- ing wiih God lor himsi-lf and laniily as heiv forSoifm;. Here is ;;reat boldness ami iK'liexmg Cuutidence. He look the liberty lo pitch upon a cirlain numbei ot righteous peisuiis whom he sup- po^cd might be in Sodom ; h« dix-w upon God's couctssions again and again, and at length he biouglil Ihe terms as low as he could for shame, having |ire\ailed for mercy if there weR- but ten iigh- tious j>crsons in five ciins. Kourtli, the success of the prayer: he that thus wnstled prevailed wonderlully. God consented to spare ihe wicked lor the sake of the righteous, and did not leave o'' granting till .\hraham left off a.sl^ing. Lastl_\ , here l^ thebriaking up of the conference, 33. The L.ird went his way, and Abraham returned to his place, to wait wnal the event v«oi:ld bo: and K provid th.it his prayer was heardj and yet Sodom not spanid, be- cause there were not leu ngliic«u» in it. Wc cuiuiol c.xpcCI U>* liiilc ::oai nmn, iiui too niuv.b trum God, WR3 takon f.i. tlic scenting of Liit ami Iiis family iiia'placo of snfcty, 12--'23. l\. Mercy having rejoiced tliciviii, jiislicc biiews itsrif in the ruin ot Suiioiii ami Li>l's wife, LI+--2(>: «itli iigcnenil npciiiion oi llic >tury, 27"2J). V. A foul sin tliat l/>t was guilty of, in conuDiitiiig incest wuli iiis two dau;;htL'rs, 30, ad fin. AN J) there came two angels to Sodom at even, and I-ot sfit in the gate of Sodom ; and Lot, seeing t/ian, rose up to meet them ; and ho bowed himself vath liis face toward the ground : • 2 And he said, Behold now my lords, turn in, I jnay you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early and go on your ways. And they said Nay ; but we w'ill abide in the street all night. 3 And he pressed upon them greatly ; anc] they turned in unto him, and entered into his house : and he made them a feast, and di(i bake unleavened i)read, and they did eat. 4 ^j ]>ut, before they lay down, the men of ihe city, evoi the men of Sodom, compass- ed tiie house round, both old and 3'oung, all the people from every quarter. , 5 And they called unto Lot, and said im- to him, Where arc the men which came in to thee this night ? bring them out unto us, tiiat we may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him. 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have which have not known man unta "*' came two daugh'tcrs : let me 1 pray GENESIS. you, bring them out unto you, and do je to them as is good in your eyes ; only these men do nothing ; for thcrefo they under the shadow of my roof. 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again. This owe fellour came in to sojourn and lie will needs be a judge : now Mill we deal worse "with thee than with them : And they pressed sore upon the man, cvcti Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to tliem, and shut to the door. 11 And they smote the men that r^vrc at the door of the house with bhndness, both small and great : so that they wearied them- selves to find the door. 12 ^ And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou ii^'c any besides? son-in-'uw, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring f/ae/n out of this place : 13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Loud : and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, which married his daughters, .md said. Up, get ye out of this place : for the LoKD will destroy this city. But lie seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in- law. 15 % And when the morning arose, thru CHAP. XIX. 1"3. These angels, it is likely, weretwoof the three that had just before been witli Abraham; the two created anals that were sent to execute God's pvirpose concerning Sodom. ' There was but one good m^n in Sudoni, whom ibey soon found; Lot sufficiently dislinguislied himself from his neighbours at this time, which plainly set a worth upon hiri. Hetliatdid not act like the rest, must not fare like the rest. When the rust, it is likely, were drinking, he sal at the gate alone, waiting an uppor- tunityof doTng good: he was very free, and generous in his invi- tations to btr.ingers. Good people siiould be, with prudence, ge- nerous people. 4 • f). ^Ve rind here, not only that all were wicked, but that they had arrived at the highest ]iilc(i ot wickedness, for it was the most unnatuialaiid abominable wickedness that they were now set upon, a sin that btiK bears their namv', and is called Sodomy, and they were not ashamed to ow n it, and to prosecute their designs by force and arms, \\hcn Lot interposed with all the niiUlness imaginable, to cluck the fury of thei-r lust, they were most insolently rude anil abusive to him. He ventured himself among them, he spake then, fair, and called them brethren, beggert of them not to do so wicked- ly, and being greatly tlisturbed at their vile attempt, unadvisedly and uiiiuslihably olTered to prostitute his daughters. It is true, ol two evils we must '-h use the hast, but of two sins we mustchusi neither. Lot's arguing with them doth but eNasperate tliem, ami to complete ibeir witkvUncss they fcU foul upon hiin. Those that hate to be reformed, hate those that reprove them, though w ith ever jo much tenderness. 10, 11. Nothing loss than the power of an angel could save a good laan out of their wicked hands. It was nov/ past di-jiute what Sodom's character was, and therefore the angels gave a sjiecimen of what they intended. They rescue Lot, 10, and chastise the inso- lence of the Sodomites, by siniting them with blindness, 1 1 . Yet these Sodomites, after they were struck blind, continiud seeking .^ the door, to break it (town. No judgments of God will change tlie corrupt nature of wicked men. 12, 1 3. Notice is given to Ixit of the approach of Sod.im's ruin, and he|is di recti d to give notice to his relations, that they, if they uoulil, might be saved with him. This was an offer of great lavour. They do not ask whether he knew any righteous persons in the city, in, they knew there were none; but they ask what relation* he had there, aid whether righteous or unrighteous, I luy should be savfd with hiiu. Had people often tare the better in tins ""orl J for the sake of t!«iir good relations. 14. Lot g.ive them fair warning of the destruction that wks .ic the door, but as they had lived merrily, and made a jest of tVeijF thing, so they made ajistofthat, and perished in the overthrnv. Thus many who are Warned ot the danger ihey are in by sin, make a light matter of it, and think their minister» do but jest with them' sucli will jiorish with their blood on their own heads. 1^>*23. Though there were not ton righteous men lu Sudotc CHAP he angels hastened TiOt, sayinehold now, this city, is near to flee xmto, and it is a little onfi ; Oh ! let me es- cape thither, (/.•> it not a little one :j tliul jny : soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him, See, I have ac- . for w hose sake it might be spared, yet that one righteous man that 1 vras among thein, deliveivd his own soul. I.ol, thoui;li h<' ilid nut \ make a jrst oi' ll)u warning siven hini, yet lingt red ami trifled, ai'.d I it might have Ijec-n t'alal to liini, hal nnt the angels laid hold on Ins hand, and brought him forth, and saved him with lV':.r, .ludev. 2o; here It Issaid Ilie Lord w.is mereitui to him; otherwise he niii;hi justly h; perished, since he was lolh to depart, lie was tlei, iirgeil to ni-.ikethe best ot'his way ; he must not hanker alter So- dom, nor loiter in the plain, but escape to the mounlain. Jlorfier- ■wards beggi-d for a city of refuge, one of the live that lay togeiher, culled /oar; and Ciod granted his nquest, though ihere wa> much in'irmity m it. Sec what favour Ciod sheweth lo .n true saint, thouijh Weak. Zoar was saved to i^ratify him. Though hisinler- crbs;on foi i( was not as .Abraham's lor Sodom, from a principle of generou.s chnrity, but purely from self-interest, yet Ciod granted h;s request, to she\¥ how muc)i the fervent prayer ofa righteous m.in avails. '21, C.'i. God was the intmediate author of the ruin of Sodom. It wa* destruction from ihe Almichtv. 'I he Lord laineii from tin Ixird, 84, i.e. God from him-sefr, Ly his own nnmediale power, •r God the Son, irom God the ['.iliier ; for llu- I'athvr hascom- Jmitted all judgment to tlie Son. This was II strange punishment; Job XXXI. 3. lire and biimslone, und a hortibic leinpesi ; this was th« portion of their cup, I'sal. xi. 6. It was an utter ruin, and ir- reparable. That iViiitful \ alley remaii-.s ti> this day, a gie.d lake, or (lend sea ; it is called the Salt Sea, Numb, xxx'iv. \'>. Travel- ler^ say it is about ihirty miles long, and ten mih > tiroad. Ii l,..^ 110 living creature in it. Jordan lulls ii\!o it. and is lost iherc. Tins (lestruetiot. was designed as 11 standing revelation to the wiath ••) Gud against sin, andsinnei^ in all ages. N.iy, it was. lypieiil ol ihe I V«Jieancc of etcriwl lire, Judc v. 7. lit iu Warn fiom it, (ir»i, . XIX. cepted thee concemiug this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither, Cnv I con- not do any thing till tliou be come thiUicr; tlierefore the nameof the city wascallcd Zoar. 23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. .21. ^ Then the Lord rained-upon Sodom, and upon Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the Loud out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26' ^ l^JLit his wiie looked back from be- hind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 f And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the i)Iace where he stood before the l.,oiio : 28 And he looked toward Sodom and .Go- morrah, and to command, and so sinned after the llkemss of Adain's tnui^- gression. Hi-r looking back spoke an inclination to go back, and therefore our Saviour uses it as a warning against njjostacv from our Christian profession. Sin: wfu> struck deud in the placv, vet her body did not fall, but stood erect like a pillar or moniimc'nt, having changed into a metallic substance that would last pinpetu- nlly : come behold the goodness and severity of God, Horn. xi. 42. 'lowards Lot that went forward, goodm-ss : towards hn wile that looked back seventy. Thoimh she was nearly related ton rivtite- ous man, and th'.^.igii a nionumeiit of distinguishing mercy, in her deliveranci- out ol Sodom, yetCioil did not connive al her disobe- dience ; for great priviKms will not secure us iium the wrath of (iod, if wc ilo not faitht'ully improve them. '27, 28. .Abraham f^ol up early to look towards Sodom, and ts inlimiite that his design herein was lo sec what beeainr o) hit iiiayers ; he went to the very place where he had stood beforo the Lord, and set himself there as upon the walcii-lower, llib. ii. I. He looked lowards Sodom, not as lx.>t°s wiiedul. tacitly rellecdnr 00 the dniiie seM-nly, but by liunibly adoiingit, ainl acquiesciii)] in il. 'I'hose that have most earnestly inieiceded for siniie.'^ lu ihe day I'l L'race. will in the day ol judgment be content to sec ihenl fH'iish, and ;;li rify Goi] in it. '2y. .As before, wh-'ii Abrah.im prayed for Islimael, God iimi'l liiiii for hauc, su now whcti he ymyod (or iiuUiim, lie IicmU him tf GENESIS. 50 ^ And Lot ^vent up out of Zoar, and dwelt ill the mountain, and his two daughters with him : tor lie leaied to dwell in Zoar : and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 f And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth : 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that Ave nvdy preserve seed of our father. 33 And they made their father drink wine tliat night ; and the first-born went in, and lay with her father : and he perceived not wlien siie laid down, nor Avhen she arose. 34 And it came to pass on the .morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, 13ehold, I lay yesternight Avith my father : let us make him drink wine this night also ; and go thou in, arid lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also; and the younger arose and lay with him ; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot witb child by their father. 37 And the first-born bare a son, and call- ed his name •Nloab : the same is the father ot the Moabites unto this day. 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi : the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. Lot. GihI will certainly give an answer of peace to tlie prayer ot faith, mills own way and tune: tiiough l..>:- a while it se< m to bi- forgotten, yetsum-T or la"er it wiil app. ,ir to iie rrmenibercu. 3p. Lot was frigliten>'d uUtof Zoar, either because he found it as ^vicke(l as Sid^.ni, and therefore coaciudt-d it could r.ul ioiia jui- vivc it; o; p, rhaps observ:ng the men ase of the watei, which after the contiLyratioii bc^un to ovprilyw the plain, roncluue.i Zoar must ne<'d:. peri-h, because it -stood upon the same ll.tt. lie was fiiiced to lUe to the m-.uniain, and lodge in a cave there, lie that awhile iigo co.il J nn tin.! rnom for himself and his tlock in tiu' whole land, but must jostle wiili Abrahiin, is now confiiied to a Bole in a hill. It is just with Gnd to nduce those to pt verty and tcstraint, who abavd liberty and ph nty. See also in Lot, what those bring upon thi'inselves who torsake the conununion of saints for secular advantage. 31 ..38. Lot and his daughters were guilty of a great sin in this desolate pjace. His daughters laid a very wicked plot to bri.ig him to sin, and th^.'irs was doubtless the greater guilt. Some tl.LiiK (heir preten:-e was plausible, but whatever tiieir jnt U'nce was, it IS certain their jBrojecl was vile, and an impudent alb out to the Tuy light and law bi nature. Lot \>y his own unwariness was CHAP. XX. ' We li.Tvehcie, L Abraham's sin in denyiii!; his wife, and Abim(>» lech's sin thereupon in taking lior, 1, '.'. II. God's discours*" with .\bimelech in a dream on ihisocciision, wherein he sliewi him his error, 3, accepts his plea, 4,5,6, and directs hkn to make restitution, 7. HI. Abimelcch's iliscouise with Abra- ham, wherein he chides hira for the cheat he had put upon him, 8, <), 10; and Abraham excuses it as well as he can, 11, 12, 13. IV. The good issue of the story, in which Abimelech re- stores .Abraham Ins wite, 14, 15, lO'; and .Abraham by prayer prevails with Ood for the removal of the judgments Abimelech was under, 1", !8. AND Abraham journe3'ed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled, between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar, 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife. She is inv sister: And Abimelech kins of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man for the woman which thou hast taken : for she is a man's wife. 4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said. Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation ? 5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister ? and she, even she herself, said, lie is my brother. In the integrity of my heart, and innocency of my hands, have I done this. 6 And God said unto him in a dream. Yea, I know that thou didst this in the in- tegrity of thy heart ; for I als(; Avithheld thee from sinnins against mc : thereiore sulfered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now, therefore, restore the man his wife ; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray lor thee, and thou shalt live : and if thou wrclcheiJly overcome, and suHered himself so far to be imposed ujion by !iis own children, two nights together, as to be drunk, and to commit incest. What .in- the best of mon, whi n God li aves them to themselves! SelRic, first, the pc rd of security. Lot kept himself sober and chaste in Sodom, yet in iIh- mountain, wiiei\- he was, as le. thought, qjiteouto! the way ol t> inplatioii, he is thus sliainelully over- taken. Second, the peril of drunkenness. A nian may do that without reluctance when he is drunk, which when he is sober he '■oulil not think of without honor : third, the peril of temptation liT.m our rehuions and friiiids. Lot, whose teniprrance and chas- tity were impregnable .igainst the batteries of foreign force, »a» surprised into sin and shame by the base treachery ot his own daiii;liters. CHAP. .XX. 1, C. .Abraham's siu in denying his wife had here 8 two-lold .iggiavation : first, that he had bei-ii guilty of the same sin hei'ore, and been convinced of his tolly ; second, that Sarah, as it shin. He pleads ignorance, 4, 5, that Al)rahani ami Sarah had agreed til impose ujion him, and not let hiin know that they were any more than brother and sister. If our conicieMce> witness toour integrity, it will be our rejoicinji in the . iiiiJ lets tiim know, that lie was kept fr(jm jiroceeding in the >\i\, purelj by the good hand of God upon him: I withheld thee from si?ning against me. It is a great mercy to be hindered from com- mi'ling sm, and wliich God must liave the glorv of, whoever is the imtiument. 1 Sam. .\.\v. 32. Ciod chaii;eih him to make rcstilii- ticn, V. 7- Now, ihciefore, now thou art belter iiifoiined, restore the man his wife. If we iijnorantlv do wroiiji, that wiil not excuse us if we knowingly persist in it. 'I'he reasons why he must be just and kind to .Abraham are, lirst, because he is a prophet, near. and drartoGod: second, being a prophet he shall pray for thee. It is in'.iniiited that tin re was a great eflicacv in the prayers of a pr<>- phe*, ant them ; third, It is at thy peril if thou do not restore her ; know tiiou that thou shalt surely die. He thai doeth wronp,, whoever he is, prince or [w asant, shall certainly re- ceive fur the wrong wlijeh he has done, unless he repent and niaki restitution, CjI. lii. "5. 8. .13. Abiineii'Ch being thus warned of Gpd in a dream, takes the warning, and as one that is truly afraid of sin, and of its conse- «juences, he rises eaily to juirsu* the directions given him. 11< orst gave a caution to his ser\ants, 3, .\braliaiii himself could Bet be more careful than he was to coiiimaiid his hou5«'liold in this matte?. He then reasons with Abraham \pry strongly, and yd veiy mildly ; he doth not reproach him, lun insult over him; but fairly P'presenls the iiijuty .Abraham had done him, and calmly signifies his rcscnimcnl of it. I le calls that which he now Ji.iind he ^as in danger of a great sin. He looks upon it, ibut both kimself Vcl. 1. which thou shalt shew unto me : at ercrv place whither we shall come, say of me, He wniy brother. 14 ^ And Abimelech took sheep, and ox- en, and men-servants, and Avomen-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored hin: Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, llehold my land /s- before thee : dwell where it jileaseth thee. 16 And unto Sarah he said, J?chold I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver : behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes unto all that are with thee, aiul with all other. Thus she was reproved. 17 f So Abraham prayed unto God ; and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants ; and they bare children. 18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the Avombs of the house of Abimelech be- cause of Sarah, Abraham's wife. CHAP. XXI. [n this chapter we have, I. Isaac the child ot promise born int* Abraham's family, 1--8. II. Ishmael the son of the bond- woman c;ist out of it. y--21. 111. Abraham's le.ngue with Abimelech, CO. .3:. 1\'. His devotion to his God, "o3, 34. and his kini;dom Would have been ex-posed by it to the wrath of God. He charges Abraham with dialiain, and not bcforv. Thus Ged braird Nli-.iam wlieii .Moses prayed lor her. Numb. Aii. 13, and wa» ;«• coiiciletl 10 Job'si friends, wUcn Job prayed for thcjii, \liii.t. GEx\ AND the Lonn visited Sarali as he had said, and the Loud did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abra- ham a son in liis old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto liim, whom Sarah bare to liini Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 And Abraham iras an hundred years old when his son Isaac Avas born unto him. 6 ^ And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7 And she said. Who would have said unto Abraham that Sarah should have given children suck? tor I have borne him a son in his old age. 8 And the child grew, and was weaned : and Abraham made a great least the same day that Isaac was weaned. ■ 9 f And Sarah saw the son of Ilagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abra- ham mocking. 10 Therefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this l)ond-woman and her son : for CHAP. XXI. 1, i? IVw under the Old IV-stamcut wen brought into the world n'itli such expectation as Isaac wa^, not tor the sake ofany great p. rs.>ii..lfininonty towhich he was to arrivi;, hut be- cause he was to be in this very thing a type of Christ, that seed which the holv God had so long ])romised, and holy ine". so long expected. lie was liorn not o.iiy accordijtg to the promise, liul by virtue of the pioniise. A sentence of, i^ath was, .ij it weu, I)asvd upon tiie second cauy : Al)riiliani was old, and Sarah o!d, and both as oond ns ciead, and then the word ol God took pla^e. 3, 4.. Abraham obeyed God's i)rec>pt3 concfrnini; Isaac. CJod Jirected him to a name for a memorial, and Aljraham, who've of- fice it was, gave him that name, thoupii perhaps he might have d - «i!;ncd him some other name of a more pompous signification. The covenant beinn established with him, the seal of the covenan' was administered to him, and though a bloody ordinance, and he a darling, yet it must not be omitted or deferred beyond the eighth day. o, 7. The mercy Sarali had received filled her with joy and wonder. The thing was so highly improbable, so near to impos- sible, that ifaiiv one but God hail saia it, she could not ha\e be- lieved them. Ciod's favours to liis covenant j)eople are such as lurpuis both tlieir own and others' thouglits and expectations. 8. Abraham made a feast wlieii Isaac w as weaned, because God's Wessinn upon tlie luirsinj of chUdef the blessings of God's providence, whoare strangers to the blessings of his covenant. 14-15). The bonil-woman and her son were cast out from the family of Abraham, and wandering in the wilderness, misjed ihm CHAP. XXI of heaven, and said unto licr, AVliat aileth liiec, Ilagar? fear not ; tor God hath heard the voice of the lad where iie is. 18 Arise, hft up tlie hid, and hold him III thine hand : for I will make hiu) a great nation. 19 And God opened her eyes> and she saw a well of water : and she went and tilled the bottle with water, and oave Ihe lad drink. 20 And God was with the lad : and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and be- came an archer. 21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pa- ran ; and his mother took him a wife out ol the land of Egypt. 22 ^ And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol, the chief cap- tain of his host, spake onto Abraham, say- ing, God is with thee in all that thou doest. 23 Now, therefore, swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son ; but according to the kindness that 1 have done unto thee thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourn- ed. 24 And Abraham said, I will swear. wny to the placi- Abraham dL-sigind thciii tur a s.-illiinciit. 'liny wcic reduced to great distress there. 'J'lieir provisions were c.\- Kausted, and Hajar, like one under the j)0\vtr ot' the s[jirit of Imn- dttge, despairs ot reliet', and counts upon the (ieath of tlie chihl, though God had tohi her before hi! was ijorn that he shouhl hve to be a great man. We are apt- to forget former promises wlirn pre- sent providences seem to contradict them ; for we hve h\ sense, Jn thu distress God (graciously ai)|'car(d for their rulitf He heard the voice, of the lad, 17- ^Ve rend not of a word he said; but his sighs, and groans, and calamitous state, cried aloud in liie cars of the God of mercy. An angel was sent to conifitrt Hagar. He assures her of the cognizance God took of lier distress : rejX'ats the promise concerning t>er son, tl-.at he shoulil be a gri-at nation, «nd directs her to a present supply. Now tJiT' apostle udlsus that til osr- things concerning llagar.ind IshuKK^l are to beallegorizi'd. Thrs [hen will serve to illustrate the tolly (;f tlios*-, first, who sought (or righteousness iiy the law, and not by the promise made in v niiiniii^ themselves into a wilderness of want and despair. Their comforts arc soon exhausted, and if God save thein not by prerogative, and by a miracle of merry undeceive thera. they are undone : second, the ir tolly also who seek for satis- faction and happmess in the worhl and in the things of it. Those that fois.ike the comfurls of the covenant, and chuse their portion III this earth, take up with a bottle ol' water, poor provision and soon Mpent ; th(vd was with the lad : his out- wanl pros|)tTity was owii>g to this: he matched among his mo- ther's relanuns, she took him auifeout of Kcypt. _-, 2;; -J'i. Wc iiave liere an nccc.unl of the treaty between .Abi- nivlecb uiid AbluUaiu. in which npucais ihc niplishin%'ut lA 25 And Abraham reproved Abime!r< u because of a well of water, which Alvinie- lech's servants liad violently taken away. 2b" And A bimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing ; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard 1 o/"/;but to-day. 27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen. and gave them unto ^Vbimelech : and both of them made a covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the tlock by themselves. 29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, ^^ hat 7)jcan these seven ewe lambs, which thou hast set by themselves.'' •"30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs sh.dt thou take of my hand, that they may b(; a witness unto me that I have digiied this well. 31 Wherefore he called that place Bcer- sheba : because there tlieysware both of them. 32 Thus they made a covenant at liecr- shcl)ii ; then Abimelech rose up, and Phi- chol the chief captain of the host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. 33 ^ And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. that promise, chap. xii. C. how Ciod would nrake his munegn :vt : his friendship is courttd, though a tenant at will to the Canaanites and Perizzites. The league is projiosed l)y Abimi-lcch and }'h-ichol his prime minister of state, and general of his army. AbinielecU was induced to it by G(k1"s favour to .Vbraluim. tmd in his pro\*» dencc sometimes shews iiis peo])lc such tokens for good, that their neighbours cannot but takenoticcof it, Psal. Ixxxvi. IJ. Tiie te- nor of it was in general that tfiere should be a firm and constant friendship betwecji the tw o families which should not upon any account be vicdated. Abrahain consented to it, with a particular clause inserted about a well. In Abrah^im's part of the transaction obsrrve, first, he was ready to enter into this league w ith Abimelech, finding him to be a man of honour, and that had the fear of God before his eyes. Religion does not tnake men morose and uncon- versable. \Ve must not, under colour of shunning had. company, be sour to all company, and jealous of every body : second, he pru- dently settlcliKo, 31, Ueer-shcba, the well of the oatTi, in remembrance of the covenant they swore to: or, the well ol seven, in remembrance of the seven lanibs given to Aliiniehch as a consideration for his corfiriuin,; Abraham's title to that well. 33, 34. Abraham buing got into a good tinucd a great while, there. There he made i^ but an open urofcssion of his religion, pK planted, vhicli was his omiory, or housd, the CJod of the Moild, 51) sonic. Though Gvl hud luude):iii»< U Known ti- hiin hi GENESIS. 34 And Abraliani sojourned in the Phi- listine's laud many days. CHAP. XXII. iicre is, I. The command wJiich God gnvc to Abraham, 1, C. II. Abraham's obcdnMico, j--10, HI. The issuf of tlio trial. ll"14. IV. The covctiaiit was rciicwtd liortupon, 15-'iS. V. Anacccunt of souK-ot' Abraham's relations, ^O, ad tin. AND it came to pass, after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said uutojiim, Abraham. And he said, Behold, here I am.. 2 And he said, Taliis God if» particular : lie iox^c\% not to give gloiv to him as the l»rd of dl, the everlasting God, who was before all worlds, and vvill be wiicn time and days shall be no more. See Isa. xl. 28. CHAP. XXII. 1, C. Here is the trial of Abraham's faith, vhtther it continued so strong after a long settlement in commu- nion with God as it was at lirst, when by it he left the country. After these things, after all the dilhcvdties he had gone through, Vilitn perhaps he wa* beginning to think the storms were all blown over, this encounter conies which is shar]>er than any vet. God »cmpted Abraham, not to draw him into sin, hut to discover his jijaces. God appeared »o him as he had formerly done, called dim by name .Abraham, that name which he had given in ratifica- tion oi' the. jiromise. Abraham, like a good servant, replied, here ami. Probably he expected some rmewed promise; but to his great amarement that which God had to say to him, -.vas, in short, go kill thy son ; and tliir commandment is given in L-inKuaec that Toakcs the umptation abundantly more grievous. Take thy son, Thvonlv son by Sarah, thai son wliom thou lovest, and oiler him for a biirnt-oftering. lie must kill him devoutly, with all thai pomp and ceremony, with all that soiJatcness and composure of luihd with which he used to ofii-r his burnt-ofierings. ;>.>10. Manv' were the ditilculties that Abraham broke through Ju this act of obedience. Much might have been objected against it. It si'cmcri directly against an antecedent command, which forbids murder under a s(tvere penalty. How would this consist ■with natural atliction to his son? Cien.ix. 16'. How would this eonsist with the promise. In Isaac shall thy seed be called ? How tiiuld he return to Sarah or his family sprinkled with the blood of Isaac ? What would the I'.gyptians, Canaaniles, and Perizzites sny? It would be an eternal i.])rfach to Abraliain and his :iltars. The several steps of his obedience all help to mnfjnirv it, and to "hew that he was guided by prudence, and governcii lo fftiniij'. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with tlie ass, and I and the lad will go j'onder and worship, and coino arrain to you. 6 And Abraham toolc the wood of the burn t-olfe ring, and laid it upon Isaac his son : and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife ; and they went both of them to- gether. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his fa- ther, and said, Aly Father. And lie said. Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood : but where is the famb for a burnt ottering? 8 And Abraham said, j\Iy son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt-offering : so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of: and Abraham built a'l altar there, and laid the wood in order ; and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the al- tar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. He obliged Isaac to carry the wood, while he himself, with an un» daunted resolution, carried the fatal knife and (ire. Without any ruftle or disorder he talks it over with Isaac, as if it were but a common sacritice he was going to offer, 7, 8. It was a pretty quc»- ti"n Isaac asked him as they were going together: My father, where is the lamb for a burnt-otVering r It was a melting word, which must strike deeper into the breast of Abraham, than his knite could do into the breast of Isaac. It -"Nas a very prudent answer w hich Abra- ham gave him, V. 8, ^ly son, God will piovide himself a Iamb. This was the language either of obedii nee or of faith ; whether he meant so or not, this proved to be the nieai.iiig of it : a saeriliee was pro- vided instead of Isaac. With thesame resolution and eomposedness of mind, after many thoughts of heart, he applies himself to the compleating of this sacriiice. After many a weary stt p, and wiih a heavy h(--art, he airivesat length at the fatal place, builds the alt-ir, the sadd<'st he had ever built; lays the wood in order for his Isaac's funeral pile, and now tells him the amazing news, Isaac, thou art the lamb which God has provided! and, for aught ajipeais, Isaac was as willing as Abraham. Vet it is necessary lliiit a sacritice should be bound. 'I'he great sard will see the distil 'sses of his peoide, and that he will be seen in tit-worst of thcii perplexities, lie will not only manifest but magnify bis wisdom, jjower, ai.il goodness in Uieir dclivvrance. 15 -ly. The obedience of AbralKwn is not only accepted, but abundantly reconipenced. God is pleased to mention it as the tontirmatioii of the covi-nairt ; and lie spcnLs of it with an cuco- Vol. L men ; and they rose up, and went together to Becr-sheba : and Abraham dwelt atBeer- sheha. 20 ^ And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saving. Behold Milcah, she hath also borne children unto thy brother Nahor. 21 Huz his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah : these ei^ht Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 And his conculMne, Avhose name jccii Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah. CHAP. XXIIL Here is, I. Abraham a mourner for the death of Sarah, 1, t. II. 1 le purchases a burying-place for her, 3. -IS. 1(1. Sarah'* funeral, IQ. AND Sarah Avas an hundred and seven and twenty years old : t^ese zccre the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba ; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan ; and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3 ^ And Abraham stood up from before Ins dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 4 1 aw a stranger and a sojourner with you ; give me a possession of a burying-place mium. Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld tny son, thine only son. God hid before si"ned and sealed, but now it is confirmed wiih an oath. The narticnlar promise liriv reiu-wid is that of a numerous oifsr.ring. U doubtless points also at the Messiah, and the giHce of the gospel. This is the oath sworn to our father Abraham, which Zechariah refers to, Luke i. 7^- So here is a'promise of the blessing of the spirit, which was to come upon the Gentiles through Christ Jesus : of the increase of the church, of its spiritual victories; thy seed shall posstss the gales ol hi* enemies; and of the incarnation of Christ, in thv seed, (in one par- ticular person that shall descend from thee) shall all the nations of tlie earth be blessed. Abraham was ready to give up his son for a sacrifice, for the honour of God; and upon that occiuion God promised to give his son for a sacritice for the salvation ol man. 20.--2-1. This is here recorded to make wavi for the following story of the marriage of Isaac to Rebekah, b daughter of tint t'amily. ,-01 CflAP. XXin. I.e. Abraham was a true mourner for Sarah, lie came to her lent, and sat down by the corpse, tliere to pay her the tribute of tears; that liis eye might affect his heart, and lliat he might pay the greater respect to the memory of her that wa« gone. Tears are a tribute due to our deceasi'd friends, but we mustnul sorrow a.s those who have no hope. 3, 4. Abraham himself reiiuc«ted oi hit nci/;hlour» the Hit M GENESIS. u'ith you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. 5 And the children of Iletli answered Abraham, saying unto him, 6" Hear us, my lord : 'J'hou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice ofourse- j)ulchres b-iu-y tliy dead : none of us shall AvUhhold from tbce his sepulchre, but that thou maycst bury thy dead. 7 And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the cl)ildren of Ileth. 8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron, the son of Zohar. 9 That he may give me the caveofMach- pelah which he hatii, which is in the end of liis field : for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me, for a possession of a bu- rying-[)lace among you. 10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Ileth. And Ephron the Ilittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Ueth, even of all that went in at the gates ot his city, saying, 11 Nay, my lord, hear me: The field give I thee, and the cave that is there- iu I give it thee ; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee : bury thy dead. 12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the peojile of the land. titcs to have a buryi jj-phcc amoni; tlu>in. The ariiiimonts he usrd with^them were, thathu was a si rancor, therefuro uii|)rovi!lt'(l will-, a burying-placc ; and that ho was very uiira'< till the alV^ir wu- scttleil, which he iiitiniatcd bv that woi ci, that 1 may bury niy dead •out (if inv siiht. Death will innko tlu/se unpleasant ti! our ."-ighi, who while tl'.ey lived were the de,^ir.• of nui'eye.i. While ihc was in his sight, it renewed his i;vief, w hieh he w>jwld prevent, 5,('.- The children of Ilvth made n gep.-iousofl'ci' to AbraliunK Tiiey compliment him with a title of res))ect, Thou art a oiinco o! God'amunt; us, (!o the word is) not only pieat but sood. They also make him a tender of the best of their Iniiying-places, Th< noble gemiosiiy of thes( Cannaiiites, shnnnes and condemns thi selfishness of many who call themselves If raelitcs. 7-0. Abraham icturns them thanks for their kind offer with all ]io?sibie decency and respect. Though he was a great man, an *ld man, and now a mourner, y-t lie stands \ii>:uid makes them a kr«' bow. Reliiiion teaches frood inatmers, and those abuse it that place it in rudeness and clownislines?. 10,11. Kpliron made Abialiam a present of this field. The field give I to thi'e. Abraham no doubt had taken all occasion to oblige his neighbours, and now they return his Kindness : forhethnt wa ■ tereth shall be watered also liitnself. If those that profess reliijion udorn thtir profession by eminent civility to all, they shall find it iixlyiuici to then' comfort as well as to the glory of GoJ. 13 And he spake unto Ephron, in the n« ; dience of the people of the land, saying. But if thou uili give it, I pray thee hear me: I will give thee money for the held ; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. 14 And Ephron answered Abraham, say- ing unto him, 15 iUy lord, hearken unto me ; The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver ; what is that betwixt me and thee ? bury thereforo thy dead. 16 And Abrahamhearkened unto Ephron ; and iVbraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Ileth, four hundred shekels of silver, current inoneij Avith the merchant. 17 And the held of Ephron, which teas ill Machpelah, which was before Mamrc, the fickl, and the cave which wos therein and all the trees that were in the field, that were ill all the borders round about, Aver« made sure 18 Unto Abraham for a possession, in the presence of the children ofllcih, before all that went in at the gate of his city. 19 ham provided not cities, as Cain and Nimrod, but n sepulchre : he is content to l«^ flitting while he lives, but Secures a i-'lacc whcfu, « hen ho (lies, his fk'sh miiy vest in hope. CHAP. XXIV. CHAP. XXIV HovcMS, I, Abraliam's C!»ri> a1»oiU mprryins! of hissoii. It, Ilisscr- vaul's jouriV'y to suck a wilo I'oi Jsiiac ainonj; Ills own relation^, 10-U, III, He provicUiUinlly UKtus H'.bekah, 13..i?8. 1\. '1 he treaty otmai'iia^^e with Inn alations, 29---l-y' \ . Tlu-ir con- - sent obtained, 50, .()(). VI, Tiie ha|i|>y meelini; and inaniage be- tween Isaac and liebekah, 0' 1 , ad liii. AND Abraham was old, and well stricken in ao-e ; and the LoiiD had blessed Abraham in all things, 2 And Abraham said unto his eldest ser- vant of his house, that ruled over all that he had. Put, I praj thee, tiij hand under my thigh : 3 And I will make thee swear by the IjOrd, the Cod of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou slialt not take a wile unto my son of the daughters of the Canaan- ites, among v, hom I dwell : 4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 5 And the servant said unto him, Pcrad- venture the woman will not be wiihng to follow me unto this land : must I needs bring tliy son again unto the land from whence tliou camest ? 6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my sou thither again. 7 The I/ord God of heaven Avhich took me from my father's house and from tiie land of my kindred, and which spake unto inc, and that sware unto me, saying. Unto thy seed avjU I give this land, he shall send liis angel beibre thee, and thou shalt take a M'ife unto my son from thence. 8 And if the woman will not be willing tv» follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath ; only bring not my son thither agam. CHAP. XXIV, l..(). Three 'liinss we may observe hero coii- »iT!)iMjL Abraham: firsi, 'he car<' lie took of ti Koud son togetliini well married. Two con-icicra!i.ins moved him to think of this now, via!, that h" was goin>; to knvo tho World quickly, and it would he a satisfaction to siw^i his son wtllcd befor*; he died; and tiiai he h.'.d a jond estate to loave bi liind liim.nnd the blc&sing of the Lord that maketh rirh, 1 le had a pions fftrit that Isaac shoiild nut jnarrv with a datighterof Canaan, and thalU't tie should not leave ♦he hind of Canaan, Parents, in dispobina of tluir chiKlren, should carefully contult the welfare (ji' tluir souh; feconilly. the chariji' lip gave to a good servant, probably lileazenUif Damascus, lo whom he irusti d thi!> Rrt-at utlair. The servant nuiif be bound by an oath, to do 111"; utmust to get a wife I'oV I«uic, from among hi* relations. ] !<■ muet be i tear ut l!ii« o:.th, if, \s lien he iiad done hii utmost, he could not prevail. Oaths arc to be taki'u wiih great caution, and the matter sworn to ri'htly undersiood, and liniiied, becauke it is uinare to devourthat which is hi'ly, and after vow to make thi' in'iuiry, which should have ijci ii muj.' before: thirdly, the conli- dencehe puis in a uood God, who, h'' do ibts nol, will give his ser- YWit success in thik Liivueil^iMtig, \7 . lie icinv-mbkre ulsu the 9 And the servant put his liand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swarc to liim concerning that matter. 10 % And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed : (for all the goods of his master cere in his hand :) and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 1 1 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water, at the- time of the evening, ct•e?^ the time that wo- men go out to draw nater. 12 % And he said, O Lord Cod of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 13 Behold, 1 stand here by the well of water : and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water ; 14 And let it come to pass, that the dam- sel to M'hom I shall say. Let down thy pit- cher, I pray thee, that I may drink : and she shall say, Drink; and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that ihou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac ; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. L) f And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethucl, son of Mil- cah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with \\cx pitcher upon her shoulder. promise God hud made and confirmed to hini, that he would pive Canaan to his wed ; and thence infem that God would own him. in his endeavours to match his son, from amon" ihosB devoted nations, to one that was lit to be mother of sueu a seedi Kear not, theritore, he shall send his angel before thee, to make tliT way prosperous, (lod's annels are ministcrinsf spuili, sent fnnn not t:ed>' and talisliiclury : ihe Ant that chhi* GENESIS. \6 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin ; neither had any man known her : and she Avent down to the well, and lilled licr pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water ot" thy pitcher. 18 And she said. Drink, my lord : and she liasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19 And, when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water tor thy ca- mels also, until they have done drinking. 20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw z^ater, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man, wondering at her, held his peace, to wit, whether the Lord had jfiade his journey prosperous or not. 22 ^ And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a gold- en ear-ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels w eight of gold. 23 And said. Whose daughter art thou ? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in ? 24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. 25 She said, moreover, unto him. We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. 26 And the man bowled down his head, and worshipped the Lord. 27 And he said, blessed be tlie Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left ♦o draw water was, and did in every thing accordin;; to his own heart. God in his providence dotli sometimes wondertiilly own the prayer of faith, and gratities the innocent desiri'S of Iiia prayin;; people," even in little thmg-i, that he may shew the extent of hi^ care, and encourage them at all times to seek him, :.ind to trust in hint; vet we must take heed of being over bold in prescribing to Cod, lest the event should weaken our faith, rather ihanstrcnglh- ••:n it. Q6..'2S. Abrahams sen'ant acknowledges Gml in a particular thanksgiving. Having first paid his respects to Rebokah, ingrati- tude fer her civility, 22, he turns his wonder, 21, into worship- * ping. He blessed God for success when he was negociating for lis master. He gives thanks, that being in his way, at a loss what course to steer, the Lord had led him. He thinks himself happy that he. wat led to the houie of his mastei-'s brethren, ilMrtc f them that were com* outof Urof theChaldecs, tlioviah destitute my "master of his mercy and Iiis tHith : I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren. 28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things. 29 ^ And Rebekah had a brother, and his name teas Laban : and Laban ran out un- to the man unto the well. 30 And it came to pass, when he saw the ear-rings, and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Re- bekah his sister, saying. Thus spake the man unto me, that he came unto the man : and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And he said. Come in, thou blessed of the Lord : wherefore standest thou with- out ? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. 32 ^ And the man came into the house; and he ungirded his camels, and gave stratr and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him. 33 And tiiere was set meat before him to eat ; but he saitl, 1 will not eat until I have told mine errand. And he said. Speak on. 34 ^ And he said, I ain Abraham's ser- vant. 35 And the Lord hath blessed my mas- ter greatly, and he is become great : and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men-servants, and maid-ser- vants, and camels, and asses : 36 And Sarah, my master's wife, bare a son to my master when she was old ; and un- to him hath he given all that he hath. 37 And my master made me swear, sa3f- th( y were not come to Canaan, but staid in Haran. He also ac- knowledges that God herein had not left his ma.stcr destitute of his mercy and trutli. God had promised to build up Abraham's house, yi t it sernied destitute of the benefit ot't hat promise, but now providence is working towards the accomplishment of it. God's faithful people, how destitute soever they may be of worldly comfort, shall never be left a bis hv.nne'f, CHAP ing, Thou shult not take a wife to my son vt' flic daughters ot" the Canaaiiites, in whose hud 1 dwell ; 38 But thou shalt go unto my lather's house, and to n)y kindred, and take a wile unto my son. 39 And I said unto my master, Pcrad- venture the woman wiil not follow me. 40 And he said unto me, The Loud be- fore whom I walk, will send his angel witii thee, and prosper thy way ; and thou shalt take a wile for my son of my kindred, and ot my father's house. 41 Then shalt thou l)e clear from iliis my oath, when thou comest to my kindred ; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear fnnu my oath. 4'3 And 1 came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Ai)ra- ham, if now thou do prosper my way wliich I go : 43 Behold I stand by the well ot water ; and it shall come to pass, that when the vir- ^n Cometh forth to dra\\' zvater, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink : 44 And she say to me, both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels : lei the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master's son. 45 And before 1 had done speaking in mine heart, Behold, Rebekah came forthwith her pitcher on her shoulder : and she Avent down imto the well, and drew loatcr ; and J said unto her. Let me drink, I pray thee. 46 And she made haste, and h^t down her pltclier from her s/to«Wer, and said, Drink : and I will give thy camels drink also : so 1 drank, and she made the camels drink also. 47 And I asked her, and said. Whose daughter art thou '^ And she said, 'I'he that though he was come offa jiuimry he would not eat till he had told his errand. In the management of this maiti i he proved him- self hoth a prudent man, and a man of JMtet;riiv ; lailhfiil to tus master by '.vhom he was trusted, and just to»those by whom he was now treated. He gives tlvem a short account of the state of his m;. v ter's family, 34- '36, tells them the charge his master had given him to fetch a wife t"o.r his son from among his kindred, with the reason ofit,37, 38; relates to them the wonderful conciirnnce of provi- dence, to countenance and further the proposals, plainly shewing the finger iif God in it; and then fairly relers the mutter to thnr consideratiop, and waits their resolution. 40, 51. They cKcerfully clojc with ibc proposal upon ftYcry .XXIV. daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him ; and I j)ut the ear- rhig upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands. 48 And I bowed down my head and worshipped the Loud, aiul blessed the Lord (ioD of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right wa}', to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. 49 And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me ; and if not, tell me ; that: I may tUHi to the right hand, or to the left. 50 % Then La ban and Betiiucl answered, and said, The thing pvocecdeth from the LoKD : we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. 5\ Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take kev, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken. 5^1 And it came to pass, that when Abra- ham's servant heard their words, he worship- ped the Lord, bowinii himself to the earih. 53 And the servant brought forth Jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and save them to Rebekah : he gave also to her brother and to her mother prenious things. 54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried ali night: and they rose up in the morning; aiul he said. Send me away untomy^ master. oi) And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten ; after that she >hall go. 56 And he said unto them. Hinder me not, seeing the Lokd hath jirospered my way ; send me away, that I may go to my master. 57 And they said. We will call the dam- sel, and eiu^uire at her mouth. good principle. The ihmg proceeileth from the Lord ; provideni>s smiles upon it, and we have nothing to say againtt it. A marriage is then likely to be comfortable, when it appears to proceed from the I/ird. S'Z, 53. Abrahams servant makes a thankful acknowledgment of the good services he met with. He tir.*t worships God, then pays his respects to the family, particularly to the bride. He pres«'nted her, and her mother, and her brother, with nKUiy pre-. ( ious things ; both to give n-al proof of his vast riches and geno- roaity, and in gratitude for civility to him, and I'urther to in^ralmta himself with th( m. 54-()l. J will go. Ribtkfth is »ent away wJtli juituble attctv N CE-^KSIS. 53 And tlicy called Rebcl:nt out to meditate in the field at even-tide. He took' the ad- iui)laj;e of a silent evening, and a solitarj- field for meditation and pniyer ; those divine exercises by which we converse, with Ciod and our own hearts. Our walks in the field arc then truly plea- sant, when in them we apply ourselves to meditation and prayer : wc there haw a free prospect of the heavens above us, and the earth around us, and the host and riches of both : by llie view of which We should be led to the contemplation of the Maker and cwner of all. Rebekah beliavcd herself very decently when sh« met Isaac. Understanding who he was, she alighted olT her camel, 6'4, and took a veil, and covered herself, in token of humility, modesty, and lubjcction. They were afterwards l>rought together to their mu- tual cotufoi I. Observe hero, first, whatauaficctiowalesouhc wt.? CHAP. XXV.^ I The children of .'Abraham by another wife, l-'4; of !iis lut will and te.stament, 5, <) ; of his a"e, death, and burial, 7"I<», II. Ti'.e peneratioiis of i'^hinael, his age and deaiii, l'2--ll. ill. The history of Isa.-xc : first, hi:! prosperity, 11 : second, the conception and birlli of his two sons, iy--vl(>; thinl, liuir dif- ferent characters, C?, -S. IV. Esau's selling his birth-nglil to Jacob, ej)--34.. THEN again Abraham took a wife, and her name n-as Kcturali. "2 And she bare him Zimram, and Jok- "dian, and IVIedan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Sliuah. 3 And Jok^han bespat Sheba and Dcdan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and I/Ctushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian : Kphah, and Ephir, antl lianoch, and Abidah, and EU daah. All these were the children of Ke- turali. 5 ^ And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. () But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham oave sifts and sent them away from Isaac his son, (while he yet lived) eastward, unto the east country. 7 % And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life, which he lived, an hun- dred threescore and fifteen years. 8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good oUl age: an old man, and full 0/' years ; and was gathered to his people. 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Macpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is lietbre INIamre ; to his mother. It was about three years since she died, and yet he was not till now comforted cop.ccniing it : second, what an aftectionate husband he was to his wili>. Those th.it liave approv- ed tlumselves well in one relation, it may be hoped will doio in another. She became his wife, and he loved her : and all the rea- son in the world that he should; for so ought men to love their wi\-cs, even as themselves. The duty of the relation is then done, and the comfort of the relation is then enjoyed, when mutual lova governs ; for there the Lord commands the blessing. CI1.\1\ XXV. 1..10. Five and thirty years Abraham lived after tiie marriage of Isaac; and all that is recorded concerning him during that time lies in a very few verses. Wo have no more of God's extraordinary appi-arniice to him, or trials of him: for nil the days even of "the best and ga-atest saints are not eminenL days. We have here an account of the children by Kcturah, whom he married after tlie death of Sarah. She was, probably, the chief of his maid servants born in his house, or bought with mgatcy. l\v her he had six sons, in whom the jiiomiso made to .\brahaiu, coucernips '''*■ S'*-"**' iftcrsase of Lis posti-rif}* "1*5 iti part fwlfilkii. 10 T!ie field which Abraham purchased of the sons of llcth ; there was Abraham buried and Sarah his wife, 1 1 ^ And it came to pass, after the death of'iV})raham, that God blessed liis son Isaac : and Isaac dwelt by the Avell Lahai-roi. 12 tfl Now these are the generations of Ishmacl, Abrnliam's son, whom Hagar the •Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham. 13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names according to their generations : The first-born of Ishmael, Kedar, and Abdeel, and KcbajOth ; and Mibsam, 14 And ]\Iishma, and Dumah, and Massa, 15 Hadar, and Tenia, Jetur, Naphish, ?.nd Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles : twelve princes according; to then" nations. 17 And these arc the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years : and he gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people. 18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, iis thou gocst to- ward Assyria : and he died in the presence of all his brethren. 19 ^ And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son ; Abraham begat Isaac. 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he criA?. XXV. took llebekah to wife, the daughter of Bc- thucl the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 f And Isaac entreated the Loru for his wife, becavise she was l)arren : and the liOKD was entreated of him, and Rel>ekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children strugpiled together •1*1 ' t oo o withm her : and she said. If it be so, wliy am I thus? Ami she went to en(]uire of the LoiiD. 23 And the Lord said unto her. Two na- tions are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels : and the one people shall be stronger than the other people : and the elder shall serve the younger. 24 ^ And when her days to be deliveieJ were fulfilled, behold, there uere twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment ; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came liis brother out^ and his hand took hold on Esau's heel : and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac ao* threescore years old when she bare thc«). 27 % And the l)oys grew ; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field ; and Jacob uana. plain man, dwelling in tent«. 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison : but llebekah loved Jacob. After tlu' birtli of tlusc sons he scl his house in orikr, witli pru- dence anil justito. lie madi' Itaiic liis hfir, as he «iis liounil to ilo injustice to Sarah, his lii^t ^na;ic ui)on till- assuranci' (it it, ciiap. xxiv. 36. lie also gave portions to the rest of his children ; bolh to Isiimacl, though at first he was teat empty away : and to iiis sons hy Ketu- Tjh. It was justice to proM;il iu Iili: have hien very dear to each other, may not only innocently, but lim- dably, d'lsire to be buried together. 11.. IS. Immediately alter the account of Abraham's dMth, Moses billing the story of If aac; but prc-««rfitly digrossrlh to gice • short account uf lUiinael, for as much ns he also was a son of .^bra- ham ; lie had twelve S'/ns, twelve princes they are called, l6; heads of faiiiiKes, which in procs-i of time became tintinns, distiiut tribes, nuiiHious and very considerable. Th< y pecjdeJa very lari;e conlinint that lay between f.gypt and .Assyria, calUd Arabia. The strength and numbers of thii fanuly was the fruit of the promise made lo Hagar, chap. xvi. 10, and to Abraham, chsp. xvii. 'M, and x.M. 1'^. His age is recorded lo shew the tfficncy of Abraham's praver for hira, chap. .xvi. 18. O that Mimiiel muht 1 1 .■ . .\ " -ii 1. 1... I- 11 ... ,1.. „. „■.. ,.r „ii 1,;.. , of ii\e before lliev'. 'I'hose wnids, he fell in thi- pt-M-nce of all liis hrolhien, h hither tiny menu, as »e take them, he died, or ai othei^, his lot fell, lliey aredesiuned lo shew the lulfilling of ihal wonlto lliu;ar, chap. xvi. IC. Hi shall dwell in the pix-jencc of all ins bieihren; i. i-. he shall out him. which i» romforlable. l,9--i». We have here an account of the birth of Jadb and Enau, the twin sons of Isaac and Ilebekah. Tlieii ejitpance iiiic tltc world was iHie of ilij molt considefaUu parts of lhii'*i GENESIS. 2[) ^ And Jacob sod potlagc, and Esau came iVoni the field, and he zi'as Taint. 30 And E/sau said to Jacob, Feed me, I frav thee, Avitii that same red pottage : tor am taint ; tlieielorc was his name called JEdom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy liirth-right. 32 And Esau said, Beliold, T atn at the point to die : and what profit shall this birth-rio'ht do to me. 33 And Jacob said. Swear to me this day : and he sware unto him : and he sold hiS buth-right unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacol> gave Esau bread and pot- tage of lentiles ; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau ^dcspised liis birth-right. CHAP. XXVI. In this chapter \fe have, I. Isaac in adversity, and ol)lij;od i j change his residenct', 1 ; bin, second, God visits liini, with direction and comfort, 2. .5 : third, he fooli'.hly denies his wife, and is .eprovcd for it by Abimeh'ch, 6.. 11. II. Isaac in prospe- rity, by the blessing of Cod upon him, IC-'l*: and, first, the Philistines were envious of him, 15- -l/: second, he con- tinued industrious in his business, 18-23: fliird, God ap- peared to. tiim, and rncouraEed him, and he returned his duty ti God, 24,25: fourth, the rhilislines at length made court to AND l\ side Innch is related concornmg Isaac, but what liad reference to his (;-tlier while he lived, and to his son afterward. For Isaac seems jvot to lia>e been a man of action; nor much tried; but to have ♦pent liis days in quietness and silence. Isaac was forty years old nhcn he married ; and after he was mariied, he had no ( hild fji fwenvy years. While this mercy was delayed, Isaac did not ap- proach to an handmaid's bed, as .Abraham had done, and Jacob after ; for he loved llebekah : but he prayed ; he entreated the Lord £or his wife. God heard his prayer, and was entreated ot Kim. She is at length with child of two, and the children struj;- pWd together within her. The struggles between Jacob and Esau »n the womb, represent the struggle that is between the itingdom of God, and the kingdom of Satan in the world and in the heart. The commotion ReLi kah now lelt made her very uneasy, therefore she went to enquire of the Lord. Some think Mctchisedek was COBSulted as an oracle, or perhaps some urim or teraphim were now ^iscd to enquire of God by, as afterwards in tlie breast-plate of judgment. The information given her upon her .enquiry e.\- Jjoundtd the mvstcry ; two nations arc in thy womb. Stie was ivovr bi", not only ol'two children, but two nations ; which should not only in their manner and dispositions dilfer from each other, but in their interest clash and contend with each other; and the isue should be, that the elder should serve the younger; which ■was fulfilled in the subjection of the Edomites for manv ages to the house of David, till they revolted; 2 Cliron. x\i. H. Itis the pre- rogative of God to make a diffennce between those who have not »s yet themselves done either good or evil. This the apostles infers from hence, Rom. ix. 12. When they were born there was a great difference between them, which served to conrirm what had been foretold, v. 'Z'i. Esau was rough and hairy, as if he had bsen a frown man ; whence he was named Esau, made, reared already. acob was smooth and tender like other children. Esau, in their birth, [caine foith first: but Jacob's hand look hold of his heel, to «hew that in process of time he should undermine his brother, lisau, when he grew up, wa,s a man of this world; ahui>'er: Ja- i(pb Mras a man fvr tn« odiei world ; n plain njan, dwelling in him, and made » coveiiniit with him, 26"33: fifth, thy dii" agreeable marriage of his sou Esau was an alloy to bi!> comioit, S-J, 35. tliere was a famine in the land be- es the first ("amine that Mas in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went imtu Abimelech king of the riiilistines, unto Gerar. 2 And the Loud appeared unto him, and said. Go iiot down into Egypt: dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee : for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries ; and I M ill perform the oath which 1 snare unto Abraham thy father. 4 And 1 will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries ; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed ; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my command-* ments, my statutes, and my laws. 6" ^ And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 And the men of the place asked him of tents. Their interest in the alloction of their parents was likewise dilierent. Isaac, though he was not a stirring man, yet loved to sie his sons active : Esau knew how to please, by treating him ofterk with his venison, which gained the atfection of the good old man. Rebekah was minded of the orac!. • of God, wiiich had given the preference to Jacob, and she preferred hi:n in her love. And if it be lawlul for parents to make a difference between their children upon any account, doubtless Rebekah was in the right to love him whom God loved. 29- -34. We have here a bargain made between Jacob and Esau aboi.t the birth-right, which was Esau's by Providence, but Jacob's by promise. It was a spiritual privilege, including the excellency of ifignity, and the excellency ot power, as will as the double por- tion. Gen. .\li.\. 3. It seemed to be such a birth-right as had Ificri the blessing annexed to it, and the entail of the jiroinise. Jacob's desire ot the birth-right was jjious, which vet he sought to otjtairt by indirect courses, not agreeable to his cliarncter as a plain man. lie is to be commended that he coveted earnestly the best gifts; yet in this he cannot be justified, that he took advantage of his bro- ther's necessity to make him a very hard bargain. Probably I'^au had firmerly spoken lightly of the birth-right, and if so, Jacob is at least excusable. Jacob had got some bread and pottage for his dinner, when Esau came from hunting hungry ana weary. And now Jacob s pottage pleased him better than ever hi.s game had done : give me, saitn he, some of that red, that red, as it is in the original : Behold, I am at the point to die : and if he were, was Isaac so poor, or Rebekah so ill an housekeeper, that he could not be siijv plied with food convenient, and yet save his birth-right .' But his appetite had the mastery over him. He did eat and drink, and then carelessly rose up and went his way, witliout any serious reflectiong or shew of regret. He used no means to get the bargain revoked, but by his subsequent negligence and contempt, and by justifying him- self in what he"had ifone, he pu't the bargain past recal. Thuswa.i lypentancc hid from his eyes. People are ruined not so much by doing what is amiss, as by not repenting of it. Cfli^F. XXVl l'-5. Here Gf)d iiist tried Isaac by bre CHAP. XXVI. hio wife : and he said, Siie is rny sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife: lest, suid he, the men of tiie jilacc should kill me for Rebekah, because she zvas fair to look upon. 8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time^ that Abiinclech, king of the Philistines, looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said. Behold, of a surety she is thy wife ; and liowsaidest thou, Slie is my sister.'' And Isaac said unto him, Because 1 said, Lest I die for her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hajtdonc unto us.'' One of the people might lightly have lain with thy wife, and thou shouldst have brouglit guiltiness upon us. 11 And Abinielech charged all his i)eople, =>^jin?5 He t'l^t toucheth this man, or his wife, shall surely be put to death. 12 f 'I'licn Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundred-fold : and the Lord blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great. 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of ser- vants. And the Philistines envied him. 15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged, in tluj days of Abraham his fatlier, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. firovidcncc, and tlicii directed liiiii uikIim- this trial by his word, saac finds himself stiailem.il by the scarcity of provisions : innnds logo down to Egypt, and takes Gciar in his way. Hero God gra- ciously apuearpd to him, bid hira stay where he was, and not go down into tsyp'; promised to be with him, and bless him : renewed lilt covenant with him, which had so often been made with Abra- ham ; and recommended to him the good example of his lalher'i obedience. A great variety of words is here Used to express the di- ving will, to which Abraham wat obtdiint : my \oice, my charge, my commandment, my statutes, and my laws ; which may intimate ihat Abraham's obedience was universal: he obeved the original laws of nature, the- revealed laws of divine worshiii, iiarlicularly that ui circumcision ; and all the extraordinary precepts God'gavc him, as that of iiuilling his country, and that oi'i.ltering up his ^on. 'I'hose only have the benefit of Ciod's covwiant with their godly pa- rents, th.nt tread in their obedience. ('••11. Isaac has now laid aside all thoughts of going it^lo tlaypt, and in obedience to the heavi-nly vision sets up his statl'iii <>erar, the country in which he was born. Vet there he enteri into the same tcmplalion ihnl liisgood father had been once and again overcome by, viz. to deny his wife, and togivc out that »he was his sister. There is an aptness in us to imitate the weakness «>f those we valui' ; we need, therefore, to keep our feet, lest, w hile wc aim to trcaii in the steps of good men, we sometimes tread in Vol. 1. 1^0. 4. I 16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go; from us : for thou art much mightier than we. 17 *| And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac disiged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father ; for the Pliilistincs had stopped them after the death of Abraliam : and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac's servants digged in the val- ley, and found there a well (^f springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, the water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek : because the3' strove with him. 21 Ami they digged another well; and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he removed i'vom thence, and digged another well : nnviMce liim of the injustice of his jealousy, took himar.d his larailv under his peculiar protection. rj..l4. Isaac had no land of his own, but took land of the Phi- listines, and sowed it, and reaped an hundred fold. 'I'liert seems to be an emphasis laid on the lime ; it w.is the same year when iheie was a famine in the land. Isa. Ixv. 13, My servants !»hall eul, but ye shall be hungry ; and Psal. xxxvii. 19,"^ii the days of famine iliey Siiall be tall^licd. 13. .22. The Philistines envied Isaac. It is an instance of the vanity of the world, that the more imii have of it, the mere they ;iie exposed to ceiisure ard injury, 'liny slopi>ed up the wells his father had digged, and cxpelleil limi out of the Country. Isaac did not contest with them by l<'rce, thougii he was become gri-at, but very inaceablv departed thence. Still however he kept up his husbandrr, aiid I'pcned the wells that bis father had digged, as well as digjtcd new ones. In digging these wells he met with much opposition; at Ungib be muved in a quiet setilinicit; here ba O GENESIS. 55 And lie biiiklotl an altar there, and calletl upon the name of tlie liOUD, and pitched his tent there : and there Isaac's servants dioged a well. 2u ^ Then Abimeleeh went to him Srom Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol, the chief captain of his army. 27 And Isaac said unto them, \\ herefore rome ye to me, seeing ye hate nie, and have sent IMC a'.vay from you ? 28 And they said, "We saw certainly that the Loud was Avith thee : and we said, let there be now an oath betwixt us, eveii be- twixt us and thee, and let us make a cove- nant M ith thee : 29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done tinto thee nothing but good, and have sent ihee away in peace : Thou art now the blessed of ihe Loud. 30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. 31 And they rose up betimes in the morn- ing, and sware one to another : a*nd Isaac s?lU them away, and they departed from hun m peace. 32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him con- cerning the Avell which they had digged, and said unto him, AVe have found water. 33 And he called it Shebah ; therefore Xhc name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this dav. 34 ^ And Es;ni was forty yean old when he took to wife Judith, the daughter of Jkcri the Hittite, and Bashemath, the daughter of Lion the Hittite: 35- \\hicliwere agrief of miiid unto Isaac .nid to Rebekah. fliggfd a \Tcll, and tor that they did not strive. Thobc ihat follow peace sooner or later shall find peace. 24.. When tlie Philistines had expelled Isaac God visited him, and-^avchim fresh assurances of his favour. God's time lo shew hiinself gracious, is when we arc inost disappointed in our expecta- tions from men. •25. Isiiac's altars probably gave offence to the Philistines, and provoked thi in to be the more troublesome, yet he kept up hiu duty \/halS(H ver ill it might expose him to. 3()--31. The contest betv/een Is.aac and tlie Philistines issivcd in a happy reconciliation. Abimckch m^ikes Isaac a friendly visit, the sincerity of which Isaac prudently iiuestioiis. Abime- lech then professes his sincerity in this address, to Isaac, and ear- nestly courts his friendship, 28, 2y. Afterwards Isaac entertains him and l;is company, and cntei-s into a league of friendship with him, \. 30, 31. See how graciously the good man wasinjiivinr and forj5i\'inff. Religion teaches us to be neighbourly, and as much as 111 us lies to live peaceably w ith all men, v. 32, 33. Providence smiled on what Isaac did. He had not insisted upon the resiii ti- tion ot the wells the Philistines had unjii>tly taken awav from iiim, but set dow 11 silent ur.der the injui-y ; and to nconip. :ise hun for that injui V immediately, he is enriched with a new well, v. 2 1, 25. Lsaii's toolish ni^iTiage giieved his parents ; it grieved tiieru Ihat ii? raarned without their ad »ice and consent ; that ho mair.eu CHAP. XXVIT. Here we have, I. Isaac's purpose to entail the blessini; upon Esbu, I +. H. Rebekah's plot to procure It toi Jacob, I6, 17. III. Jacob's successful managinieiil of the ph.t, and his obtaiiu'in of the bicssin*. 18. .29. iV. Ksau's importunity w ilii his wlher, and resriitnient to his brother, 30, ad fin. AND it came to pass, that Avhen Isaac was old, and his eyes were diru, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, IMy son. , And he said unto him. Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold, now I am old, I knoAV not the day of my death. 3 Now^, therefore, take, I pra}- thee, thy weapons, th\' (luiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison ; 4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring if to me, that I may eat : that my soul may bless thee before I die. 5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt fo?- venison, and to brins; it. I 6 % And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her r,()!i, saying. Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me sa- voury meat, that I may eat and bless. thee before the Lord before my death. to those that had no n ligion amongst them : and that the .rives he married were provoking in their carriage. Those children have litlU' reason to o.xpect the blessing of God, who do that ivhichisa i;rief iif mind to their good parents. CM.\P. X.\^TI. 1..5. Isaac being now old, .itid not knowing, >r not duly considering the divine oracle concerning histwosoiis, that the efdershduld serve the younger, resolves to entail all the hoii'uraiid power that was wrapt up in the promise to him upon r.sau,' his eldest son. We are apt to take our measures rather from oiirown reason, than from ifivine revelation, and therefore olten miss our way. Pui.uant to this design, he calls Esau to him, tells him upon what considerations he resolved to do this no.v, and bids him get thiin> ready for the solemnity of executing his last will and testa- rtieiii, by which he designed to make him his heir. Esaumustgo a i.uiiting, and bring some venison w hich his father w ill eat of, and i .11 bless him. In this he designed not so much the refreshment of hi-, own spirits, but nither the recii^ing a fresh instance of filial' af- i> clion. Isaac lived about forty years after this ; let none therefore think they shall die the sooner for making their wills and gettinjj ix'ady for death. 6. .17. Reb( kali is here contriving to procure the blessiDg for Jacob wIV'li was di\2'!ined for Esiiu \\cr end was good, but the means wOfebad. If it were not awrcng to Esau to deprive biwi t CHAP. 8 Now, therefore, my son, obey ray voice! accordino; to that which I command thee. 9 Go now to the tiock, and fetch me from thenee two good kids of the goats: and 1 wdl make them savoury meat for tiiy fatiier' such as he loveth : lU And thou shalt bring «7 to thy fat' u'--, that lie may eal, and that lie may bless tiue before his death. ■ 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mo- ther, Berioid, Esau my brother is ahairy man, and I am a sn'ooth man ; 13 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver : and I shall bring a curse upon mc, and not a blessing. 13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son ; only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 14 And he went and fetched, and brought thetn to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smootli of his neck. 17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 ^ And he came unto his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am 1 : ■who art thou my son ? 19 And Jacob said vmto his father, I am Esau thy first-born : I have done according as thou l)adest me : arise, I pray thee, sit of the bliaMiig, he liimsulf hiiviiig torft-iti-d it by selling his biith- riglit, yi-l It was a wruiie to Isaac, taking advanlajjc of liis in- finiiity, to impose upon him i and it was a wrong to Jacob, bv pulliiiga lie in his right hand, and exposing him to his falheis curse, if h'' should miss of the bh-ssing. (lod left her to take this indiirct course, ihat he mii^ht have the alory of brin;^ino good out of evil,undof s» rviog his own purpose by the sins and follies ef men. Isaac had lust the sense ol seeing, therefore she endia- Youis to deci ive his sense of tasting by dres'. uses of finding and smeliiiig, by piutiiii; Ksau's clothes up./ii Jacob, whieh Isaac knew by the stnll'. shape, and smi-ll, to be Ksuu's, and lest ihc smoothness of Jacob's hands and neck should betray him, she covered lhe,,i with the skins of tlie kids that wire newly killed, it was a VI ry lasli word whieh Ilebekah spake, when Jacob oi)- jected ilie (lunger of a curw Ui>un me be thy curse my iun. Ciirtst XX VII. and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 20 And Isaac said unto his son. How it it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son ? And he said. Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. 21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou k' my very son Esau or not. 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father ; and he frit him, and sard, Tlie voice is Jacob's voice, but tlie hands arc the hands of Esau. 23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau'» hands. So he blessed him. 24 And lie said. Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. 25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and 1 will cat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat ; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss ine, my son. 27 And he came near and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said. See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field Avhich the Lord hath blessed : 28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine. 29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow- down to thee ; be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curscth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. indeed who is mighty to save, because mighty to bear, bath said, upon me be tliy cuis<', only obey my voice ; but it is too d.Tring for any creature to ?ay, upon me be thy cui-se, unless it be tbal curse causeless, which we are sure shall not come, Frov. xxvi. 2. 18- -21. Lving is soon learned. 1 wonder how honest Jacob could so leadllv turn Ids tongue to say, v. 18, I am Esau thy first born; but psp<'cially do I wonder how he could h.T»e the lorehead lo father it upon Go'd, and to use his name in the cheat, 20, The Lord thv God brought it to nie. It is not wrillen for our imi- tation, l)ut our admonition ; let him that ihinketh he stands, lake heed lest be fall. . , , , '.":..,'>». Isaac was at first dissatisfied, but at length yielded to the power of the cheat. He kissiil him, 'ib, he praised him, •J7, he pravicl for him, mid iheririn propbcsied concerning bim. Three things Jacob is lure blessed with : v'' i''y. '8; power iy, and a great mtejvst iii hvavwi ; cut*;d be t>eiy o«c tNut cur*. GENESIS. SO ^ And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out tVom the presence of Isaac his fatlicr, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 Aiu\ he also hail made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said •unto his father, Let my father arise, and cat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 52 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou .'' And he said, 1 om thy son, thy first-born, Esau. 33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said. Who ? where is he tliat hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camcst, and have blessed iiim.^ yea, and he shall be blessed. 34 And when Esau heard the words of his father he cried with a great and exceed- ing bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father ! 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy'blessing. 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times : lie took away my birthright ; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not re- served a blessing for me ? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord and all his brethren have I given to him for f th thct. Something spiritual is doubtless included in the blessing, That from hiin should conie the Messiah, who should have a so- vereign dominion on earth, and that from him should come the church, that should be particularly favoured by heaven. It is the best blessing to be related to Christ and his church, to be interested in Christ's power and the church's favour. 30- -38. Now Esau that had made so light of the birth-right, would have inherited the blessing ; but he was rejected, and found xu> place for repentance in his fattier, though he sought it carefully with tears, Hcb. xii. 17- He prepared the savoury meat as his father tad diretted him, and then Ucged the blessing his father had en- couraged hira to expect, 31. \Vnen he undovstood that Jacob had got it by fraud, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, 34, and again he lifted up his voice and went. Yet he was rejected. Isaac, when first he, was aware how he had been imposed upon, trembled exceedingly, 31, but he soon recovers himself, and ra tilics the blessing h- ing the mischief they would do, and so their wicked purposes coiiH! to naught. 42..4^. Rebekah gave Jacob warning of his danger, and ad- vised him to withdraw for a while, and shift for his own saltty. She ,ritt egsscssed Isaac with an apprehension of the necessity of Jar CHAP. XXVIIl from tliee, 'and lie forget that Avhich thoulniake ihce fmilful and nuiltiji^y tliee, t^iat hast done to him; then I nill send andlfbou niaycst be a muUiludc ofpeople : letvh thee from ttience. Why should I be| 4 And give thee the blessing of A U-ahatn, deprived also of you both in one day ? jto thee and to thy seed with thee : that thou ""■""" " " ' " " niaycst inherit the land wherein thou art a nranger, which (Jod gave unto Abraliam. 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob : and he \vent to Padan-anun unto Laban, son of Be- ihucl the Syrian, the brother of Uebekah, Jufob's and Esau's mother. 0' % When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed I .Jacob, and sent him away to Padau-arani, to take him a wife from thence ; and that a3 v-11 11*1 1' 1 * he blessetl Inm, he gave hnn a charge, saymg. Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan : 7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and 46 And Rebekuh said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Ileth : if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these tihich are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me ? CHAP. XXVIIL [•nt"i to go t - .. aram. His t\uli(.-r's cIiiu-Bc uiui blissins, ~, "i, 4; his oljo diencc, 6. 11. .lacob's incHlin;; with Clod by the way. His vision of tlip ludiKr, 11, 1-. The i;iiici(ms promise (ioil madeliiin, i;J, l-l, lo. 111. 'Mr- iiiipri--si()ii tiiis mttdti ii|joii him, lb'..19: the vow lie made to Cod on thii occasion, iio, 21, '22, AND Isaac called Jacob , and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto liiin, Thou slialt not take a wife of the tlaucrhters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padan-arani, to the housi' of Bethuel thy mother's tiithcr; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban, thy mother's brother. 3 And God almighty bless thee, and cob's going anions liis ix'hitioiis togetliinia wife. She would not ttll hiin of Ksnu's wicked dtsign against the life of Jacob, lest it should trouble him; but prudently took another way to gain her point. Isaac was uneasy, as she was at Ksau's being unequally yoked with Ilittitcs, and theiefore with very good colour of reason siie moves to have J-acob married to one that was better principled. We must not presume too far on the wisdom and R-solution of those children that arc the most hopeful and promising, but care must be taken to keep them out of harm's wav. CHAl\ XXVni. 1..5. .Jacob being thus forced to leave his country, was perhaps intended both to correct him for his dealing Iraudulcntly w iih his father, and to teach us, that they w ho inherit the blessing must expect ptrsecution. God's providences often scctn to Contradict his promises ; yet when the mystery of God shall be finished, we shall see that all was for the best, and that cross prov ulenccs did but render the promises, and the accomplish- ment of them, the more glorious. Jacob is hue dismissed by his father with a solemn rliargc like that, 2 Cor. vi. 1 t, be not unecjually yoked w ilh uiibelievns : and a solemn blessing which entailed upon him the two great promises Abraham was blessed with, i. e. the promise of luirs and the pro- mise of ah inheritance. 'I'hat thou ma vest inherit the land ot thy sojournings. 'Ihis promise looks as higli as heaven, of whieli Ca- naan was a type. 'I'hat was the better country which Jacob had in his eye, when he confessed himself a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth. Jacob having taken leave of his fatjier, was hastened away with all speed, lest Ins bualier should fiml an o|)portiinily to do liim a mischief ; and away he wmt to I'adan-araiii. llow unlike was his taking a wife thence to his father's! Isaac had servants and ramels sent to fetch his: Jacob must go himself, alone, and on toot, to fetch his; go away in a fright fiOM his father's house, not know- ing when he mmht return. If we cannnt maintain the grandeur of eur ancestors, let us be content, and seek rather to be as good as tliey, than as groat. 0. This passage concerning F.sau comes in the midst of Ja- Vol. I. his mother and was gone to Padan-aram ; 8 And Esau seeing that the thiughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father : 9 Then went Esau unto Ishmacl, and took unto the wives wliich he had, INlahalah, tlic [Jauiihter of Ishmacl, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. 10 % And Jacob went out frou. Beer-slie- ba, aiui went toward Iluran. cob's storv, either to shew the influence ofa good e:^ampU-. or to shew the i'oilv of an after wit. Esau did well, but he did it when « was too late.' 'I'o mend the matter he made ill worse, first by nmr- ryinga (laughter ol Ishinael, the son of the bond-«oiiian, who was vast'out : second, taking a third wife, while, for .nught appears, his other two were neither dead nor divorced ;^ ani>le, at all times, and in all conditions : first, Tiie provi- dence of God, by which there is a ccnislant correspondence kept up between heaven and earth. The counsels of heaxnarc e.xeeiUed on earth, and the afl'airs of this earth are known in heaven. Pro- vidence doth its work gradually, and by steps. .Angels arc em- ploved as. ministering spii us, tokrve all the purposes and designs of providence ; and the wisdom of Clod is at tjie up|)er end el the ladder, directing all the motions of the second cause to the glory of the first cause: second, the mediation of Christ. He is the lad- der: the first on earth in his human nature, and the top jn heaven in his divine nature. All God's favours (dine to us, and all our services come to him bv Christ. To this vision our Saviour alludes, when he speaks of the 'angels of God ascending and descending on the son of' man, John i. .'.l. The i-romises made to liii lather were now repeated to Jacob, and fresh promises were added, accommo- dated to his present condition. Jacob was apprehensive ol danger from his brother ILs-au. but (iod promised to kivp hiin. lie had a long iouriiev before him, and was to travel aloiK in an uiiknowu counirv, but behold I am with thee, saitli God. He wju now goin^ as an exile to a distant place, but God pioims<-d lo brmElnm bacK. a»ain to this land. He si-emed lo be toiMikeii of all liislrieml-v but God her« gives him this asiurance. I will not leave thee. 1 lo- vidence seemed to ec.ntiadict the promises, he is ihorclori; nssured of the performance of them in their season; all shall Ik- (lone thai 1 have spoken t.> thee of. -Saying and doilijj aiv not two things \uA God, wkatevtr ihey are vvitU u?. GENESIS. 11 And he ligli'ted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun ■was set ; and he took of the stones of that />]ace, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that j)lace to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and, behold, a lad- der set up on the earth, and the top ot" it reached to iieuven : and, behold, the an- gels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 iVnd, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, Jl am the Lord God of Abra- ham thy lather, and the God of Isaac ; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed ; 14 And th}-^ seetl shall be as (he dust of the earth : and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south ; and in thee, and in thy seed, shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, lam M'ith thee, and Avill keep tliee in all places whither thou goest, anil will brintv thee a^ain into this land ; for 1 will not leave thee, until I have done that Avhich I have spoken to thee of. 1(> % And Jacob awaked^out of his slcej), and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said. How dreadiul /*■ this place ! this is none other but the lK)use of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morn- ing, and to©k the stone that he had put /by Ins pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el : but the name of that city was called laiz at the first. ^ I6 • • 2.!. Jacob expresses a groat surprise at the tokens he had of God's special presence with him in the place. Surely the Lonl is in this jiJace, and I ki>cw it nor. No |)lace e.vcludesdiviTic visits. Wherever we are, ia the city, the desert, or the liehl, wc may keep «ur intercourse with Clod, it it bi^not our own fault. So lar was Jacob from beiwjf exalted above nieasur*^ with the abundance of the revelations that he was afraid. The more we see of God, tile more cause we see for holy trembling and biushin;; before him . 'i o preserve the niimovial of this vision, he set up the stone, on which he had slept, for a pillar, and poured oil on the top, whicli t)robably was the ceremony then used in the dedicating altars, as an earnest of his building an altar, when he should liave convc- Rieni.es for it. lie gave a new name to the place. It had been iKlkU Lue, an almond-tree ; but he will have it called Belh-cl, the 20 And .Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be Avilh mc, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on : 21 So that I come again to my father's house in i)cace, then shall the Lord be my God : 22 And this stone, which I have set /or a pillar, shall beGotl's house : and of all that thou shalt give mc, 1 will surely give the tenth unto thee. CHAP. XXIX. I. Jacob's safe arrival at his relations, who liid him weicouif, 1"14. W. He. was comfortably disposed of in marriage, 1,5'«30. How his family was buik u|>, in the birth of four sons, 31, ad fin. THEN Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the cast. 2 And he looked, and, behold, a well in the field, and, lo, there u-ere three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the iiocks ; and a great stone a'«« upon the well's mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gather- ed : and they rolled awa}^ the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. 4 And Jacob said unto them, My bre- thren wiience he ye.'' And they said, Of Haran arc we. 5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor ? And they said, AVe know him. 0" And he said unto them, /she well ? And thej' said. He is well ; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. . 7 And he said, I/O it is yet high day, nei- ther is it time that the cattle should be ga- housc of God. He also made a scrlemn vow on this occasion, in which we may observe, his faith in laying hold on the promise, his modesty and moderation in being content with bread to eat, and raimeii! to put on, and his piety to God in his desire that God would be with him, and his resolutions to cleave to the Lord as his God in covenant, and peiiorm some special acts of devotion, in to- ken of his gratitude. The pillar shall be God's house ; that is, an altarshall be erected here to the Inmour of God, and of ail that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee. When we receive raojc than ordinary from God, we should study to give some singular instamx's of gratitude to him. CHAP. XXIX. 1-.8. We are here told how chearfully Jacob proceeded, and how happily he arrived at his journey's end. Tiic divine Providence is lobe acknowlcd?ed in all the little en* CHAP. XXIX. tfeered together ; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 8 And JLhej said, We cannot until all the flocks be irathcred too-elher, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth ; then we water the sheep. 9 ^ And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep : for she kept them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel, the daui^hter of Laban his mother's brother, and t!ie sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled tlie stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he zcas Rc- bekah's son ; and she ran and told her father. 13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and end:)raced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, SnreJv thou art my bone and my tlesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. 15 % And Laban said nnto Jacob, Because ihon art my brother shonldest thou therefore serve me for nought ? tell me what shall thy wages he ? 16 And Laban had two daughters : the name of the elder ?;:y/.s- ] iCah, and the name of the younger teas Rachel. 17 J^eali was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well-favoured. ciinistancrs which occur lo make a jounu-y or other undertaking cumfoftabli- and succt'ssUil. Wliat is hurc said of the constant care of the shepherd, may servo to illustrate the tender concern which our Lord .lesus, the great shi^ilierd ot' the sheij), hath ovei his flock the < hiirch. The stone at the well's nmuth w;is cither to Secure their i)ro[)erty in it, to save (he weH tVoni receiving daniafje i'roiii [he heatot the sun, or from any spiteful hand : or, to prevent the lambs of the flock from beini; drouned in it. Separate interests should not take us from mutual helii : when all the shepheril> came together then, like lovin» neighbours, they watered liieir flocks togetluv. J) •14. When .Tacoh understood tliat Rachel was his kinswo- man, knowing what his errand was into that country, \\r may sup- rose it struck his mind immediately that this must be his wife, uid U'addresbOb liiniwlf to hci- witU Kars of joy, auUkiix-s of love. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel ; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee than that J should give her to another man : abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Ra- chel ; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 ^ And Jacob said unto Laban, Give 7ne my wife, for my days are fuliilled, that 1 may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 2.*) And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him ; atid he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter^ Leah, Zilpali his maid /or a handmaid. 2j And it came to pass, that in the morn- ing, behold, it was Leah : and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me .'' Did not I serve with thee for Rachel ? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me ? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born. 27 Lulfil her week, and wc will give thee this also, for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years, 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week ; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. iJ9 And Lallan gave to Rachel his daugh- ter, Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. SO And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 % And when the Loku saw that Leah I'rovideiiuo made that which seemed accidental to give speedy s:i- tisfaction to Jacob's mind, as soon as he cumc to '.he place he uat bovinil for. Abraham's servant, when he came on a like erninii, met with tlie liko entertainment. 1-iban, though not a good hu- moured man, bid him mlcoine. Those are haid hcHrled indeed that are not kind to their uwii relations. l.')--CO. Here is a fair contract bilvve<'n Lalmn and Jacob, and Jacob's lioni'st jnrformance of his p.Txt of liie barjpuii. He served seven years for I? aclu I, and if llacliil still continued to keep her father's kjiei-p, his innocent and nligious coiivorsaiion with her while they kept ihr lioeks, could not l)Ul increase theirmulual af- fection. Iaim' makes long services ihort and easy ; hence we, uraJ of the labour of love, HeL>. vi. 10. An age of work will be but as a few day» lo tho>c that h've timi, and Ipiig for Christ's appeanno. i GENESIS. was hated he opened her womb ; but Ruchel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son : and she called his name Reuben : tor she Baid, Surely the Loiiu hath looked upon my afHiclion ; now, therctbrc, my husband ■will love me. 33 And she conceived ao;ain, and biire a son : and said Because the Lord hath heard that I wa% hated, he hath therefore given me this son also ; and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son ; and said, Now this time will my hus- band be joined unto me, beeause 1 have born him three sons ; therefore was his name called Levi. 35 And she conceived again, and bare a son ; and jhe said. Now will I praise the Lord . thea-efore she called his name Judah, and left bearing. CHAP. XXX. T»i this chapter we have an account of ihe inrrrasf, I. Of Jacob's family: tight children more we liiid registered in tliib cliapter ; Dan and Naphtali by Bilhah, Rachel's maid, 1..S: Gad aiiti Asher by Zilpah, Leah's maid, 9. .13 : Issachar, Zebulon, and Dinah, bv Leah, 14. .'21: and last of all Joseph, by Rachel, 22. .24. ll. or Jacob's estate : he comes upon a new bargain •with Labaii, 25. .34: and in the six years' service he did to Labaii God wonderfully blessed him, so that his stock of cattle became very considerable, 25. .43. AND when Racliel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister : and said unto Jacob, Give me chil- dren, or else 1 die. 12 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am\ in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the I - * womb.-' 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah^ go in unto her ; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to Avife ; and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bear Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son : therefore called she his name Dan. 7 And Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, with great wrestlings- iKive I Avrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed, and she called his name Napth* tali. 9 When Leah saw that she had left bear- ing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to Avife. 10 And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bare Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, A troop cometh ; and she called his name Gad. 12 And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bare Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call mc blessed : and she called his name Asher. tionswere engaged to each other, as if, as some say, Leah was no better than an adulteress, it wlis no small wrong to her too. Hi excuse was frivolous; and his compounding for the matter did make ill worse. Hereby he drew .lacob into the sin and snare, and disquiet of multiplying riches. The polygamy of the paJriarch; was excusable in them, because, though there was reason against it as early as Adam's marriage, Mai. ii. 15, yet there was no express commaiid against it. It was in them a sign of ignorance, it was not the produce of any sinful lust, but for the building up of the church, which was the good that Providence brought of it : but it will by no means justify the like practice now, when God's will is plainly made known, that one man and one woman only should be joined together. 31 ■•25. Leah who was less beloved was blessed with children, when Rachel was denied that blessing. See how jirovidence in dispensing its gifts, sets crosses and comforts agamst each other, that none m.ny either be too much elevated or too much depressed. The names she gave h"r children were expressive of her respectful regards both to God and her husband. Slie nckonerl the want of iier husband's love her affliction, 32 ; and lliankfjiily acknow- •edged the kind providence of God in her bearing children. Wliat- sver wc may hayc that contributes cither to our support under our afflictions, or to our deliverance from them, God must be owned 111 it, especially his pity and tender mercy. CHAP. XXX. 1..13. We have here the ill consequences of that odd iMannme which Jacob made with the l«o sisters: first, an unhujipy disagreement between him and Rachel, 1, 2, occa- sioned not so much by her own barrenness as by her sister's fruit- fulness. She considered not that it was God that made the differ- ence, and that though in this instance her sister was preferred before her, yet in otiier things she had the advantage. A child would not content her, but because Leah had more than one, she must have more too; gi\e me children. She did not apply herself to God by prayer, but to Jcicob onlv, forgetting that children arc an inheritiige of the L .rd, Ps;il. c.xxvii. 3. Observe a diflerence between Rn- chel's asking for this mercy and Hannah's, 1 Sam. i. 10, &c. Rachel envied; Hannah wept. Rachel must have children, and she died cjftlie second ; Hannah prayed for this child, and she, had four more. Rachel is importunate and peremptory; Hannah is sub- missive and devout ; if thou " ilt give me a child, I will give him to the Lord. Let Hannah be imitated, and not Rachel ; and let out desires be always under the conduct arid check of re:ison and reli- eton. it was a very grave and pious reply which Jacob £avc ta Rachel's peevish demand: am linCwl' siadf 'llie Cbaloe* ga* CHAP. XXX. 14 f And Reuben went, in the days of wheat-harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto liis mother I^ah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. 15 And she said unto tier, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and -vvouldest thou take away my son's man- drakes also ? And Rachel said, Theiielbre he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son's mandrakes. 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto mc ; for surely I have hired thee with my son's man- drakes. And he lay with her that night. 17 And God hearkened unto Leali, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, God hath given me mine hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband; and she called his name issachar. 19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. i20 And Leah said, God hath endowed me zcith a good dowry : now will my hus- band dwell with me, because 1 have borne him six sons ; and she called his name Zebulun. 21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah. !2'2 ^ And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her Momb. 23 And she conceived, and bare a son : ii\i)llr;isrth it \vell,(liibt tliou ask suiisol mt.'? oui^htrst thou nut tu ask them of the Lord? second, an un'napiiv agreement between liim ami the two hanilinaiils. At llie persuasion of Uachel, he took Uilhah, her hanihnaid, to wife, that aceording to the usage of those times, hcrchifdren might be adopted and owned as her mistress's children, 3, &c. One would think her own sister's cliildrcn were nearer a kin to her than her maid's ; and she might have made them her own if she had pleased; hut children that she had a rii^ht to rule were mors desirable to lier than cliildren she liad hnore right fo lij\e. As an early instance of her dominion over the children horii in her nparlment, she ga\e them mimes that express nothiii'' but emulation with her sister. Rachel haMn" done this absurd thing 111 emulation \vith Li.'ah, now Leah doth tne same to be even with her, or rather to keep befori' her. She caUed one of her two sons, whom In-r handmaid Zilpah boa- to Jacob, Gad, 1 1, promising her- self a littV^lroop of childien, and the other Asher, happy, thinking herself happy in him, and promising herself that hvr neighbours would think her so too, 13. The contest between these two sisters was very blameable ; yet God brought good out of this evil ; ii.tr thus Jacob's family was replenis''ed with twelve sons, from whom the celebrated twelve tribe's were descended and named. I>v24. Jacob it should socra aisuciatcd nwic willi lUchcl Vol. I. and said, God hath taken away my reproach : 24 And she called his name Joseph ; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son. 25 ^ And it came to pass, ^^ hen Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto La- ban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my covuitry. 26' Give ?«e my wives and my children, for Avhom I have served thee, and let me go : tor thou knowest my service which 1 have done thee. 27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, torry, for I have h^inncd by experience, that tlie IjOri) hath blessed me for th}' sake. 28 And he said, Aj)point me thy wages, and I will crive //. 29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me. 30 For it urns little Avhich thou hadst be* fore I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude: and the Loud hath blessed thee since my coming ; and nou\ when shall 1 provide for mine own house also .'' 31 And he said, \Vhat shall 1 give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing. If thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy dock. 32 1 will pass through all thy tlock to-day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speck- led among the goats : and of such shall be ni}' hire. llian with Li-ah. IVit at length Rachel's strong passions betrayed her into a bargain w ith Iv-ali that Jacobshould return to her apart- ment. Reuben, a little lad of five or six years old, playing m the lieUI, found mandrakes; it is uncertain what they were, but we are sure they weiv some rarities, either Iruils or flowers, that were pleasant to the smell, Canl.vii. I J. Whatever they were Rarhel coveted them, and 1/ah took this adv.mtage to obtain tlral whicb was justly due to her, but which Rachel would not otherwis*- have consriiled to. Strong piissions often thwart one another ; and those cannot but be continually uneasy that are hurried by iheni. Leah called one of the two sons she was now blessed wiih, Issuchar, » hire, IS, reckoning hei-self well paid for the mamliaki-s, (which is a strange' construction of the i)ro\ideiirc) rewarded for giving her maul to her husband. We abuse God's mercy when we reckon that his favours p ilioniie our crimes. God reraembe-red Kaehel whom h« seemed to ha\e forgotten, and hearkened to her, whose prayer* liad been limg denied, and she bare a son. As God justly deniei the mercy of which we liave been inordinately desirous, so some- times he graciously grants at length thatwhich we have long waited I'or. •^j.'36. Though it was now high time to set up forhiinselfj though I^buri's sa vice wai> hai:d, and be bad cbcrMd bun u: hu GEN 83 So sliall my rigliteousness answer for nie 111 time to come, -when it shall come for my hire before thy face : every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. 34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy Mord. 35 And he removed that day the he-goats that were rjng-streaked and s})()ttcd, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had nome white in it, and all the brown among the stieep, and gave ihcm into the hand of his sons. 36 And he set three days' journc}' be- twixt himself and Jacob; and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. 37 ^ And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and cljcsnut-troe, and peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which nas in the rods. 38 And he set the rods which he had peel- ed before the flocks in the gutters in the ivatering-troughs, when the flocks came to drink : that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, speckled, and s})otted. 40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks towards the ring-streaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban : and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle. 41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid first bargain ; yot Jacob honestly piTfurms his engagement. A fiood man, though he swear to his owji hurt, will not cbanne. Though others have deceived us, that will not justify us in doceiv- ilig otncrs. Laban, in love to himself, desired Jacob's stay : he owns that Jacob's piety had brought a blessin" upon him, 27. Good men are blessings to the place where they live, even where they lire meanly and obscurely, as Jacob in the field, and Joseph in the prison. They made a new bargain : Jacob shews what rea- son he had to insist upon so much ; is willnig to reter himself to the providence of God, which he knew extcmls lo the smallest things, even the colour of the cattle, and will be content to have for his ■wages the sheep and goats of such a colour speckled, spotted and brown, which should hereafter be brought forth. Some think he chose this colour because in Canaan it was most dehghtcd in : their shepherds in Canaan are called Nickodim, Amosi. ), the same Word is used for speckled. Laban was wiUmg to consent to this bar- gain, because he thought if those few that he had thiU were speckled (Uld spotUid were £eyii;^c him of the tokens of the divine favour. Those who, while their beginning is small, are humble and honest, contented and indus- trious, are in a likely way to see their latter end increasi/^." CHAP.XXXJ. l'-25'. Jacob took up his resolution lo return, upon a just provocation, by divine counsel, and with the advice and consent of his wives. Though he had met with very hard usage here, he would not quit his place till God bid him: he came ihitlter by orders from keaven, nad tiicrc he would stay till he was ordc:5';i CI LAP tliy wages , then all the cattle bare speck- led : and it' he said thus, The ring-streaked shall be thv hire; tlien bare all the cattle iing-«treakcd. y Thus God hath taken away the caitle of your father and given them to me. -10 And it came to pass, at the time that the cattle conceived, that 1 lit led up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ring-streaked, speckled, and grisled. 11 And the angel of (iod spake unto mc in a dream, soying, Jacob. And I said. Here am I. 12 And he said, Lift up now thme eyes and see, all the rams Avhich leap upon the cattle are ring-streaked, speckled, and grisled : for I have seen all that Laban docth unto thee. 13 I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vow- cdst a vow unto me : now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land ot thy kindred. 14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him. Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house ? 15 Are we not coimted of him strangers: for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. 16 lor all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours and our children's : now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. hack. The direction he had is more fully rrlatetl in the uccoiint he ^ivis of it to his wivis, 10. .13, wlicre lie tellb th(.ni of ih^- droHin he had about the cuttle, and liow tlie aJijel instiueled him. that it was not by chance, ntir by his own policy, tliat he obtained that great advanta<;e, but by the providence of tiod, wiio had taken notice of the hardships Liibaii baeth-perity is then doubly sweet, when nx sfe it (iouiiij;, not Iroin ciiniuon pio\idence, but from covenant love. He sent lor Kachel and Lx'ah to him in the lield, 4. eithei that ho ini^lit discourse theni more privati ly, or because on w.iuld not come to the oih'i's apartment, and he would wil- Jinjjly talk to them togethc r, or oili rwis" he had work in the lield which he Mould not leave, llusbamls that li\e llieir wives will communicate their purposes and uitri.tiorts to them. Where thiie is a mutual ailectioti, there will i -a mutual tonlideiice ; aiiil ih. prudence uf the wile should engaije the heart of her liu-.baiul i- trust in her, I'rov. xxxi. His vMVes Ci'Hsrnteii to his lesolulii n. They iil>a m-ntioned their grievances, complaine.i that iheir fa- ther looked upon them as straimei-s, and was without natural al- fection towards them. So then it seeai<-d tliey were weary ol then tfwu pi.-oijle uiid iit«Li; faiiicr's hoii>U; \u\ver the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead. 22 % And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. 23 And he took his brethren with him, and [)ursued after him seven days' journey : and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. 24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him. Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount " and I^^aban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. 26' And Laban s-aid unto Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters as captives taken with the sword ; their husband, and put themselvrs with him under the divine con- duct. Jacob's I. .aving his service suddenly, was not only justihpd by iIk' particular instructions Clod gave him, but warranted by the fundamental law of sell-pieservation. He took wlunt provijjemra •;ave him, and was content with tliat, and would not take the repair of his damages into his ow n hands. Vet lluchel was not so huncit as her husbaml ; she stole her father's images, and carried ibcia away with her. It should seeiu they were images for a religious use. Household gods, either worshipped or consulted .is oracles. We are willing to hope she look them away, iiot from a doire of the rich metal they were made of, much less fir her own use, or out of any superstitious fear lest Lnban, by his coii'-ultijig them, might know which way they were gone, but with a design to coii- \inee her father of the folly of his ngard to ihosi- as gods, which could not SI cure themselves, Isa. xlvi. 1,'J. Ijiban pursued Jacob. and at length overtook him ; aud the very night b.dore he came up wiih him, Ciod interposed in the quarrel, rebuked L)ibiin, and sheltered Jacob. The safety of good men is very much owing to iha .iccess tied has to the consciences of bad men. 'J(i..35. I'o repri>»eiil Jacnh a» a ciiniinal, Ijiban will have it thought that he int.nded kmdii'.-s' to his daughters, that he would have iiixd Ijis htUi; giuuiitluWren, a«d according to ilic looliU GENESIS. 27 \Vherefore didst thou flee away se- cretly, aad steal away from me, and didst not "tell me, that I niifrht have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret and with harp ? 2J? And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters ? Tliou hast now done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you Imrt : but the God of your father spake Unto me yesternight, saying. Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 30 And now, though thou irouldst needs be gone, because tliou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou •tolen my gods ? 31 ^ And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for 1 said, Peradventurethou wouldcst take by force thy daughters from me. 32 With whomsoever thou fmdest thy gods let him not live : before our brethren discern Ihou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. 33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maid- servant's tents ; but he found them not, Then went he out of Leah's tent, and enter- ed into Rachel's tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the Images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found thetn not. 35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee : for the custom of women is custein of the country, would liave sent them away with mirth and songs, with tabret and with harp. Rebekah was sent away out o( the same tamily, with prayers and Ijlessiugs, chap. xxiv. 60 n>>i with sport and merriment, which was a sii^ii that relinion was ver_\ much decayed in the tamily, and they had lost their seriousness. He suggests that Jacob had bome ill design in stealing away thus, that ne took his wives away as captives. Those thai mi an ilJ themselves are most apt to put the worst construction on w hat others do innocently. Laban searched diligently for his gods, partly out of hatred to Jacob, whom he would gladly have an oc- casion to quarrel with, partly out of kwc to his idols, which h« was loth to part with. Were the woishippcrs of false gods so set upon iheir idols, and shall not we be as Solicitous in our enquiries after the true God ? Laban, after all his searches, missed of tinding his gods, but our God will not only be found of those that seek him, but they shall lind him th«ir bountiful rcwarder. upon me. And he searched, but found not the miages. 36 f And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, AVhat is my trespass ? Avhat is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me ? 37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thr house- hold-stuif r set ii here l)el'ore my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge be- twixt us both. 38 This twenty j'cars have I been with thee ; thy ewes and thy she-goats have not cast their young, and the rams oi' thy flock have I not eaten. 39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee : 1 bare the loss of it : ot' my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 Thus 1 was : in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night ; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. 41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house : I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cat- tle ; and thou hast changed my wages tea times. 42 ^ Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty : God hath seen mine affliction, and the labour of mine hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. 43 ^ And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, l^hese daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest 36..4'2. Jacob's chiding with Laban was excusable, but not justifiable, for griv\.".is words stir up anger, and coinniunly make ill \\orse. Here is the character of a good servant, Jacob had ap- proved himitif such a one, 33- -39. He wiis wry carttui, so that through 1 is neglect the ewes did not cast their young; hii piety also procured a bU-ssing upon his master's efl'ecls that were in his hand. Here is also the character of a bad master, such Laban h.id been to Jacob. 'J'hose are bad masters wh>) exact from their servants that which is unjust, by obliging thera to make good that which is n' t damaged by any default of theirs ; or v ho deny their S' rvaiuj that which is just and equal. God is the patron of the oppressed. 43..55. Laban is not willing to own himself in a fault, nec~to nsk Jacob forgiveness, and make him satisfaction as he ought to ht>t done, hwt turns it off with a profession of kindness for Jacob's Hiyff and ciiildren, and pioposelh » covenant of frienditbip be> CHAP. f« mine; and wliat can I <]o this day unto these my daughters, or unto tlieir cliildren wliich they have born ? 44 Now, therefore, come thou, let us make a covenant, 1 and thou ; and let it be lor a witness between me and thee. 45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46' And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones : and they took stones and made an heap : aud tJiey d id eat there upon the heap. 47 And Laban called it Jegar-saho-dutha; but Jacob called it Galced. 48 And Laban said, This heap k a wit- ness between me and thee tliis day. There- fore was the name of it called Galeed ; 49 And Mizpah : for he said, The Lord watch l>etween me and thee, when we are absent one from another. 50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives besides my daughters, no man h with us : see God is witness betwixt me and thee. 51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold thh j)illar, which I have cast between me and thee ; 52 This heap ht witness, and thh pillar he witness, that I will iiot pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, iudge be- twixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac, twwn them, wliirh Jacob rtailily agrees to, without insistini; upon Liibiin's subinissiori, much kss- liis ivstitulion. When quarrels happen we should be willing to be friends again upon any terms : peace and love are such valuable jewels, we can scarcely buy them too dear. It was agreed that no act ol hostility shoultf take place between them ; that Jacob should forgive all the wrongs he had re- ceived, and not remember tin ni against Ijiban and his faniilv, in after times. Though we may ics< lit, we must not revenge an injury. This covenant wai :aliKrdwilh great soh-mnily, according to the usages of those times. A i/illar was erected, a sacrilice was otVered, they did eat bread togetluT, and solemnly appealed to (iod us a vilness orajudge. God is judge between contending parties, and will jifdge righteously, whoever d'.th wrong it is at his peril. Thi v fave a new name ol the pldee. Laban in Syriac, and Jac(d> in lebrew, called it the heap of witiicss. J'osteniy being included ill this league, care was thus taken lliat the memory of it slmnld be preserveii. Alter all liiit j)arlcy they pan friends. God is oMen betlfr to us than our fears, ami strongly ovenules the spirits ofmeji ill our favours, beyond whut v.e could liHve expected. Vol. 1. XXXlL 54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread ; and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount. b5 And early in the morning Laban rose .up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them : and Laban departed, ajid returned unto his place. CHAP, xxxir. Jacjb here meets, I. With good tiilings from his God, 1 2. II. With bad tidings from his brother, to whom he s<'nt a message to notify his return, 0'. In his disrreij, he divjduLli hii companv. 7, 8. He maketh his pravcr to God, 9.. 12. 111. He sends'* presfnt h) his brother, 13. .23. IV. He wrestles with the aooel. 24...32. \ND Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. '2 And when Jacob saw them he said. This h God's host : and he called the nanie of that place ]\[ahanaim. S ^ And Jacob sent messengers before liiin to Esau his brother unto tlie land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying. Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau : Thy ser- vant Jacol) saith thus, I have sojourned with Lnban, and staid there until now ; 5 And I have oxen, and asses, docks, and men-servants, and women-servants ; and I have sent to tell my lord, that 1 may find grace in thy sight. 6 ^ And the messengers returned to Ja- cob, saying, AVe came to thy brother Esau, and also he coinclii to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and dis- tressed : and he divide d the people that nas CH.\P. XXXII. I, 2. .'Xngels nKt Jacob, in a visible appear- ance : whether in a vision by day, or a dream by iiight, is uncer- tain. Tliose that keep in a good way, have always a good gtxird ; angels are ministering spirits for their safely, Heb. i. 14. They had invisibly attended him all along, but now ihevapix'aied to him because he had gie-ati r dangei-s before him tli.Tii thoic h* bad yetencounteivd. To pn-ser\e the roniembninci' of lliis favour, Jacob gave a name to the place fium il ; .Mnhanaim, that is, two hosts. I'robably they appeared to him two iioJis. tne oneithof side, or one in the Iront, and one in the rear to prt<;ect him from Ijiban bihind, and Llsou belore. Thub with God's favour he »• compassed. ;)..8. He sent a very kind and humble messajje to his bro- iher. He called Esau" his lord, himself his si rvanl, informed him that he was not a lugilive, or deslilule of necessaries, and liiially courted his favour. It is no dispunigeititnt to tliosc who love llie better cause, to become i><-titioners for n-conciliulion. He receives a formidable account of Ksau's pri'parallon iigainsl hun. i..-i.u rtmcmlicii the old quarrel, cnvieii whut luilv cKatt Jacob GEN 'aIUi him, aiul the flocks, and lieids, and the camels, into two bands ; 8 And said. If Esau come to the one cotn- pany and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. 9 % And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thcc : 10 I am not wortliy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant : for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. 11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau : for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me and the mother with the chihhcn. 12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, wdiich cannot be nundjered for nudti- tude. 13 % And he lodged there that same night ; and took of that wliich came to his hand a present for Esau his brother. 14 Two hundred she -goats, and twenty hc-goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams 15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty she asses and ten foals. liad, conclutlos it is easy to destroy him, and resolves to do it sud- denly bel'orc Jacob was come to liis latiicr, lust he should inter- pose and mediate between them. Esau was one of them that hated peace; « hen Jacob was for peace, he was for war, Psal. cxx. 0, 7. No wonder that Jacob was greatly afraid, the more so, liaving scarcely recovered from tlie fright Laban had put him in. Many are the troubles of the righteous in this world, and sometimes the end of one is but the beginning of another. Ho puts himself in the best posture of defence his present circumstances will admit of Like a Iei\der mastrr uf a family he shews himself more solicitous l«)r their safety than his own. 9"12. Jacobliad newly seen his guard of angels, but in this dis- tress applies to Gorvants, every drove by themsehes; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. 17 And he commanded the foremost, say- ing, AA hen Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, \\ hose art thou ? and whither goest thou.'' and whose are these before thee ? 18 Then thou slialt say, Thei/ be thy ser- vant Jacob's ; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau : and, behold, also he is behind us. 19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him. 20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy ser- vant Jacob is behind us. Eor he said, 1 will appease him with the present that goeth be- fore me, and afterwards I will see his face; pcradvcnture he will accept of me. 21 So went the present over before him ; and himself lodged that night in the com- pany. ■ 22 And he arose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two women-servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. lavdur from God. Self-denial and self-abasement vk II become us in all our addre.sscs to the throne (>f grace. How magnificently he speaks of God! How meanly of himself, disclaiming all thoughts of his own merit. 'I'hose are best prepared for the greatest mercies who thijik themselves unworthy ot the least. I^Ie thankfully acknowledges God's goodness in his banishment : with my staff I pa.ssed over this Jordan, like a forlorn and despised pilgrim, and now I am surrounded with a numerous and comfortable family. He urges the extremity of the peril he was in, and especially insists upon the ])romisc God had made him, 9) thou saidst, I will deal well with thee : and again, 12, thou saidst, I will surely do thee good. God's promises, as they are tlie surest guide of our desires in prayer, and furni-ih us with the best petitions, so they are the firmest ground of our hopes, and furnish us with the best pleas. 13 ••20. Jacob having piously sought the friendship of God by i» prayer, prudently seeks the friendship of Esau by a present. \\\' must so depend on God's providence, as to make use of our own prudence. God answers our prayers, by teachntg us to order our affairs with discretion. He sent at the same time a very hum- ble message, which he ordered his servants to deliver in the best manner. They must especia.iy take care to tell him, that Jacob was coming after, 18--20, that he might not suspect him to have (led for the same. A friendly confidence in men's goodiu-ss may help to prevent the mischief desijiued by "their btidness. CHAP. 24 ^ And Jacob was left alone : and there wrestled a man with lum until the breaking ol" the day. 25 And wlien he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched tlie hollow ot his thigh ; and the hollow ot' Jacob's thigli was out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, 1 will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name .'' And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, thy name shall be ailled >no more Jacob, but Israel : for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell 7ne, I pray thee, thy name. And he said. Wherefore is it thai thou dost ask after my name.-^ And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Penuel : for 1 have seen God face to tace, and my life is preserved. 31 ^ And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel cat not o/'the sinew which shrank, which is up- on the hollow of the thigh, unto this day : because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. 24..3'2. Some think it was ii created angol tliat strove with Ji- cob : others, that it was t!ic ang<^l of the covenant, andTwho is in- t\fcd the Lord of angels, and who alter appeared occasionally in a human !>hape, before he properly assumed human nature. We are told by the prophet, IIos. xii. •!•, how. lacob wrestled ; he wept and made supplication. It was not only a corporeal, butaspiri- tual wrestlini; by the vigorous actings of t'ailh and holy desire, and thus all the spiritual seed of Jacob, that pray in praying, still wrestle with Ciod. The aiigcl put out Jaeoli's ihisli, to shew him it was Ciod he was wnslliiig with ; for no man could disjoint his thi('.li with a touch. Wivstlin;; believers may obtain glorious victories, and yet come olV with broken bones, for wliiii we are »eak, then we are strong. The aiij»el, by an admirable cundesci-nsion, en- treats Jacob to let him £u. Thus he would [iu( air honour upon Jacob's taith and pra\er, and further try hn constancy. .lacob ersisis in his h )lv iiiipDilunily, I will not lit lliee {;o unless thou less mc. In l)ei.'i;iii;; this blessing he owns his inferiority, for the less is blessed of the f;reater. Those that would have tiie blessing of Christ, must be iinportunate for it, ^s lliosc that resolve the XXXIII. CHAP. XXXIII. Here is, I. A friendly meeting between Jacob and Esau, 1-.4. II. Their conference at their meeting, 5- 15. III. Jacob's settlement in Canaan, 16--20. AND Jacob hfted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And lie di- vided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the tv,o handmaids. 2 Andhe putthehandniaidsand theirchil- dren foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hinderinost : 3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and em- braced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him : and they wept. 5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, and said. Who are those with thee ? And he said, Tiie chil- dren which God hath graciously given thy servant. 6" Then the handmaidens came near, thej and their children, and they bowed then>- selves. 7 And Leah also with her children came n(\ir, and bowed themselves : ami after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed tlicmsflves. 8 And he said, What 7?2ca7/c'sMhou bv all t will have no denial. The angel puts a perpetual mark of honour tipiiii bim, by changing his name. Thou snalt be called Israel, a prince with Ciod, a namegrealer than thosi' of the great men of the carlh. J.u'ob requested to know lln> aiiael's name, but this was Jemi d, lest lie should be too proud ; but Instiad of telling his name he lihss.-d him there, i. e. repeated and r;ives a new name to the place. Prnutl, Utc huv: of God, because there tie bad seen the uppihrAiice of Uoil, and obtained the honour of God. Some think he continued to halt till his dying dav, arxl if he did, he had no reason to compbiiii ; foe the honour and comfort he obtained by the struggle, was uUuu- dantlv sufiicieiit to countervail the Jaiiuige. He li'ud no reason la be ashamed to bear in his body the marks of the Jjord Jesus, Gal. vi. 17, yet it might serve like St. Paul's thorn in the tlcsli, tokeep him from being lifted up with the abundance of n-velalioiis. CII.M'. XX.XIII. 1.. t-. Jacob discovers Ilsau's approach, nnJ puis his family into the best order to n-ceive him, whether ho should come as a friend or an enemy. .At their m«vling Jacob bowed to F.s.TU, and Ksau ran to Jacob, not in a pas>iofrbut in love, and as one heariilv aconciled to him. .Some think when tltau came f)Ul to meet .lacob, it was with no ill dt sign, but rt is certain Jacob understood the report otherwise: and if lliere was not Fome wonderful change in his brother's mind, I see not how wnstliiif Jacob could ol^tain such ])Ower with good men, as to deruniiiutte hini a prince, (lod has the hearts ot all in his hunjs, and con turn ihrni as he pleases. It is not in vain lo trust in {>od, or call upon him in the day of trouble; they that do so, often find ibe issue Ixtter than they expect. .'•••lo. In this discourse bc'twcen tfie two brothers, Jacob speaks of his cliiUtren as CJod'^ gifts, nay, as preciou* gifts ; lie hath (ra- ciouily given them. Though they weie m«ny, iind now much hi> care, and as yet but slenderly provide.ni t" be meiieiiary' in Iheir lrienJsh>|>: thcrefoie >tlidlcvcr iijiucncc Jacu'/t (iftxiiU might tiuMi \t> GENESI"?. tills drove which I met? And he said, thtsc arc to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9 And Esau said, I have enough, mj bro- ther : keep that thou hast unto thyself. • 10 And Jacob said, ISay, 1 pray thee, if now I have found trrace in thv si2;ht, then receive my present at my hand : for there- fore 1 have seen thy face, as tliough I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously vitli me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. 12 And he said, Let us take our jour- ney, and let us go and I will gx) before thee, 13 And he said unto him. My lord know- eth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me ; and if men should over-drive them one day, all the flock Avill die. 14 Let my lord, I j^ray thee, pass over before his servant : and 1 will lead 6n softly, according as the cattle that gocth before me and the children shall be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. 15 And Esau said, Let me now leave •with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, what necdeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. 16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 17 % And Jacob journeyed to Juccoth, fiaeifytiiiB, ho would not have it thought that it had anv, and hcrefore be refused it. Jacob sent it'forfcar, chap, xxxii. 20, but the fear being over, he now importuned his acceptance ot it for love, to shew that he desired his brothir's friendship, and did not dread liis wrath. Two tliinss he urges: first, the mighty sa- tisfaction he had in his brothel's favour. It is a very high com- pliment hepasseth upon him. I have seen thy face as tiiough 1 had seen the face of God, i.e. I have seen thee r.'Conciled to me, and »t peace with me, as 1 desire to see God reconciled; or the mean- ing is, that Jacob saw God's favour to him in Efau's : second, the competency he had of this world's goods : God halh dealt graci- ouslvwiihrae. He adds, I have enough, Ihave all, so the word is. 'A godly man, though he has but little in the world, yet inay truly si'y lie has all, because he has the God ot all, and has all in "Him ; 'aU is yours if you be Ciirisl's, 1 Cor. iii. 2-i, 23. E-sau here offers hinistlf to be his guide and companion, and atterwanls offers someof his wen for liis guard: but Jacob humbly rtiuseth both these offers. We never lind tlwit Jacob and Esau were so loving as they were now. As for God his work is perf«ct. He made Esaa, not oiilv not an eiKinv, but a friend. 16 ••UO. Jacob came at length to Shechem, we read it to Sha- km a City of ShecLcift. The critics gencTaUy mcline to read Jt aiid bui\t him nr. house, and made booths tor h\s cattle . theretbre the name vi the place »$ called Succoth. 18 % And Jacob came to Shalom, a city of Shechem, which is in tlie land of Canaan, when iie can\e from Padan-aram, and pitch- ed his tent h-eforc the city. 19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the ciiildren of Ilamor, Shccheiu's father, for an hundred pieces of money. 20 And he ei"ected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. CHAP. XXXIV. In this chapter we have, I. Dinah debauched, 1 • • 5. II. A treaty of marriage between her and Shechem wlio had detiied her, (ji-'19. HI. The circumcision of the Shechenutes, pursuant U» this treaty, 20 ••24. IV. The jierlidious and bloody revenge which Simeon and Ixvi took upon them, 25--'M. AND Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled i her. 3 And his soul clave unto Dinah, the daughter of Jacob ; and he loved the dam- sel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. 4 % And Shechem spake unto liis fatlier Hamor, saying, get me this damsel to Avife. 5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter, (now his sons were -tvith liis cattle in the field,) and Jacob lield hisr peace until they were come. appcllativelv : he came safe to the city of Shechem, after a peri- liius journey he came safe to Canaan. Here he buvs a field, au-i dedicates aii altar to El-elohe-Isracl, God the fiod of Israel. Ta the honour of God, the li\ iiig and true God, iii.d to the honour of the God of Israel, as a God in covenant with him. In our worship of God we must be governed by thejoint discoveries both of iiatuiiil and revealed religion. C1I.\P. XXXIV. 1--.5. Dinah is reckoned now about 111- teen or sixteen years of age when she here occasioned so much miscliief. She went nut to see the daughters of the li.nd, pu- hably at a ball or a jiublic day, and lost her honour by this means. It is a very good thini; for ciiildren to love home: it is a )>Bien'^ wisdom to make it easy to them, and 'children's duty liieii Ao be easy with it. .The court which Shechem made to her aiu-r he had defiled her, was fair and commendable, and made the besi ot bad : he loved her, (n'*t as Ammon, 2 Sam. xiv. 14,) and he engaged his father to make a match for him with her. As soon a.- Jacobs children grew up thev began to be a griet o( mmd tohun. Let not 'Todlv parents that are lamenting the miscarriage of tluir chil- drctf, suppose their case singular. When he received ti.esc evil tidings, he held his peace till his sons came home, it shouu, seem hfc left the management of his affairs loo much \tJ l»is sons, and w^iktal CHAP XXXIV. 6 And Hamor the fatherofShechem went out unto Jacob to commune Vith him. • 7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when the}' heard it ; and the men were griered, and they were very wrotli, because lie had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daugtiter; which thing ought not to be done. 8 And Hamor communed with them, say- ing, The sonl of my son Shechem iongeth for your daughter : I pray you give her him to wife. 9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. 10 And ye shall dwell Avith us : and the land shall be before you ; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein. 11 x\nd Shechem said unto 'her father, and unto her brethren. Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me 1 will give. 12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me ; but give me the damsel to wife. IS ^ And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Ilanior his father deceitfully, and said, (because he had defiled Dinah their sister,) 14 And they said unto them, Vt'c can- not do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised ; for that were a re- proach unto us ; 15 But in this will we consent unto yon ; If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised, 16 Then Avill we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to do iiothinc without tliein, or at least knew tliiy would he iiru-asy il he did. Tilings never go well when the authoritv of a parent run- low in a family. Ix-t every man bear rule in liis own house, and have his children in sulijection with all gravity. 6.. 17. 'I'he injury done to Dinah is here called folly in Israel, according tt tiie lansuape of atter-tiines, jfor Israel was not yet a }K?oj)le, but a family only. Uncleanncss is folly ; for it sacrilicelh ihe-lavMur ofGod, jieaci' of conscience, and all that the soul can pvotend to that issacniland honourable toa L.r.«c and brut'sh lust, 'fbis folly is most ^haini lul in Isra. I, in a fanidy of Israel where (iod is known and n'orslo|i]>ed, ashewai jn .lacob's tenls, by the name of the God of .(acob. Kolly in Israil is scandalous indctd. flunior and Shechem fairly proposed this match, in order to a coalition in trade : .lacob's sons basely pretend to insist upon a coalition in religion, when really they (lesipurd nothiiifi less. Tlicir pwpjence was (pcciuus, but thcii inU-nliou wal uuiiicious. Bloody VU I. Vo. i. US, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised : then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. 18 And their Mords pleased Hamor, and Shechem llamor's son. 19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Ja- cob's daughter : and he teas more honourable than all the house of his father. 20 ^ And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their cit}', and com- muned with the men of their city, saying, 21 These men are peaceable with u.% therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein ; for the land, behold, // /* large enouoh for them ; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give ihem our daughters. 22 Only herein will the men consent un- to us for to dwell with us, to be one people, i( every male among us be circumcised, as they are circunicised. 23 Shall not their cattle, and their sub- stance, and every beast of theirs, he ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. 24 And unto Hamor, and unto Shechem his son, hearkened all that went out of the gatcoitlie city ; and every male was circum- cised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 2,5 •[ And it came to pass on the third day, when they Avere sore, that two of tlie sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's bre- thren, took each man his swortl, a'nd came upon the city boldly, and slew all tiie males. designs have often been covered with a pn-tencc to religion : thus ihev ha\e Ixon carried on most plausibly, and most securely. But this dissembled piciv is d.iubtless double iniquity. lS..Jt. Hamor and Shechem not only consented to l)C them- selves circumcised, but gained the consent of the men ol tin ir city. Thev urged a cogeii! aipument, j;'!. Shall not all their cattle. niHl Ih.ir substance be oui>? It is bad to m.iriy upon this principle, \et w.- see covi'tousiuss th'.- u'loatesl match-maker in the worW, and nothing so much designed bv inaiiv. as to lay hous^' to house, mid held to field, without 'e^ard t« uny other principle, ll was vet worse to be circumcised on this principle. The Shcchcmitrt will embrace ibe religion of J.icob's family, only to intei% si ihrin- seKcs in iheir riches. Thus thire are many with whonrpiin isEod- iincss. and who are inon' iiilluenced by ihcir s»cular iiileast, than anvpiinriple ofthcii relisi.'ii. ,, . , , i. ..., 25.. 31, Here an; biraeon and, Levi, two cf Jacobs sons vf\ CHAP. more Jacob, bat Israel sluill be thy name ; and he called his name Jsracl. 11 And God said unto him, I am God Al- miglit}^ : be fruitful and multiply : a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins : 12 And the land which 1 gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thj seed after thee will I give the land. 13 And God went up from hini in the place where he talked with. him. 14 f And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pil- lar of stone : and he poured a drink ofler- in^ thereon, and he poured oil thereon, 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth -el. \Q % And they journeyed from Jieth-el ; and there was but a little way to come to ilphrath : and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her. Fear not : thou shalt have this son also, 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (lor she died,) that she called his name Beu-oni : but his father called him Benjamin, 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the Avay to Ephrath, which is Bcthleheui. !30 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave : that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. 'J'J % And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and Jacob took care to bury them, that tdcy might not alu-rwnrds tinJ them, and nturn to thorn. Ho removes without molestation to IVth-el. Though the Canaaiiites were CAitsperated against the sons of Jacob for thoir barbarous murder of the Shech»miies!, >et tlicy were so restrainad by a divine power, thai tliey could not take the opportunity which oft'eretl itself, when tliey were upon their m;irch, to re\ciii;e their neighboiu's i|unrivi. (•'• • l.'>. .At Urth- 1 J.icob built iin altar,, and no doubt offered sa- f rilices there, or pi'rhaps the tenth of his cuttle accordinj; to ids vow. llecallcii the place El-bitli-.l, the God of lielh-el. Wnlle they wen- at lleih-i^-1, Deborah, Hebekah'i iiurie, di'd so much lament- ed, that the oak under which she was buried, was called Albn- Lachuth, the oak of weeping. Here Cod corifirined the changij of his num<', and rt>newed the cover.ant with huii. Here sUo he set tip a pillar for a memorial, and conlirmed the name lie had fur- ,/lierly given to the place, U»-.aO. Rachel had passionately said, Civo mc cliildren. orris* I liic : nuw sIjc haei!igo\<\ and full of days ; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. CJLaP. xxxvl Here are, I. Esau's wivc'^, I '-5. II. His remove to mount SMr, 6"6. Ill, 'I'he names of his sons, 9--I-t. H'. The dukei whicii descended of his si)ns, Ij.. 10. \'. The divk«'s of the Ho- lites, SO" JO. VI. 'I'hc kings and dukes of lidoni, J 1, ad lin. NO^V these arc the generations of Esau, who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives of the dauchtrrs of Canaan ; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aliolibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite : 3 And Bashemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth. new-born son IWn-oni, the son of mv sorrow ; and m;iny a son nnt born in such hard labour, vl proves the son oi Ins p;ireul's sorrow, and the heaviness of her that buiv him. Hi;! Jacob. Uxaute he would not renew the lle saith, is not so much as ntmcU amonijtbeGentiUs,tlialoneshouldhaveniMaM.eriw.tc Itor.v. I. lilt fiimo was so provoking;, he lost his Urth-r ,}iM und hn bh-ssin*, chap .\liv. 4. 'n-.c U'te ami dr Esau's sons lived by the sword, chap, xxvii. 40. Titles of honour iiave been more ancient out of the church than in it. Esau's sons were dukes, when Jacob's sons were plain shepherds. 20..30. Mention is made of these Horites, Gen. xiv. 6, and of their interest iu mount Scir, bsforc the Edomites took Bossessioai CHAP. XXXVII. 30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Di- .Vimn. Tliese are the dukes that came ol llori, among their dukes in the hind ofSeir., 31 ^ And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. 32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom ; and the name of his city kus Din- habah. S"o And Bclah died, and Jobab the son ol Zerah of Bozrah reigned in hii?^sttad. 34 And Jobab died, and Ilusham of the land of 1'eihani reigned in his stead. 35 And Iliisham died, and lladad the son of Bedad, (who smote Midian in the fi(.ld of Moab) reigned in his stead ; and the name of his city zcas Avith. 3(5 And Hada(,l died, and Samlah of Mas- rekah reigned in his stead. 37 And Samlah di(>d, and Saul of Reho- both by the river reigned in his stead. 38 xAnd Saul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 3y And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor (lied, and Hadar reigned in his stead ; and the name of his city Kas Pan ; and his wife's name r.^'rts INIchetabel, the daughter of]\Ja- trcd, the daughter of jNlezahub. 40 % And these are the names of the dukes ^/taf ca/we of Esau, accordingto thcirfamilies, after their places, by their names; dukcTiui- nah, duke Alvah, duke Jelhelh. 41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elap, duke Pinon, 42 Duke Kcnnz, duke Taman, duke Mibj^ar. 43 I)ukc Magdiel, duke Tram. These he the dukos of Edom, according to their lia- of it, Di-ut. ii. 12, 22. Particular meniion is made ofAnah, who fouiid nuilcs, or, ;issome read it, wiitcrs, in tlic Mildi-mosj. 31. .i3. By dcfrrti's tbe Kdomilis drove out the Ilorites, pot full jiossessioii of the countiy, and had aKOveriiiiiciit of their own. They were ruled ly kings, wiio seem in have come to the ihrone by eh'Clion, and not by iineiil di scent. These kings reicnrd in Edom licforc there reigned an" king o*er the ehiUiren of Israel, i.e. before Moses' time, for he was king in Jcshu run. In i-xternai prosperity the children of the covenant are often c:i»t behind ; .■'nd those out of the covenant jzet liie Mart. While the Israelites il .veil in tiie house of boiulage, anil lluirCanaan wasonlyllio Inml of pro- mise, the Edoiniles dwelt in llnir own habitations, and .Soir was in their possession. Tlie children of this world have iheir all in hand, and n-.ithing in hope,' while tin ehildien of Ciod ba*e ibeir aU in hope, and next to nothing in jwsscssiou. Vol. 1. bitations, in the land of their possession : he is Esau, the father of ti)e Edoniilcs. CHAP. XXXVII. Wc have, I. The malice of. Iiweph's brethren, 1 •..'!. II. Tho rea- sons of thiir hatred, 0..17. lU. Their coiibpiiacy ugainst liim, IS. .30. IV. They deceive their father, 31. .35. V. Joseph soU to I'olipliar. AKD Jacob dwelt in the land -wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These arc the generations of Jacob : Joseph, 6c/w5' seventeen years old, was feed- ing the tlock with his ijielhren : and the lad zcas with the sons of Bilhah, and with the son* of Zilpah, his lather's Avives : and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all liis children, because he nas the son ol" his old age ; and he made iiim a coat of jnamj- colours. 4 ^ And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than ail his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak ])eacc- ably unto him. 5 % And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren : and they hated him \-et the more. 6" And he said \mt(1 them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which 1 have dreamed : 7 For, behold, we i:;erc binding sheaves in the held, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round abuut, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said unto him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us ? or shalt thou in- deetl have dominion over us!'' Antl they haled him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. CH.\P. XXXVII. \..\. Thonoh Joseph was his father's dailing, yet he was not bred up in idl.'uess and delicacy ; but fed ihe (lock Willi his brelhivn. ffis 'father loved him partly for his niolhrr » sake, and partly for bis (;W n sake, bec.iiisc he was the (jn litest com- fort of his old age. He proclaimed his aflection towards Jt«icpli bv drfssinc him finer than the r.'st of bis children. Though those cliildren are happy that have that in them which justly rrci>m- ineiids tbeni tn their parents' particular love, yet it is the prudcnco of I'aivnts not lo make any differiMice between one child and an- other, unless there be a manit'est cause givriv for it by their cliU- dreu's h relates the pievhetical dreams In whiLb Ood T GENESIS. 9 f -A'-J l>c dreamed yel another dream, and told it his bretlircn, awd said, ]5el.-oid, 1 have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun, and the moon, and the eleven stars, nia^dc obeisance tome. 10 And lie told it lo his father, and to his brethren ; and his lather rei)uked him, '-xuOt said unto liim, AVIiat is this dream that thou hast dreamed l! Shall 1, and tiiy mother, and thy brethren, indeed eome to bow down our- selves to ihce to th.c earth ? 11 And his l)retlnen envied him ; but his father observed the saying. 12 f And liis brethren went to feed their fatlier's iiock in Sheohcn). 13 And Israel said unto Josepli, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem r come, and i will send thee unto them. And he said unto him, l/ere am I. 14 And he said to iiim Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well witli the ti(;eks, and bring' me word again. So he sent him out ol" thp vale of Hebron, and iic came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, /iii G'rts wandering in the held ; and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou ? 16 And he said, 1 seek my brethren: tell me, I pray tlice, where they feed their jiocks. 17 And the man said, 'J iiey are departed hence : for I heard them saN', Let us go to JDothan. And Joseph went after his bre- thren, and found them in Dotiiati. 18 ^ And when they saw him afar otf, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. ly And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. pave hira botimcs ihc prospect of his adviiiucmint, fi> support him viiidcr the lung and "ricvous troubles with whit h'lif was to be exer- cised. His bretlireii take this heinously, and his father s^entty re- buked him, probably to lessen the offence his brethren would be apt to take : yet Jacob, like Mary, Luke ii. 32, kept these things in his heart, and no doubt remembered them long alter, when the event answered the prediction. 12-'2'2. See in Joseph an instance of dutiful mss to his father, and of kindness to his brethren, though lie knew they hated him ; yet he made no objection lo his father's command, but chearl'ully f^mbraced the opportunity of shewing his respect to his brethren. If our relations do not thi ir duty to us, yet ue must not be wanting in our duly to them. His brethren could not endure to think of doinj; obeisance to hira, that wus it which they were plotting to pievent by the cruel and deliberate murder ot'him. Alen that rage at God's counsels arc foolishly aiming to defeat them, but they iina^MK 3 vain thing; for God's cotinssh wiH stand. God call 20 Come now, therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit ; and Ave '■'ill say. Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall sec wiiat will become of his dreams. 21 And Reuben heard It, and he delivered l)im out of their hands ; and said, Let us not kill him. 22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed n« blood, hut cast him into this j)it that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand uj)on him ; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 23 T And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they strip- ped Joseph out of his coat, ///.vcoat ol mariy colours, that u'as on Ijim. 24 And they took him, and cast him into a j)it ; antl the pit kt/s empty, //ktc zvas no water in it. 25 And they .sat down to eat bread : and they lifted \\\> their eyes, and looked, and, i)ehold, a company of Ishnjeelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spi- cery, and balm, and myrrh, gomg to carrj it down to Egyrt. 2b" AndJudah said unto his brethren What profit in it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood ? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ish- meelites, and let not our hand be upon him ; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites, mer- chantmen ; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ismeelites for twenty 'pieces of silver : and they brought Joseph into Egypt. raise U]> Iriends for his fieopic even anionc their enemies, for he has all hearts in his hands. Reuben, of all the brtthren, hail most reason to be jealoun of Joseph, for he was the first-born, and so entitled to those distinguishing favours which Jacob was conferring on Joseph, yet he proves liis best friend. Reuben's temper sernis to have been soft and effeminate, which had betrayed him to the sin of unclcaniiess : while the temper of the nvo next brothcr.«, Simeon and Levi, was fierce, which had betrayed them to the sin of murder, which Reuben started at the thought of. Our natural constitution should be guarded against those sins it is most inclin- able to, aiu! its dislike increased against those it is most averse to. Joseph was here a type of Christ: he came to his own, and his own not only rirceived him not, but said this is the heir, como let us kill him, crucifv him, crucify hira. Ca.-JO. Joseph's brethren stripped him of his coat of n.auy Colours, went about to starve him, slighted him in distress, and a; kjig'li Bold him W a company of merchaiits, to be sarried iiitw ciur. XXXVIII. , 29 If And Reuben rckirncd unto the pit : and, beliold, Joseph was not in the pit ; and he rent liis clothes. . SO And he returned unto his brethren, and said, Tiie child is not ; and I, uhilhi r shall I go ? 31 ^ And they took Joseph's coat, anc) killed a kid of the goats, aiul dipi)cd tlic coat in the blood : 32 And they rent the coat of ma»i/ colours, and they brought it to their father, and saiti, This have mc found ; know nov/ whether it be thy son's coat or no. 33 And lie knew it, and saiil, It is nijl son's coat ; an evil beast hath devoured him . Jose[)h is witliout doubt rent in pieces. 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and luourued for his son many days. 35 And all his sons, and all his daughters, rose up to comfort him ; but he refused to be comforted ; and he said, i'or 1 will go down into the grave unto my son mourning, TJius his father wept for him. 36 ^ And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Pijtiphar, an oliicerof Pharaoh's, wid captain of tiie guard. CHAP. XXXVIII. ■\Vc hftvc in tills chajiter, I. Judah's mairiiige and is^uo, and tlic Ulifiiiu'ly dratli ot his two iddes-t sviis, i--ll. II. His iiici-'t with his dau;;litc'i'rainar, l^-.'23. III. His confusion vvlitii ii 1 t not say wb will go to oiu- grave mourning, hicau-^e we know nut what joyful davs l'ro\iue of llrnse suit, which dishonour and drtile the body, riid are then lore wry di»- pleasinu lo Goil, and the evidences of vile affecJions ! hliplah, the thud «on, was iv-erved for th<; widow, yet «itli desitfii iliat be should not marry so youiiij as Ins Krolhcrs, lest he die aUo. iy..'J.'). Tamar ex po-ed herself to Judah nt a time of ininh aitd feasting. 5uch urks often pr^/vc times of tcmpla^on, parti- GENESIS. noUl, thy fatlicr-rin-law goeili up to Timuatl'i to shear his sheep. 14 And she put her widow's garments oft' from her, and covered her with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in ai^i open ])U\ce, wliich is by the way to 'Inunah : for she saw that Slielah M'as grown, and she was not given uutohiin to wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to bean harlot; because she liad covered her face. }6 And he turned unto her by the way, a,nd said, Go to, I pray thee, let me conic in unto thee ; (for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law.) And she said, ^\'hat witt thou give me, tliat thou mayest come in unto me ? 17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give m^ a pledge till thou send it ? 18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee,'' And she said, Thy signet, and thy l)racelets, and thy stalf that i.'j in thjne hand : and he gave it her, and came in unto her : and she conceived by him. 39 And she arose, and went awa}', and hiid by her veil from her, and put on the garrnents of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of liis friend the Aduihimitc, to receive ///.v pledge from the woman's hand ; but he i'uund her not. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Wlicre is the harlot that was openly by the way-side ? And they said, There was no harlot in this place. 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her ; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place. 23 And Judah said, Lot her take ii to her, lest we be ashamed : behold, Isent this kid, and thou hast not found her. 24 ^ And it came to pass, about three months after, that it was Lold Judah, say- iitj^, 'Jamar thy daughter-in-law hath played th(! hailut : and also, behold, she is with chiKl l)y whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her torth, and let her be burnt. 25 M'hcn she was brought forth she sent lo her father-in-law, saying, By the man whose these are am I with child ; and she said. Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, the bracelets, andstaft'? 2() And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I ; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son ; and he knew her again no more. 27 % And it came io pass, in the time of her travail, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And it came to pass, when she tra- vailed, that the one put out his hand : and the mid-wife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his iiand, that, behold, his brother came out; and she said. How hast thou broken forth ? this breach be upon thee ; therefore his name was called FhaiX^Z. 30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet threaduponhis hand, and his name was called Zarah. CHAP. XXXJX. Wu have Joseph hero, I. A servant, a slave in Pbtiphar's house, V. 1, yet there greatly honoured and favoured, 1. by the provi- dence of God, which made liim in efi'ect a master, 2 ••6; 2. by the grace of God, which made him more than a conqueror over a strong temptation to unclcannoss, 7"12- II- We have him here "a sufferer, falsely accused, 13 --IS, imprisoned, 1.9, 20, and yet his imprisonment made liim botli honourable and com- fortable by the toJiens of God's special presence with him, 21. .23. tiilarly to the sin of uncleanness ; when men are fed to the full, the v^ins are apt to he loose. Judah was taken in the snare; and, though he was ignorantly guilty of incest, yet he was v/ilfuliy guilty of fornication! whoever she was, he knew she was not his wife, and therefore not to be touched. Judah, when the hailot cannot be found, sits down contented to lose his signet and hif liracelets, and lorbids hisfiicnd to make any further enquiry after them, giving this reason, lest we bo ashamed. Tliere are many wiio are more solicitous to ])rcserve their rcjiutation with men, than !lo secure the fav(;ur of God and a^ood conscience; lest we be ashamed goes further with them than lest we be damned. 2i--30. As Tamai- was in the eye of the law Shelah's wife, Yn being with cbiUI by an jtUer was looked uf ou as a reproach te Judah's family, bring her forth therefore, saith Judah, and let lier he burnt ; 'not burnt Io death, but buri.t in the cheyk or fore- head, stigmatized as a whore. It is a common thing for men to be sr-verc against the very sin in others, which yet they allow themselves in ; and so in jivjging others they condemn thomsclves, Rom. ii. 1. Judah was tilled with shame when it was made to appear that he was the adulterer. He is convinced by iiis own conscience, confesses his sin, and ncvei returns to it aj'ain. 'I'hose do not truly repent of their sins that do not forsake tivem. The four eldest sons of Jacob fell under foul guilt : Reuben and Judah of incest, Simeon and Levi of murder, yet they were patriarchs; for of Levi were descended the priests, and ef Judah kings and the Messiah. CHAP AND Joseph was broog!\t dov,-n to Egypt : and Potiphar, aa oilicer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bouglit him of the hands of the Ishmachtcs, which had brouglithim down tliither. 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and lie was a prosperous man : and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And, his master saw that the I/Ord zi-as •with him, and that the Loi;u made all that lie did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and lie .served him : and he made him over- seer over his house, and all thai he had he put into his hand. 5 And it came to pass, from the time that he had made liim overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake: and the blessing of the Loud was up- on all that lie had in the house, and in the fiehl. 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's baud ; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat : and Joseph was a goodly person, and well-favoured. 7 ^ And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Jo- seph : and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused : and said unto his mas- ter's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed alltltat he hath to my hand. 9 Thcie is none greater in this house than I ; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because tliou art his wife ; XXXIX. how then can I do this great Mlckedness, and sin against God .'' 10 And it came to pass, as s>he spake to Joseph day by. day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, o?- to be witli her. 11 And it came to pass, about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business ; and there uas none of the men of the house thcie within. 12 And she caught him by his garment, saying. Lie with me: and he left his gai- nunit in her hand, and tied, and got him out. 1.'3 And it cnme to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment m her hand, ;iud was tied forth, 14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying. Sec, h<; hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us : he came in unto me to lie w itli fnc, and 1 cried with a loud voice : 15 And it came to pass, Avhen he heard that I lilted up my voice and cried, that he left his giirment \\h\i me, and tied, and got' him out. 16 And she laid up his garment by her until his lorel came home. 17- And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant,, which thou hast brought unto us, came in un- to me to mock me : 18 And it came to pass, as I lifted upihy voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, nnd fled out. 19 And it came to pa>s, when his muster heard the words ui' his wife, when she sj)ake 1..0'. Jut><'iih was sold 10 an officer of Pliaranh, witli whom lio might mt ac(iuiiiiiti.'J with public n r^oiib ami public business, and so he litti-il lor the pnlciiiu nt nr was afterwards designed for. What God iiiti'iids men loi. In will bivsuio-tume way or other to fil them for. God pioipirtd hiin, and tis master piehTred hiiii, and vns birs>rd lor his sake. He «.a^ bal.i^hed tVoin his fatlier's house, l)Ut not from his (.iod. The Lord was with him, and that sup- ported and comforted him. liidastry and honesty arc tiic surest and safest way of risiiij;. 7-'lV'. Here is a most infamous instance of impudence and immorality in Jowph's mistress, who is n^it to be inititioncd with- out the utmost di tLsLition. Slw was urgi lit and violent :n her temptation, she spake to him (!ay by day. , The haiul of Satun was ill this, who when he found he could not overcome him witii the uouhles and frowns r>f the wi rl.l, ajS-UiUs him with soft and allur- iiiG pliMsiires, winch have ruined more tliun the former, and slaia their ten iluiiisands. ll^ie isa mo«t famous instante of virtue and resolved ehasiity in Josi-ph, who c sc.ipc was, all things cotiiidervd, asureatan instance of tlic divine power, as the (kllveiance ol the three (Hildrcii from the fiery Ijuruacc. Ik dkleriniiicJ neither to Vol. L wrong his master, nor oiTeiul his God. Gr.icious souls look upon it as the worst thing in sin that it is against (iod, aitniiist his nature and dominion, against his love and Lis design. They that luve God, for that reason hatesiii. 13. .is. The love of Jnseph's mistres."; was now lumrd to th« uliiiKSt ra!»e ai^d malice ; and she pretends she cannot endurt' the sight of liim whom a little before she could iiot endure out of her sight. Chaste and holy love will continue though blighte ilieir liuu light. i;). .Ii.seiiii's master Ixdievel tfie acctisatiim, snd he was con- demned to perpetual imprisoiiniii t. .^lany an action of lialrc )m- prisoiimtfnt will in the grtal ihiy b' found io tie against the rnfniiri oi 0>d'< i>eople. Our l^'rd .h'tn, like Jo>ieph liere, vias bounrt and nuinberefl with inmsgressors. jovpb was owned by his Go'l whoij, and will bo, tbc j'atrun of oi'pre»cd ■niiuwiicy. Isu gn u GEN unto him, saying, After tliis manner did, thy scvant to me ; that his urath was kin- dled. 20 And Joseph's master took him, and put liim into the prison, u p!;ice Avh.ere the king's prisoners zc'cre bound: and lie was there in the prison. 21 f But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed hitu mercy, ^nd gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison commit- ted to Josepli's hand all the prisoners that Tcere in the prison ; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to an}' thing t/tat v^as under his hand ; because the Lord ^^as with him : and that Avhich lie did the Loud made it to prosper. CHAP. XL. In this chapter we have, I. Two of Pharaoh's servants coramitted to prison, and iIkic to Josi'pli's care, v. 1.-4. II. They dreamed lach of them a drc;iiii which Joseph interpreted, S'.IP; and the event verified tlic interpretation, v. 20. .'2 III. Joseph recommends his case to one of them, whose prcfcr- , inent he foresaw, v. 14, 15, hut in vain, v 23. ' AND it came to pass, after these things, that tiie butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had oifended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them ; and they continued a season in ward. 5 ^ And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which acre bound in the prison. can shut out his presence from his people, for he has promised he will not leave them. He can raise thejn up friends where they least expect it, anJ.makc them pitied of those that cany them captive. CHAP. XI.. 1-.4. Two of the great officers of Pharaohs court havin;» oSTended the kins;, are commilted to prison, lligli pKices are slitipeiy ])laces ; nothing is nioie iincertam than the favour of pauccs. The taptaiuof iheguard hiinieif, who wabPoliph3r,<,UaigeU ESIS. 6 And Joseph came in imto them in tl.c morning, and looked upon them, and, be- hold, they c'crc sad. 7 And be asked Pharaoh's offirefs, that vere with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, "Wherefore look yc so sadly to-day ? 8 And they said unto him, We liave dreamed a (beam, and there is no interpre- ter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations bchmg to God .'' tell me them, 1 pray you. 9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said unto him, Li my drcaiM, beiiold, a vine was before me ; 10 And in the vine were three branches : and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes. 11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand ; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interj)retation «f it : The three branches are ■ tliree days. 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place ; and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, xmto me : and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house : 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews ; and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. 16 ^Vhen the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Jo- seph I also was in my dream, and, be- Joseph with them, which intimates that he began liovv to he recon.- cile(l to him, and perhaps to be conviiiceil of his inmic«icy, though he durst not release him for fear of his wife. 5. .19. Observe the special providence of God, which filled the head of these two prisoners wHh unusual dreams, such as made eAtniordinary impressions upon them, and can ied with them et>- elenres of a divine oriainal, both in one night. They were troubled, that beiiit; coiiiiiied, they could not have recourse to the divines ei CHAP. XLI. hold, I liad tliree white baskets on mj head. 17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all rnannei- of liake-meats for Piia- raob ; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my h^ead. 18 And Joseph answered and said, This ?> the interpretation thereof ; The three bas- kets are three days. 19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from oif thee, and shall hang thee on u tree ; and the birds shall eat thy ticsh from olt" thee. 20 And it came to pass the third day, whic.lt was Pharaoh's birth-day, that he made a feast unto all his servants : and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and ot the chief baktn- among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again : and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand : 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Jo- seph had interpreted to them. 23 ^ Vet did not the chief butler remem- ber Joseph, but forgat him. CHAP. XLI. Here IS, I. Pharaoli's dreams, 1..8. II. The recommcndatiiiii cf Josepli t'ur III) interpreter, 9..IJ. III. The interpri tatioii of tlie dreams, iinii the pruilint :uivice piveu to Pharauli, 14..3(). 1\'. The prctirincut ot Josiph, [i7.--i5. V. 'I'hc accomijlishmeiit of Joseph's predictions, and liis fidelity to .his trust, 40', ad AND it came to pass, at the end ol" two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed ; and, behold, he stood by the river. 2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favoured kine, and fat- fleshed ; and they fed in a meadow. 3 And, behold, seven other kine came up Kgypt, who pnl( iided to iiiterprtt (ireains. Joseph hereupon
  • furdel ti)ines to come, Na. xlu 10, he must therefore lose the praise of all the jjifls of foresi<;lit, which' men have, ordinary or extraordinarv. Joi-eph improved this oppirtiinity to "et a friend at court, llow mod^ stlj doth he represent lits case to the chief butler! lie rii ither relh'i ts on liis hrethrt n who sijld him, nor on his mistre* who had persecuted him, but mihily states hi;- own ninocence. Whin we are called to viiuli- rate ourselves, we sliould cari fully avoid speakin>; evil of others, ill- doth not say, brin^ me into I'haraoh's house, but brin;; me out I't thii ho«ise. Provideritc sometimes designs the greali si favours tor ihoM' who least care- tor or expect thein. »0..'.J;i. .K.seph's predu ;iou «iis verified on the very day pre- fixed, but the luitler reruemb- red him not. How apt are thost.-, (Iiat aicaduse lo ka^l mhcrs lu distress, Perhaps it 15 in allusion after them out of the river, ill-favoured, and lean-tieshed : and stood by the other kine, upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill-favoured and lean-ilcshed kme did eat up the seven well-favoured and ^at kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept, and dreamed the second tune: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. ()" And, behold, seven thin ears, and blast- ed with the east wind, sprung up after them. 7 Ami the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoli awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 8 And it came to pass in the mominw that his spirit was troubled ; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof ; and Pha- raoh told them his dreams : but there was none that could interpret them unto Pha- raoh. 9 ^ Then spake the chief butler unto Pha- raoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day. 10 Pharaoh was wroth with his ser\-ants, and })ut me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker. 11 And Ave dreamed a dream in one night, I and he : we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream, 12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard : and we told him, and he inter-* preted to us our dreams : to each man ac- cording to his dream he did interpret. ]'J Audit came to pa.ss, as he interpret- t'd lo us, so it was ; me he restored unto mine otHce, and him he hanged. to tliis story, that the prophet speaks of those' that dfink wine tn bowls, and are not grieved I'or the atniclion of Joseph, Amos vi, (). We iu«tly blame the chief butler's iner.ilitude to Joseph, Ml we carry ourselvi s much more unnratefully to lh<' l.iis. Joseph h.id but foretold the cliief butler's cnlaigement , butChri»l wrought out ours, mediated with the kin;; ol kin^sturus; yet wa lorijei him, though we have pn^mised ne\er to torget hitn. CHAP. XI.?. I ••J). Phaiaohs drrams cairied their I'Wn evi- dence with them, that they «> a- sent ef (lod, and therefore whcit he awoke his spirit was tK^ubled. Ilis niaj:iciaiis wen- pu7«l<'d, the rules of theirait failed them si that they i ould not offer any in- terpretation ot them. 'I'his was to raokc Joseph's pcrK)riM»liee by the spirit of CioJ the more admirable. Conipuie wilh this sloif Dan. ii.27..47, and .^S. »)..!(>. (lod's lime for llie enlargement of hi» pent,and had obtained it, he probably upon his rtUasf wcu!d hiive gone baclt to thi- land ot Hibii-Avs again, which he spoke ot so foelinnly, chap. xl. 15, and thou he had nt illicr bien so blessed hiinsell, nor such a blessing to his family as altrivvards he proved. Joseph makes a vf ry inudest reply to Pharaoh, in irhich he give; honour to God, it is nut )n me, God must give \X. Great gills ap- pear most graceful ;wid illustrious, whea those that \vA\e them, \jse thrm hum' ly, and take not the praise of them to themselves, tut jivi ii t'l God. 17- 3'2. I'h.iraoh dieamed that he stood on the bank of tin river Kilus, and s.i'v ihe kine, both the fat ;'.ud the lean, come I. 'It orih.' riV' r. That the knigHom of !''.?:ypt had no rain, appe:'r? 'X-tfh.xiv. IS, but di pi-nded on the overtluwins of the r\\t-r, an(i W >««! alii ut one certain lime of X\ve v?ar vt overtkjwcd. U it ^■o^c to fitteen cubits there was plenty, if to thirteen or under, there was scarcity. Sec how many ways Providence hath ol dispensing its gilt^; yet whatever the second causes are, our dependence is till on the fust cause, who makes every creature to us what, it is, be It rain or rivei;. .See the goodness of God in sending l!ic. seven years of plenty before that of famine, that provision might, be made accordingly. Great variety of seasons there hath been, tlie produce of the earth, eomctifncs more jind sonietimis Iws, yet. lake one v.itli another, « hat was miiaculour. conciniin;; the manna,, is ordinarily verified in the common cour.ie of providtiicc. he that salhers much has nothing over, and he that gathers little has no ick, K.x.iiJ. xvi. IS. 33..t..i. Joseph gave Pharaoh good advice, niul Pharaoh pw inotcd .lost'ph to iioat hi.u;ur. It is the wisd(;m (d' princes to jncfrr Lho'c, rind "Jie haj'piTio.s of people to have t!i.>se prefi iTQtl. CIiaF. xlii. 56 And tliat food shall be for store to the'j 48 And he gathered up all the food of land against the seven years of famine, which ji,hc seven years, which were in the land of shall be in the land of Egypt : that the land; Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities : perish not through the famine 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his ser- vants. 38 % And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can wc find such a one as this /,s', a man in whom the spirit of God is ? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Foras- much as God hath shewed thee all this, i/ierc is none so discreet and wise as thou art. 40 Thou shnlt be over my house, and ac- cording unto thy word shali all niy people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, 1 have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring I'rom hi^ hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, anci put a gold chain about his neck : 43 And he made him to ride in the se- cond chariot which he had : and they cried before him, ]3ow the knee ; and lie made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh ; and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or loot in all the land o( J^g.ypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah ; and ho gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti{)hera!i priest of On. And Joseph went oujt over all the land of Egypt. 40" ^ (And Joseph n^as thirty years old when he slo(xl before Pharaoh kingof Egypt.) And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of F.gyi^t. 47 And in the seven plenteous years tlie cnrtli brought fbrtli hy handfuls. to [ilacps of powiT and trust in whom the spirit of God is. Pliaraoli guvp him a new iianic, Zaplinath-paancah, a rivcalcrofstcnts. 'rhi> jirctVrmcnt of Joseph was an aLu'idant ricompc-Mce for his inni)- teiit and patii nt suffering, a lasting instance of the equity atj wn* to Joseph, to buy corn, l..(i. II. The fricht Jowph put ihrm into for their tri^l, 7"20. III. Tim cnvirlion liny were * — «^— 4'), 47. Joseph was now made to forgi I l'r> ini>ery. and wai madi' fruitful in the land of his atlliction. Jll^ prwilictions »fW«c- coniplished. and he performed his trust «iiU dilijiutc and pru- dence. The people in their distress cried to I'liaruidi, .<:..l !> fciil them to Joseph. Th\is God. in the rosih.-!. Uireris tl ^ to him for mercy aud i^racf, tojjo to the IahJ Jnvu, 1 ■<•'- ni>s dwcUs. GENESIS. nmv nnilcT of their sin concerning Joseph long before, 21- -24. IV. Their return ro C:uui;in with corn, and tlu- grout distress f heir tiitlicr was in upon the account they gave him ol llieir cxpe- (iition, '25, ad riii. NOW, when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto hib sons, M hy do ye look one upon another? 2 And he said, Behold, 1 have heard that there is corn in Egypt : get you down thi- tiier, and l)uy for us from thence : that we xnaylive, and not die. 3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren : for he said. Lest peradvcnture mischief befal liini. 5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came ; for the faniinc was in the land of Canaan. 6 ^ And Joseph zvas the governor over .the land, and he it n-as that sold to all tiic people of the land ; and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him zckh their faces to the earth. 7 And Joseph saw his bretJu'CHi, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto th'cm, and spake roughly unto them ; and lie said unto their., AVlience come ye .^ And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 8 And Joseph knew liis bretliren, but they knew not him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye aix spies ; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 10 And they said unto him. Nay, my lord : but to buy food are thy servants come 1 1 AVe arc all one man's sons : Ave are true men ; thy servants are no sjiics. CHAP. XLII. 1..6'. All the three Patriarchs, to whom Canaan was the land of promise, mot >\ith famine in that land, which was not only to try their faith, but to toach tluin to seek the better country, that if, the heavenly, Ileb. i.\. 5. .lacob saw that there was corn in Kgypt, i. e. saw the corn his nei;;hbours had bought there, and brought home. He rtprovid his sons lor delaying to provide corn for theii: families, why do ye look U[)on one another? When wc are in trouble it is folly to stand hwking one upon an- other, deliberating but doing nothing. Now Joseph's brethren's empty sheaves did obeisance to his full one. 7 ••20. We ifiay well wofider that Joseph, during the twenty years he had now been in Egypt, especially during the last seven y<~ars he h..! been'in power there, never sent to his father to ac- quaint him with his circumstances : but it isjprobable that his con- duct in tliis affair was by speciai Jireciion from heaven, _lhal the I'J And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 13 And they said, thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Cunaan ; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our lather, and one is not. 14 And Joseph said unto them, 'J'hat /,s it that I spake unto 3'ou, saying. Ye are spies. 15 Hereby ye shall be proved : By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. 16' Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye .shall be kept in prison, that your words ma^' be proved, whether there be any truth in you : or else, by the life of Pharaol), surely ye are sjmcs. 17 And he put them all together into ward three days. IS And Joseph said unto them the third day. This do, and live : for I I'ear God. 19 It yc be true 7«e/j, let oneof your bre- thren be bound in the house of 3'our prison ; go ye, carry corn for the famine of your liouses : . 20 But bring your youngest brother unto inc ; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. 'Jl ^ And they said one to another, A^'e are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we wouid not hear; there- fore is this distress come upon us. 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake 1 not unto you, saying. Do not sin against the child ; and ye would not hear.'' therefore, behold, also his blood is required. 2.3 And tiiey knew not that Joseph un- derstood them ; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. purpose of God concerning Jacob and his family might l>e aeconi- plishcd. Joseph slicwf d Inmself very rigorous and harsh to his brethren, charged them witli ill designs against thegovernment. and prot-.'sted by the life of Pharaoh that they were spies. Bad words are sooner learned by converse with those- that use tlwni, than unlearned : Joseph, by being much at court, got the counicrs' oath, By the life of Pharaoh. He put his brethren in prison tor three days, but cnncluih-d with them at last, that one of them should be left as an hostage, and the rest should go home and felch Be.ijamin. It ivic a very encouraging word he said to them. 18, . I fear God. With those that fear (iod wc have reason to expect fair dealing ; the fear of God will be a check on those that are in power to restrain them from abusing their power to oppression and tyranny. • 21 ••28. Joseph's brethren talked together jn the Hebrew CHA?. XMir ■ ^4 And he turned liimself about from them and wept ; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took fioni them Simeon, and bound him before .their eyes. •25 % Then Joseph commanded to fill thei sacks with corn, and to restore every man's iiione}' into his sack, and to give them pro vision for ilie wa}' ; and thus did he unto them. 26" And tlicy laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. 27 And as one of tbem opened his sack, to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money ; for, behold it ku/s in his sack's mouth. 28 And he said unto his nrctliren, IMy money is restored ; and, lo, it is even in my sack : and their heart fyiled t/icjn, and they were afraid, saymg one to another, What /,v tliis thai God hath done unto us? 29 % And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told liim rt' all that befel unto them,sayin 30 The man, who is the lord of the land spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of tlie country. 31 And we said unto him, We are true men ? we are no spies. .32 We be twelve brethren, sons of our fa- ther : one is not, and the youngest is tiiis day with om* father in the land of Canaan. 33 And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us. Hereby shall 1 know that ye ore true men : leave one of your brethren here with me and i'Akc food for the famine of your householils, and begone : tongue, not suspectinc that Joseph, nhom they took for a nativo et Lgypt, understood tiioni, much ii-ss that lie \v;is tho pcison they were speaking of. While they roniemiiereil with re^nl their Inir- barous cruelty to tlnir brethren, Reuben only reniembcnil «ith comfort that he had been anadM)cate for hiin, ai'.d liad done what Jay in his power to prevent the mitclnef they did liini. When we come toshare with oiliers in their calaniiMcs, it will be comfort to Us if we have the testimony of <.>ur consciences, for ns, that we did fiot share with them in tiieir imquitiis.- • .. I'indini; (heir money greatly amazed them. They knew tlie K(^'pt!;ins abhorred an I le- brow, chap, xliii. ;5'J ; and tlnrcfoie since they could not expect to receive, any kindness from tin m, ihev concluded that this was done with a disigu to pick a fpiarrM v\ith them ; the rather because tlie man, the lord of tlie land, charsjed them as spies. 29- -38. The report of Jacob's sons made a deep impression on tlie good man. lie seems to lay the blame upon thein : me ye hav. bereaved: knowiiii; their charaaw Josci)b since he bad bwi. with \i\cm. It is bad with u family when children carry themsehvs !0 HI that their parents know nut how to trust ihrm. CllAl', ILlil. l..l-t. Jacob urging bis sons to go buy mow GENESIS Ye shall not see my face, except your bro- ther 6e with you. 4 If" thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy tiicc ibod : 5 But if thou will not send him, we will wot go down ; for the man said unto us, Yc shall not see my lace, except your brother be with you. 6" And Israel said, AVherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether yc had yet a brother ? 7 And tlicy said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your lather yet alive ? have yc another bro- ther? And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down ? 8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go ; that we may live, and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him ; of my hand shalt thou require him ; if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever. 10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. 11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must he so now, do this : Take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. 12 And take double money in your hand ; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks carry it again in youi hand; peradvcnturc it av/.s an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise ; go ajjain unto the man : 14 And Cod Almighty give you mercy be- fore the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be be- reaved of;//?/ children, I am bereaved. 1.3 ^ y\nd the men took that ]')rescnt, and they took doid)le njoneyin their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 1() And, when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Ihing these men home, and slay and make ready : for these men shall dine with meat noon. 17 ^\i^d the man did as Joseph bade : and the man brought the men into Josepli's house. 18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house ; and they said, Because of the money that was re- turned in our sacks at the first time are wc brought in, that he may seek oc ,'asion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. ]<) ^1 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house. 20 And said, O sir, Ave came indeed dowa at the hrst time to buy food : 21 And it came to pass, when avc came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, everi/ man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight ; and we have brought it again in our hand. 22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food ; we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. 2.J And he said. Peace he to you, fear not ; your God, and the God of your father^ hath given you treasure in your sacks : I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them. corn in Egypt, Juilali ui^cs hiia t(i cunsfiit that Bonjamin shoula go with them, and en^agis to take all possible care of him. This was SHc-li a restitution as the case admitted ; when he knew not how to retrieve Joseph, he would make some amends for the irreparable lujurv he had done liim, bj' doubling his care of Benjamin. Jacob saw the necessity of the case, and since there was no remedy, con- sented to yield. His prudence and justice appear in three things :, tirst, he sent back the money that they had found in the sack's mouth : second, he sent double money, as much again as they took Ihe time before, upon supposition that the price of corn might be risen ; or, that if it should be insisted upon, they might pay a ran- iL>m for Simeon, or his prison fees : and, third, he sent a: present cf luch tiuiiKs as the land »ifoj-dcd, and were scaice in £gypt ; balm, honey, &c. the commodities that Canaan exported, Gen. xxxvii. 25. Hispicty"appcarcd in his prayer; God Almighty give you mercy before the man ! Jacob had turned an angry brother into a kind one, by a present and a prayer; and here he betakes himseif to the same tried method, and it speeds well. Those that would find mercy of men must seek it of God, who has all hearts in his hands, and turns them as he pleases. He concludes all with this, If I be bereaved of my children, I am bcivaved : if I must part with thciii thus, one aftei- another, the will of God the Lord be done. It is our wisdom to reconcile ourselves to the sorest afflictions, and make the best 'of them: for there is nothing got by striving with our Maker, 2 Sam. xxv. 26. I5i.34. iJysepU's Stewaid has orders from his master ■ he3'et alive ? 28 And they answered, Thy servant our father h in good health, he is yet alive ; and they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. 29 And he hftcd up his eyes, and saw liis brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Js this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me ? And he said, God be gra- cious imto thee, m}' son. 130 And Joseph made haste ; for his bow- els did yearn upon his brother : and he sought v.'hcre to Aveep : and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. 31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained liimself, and said, Set on bread. '32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians which did eat with him by them selves : because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews ; for that /s an abo- mination unto the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the first-born according to liis birthright, and the youngest according to his youth : and the men mar- velled one at another. A^ XLir. 34 And he took nvdscnt messes unto them from before him : but Bt^njamiu's mess wa five times so nmch as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with liim. CHAP. XLIV. Hi TO is, l.'I'iu' mctliDil .IoM'i>h look lo liumblr his brotlitfii, y. I'-l". II- rin-'good suciibs ol lln: iximriiiuiil, V. IS-'J-t-. ND he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks nitk fi)od, as nuu^h as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn- money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the nu)rning was light the nun were sent away, they and their asses. • 4 And when they Avere gone out of the ci- ty, and not 7/(7 far off, Joseph said unto his steward. Up, follow alter the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, A\'herefore have ye rewarded evil for good ? 5 /« not this it in which my kml drinketli, and whereby indeed he divincth? ye have done evil in so doing. 6 % And he overtook them, and he spate imto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, AVherefore saith niv lord these words ? (jod forbitl that thv servants should do according to tltib thing. 8 Behold, the money which we fi)und in our sacks' mouths we brought again untv> thee out of the land of Canaan ; how then should we steid out of thy lord's house silvei or gold ? <) \\\\\\ Avhomsoever of thy servants it be tound, both let him die, and we also will be mv lord's bondmen. Kis bntlircn to his housp, and mal^o ready for their entcrfiunmeiit ICvcn this frighted thi-m. v. 18. Ttio just chiilloiujcs nsc)»'nci'S, and Jnic?i--trd to tlKiii th;it this \v;i.s done witli .in ill A'si.Vn upon them. Tnox- that mo guiltv and timorous, an- ii|)l to nial' puiMied anlarn try the iilTictiou of his brethren to him, ami to their Rjiitr, aj;d they proved to be belter affected to Benjamin than he Bring him down unto me, that I nmy-sq^t mine eyes upon him. ' ' ■ 22 And we said unto my lord, Tlie lad cannot leave his father : for //'he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 x\nd thou saidst unto th}' servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, yc shall see my face no more. 24 And it came; to pass, when we came up unto thy servant my iather, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26' And Ave said. We cannot go doAvn : it our youngest brother be Avith us, then Avill Ave go doAvn ; for Ave may not see the man's face except our youngest brother he Avith us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto lis. Ye knoAv that my Avife bare me two sons : 28 And the one Avent out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces ; and I saw him not since : 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befal him, ye shall bring doAvn my urey hairs Avith sorrow to the grave. 30 Now, therefore, Avhen I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not Avith us ; (seeing that his life is bound uj) in the lad's life ;) 31 It shall come to pass, Avhen he sceta that the lad is not ti-ifh us, that he Avill die : and thy sonants shall bring doAvn the grey hairs of thy servant our father Avith sorroAv to the grave. , 32 For thy servant became surety for the lad imto my father saying, if I bring him not unto thoc, then I shall bear the blame to mv father for ever. 33 NoAv, therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord ; and let the lad go up Avith his brethren. feared. AVe cannot jud^c what men are by what they have been, they that had sohl Joseph would not abaiuton Benjamin. 18- -ai. Judah'b address, as it is h,ie recorded, is so very natu- ral, and so expressive of his present passion, that we caiuiot but suppose Moses, who wrote it so long after, to Iiave wTitten it un- der the snccia! direction of him that iv .de man's mouth. Upon the whole matter we may notice: first. !:ow prudently Judah suppressed all mention of the crime i.il was charged upon BenjamuK second, what good reason dying Jacob had to say,Judah, thou art he, w hom lliy biettieH shall praise, chap, .\li.x. S, for h» CHAP 34 For how shall I go up to my fUthrr and the lad be not with me ? lest pcradven- lur€ I see the evil that shall come on my father. CHAP. XLV. Here is, I. Joseph's discovvry of hiinstlf to Ins brethren, and liis discourse willi them upon that occasion, v. I •■15. II. The orders Pharaoli licieiipon save, to litch Jacob and his lamily down to E©pt, and Joseph s dispatch <>1' his brethnn accoid- inglv bark to his father with these orders, v. l6"24. III. The joj'fxil tidi!is;s of this brought tx> Jacob, v. 25' • 28. THEN Joseph could not refrain him- self before ail them that stood by him ; and he cried, Cause every man to go out i^om. me. And thpre stood no man with him while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud : and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto liis brethren, 1 am Joseph : doth my father yet live.'' And his brethren could not answer him : for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Jo.sephsaiduntohis brethren, Come near to me, 1 pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your bro- tlier, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now, therefore, be not grieved, nor an- gry with yourselves that ye sold me hither : for God did send me before you to pre- serve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine hetn in the land ; and yet there are live years, iu the which there shall neither he earing nor hanest. 7 And God sent me before you to pre- serve 3'ou a posterity in the eardi, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now, it was not you that sent me tXeeMcil them all, in wisdom, eloiniencc, and esp<'ciall_v tendrrneis fnrtUeir father and his family: tliird, Judah's faithful adliirence to lienjamin now in his distress, was recompensed long aflei, by the constant adherence of the tribe of Benjamin to that ol Judah, when all the other ten tribes deserted it. CH.AP. XI.V. I-'IS. Jud.ih and his brethren were waiting for an answer, and could not but be amazed tc discover, instead of the gravity of a judge, the iiatund «ff'rti(m of a brother. Hav- ing ordered iiU his atteiulants to with sake, iuid the kwJiicvof Josrpk Ut hii faltiof «lid GENESIS. holds, and come uriiO me ; and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the lancK 19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye ; Take you waggons out of tlie land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also regard not your stuff: for the good of all the land of Egypt /*• yours, 21 ^ And the children of Israel did so : ami Joseph gave them waggons, according to the conmiandmeut of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment ; hut to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. 23 And to his father he sent after this manner ; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread, and meat for his father by the way 24 So he sent his brethren away, and they dej)arted : and he said unto thcuj, See that yc fall not out by the wa^^ 2.5 ^ And they went up out of E";ypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father. 2(5 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet 27 And tncy told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them : and uhen he saAv the waggons, which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their fatluu' revived. 28 And Israel said, It ?.s- enough ; Joseph my son is yd alive : I will go and see him l)efore I die. CHAP. XLVI F,?ypt, V. 1 ...t. n. All lii» f.imiiy 27- HI- Ji>'>rjil) biiibliim wilrtime Hero, I. God sends Jacob to gwcs wilh him iIiiiIrt v. j.. tliitiuT, V. '28. .34. AND Israel took his journey with all tnat he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and olTercd sacrifices unto the Cod of his father Isaac. 2 And God spake unto Israel in the vi- sions of tlu; night, and said, Jacob, Jacob! And he said, Here am I. 3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father : fear not to go down into Egypt : for. I will there make of thee a great nation. 4 I will go down with thee into Egypt ; and I will also surely bring thee up again : and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. 5 ^ And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba : and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their far- ther, and their little ones, and their wives, alive, and he is governor overall the land of in the Avaggons Avhich Pharaoh h;id sent to Egypt, i^nd Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. carry Inm. 6 And they took their cattle, and their Ijiclhrc-n. I'liiinmli was ri'spfcllul to ,l()Sf[ih, in (jralitude, Ixcuiisf iic had lieen an instrument of much good to his kingdom; fortliert' is a qriititudo owins; oven lo inferiors, and uhon any have shewn us kmfiness we should study to icquite it, not tmiy to them but to their relations. Josi'ph I'urnislicd his fatluT and bivthieu both ftir nrcc'ssity and dilinht, and dismissed his brethren with a sea- sonable caution ; see that ye fall not out by the way. He knew they were but too apt to be quarrelsome, and what had lately jiassed, which re\ived the remembrance of what they had done iormerl)' afjaiiist their brother, might give them occasion to quar- lel. Now Joseph having forgiven them all, hys this injunction ■wpon them, that theV shouhl not upbraid one another. Tins charge our Lonl Jesus has given us, that we love one another; and that "\^ hatever occurs, or wliatevcr former occurrences are remembered, >^■e fall not out. '25. -OS. When . Jacob's sons, without any preamble, came in, crymg, Joseph is yet alive, perhaps he thought they bantered him, and the atTront grieved him, or the very mention of Joseph's nam Tcvived his sorrow so that his heart fainted. At length he is con- viriccdof the truth of the slorv, especially when he sees the wag- gons that are sent to carry Iiim. He is pleased to think that Jo- seph is alive, and to think of gomg to see him. Hi <{oes not sa}', I will go live with him, Jacob was old, and did not wxpect to live iong, but Twill go sec him before I die, and tt-.en let me depart in peace. 'I'hJE was also the \angu;ij;c of bimcon after he luid seen lii'^ Ixiid , CHAP. XLVI. V. 1 ..4. 'l"he divine precept is, In all thy ways ac- knowledge God; and the promise is. He shall direct thy stejis. Hph, to direct his face unto Goshen : a»d they came into the land of Goshen. 29 .And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father to (Jo- shen : and presented himself unto him ; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since 1 have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. 31 % .And .loseph saiil unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him. My bre- thren, and my father's house, which rcerc in the land of Canaan, are come unto me ; 32 And the men are shepherds, for their trade hud , been to feed cattle ; iuid they more illvi>-lrioiis ; wheiihe please", a litlW- oiuhijall become a thou- sand. Isa. 1. Cx'. , , , . as-a4. lleiv is, Arst, Jacob's pnnlence in sending .'n.Uh he- fore him to Joseph, to give him nouie of his arnval in Goshen. This was a piece )f irspect due lo the go»Trnor, under the i>ri>l. e- lion of whom thes<- strax^ers wer. come to put lhcm»eiv«», v. iH. .Second. Joseph's tiluil resfx'cl to him. He went in hi* rhwiot lo meet hull, and in ili<- iniei\iew, j>ttwvJ how mtlCiS he ivimoiirM GENESIS. liave broiiglit their ^flocks, and their herds, i»ncl all that they have. 33 And it shall come to pass, when Pha- raoh shall call you, and shall say, What i.^ your occupation ? 34 Tiiat ye shall say, Thy servants' trade liath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we and also our fathers ; tliat ye niay dwell in the land of Gosiicn : for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. CHAP. XLVII. Ill ihis cliiiptor vc liuw iiistHiircs, !. Of JoM'iih'-. kiiidiic^'; and :if- ti'flioii lu his irlalioii'- ; invsciitiiig Ins bii'llircii rn--l, aiul ihcii Ills fathiTlu l'liur;t()h, 1--10; settling llum in Cioslitii, and prii- vi ding far tlicin tluMC. ll.l'J; [layini; liis i(s|i(rts to liis falhoi when ho scjii lor liiin, Q7--3I. II. ()f.losi'i)i."s justice bciucrii j)rince and people in a very ciitical atl'air ; sellini; Pharaoh's com to his subjects, «ith nasoiiable protits to I'har.iuli, und _\re is not ought h^lt in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our I: nds ■; ly Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both w(» and our land?' buy us and onrland for bread, and we. and our land will be servants unto Pliaraoh : and giv(> us seed that we may live and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20 And Joseph bought all tlie land of Egypt for Pharaoh: Ibr the J-'.gyptians sold vxv.vy nnu) his field, because the famine })revailt;d over them : so the land became Pharoah's. 21 And as for the people, he removed XLVII. them to cities from one eud of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22 Only the land of the priests bou'dit he not: for the priests had a jxntioii assit only Ji)sr|ih u phixl iniiii, wlio took tlii'^ t liut y< •.liiill bo hungry. Joseph took a wisr method to axcotnitiodati- ••.Alt'Tj betwn.n rrincc uiid j'coplf, io thai ihr prince miii'ii huM hii ju»t sdianiasr, and yet the p«op1 Ari<].lie said, Swear uiito me. And he snare unto him. And Isiatl bowed hiin- seli upon the bed's head CHAP. XLVIII. I : 'his fl.r>i)tiT, I. Joirpli lu-Hiii>s of his falhri'* ! Vkn'.>*. joi's tn \\^}{ iiim mill takl•^ liis two sons with hini, v. 3. II. J;icob M'li-in:.l_r!»i!o|ils his iwij bulls, aiiil laki's ilicm lor Ijisowi.v. 3 • -7. III. Hi" bIcsMlh tlKii\, V. 8-10. 1\'. He cNciiiins mill Justi- •■l^ tm-crcssinc hi> hiiiuls in bU'ssiii<; ihcm, v. II. "0. \ . He I .i.is a viiy particular ih said unto his father. They v/;'(.' my sons, whom (iod hath given me in tills place. And he said. Bring them, 1 pruj thee, unto me, and I will bless them. 10 ^ (Now the eyes of Israel were dini foi age. .so that he could not see.) Aiul he brough* them near imto him : '-iud he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said unto Joseph, 1 had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. 12 And Jo.seph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with iiis face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraint in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Is- rael's right hand, and brought them near un- to him. 14 .\nd Israel stretched out his right hand', and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who zcris the younger, and his left hand upon Manas- testimony of the goodness of (iod and the pleasantness of wisdom's way;, may be a great encouragement to the rising generation. Jacob, uyMin notice of his son's visit, did what he could to raise his spbits, and to stir up the gift that was in him: what little was left of bodily strength, hi- put forth to the utmost, and s<'t upon the bed. It is very good for sick and itged jieople to be as liviMy and chcarfvil as they can, that they may not faint in the day of adver- sity. In recompcncc to Joseph for all his respects lo hiin, he adopted his two sons. In this charter of ado]ition there is, fu'st, a particular recital of God's promise to him, to which this had refer- ence: CioJ blessed mc, and let this blessing be iiitailrd upon them : second, an express reception of Joseph's sons to his family : thy two sons areminc,v.5, not ;usmygrand-children but asmychildieii* third, a promise inserted concerning his children he might afterward have, that they should not be accounted heads of tribes as Ephra- im or Manasseh were, but should fall i-i with either the cue. or llie other of their brethren. It doth not appear that Josejih had any more children : however, it was Jacobs prudence tx) gi\e this di- rection for the preventing of contest and mismanagement. In making Mttlenients it is good to provide for -Aliat may happeri, as we cannot foresee what may happen. Mention is here made of the dwitil and burial of Uachel. When we come to die it is gooi to call to mind the death of our dear relations and friends that ai^e cone before us to make deu-th and the grave more familiar to u». Numb, \x\ii. 13. 8-l'2. }Iow did ^hese two good men own God in their comfort*? Joseph jaith, A . 9i they ai"c my sons whom God hal^ f;ivcn me, «•<• CHAP. sell's head, gaining his bands wittingty ; ibr IVlanasseh "was the iirst-burn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before Avhoni my i'atlicrs Abraham and Isaae (lid walk, the God Avhiehl'ed me all my lite lung unto this day. 16" The angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads ; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Al)raham and Isaac; and let them grow into a nudtitude intlie midst of the earth. 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the hcadof Ephraim, it displeased him : and he held up his fatlier's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18 And Josejih said unto his father. Not so, my father ; for this in the lirst->born ; j)ut thy right hand upon his head. 19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, 1 know it : he also shall ■l)ecome a people, and he also shall be great ; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multi- tude of nations. 20 And he blessed them that day, saying. In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as IManasseh. And he set Ephraim before JVlaniisseli. 21 *[[ And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die ; but God shall be with you, and bring von again unto the land of yom- fathers. 22 IM'oreover, I have given to tht^e one portion above thy Ijrethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sw ord and with my bow. XLIX. CHAP. XLIX to iiiiijiiiify llu- favour lie adils, In tlial place of my liaiiislnucct. sla- wry and iniprisoMinciit. Jacol) sailli. Hire Ctod lialli showed imj thv seed. Our comforts arc tlion doubly sweet ulirii we ste llxm coiniiit; from Clod's hand. How oftt-n doos (>od out-do our <-.\- ]ii-(:tntion, which frri'ally nia^iiilns the taviuir. Hctorr he entails the h'.i'Ssini;, he rccniiits his experience ol Clod's <;oodness to him. He had fed liim all his lit'e loiij;. As long as we have lived in this world we have had continiuil experience of C'nd's goodness to us, in providing for the support of our natural lue. lie had by his ansjel redeemed him iVoni evil. Now he was (lynif; he lookeil upon himself as redeemed from all evil, and biddiiij; an rverlastinij lare- ■wi 1 to sin and sorrow. Christ the an^el of the covenant is lie that redeems us from all evil. It hicdines the si'rvants of Clod nUi'ix thev are old and dyins; to wiiiuss for our C^iod that they have found him pracious. When he conlers the hlessin;! and uame ol Abraham and Isaac upon them, he nconiinemls the example of Abraham and Isaac to tluiu, v. l.i, he calls (lod the CmkI betori whom my fath( rs Abraham and Iwuic walked. Itshoulil ivconiim nd rehpir.n to us that (lod was the Clod of our lathers, and ihi'V had B^itisfactioii iu wiUkiDg bcforu biiu. In bk':>iuig iLt'iu hv. ci'vsicd Vol. I. Here is, I. The prcfuco, v. 1, 2. II. The prediction of cacn .nfte, v. 3"C8. III. Jacob's charge conccnuiig his funeral, v. '2S'-'M, IV. His death, v. 3J. AND Jacob called unto his sons, and said. Gather yourselvi^s together, that I may tell yovi that which shall befal you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together and hear, ye sons of Jacol), and hearken unto Israel your lather. 3 f Reuben, thou art my fir:?t-born ; my might, and the beginning of my strength, the e.vcellency of dignity, and the c.x.cellency of power : 4 Unstable as water, thou shall not ex- cel ; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, then deliledst thou it : he went up to my couch. 5 51 Simeon and Levi ore brethren : iti- struincnts of cruelty arc in tiieir liai)itations. G O my soul, come not thou into their secret : unto their assembly mine honour b»j not thou united : for in their anijer thev slew a man, and in their self-will they iliggcd down a wall. 7 Cursed be their anger, for // icas fierce ; and their wrath, for it was cruel : I will di- vide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. 8 ^ .Tndah, thou art he whom thy bre- tliren shall praise ; thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies ; thy lather's children shall bow down before thee. f) Judah ?,v a lion's whelp; from the pre\', my son, thou art gone up: lie stoopetl down, hands from a sjiirit of prophecy, and in compliance with the ilivine counsels. Manassch should bo preat, but Ki>hraiin should \tc greater. W hen tlic tribes wore musteri' a sarrrd trust. I die, but Ciod shall bo with you and brinp vnu aijain. 'I'hesc words furnish us wii'ii comfort in rel'eivnco to iKe death of (>»lt tVionds. 'ri-.oy die, but C!od shall bo with us, and briiij; tis to the land of out fathers, the heavenly Canaan whither ourpodly |inn'nf»aie Z'uw before us. Ho bestowed oiu- jnirlion upon him .ibovv hit t)n'thren. Thest- lands he first )«\irchas-od, Jo>h. Nsiv. .1J, and it seems was nftorwards disp4>sscsstd of by the Amoiiies, but r» took them bv the sword. Rleiuion is m.itlo of thisgnint, John iv. .5. CH.AI'. XLI.X. V. I, 2. Ihroisiho pnliicarlieul.irly when they an- dyinR. ,T • • -iS.' »lc U jinsi wiU> JUuIkh, v. 3, i. lie was lliv Jirit-Uw^ A a GENESIS. be couclicci as a lion, and as an old lion : ■who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Ju- dah, nor a law-giver irom between liis feet, until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be: 11 JiincHnu; his foal nnto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine : he wash- ed his garments in wine, and his clothes hi the blood of grapes : U His eves shall he red with wine, and his teetii white with milk. 13 ^ Zebulon shall dwell at the haven of the sea ; and he shall be for an haven of ships : and his border shall be unto Zidon. 14 % Isaachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens : 15 And he saw that rest was good, and the 18 I have waited for thy salvalkn, Loud. 19 ^ Gad, a troop shall overcome liim but he shall overcome at the last. iiO % Out of Asher his bread shall he fat, and he shall yit-'ld royal dainties. 21 ^ Naphtali is a hind let loose : he giv- cth goodly words. 22 % Joseph is a fniitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, rcliose branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him. 24 But his bow abode in strength, and tlic arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob : from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of Israel : 25 Evc7i by the God of thy father, who land that it teas pleasant, and bowed hislshall help thee : and by the Almighty, who shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto shall bless thee with blessings ot heaven tribute. above, blessings of the deep that lieth under. 16 5f I^^n shall Judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent b}; the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horses' heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. but by cominitiiiii; iiiii'lc;iimi'ss witii his falluTs wifo, the (>ivri>i;;a- tiwdlhis binli-riijlit from wliich liit living father luro julcniiily iile .lonhin. The cliaracter tastened upon Keuben, for which he is laid under this mark of infaniv, is that lie was unstable as watc r. His virtue wjis luistable, ho hail not tliegoverniiiont of his own appetites, his honour consriiuentlv was UDstabJe, and became as water spilled upon the ground. 'I'hose that throw away their virtue must not e.\pcct to save their reputa- tiou. Simeon and Lini were bnthren in disposition, revengeful, tierce and cruel. Of this there was a proof in the murder of the Shechcmitcs, wliith Jacob retained the resentment of. They slew a man, Shechem, and many others, and toetl'ect that, they t. Our soul is our honour, by its faculties we are dig- iiiiied above the beasts that iHiisli. Second, We oueht from cur Hearts to detest and abhor all society with bhxidy and mischievous men. He also <'.\presselh his abhcrR-iice of those brutish lusts that led them to this wicktnlnes?. Cursed be their ai^yr. He doth not curse their persons, but their lusts. Their posterity he forc- icls should lay luider a token of displeasure for this, 1 w ill divide them. The Lcviies weiv scattcivd throughout all the tribes, and Simeon's lot lay not topetliei, :uid was so strait, that many of th the Lcvites, but the tribe oi" Simeoutcs, for Ziniri's s;ii, hail blessings of the breasts, and of the womb ; 26 The blessings of thy father have pre- vailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmo.st bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head ofjosepli. ! bound on. Numb. .wv. Judali's name sipniries praise, inallu- 'ifU to which liesaith,Thouavt he whon>thy brethren shall prai>' . It isjiroplusied that the tribe of Judah should be successful inw;:; ; suiK-rior to the n-fl of the triUs, strong and couragi'ous, and <>s fpialitied to Command : a royal tnbe, and the tribe from which the Messiah should come : histly, that it should Lc :i very fruitful tribe, esjjecially that it should abound in milk for babes, and wine to make glad the heart of st rone men. Dying .(acob at u great dis- tance saw Christ's day, ii:iil it was his comfort and support on his death-bed. He foresaw and foretold that Shiloh, that peace- able', prosiHTous one, or the Saviour, as others translate it, should come of .hidah, and that after the coming ui the sceptre into tht; tribe of Judah, it should corilinue there at le;ist a government iil its own, till ihe coming of the Messiah. Till the captivity, all along from David's time, the sceptre was in Judah, and from tfienco governors of that tribe, or of the Lcvites that adnered to it, whicii was equivalent till Judea became a province of the Roman empire, just at the lime of our Saviour's birth, and was at that time taxed as one of the provinces, Luke ii. 1, and at the lime of his death, the Jews expressly owned. We have llo king but CiVsar. Hence it j> undeniably inferreil against (lie Jews, that our Lord Jesus is he that should come ; and we are to l.)ok for no other, for he came exactly at the time appointed. MitcK that is here said concerning Ju- dah, is to be applied to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the prai- the soul. The prophecy concerning Zebulim wiis fulfilled when 20O or 300 years after the land of Ciuiaan was dividid by lot, and tlic border of Zebulon went up toward the sea. Josh. xix. \l. Had they chosi'n their lot themselves, or had Joshua appoinud it, we nxight have supposed it done w ith a design to make Jacob's words good : but being done by lot, it appears that was divinely disposed, ami Jacob divinely inspired. The men of the tribe of Issac bar should be strong and iiitfUstrious, fit for labour, and inclined to hilxntr, by tlie goodness of the laud that sliould fall to their Int. M<> «aw CHAP. L and on the crown of tlie head of him that »vas separated from his brethren. 27 % Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in *he morninirhc shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. 28 All these arc the twelve tribes of Is- rael : and tliis is it that their lather spake unto them, and blesse fiiiu lal ilbi'll, 7-11. III. I'll'- 5itlliii!; Ilia gmiil uiiilir>Uiuri uilhthat of soIiIkis ami sramui, \\ linsc hiKricsaiiil pe- rils -aio sucli, thai limsi; «ln) tarry at biimc liavu mi reason lo tnvy them. Wiial is siiiil coMccrninix Datt, i-iilicr lias rrforciiro to lliat tribi' ill i;ciK'i'al, lliat tlioiinli Dan was om- nt' ilic soiis'of llu' conciibiiu's, yi't he sliouiil be a Iribc goM i>ii<(l by Juilj'ct ol'liisowM.jLs Ufll as (ithiT trilx'S, aiul shcuild by pulley ami biiiprisc (;aiii advaiitaijr om r liis oiu'inii's; or may icfir li) Sampson, who waNol'tJiat lube, .iml judged Israid, i.e. dehvered it out ol' llie liaiwl oC llie I'lillistiiies, not as ihc olher judges by ("{;liliiii! them in ihr lield, but by the \(\aliaiis and aiiii(:yaiices he gave iliem iimlerhaMd. Thus was Jacob goiiir; oil with his discourse ; liut now beiiiff al- most spent with s|K>akinj;, he relieves himseir with these words whuli conn: iu as a paiviillusis, v. 18. Iliavewaited for thy salvation, () Lord. The salvaiion he waited for was Christ the pi«iniised seed, Tihoinhehad spoken of, v. 10, and h( aven ihe betlvr country which he declared plainly that he souijhl, Mel), ii. 13, It. It is the comfort ol a dyini» saint thus to liav<' waileil for the salvation ures tln'ui ilial tbev should overcome al the Ixsl, which was (ullilleJ wliefi in Saul's lime nnd David's, the .Moabiles and .Ammonites were wlndly sul)- diud, Chron. V. 13. Aslier sh(uild Im- a very rich tribe, replen- ished not only wilh bread, but with ilainlies][ and these should be v"«porttJ out of .Aslier to otiar triUs, perha()s to other lands. Naphtali's r»»me si^jnilies wrestlinp, ar.xl ihc blesMiij; entailed up- ou it sijiiiilies prevailini;, it is a hind let loose. 'i'houi;h we do not filiU this ])lvdi(lioii so fully answen-d in tlu- event as the re^l, vi'l HU doubt It proved trur. .Among (Sod's Israel there is to be I'ouiid uprera variety of dijipositioiLs contrary to each uther, yi^t all con- tributing Lo liie beauty and strength of the body; Jiidiih is like a lion, Issachar like an ass, Dan like a serpi-iU, .-ind Naphlali like a hind. Li-t not ihose ol (lilR-rent t«.'m|iors or gills ciiisiiic ouc an- other or envy one another. Joseph h compared lo a friiilfiil l>ouj;h, or yoiiii-; trie : liis Iwo sons weie as bninclxis of a vine', or some oiln-r spiinidinn jjlaiit -uniiing over the wall. Me had had many enemies here called ar- i.+iers, beiiii! skilful to do mischief, master-, of the art of peivcu- tk)ii. His brethren were very spiMul a^iaiiist liiin, and hii iui»- tress haled him, and sliot at hini by her f^.'sc acciisiilionj. liis fa- ther Isaac had but one blessing, anil when he had given tJmt to Ji- cob, he was at a loss for .1 blessing to (x-stow upon Kstu, bill Ja- ( (dj hail a blessing for each of his t»i Ive sons, n'.ul how ;ii the lat- ter end a copious one lor Joseiili. 'Ihird, Durabh' and cMensive blessings unto the utmost bound of the everl.Lsiins hills, iiirlt((.'ij«< .dl the products of the most fruitful hills, and lasting as long a" they last. Of these blessings it is here said. They shall (k- oirUie head of Joseph as a crinrn lo adorn it, Hiid a helmet lo deli'iiH il. Joseiih was separated from his brellireii (so we read it) for ii (line, yet as others read it, he was a Nazaiite among his bivtlireii, better ■ind more excellent than liny. Concerniiij Beiij.imin, he foivltls thai Ins postevilv should be a warlike tribe, strong and daring; and ihal ihiy should enrich themselves wilh the spoilof their eiieniies. In the morning he shall ilevour the pny, which be seized and ih- uded over niiht. Or in the rirsl limes of Israel they shall be noie.l for aclivilv, iliough many of iheiu be lefi-hamled', Judg. iii. 1.1, XN. lt>. I'.hud llie second Judge, and Saul lh( first kiii!;, were of this iribe. So also in the last liiues were Ksiher and .Mordecai, bv wIkmi) iIu' enemies ol the Jews were ihstroved. 'Ihe lienjamiles ravined like woKes when they dcspcralelv «•»- noused the cause of the men of lii'lial. I'nderall lliese troubles his la\» abode In stnnglh, i. e. Ins (aith did not fail, l>ut he kept his ground, and came otl a comiiielor. The arms of hishands were mailr slrong, i.e. Ii is other grates did their |>.'\rl, his wi^xloni, cou- rage, and patience, vyhich are bellerihaii weapons of war. lie de- rived this strength (rom the liaiuls ol the inif(htv Cio»(, who was therefore able to Mieiigllieli hii.'i ; and ihe Clod of Jacob, a IJod In covenant wilh him, and iherefoix' engaged lo help him. I'nnii lliince liom this strange method of i'rovlileiic«-, h* beCiime iIk- shepherii and stone, the leeder and supporter of (iod's Nrael, Jacob .ind his I'aiuily. Herein Jowph wasa type of Christ, whii was sbol at. and hooted, but borne up under Ins sarieriii<^, and alienMiiils advanced to lie ihe shepherd and stone. The blessiii){» cuiiliiivii iipou Joseph are, liisl, vaiious and abuiulKiil blessings. Uh^siliKs t,( heaven above, rain in its season, fair weMhcr in its season, ble»siiii(s of the deep thai lielli under ; this earth vtliicb coiiipiriil uilli ibe upper world IS but a greal depth, or wilh sublen-aiHoiis niincs niid sprii^; : and bUssings of the womb niiH the l>n'«sls, cliildn'ii bom and iom(ornibly nuiM'il. Second. KmiiMiit mid ininsceiidHiii li|es-inL;s which prev. ill above the bU-ssfiiif. ol my ^uo^i-iiiloi-s. CIl.M'. 1.. I • •()'. '!'he dei«irled s<>iil is out ol the liHi 11 ol leai> unJ kissi-s, bill Willi iheiii ills ptofxi lo sh<-» our i^viirilsto llic poor Ixjily which we look for ii loyful ix-.urn'riiod, and love lo his lallxi, by kivvin^ his pale and cold liiis, uiid »o giviiijj n»i jilHciioimie f'l^■v»t^. GlVXESi.'J (for so aic tuIfiUea the days of those which arc eiubalmed ;) and the J\<2;yj3tians mourn- ed tor hiin tlirerscore and ten (hiys. 4 ^ And, vihen the (hiys ot'liis mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house (;t Pharaoly, saying, It" now 1 have found grace in your eyes, s|)eak, 1 pray you, in the ears ol" Pharaoli, saying, .) My father made me swear, saying, Lo, ] (he : in my grave which 1 have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shall thou i)ury me. Now, therefore, let me go up, 1 pray thee, and bury my father, and 1 will come ncain. o And Pharaoh said, Co up, and bury tny father, according as he made thee swear. 7 ^ And Joseph Avent up to bury his fa- ther : and with him went up all the senants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt ; 8 And all the house of Joseph, and his ] brethren, and his father'. Mouse : only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Cbshen. 9 And there w-ent up with him "both cha- riots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. 10 And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan ; and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation ; and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 And when the inhal)itants of the land, tlie Canaanites, saw the mourning in the tioor of Atad, thev said. This /,v a grievous mournmg to the Egy|)tians ; wlierefore the lie crdcrod tlic body to be cinbiilnu'd, not bfcau^c he diid i.i ] .;ypt, and this w.is the niaiitier of the l-^cryplians, but because he \ as lo be carried to Caiman, and therefoi-e it was neccssarv thi' 1 ()(ly should be preserved as well as nii»ht be, from |)Utiefaction. ! le observeda decorum in einployins some of the house of Pharaoh til intercede with him for a licence to attend his father's funeral: either because it was not proper for him in the ilays of his mourn- iiis; to come i[Uo the presence chamber, or because he would not presiime to so much on his own interest. Modesty is a great or- nament to difinity. 7.'14. The funeral of ihe patriarch .Tacob is the more largely described, to shew how much better God was to him than lie ex- jiected. lie had spoken more than once of dyinc; for grief, and going to the grave bereaved of his children ; but bc'hold he dies in honour, and is followed to the grave liy his children. ^^^^H. We have liero the settling of a good correspondenci between Joseph and his brethren vow their father w;is dead AVhen providence has removed the parents by dtath, the best me- thods ought to be taken, that unity may continue among the chil- .Urcij ever, whcii IhvXeatre of unity is uK«i srn'iiy. They began to name of it was called Abel-mizraim, M-hich is beyond Jordan. 12 And his sons did unto him according as lu; commanded them. 13 Eor his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of !Machpelah, Avhich Abraham bought with the held, lor a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the llittite, be- fore ]\Iamrc. 14 f And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went u]) with him to bury his father, after he had i)uried his father. 15 ^ And Avhen Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Josepli will peradventure hate us, ami will certainly requite us all the evil which we did untO' liim. l(i And they sent a messenger unto Jo- se})h, saying, Thy father did conunand be- fore he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Eorgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy bre- thren, and their sin ; for they did unto thee evil : and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy fa- ther. And Joseph wept Avhen they spale unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his lace ; and they said. Be- hold, we he thy servants. ly And Joseph said unto them, Eear not J' for am I in the place of God ? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me: hut God meant it unto good, U) bring be jealous of Joseph, not ihal he had given them anv cause lo be so, but consciousness of guilt, and of tlieir own inability in such a case, to forgive and forget, made them susjiicious of the sincerity an: events, that in the issue, that ends in his praise, which in its own nature had a direct tendency lo liis disiionour. This doth not makt sin the less sinful, but redounds greatly to the glory of God's wisdom. •2-2 •■"(). Joseph iiaving hotioured his father, his days were long in the land, which for tlie present God had given hini, and it was agreat mercy to Ills relations, that God continued him so long ii T. 24 I die hrinir f And Joseph said unto Jjis brethren, ; and God will sinely visit yon, and you out of this liuid uulo'the laud wliich he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 2.5 And Joseph took an oath of the chil- dren of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. 26" ^ So Joseph died, bciiili pn- feried an insignillcant burial in Canaan, and that ilcferrcd too, al- most '200 yeai-s, to a magniliceiu one in Kg)pt. Thus Je>^^'pl) br faith iu the doctrine of the resurrection, and the promisi- of Ca- naan gave commandment concerning his bores, Heb. xi. 22. THE SECOND BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED E X O D U S. Mases having in the first book of his history transmitted the records of the church while tt existed in i>tiviife families, comes in thi« second liook to give an account of its growth into a great nation, 'riie Greek traivslatoi-s called this l»ook_K\odus, which sigiufi^ a going out, because it begins with the story of the going out id' the children of Isiai-I from 1"'2>'P'- This book gives us,- I. The accomplishment of the [(romises made bet'orc to Abl-aham, to chap. i. 9: and then. II. the establishment of the ordinances which were atterward observed by Israel; thence to the end. There are more types of Christ in this book than p<.rh»iis in any other book of the Old 'I'estament ; fov'Mos<-N wrote of him, .lohn v. 4<>. The way of reconciliation lo God, and coming into covennnt and rommvinion with him by a Mediator, is hero variously ivpresfnted ; and it i« of great use to us for the illtwrration of the New Testa- ment, now we have that to assist us in tKc explication of the Old. CHAP. T. We have here, I. 0d mcrcawti abundnnily, like fishrt Db EXODUS. loins C'f Jacob Averc sevc«ty souls : for Jo- scj)li was in Egypt a /read i/. 6 And Joseph died, ressing them 1>3' the murder of their children. The enmity that is in the seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman, divests men of huma- nity itself, and makes them forget all pity. Even confessed inno- cency is no defence against it. I'haiaoh's project was to engagu the midwives to stifle the men children as sooji as they were born, and then to lay it upon the dithonllv of the birth, or some mis- chance common in that case. They however feared God, regarded his law more than Pharaoh's, ajul saved the men children alive. Where tilt' feur of God rules in the heart, it will ])reser\e it tVoiti the snare which the inordinate fear] of man brings. God recom- pensed them lor their 'tenderness towards his yieople. 'l"he ser- vices done for God's Israel are often repaid in kind. The midwives kept up the Israelites' houses, and (to<1 made them hiHiscs. The re- compcncc has relation to the principle on v\ Inch they went; because they feared the Lord he made them housi'S. AVhen ihis pri)ject did not take efi'ect, Pharaoh gave j)ublic orders to all his people to drev.u all the male children of the Hebrews. The enemies ot tfie cbti!."!! ^*-»'v. ^' CHAP into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. CTIAP. II. 11. ter, .Siiall I go call to llice a iiui-se of the lliat bhc iii;n' niuNc the III lliis cliaptrr we have, I. Tlio porils of Mosc oirlli nnil inr.iiir\, I ..4. ,n. His iiivscivalion llirrni^h those (HiiU, and llu' pn Ici- moiil of his childhood and youih, v. 5. .10. III. 'llu' (lioiir, f hoic<^ (if his ii|H r yriirs, which was In own ihf |>ri)pk' nfC.dd; first, he ofliTfd thcni his scrvicf at picsont if they wnuhl havr nccciitoil it, 11. .14; sicond, he ivtiri'd, that lie inishl ii,rivc hinTicirfov fiirtUrr siivicc hcivafti-r, 1J..2';!. I\'. 'I'hf (Uivniii<; (if th(; (hiy vi Israel's d'livcranCf, '23. .Qo. AND there Avent a man of the house of Ix'vi, and took lo ziij'c a daughter of liCvi. 2 And the Avonian conceived, and bare a son : and f Christ, who hi his infancy was f irced to abscond, and in F.;jypt loo. Malt, ii, 13, and was uoiiderfully preserved when iiiauy in- nocents were butchered. It is said, lleb. xi. '^3, thatMos*s pa- rents liid him by fiith ; some think they had especial revelation lo them that the deli\erer shoxild spring from their loins; however, »hey had the general |>roniise of Israel's pnservarfon, which they )Mid litith ill, and in that liiilh bid thatchihl, jiot,beiii£ ui'ruid oi the penalty annexed to ilie king's cominaiidineut. At tbriT months end. w hen probably the smicliers caine about to look for tuu- cialed childa'ii, so'that they could hide him no lotijer, they put, him in an ark of bulrushes by the river side. Thus to have ex^oseJ their ciiild wiieii they niiaht have preserved it, had Uvii to liitipt Provideii^i', but when they could not, il was bravely done to tri.st ■I'rovidi nee. 5. -10. Had Moses iM-en left to lie in the aik he must h«ve p<- rishi'd ill a little lime; had he fallen into other hands than hi- diil fall into, lliey iluiM have done no otherwiic than bs\e llmi«n hini into the river, but Providence briii!;s no less person than i'lmiaoh's daujlhliT, just at thaljnnclure. cuides her to the pl.ice where tills poor forlorn infant lay, inclines her heart to f.ily it, which sli<- dair< .lo when no one el-e durst, (iod raises up fru iid- lor hi» ewn ainoiii their enemies. I'haraoh crurllv but his own daughter compassionates a 11 so, but biyond her intention, pn'sirves 1 how woilderlul are ihy Counsels! Moses wilh a good nurw, his own nintli'T. ' i'' I'hiiiaoh's daughter. He now s:ui com 1, and ill the mean Imi" h.iil 1 cation, with the help of which, h.r. us, he U>;«jt«e mash I of all the luJ»rjl learnini ot ' ll-.l.j. Moms had now j r.;(>h'ii court, vvlu n he boldly ■ > l.copU'. I'lie U»l itfvpoMlK/u ol 111. ■ J''?' • liavt 1 4 EXODUS. Ij Xmv when Pharaoh heard this tlunp:. 1:C sought to shiy Moses. But Moses lied iVoni tlie face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the hmd of Michan ; and he sat down by a welL IG «lf ISow the priest of ^lidiar had seven daughters ; and they came and drew water, and tilled the troughs to water their father's lioek. 17 And the shepherds came and drove them away : but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, IIoav is it that ye arc come so soon to-day t 19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew zvatcr enough for us, and ^vatered the tiock. 20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he ? why is it that ye have left the man ? call him, that he may eat bread. 21 And Moses Avas content to dwell with the man ; and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom : for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. 23 ^ And it canie to pass in process of time that the king of Egypt died ; and the ctiildrcn of Israel sighed by reason of the }M)ndage, and they cried; and their cry came up uuto (Jod by reason of tlic bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abra- ham, Avith Isaac, and Avith Jacob. wlicio we are told that this speaks his holy contempt ot the honours and pleasures ot'the Ei;yp(ian court, uiul his tender concern for his poor brethren in bondage. It was prohai)ly one of the l^gyptian task-masters, whom he found abusing iiis Hebrew slave, and slew by a special command from lieaven. He afterward observed an unhappy quarrel l«>4\veen two 1 lebrews, and cndea\oured to make Ijeni friends. Thus wc find Christ often reproving his disciples' sfrift^, Luke ix. 46, and xxii. 2y; for he was a prophet, like unto Me.ses, a hearing prophet, a peace-maker, who visited his brethren with a design to slay all fnmilies. If the Hebrews had taken the hint, and come unto Moses as their head and captain, it is likely they had now been delivered, but despising their deliverer, their deliverance is delayed forty years. Moses in retiring to Midian took a prudent care of his own life, and God over-ruled it for wise ^nd ko!y eixls. Things were not yet ripe for Israel's deliveranic, the measure of Egypt's iniquity not ycl full; the Hebrews not suf- ficiently humbled, nor wrere ihey yet mcreased to such a multitude as God.dt signed ; Moses is to te further fitted for the ser\ice, and thciel'or« is directed to withdraw for the present till the time to fa- vour Israel, even the set time is come. l6>-22. Moces hercgaiii6asettUmcHt in Midian jtist ashis fa- 25 And God looked upon the. children of Israel, and God had respect unto them, CHAP. III. Here is, I. God's plory in the. btisli, ^•■o. II. .\ declaration o< his "uod-«ill to his people, 0. MI. His pi.rpo.se to delive./ Isia(d ; 1. He assures Moses it should now bo done, 7--^ 2. gives him a commission as his anibas>ailor to Pliaiaoh, 10 and to Israel, 16: 3. answers .Mo.ses' oitjiction of his own ut> wortliincss, 11, 1 '.;. IV'. gives him Cull instructions « hat to s;i« lo'-lS. v. Tells him before-hand what the issue would be 10"2'2. N'OW Moses kept the flock of Jethra his father-in-law, the priest of Midian : and he led the flock to the back-side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God^ even to Horeb. 2 And the Angel of the Lokd appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush : and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned Avith fire, and the bush -was not consumed. 3 And jMo.ses said, I Avill nowturn aside, and see this great sight, Avh\' the bush is not burned. 4 And Avhen the Lord saAv that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses 1 And he said. Here am 1. 5 And he said, DraAv not nigh hither : put oft' thy shoes from oii' thA^ feet ; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 0" Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the (jod of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face ; for he Avas afraid to look upon God. ther Jacob had gained one in Syria. This «as de.'-igned not only -<• to shelter him for the present, but to inure Iiim to hardship anrKk kilns, vit not consumeil ; {lerplexed, but not ni despair ; cast down, but not destroyed. Mosis lavmg a curiosity to enquire into this e.straordinary sight, God gave him a gracious call, but at the same time a niedful caution against rashness and irreveiTilce in his approach. He must ket p his distance, and to express his reverence, put off his shoes from his feet. The putting otT the shoes was then, what the putting olf the hat is now, a toki n of respect an rprcteil by our Lord Jesus, the best expositor, Luke xx.37 : s<'- <'oi>d, t<: assure Moses of the performance of those parti( ular pro- mises made to the fathers. This made a miijhtv impression ujion Moses. Ilciiid ids face as on? asharn(;d and afraiit to look upon (nd. The more one s<'es of God, the more cause we shall see l.i worship him with reverence and godly fear. I'.veii the manitVsia- tions »f C'od's grace and covenant lovi-, should incri'asc our humble •xverenccof I'.ini. 7" 10. God noticed three things concerning Israel, their sor- rows, their crj', and the tyranny of their persecutors. The pooivst of the oppressed are not below C>o an ambassa- dor (o I'haiaoh to treat with him, or nither as an luraUl of arms to demand their discharge, and to denounce war in case of a rel'usal ; and as a prince to Israel to conduct and command them, 'i hus w;iS he taken from following th<- ewes great with young, to a pastoral ollice much more nobh-, as David, I'sal. Ixxv.fi. 71- I 1 •• 1.5. .Mosrs was incomparably the litlest of any man living for this work; eminent for learnin'4, wisdom, lioliiuss ; and yel. Who am I ? The morr fit anv pei-son is for sirvice, commonly the less oinnioM he ha"- of himseff : so-Juilg. ix. 8, &C. (io.l nnswei-s his objection, iiromiseth him liis presence, and iissuri'* hun ol' success. Those that are weak in themsi'lves may yet do wmders, strong in the Lord, and the power of his might, lie b< gs instnic- ti()ns,Mor iIk' I xeculing of his commissi'in, and desins to kiii>w by what name (>ud would at this lime make himself known, lie su|> pc.selh the chihlren of Israel would ask liim, what IS his name either to pose Mosiv, a< he had Ut n once asked, \»ho made thee a judgi'? i>r lliey would ask for their o\mi inlormation, as it is to be feared they were grown very ignorant in Lgypt, by reason ot their haril boneaks what he is to hi* |Hople ; lest the name 1 .A-M should aina/e and nuzzle ihcm. he i» further directed tJ make use of another name ofGiKl more familiar and intellisibh- 1"^, The Lord CkhI of your fathers balh >«iit niu to vwi. Thus C;<.«i made hinisilf known to hini. iiixl (bus he must make hiins. If known to ihim, tnal he might revive among th. m the religion of their fathers, and that he might raise ihrir » x- (KClntions of the sjurdv |nrlbrnianres made unlo their I'athen ; .Abrahain, Naut . «nuld be coo- ses in the bush, 1..17. 11. It begins Moses excculinj of his commission, IS- .31. AND INIoses answered and said, But, l:>e- l\. hold, they M-ill not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice ; for they will say, The Loud hath iiotapj)eared unto thee. 2 And the Lord said imto hini, What /*• that in thine hand .'' And he said, A rod. .3 .And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent : and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the Loud said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand ; 5 'J'hat they may believe that the Lord Cjod of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath aj)peared unto thee. 6' ^ And the Loud said furthermore u)ito him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom : and when he took it out, Ix^hold, his hand nas leprous as snow. 7 And he said, l^ut thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again, and plucked it out of his bo- som : and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8 And it shall come to pass, if the}' wdl not believe thee, neither hesirken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voiceof the latter si"n. 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will CHAP. IV. 1"9. True miracles are the most convincing ex- ternal proofs of a divine mission attested bv them. Therel()re out- Saviour often ap^naU'd to his works, as Jo)in v. 3 I ; and Nicude- musowns himsell coiuinccd by them, John iii. 12. And here Moses having a special coinmissKni given him as a judge, and law-giver to Israel, has ihis seal atiixed to his commission, and comes sup- ported with these credentials. His rod is made the subject of jl double miracle, m which there is a double sif^mficancy. Pharaob had turned the rod of Israel into a serpeirt, rel>resenting them a» langerous, causing their belly to cleave to the dust, and seeking their ruin; but now they should be turned into a rod again; or thus, Pharaoh had turuc"d the rod of government into the ser|)eiit uf oppression, from which Moses had himself lied into Midian, bul by the .tgency of Mo'-es the scene was altered again. His hand i» iK'.it made tiie SHblect «f a niiiucle, that siguifwd, 'lii^t, thut M*. CHAP. IV. not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the Avater of the river, and pour it upon the dry Imtd : and the water, -which thou takest out of the river, shall become blood upon the dry land. 10 ^ And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Loud, I am not eloquent, neither here- tofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant : but 1 am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the Lord said unto him. Who liuth made man's mouth? or who maketh the duiiib, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind r have not 1 the Lord? 12 Now, therefore, go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13 And he said, O my I,ord, send, I pmy thee, by the hand of him rchom thou wilt send. 14 ^ And the anger of the Lord was kind- led against iNIoses, and he said, /*• not Aa- ron tlu; Levite thy brother ? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to jneet thee ; and when he seeth thee he will be glad in his heart. 15 And thou shalt sj)eak imto hin), and put words in his mouth, and 1 will \yr with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 1() And he shall be thy spokesman unto Sis, l)V tlw (M)wir i)f God should krine sore disiav* ii|iiiii r.(;_v|ii, i.id Oiiit by liis prayvr tin v should w rem<>v<.-il : second, ih:it wluTcas the thildrcn of Israrl ii> Mcypt win- hicoiiu- leprous, pol- tiitrd by siti, and almost consumed by oporession, by being taKen into the boviin of Moses, they should be cle;iiised and cured, and all their grievances redressed. I le is directed wheK he shall come to Eg^'pt to turu sumo of tlie water of the river into blond, tj. This was done at first as a sign, but noi (;:iininj; ilue credit » ilh yhaiaoh, the whole river was afterwards lurneil into blood, and then itlxcame a-plaeue. Ciod had said, chap. in. IS, of tliechil- ;s us in dtity, or y »on go» that he may serve me ; and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy iirsl-born. of s|H'aJiin^well : the mouth and wisdom, I.uke .\.\i. li. 'I'Im |ivr- fections ol our faculties are h;s work, and the imiH ri'ectkiiis of tliein are from him too. Is there any evil of this kind, and the Lord luLs not doiu' it? Ko doubt he hits, and alwavsiii wisdom ^iid righteousness, ;iiicl for his own glory, Johni.'i.i. 'rowicom-a^- him to this uiidtTlakinc, he reinats the prumis*' «d"hi» presiiice : not only in p-nei-al I will be with ther, chap. lit. '21, hut in p.irtj-' cular r will be with (hy mouth, so that iWe iiiiinrfi ctioiis in thy speech shall be no jinjudite to thy nussage. It doth not appear that God did presently remove the iiilirmiiv, whatever it was: bm he did that which was equivalent, he tAUklil him what to say, uii<| then let the matter recommend itsjll'. lie joins .\aruii in comuiiv- sinn vvilh him; .Aaron could speak well, and yet was liilerior ti» Movs in wisdom. (Jod dispeiiseth his gifts variously to the chll dreii .•' men that We mav see our need one uf another, tu>d euck mav coitiibute jo'ncthing to iIk- ){ood of the body. Cor. .\ii. H. lad been kind lu him whei> lu; tnd therefore he would nut be »u uncivil iu luleavi; nor so unjust as to havu his seivi^r without gvuigb>ui Imnour of bein^ admitted into coiHmumoii vf ith (.iw>l^ lischaige us from the duties of «ur rvl.iUoni in I hi* f8..'.'3. Mose>' father-in-law wa- a slraiii;er, his faniil notice. Tl doth not world. He receives of Goil funher cm.. lura^envjits iuid dirrclu > for his work. After CJod had app».»r him in the busk to n llie a cornspondeiue. it showhl siviu h<' i ft< n ti,i>kc lohim as tin le was oc< aMoii, with less soli miiity. Me as'Ur^s Mpf, though he was net wiJIiim loo»a^V EXODUS. ?4 eir rec]iiest with further orders to oppress Israel, (■••9: these cruel orders w<'rc executed by the task- masters, 10-.14. Are conijilainod of lo I'haroh, 15.«19. in. Complained of by t!ic people to Moses, 20, 21, and by him to God, 22. 23. 1>ut pleaded 'unworthincfs, insufficiojicy, want of eloquence, &c. iim. lie must deliver his message in the name of Jehovah, he wust lel Pharaoh know Israel's relation to Ciod, and demand a dis- charge for them ; I^tmysonpo: and he must threaten Pharaoh with the death of the (irsl-borii of Ci;ypl in case of a refusal. As men deal with Goil's people, let them expect so to be themselves atiently, if our zeal for God and his instimtions be misinterpreted, and discouraged by some that should understand ihemscKes and us, and thiir duty belter; as David by Michal im; if this l)c to l>c vile, if lliis be to be bloody, we roust be vet moxe \ND afterwards ISJoscs and Aaron went in and told Phiiraoh, 'J'hus saith the Lord Goi) of Israel, Let my people go, that thej^ may hold a feast unto me in the wilder- ness. 2 And Pharaoh said, Who /.s the Lorir) that' I sliould obey his voice to let Israel go.- I know not the Louo, neither will I let Israel go. 3 And they said, The God of the He- brews hath met with us ; let us go, we pray thee, three days journey in tjie desert, and sacrifice unto the I-okd our Ciod, lest he fall upon us M'ith pestilence, or with the sword. 4 And the kingof Lgypt said unto them. Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their work? get you unto your burdens. 5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, ihe people, of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. 6" ^ And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their othcers, saying, 7 Ve shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore ; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them ; ye shall not diminish oiig/it thereof; for they he idle : therefore they cry, saying, I.,et us go and sacrifice to our Ciod. 9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein : and let them not regard vain words. so. When Moses and Aaron first oiiened their commiKion in Keypt, they met with better acci])tance than they promised them- selves. The Israelites pave cridit to them, and rendered glo'y to (!o(l, expressing not only their humble thankfulness lo God, who had sent tluin a deliverv-r, but their cheerful readiness to observe orders, and pursue thu methods of their deliverance. CHAP. V. I, 2. 'riie Israelites Here God's people, he expected services and sacrifices from them, and therefore they must have leave toco where they could freely exercise their religion without giving otfcncc to, or ncuiving offence from, the Egyptians, (iod delivers his people, that they may serve him. Observe how scorn- fully Pharaoh speaks of God, and how pnnidly he speaks of him- si'lf. Proud men think themselves too good to sloop even to God himself, and would not Ix- under controul, Jer. xFiii. 2. 3.-y. The request of the Israelites is very humlde and medrst, but Pharaoh's suggestions wore unreasonable, and his resolutions barbarr.us. Moses and .Xaron themselves must get to their burdens, V. 4. Tiny are Israelites, and however God had distinguished them from the rest, Pharaoh makes no diflerence; they must share in the common slavery of the nation. Piisccutions have always 10 ^ And the task-masters of the people went out, and their officers and they spake to the people, sayhi(>;. Thus saith Pharaoh, 1 -will not give you straw. 11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can fmd it ; vet not ou"ht of vour work shall be climinishecL 12 So the i^eople were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble instead of straw. 13 And the task-masters hasted (han, say- ing. Fulfil your works, i/our daily tasks, as when there -was straw. 14 And the othccrs of the children of Is- rael, Avhich Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and to-day, as lieretotbre ? 15 ^ Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy ser- vants ? 16 There is no straw given unto thy ser- vants, and they say to us, Alake brick : and behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own j)eoj)le. 17 But he said, Ye are idle, i/e are idle ; therefore ve sav, Let us <);o aiirl do sacriiic(> to the LoHu. 18 Co, therefore, now (7//(/ work ; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye de- liver the tale of bricks. 1.0 And the olhcers of the children of Israel did see that they n'ere in evil case, af- ter it was said, Yeshall not minisli ought from your bricks of your daily task. CHAP. VT. 'JO <[[ And they met Moses and Aaron who stooti in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh : 21 And they said unto them, The Lord look uj)on you, and judge ; because ye have made our savt)ur to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his sei-vants to put a sword in their hand to slay us. 22 And Moses retuined uuto the Lohd and said, Loud, wheretbre hast thou .so evil- entreated this jjeoplcr why /*• \i that thou hast sent me '' 23 For since I came to Pharaoh, to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this peo- |)le ; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. CfIAP..VI. IjicmliniU'cl iigiiinst tlif minisUTS ot' the churches, to pour cuii- U'liipl iiiicl hiir(l>lji|)s U)i(iii lliciu. 11. .14. I'haruoli's oiilii-saro hiTc put in cxocution : stiawisdc- iiK-il, jiiulvil tlu- \S(irk is not iliiiiiiii.shcd. 'I'hi- Israiiitos" ollioTs WiTi- isiHCiallv iibiiH'il, 1+. Thi-y tiiat wiro llir I'athci-s o( l\n- Ikhis.:; oI Isiail paid dear (or liu'ir honour ; lor tVom thi'iii iniiut- diiitidy tho service was e.\acted, and they wi re Inateii when it was Iiol perim nied. Wiiat strange steps Cloil sometimes takes in deliver- iiiahis people! lie olten hrin^s them to llio ulniost stniils, when lie ii Hist leady to appear li'i them. i !.">.. 'J.!, it was a nveal strait ihat the head workmen were in whi-n till y must oillier abuse those thai were uMiler Uum, or hcaljUMd liy "those that were over them: y.l it should m em, rallier than lyiaii- nize, they wouhl be tyrannized over. In ihis ivil case they justly lumplaiii'd to I'haraoh, who hurued lluin, ami liouiul on ihi ir l>ure»t friends, and ((Uarivl wilh the inNlrumeiils of their ihhvei-.iiiOi-*. Tliose that aie called to piihlic s. rvice for CJod and llmr geiieru- tion, luu^l e.\iMCt to be tiled, ii..t..iily by the nuilicifus ihnals nf ihvir eiunues, but by the uiijnsl censures of uiilhiiikiiii; Irii nd>, v:lioju"k I. ut a little vvav belore ll'iein". Mn-is in Ins -nail u iiirned lo the I .old. •Z'J .inil e\iio-tiilated wiih him. 1 1, a-ks. Iii-sl, Why lia-l ihouvunil eiilniiled ihis people? Kveii w hen ( lod is roiiiiiiL lovvar.Mu- I^'^P'o III uavs >.f meicv, vel si-meliiius he lak.s Mif li melh<"l^ lUxl ihry ihmklhemselves'ill-lrealed. Scud. Why Is il lli.il Ul"U hiist sent me ? Thus he eilli. r cmiplaiiis of hiJ ill sucCi-ss or eivquirx'S what was further to be done. . , ■ . i CIIM'.VI. l-.i). When M'ises wii.'V al hi* v«nl»en.l, wishing ho had slaui at Mnliaii nilherlhaii have come lo Kopl. I" mike ill wois«'; when he was quite at a loss «hat lo d... ih-n ih.' Urd ^ald uiilo M,.M.">, Now shall ihou see what I wiU H.. lo I'h.ii.f h. Now I'h iraoh ii til tliv livight of piide, aiid hiael in ihv drj-ih wt ini^-rv KXODUS. Canaan, the land of llicir pilgrimage, a\ here- in they were strangcr<<. 5 And 1 luive also heard the groanings of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bon(hige and 1 have remembered my covenant. 6 Wherefore sa\' unto the c1iihh-en of Is- rael, 1 (iin the lioui), and ] will bring you out. from under the burdens of tlie i'gyp- tians, and I Avill rid you out of their bon- dage ; and 1 will redeem you witii a stretch- fd-outarm, and with great judgments ; 7 And 1 will take you to me for a people, and 1 will be to you a God : and je shall know that I am the I.oin) your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And 1 will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob ; and I ■will give it you for an heritage : I am the Lord. 9 And jVloses spake so unto the children of Israel : but they hearkened ;iot unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. 10 % And the Louu spake unto IMoses, saying, 11 CJo in, speak unto Pharoah king of I'lgyjit. tliat he let the children of Israel go out ot his land. 12 And INIoses spake oefore the Lord, saying, Lehold, the children of Israel have .not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips ? 13 And the Lokd spake unto INIoses, and ■fc_- is my time to iippiiir. .M()!.cn li;ui been Iiniiiij wliat lie could dui ftiiil couUl fltct t "uilliiiig ; Hell, snitli Ciud, now thou sl>alt see «li;it I will do : lit iiic aliiiK' t<> deal witli this pnmd man, .lob xl. 12, 13. Th(i deliverance of God's oliurch "ill be actom()lislird when lie lakes the work into his own hand. Willi a strong hand, i. c. being forced to it, by a strong hand he shall let them go. As some are brought to their duty by the strong hand of God's grace, who arc made willing in the day of his power; soothers, by the strong lumd of iiisjuslicc, breaking those that would not bend. Moses is directed to take comfort from God's name, Jehovah. The patri- erclis knew this name, hut they did not know him in this matter, by tlial which this name sianiries. (iod would now be known by his name Jehovah, i. e. C>od p riorniiii!; uhat he had promised : a God pel fecting what he \\:u\ begnn. When the salvation of the iaiiu is comi'leted, he will be known by his name Jehovah, llev. xxii. 13, ill the nu'uii time they shall lind him a God all-sulhcieiit, Mifahvii.20. He is also to take comfort from his covenant, 4; l;ou. )ifi c<.>un>arsioii, j; from his .jjiesi.-nt ii'soluiicii, 6, 7, 8; unto Aaron^and gave tliem a cliarge unto the children (jf Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Lgypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Lgyjit. 14 f These be the heads of their fiithers' houses ; The sons of Reuben, tlie fnst-boni of Israel : Ihinoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi : these oe the families oflleuben. 15 ^ And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Oliad, and Jachin, and Zo- har ; and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish wo- man ; these are the families of Simeon, 16 ^ And these arc the names of the sons of Levi, according to their generation ; Ger- shon, and Koluith, and INleraii. And the years of the life of Levi rccrc an hundred thirty and seven years. 17 The sons of Gershom : Libni and Shi- mi, according to their families. 18 And the sons of Kohath ; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years. 19 And the sons of Merari ; INlahali and Mushi : these are the families of Levi, ac- cording to their generations. 20 And Anuam took him Joclubed, Ins father's sister, to Avife ; ami she bare hini Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram a'ere an hundred and thirty and seven years. 21 And the sons of Izhar ; Korali, and Ncpheg, and Zichri. 22 And the sons of Uzziel ; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri. 23 And Aaron took him Liisheba, daugh- ter of xVmminadab, sisterof Naashan, to wife : and from his pracious intentions in all these, which were their hap- piness and his own glory. One would think these good words should have revived tlie drooping Israelites, and made them to for- get their miseiy, but on thi' contiaiy, their miseiies ina- pie hear not his messengers, how can it be thought Ins piolessing enemy should? lie then pleails the inlirniity of his speaking, 12, which objection tiod had answered belore, chap< iv. 1 1 . Ciod puts an end tr; the dispute by giving him a chargi-, and Aaron with him, both to the children of Israel and to I'haiaoh, 13. God's authority is sufficient to answer all ubjections. 14--';30. 'I'he two til St tribes seem to be inenlioiu'd only for the sake «f the third, which was Levi, iVomwhors Mosis and Aaron JL■^culded, and all iJie prie«ti of iht Jc»fc>ii church. 1.a;v), Ko- CHAP niul she hare l.im Nadub, and Abihu, Elca- zcr and Ttlianuir. 114 And the sons or Korah ; Assir, and J'lkatuih, and Abiasaph : these arc the lu- milies of the Korhites. '25 Ami !'',leaxar, Aaron's son took him owe of the dauiihters of Futiel to wife, and she bai(^ him IMiineas; these ore the heads of the lathers of the Levites, aceor(Ungto their fa- milies. 26" 'J'hese are that Aaron and Moses to ■whom the Loud said, liriii^ont the ehilchen of Israel from the land of Egypt, according to their annics. 27 'J'hese fl?-f tliey which spake to Pharu'jh king of Egypt, to bring ont tjie children of Jsrael from Egypt : these are that Moses and Aaron. 28 % And it came to pass, on the day zc/irn the Loud sjjake unto Moses in the land ot Egypt ; 2.Q 5! 'I'hattheLoRDspakeimto^roses, say- ing, J at/t t.\]v. Loud ; speak thou unto Pha- raoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee. 30 And Moses said before the Loud, Be- hohl, T f/;/< of uncircnmcised li|)s, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me .'' CHAP. VIE III llii-- cimplcr, I. Tlic dispiitc lirlworn <^iul and Mosp^ tlr.islicii vn. he (lispiitc liiinsi'll lo Ills cimplcr, I. riie and .Mijscr. aiiplics liinisilr lo the I'xcciilidii of his coinnii'.sioii 1--7. n. I'lu' dispute bilwti II MoM'S ;ind Phiinioli lii^iii'. : firsi, Mosis coiitirm^ liw di'iii;tiiil lie m;iilc in Pliar;ioli, by Uini- iiii; his rod into a serpent, but IMiaraoli hardens his heart a;;ainsi this conviction, 8. .13: second, he chastisetii his disobedniRe hath, and .Ainrani, all lived lo a preat age. Mosis himsell' came much short of ihcin, and tixed seyiniy oreighlv years for tlic or- dinary stretch of luiinan lile, Psal. \c. 1, for now as God's lsia«l w;is multiplied, and ilivine revelation was by the hand of Mose^ cominitled lo wriiinj;, and no longer trusted to tradition, ihetwi ereat reasons for the Ion;; lives of the patriarchs were ceased ; aiiu therefore fewer Years might serve nun. Moses has recorded ll;i inarri.T|;e of his fatlu r .Anirain with .loeln bad, his own aunt ; aiin it appears by Numbers xwi. .S<), ihal it must be tak<'n strictly foi his father's own sister, at l»ast ijy the half-blood. This marriage was alteruards forbidden as incestuous. Lev. wiii. 1», wliich might be looked upon as a blot upon his family, ihoiinh before that l:iw ; yet !\Ii;), and his obje( lions lo il. 'It). 'I'how llial luue spoken unadvisedly with iheir lips, i u^hl to relied iipoii il Willi iv<;ret as Mosess em^ to do here, CI lAI'. \'ll. 1--7. Here (Jod elollies Moses with great po>ver an I authorily, v. 1, I have made iheeagoillo Pharaoh, i. i-. my iepicM niuti\c in ihi^ utlair; iu- imi;:isiiiitvs are calKd veils. by turning the wntpr? into blood ; but Pharaoh hardens Iris hcu aj^alnst this correction. It, ad (in. \ND the Loud said unto Mo.ses, See, 1 have made thee a got! to Pharaoh ; and Aaron thy brother shall be tliy prophet. 2 Thou shalt speak all that 1 command thee ; and Aaron tliy brother shall speak un- to Pharaoh, that he send the children of Is- rael out of his land. 3 And 1 will harden Pharaoh's heart, and innltij)ly my signs and my wonders in the land of Eovj)t. 4 P>ut i'liaraoh shall not hearken unto you, that I mav lay my hand u[)on Egypt, and f)ring forth mine annics, and my people ti'ie children of Israel, out of the land of Egyj)t by great jud'iinents. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the f>o un, when I stretch forth mine hand u|)on ]\gvpt, and brjng out the chil- dren of Israel from among them. 6 And Moses and Aaron tlid as the Lokd connnanded them, so did they. 7 And Moses rc'as fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when ihey spak^ unto Pharaoh. 8 ^ And the Loud spake unto Closes, a, id unto Aaron, saying, 9 ^Vhen I'haraoh shall speak unto you, saying, shew a miracle for you : then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it sliall become a serpent. bieaiise they ;'.re Clod's vicepreiits. He was Hi|thorize«l lo spi'ak and act in (iod's iiiune and stead ; and under the dixiiii! diirciiou w;'s I iidued wi:h a divini> power t4) do that which is above the ordi- nary coul^e of nature ; and it pints do from (iod tt) the children ol men. He tells liim that Pha« raoh would not heaikin lo him, and yet Kruel should I* saved, and God till rein ulorilied. ll onehl lo be «ativl iction eiK>U!;h ta God'^ niesseiiijer^, ihat whatever <>| position may be giveii thus inr, God vmII be ulonlied in the success of ihrir emL>av-y, and all hi* clioMii Israel will be saved, and llu n they hav«f no rr««<>n lo uy, liny laboured in vain. .Moses and .\aron luwv aiply themselvcx jo ihrir work without urther idijeciion, like .lonah, who ihoiith »t first very averse, >t 11 nelh went to Nineveh. Aaron was now eishiy-lhrix-, and &i owl eichty, both of ihein men of L'reat arii' ity and e*i;x'rience. who-^ a;;e was venerable ni.il whose y. an- inijli! huh Wl^.|,,lll. .lo^t-pli, who WHS lo be oidv n snn^ lor such a service. S-'l.>. Thi' liMiiii'ir the f I iel'i B SI rp<'nf was jir»>r<"' ""' ""V toalVeci I'Liiruoli with wMitii r, L>il Ig siriLe a tcnHf U|vin Kji^ EXODUS. 10 And Afosps and Aaron -went in unto Pharaoh, and tliry did so as the Loki> had conunandod : and Aaron cast down his rod licCore Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 1 1 'J'lien l^haraoh also called the wise men, and the sorcerers: now the magicians ol' Ijiivpt, the\v also did in like manner with their enchantments ; I'i For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents : but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. l;3 And h{> hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them : as the Loud had said. 14 ^ And the I;OitP said unto Moses, Pha- raoh's heart is hardened, he reliiseth to let the people go. 1,5 Get thee unto Piiaraoh in the morning: lo, he gocth out unto the water ; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come ; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. 16 And thoushaltsay unto him, 'J'lie Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness ; and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. 17 Thussaith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that 1 am the LoKn; behold, 1 will smite with the rod that ix in mine hand upon ScrpfJits arc liiirHiil, dri'udful aiiim;i!!., llioivforo llio vcn- sight of one thus miraculoii-'ly pnuhircil ininht have Miflrncd his hrarl iiiln ji tVar ol' iliat (mkI by wlnw pn>\cr it was prodiin-il. This niiracic •houf^li liio plain to Ul' (liiiiiil, is cm i'' alr;aiast the light and love of it. 14, 15. The turning the water into blood was a very dreadful plague. The very sight of such vast "-tri'ams of [inie blood could not but strike an horror upon th<' people : nixch more afflictive were ihe cotisei(\ienceb of It. The F.g\ptians must now drink blood, or file w ith thirst. Fish was much of tl.rir food. Numb. xi. 5, but .iLe changing the watei was the death of the Jish, ll was u pcsti- the waters which are in the river, and they iihall be tiirn(.>d to l)k)od. IH And the fish that is in the river shall die, anil the river shall stiidv : and the Egyp- tians shall Itnith to drink of the water of the river. 19 ^ And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand u})on the waters ofEgyuf, upon their streams, u])on tluMr rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood ; and that there may l)e blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels o/'wockI, and iu vessels q/" stone. 'JO And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Loiti) commaiuh^l : and he lilletl up the rod, and smote the waters that ziere in the river in the sight of IMuiraoh, and in the sight of his servants ; and all the Avaters that !ce)e in the river were turned to blood. 21 And the fish that K'^sin the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians^ could not dnnk of the water of the river ; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egy|)t. 22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments : and l^haraoh's- heart was hardened, neither did he hearken imto them ; as the Lqud had said. 23 And Pharaoh turned, and went into lencc in that element. I'.pypt w;is a jileasant land, but the noisotni! stench of dead li->h, and blood, winch by di gives would grow pu- trid, now rendered it sei-y unpleasant. This was a rinhtoous [ilague, anil lustly inllictcd upon the I'.gyptians. for, fust, Xilus, the river of Iv'vpt, wa,s their idol. They and their land were so much lieiu'" lited iiy that creature, that thrysirved and worshipped it inoR-than ihc creator. Mere therefore God pvniished ihem, and turned that into blood which they had turned into a god: s<'Con(l, they had staineil the river with the blood of the Hebrew children, and now Clod gave llieni blood to drink, for they were worthy. Rev. xvi. <>'. Vne of the first miracles Moses wrought, was turning water into blood; but one of the first miracles our Saviour wrought, Wart turning water into wine : for the law was given by .Moses, and it was a di--iiensalioii of death and terror; but erace and truth, which, like wine, "iiake glad the heart, came by .lesus Christ. I'haraoh semis lor the magicians, and they ape the miracle by their eiich:int- ment,2C, and this served him for an excuse not to sit his heart upon this also, '2:5, and a pitiful excuse it was. Couhl they have turned the blood into water again, it hail bi'en something, but for them, when there was such scarcity of water, to turn more of it into blood only to shew their art, plainly intintales that the di sign of the devil is only to delude and amuse his devotees, ii\ order lo keep them from returning lo (iod. The r.gyptians liigged round about the river for drink, and pro- bablv tound komc at last, for God renu-mbors mercy in the midst of vviath, and wouUI not sutler them to ^nlart too much for the ob- stinacy of their prince. The j)lagucs Continued seven dnys, iO. CHAP. VIII. his house," neither did he set his heart to this also. 24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink ; for thev could not dnnk of the water of tl-.e livcr. 25 And seven days were fiilfiilcd, after that the Loud had smitten the river. CHAP. VI n. Tluon (if llie plagues of Lgyitl anMclalci! in tliis rluititcT: I. Thai of frd^s, l-'7i "hich was n iiiii\fil al liii' ivquibl of I'liarauli, 8"14; «lin Tel ri fused to lil Israi I {;i>, 15. M. Thai of licf, 16', 17, by which llif maniciaiis wi re baflKd, IS, ly; aikl y<'l I'haraoli was hanlcni.l, ig. 111. That of llics, '20..'2i; Pha- jauh hiimbliii}; himself, 25"2y ; it is removi'il, 31 ; ami yd his heart is haideiied, 3'.^. AND the Loud sj)ake inito Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto lain, 'J'hus gaith the Loud, Let my })e()}jlc go, thai they may serve me. 2 And if thou refuse to let///e;w go, behold, I will smite all th}'^ borders with frogs : 3 And the river sluiU bring lorth frogs abundantly, which shall go up, and come into thine house, and into thy i)e(l-chambcr, and upon thy l)ed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading troughs : 4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. 5 ^ And the Loud spake unto Mos(>s, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand Avith thy rod over tiic streams, ()\er the ri- vers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. aiul in all that time Phsraoli would not desire Moses to intercede for the removal of it. 'rhus the hypocrites in heart heap uji wrath : they rr>' out when he bindeth them. CHAl'. N'lM. 1..15. }'haraoii is iiere first threatened, and then pliwiud with frogs; as afterwards in thischaptiT with lice and flies, little despicable, inconsiderable animals ; anin, are said to be like froRs, Rev. xvi. 13, which pixdiably alUules to these frogs, for it follows upon the turning the watei-s into blood. Pharaoh bepaii to rel«nt under this plague, and it was the first tinie he did so, 8. He that nwhilti ago hail spoken with the utmost dikdiijii holh of Voir. 6 And Aaron stretched out his handover the waters of Egypt : and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egyjit. 7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upou the land of Egypt. 8 ^ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said. Entreat the Loud, that he may take away the frogs from me, and fron my pc(jple ; and 1 Avill let the people go, that they may do sacrilicc unto the Loud. 9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me ; when shall i entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to de- stroy the frogs from thee, and thy houses, thai they may remain in the river only .'' 10 vVnd he said, 'J'o-morrow. And he said. Be it according to thy word : that thou niayest know that their is none like unto the LojtD our God. 11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people ; they shall rcnuun ii\ the river only. 12 And ]\loses and Aaron went out from Pharaoii ; and Moses cried unto the Loud because of the froij-s which he had brouij-ht against Piiaraoh. 1.'3 And the Lokd did according to the word of Moses : and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. 14 And they gathered them together upou heaps; and the land stank. id and of Moses, now iseliid to be belioldi-n to the mercy ofGiK! and the iirayer of Mosis. Closes, to shew that his p< rfonnance* had no ne, that thou 'inayt-sl know, Itial, whatever the maqicians pii'tend to, then' i« none liki' unto the l/irit ourdod: none that has such a command over all rrealuri-N, nor any so ready to foii;ivc those that hniiible ihemvivis before him. The creat design Ixitli of mercy and ludsiiient Is to convince us that theiv is none like the I ahiI o'lir Ooi), none so wise, so niighty, so good; no enemy so fi'imidiible, no fiii iid so iloinible. .Mosfs hereupon prayed earnestly to OoJ to ninoyr llie Iroes, und they all died ; and to prove tlu v v»( re ri'iil frops, theii dead bodies were U'lt to be niked ti>i;ilhiT inWajis, so ihat the tmell of them became uH'ensive, 13, 14.' Wbeii IMiarauli »avv there was tckyitc, h* £e EXODUS. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite he hardened his heart, and lieaikened not nnto them ; as the Loud liad said. 16" ^ And the Lord saiil unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust oftlie huid, that it may be- come hce throughout all the hmd of Egypt. 17 And tliey did so ; ibr Aaron stretched out liis hand with Jiis rod, and smote the (hist ot" the earth, and it became hce in man T\.t\d in beast : all the dust of the land be- came lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18 Then the magicians did so with theii enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not ; so there were lice upon man and upon beast. 19 Then the magicians said unto Pha- raoh, This 2.y the fmger of God. And Pha- raoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them : as the Lord had said. 20 ^ And the Lord said mito Closes, Rise up early in the morning, and stand be- i'ore Pharaoh, (lo, he cometh forth to the Avater,) and say unto him. Thus saith the Lord, Let ni}^ people go, that they may serve me ; 21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, l)ehold, J will send swarjis ofjiies upon tliee ■And upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses : and the houses of t\\v Egyptians shall be full of swarms ofjiies, and also the ground whereon they ai-e. '22 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which n)y people dwell, that no swarms ofjiies siiall be there ; to the end thou niayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23 And I will put a di\ision between my people and thy people : to-morrow shall this sign be. 24 And the Loud did so ; and there came a grievous sw arm of Jiies into the house of I^haraoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt; the land was corruptetl by reason of the swarm ofjiies. 25 ^ And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. 26" ^ And ]\Ioses said, It is not meet so to do ; for we shall saci'ifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Loud our God ; lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us ? 27 We will go three daj's' journey into the wilderness; and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he shall command us. 28 And Pharaoh said, I Avill let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LouD^'ourGod in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away ; entreat for me. 29 And Moses s:iid, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the Loud that the swarms ofjiies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to- morrow ; but let not I^haraoh deal deceit- iMlly any more, in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Loui3. 30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. 31 And the Lord did according to the \vord of Moses ; and he removed the swarms of -flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people : there remained not one. Iindeiied liis heart. Inijienitcnt sinnors ;iri' hariU'iied by tlio U'spitc ihat CJoii gives them to lead thi'in to lepeiitanci' ; see Ecd. viii. 1 1 , I'sal. Ix.wiii. 34" lO-.ip. it docs not iippcnr that any wiiiriing of the ])laijuc of lice was given beTore. I'hiiiaoh's !il)use of the reb])ite granted iiim inij^lil iiiiM- been a sufficient uarnins; to him to expect another Jjliiguc :for if tlie removal of an afilictiun harden us, ue may ton<» (llude it goes away to make room for a worsv. The frogs weie produced out of the waters, but these lice ont of the du,st of llie uai til ; for out of any part of the creation God can fitch a scourge wh( a-v. i;,ii to cirri ct tliose that reliel agair^st him. 'I'lie magicians, attempted to imitate this, but the}" couUi not ; » hen tliey faik\l iit- that, it slii.uld sc m they attempted to reiiKne it ; for it iullo\»s, so there were hce upon ni;in ami u[ion beast in spile of tin ni.. This forced them lo confess themselves overpowered, thi? is tiie llngiT ot God, i.'.'. this restraint must he (loii'i a divine jiowcr. (iod limits I'.n; devd„boLli as a deceiver and a destroyer. Pharaoh, nutwilh- standiiig this, is more obstinate. Those that are not better for God's judgments are comnumly made worse by them. '.30- 32. As the plague of lice was made more convincing than any before, by confounding the magicians, so was this by the dis- tinction made between the Kgyptians and tiic Hebrews. The ser- vants and worshippers of the great Jehovah xvere preserved from sliaring in the common calamity, and tins was an incontestibic liioof tliat God is the lyird in the midst of the earth. Pharaoh on this entered into a treaty with Moses and .-Varon, but yields witK great reluctaiicy. lie is content that the ciiildreii of Isr^iel'Shoultl sacrifice to their God, provided they wouhl' do it in the ilanil of I'.gypt. When this proposal was not accepted, he consents they should CO into the wilderness, provided thev go not very faraway. This Moses so far accepted as that he promised ihe removal of the pliigue upi>n it, '^9- See here ho.v ready Goil is lo'accept sinners' submissions ; also what need we have to be admonished that we be sincere iivour submission, but lei no' Pharaoh Seal de- CII S3 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the oeo- ple go, CHAP. I A. We have here an account of three moro of the p?ne, llun Mom's is sinllo lell him there is aM.uhir i(i;niii^, to iiy wUui this wi.uld do towards tlie resivinj; of the impiesiioiis of the loiiiier |)la:;uks. lie describes the plajjue that should cyme, if he refiifed, 'Z, :). 'I'he handol'lhe Ixjrd immidiately, without the sjretchinc out ol A.aon's hand, is u])oii the euttle, manv yf which, some of all kinds, iliould die by a toit of pe.lileiice. The hand . f Ciod is to be ac- knowledged even In tlie sickness and death of entile, for n sjiarrow falls not to the ground without our I'atlu r. '1 he creature is made Subject lovanilv bv the sin of m*n, being li.iblc both to servu Li» \P. IX. 9 And it shall become small dust m all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil break- ing forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. 10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses sprink- led it up toward heaven ; and it became a boil breaking forth uith blains, upon man anti upon beast. 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils ; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon alh tlie Egyptians. 12 And the liORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them ; as the Loud had spoken unto Moses. 13 % And the Loud said unto Moses, Rise up caily in the morning, and stand l)e- fore Pharaoli, imd say unto liini. Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my [)eopi;j go, tiuit they may serve me. 14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy ser- vants, and upon tliy people ; that thou may- est know that thax zs none like me in all the earth. 15 Eor now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence : and thou shalt be cut otf from the (\irth. 10" And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my |)(»w- er, and that my name may be dechuvtl throughout all the earth. 1 7 As yet exaltest thou thyself against mj people, that tliou wilt not let them go .^ 18 IjchoUl, to-ni()rri)w about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous iiail wickednqs ., and to share in hi. punishment, for the wickedaeis of the land liie bea>ts are consumed. The K^ljptiaiis «flerwar,N, ivnd some think now, wonhip|Hd th^ir cattle : it was am.. r.^; tli.ni lh.1t the Israelites leaninl to inuke a god cif » ralf; in that ili. i.lore ihis phittue meets wiih them. A dislinelion was now put Utw.va the cattle of the r.»;vj.linns, and ihe I>raelile»"cutlle. Duth UoJ take care for oxen ? Yes. he Hoih ; his proviJeiice r.Mends tu th« nil iir.'kt of hi> ereaturis. Hut it is wrilieiijor oursak. s, tlut nnu- 1112 Cod our rifuge we may not be ufrnwl uf ihu piilikiicc U1.1l walketh in ihiikniis, Ps;>l..\cf. 6'. S..C". When the Kijyoliuns w • Ibc death of their cattle, CiuJ s»-nt a 1 bo- dies. If lesser iudi;meiit5do no: ihm vvui^, er. The signal by which this I'lajjue was sprinkling' ol warm ashes from llie lurnncc tovn.. . 'i wus to jinifv the I»eatinj{ of thn lir villi »uch ft. . a* r ucli as hath not heea in Egypt since tlic foundation thereof even until now! 19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in llie field : for upon evQ^vy man and beast Avhich shall l^e found in tlie iieid, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall comedown upon them and tlu^v shall die. 20 He that feared the word of the Loud among the servants of Pharaoh made his ser- vants and his cattle llee into the houses : 21 And he that regarded not the word of the IvOUD left his servants and his cattle in the field. 22 ^ And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of I'^gypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout all the land ol Egypt- 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven ; and the Loun sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along qpon the ground : and the Loud rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both jnan and beast : and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. EXODt'S. 2b Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel uere, was there no hail. 27 % And Piiaraoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and s;iid unto them, I have sinned this time ; tiie Lord is ri^hte- ous, and I and my people are wicked. 28 Entreat the Loud (for it is enough,) that there be no i/tore mighty th.underings and hail, and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. 29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord ; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail ; that thou mayest know how that the earth in the Lord's. 30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ve will not vet fear the Lord God. 31 And the flax and the barley was smit- ten ; fi)r the barley was in the ear, and the tiax was boiled. 32 But the wheat and the rye were not smitten ; for they were not grown up. 33 And Moses went out of the city fronn Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hand unto the LoRbr^and the thunders and hail ceas- ed, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail, and the thunders, were ceased he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 3.5 And the heart of Pharaoh was harden- shtjuld produce ill tlic bodies of tlic Egyptians sore boils, iiiflmn- iiialinnsVikc liiose of Job. Tli is is aftcrwanis called llie botcji ol Kt;.vpt, Deut. xxviii. 27, as if it were soinc .new dibease never lieard of before, and known ever after by that iisine. The niiif;i- eians were struck with those boils, 11, and thus punished lor }irlpin!« to harden Phanioh's heart, and for pretending to imitate the former plagues. Their jiower w;ls restrained before, chap, viii. 18, but thev continued to confront Mnscs, an. rvp.nls, is uilliiin 10 irriit witli Mosl'S, ?• -P. Ij'" ihcv cjiuiiot agnv, 10 II: founli, llif lociistb come. l'J-.13: fil'lli, J'liar;ioli t«';;s iimjo;!, I(), 17 ; wlicieuii >n llic plafjUL- it removnl, but I'haraoh hanU-u- ed, IS •2^. AND the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh ; for 1 have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that 1 mio;ht shew these my signs hetbie him : 2 And that thou mayest tell ii\ the caitj of thy sow, and of thy son's son, what things I havewrougiit in Egy])t, and my signs wliich 1 have done among them ; that yc may know how thatl atn tlie Lord. 3 And Moses, and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How Umg wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me ? Let my people go, that they may serve me. 4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to-morrow will I bring the locusts iu- to thy coast : 5 And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one caimot be able to see the earth : and they shall eat the residue of that which escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth tor you out of tlie field. 6 And they sliall (ill tiiy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the J'gyptians ; which neither thy fathers nor tliy father's father have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this clouds, and causftli it to rain upon oiifcily and not upon another, €ithiT in merry or judnmrnt. I'haraoh at lin^th liumblid bini- solf lo Mosfs in thi laiipuMiTc of a poniti nt, 27, 2^. No man could have spoki'ii iK-ttcr, and vtl liis hrart was hardcnid all thiwiiilo. The terror of thir rod oftrn extorts iK-iiilcnt expressions irom tliosc that liavo no penitent alVeclions. Alosi s becomes an intercctsor lor 111 ni with (vod. lie went out of the city not only tor privacy, nut to shew that he durst venture into the field, noCwithstaiiilini: the hail and li^litiiins \» 'jK h kept I'haraoh and his servants vvitlilii. knowing thai ( M-ry hailstone had its dinx'lions from .C"")d, v»lin of earnest be so with you as 1 will let you go, and your little ones ; look to it ; for evil is before you. 1 1 N ot so : go now ye that are men, and serve the L6 ii d : for that ye did desire. And they were driven out iVom IMuiraoh's presence. rj ^ And the Loud said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand t)ver the land oi Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb {;f the land, cicfi all that the hail hath left. 13 And Moses stretclu^d forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lokd brought an east \\ ind u|)on the land all that day, and all that nisrht : aiid when it was mornini' the east wind brought the locusts. 14 And the lorusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt, very grievous iierc they ; before what 1 have vvrouchl 111 tlfVpl, 1, 2. '1 he plajjiies olKg^vjU uju>t be iiillicted, that tiny niHV be ri-corded for f;eiieiations t-j iJonic, as undeniable pioofs of God's over-ruiuig power in the kinj>dom of nature, and of his victiirious j>|idoni ol Satan: first, I'hey are slan lo the thildiiii of men in't to provok*- the I-..>i to (eaUuKy, I'Or to strive with their Maker. I'haruoh is repiove^4»r not huinbliiM iiimvlf Ufore tiod. I'hos*- that "ill not huinblr iKeinsilvi-sGoa mil humble, 'rhc plague of lOcusls is ihrv.iteiied. i'lid rh.imnh's privv counsellors as iiiduiv bound, fvprcsent to liim thi- diplorablc condition of iIk' kingdom ;" for .Moses they ibund would be .T sjuitv lo them till It was ilonc, and it was as i;oo(l to rmeenl .11 first lit last. \ In aiv is h.ieupon set on lof-l bilvvtfn Phar.ioh and .M.nw, in which I'haraoh yields ih.t itvv shall 50 into the wilderiu ij to sacrifice, bvit will not |;iam that lliev shoulil Ii*ke ihoir lamdn 1 .ind elTecls along Willi llitiii. .Sata:i doth all he Can lo hinder those vi h« sine God themselves fioiu briiiKiiiB llwir thildnn loicrve with Ihem. lie isasw.>rnriiW*) '.ally piety. 11 --'.'0. 1 hclocusbhavuic invaded ihe vuM, and made (icat if EXODUS. them tliere were no such locusts as they, nei- tlier. after them sh;ill be such. 15 For the>' covered tltc tare of the whole earth, so that the land uas darkened ; and tliey did cat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left ; and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 ^ Then Pharaoh called foi Moses and Aaron in haste : and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. 17 Now, therefore, forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat the Loud your God, that he may take away from me this death only. 18 And he went out from Pharaook a resolution to treat no mere. Moses is dis. missed, fmbidden the court upon pain of death ; or so much as to meet Phara&li any more as he had been used to do by the water- side. Prodigious" madness ! Had he nut found that J>los«s could plague him without seeing his faci-; or had he tbrgot how often he si-nt for him to ease him of his plagues, impotent malice, to threaten liim u itli death who was armed with such a power, and at whose mercy he had biinself so often laid. Moses takes him at hi); word, 22, lor this conference did not break off till, chap. ii. », when Moses went out in great anger, and told Pharaoh how seon he would chanw his mind, and his proud spirit would come down, which was fulliJled,»chap..Mi. 31, when Pharaok became an hum- ble t.npiilieant to .Moses tti depart. So that after this interview, Moses came no nio.re till he vas sent lor. CHAP. XI. 1--3. God himself t:spol^se«l the cause of the Is^ raelites, ami takes care to see them paid lor all their pains in serv- ng the Egvptians. This was the last day of their servitude when they were to go away, atul ihcir masters who had abuseil ihem in their work, woulfl now have deprived them of their wages, anti iiayc seijt j-xm a\v»y.«rapty , ami the j»gei Jsratlitfs were fu ifiOii CTTA?. XII. *2 Speak now in the ears of" the people and let every man boiTow ot" his neighbour, antl every "woman ot" Iter neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels ofirold, 3 And the Loud gave the j)eople favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land ot Egypt, in the sight ot Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the pe()j)le. 4 ^ And Mosessaid,'rhus9aiththe LoKi), About midniiiht will I ^o out into the midst of Egypt ; 5 And nil the first-born in the hind of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that eitteth on his throne, even unto the first- born of the maid-servant, that is behind the mill ; and all the tirst-born of beasts. 6 And there shall be a great ery through- out all the land of J\gypt, such as thei:e was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 7 ]5ut against any of the children of Israel shall not a don move his tongue, aan, according to his eating, sluill make your count for the hmib : .5 Vour Iamb shall be without blemish, a male of the lirst year ; ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats. 6 And ye shall keep it up until the four- teenth day of the same month ; anil the whole assembly of the congregation ot" Israel shall kill it in theevenin"-. t>{ IiUtI}', that they would Imve been glad to i;(t out upim anv tf rms, but he that (■.tocuttiii righteousness and jiulniiunt for the .. Mo- sis and Israel were in gnat favour viith the F^fZyptians, 3. l".ven the people that had been haled and despised, now canir to be rspecled ; the wonders vvrou;i;tit on their behalf put lui honour upon ihein ami made th< ni considerahle. .Moses rould but In- great, when they saw the power «ith which he was elolhed, and w hat wonders Were wrought by Ins hanil. 'riiosc that iionour doil lie will honour. Thoujih I'haraoh hated Mosrs, there were those i>\' I'liHiaoh's SI rvanls w ho respected liim. ThuJ in Citsar's liouse- liold, even Nero 5, there wire some that h.id iiii esteem fur blesseil I'aul, I'hil.i 13. ' * ■t.-lU. If the death of the cattle of the Ksyiitinns wonld havi- jiillillili.l ihein, their thildren had been s[i;in(|-, but il'nieiMvill liot improve the jjiadual adwinre of dnine iiid^nuiiis they nui'-i thank tl.i insclves if they lind in the issvie tliat the wor^t "a- n- (ivrved for the last. iVJoses probiil)ly ( xpucted that thtf mtv ihreat- .-lun^; of the tleath of the first-born should have wrought upon I'hariioh to comply, especially he Inivinq roinpiii*' so fur already. ..jid having seen how e.xactly all .\losvs' predicliotio hitherto were .'ullillcd. "liut h hud liut ifui ertlct, hit (pioud iivatt )TuuiU itut vield; uo not to save all lite fii'st-borii of his kingdom. Mose» hereupon vvius provoked to an holy indi';iiatinn, bMrk iii. 5. It is a ui'Mt ve.\ation to the spirits of i^ood niinisl( is lo see p<-o|il<^ deaf lo all the fair warniims uiven llieni, and ninninj^ headlong inli» ruin iioivvilhstanding all llie kind methods taken to ^in-veiit it. Mu- ses here re rii els on the previous notice C^od had giviri him ol l'h«- laoh's obstinucy, y, and reeapituhiles vvhat hchadMJd luloru lo this puil»ise, 10. INIoses did all llnse wondei> lirf(iri> riiuraoh. he hiniM-lf was aneye wiiiiess .of iheni, .iiiil vol he could not pivvuil, which was a certain sipn th.it (!od hiniseir had in R ri);(ileous way haiclened hi» heart. Tlius llie .Iew->' rejection of the ^osjtrl was i» jrov- an aiisiirdity, ihal it ini);l)t iiave been infcrn-H liont it, that C'od bad iriven them ihe spirit of slumbir. liom. m. 1 . C'll.M'i.Xll. l".Mi. The Uraelites had hitherto be|>an"fh. ir viar Iroin the middle of September; but lienceliHward they weru 1.1 bi';;in it from the middle of March, ill Uiist in their Kcteiiasli- lal compulalioiis. h is good to iH-fiill the iliiy, and to bfgiu li\* veai wilii I'lod. Without doubt tliere was much of the ;;osprl in thin orHiinnt* ; It IS often n ferred loin the Nrv> 'I'.-stament, Hiid ta iii is llir jos pci preatlicil, an-l not to them only, who conlJ iioi st( JfasilT li«ok. to the end of these things, I leb! iv. 2, 2 C«r. lii. 13: lirwl. tho paschal lamli vviis typical. Christ is our passover, 1 Cor. v. 7. it was I»^i^ii lurob; kjul CJirist is the laniii «f (jod, J«hni. 9V. EXODUS. 7 And they sliall take of the blood and strike it on the two side-posts, and on the 1 1 p})er door-post, of the houses wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the tlesh in that night foast with fire, and unkavcned bread ; a/id with bitter heibs they shaU eat it. 9 Eat notrtf it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast 7iifh fire ; his head with his legs, and with the purtenanee thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning : and that whieh remain- eth of it until the morning ye shall burn Avith fjre. 11 f And thus shall ye eat it ; zii/h your loins girded, your shoes on 3'our feet, and your start" in your hand ; an.d ye shall cat it iu haste : it is the Lord's passo\ cr. 12 Tor I will pass through the land ot Ergypt this night, and will smite all the first- born in the hmd of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods ofJ'^gypt 1 will exeeute judgment : / ain the Louo. 13 And the blood sludl be to yuu for a token upon the houses where ye aie : and >vhen I see the blood I will pass over you, «nd the j)lague shall not be uj)on you to de- stroy 7/0,7, when I smite tlie land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a mem(H-ial : and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations ; 3'e shall keep it a feast by an ordinance ibr ever. 1.5 ^ Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread ; even the first day ye shall put away' It was to be ;i iiKilo 1)1" llu tirsi viJir, 5, m it> prinu'; t'lir-.st nlTrreii \ip hiiiisplf ii> the luKht ot' Ills (\i\\;, nut lu infancy wjih thr babos of Bcthkhcm. It w;is to be '.»itlioiit hli-iiiii.!), 5, ihc Loid .V'Siis was ;i lamb, wilboiit spot, 1 1\ t. i. 1.0, it ".viis si't apml lour ,over, so he solemnly entered .lerusaleni four days before, the very day the paschal lamb was set apart. It was to be slain and roasted with tire, shewins; the e.\iniisitesufi'erin<^s of llie L.nrd .lesus, even unto bespiinkU'd upon the door-piists; iiotmj; the opin profession we sirt^ to make of faith in Christ, ami obedience lo him. It was to be sprinkled upon the lintels and door-posts, but not upon the thresh- hold, 7, which cautious us to taki- heed of trampling under foot the blood of the covenant, Hob. N. '.;9- The blood thus sprinkled was a means of preserving the Israelites from the destroying angel. Jl'tbe LikKtti of C'hi'M.be spriukicU uu our con^iMiccs, ii wiil be leaven out of your houses, for w hatsoever eat > eth leavened bread, from the first day until the seventh day, thatsoul shall be eut off from Israel. 16 7\nd in the first day there shall be an holy eonvoeation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you , no manner of work shall be done m them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ve shall observe the feast o/'un- leavened bread ; lor in this self-same day have 1 brought your ainiies out of the land of Egypt ; thcrelbre shall ye ob.serve this day iu your generations by an ordmunce for ever. 18 In the first month, on the foiu'teenth f rred till morn- ing, 10. To-day Christ is ort'ered, and is to be accepted while it is called tn-day, before we sl'^ij) the sleep of death. It was to be eaten with Llltier herbs ; we r.ui'-t feed uponChri-t with sorrow in remembrance of sin. Christ will be sweet to us if sin be bitier. It wasialcn in a departiii2 postuie, II. We oust let loose lioin ihc world, and forsake all for Chriit, and esteem it no bad bargain, Heb. xiii, 13, 14 : fourth, the feast ol uuleavc ned bread was typi- cal of the christian life, 1 Cor. V. 5-'7, S. Having leceiveii Ciiiist Jesus the Lord, wc must keep a feast in licly joy, coiniiHially dc- lightingourseKes in Christ Jcsuj. It must Ijl :: feast of unl. iv.-ned bread; kept in charuy, without thi- leaveu of malice, aivdinsin- ccrity without the leaven of hypocrisy. 21. .28. Moses is here as a faithful steward in God's house, tcuQiiiiig the childiea ot Israel to i'»l):>vrye all iliingswhich Goc^bad .», CHAP. Xll. and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the hntel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the bason, and none of jou shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 Yor the liOiiD -will pass through to smite the Egyptians ; and when he scetli the blood upon the hntel, and on the two side- posts, the LoED will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer' to come in unto your houses to smite ^/oii. 24 And ye shall obsei-ve this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons lor ever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when 5'C be come to the land Avhich the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye ])y this service ? 27 That ye shall sa}^ It is the sacrifice of the Lokd's passover, who passed over the bouses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Loud had commanded Mo- ses and Aaron, so did they. 29 If And it came to pass, that at mid- night, the LoKD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne imto the first- commandcj liim ; and no doubt lu-giuctlic in^u•uctionsas lait;e';) as he received thtm, tlioueh they he not S'> hirgely recorded. It is here added, that this nialit, uheii tile fifbt-ljorn were to be lie- slroyed, no Israelites inuM stir out of doors until nioniinj;, '22. Nvit but that the destrovin" angel could have known an Israelite iVoin sill £g;^[)tiaa ; but tiod would intimate to them, that their salctN was owing lo the blood of sprinkling. The children would ask, what was the meaning of this service. It is a good tiling to see children ini|uisi(ive about the things ol t'od. Christ liiniself when a child heard .-Mid asked questions, Luke ii. 40. It concerns all to understand the meaning of these holy ordinances whereby we worship (iod. If either we be ignorant ol', or mistake the meaning of holy onlinances, we can mither jilease God, nor pr()fit oui"selves. 'The parents were to answer. It is the siicrifice of the Lord's piissover : wc, by the killing and sacniicing of this lamb, keep in remembrance that work of wonders God dm for our fathers, when to make way for our deliverance lie slew tli( first-born of the Egyptians, and though thert- were with us.even «ith us, sins again^il the Lord .our Goil, yet God graciously appointeil and accepted the sacrifice of a lamb, instead of the fiiil-borii, as ol oJ J, the ram instead of Isaac. The repetition of this solemnity was desij»ned to look backwani, that they might remember what great tliip!;? God had done lor thfm and their fathen, at well m to look IbrWaKl, and as an ear- •VaI.L ■ .Nt-8. born of the captive that tens in the dungeon» and all the first-born of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians ; and there was a great cry in Egypt : for there was not an house Avheie there was not one dead. 31 % And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, boih ye and the children of Israel ; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as yc have said, and be gone ; and bless me also. 33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste ; for they said, AVe be all dead men. 34 And the people took their dough be- fore it was leavened, their knead ing-trounlis being bound up in their clothes upon thcii' shoulders. 35 And the children of Israel did accord- ing to the word of IMoscs : and thev bor- rowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. 36 And the Loud, gave the people fiv vour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them fetich things as they rcquir^ ed. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 37 % And the children of Israel journeyed Irom llameses to Succoth, about six huiu nest of the great sacriticc of the lamb of God. The Israelites obey- ed, 27, '^S, without that murmuring, we nad, chap. v. OO, il. The plagues of Kgvpt haca their expco tatioiis ('fa glorums deliverance. 29-'3('>. 'I'he l'40|)liaiis had slain the Hebrews' 'children, and now God slew theirs, 'J'). 30. Thus he visitctli the iniquitirs ol" the falht rs ujion the (.hiblri-n, nml hi' i^ not unrighteous lha( lovelli vengeance. Pharaoh «iid not s»nd the Isracliti-* out as men haU.1, but as men fe ared, as api>ears from his humble num'sl to them, S*, iiless tne also, let me have your praye|-s, that 1 may not be plagiu'd for what is past, when you aiv gone. Those that arum- mil's to God's churcli, arceiiemies to themselves, and sooner or lali r thev « ill be made lo slly as s»r\Hnt» rv- t>i%e wages ot their inast« rs, when llieir work is don.-, i>r ii- lective estates grauK-d lliem by their |>rince. ttOil is lh( proprietor c)f the eailh, and the fuliK-is ihcrrof, and it w .. .. .... siR'cial order thev acted. , , , u « :\7--\:. 1 lie prodigious numbrr of the Israelites shous the eltt. cacv of ihiU Lh tsiuji when God comniaml* it, Bv liuitful und muUv G"» EXODUS. dred thousand on foot that were men, besides cliikiicn. ^8 And a mixed multitude Mcnt up also ."with them : and ilocks, and herds, cxen very jnuch cattle. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of i'gypt, lor it Avas not leavened ; because they ■were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for them- selves sny victual. 40 ^ NoAV the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, »«s-four hun- dred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass, at the end oi the four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the ]iosts of the LoKD went out from the land ot 42 It is a night to be much observed un- to the Lord, for bringing them out from the land of Egypt : this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. 43 ^ And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, 1'his is the ordinance of the passo- ver : There shall no stranger eat thereof ; 44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 46 In one house shall it be eaten : shalt not carry forth ought of the thou ties ply. This \Tas typical of the multitudes tliat were brought into ihe gospel church when it was first t'ountlcd. A mixed multitud went with them, 38. Probably tiio greatest part ol' them was bvil a rude unthinking mob that followed the crowd they knew not n hy. Wc afttrwards find they proved a snare to them, Num. ii. -t, and it is likely whin they understood the children of Israel were to continue forty years in the wilderness, they quitted them, and re- turned to Ejiypt. This great event took place four hundred and thirty years from the promise to Abraliam, as the apostle explains jt, Ga\. iii. 17- During all this time tlie Israelites were sojourners in a laud that was not theirs. God is punctual to his time, though his promises be not performed quickly, they will be accomplished }n tneir season. It is a night to be much observed, both the provi- dences and ordinances of it. The great thitigs God doth for his people, should be rtmembered through all ages, especially the work cf our redemption by Christ. 43-51. Some further precepts are here given concerning the fassover, asit siiould be obsened for time to come: first, all the congregation of Israel must keep it, 47, all that share in God's mercies should join in thankful praises for them. The New Testa- ment passovcr, the Laird's supper, ouglit not to be neglected by any tUa; iXQ capable of celtbraiiug it : second, »io stranger that wue uu- abroad out of the house ; break a bone thereof. 47 All the congregation of Israel neither shall ye shall keep 48 with It. And thee, when a stranger shall sojourn and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcis- ed, and then let him conie near and keep it ; and he shall be as one that is born in the land : for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 49 One law shall be to him that is home- born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among 3'ou. 50 Thus did all the children of Israel ; a^ the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 51 And it came to pass the self-same day, that the Lord did bring the children of Isry.ci out of the land of Egypt by their armies, -f. CHAP. XIIL we have, I. The commands God gave to Israel, II. The care God took of Israel. In this chapter AND the Lord spake unio Moses, say- ing, 2 Sanctify unto me all the first-born, wliat- soever openeth the womb among the chil- dren of Israel, both of man and of beast ; it is mine. 3 And Moses said unto the people. Re- member this day, in which ye came out fron> Eiivpt, out of the house of bondage ; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out circumcised, inightbe admitted to eat of it, 43--45..48. N^rie might sit at the table, but those that came in at tlie d'jor: nor may any now approach to the improving ordinance of the Lord's supper, who have not first submitted to the initialing ordinance , of baptism : third, any stranger that is circumcised miglit be welcome to eat oi the passover, even servants, 44, only it is intimated, that those who were masters of families must not only be circum- cised tiicmselves, but all their males must be circumcised too. Here is an early indication of favour to the poor Gentiles ; (hat the stranger, if circumcised, staiulk upon the same level with the home- born Israelites. One law for both, 49 : fourth, in one house shall it be eaten, 46'; for good fellowship sake, and that they may edify one another in the eating of it. The chapter Concludes with a repetition of the whole matter, that tlie children of Israel did as they were bid, and God did for thfm as he had promised, 50, 51, for he will certainly be the author of salvation to them that obey him. CHAP. XIII. 1..10. God, who by the right of creation is pro- prietor of all his creatures, here lays claim in particular to all the first-born of the Israelites, by right of protection. That which if b/ special distinguishing mercies sjiared to us, should be in a peculiar manner dedicated to God's honour. It is the church of the' fell- CHAP. xiir. there sliall no leavened ! jfi'om^ this place lijcad be eaten. . 4 This day eame you out, in the month (A bib. 5 And it shall be Avhen the Loun shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Ilittites, and the Aniorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep tliis service in this month. 6" Seven days thou shalt cat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast 'to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days : and there shall no leavened bread be seen Avith thee, neither shall there be leaven seeji with thee in all thy cjuarters. 8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying. This is done because of that uliich the Loud did unto me when 1 came I'ortli out of Egypt. 9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee up- on thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lokd's law may be in thy mouth : for with a strong hand hath the Lord brouoht tliee out of Envpt. 10 I'hou shalt, therefore, keep this ordi- nance in his season from year to year. 11 ^ And it shall be, when the Loud shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, 12 I'hat thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix ; and every firstling that comcth of a beaot, which thou hast, the males .shall be the Lord's. Iborii that is sanctlfieil to God, Mob. xii. Q!l : Christ is ihc lirst- boni ainonj; many brethren, Rom. viii. 'J9- It was not rnoujjli lliat they nincmbdici itieir coming out of Ksypt, but they must cele- brate the memorial of it in ibnt way wiiich Goil had apiioiiited. So und that thou shalt say unto hiin, ]iy strength of hand the LoitD brought usoutfrom Egnit,, from the house of bondage. 15 And It came to i)ass, when Pharaoh would hai-dly let us go, that the Lord slew all the hrst-born in tlie land of Egypt, botiv the tirst-born of man and the tirst-horn of beast: therefore 1 sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix, being males ; but all the first-born of my children I redeem, 10 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes : for by strength of hand the LoRDbrotight Ub forth out of Egypt. 17 f And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way' of the land of the Phi- listines, although that u'as near ; for God said, Lest peradvcnturc the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt : 18 But God led the people abcmt, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea. And the children of Israel went up harnes- sed out of the land of Egypt. 1.9 And Moses took the hones of Joscj)Ii with him : for iie had straitly sworn tlie chil- dren of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you: and ye shall carry up my b(Mies awaf hence with vou. parents must furnish themseUes 'Aitii useful Knowledge, that they may be readv always to give answer to their en4u;ries. 17-22. 'I'liere were two ways Ironi E^pt to Canaan. One V** a short cut, from the north of I'gypi to the south ofCanaaii, per haps about four or live days' journev ; the other was nr.ie+i fuithcr about through the wilderness, and '.hat was the way wliicli God chose to lead his people Urivel in, 18, There wi re ninny rc«« sons why God led them through the way of tljc w.i.icrness of tit* Ued-sea. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Hed-sra ; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in ihc wilderor*?, Dcut.viii.g. God had given it to Moses torn sign, chap. lii. 13, y* shnll serve God in this mountain. They had often told I'hanioh that ihev must go ihivc dajV journey iirto the wildeme«s K> sncriCce, unJ therefore it was re'nuisite they should iiiarih that wa^-, cIm they had been justly 'exclaimed against .ts notorious i!i>vm!.Irr». tioil did not Irail ihera the nean-st nay, which would have bruU^kX them to th« land of the Philistines Ucausc they were not u yt fit for wac with llu.- l'hi!i»tit»c». Older being given which way they EXODUS. 20 f And they took tlieir joumey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edcje of the Avilderness. 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a clo.iul, to lead them the Avay ; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to go by day and night. 22 He took not away the pillar of the doud by day, nor the pillar of lire by night, from before the people. CHAP. XIV. litre is I. The distress of Israel at the Red Sea. :I. Their won- derful deliverance. AND the Lord spake unto ]\Ioses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that tliey turn and encamp before Pi-hahi- roth, between Migdol and the sea, over against P>aal-zeplion ; before it shall ye en- camp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them : and I will be ho- noured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host : that the Egyptians may know that I am the .Lord. And they did so. 5 ^ And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled : and the heart of Pha- sfiould miucli, they went up in gnud ordtr. Tiiey went up har- lii-ssed, 18, they went up five in a rank, so some; in five squa- drons, so others. They took the bones of .loseph alongwith them, as an acknowledgment of the 'performance of God's promise to I hem by Joseph, that he would visit them, and bring them out of tiie lanJof Etjypt ; and an encouragement to their iaith, that he would fullil the other part of the promise, which was to bring them to Canaan. In the first two stages it was enough that Ciod directed Moses whither to march, he knew the country and the road; but now they were come to the edge of the wilderness, aiid would have occasion for a guide, the Lord went before them; tlic Shechinah, or appearance of the divine jMaiesty, which was typical of Christ, or a precious manifestation of the eternal word, which in tlie ful- ness of time was to be made flesh, and dwell among us. Clirist was with the church in the wilderness, 1 Cor.-x. 1. God gave them the pillar of cloud for an ocular demonstration of his presence, in compassion to the infirmity of their faith, and in compliance •with the infant state of the church, but blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed God's gracious presence with them according to his promise. The pillar led their way in that x-ast howling wilderness, sheltered them from the heat by day, which at some times of the year was extreme ; and gave them light in the night, when they had oeeasion for it. God never took this away; neither when they seemed to have less occasion for it, travelling lliroush inliabited countries; nor when they nuirinured, and were j/rovoking ; it never left them till it brought them to the borders ol Canaan. This favour is acknowledged with thankfulness long after, Neh. ix. 9, Psal. Ixx. 1-!.. Some make this cloud a Ijgfe of Ciiifist. Christ h our way, iLe light of cur way, aud the raoh and of his servants wa-s turned against the people, and they said, ^Vhy have we done this, tliat we havelet Israel go from servingus? 6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him ; 7 And he took six hundred chosen cha- riots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and cap- tains over every one of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel : and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, (all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army,) and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahi- roth, before Baal-zephon. 10 % And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up th(jir eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians m.arched after them ; and they were sore afraid : and the childrea of Israel cried out unto the Lord. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou .taken us away to die in the wilderness ? wherefore liast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt ? \2 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying. Let us alone, that we may sene the Egyptians ? for it had been better guide of it. It .signifies the special conduct and protection which the church of Christ is under in this v.orld. CJod himself is tlie keeper of .Israel ; and he neither slumbers nor sleeps, Psal. exxi. 1 • '4, Isa. xxvii. 3. CHAP. XIV. 1"9. Israel's motions and r-ncampmcnfs fterc so very surprising, that if Moses had not had express orders about them before, they would scarcely have j)ersua(led themselves to follow the pillaro"f cloud and fiiv. That therefore there might be no scruple about it. Moses is told before whither they nmst go; 1, 2, and what God designed in these strange orders, 0, 4, I will be honoured upon Pharaol;. All men being made for the ho- nour of their Maker, those whom he is not honoured by he will he honoured upon. Pharaoh retlecis wiiii regret that he had con- nived at their departure. It is a very common but a very ill thing for people to repent of their good deeds; their justice and charity^ and even their repentance is repented of. Sec an instance somewhat like this, Jer. xxxiv. 10. Now all the |)lagues of Egypt are as if they had never been : he has quite forgot the sorrowtul funeials of liisfiist-born : now he thinks he can Ce too hard for God himself { for otherwise he could not imagine how he should cmiquer a people so dear to him. It is said, v. 8, v- them : and 1 will get nic honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and u])()n his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lokd, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 19 ^ And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them : and the pillar ol the clouil ■went from before their face, and stood be- hind them ; 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptijins and the camp of Israel : and it XIV. was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21 % And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea ; and the Loud caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all tliat night, and made the sea dry laud, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground : and the waters jtere a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 2.3 ^ And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them in the midst of the sea, i'l'cn all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 21. And it came to pass, that in the morn- ing watch the Lord looked unto the h(»st of the Egyptians through the j)illar,of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the I'oiyptians. 25 And took off their chariot-wheels, that they drave them heavily : so that the Egy|)- tians said. Let us tice from the face of Israel ; for the Loud fighteth for them against the Egypt inns. 2() ^ And the Loud said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyp- tians, u|)on their chariots, and u])on their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand deed they wcro, but all loot, uiidisd|)linf d, disqiiR-lcd by long ser- vitude, and [>ont up by the situation of the ramp. On one iiand was Pi-h;'.liirotli, a raiige of craggy ioci\S ; on the other hand Alig- «ol and J5aaizeph<>n, which some think were torts upon the Iron- ticrs ot" Kgypt ; belore them was the sea, behind them were tlie Egyptip.ns; so that tlure was nowiiy open fir lluin but iijiward.:, and thence liieir dehverancecaiu' . We may be In the way ot' our duty following God, and hastening towards heaven, and yet be in peat straits, troubled on every side, 2 C'' at'st kindness that was ever done ihem : so gross are the absurdities .f unbelief. 'I'hey soon forgot the miraclis of nvrey, as ihi Kgyptians did the miracles of wrath : and they as Well :is' llie Egy|)tlaiis hardened their liearts to their own ruin. .As l.iiypt alter teu plagues, so Israt 1 after ten pro\oc«tions, uf w liieli tbis w; s the first, Numb. xiv. 22, were senlencrd to die in the wiKlerne'-s. Instead of chiding them Moses comforts them, and stills ilieii iniirmuring uiili the assurance of suet-dy ami complete deliveraiire. lie assuii'S liie!ii that CJod would deliver them, and directs them lo leave it to God in silent expectation of the event. In times of great dilhculty and of.great expectation, it is our wisdom to keep our spirits calm, for then wc arc in the best frame to do our owii V'ork, and to consider lUe work o>.Gud, sec Ua. x^.^. 7> Vvl,!.. l.)..'JO. Ciod was not displeased with Moses lor pniymg. but ho asks thiMpustion. When fore criest tliou unly me? to salisly hif laith and toquicken his diligence. Knough i> said ; I have!'.cce|.it>i tliy praver; so the Cbaldeee.xplains it. Moses has soiuelliing to lio Insule prayir.g ; he is to command the hosts of Israel, mid now it is necessary he should be at Ins post. Every tiling is beautiful initsseason. He is tuhl what he must order Isnn 1 10 do. 15, and what he mjiiht expecl tied to do, 17, It*- I'iianioh is threatened, 17, llehotd I, even I, will hardi-n Pharaoh's liearl. lli>>po!.in in a way of triumph over this ])re?uniptuous reb< I : I. e»eii I, will lake an elVeCtual couise to humble him : 1 shall break ihiit which would not bend. It is an exijjvssion like that, Isa. 1. 24, .Ah ! 1 »iU case inc of my adveivaries. Thcanpel of Go' and triumph of iIic l^rai.li;<», I'siil.cxiv, J, cvi.J), t.\.\.\M. 13, lU ]t was a ivfn of b.illttiii. EXODUS. ever the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared, and the Egyptians tied against it ; and the Loud overthrew'the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and ail X^ia.' host of Pharaoh that came into the sea alter them : there remained not so much as one of them. 29 But the cliildren of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea: and the Avaters were a Avall unto them on their riglit 1 ' • hand and on their left. 30 Thus theLoED saved Israel tliat day out of the hand of the Egyj)lians : and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 31 And Israel saw that s:reat work which the LoKu did upon the Egyptiriiis ; and the people feared the Lokd, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. CHAP. XV. In this chapter, I. Israel looks iipnii I'sypt witli « soup ofprai^o for ili'liviT;iiici", 1.-2I. II. Isniol iiiaiciu-. loiward in llic uiidfrncss, 2'2, and iIutl', first, ihi'ir (iiMoniciu at llic walci-^ ot' Marali, 23. and itu ir rrlii't', 25, 20: sicimd, llii'ir salibCac- tioii in tlie waters uf Elam, 27- THEN sang Moses and llie children of Israel this song unto the Lokd, and spake, saying, I will sing wvAo the Lord, fcr he hath triumphed gloriously : the horse and his ruU'r hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord i$ mv strensith and sonu', and lie IS become my salvation : he h my (jod, and I will prejKue him an habitation; nn father's God and I will exalt him. 1 Cof. X. I Israel's passage through it was l\pical of the c<)n\ei- Sioii of souK, Isaiah xi. 13, and the Egvptians" perdition in il, o. the final luin of ail inipi-nili iit sinners,' Rev. .\\. 14. Here is ai instance oi'dud"'. almi;;hl.v jiouer in the kmndom ofiiaturi', iiidi- vhling thi; sea, and "penini; a passage lhruui;h the waters. 'I'lii God of nature lias not tied liiniMdf to its laws, liiit w hen he ph aM'^ «lis)i«nsuth with them, and then the lire dotli not hum, nor the wa- tei'flovv. It IS also an instance of his woiideilid laxonr to hi Israel, and ol hi* just an! righteous wrath upon his and hi', people s enemies... • For some hours the Epvptian* marched throuf;h the iliwded waters as safely and iniiniphanlly as Nrael did : not ilouljtuig but in ahille time to£;a!n then point. But 111 the mornina va'.ch the Leni looKerl upon ihv ho'tof the Esyptians, and Iiou- hled iheni. Seme think they saw or he;ird in the j'lilar (.f cloui and liie what jitit them into a mighty consterniilien. They had . dropt otl, ;ind tlie axle-tree I'ailed. .At leiintli ihey were all diowned. Pharaoii and his si 1 >-unts that iiad hardeni'd one another 111 siii, now f II t^^ether, and Jionc esc.ipcd. An ancient tradition says, that I'h.'.i-aoh'-. magicians, JjDivs a»id Jambics, perished with the rest. Now God n;\tiigc(l 3 The Lord as a man of war: the Lord is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea : his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them ; they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6 'Y\\y right iiand, O Lord, is become glorious in pover : thy right hand, O Loud, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7 And in the greatness of thine e.\ce!!cncy thou hast oveithrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thv wrath. xrhkh consumed them as stubble. 8 And Avith tlie l:)iast of thy nostrils the waters Avere "athcicd touelhcr : tlie doods stood u]>right as an hea[), (iml tiie (lej)ths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I Avill overtake, 1 will divide the sjioil ; my lust shall be satisfied u|ion them: 1 wii! tlrawmy sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10 'i'hou didst blow Avith thy wind, the sea covered them : they sap.k as lead in the mighty waters. 11 NMjo is like unto thee, O Loud. ;miong tiiegods.'' Avho /s like tliec, glorious in holi- ness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12 'J'hou stretchedst out thv riy-ht hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 'J'hou in thy mercy hast Ictl forth the ix'ople rr///c7< thou hast redeemctl : thou hast guided tlicm in thy strength ui.t ) thy holy hal)itation. 14 'I'he people shall hear and. be afraid : upon llic r.gyptiiins the blood of the rirst-born whom tliey haf . f the Israelites, and to alfecl them the iiuiiv with their lUdiveianci . Now they were ashamed of their muiiiuiriiigs, and resolved the. would never again desjiair of help iioin hi aven, they would never quarrel willi .Moses, iioi talk i' the horse of Pharaoh went in with liis chariots, and v/ith his horsemen into the sea, and the LoitD brought again the water of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry A^/if/ in the midst of tiie sea. 20 ^ And Miriam the prophetess the sister of A.Tron, look a timbrel in hi'r hand ; and all the women went out after her \\ ith timbrc^ls and with dances. 21 And jMirinm answered them, Sinjx ye to the Loud, for he hath triumphed glorious- It is a typ-ical smig. Tin: tniiiuplis ot thcguspi'l cliurch in lli cJouiimH of its iniiiili's, arc cxprijscd in the song ol' Mdscs, anJ t!u' SDMj; f power sind v^oiuhrs of jir.ice : in boih (iod was to be humbly adored. Sccnd, he describes the deliverance they were now triumphing in. He nolic.s the Jeslruc- tlou of the eii'.iiiy to shew tli.a God 11 sisls the proJid, and thai those ihat lliirsl liir blood shall bdvi; eiioui^h of it. iialh said, \( :i;,"a:ice i.v mine, I will repay, rhe d ojul, and thai \Ve know wli^J liVUClion ■ 1 i'.:-} XV. ly ; the Iwrsc and his rider hath he throwft into the sea. 22 % So Moses brought Israel from tli« Red Sea: and they went out into the wilder- nt>ss of Shur ; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 % And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they zcere bitter : therefore the name of it was called INlarah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, A\ hal shall we drink ? 25 And he cried unto the Loud ; and the Loud shewed him a tree, zchich when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet ; there he made for then) a statute and an ordinance, and tliere he piovedthem. 26' And said. If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Loito thy God, and wilt do that which, is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will j>ut none of these diseases uf)()n thee, which 1 have brought uj)on the Egyptians: for 1 am the Loud that healeth tliee. i 27 ^ And they came to Lliin, where a-€r« twelve wells of water, anil threescore and ten palm-trees ; antl they encamped there by the waters. » icked serves for a foil to set otf' the salvaiioii ol Israel, Isa. I.w". 13. 1 bird, he sets himsilf to imjirove this wonderful appearance of God for them for their ipii^keniiig to serve God, and lor ihiir en- couragement to trust in God. So Conlidenl is the psaimist yl the happy issue of the sulvalion that was so giormusly Ixcun, that lio looks uptiii il as HI etiect finished already, lij^. Thou nasi guidetl ihem to thy holy habilalion. This dilueianci was encouraging as such an instance af God's power would icrrify their enemies, 14 10, and such a hifjinning of (Jod's la\our gave them ai« earnest of pirfectiiiq his kiminrss, 1", bu' the greatest ground of 1 iicourageinent was, that the l/>id shall rngn for ever and cvir, IS. Il is the unspeakable coinlbrl of (itids rxople not only tli«t he reigns universally, but that he inigns eti riially. Mitiam presided in an assembly of w-onien, »lin sung this soiij^ 20, 21. When God brought Israel out of lijzvpl. it is said, \Iic. iv. 4, he sent before tlieiu Mos*s, .\aron, and Mirtun) ; lliuurk we read not of any thine nniarkable that .Aliriam did but tins. Ihil lliojc are lo be reckoned blessings to a peopK', ihatgo beloiv lb(l# in praieiiig (ioil. 22 • ■ 27. When the Israelites innrmured at Marah. God dircclrd Mesi s to a tree which he Cast into the waters. Some ibink ihif wood had a peculiar virtue, because it Is siii;ht vou out from the land of Egypt. God's judgments upon Egypt were warnings to Israel, and designed to awe tiieni into obedience. At Klim tluy had good water, and palm-trees, 27- God can lind places of refreshment for his |)iople, even in the wilderness of this worlij ; yet whatever our delights iiui\ be in tho land of our pilgrin;age, we must remember that \vc eii- Ciimj) by them but for a time, for here we have no continuing city. CIIAP. XVl. I-.IC. A month's provision, it seems, the liost of Israel look along with them out of !'".(;ypt when they came thence on the fil'tcenth day of the fuM.monlh, which by the lifleenlh da\ of the second mon;h was all s];enl. Their murmurings upon thi'- occasion were not immediately against (jod, but against M(.sfc3 and Aaron, God's vicegerents among them. They cotiiit upon being Jiilkd in the wildernoss. it argU's gieat distrust of God in every .distress and appearance of daiig<-r to despair of liti', and talk of being killed pnsently. They so far undervalue their deliverance, that they wish they hadMied ii\ Kgypt, nay, aii'l died by the hand u! the Lord too, i. e. by some of tlie jilagues o( Egypt; as if it were not by the hand of the Lord, but of Muses only, tiiat tjrongiit tle-m Jiito this hungry wilderness. They wish to have fallen in the oRi). 9 And Moses spake unto Aanm, Say unto all the congrciiation of the children of Israel, Come near betbre the Loud: for he hath heard^your murnunings. 10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wil- derness, and, licliold, the glory of the Lord appeared in theck)ud. 11 ^ Ami the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 12 I have heard the murmurings of tlie children of Israel ; speak unto them, saying. At even ye shall eat flesh, and in tlie morn- ing ye shall be iilled with bread ; and 30 shall know that I urn the Lord your God. 13 ^ And it came to pass that at even thc ([uails came up, and covered the camp ; and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. 14 And Avhen tlie dew that lay wa,s gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness be uneasy, we ought to consider that Ciod hears all our murmur- ings though silent and only the murmurings of the litart. God pro- III iM d a speedy, siiflicient, and Ci'nstant sufply, by which he tried u h< ther they wod took an eflectual course to make theiQ remember ;h« SabbulL-day. Some went out 011 tbv se- V0I.I. romaineth over lay up for you, to be kept until the morning. 24 And they laid it up till the morning as Moses bade : and it did not stink, neithet was there any worm therein. 2o And ]\ioses said, J^at that to-day ; for to-day is a sabbath untt) the Loud : to-day ye shall not find it in the field. 26" Six days ye shall gather it : but on the seventh day zcliich is the sabbath, in it tliere shall be none. 27 ^ And it came to pass, tliut there went Out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. 28 And the Loud said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my connnandments and my laws .^ 29 See, for that the Loud hath given you the sabbath, thcr(>tbre he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days ; abide ye every man in his place : let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. 31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna ; and it s as like cori- ander-seed, white : and th.c taste of it xvas like wafers made «vith honey. 32 5f -And Moses said. This is the thing which the Loud commandeth, Till an omer of it to be kept for your generations ; that they may see the bread wherewith I h;ive fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt. S'o And Moses saiil unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Loud, to be kept for vour generations. 34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so venth day expectnig to lind manna, 27, but iliey found none. Go.l upon this occasion said unto .Moses, How Idiiu \\\\\ ye n-fuse to keep inv cominandmeiits ? Moses » as not disobedient, hut ihr ruler -.f ii disobedient peoi'le, and God charged it uih>i> hiin that ho mi^lit llie more warinlv charte it upon them, and mipht Like chj» that I heir disobedience should not bo throuph any ueghet ol hii. It was forpoingout to sc-ck maniui on the seventh dny, tbni ibcy were thus reproved. Disobedience, even m a small matter, i» very provokin;;. Ood is jealoi*s lot the honour of hii subbuths. 3'J..J(). The piTs