J
1
LIBRARY
OF THE
Theological Seminary,
PRINCETON, N.J...
Case, Plyj?).^'^-^
Section . *_(z...A..l.
Shelf,
Book, N*«
SHORTandPLAIN
EXPOSITION
OF
€1)0 iSUi Ceftament.
WITH DEVOTIONAL AND PRACTICAL
REFLECTIONS,
FOR THE
USE OF FAMILIES.
BY THE LATE
Reverend JOB O R T O N, S. T. P.
PUBLISHED
FROM THE author's MANUSCRIPTS,
By ROBERT GENTLEMAN.
THE SECOND EDITION.
VOLUME I.
SHREWSBURY;
PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. AND W. EDDOWES.
SOLD ALSO BY T. LONGMAN, PATERNOSTER ROW; C. DULY,
IN THE POULTRY; AND J. JOHNSON, ST, PAVL*8
CHURCH YARD, LONDON.
MDC9XCI*
CONTENTS,
GENESIS,
EXODUS.
LEVITICUS.
To THE PUB LICK.
TH E late reverend, pious and judicious Mr. Job
Orton, had greatly fet his heart upon the
publication of a fhort Expofition on the Old Tefta-
ment, with pra6lical Refledions fubjoined to each
Chapter, fomewhat iimilar to Dr. Doddridge's Fa-
mily Expofitor. Materials for thefe Reflexions he
thought of furnifhing from his own Notes, which he
wrote at the clofe of his Expofitions on the Bible
and made a part of his publick :>ervices for twenty
years; together with fuch as he wrote after Dr.
Doddridge, when he expounded in the Family,
This defign Mr. Orton communicated to me.
above ten years ago, when he earneftly importuned
me to undertake the execution of it, from a ftrong
perfuafion of its acceptablenefs and ufefulnefs. After
maturely confidering the matter, I confented to make
a trial, and he fent me the valuable materials. I
entered on the work with pleafure, from a convic-
tion of its utility, and the great want of a concife,
pradlical Expolition on the Old Teftament Scriptures,
and had made fome progrefs in it. But having
fuch other engagements as rendered it impoflible for
me to proceed in this great work with fuch dif-
patch as to finifli it in any reafonable time, I at
length determined to refign it, with all my materials,
into the hands of my worthy friend Mr. Gentle-
MAN, who, on various accounts, appeared to me the
a 2 fitteft
( iv )
fitteft perfon I knew to execute the defign of the
worthy projedor. It affords me great fatisfadioti
that he has undertaken it, and I heartily wifh him
encouragement and fuccefs from the Countenance of
the Publick and the Blefiing of God.
SAM. PALMER,
Hackney, Jan. 1787,
PREFACE,
( V )
PREFACE.
THE Publick will naturally expedb fome further
account of the following work, than is con-
tained in the preceding addrefs.
To afford them information on this head, they
will be pleafed to obferve, that it was drawn up by-
Mr. Orton for the pulpit, and delivered by him at
Shrewjhury^ in the former part of the morning fer-
vice, during a period of more than twenty one
years; his f^rft Expofition being delivered June i6,
1744, and the laft on his birth day, September 15,
1765. — He prepared materials for this work in an
interleaved bible, as they occurred at different time§
to his thoughts, or were colledled from the writings
of others, particularly the expofitors whofe names
he entered at the beginning of it as below*. From
thefe
* A. A. AiTembly's Annot. J. T. Junius et Tremel.
A. Ainfworth Le. Leigh's Crii. Sacra.
C. Calvin's Notes Li. Lightfoot
CI. Clark's Annot, N. T. EfTay towards a N. Tran.
Cra. Cradock Pa. Patrick and Lowth
D. D. Doddridge's MSS. P. A. Pool's Annot.
written in Clark's Bible P. S. Pool's Synopf. Crit.
De, Delany Pr. Prideaux
Di. Diodati T. Trapp
Gr. Grouu3 T. C. Taylor's Heb. Concord.
H. Henry's Expof. U. H. Univerfal Hift.
]. A. Jewiih Antiq.
JUds libros ut Judex legOy hunc ut Judicem^
vt
PREFACE.
thefe materials he wrote his copy for the pulpit in
very neat iliort hand, referring by figures to each
verfe to which the expofition belonged, and added
at the end of each chapter his devotional or pradical
refledions. This is the copy which is now tranfcribed
and publiihed.
That the author intended this work fhould be
publifhed, appears from the Rev. Mr. Palmer's
addrefs to the publick, and is confirmed by the
following extrad from a letter to a refpedlable
clergyman of the Church of England;
Nov. 20, 1777.
*< I fear the plan propofed for printing my
<« pra6tlcal remarks, &c. will not be executed — I
wifh it may-, — but I can do nothing at it my-
ci felf, — and the perfon from whom 1 hoped for the
*' execution of the defign will not, I fear, attempt
" it, tho* he hath ftrength and ability of body and
" mind to do it foon, and do it well. — I mufl
-' leave it to Providence, and thofe who may com^
" after me." r
The Editor remembers afking Mr. Orton, whe-
ther he would wifh the Refledlions to be printed like
Dr. Doddridge's, without the diftindlion of figures,
or to have the figures retained? He anfwered, that
he preferred the figures, as they called the attention
and helped the memory.
It
PREFACE.
vu
It appears that in the latter part of his life he
wiihed to have Clark's Bible publiihed, with his
own Pradical Refle(5lions added to each chapter, in
the manner of Doddridge's Family Expofitor. This
would certainly have been much eafier work for an
Editor than the prefent mode; but I apprehend, for
many obvious reafons, not fo ufeful, nor fo accept-
able to the publick.
Had the work received the finifhing hand of the
Author, or been publiihed under his own infpedion,
it would, no doubt, have been more complete; fome
things would probably have been left out, and others
added. I have faithfully tranfcribed what Mr. ORTOisr
has written, excepting in fome few instances where a
fentence occurred which was too local or familiar,
or had too peculiar a reference to any denomination
of chriftians, and which, I verily believe, the Author
would have altered.
My great bufinefs has been, to conned the text
and expofition together; to fill up the fentences
where they were deficient, and to corred any fmall
miftakes where I have difcovered them. — I have
added a few notes from Dr. Kennicott and other
modern writers, carefully diftinguiihing fuch by the
name of their Author, or the Editor.
The attentive reader will perceive that the work
is not uniformly a paraphrafe, but has criticifms and
other remarks (frequently taken from Clark's Anno-
tations)
VllI
P R e F A C E.
tations) intermingled. — It was at firft my defign to let
all thefe (land conneded with the text, in the places
to which they belonged ; but I foon found this would
very much interrupt the reading, and fwell the work
beyond the bounds propofed. I have, therefore, by
the advice of feveral refpedable friends, put many
of theft into notes at the bottom of the page.
Tho' the firft volume does not take in fo much
of the bible as might have been expeded, yet it con-
tains about a fixth part of the whole work; Mr.
Orton having been more difFufe in the former part
of it, and more eoncife in the latter; which will
be found to be executed in a manner fuperior to
the former, as might be expedled from the author's
increafing knowledge.
It is hoped the critical reader will not be wholly
dlfappointed in the work before him ; but let it be
remembered, that it was defigned by the Author, to
be a Jhort and plain Expofttion for the ufe of Families
and private chrijiians: a confideration, which has cer-
tainly prevented the addition of many criticifms and
obfervations, which might have been agreeable to many
readers, but would have fwelled the work, increafed
the expenfe, and been contrary to its principal defign :
and, as the pious and learned Bp. WiL30isr ob-
ferves,* " Criticifms, finding out the meaning of
*' different places, &c. are not fo edifying, as eftab-
** Uftibg the heart with pradical truths." Mr. Ortow
ufed
* Preamble to Wilfon's Bible.
PREFACE. ix
ufed to fay, that " Expofitions fhould be adapted to
*' tradefmen and farmers, to women, fervants and
" children, as thefe were the perfons who had moft
*' need of them, and generally made moft ufe of
" them."
The Refledions, which are drawn from the lead-
ing circumftances in each chapter, are admirably
adapted to pradical purpofes, and have as much
variety as could be expeded; yet, as they were
drawn up during a courfe of fo many years, it may
reafonably be fuppofed there will fometimes occur a
fimilarity of thought, or even expreflion, but this is
no real blemiih. We need the fame important and
pradical truths often inculcated on ourfelves and
families ; line upon line, and precept upon precept j but
whoever brings with him a pious and devotional
fplrit, will no doubt find it improved by a ferious
perufal of them.
The facred text is printed in roman letters, and
corredled from the valuable edition of the Bible
publifhed at Oxford in the year 1772; what is in
italics in that edition, is here put into brackets,
and the italics are entirely confined to the expofi-
tion : fo that every one may eafily diftinguiih the
facred text from the expofition, and read the for-
mer, if he chufes it, without the latter. The para-
graphs are divided according to Bp. Wilson's very
elegant edition of the Bible.
Vol. I. b If
^ PREFACE.
If my life and health fhould be continued to
finifh this work, and it fhould meet with the fa-
vourable regards of the publick, and be ufefui to
families and private chriflians, 1 fhall have great
reafon to bow my knees in thankful acknowledg-
ments to that providence which hath made me an
inilrument of bringing it forward to the world, and
v,^hich remarkably preferved the manufcript copy,
\vhtn by a fingular circumftance it was very near
being deflroyed.
I. HAVE only to add my earnefb prayers that a
divine blefiing may attend this work •, and, in order
to this, I devoutly wifh, that '' while we perufe the
" votings of others, with a defign to form a judg-
^^ ment concerning them, we may read the word of
*.' God, as cur fupreme and decifive judge -[-."
R. GENTLEMAN.
Kidderminjier^
May, 1788.
f See the latin motto, page v.
The Firft Book of MOSES,
CALLED,
GENESIS.
INTRODUCTION.
CT^Hl S isy undoubtedly^ the moft antient Book in the world.
It is ahnoft univerfally agreed^ that the author of this and
the four following books^ commonly called the Pentateuch^ was
MOSES \ a man of a very extraordinary chara5ier^ who was
educated in the court of an Egyptian prince^ and acquainted with
all the branches of learning taught in the fchools of Egypt,
Confidering how long the Patriarchs livedo the hiftory of fa5ls
which he relates came down to him thro" fo few hands, as to
leave no room to fufpe^ their authenticity. On thefe accounts, this
hook 'Claims peculiar attention, feparate fro7n the confideration of
the writer"* s being under the influence of the Holy Spirit, without
which, the true hiftory of the Creation could never have been
known,
ms hook, thd' doubtlefs intended for the general information
of mankind, feems to have been written more particularly for
the inftru5fion and advantage of the Jewifh people -, to prevent
their complying with the idolatry of other nations, and preferve
their entire obedience to the divine law ; as well as to lower that
pride and vanity which they were ever prone to indulge, on ac-
count of their being the pecidiar people of God •, in which views
many things in it appear peculiarly beautiful
Genelis, which is the name it hears in the Greek Septuagint
tranflation, fignifies generation •,* and it is fo called, becaufe it
relates the hiftory of the generation or beginning of the heavens
and the earth, the produBion of man, and the genealogies of the
patriarchs.
Vol. L B This
"■ Matt, i. 1.
2 GENESIS.!.
This hijlory begins about /\qoo years before Chrift, and con-
tains a period of 2^6^ ycars^ or thereabouts, Ike account of the
creation^ with ijchich it commences^ cannot reafonably be fuppofedy
as it hath been by fome^ to relate to the Univerfe at large^ but^ at
mofl^ to the Solar Syftent^ and principally to our world. And
iho^ it be granted that the Bible was not intended to teach men
natural philofophy^ we muft fuppofe^ if we believe its divine
infpiration^ that what it relates is agreeable to truth and the
nature of things,
CHAP. I. Verfe 1—25.
Contains the Hifiory of the Creation of the Worlds with its
appendages and inhabit a7tts^ in the fpace of fix days \ and
of the work of each day,
1 "W" N the beginning God created the heaven and the
I earth ; He niade out of nothings the common matter
-fi- of which the heavens and the earth were afterwards
2 formed^ And the earth was without form and void ;
without order y beauty ^ or furniture \ the fiamina^ or prin-
ciples of future produ^ions^ being all blended together ; and
darknefs [was] upon the face of the deep waters which
furrounded the folid mafs, occqfioncd by the thick vapours
which refled upon them. And the Spirit of God, or his
infinite wifdom and power ^ moved upon the face of the
waters, made a violent agitation in order to expel thofe va-
pours ^ and feparate the fluid and folid matter^ of whichy to-
gether with luminous and fiery particles ^ this chaos feems to
3 have been compounded. And God faid, Let there be hght :
and there was light •, the grofs particles were difpelled^ and
4 the dark earth was illuminated," And God faw the light,
that
* Here the agency of the blefTed God is aflerted in the formation
of all things; and in the New Teftament we are told, he made all
things by Jefus Chrift, John i, 3. Eph. iii. g. Heb, i. 10. Philofo-
phers have had great debates about the formation of the world ;
fome aflerting its eternity, others forming the moft ridiculous notions
of its being made by chance, or a concourfe of atoms : but this
iirft verfe of our Bible clears up all the difficulty.
<= Some fuppofe, that the fiery particles which contained light and
heat, were feparated from the 'reft of the mafs, and coIle<5ted into
diftin^t bodies or globes of light, which moved round and caufed a
kind
GENESIS.!. 3
that [it was] good ; agreeable to his great deftgn : and
God equally divided the light from the darknefs, by
5 giving the earth its diurnal motion. And God called the
light Day, and the darknefs he called Night, that is^
he appointed they Jhould be fo called. And the evening
and the morning were the firft day/
6 And God faid. Let there be a firmament, an expanjion
or atinofphere^ in the midft of the waters, and let it divide
the waters in the clonds^ from the waters upon the earth,
7 And accordingly God made the firmament, and divided
, the waters which [were] under the firmament, and de^
Jigned for feas ari rivers^ from the waters which [were]
above the firmament, in the clouds ; and it was fo ; part
8 of the waters afcended in vapours into the air. And God
called the firmament Heaven •, including the fpace where
the birds fly .^ the clouds gather., and the Jlars appear to move.
And the evening and the morning were the fecond day.
9 And God faid, Let the waters under the heaven,
which at firft equally overfpread the earth., be gathered
together unto one olace, and be kept within their appoint^
ed channels-^ and let the dry [land] appear /;/ continents
and ijlands : and it was fo as God commanded, {Pfalm civ.
10 5 — 8.) And God called the dry [land] Earth; and the
gathering together of the waters called he Seas : and
God faw that [it was] good. 'This claufe is not added to
the fecond day^s work., becaufe the work which was then begun
(the feparation of the waters) was not perfected till now.^
11 And God faid. Let the earth receive power to bring
forth tender grafs itfelf., without being fown^ the herb
yielding feed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after
his kind, its own peculiar kind^ whofe feed [is] in itfelf,
upon the earth, fo that it fhall propagate its own fpecies :
12 and it was fo. And the earth brought forth grafs, [and]
B 2 herb
kind of day to feme parts of the earth, while other parts were in dark-
nefs. But if we fuppofe that the Sun was firft created, then the
earth was illuminated by the Sun's rays.— Lon gin us mentions this
verfe as an inftance of the true fublime.
*^ The evening is mentioned firft, becaufe the Jewifli facred days
begin from the evening.
• Dr. Kennicott obferves that the words are found in the Greek
verfion at 'z/. 8. Edit,
4 G E N E S I S. I.
herb yielding feed after his kind, and the tree yielding
fruit, whofe feed [was] In itfelf, after his kind: and
God faw that [it was] good •, every tree and plant was
13 adapted to anfwer fome ufefid purpofe. And the evening
and the morning were the third day,
14 And God fiid, Let there be lights, luminous bodieSy
appearing m the fxrmament of the heaven to divide the
day from the night-, and let them be for figns, or marks
of ddflin^ion between one portion of time and another ^ and
for feafons, to produce and difti^guifh fpring and fummer^
and oAitumn and winter^ and for days, and years ♦, by
their federal motions^ to mah the days longer a)id floor ter \
to diftinguifh between day and day^ month and months year
and year \ and to floow how to compute time accordingly :
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the hea-
1 6 ven to give light upon the earth : and it was fb. And
God made, or rather. Now God had made, two great
lights •, the greater hght, the fun, to rule the day, and
the lefler light, the moon, to rule the night : [he made]
17 the ftars alfo/ And God now fet them, caufed them to
appear, in the firmament of the heaven to give light
1 8 upon the earth,^ And to rule over the day and over the
night, and to divide the light from the darknefs : and
19 God faw that [It was] good. And the evening and the
morning were the fourth day.
20 And God faid, Let the waters, together with the earth,
bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath
life, and fowl [that] may fly above the earth in the
21 open firmament of heaven. And God created great
whales,^ and every living creature that moveth, which
the w^aters brought forth abundantly, after their kind,
and every winged fowl after his kind : and God faw
that
^ The moon is mentioned firft, to denote Its peculiar ufefulnefs to
us above the other planets.
s Mr. Whiston well obferves, Mofes feems to have given an ac-
ccount of things as they would have appeared to an obferving fpeftatorj
had fuch an one been here upon earth during the creation ; when
the Sun, on his firft appearing, would feem to have been at that
inllant created. Whj stones Theory, pref. p, 40,
^ The original word is often rendered dragons ^ and crocodiks ; fee
Exek. xxix. 3. xxxii. 2. But here it feems to be put for large filli
in general. Edit.
G E N E S I S. I. 5
2 2 that [it was] good. And God blefled them all^ Taying,
/ beftozv this blejfijig or power upon you to multiply your kind^
Be fruitful, and multiply, and' fill the waters in the
23 feas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the even-
24 ing and the morning were the fifth day. And God
faid, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after
his kind, cattle, for the tife of man^ and the creeping
thing, and beaft of the earth after his kind : and it was
25 fo. And God made the beaft of the earth after his
. kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that
creepeth upon the earth after his kind : and God faw
that [it was] good.
REFLECTIONS.
I. Y ET us adore the infinite majePcy of God, as dif-
I J played in all his works, both in heaven and on
earth, ^he works of the Lord are greats fi^ght out of allthofe
who have pleafure therein. What can we fee but difplays
of power and wifdom in- all the works of his hands ! What
arc the niceft, or the greateft perforniances of human fkill,
when compared with His, who is wonderful in counfel^ and
excellent in working I The meaneft animal, the leaft vege-
table or infenfible being, declares his eternal power and
Godhead. What fkill, beauty, and harmony appear in
all his works ! What reafon have we after fuch a furvey
as this chapter affords, to adopt the devout rapture of
David, O Lord^ hozv manifold are thy works ^ in wifdom thou
haft made them all I
2. Let us be daily fenfible of the divine goodnefs in all
the works of his hands •, that he hath provided fo richly,
not only for the fupport, but the comfort of all his crea-
tures, and their agreeable entertainment. That he hath
given the vegetable world, in particular, fuch beauty and
grandeur. The earth is full of his riches-, fo is the great
and wide fea. All his works praife him ; and his rational
creatures, efpecially, fhould blefs his holy name. They
alone are capable of admiring his works, and they fhould
conftantly do fo.
3. W^e learn to ufe all the creatures for the honour of
that God by whom they were made. They are not our own •,
B 3 are
6 G E N E S I S. II.
are not produced by our wifdom or power. Let us ufe
them as the creatures of God. We are ftewards of his
manifold gifts, therefore let us not abufe them ; let none
make unnecefTary wafte of them, or tyrannize over the brute
creation, over which God hath given us dominion. A mer-
ciful man is merciful to beafts and infedls. Every degree of
cruelty is unworthy a rational creature. Let us fet God,
the great creator of all, continually before us, and ferioufly
confider what ufe of thefe things will be moft pleaiing to
him, and advantageous to ourfelves -, that whether we eat^
or drinky or whatever we do, we may do all to the glory of
Gody in the name of Jefus Chrijl. Amen.
CHAP. I. 26, to the end. CHAP. II. 1—3.
Of the creation of man^ and the inftitution of the fahhath.
God having finifhed the inanimate and brutal creation^ -pro-
ceeds to the nobler production of man ; and here^ to add
dignity and foleynnity to this^ his laft and greateft work^ He
calls a counfel and advifes •, not to fignify any doubt ^ delibera*
tion^ or want of fkill or power in himfelf but to fhow the
dignity of the creature he was to form^ and the amazing
wifdom of the produ5l.
26 A N D God faid, fpeaking to his fon^ or fpirit^ or
±\, bothy or his attendant angels^ Let us make man
in cur image, a reafonable beings after our likenefs in
moral perfe^ions : and let them have dominion over the
fifh of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
the cattle, and over all the earth, with its various pro-
du5lionSy and over every creeping thing that creepeth
upon the earth, fo as to ufe them for their pleafure and
27 benefit. So God created man in his [own] image, in
the image of God created he him; this is repeated as
worthy peculiar attention \ male and female created he
them. Both were made this day^ tho' the manner of the
woman^s creation is more f idly related^ ch, ii. 18, ^c.
28 And God blefied them, and God faid unto them. Be
fruitful, and- multiply, and replenifii the earth, and
fubdue it, drefs and manage it^ fo as to make it fruitful-^
and
G E N E S I S. IL 7
and have dominion over the filh of the fea, and over
the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that
moveth upon the earth, which are defigned to fuhjave
the wants and conveniences of mankind,
29 And Godi further faid to them^ Behold, I have given
you likewife every herb bearing feed, which [is] upon
the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which
[is] the fruit of a tree yielding feed ; to you it fhall be
30 for meat.^ And to every beaft of the earth, and to
every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth
upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [1 have given]
every green herb for meat : and it was fo //'// after the
fall^ when beafls and birds of prey^ and fifhes^ did eat and
3 1 devour one another. And on the conclufion of the whole^ on
, a furvey of his works ^ God faw every thing that he had
made, and, behold, [it was] very good > exactly fitted
for the ufe and end for which they were defigned \ and adorn-
ed with fuch perfehions as were fuitahle to their natures ;
and all conducing to the glory of God. And the evening
and the morning were the fixth day.
1 Chap, II. Thus, as before related^ the heavens and
the earth were finiihed, and all the hoft of them, their
ornaments and apparatus.
2 And on the feventh day God had ended his work
which he had made -^ and he refted on the feventh day
from all his work which he had made \^ he ceafed from
the work of creation^ but not of providence,, to teach us to
3 refi from our work on that day. And God blefied the
feventh day, and fanclified it-^'^fetit apart as f acred in
memory of the creation of the world , as a day in which he
B 4 is
^ Herbs are only mentioned ; animal food net being allowed, as
fome think, before the flood, at leall not till after the fall. See
Cr A dock's Hiltory of the Old Teilament, p. 4, 5.
•^ Dr. Kennicott obferves, thu the Samaritan text with the
Greek and Syriac verfions read, God ended his ivork on the Jlxth day,
^ He ceafed to create, he proceeded no farther. Relling implies
bodily fatigue or wearin^fs; but the creator of the ends of the earth
fainteth not, neither is he weary.
^ As Adam and Eve were created at the clofe of thefixth day,
this would be the firll whole day of their life, the firil of their week,
and God appointed it to be a fabbath or holy day ; and there is no
doubt but they and their defcendants obferved it as fuch. Edit.
9 G E N E S I S. II.
is to he Mejjtd and praifed, and in which he communicates
hlejfings to his pious worJJoippers : becaufe that in it he had
refted from all his work which God created and made,
or bought to perfect on,
REFLECTIONS.
I.T ET us remember and acknowledge the dignity of
I J our natures. Attend to thefe words, Let us make
man, God gives notice to thofe about him of the great
bufmefs he was going to do ♦, it was fomething worthy of
their higheft regard ; the laft and beft of his creating work
here below. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made.
All the parts of our body are an amazing inftance of his
power and fldll ; but the breath of life, the living foul,
the intelligent and immortal fpirit, by which we are capa-
ble of underftanding and reafoning, looking backward to
paft ages, and forward to eternity ; by which we are able to
inquire after God our maker, and pay him a reafonable
fervice ; this is the crown of all •, herein he hath made us
wifer than the beafis of the field and the fowls of the heaven^
and hut a little- lower than the angels. It is Vv^hen man is
taken in comparifon with other things, with all the lower
creation, that his dignity and excellency appear. Let us
love that God who hath raifed this curious frame -, who is
the father of our fpirits, and hath crowned us with fuch
glory and honour. Let us be thankful for any remains of
His image which we ftill bear ; and a6t as becometh thofe
who were made for God, and like him.
2. Let us depend on God to begin and perfect the new
creation. Thanks be to him, who commanded the light
to fhine out of -darknefs, that he hath fhined upon us in
the face of his dear Son, to give us the light of the know-
ledge of the glory of God in the face of Jefus Chrift. He,
who is the iiuthor of nature, is the God of all grace •, and
the day is approaching, when he will make all things new.
The fame power that produced nature at f rft, muft change
our corrupt hearts and fmful inclinations, and create us
anew in Chrifl Jefus to good works. Let us maintain an
humble dependance upon him, to begin and carry on his
new
G E N E S I S. 11. 9
new and nobler creation in our own fouls and the fouls of
others. His hand is not fhortened that it cannot fave, nor
is his ear heavy that it cannot hear : if he fpeak the word,
it fhali be done. Let us rely upon his almighty power
to make our fouls perfe6t in holinefs ♦, to complete our
adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies, that we
may be fit for the new heavens and the nevv earth, v^herein
dweileth righteoufnefs.
3. Let us blefs God for the inftitution of the fabbath,
which is fo well calculated to begin and carry on this good
work in our fouls, and maintain a fenfe of God and his
goodnefs in the world. Let us be thankful if we have
found the advantage of it, as thoufands in all ages have
done. If God thought fit to enjoin it on man in a ftate of
innocence, ^hat he might converfe with God in holy du-
ties and exercifes, much more fit is it for us va our cor-
rupt ftate •, when we have fo many hindrances in religion,
fo many difficulties to grapple with, temptations to over-
come, and dunes to perform. Let us call the fabbath a
delight^ the holy of the Lord^ and honourable. On that day
let us reft from all our common works, and remember to
keep it holy •, employing it in devout meditations on the
wifdom, power, and goodnefs of God in creation, and the
ftill brighter and nobler fcenes v/hich the glorious gofpel
of the blefied God opens upon us.
CHAP. IL 4, to the end.
A more particular account of forne things mentioned before \
the formation of Adam and Eve •, the forbidden fruit ; and
the inftitutidn of marriage.
4 'TT^ H E S E things already related [are] a true account
j^ of the generations, or origin^ of the heavens and
of the earth when they were created, in the day or
time that the Lord God, or JEHOVAH^'' made
the
^ Here the name Jehovah is nrft ufed : it fignifies. He that was,
and is, and is to come ; the neceflary felf-exillent Being. It is cora-
monly
lo G E N E S 1 S. IL
5 the earth and the heavens. And "we have here alfo
an account of the for?7iation of every plant of the field,
before it was produced by any virtue in the earth, and
of every herb of the field before it grew ; every plant
and herb being created in a flate of 7naturity : for the
Lord God had not as yet caufed it to rain upon the
earth, and [there was] not a man to till the ground.
So that the origin of thefe things muji be afcribed to God^s
power alone^ feeing there was no natural caufe to produce
6 them. But after the earth was flored with vegetables^
there went up a mifl from the earth, and this, falling
down upon it again^ watered the whole face of the
ground.
7 And the Lord God with exquifite art formed the
body (//'man [of] the duffc of the ground," and breathed
into his noflrils the breath of life •, infufed into his lifelefs
body a living fouU which quickened it^ and difcovered itfelf
by the breath in his noftrils.^ And man became a living
foul, a more excellent Being than any other creature here
below,
8 And the Lord God, having thus made a rational crea-
ture .^ does not turn him out into a barren worlds but provides
comfortably both for the fupport of his body^ and the enter-
tainment of his mind', and therefore he had planted a
garden eaftward of Judea^ in the country of Eden ; and
9 there he put the man whom he had formed. And out
of the ground of that garden made the Lord God to
grow every kind of tree that is pleafant to the fight
and good for food •, the tree of life, fo called, becaufe it
was a natural means of preferving man^s life, and a pledge
of its continuance -, he had alfo planted in the mid ft of the
garden,
jnonly rendered Lord in our Bible, and Is diftinguilhed by capital
letters; but the word Lord by no means' expreffes the force of the
original, which fhould have been retained.
o Whence Adam is called the earthy man, i Cor, xv. 47. to which
agrees the Hebrew word here rendered/brw^«/, which is different from
that ufed with reference to the other creatures. It refers to potters
who make veflels of clay ; and feems to denote the peculiar care and
{kill of the Almighty in the formation of the human body.
P It is obfervabie, that man's body and foul were made diftincl,
(which they were not in other creatures,) to iLow that his foul is of a
different original from the body.
G E N E S I S. IL II
garden, and there he had likewife planted the tree of
knowledge of good and evil, the eating of which (being
forbidden) would give hi^n experimentally to know the differ-
ence between moral good and evil.
10 And a river went out of the land of Eden to water the
garden •, and from thence it was parted, and became
1 1 into four heads, or principal fir cams, "^ The name of the
firft [is] Pifon : that [is] it which compafleth, or winds
along^ the whole land of Havilah, where [there is] gold
12 in great plenty ; And the gold of that land [is] remark^
ably good : there [is] alfo bdellium and the onyx ftone.
13 And the name of the fecond river [is] Gihon : the
fame [is] it that compafTeth, or winds along^ the whole
14 land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river
[is] Hiddekel, or ^ygris : that [is] it which goeth to-*
• ward the eaft of, or before^ AfTyria. And the fourth
river [is] Euphrates itfelf
15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into
the garden .of Eden to drefs it and to keep it for his
16 health and pleafure. And the Lord God commanded
the man, including the woman alfo^ faying, Of every
17 tree of the garden thou mayeft freely eat : but with
thisfmgle limitation^ that of the. tree of the knowledge of
good and evil, thou fhalt not eat of it : for in the day
that thou eateft thereof thou fhalt furely die, become
liable to all forts of evils ^ both in this world and the other ^
which fhall immediately begin to feize upon thee,
I 8 And the Lord God faid, [It is] not -good that the
man, who is a focial beings fhould be alone \ I will there-
fore make him an help meet for him •, fuitable to his na^
ture, acceptable to his perfon, and ufeful upon all occajions.
Now the manner of her creation was as different from that of
19 the other creatures as the end for which fhe was made. And
out of the ground and waters the Lord God formed
every
^ The fituation q>^ Paradlfe, anfwerjng to this defcription, is what
geographers are divided about. Moil probably as Calvin and
others fuppofe, it was in Chaldea, at the confluence of the Tygris and
the Euphrates, Thefe two rivers were above, with refpedt to the
courfe of the waters ; and the other two below, <viz,, the Pijon
and the Gihon, which names have long been difufed.
12 GENESIS. II.
every bead of the field, and every fowl of the air ; and
he brought [them] unto Adam to fee what he would
call them : and whatfoever Adam called every living
creature, that [was] the name thereof by which it was
20 'hiuwn to pojleriiy. And Adam gave names to all cattle,
and to the fowl of the air, and to every bead of the
fi.id, according to their refpeEiive natures-, but for Adam
there was not found among all the tribes of creatures^ 'one
that was an help meet for him •, fo that, it was necejfary
that one Jhctild be created on pur p of e,
21 And the Lord God caufed a deep fleep to fall upon
Adam, and he fiept : and during his ft ate of infenfthility
he took one of his ribs, and clofed up the flefh inftead
22- thereof j And the rib, which the LoPvD God had taken
from the man, made he in!o a woman, and brought her
unto the man, who now awoke ^ and he gave her to him as
his wife ; acquainting him with the manner of her creation*
23 And Adam, receiving her with gratitude and joy^ faid.
This [is] now a fit companion for me^ being bone of my
bones, and fieih of my fiefli : ihe fhall be called
Woman, becaufe fhe was taken out of Man. And
God acquainted Adam with the great law of matrimony
24 now inftituted^ f^y^^^^-> Therefore fhall a man leave his
father and his mother, and fliail cleave unto his wife :
and they two' fhall be one fieih \ moft infeparably united
during life^ and have as intimate communion as if they were
hut one perjon. This condemns both polygamy and divorce,
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife,
and continued fo as long as they were innocent % and by
reafon of their innocence they were not afhamed ; as there
was neither deformity in their bodies^ nor guilty the caufe of
Jhame^ in their folds.
REFLECTIONS.
E are here called upon to remember the cce-
leftial origin of the foul •, it did not fpring
from the duft, it was not formed by our parents, but is
the breath of God. There is a fpirit in man^ and the in^
fpiration
' See Matth. xix. 5. Mark x. 7. i Cor. vi. 16. Epk, v. 13.
GENESIS. II. ig
fpiration of the Almighty giveth him underftaiiding. Let us
highly prize thefe precious and immortal fouls ; ftudy
their improvement in knowledge and holinefs •, and never
debafe them by any low or mean purfuits : but let them
daily afpire toward the world from which they came, and
the God by whom they were infufed.
2. Let us admire the plentiful provision God hath made
for man, and the equity of that covenant under which he
was placed. How wifely and kindly hath God contrived
for the delight of his creatures ! He is to be owned and
honoured in all. It is a remarkable expreffion in v. 5, the
Lord God, that is, Jehovah, had not yet caufed it to rain
on the earth. It is God alone that giveth rain from hea-
ven, and maketh the earth fruitful ; he greatly enricheth it
with the river of God, which is full of water : he giveth
us all things richly to enjoy. God faw good to lay on man
a fmall reftraint, to let him know he was a fervant and a
dependant, not an abfolute proprietor. If any fhould
aik, why this fhould be made the teft of obedience, rather
than a moral precept ; the reafon is plain ; he could not be
guilty of many vices, he had no temptation to others ; fo
that his virtue was to be tried by his having a proper
temptation to tranfgrefs. The demand of abftinence from
one tree, was very reafonable, v/hen God had given him
all things elfe.
3. Let us be very thankful for the happinefs of focial
life ; that God hath given us focial natures, and fitted us for
focial pieafures and entertainments : that he hath formed
us capable of thofe tender afFedions, which are an honour
inflead of a difgrace to human nature, and the fource of
that endearing friendfhip which but one relation will admit
of. The wifdom and goodnefs of God are to be adored in
providing fo fuitable and agreeable a companion for his new
formed creature, to enliven even paradife itfelf ; for conti-
nuing in the breafls of his defcendants of both fexes their
mutual tendernefs for each other ; and for appointing and
inflituting the conjugal relation, as what he faw would be
for the -comfort and advantage of his creatures, as well as
neceffary for the regular and orderly continuance of them.
4. Let
14 GENESIS. III.
4. Let the circumftances attending the produdlon of
the woman, be a Jeflbn to both fexes how to behave one to
another. Adam^ fays the Apoftle, was firft formed^ then
Eve \ which he urges as an argument for the cheerful fub-
jedtion of the woman, i l^im, ii. 1:5. and in another place
he obferves, the woman was made for the man, and out of
the man •, which he urges to the fame purpofe. We learn
from hence, the duty of men to love their wives, v, 24.
nereforc fljdl a man leave his father and his mother^ and jhall
cleave unto his wife^ and they two Jhall be one flejh. This is a
ftrong argument againft having more wives than one ;
and alfo againft divorces, which are fo fhamefully common
in the prefent day. In this view it is urged by our Lord,
Matt. xix. 5. God had, as the prophet Malachi obferves,
the refidue of the fpirit, and could have created more
women than one, but he did not. The circumftance
of the woman's creation out of the man, was no doubt
intended to be a moral leffon that men fhould love their
wives, fince they are bone of their bone, and fle/h of their
flefh, and are defigned for their comfort, and to be helps
meet for them. In a word, marriage is honourable in
all ; it is the wife and gracious appointment of God ; and
it fhould be the concern of all who are entered, or may
enter into that relation, to behave to each other with that
forbearance and kindnefs, that refped and concern for each
other's welfare, which alone can make their ftate com-
fortable here, and will, if they are truly religious, lay a
foundation for a purer, more lafting, yea an eternal friend-
fhip, in the other world.
CHAP. III.
^his is one of the mojl difficult and the mofi melancholy chapters
in the whole bible. Bejore this all was very good\ here all is
very bad. It contains an account of our firjl parents^ fall^
the caufe^ and the confequence of it, The origin of evil hath
always been a fuhjeh of controverfy with fpeculative men^
and probably will always be attended with fome difficulties ^
which
GENESIS. III. 15
which in the prefent world cannot he folved ; hut the fcriptiire
gives fuck an account of the matter^ as ought to fatisfy usy
namely^ that it was in confequence of the temptation of fome
fubtii and malignant heing. What that heing was^ and
how he prefented his temptations^ we are here informed,
1 1\^T O W the ferpent, that is^ the Devil or Satan under
X^% the form of a ferpent^ was more fubtll than any
beaft of the field which the Lord God had made. And
he, heing fet upon the ruin of the hmnan race^ faid unto the
woman, whojn he found alone ^ and whofe attention he had
prohahly gained by various wiles and appearances of intel-
ligence^ under the form of a fine^ beautiful ferpent^ walking
sre5i^ and uncommonly attentive to her: having thus pre-
pared the way^ he faid^ Yea, hath God indeed faid. Ye
ihall not eat of every tree of the garden ? Sure it cannot
poffibly be^ that God^ who is the fupr erne good and your mojl
bountiful benefa^or^ fJiould in good earneji forbid you the ufi
2 of this i)ee. And the woman faid unto the ferpent. We,
may eat of the fruit of all the other trees of the garden :
3 But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midil: of
the garden, God hath certainly faid, Ye ihall not eat of
it, neither lliall ye touch it, in order to the eating of it^
4 left ye die.* And the ferpent faid unto the woman,
certainly you mujl be miflaken \ God^s words may have fome
5 other meani?ig •, ye fhall not furely die : For God knows it
will be very profitable for you ♦, and therefore it is not likely
that He^ being fo good^ fhould ah folutely forbid it you : God
doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your
eyes ihall inflantly be opened, and ye ftiall be as gods,
or as God himfelf ' knowing good and evil ; you fball at-
tain fuch a large^ yea divine meafure of knowledge^ that in
comparifon thereof your prefent knowledge is but blindnefs.
6 And when the woman faw that the tree [was] good
for food, and that it [was] pleafant to the eyes, beyond
the refi of the trees^ and a tree to be defired, from this
f.ccount of ity to make [one] wife, jfhe took of the fruit
thereof,
* See Milton's account of this matter, which 1 think is the
snofl clear, eafy, and probable of any 1 have met with. Far,
Lcjf, B. ix. 1. 494, &c.
i6 GENESIS. IlL
thereof, and did eat, and then g^iwtfome of it alfo unto
her hufband with her \ and he did eat likewife^ thro' her
7 ferfuofion. And immediately the eyes of them both were
opened, /;/ a fenfe far different frort^ what the tempter had
pretended^ and then they knew that they [were] naked •,
and experieitced a fenfe of fhame and the need of coverings
fo that they fewed fig leaves together, and made them-
8 felves aprons, or girdles. And they heard the voice of
the Lord God, a found from the majeflic prefence or glory
af JEHOVAH^ as it were walking in the garden in
the cool of the day, or evenings andfeeming to approach
them : and Adam and his wife, thro^ a fenfe of guilt and
fear of punifhmenty hid themfelves from the awful fymbol
of the prefence of the Lord God among the trees of
the garden.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and faid
unto him, with a terrible emphafts^ to bring him to confef-
fion^ Where [art] thou ? Why dofi thoufeek concealment ?
10 And he faid, 1 heard thy voice in the garden, and I
was afraid •, becaufe I had found that I [was] naked ;
1 1 and therefore I hid myfelf. And he further interrogate
ed Adam and faid, Who told thee that thou [waft]
naked ? and that thou needefi on that account to be afhamed?
Haft thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded
12 thee that thou fhouldft not eat? And the man, deft^
rous to excufe himfelf^ ungratefully faid. The woman
whom thou gaveft [to be] with me, as an help meet^ fhe
gave me of the tree, and at her infligation I did eat.
ij And the Lord God faid unto the woman, What [is]
this [that] thou haft done ? How heinous a tranfgrejjion I
And the woman, being alfo defirous to extenuate her crime^
faid, The ferpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14 And the Lord God faid unto the ferpent, Becaufe
thou haft done this, thou [art] curfed above all cattle,
and above every beaft of the field : tho' the ferpent was
only the inflrument here^ yet he is curfed to fhow God's de-
teftation of fin: upon thy belly fnalt thou go, and duft
{halt thou eat all the days of thy life; his wings and
feet fell off\ and inftead of feeding on plants and herbs ^ he
tcok his food from the dufi and Ucked in the dufl with it :
15 And
GENESIS. III. 17
15 And I will put perpetual enmity between thee and the
woman, and between thy Teed and her feed ; it ihall
bruife thy head, and thou ihalt bruife his heel/
1 6 Unto the woman he faid, Jhe being firft in the tranfgref-
fion^ I will greatly multiply thy forrow and, or rather^ in
thy conception, or pregnancy •, in forrow thou (halt bring
forth children •, and thy delire [fhall be] fuhjeol to thy
hufband whom thou haft enticed^ and he {hall rule over thee.
17 And unto Adam he faid, Becaufe thou haft hearkened
unto the voice of thy wife, rather than to tfiy own un-
derfta?iding, or to my precepts^ and haft eaten of the tree,
of which I commanded thee, faying. Thou fhalt not
eat of it : from henceforth curfed [is] the ground for thy
fake, // fhall no longer produce its fruits fpontaneoiifly as
before \ in forrow ftialt thou eat the produce [of-] it all
18 the days of thy life; Thorns alfo and thiftles, all man^
ner of unprofitable hurtful weeds^ fhall it bring forth to
thee ; and thou ftialt eat the herb of the field, inftead
of thofe generous and delicious fruits of paradife which thou
19 haft hitherto fed upon \ In the fweat of thy face ftialt
thou eat bread, with conftant labour and vexation^ till
thou return unto the ground; for out of it waft thou,
taken : for duft thou [art,] and unto duft ftialt thou
20 return. And Adam, fenfible of the mercy mixed with
judgment^ and thankful that the fentence was not immediately
Vol. I. C executed^
^ This is true in a literal fenfe: there is an irreconcileable en-
mity between mankind and ferpents, and their attacks on each
other are frequent. But Adam and Eve undoubtedly knew that
it was an intelligent fpirit who had feduced them, and that this
fentence was addreffed to fuch a being. God defignc^d to com-
fort Adam and Eve, under the dejedtion and grief in which he
faw them involved, and therefore made them this promife. But
where would be the comfort, if it were only to be taken in a
literal fenfe, that Adam's children fhould fometimes kill ferpents,
and ferpents fhould fometimes hurt them? This looks like trifling,
and mull be poor comfort to a creature under the divine difpleafure,
Adam muft be fallen indeed, fallen below common fenfe, to take
comfort in that. Thy feed and her feed may therefore mean, as
many think, txhe righteous and the wicked, or (which fenfe I
much prefer) the Lord Jefus Chrifl, the great Melfiah, the Captain
of Salvation ; He, that eminent Perfon, (hall bruife thy head,
deftroy thy power; and thou (halt bruife his heel; he ihall receive
fome flight hurt in the conteft; which may refer to the fuffsrings
the Msiliah endured for our Salvation,
i8 GEN E S I S. III.
executed^ called his wife's name Eve, which fignifies^ life,
becaufe fhe was to be the mother of all living.
21 Unto Adam alfo and to his wife did the Lord God
Jhow further favour, and taught them how to make coats
of the flcins of the heafis, and clothed them therewith,
■22 And the Lord God faid, in fomething of an ironical man-
7ier, to hmnhle him more deeply. Behold, the man is become
as one of us, to know good and evil : and now, left he
put forth his hand, and take alfo of the tree of life,
and eat, and live for ever, or entertain the hope of doing
2'^ fo : Therefore the Lord God fent him forth from the
garden of Eden, into the wild and uncultivated country
about it, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24 But he lingered, and was loth to depart -, So he drove out
the man by violence, and Eve relu^antly followed^ and
he placed at the eaft of, or, before the garden of Eden
miniftering Angels called Cherubims, and a flaming fword
which turned in their hands every way, to keep the
way of the tree of life •, that the earthly par adife might not
he regained, and that man might not expert immortality on
earth,
REFLECTIONS.
I . T E T us lament the offence and calamity of the hu-
I J man family in its firft head. See what wretched
work fin made in God's beautiful and orderly creation.
We fhould be greatly grieved at this apoftacy, which was
fuch a difhonour to God, and brought fuch mifery on
mankind. We have reafon to look back upon it with grief
and fhame, that man, tho' made upright, has thus come
fhort of the glory of God, and rebelled againft him. When
labouring in the fweat of our brow, let us think of the evil
of fin: when the daughters of Eve endure the pains of
pregnancy and the forrows of chlldbearing, let them learn
to hate fin. Let all our pains of body and depravity of
mind lead our thoughts to this origin of evil ; and learn
from the whole ftory, that fm is the abominable thing which
God's righteous foul hateth,
2. Since we have h\\tn from God, let us return to him :
there
GENESIS. III. 19
there is no fecurity or comfort but in this, whatever diffi-
culties or mortifications may attend it. Let us be careful we
do not cover our tranfgreffion, like Adam, (fee y^^xxxi. 33.)
and flee from God ; but fly to him as the father of mer-
cies. To endeavour to fly from him is vain -, for there is no
darknefs nor (hadow of death where the workers of iniquity can
hide themfehes. But to return to him in the new and living
way which he hath appointed^ Heb. x. 20. and to confefs and
forfake our fins, is the only way to find mercy.
3. Let us own the jufl:ice of the fen tence pafTed on man.
We bear the image of Adam in our afflidlons and death:
we labour like him, and, like him, return to the dufl:.
Adam's {m was great and heinous, and, being the firft
tranfgreffion, claimed a heavier puniffiment. God did his
guilty creatures no wrong, he did but keep his own word.
Let us humble ourfelves under thefe mortifying circum-
fl:ances of becoming a prey to fin, to afflidion and death,
and adore God, who exac^ls lefs than our iniquities, and the
iniquities of our firfb parents deferved.
4. We fliould adore that mercy which pointed out the
Lord Jefus Chrift ; that God fo gracioufly revived the
drooping hearts of his fallen creatures by this early intima-
tion of mercy, and provided fo richly for the comfort of
fucceeding generations ; that, while feeling the effeds of
fin, they might look to Chrift. By faith in this promlfe,
the holy men of old bore up under their imperfedions and
dlftrefi^es. We have particular reafon to be thankful that
Chrlfi: was manifefl:ed in the flefli; that as the children
whom he came to fave were partakers of flefli and blood, he
alfo partook of the fame. Blefied be God for Jefus Chrifl: !
This fecond man is the Lord from heaven, who refliores
thofe bleffings which our firft father lofl, and brings greater
and nobler along with him. Thanks be to God for this
unfpeakable gift !
5. Let us long after the recovery of a better paradife by
him. As by man came deaths by man came alfo the refurreSlion
of the dead \ when he fliall be ralfed, not only to another,
but to a happier life. There is a nobler paradife above,
where the tree of life ever flouriflies in perpetual verdure
and beautv •, where there is no ferpent to deceive, no tempt-
C 2 er
20 G E N E S I S. IV.
cr to feducp; from whence Satan is for ever banlflied,
and where joy and glory fpring frefh thro' immortal ages.
— In the mean time,
6. Let us purfue the holy war againft Satan, under the
banner of Chrift, who was manifefted to deftroy the works of
the devil. He overcame him on earth, he triumphed over
him on the crofs. We muft expedt oppofition from him;
he hath an enmity againft the feed of the woman, and
may bruife their heel. But let us refift our great adverfary.
He was too hard for innocent man-, his cunning is im-
proved by long experience ; and we are lefs able to refift
him •, but if we continue ftedfaft, we fhall finally triumph,
for he is a vanquiftied foe. Let us contend like thofe who
know that they fhall be tnore than conquerors thro'' him that
hath loved us •, and do thou^ O God of peace, hruife Satan
under our feet Jhortly, Amen.
CHAP. IV.
^he former chapter contained an account of man's fall^ this of
his increafe : it gives us the hiftory of Cain and Ahel\ of Cain's
fbflerity j of Lamech and his pofierity ♦, and of Seth and his
family,
1 AND Adam knew Eve his wife -, and fhe conceiv-
J^\^ ed, and bare afon, whom flie called Cain, and faid,
with great thankfulnefs and joy, I have gotten a man
from the Lord, as his gift and the fruit of his bleffing,
2 And ihe again, or afterwards, bare his brother, whom
fht called Abel, which fignifies, vanity. She probably ex-
pelled Cain to have been the Meffiah, but found him to be
of a wicked difpofition ; and being difappointed, called this
fin, vanity, or dif appointment , And they were both
brought up to labour, but of different kinds -, Abel was a
keeper of fneep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in procefs of time, or every year, it came to
pafs, that Cain by the divine command brought of the
fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord, called a
4 facrifice, Heb. xi. 4. And Abel, he alfo brought of
the
GENESIS. IV. 21
the tirftlings of his flock and of the fat thereof, the
fat t eft and the heft. "This he offered with humility and faith^
and he found his account in it. And the Lord had re-
fpecft unto Abel and to his offering •, ivhich he mani-
fefted by fome vijible token^ (probably by fire from heaven
5 confuming the facrifice) fo as that Cain difcerned it : But
unto Cain and to his offering he had not refped, for
want of faith and Jincerity , And Cain was very wroth
both with God and his brother^ and his countenance fell ;
he laid ajide that cheerfulnefs and pkafantnefs, which ar-
gues welU-pleafednefs \ and betrayed his anger and difcon-
6 tent by his four ^ deje5fed^ envious looks. And the Lord
faid unto Cain, to bring him to a fenfe of his fin and re-
pentance for it^ Why art thou wroth ? and why is thy
countenance fallen ? / am not guilty of any partiality,
7 If thou doefl well, fhalt thou not be accepted ? and if
thou doeft not well, the punifliment of thy Im lieth at the
door, and like a furious beaft is ready to feize thee. And
tho^ Abel is accepted before thee on account of his faith^ yet
he fhall ftill fhow thee refpe^i as his elder brother^ andfub-
je5l unto thee [fhall be] his defire, and thou fhalt rule
over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother concerning
the different regard fliown to their refpe5five offerings : ' and
it came to pafs, when they were in the field together^
that Cain iu a fit of refentment rofe up agalnft Abel his
9 brother, and flew him. And on his return from the field the
Lord faid unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother ?
Andi fo hardened was he in his fin^ that he faid, I know
not : [Am] I my brother's keeper ? didft thou ever give
10 me any charge of him? And he faid again to Cain in an
awful manner,, What hafl thou done ? the voice of thy
brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground /?r
11 vengeance. And it fliall be avenged \ even now [art]
thou curfed from the earth, fentenced to a perpetual
banifhment from that part of it which hath opened her
mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand,
C 3 into
* Cranmer*s verfion is, Jn^ Cain /pake unto Mel his brother.
Let us go forth : which words are found in the Samaritan Text,
See Kennicott's Remarks,
22 GENESIS. IV.
1 2 into a more barren country \ When thou tilleft the ground,
it fhall not henceforth yield unto thee her ftrength
fo freely as hitherto \ a fugitive and a vagabond ihalt
thou be in the earth •, caft out from God's prefence^ and
the fociety of thy kindred and acquaintance^ and wandering
from one country to another^ by reafon of thy trouble and
13 perplexity of confcience. And Cain faid unto the Lord,
My puniihment [is] greater than I can bear; or, my
14 iniquity is greater than that it may be forgiven. Behold,
thou haft driven me out this day from the face of the
earth, my native foiU where I have dwelt with my parents
and kindred', and from thy face ftiall 1 be hid; 1 fhall
he always hiding myfelf from thee^ fkulking in hole^ and
corner s-i by reafon of my guilty confcience ; and I fhall be a
fugitive and a vagabond in the earth ; and it fhall come
to pafs, [that] every one that findeth me fhall attempt to
flay m^as the publick enemy ofjnankindy and as one devoted
J$ by thee to deftru^ion^ And the Lord faid unto him.
Therefore, to prevent this^ I ordain^ that whofoever flay-
eth Cain, vengeance fhall be taken on him feven fold.
And the Lord fet a mark upon Cain, left any finding
him fhould kill him ; fome vifible token^ (either the palfy^
or a ghafily look^ or the like) to make hiyn a living monument
16 of his wrath againfi murder."^ And Cain went out from
the prefence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of
Nod, that is^ the land of vagabonds^ (fo called on Cain^s
account) which lies on the e aft of Eden.
17 And Cain knew his wife, who accompanied him with
ethers of his family ; and fhe conceived, and bare Enoch :
and after many years wanderings and having a numerous
progeny^ God permitted him to fettle^ and he builded a
city, and called the name of the city, after the name of
18 his fon, Enoch. And unto Enoch was born Irad: and
Irad
« The world being now near one hundred and thirty years old,
the inhabitants might be confiderable. VVhiston computes them
at upwards of four thoufand, others at a tgreat deal more.
" A late ingenious author hath given the mofl natural fenfe of
thefe words, which he obferves may be rendered thus, God appointed
to Cain a fign or token, to affure him that no one fhould kill
him. So the word is rendered, Gen, ix, 13. Shuckford's Connect.
Vol. 1. p. 8. Edit.
G E N E S I S. IV. 23
Irad begat Mehujael : and Mehujael begat Methufael :
and Methufael begat Lamech.
19 And Lamech, who was one of wicked Cabins -pofterity^
was the firft who violated the original law of marriage by
polygamy^ for he took unto him tv/o wives : the name of
the one [was] Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
God was pkafed to tolerate this under the Old Teflament^ i
but Chrifiy in Matthew xlx. 8. fully fhowed the evil of it ^
20 and reft or ed marriage to its firft inftitution. And Adah bare
Jabal : he was the father of fuch as dwell in tents, . and
[of fach as have] cattle; the firft inventor of tent makifig,
21 and of the art of tending and ordering cattle. And his
brother's name [was] Jubal : he was the father of all
fuch as handle the harp and organ, having invented fome
22 kind of mufical inftruments^ and taught the ufe of them. And
Zillah, the other zvife of Lamech^ ihe alfo bare Tubal-
cain, an inftrudtor of every artificer in brafs and iron,
that is^ inftriiments for war or for hufhandry : and the filler
of Tubal-cain [was] Naamah, who^ the jews fay^ found
23 out the way of carding^ fpinning^ and weaving wool. And
Lamech faid unto his v/ives Adah and Zillah, who feem
to have been afraid that^ fince weapons were grown fo
common^ hamech^ who was probably a man of a turbulent
fpirit^ would he fiain\ in order to calm their fears he fays ^
Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto
my fpeech, and be under no painful apprehenfions on my
account : for do you imagine I have flain a man to my own
wounding, and a young man to my own hurt ? ^'' No.
24 If Cain therefore, who murdered his own brother for his
piety, fhall be avenged {^^^^n fold, truly Lamech feventy
and feven fold ; God will bring ten fold deftru5fion on the
man that hurts me,
Mofes, having thus briefly mentioned Cain's pofterity,
25 returns to mention another branch of Adam' s family , And
Adam knew his wife again; and fhe bare a fon, and
called his name Seth, which fignifies, appointed- or fubfti^
tute : For God, [faidfiie,] hath appointed me another
C 4 feed
"^ The words are rendered by Bifliop Lovvth, / have flain a
man for having ^luounded me, and a ^'oung man for halving bruifed
me, Lowth's Pr«le6t. p. 52*
24 G E N E S I S. IV.
feed inflead of Abel, whom Cain flew, and who /hall be
the root of that holy family in which the church fliall he
26 ejiabliffied, A'nd to Seth, to him alfo, that is, to Seth him-
felf, there was born a fon ♦, and he called his name Enos,
that isyforrowful', to note thefadnefs of thofe times by reafon
of the wickednefs thereof: then began men to call upon
the name of the Lord, to feparate themfelves from the
frofane fociety of the wicked, and to worfliip God in a more
publick, folemn, and pure manner^ than had been done by
Cain and his profane pofierity. And here began the diftinc^
tion of thefons of Gody and thefons and daughters of men,
R EFLECTIONS.
I. T T Is reafonable that God fliould have our beft, that
X be fhould be prefented with our firft and nobleft
facrifices. He deferves it, he claims it. But let us re-
member,
2. That real piety is neceflary to our acceptance with
him. Abel's facrifice was preferred, becaufe he was humble
and pious, and offered it in faith. If we are deftitute of
inward and real reh'gion, God will turn away his ear from
our prayer, and even our facrifice will be an abomination to
him : to vow, and not perform our vows, is to offer the
facrifice of fools. If any man be a true worfhipper of God, and
doeih his will, him he heareth always, and him he accepts,
3. See the danger of indulging malignant pafTions : Cain
was wroth with God and his brother. He ought to have
rejoiced that his brother's facrifice was accepted, and to
have grieved that his own was not. But his envy and anger
preyed upon him, and hurried him on to commit this hor-
rid murder. Let us guard againft every fally of pafTion ; afk
ourfelves when it begins to rife, as God doth Cain, " Why
am I wroth ? do I well to be angry ?" Thofe who are of
an hafly temper fhould learn caution by fuch a melancholy
ilory as this, ylnger rcfieth in the bofom of fools only, and
produces the mofl difmal efreds. Let us not fuffer the
leafl refentment to harbour in our bofom. We are fhocked
at Cain — but remember, every one that hateth his brother is
(I murderer^
A. We
GENESIS. IV, 25
4. We are not to judge of good and evil by the prefent
appearance of things. Righteous Abel was fubjedt to wicked
Cain. Abel was {lain by his brother; and why flew he him ?
Becaufe his own works were evil^ and his hrothefs good.
This good man's days foon came to an end •, but this pro-
vidence was over-ruled to be an early intimation of the im-
mortality of the foul, and the rewards of a future ftate.
Wait till the day of retribution, and the fcene will be chang-
ed \ all this regular confufion in the ways of God's pro-
vidence will have a wife, a glorious, and a merciful end.
5. See here the terror of an evil confcience; what a
dreadful thing a diftradled mind is! See the fatal efFe(5l3
of fin. Cain was full of defpalring thoughts, but fhowed
nothing of humility, no hope of mercy. What dreadful
hardnefs of heart muft fin have produced, that after having
feen God and converfed with him, he fhould continue im-
penitent. A wounded fpirit is a terrible thing. To prevent
it, let us guard againft the ways of Cain ; and herein let us
exercife ourfehes^ to maintain a ccnfcience void of offence toward
God and man,
6. How vain are all arts and fciences, and the ornaments
of life, where real religion is wanting ! The defcendants of
Cain difcovered feveral valuable and noble inventions -, but
flill they themfelves were wicked, and walked in his foot-
fteps. Thefe inventions were of the Lord, and thefe
were their portion. A miferable portion indeed ! Let us
choofe our lot among God's fervants, thofe who in fincerity
call on his name. Let us love his worfhip, make religion
the one thing needful; then we may hope to enjoy peace
of confcience, free from difquieting fears and alarms; and
fhall at length obtain eternal redemption, through the.
blood of fprinkling^ which fpeakcth better things than the blood
of Abel
C FI A i\
26 G E N E S I S. V.
CHAP. V.
^he genealogy^ age^ and death of the patriarchs^ from Adam
unto Noah.
1 rr^ HIS followmg [is] the book of the generations
J_ of Adam -, the hiftory of Adam^s creation^ and the
catalogue of his pofterity till the floods who were the pro ^
gejiitors of Chrift, In the day that God created man, in
2 the hkenefs of God made he him •, Male and female
created he them ; and blefTcd them, and called their
name Adam, in the day when they were created. This
repetition is intended to remind us what a glorious creature
man was at firfi^ and how fhamefully he was fallen : it
intimates^ that Adam^ which fignifies^ red earthy was the
3 proper name of the whole fpecies. And Adam lived an
hundred and thirty years, and, after feveral other child*
ren, he begat [a fon] in his own Hkenefs, after his image ;
not the Hkenefs of God^ but of Adam ^ yet he was a pious
fon^ in oppofttion to others who were wicked \ a proper re-
prefentation of his father^ and well fupplied the place of
Abel •, and, agreeable to his wife's defire, he called his name
4 Seth : And the days of Adam after he had begotten
Seth were eight hundred years : and he begat other fons
5 and daughters : And all the days that Adam lived were
nine hundred and thirty years : and he died ; fo that
the original threatening zvas literally executed^ tho' at a very
diflant period,""
6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and be-
7 gat Enos : And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight
hundred and feven years, and begat fons and daughters :
8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve
years : and he died.
9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
lo And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred
and
* The extraoj-dinary longevity of men in thofe firfl ages of the
world, appears not at all incredible, confidering how requifite
this was for peopling the earth, and how probable it is that the
human conftitution was then proportionably llrong.
G E N E S I S. V. 27
1 1 and fifteen years, and begat fons and daughters : And
all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years :
and he died.
1 2 And Calnan Hved feventy years, and begat Mahala-
13 leel: And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel
eight hundred and forty years, and begat fons and
14 daughters : And all the days of Cainan were nine
hundred and ten years : and he died.
15 And Mahalaleel lived fixty and five years, and begat
16 Jared : And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared
eight hundred and thirty years, and begat fons and
17 daughters : And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight
hundred ninety and five years : and he died.
18 And Jared lived an hundred fixty and two years,
and he begat Enoch ; who is mentioned with diftingui/hed
honour in the New 'Tejlamenty Jude^ v. 14, as thejeventh
19 from Adam and a prophet of God : And Jared lived after
he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat fons
20 and daughters : And all the days of Jared were nine
hundred fixty and two years : and he died.
21 And Enoch lived fixty and ^yq years, and begat
22 Methufelah : ^ And Enoch walked with God, in a courfe
of fingular pety^ after he begat Methufelah three hun-
dred years, and htg-at a great number of{ons and daugh-
ters. This Jhows that the conjugal life in its purity may
23 fiand with theftri5left rules of holinefs. And all the days
24 of Enoch were three hundred fixty and five years : And
Enoch walked with God. It isfaid of all the otliers^ that
they livedo but of him, that he walked with God ; maintain-
ing to the laft an intimate communion with him, and a con-
fcientious obedience to him ; and this was fo highly pleafing
to God, that he was tranjlated that he floould not fee death %
(Heb. xi. 5.) and he [was] not found when fought ; for
God took him immediately to heaven, both body and foul y
to be a teftimony of the future happinefs of both. This was
probably
y This is a prophetical name, and fjgnifies, He dieth, and ivater
is fent forth f job v. lo. And fo it will intimate, that Enoch
forefeeing the deluge, gave his fon this name ; by which he proved
himfelf a prophet, as well as a preacher of righteoufnefs: and it
33 remarkable, that this Methufelah died the very year in which
the flood came. Edit,
28 G E N E S 1 S. V.
pr oh ably done in a puhlick manner^ on fome jolemn occafion ;
by which God tejiijied his regard to his fingular piety ^ and
comforted the hearts of good and pious men with the hopes of
future happinefs^ when thofe great calamities^ of which he
prophefied^ fJiould come.
25 And Methufelah lived an hundred eighty and {tY^n
years, and begat Lamech -, {not that Lamech mentioned
ch, iv. 2 'i,» for he was one of Cain^s pofterity^ but this was
26 one of Seth's:) And Methufelah lived after he begat
Lamech feven hundred eighty and two years, and begat
27 fons and daughters: And all the days of Methufelah
were nine hundred fixty and nine years, the longeft life
that ever any man lived: and he died, juft before the flood.
28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years,
29 and begat a fon : And he called his name Noah, which
JignifieSy reft^ or refrefhing •, faying. This [fame] fhall com-
fort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, be-
caufe of the ground which the Lord hath curfed \ that
isy he fhall free us from a great deal of toil ^ by inventing
or improving the art of hufhandry^ andfuch injlruments as
30 made it more eafy. And Lamech lived after he begat
Noah ^YQ hundred ninety and iive years*, and begat
31 fons and daughters: And all the days of Lamech were
feven hundred feventy and feven years : and he died.
32 And Noah was five hundred years old : and after that
age Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Japheth
was the eldefly ch, x. 12. and Ham theyoungeft^ ch, ix. 24,
hut Shem is put fir ft ^ he caufe he was one of Chrift^s fore*
fathers^ and becaufe his progeny is the principal fubje^l of
this hiflory.
REFLECTIONS.
1. T ET us be humble, as bearing the image of the earthy
i J Adam, i Cor. xv. 49. and mourn that we have loft
the image and likenefs of God : that we are fo like fallen
Adam and his defcendants in weaknefs and infirmities, in fin
and death. It fhould grieve and fhame us to think how fin
hath debafed our nature \ and fhould make us peculiarly
thankful for Jefus Chrift, the Lord from heaven, who re-
ilores
GENESIS. V. 29
ffcores the image of God in fome degree here, and will
perfedt it hereafter in a better world,
2. We fee the vanity of human life when prolonged to
Its utmoft bounds. Thofe patriarchs who lived fo many-
ages, at length died *, the fentence was executed at laft,
tho' fo long delayed-, Biift thou art^ and to duft thou Jhalt
retiini. What great opportunities had they for improve-
ment in knowledge and goodnefs, in arts and fciences ! yet
they died, and all their glory was buried in the dull: -, and
thofe of Adam's defcendants who vv^ere wicked, tho' they
lived many hundred years, were accurfed. Many days
will not infure to us either holinefs or happinefs.
3. Let us be reconciled to that providence which {hortens
our continuance here, ne days of our years are now three-
fcore years and ten^ and if by reafon of ftrength they hefourfcore
years^ yet are they labour andforrow. What then would they
be if prolonged to many centuries ? It is a bleffing that life
is fo fhort, confidering how full of trouble and forrow, fiti
and corruption, it is. Let us rejoice in the profpecfl of an
eternal world, and live as thofe who look for that reft which
remaineth for the people of God in heaven.
4. Let us obferve and acknowledge the goodnefs of
God in tranflating Enoch. It was a reward for diftinguijQied
piety in the midft of a crooked and perverfe generation,
and a ftrong proof of a future ftate and world i for none
could think fo good a man would perilh : it is a proof of
the happinefs both of foul and body in another ftate ; and
(as a prophet) if he wrought no miracles, this would be
proof fufficient of his divine miflion. This was one of the
mod inftrudive circumftances that could happen to the
patriarchal age. Adam, who had fuch intercourfe with
God, was dead ; Noah, who was to have thofe favours
renewed, was not yet born ; in the middle age, when men
v.'ere growing corrupt, Enoch was taken to heaven ; a cir-
cumftance that anfwers fuch noble ends, as were worthy of
God to go out of the common way to accompHfh.
5. Let us learn, like Enoch, to walk with God, This is
the very eflence of religion •, it eftabhfhes a friendly inter-
courfe between God and his creatures, efpecially in and
through Jefus Chrift. If we walk in the light, as he is m
the
so ' G E N E S I S. VI.
the light, then have we fellowfhip with him. He converf-
ed with God in a friendly, grateful, and dutiful manner,
and God with him. This is the mod honourable, com-
fortable, and pleafant life we can live ; and if this be our
temper and condu6l, we fhall fhare in Enoch's happinefs ;
and, tho' we fhall not be taken to heaven in fo remarkable
a way, yet his angels fhall carry us to Abraham's bofom,
and we fhall dwell with God, both body and foul, for
ever.
C H A P. VI.
Gives an account of the general corruption of the world \ God's
determination to deflroy the earth \ and the chara^er and
happinefs of Noah.
1 y^ ND it came to pafs, when men, the pofierity of
Jtx Cain^ began to m^ultiply on the face of the earth,
2 and daughters were born unto them. That the fons of
God, thepofterity of Seth^ who were members of the churchy
and profefors of the true religion^ but began to degenerate^
faw the daughters of men, the female defendants ofCain^
that they [were] fair ; and they took them wives of all
which they chofe, without a?iy regard to their religious
characters *^ The fad confequence of this was^ that religion de^
dined ^ andthefpirit of it wasalmofi bayiiflied from the earth,
3 i^nd the Lord, beholding this growing degeneracy^ faid,
My fpirit fhali not always flrive with man, as it hath
long done J by good motions^ checks of ccnfcience., good counfel
and waryiings from thofe few good men thai then livedo and
efpecially from Noah^ for that he alfo, that is ^ all man-
kind^ [is] flefh, corrupt^ and wholly carnal: ojid thd" he
■ defcrves a fpeedy deJlru5lion^ yet his days fhall be an
hundred and twenty years ; y^? much longer fp ace will I
4 allow him for trial and repentafice. A^(5Z£/ There were giants
in the earth in thofe days-, men^ who in the pride and
con-
^ Such unequal matches are every where condemned in fcrip-
ture, ch. xxvi. 35. i Kings xi, 2, 3. Ezra ix. 12. Neh, xiii. 23, &c.
Mai. ii. II. I Cor. vii. 39. 2 Cor. vi. 14.
* Nek. ix. 30. I Peter iii. 19, 2C. 2 Peter ii. 5.
G E N E S I S. VI. 31
confidence of their bodily fiature^ became defpifers of God and
goodnefs^ and oppreffors of men-, and alio after that, when
the Tons of God came in unto the daughters of men,
and they bare [children] to them, the fame [became]
mighty men, like their fathers "which [were] of old, men
of renown, much admired and applauded for their ft at ure
and ftrength^ but tyrannical perfons^ who filled the earth
with violence and rapine^ and were apoftates from true re-
5 ligion. And God faw that the wickednefs of man [was]
great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of
the thoughts of his heart, all the motions and inclinations
6 of his foul, [was] only evil continually. And it repent-
ed the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and
it grieved him at his heart : he a5fed as men do when
they repent^ who alter the courfe of their auiions\ fo God
chafiged the method of his proceedings^ and the difpofal of
7 affairs and events. And the Lord faid, I will furely
deftroy man whom I have created from the face of the
earth ; both man, and bead, and the creeping thing,
and the fowls of the air , for it repenteth me that I
have made them.''
8 But Noah, who continued pure amidft this crooked gener-^
ation, found grace in the eyes of the Lord, y^ as to be
9 eminently diftinguifJied by him. Thefe [are] the genera-
tions of Noah, his pofterity, and the events that befell hi7n
and them: as to Noah himfelf he was a juft man [and]
perfed, upright and unhlameable^ in his generations,
[and] Noah, like his anceftor Enochs walked with God.
10 And Noah, a.s was before obferved, begat three fons,
Shem, Ham, and Japheth ; of whom a more particular
accoimt will afterwards be given. And now the time for
1 1 executing the divine threatenings drew near. The earth
alfo was exceedingly corrupt before God, finning openly and
prefumptuoufly, without any fear of him \ and the earth
12 was filled with violence, injuftice and opprejfion. And
God looked upon the earth with pity \ unwilling to pro-
ceed to fever ity till there was abfolute neceffity -, and, behold,
it
^ An expreffion adapted to our capacity, to note God's deteftation
of fin, and his refolution to punifh it, after that man had made
himfelf quite another thing than God made him.
32 GENESIS. VI.
it was now tmiverfally corrupt ; for all flefh had cor-
rupted his way upon the earth, except Noah and his
1 3 family. And God at length revealed his awful but righteous
purpofe^ and faid unto Noah, The end of all fleih is
come before me, the time of their deftru5fion is at hand',
for the earth is filled with violence through them who
inhabit it j and, behold, I will deftroy them with the beafis
and fruits oftht earth, and all things made for man's ufe,
14 But I will preferve thee and thy family •, therefore Make
thee an ark of gopher wood, cedar^ or rather^ cyprefs \ ^
rooms, or apartments of fever al ftories for different pur-
pofes^ fhalt thou make in the ark, and fhalt pitch it
within and without with pitch ; with bitumen^ a kind of
liquid pitch common in the eajly to make it water proof
15 andfwim the eafter. And this [is the fafnion] andjize
which thou fhalt make it [of:] The length of the ark
[ihall be] three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty
cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits ; about
one hundred and fifty yards long^ twenty five broad^ and
16 fifteen yards high^ A window fhalt thou make to the ark,
probably the whole length of it^ and in a cubit thou fhalt
finiih it above, making the covering to rife on the top half
a yard^ to throw off the rain •, and the door of the ark
fhalt thou fet in the fide thereof-, [with] lower, fecond,
17 and third [ftories] fl\alt thou make it. And, behold,
I, even I, the maker and ruler of the worlds do bring
a flood of waters upon the earth, to deftroy all flefh,
wherein [Is] the breath of Hfe, from under heaven ;
[and]
c Of this great quantities grew about Babylon, near which
place the ark was buiJt : this wood is incorruptible; To that the
remains of the ark might have been {^tn in Jofephus's time, as
he and others fay it was. Bp. Wilson.
** Some unbelievers have objeded, that there was not room in
fuch a veifel for all the beaits and birds, and their provifions ;
but Bp. WiLKiNs has proved there was; and that a firft rate
man of war would be capacious enough for the purpofe. The
original fpecies of beafts and birds were but few j fifhes are except-
ed. It appears to me that this account of the ark confirms the
truth of fcripture; for its proportions are well adjulled; whereas,
had it been of human invention, or a jewifh tale, it would have
been reprefented, according to our confufed notion of things at
firit view, abundantly too large; but it was a fuitable fize, done
with truth and judgment.
GENESIS. VI. 33
[and] every thing that [is] in the earth fhall die, hut
1 8 what is preferved in the ark. But with thee, my faithful
fervant^ will I eftablifh my covenant for thy preferva-
tion ; and thou fhalt come into the ark, thou and thy
19 Tons, and thy wife, and thy fons' wives with thee. And
of every living thing of all flefh, two of every [fort] at
leajl^ fhalt thou bring into the ark, to keep [them] alive
20 with thee -, they fhall be male and female. Of fowls
after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every
creeping thing of the eartii after his kind*, and I will
order it fo^ that two of every [fort] fhall, by a kind of in-
21 ftin^^ come unto thee, to keep [them] alive. And
take thou unto thee of all food that Is eaten, and thou
fhalt gather [it] to thee in fufficient quantities \ and It
22 fhall be for food for thee, and for them. T^ius did
Noah, who exercifed faith in the divine threatenings •, ac-
cording to all that God commanded him, fo did he,
notwithfianding the feoffs of a wicked and unbelieving
vjorld,
REFLECTIONS.
I . O E E the fatal confequence of unequal marriages,
1^ which brought thefe dreadful corruptions into the
world. One would have thought thefe fons of God, thefe
defcendants of pious anceftors, fhould have minded fome-
thlng more than beauty in the face •, that they would have
been felicitous about grace in the heart -, but it was not fo.
This is one great caufe why corruption fo much prevails
in the world at this day *, and there is, perhaps, no inftance
in which good men and women have fhown their weaknefs
and imprudence more, than in choofing thofe for com-
panions in life who are only fair or rich, while they have
overlooked the ornaments of wifdom and grace ; nothing
by which parents have more difcovered their love of the
world, and little regard for the true welfare of their children,
than in contriving and encouraging fuch matches only, as
are founded on external endowments. The leflbn from
the whole is, be not unequally yoked j choofe fuch as fear
Vol. I. D God
54 GENESIS. VI.
God\ and form alliances with none but the fans and daugh^
ters of the Lord Almighty,
2. Let us admire the patience of God, which bore fo
long with a wicked world, namely, one hundred and twenty
years. He had given them warning before, by Enoch and
others -, yet he renews it, and retrads the fentence fo many
years. How unwilling was he to execute vengeance ! He
bore long, gaVe them fpace to repent, and fent Noah to
preach to them and Vv'arn them of their ruin. - The build-
ing of the ark was a continued fermon •, yet they remained
incorrigible.
3. See what a dreadful thing it is to grieve the fpirit
of God, which will not always drive with men •, there is a
limited time ; if its motions are checked and its kind in-
fluences defpifed, it will withdraw ; and, if it withdraws,
then men are fealed up under wrath and a curfe. Therefore
quench not the fpirit ♦, attend to its facred motions, feek its
influences, follow its leadings, that you may be the child-
ren of God, ^nd fealed by it^ not to wrath, but to the day of
redeinption.
4. Let us be humbled under the prefent degeneracy of
human nature, and grieved to think that this charader fo
well fuits us, and that our imaginations are fo often evil.
Perhaps there never was a time when it might more jufHy
be faid of the chriftian world, that it was corrupt before God^
3.nd filled with violence. Let us be humbled that there is
fuch pride, luft, and carnality in the minds of men, and
guard againft thofe paflions in our own.
5. Let us thankfully acknowledge God's grace and
mercy In faving a remnant from intended deftrudion :
that he did not deftroy every inhabitant of the earth, and
blot it out from among the works of his hands. This is
a mercy we fhould be thankful for, and efpeclally that in
the new world where fin abounded^ grace did much more
abound. Once more,
6. God's Angular favour to Noah is a ftrong argument
in favour of Angular piety in a degenerate day. His
building the ark vvas an inftance of his piety, and a proof
of the lincerity of his faith ; thus he became heir of the
righteoufnefs which is by faiths He had truth on his flde,
tho'
GENESIS, VII. s5
^ho' numbers were on the other fide. He not only was
good, but did good. He did not confine his truth and
goodnefs to himfelf, but fhowed it to others. It is the
fign of a great foul, for a man to retain his integrity in
the midfl of publick corruption. Thus did Noah. Let
us do likewife^ not follow multitudes to do evil, but
diflinguifh ourfelves by piety and goodnefs •, and God will
remarkably diftinguifh us by his favour here and hereafter.
In a word, lei us be blamelefs and harmlefs^ the fons of God
without rebuke^ in the midji of a crooked and perverfe gene*
ration.
CHAP. VII,
Noah enters the arL l!he beginnings increafe^ and continU'
ance of the flood,
1 yl> N D the Lord faid unto Noah, Come thou,
±\_ that is^ be ready to come at the end of f even days^
and all thy houfe, thy wife^ and thy three fons ^ and their
wives, into the ark-, for thee have I feen righteous
before me, andftudious to approve thyfelf in my fight , in
2 this generation. Of every clean beafl, fuch as I have
appointed for facrifice and food, thou fhalt take to thee by
fevens, the male and his female \ feven couples of a fort ^
that fome may be for food and facrtfice^ others for breed :
and of beafts that [are] not clean by two, the male and
3 his female. Of clean fowls alfo of the air by fevens,
the male and the female •, to keep feed alive upon the
4 face of all the earth. For yet {QVtn days from this
time, and I will caufe it to rain upon the earth in^
ceffantly forty days and forty nights, and every living
fubflance that 1 have made will I deftroy from ofF the
5 face of the earth, except what is in the ark. And Noah
did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.
6 Such was his faith and obedience. And Noah [was] fix
hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon
the earth.
7 And Noah went in, and his thres fons, and his wife,
D 2 and
36 GENESIS. VII.
and his fons' wives with him, into the ark, becaufe of
the waters of the flood, which they believed was juft at
hand to deluge the earth, ^he creatures alfo which came
hy a kiyid of irijlin^^ Noah received and placed in their pro^
8 per apartments : Of clean beafls, and of beads that [are]
not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creep-
9 eth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto
Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God
had commanded Noah to receive them,
10 . And it came to pafs after {^vtw days, or on thefeventh
day, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth,
began to defcend in fuch torrents^ as plainly indicated the truth
11 of the divine threat enings. In the flx hundredth year of
Noah's life, in the fecond month of their years, the feven-
teenth day of the month, the fame day, that very day^fo
worthy to be renumbered, were ail the fountains of the
great deep broken up, the waters that were funk into the
earth, and kept in fiorehoufes there ^ (Pfalm xxxiii. 7,)
gufhed out in mighty torrents^ and the windows of heaven
were opened, from whence the rain defcended, not in drops^
1 2 but in immenfe cataraSls, And the rain was /;/ coming
13 down upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In
the felf fame day that the flood began entered Noah, and
Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the fons of Noah,
and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his fons with
14 them, into the ark; They, and every beafl: after his
kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his
kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of
15 every fort. And they went in unto Noah into the
ark, two and two of all fiefli, wherein [is] the breath
16 of lifp. And they that went in, went in male and
female of all flefli, as God had commanded him to
receive them: and the Lord fliut him in, dire^ing him
when
* Thus hills mignt burfi, the rocks be rent, the earth be raifed
to higher mountains than before, fhells and light bodies might
be thrown to the tops of hills, where they continue to this day ;
and others might fink into the ground, where they are ftill dif-
covered very deep in all parts of the earth.
GENESIS. VII. 37
when and how to Jhut the door of the ark^ that no 07ie
elfe might intrude,
17 And the flood was forty days without intcrmijfion in
coming upon the earthy and the waters every day in-
creaied, and bare up the ark, and it was lift above
18 the earth. And now all hope of efcape from the ceaf-
ing of the rain was given up^ for the waters prevailed,
and were increafed greatly upon the earth ^ and the ark
19 went upon the face of the waters. And the waters
prevailed exceedingly upon the earth ; and arofe fo
high that they not only covered the plain^ hut all the high
hills, that is^ the highejl in thofe days^ that [were] under
the whole heaven, were covered ; fo that in vain wasfal-
20 vation looked for from the hills and monntains-, for Fifteen
cubits upward, that is, feven yards and an half^ did the
waters prevail over the highcfi lands \ and the highefi
mountains were covered \ fo that the deflru^ion of all but
thofe who were in the ark was inevitable.
21 And all flefh died that moved upon the earth, both
of fowl and of cattle, and of beaft, and of every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every
22 man, woman., and child: All in whofe noftrlls [was]
the breath of life, of all that [was] in the dry [land,]
died ; but fifh, and every thing that could live in the water^
23 are plainly excepted. And every living fubftance was de-
ftroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both
man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the
fowl of the heaven \ and they were deftroyed from the
earth : and Noah only remained [alive,] and they th&t
[were] with him in the ark.
24 And the v/aters prevailed upon the earth in their
full fir ength an hundred and fifty days.
REFLECTIONS.
I . T T O W happy are they who are righteous before
J~J^ ^^^ • This was Noah's charadler ; and his de-
liverance is an emblem of the great falvation of all good
men •, they fJjall be faved from the wrath to come. Let us
follow after righteoufnefs, like Zacharias and Elizabeth,
D 3 v/ho
38 GENESIS. VII.
who were righteous before Gody walking in all the ftatutes
and ordinances of the Lordy blamelefs. Let us not partake
of the fins of a wicked generation, left we alfo partake of
their plagues •, but fet the Lord always before us, ap-
prove ourfelves in his fight, and, whatever others doy ferve
the Lord: then will he hide us in his fecret places, and
furely in the floods of great waters they ftiall not come
nigh us.
2. How hateful is fin, which provoked God to blot out
and deftroy the creatures he had made ! What a fearful
thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God ! Sin
is that abominable thing which his foul hateth, and which
he will feverely punifh. This ftory fhould be a warning
to a carelefs world. Let us attend to that important
queftion in Job xxii. 15, 16. Hajfi thou marked the old way
which wicked men have trodden ? which were cut down out of
timey whofe foundation was overflown with a flood, ' Let us
hear and fear, and do no more wickedly.
3. How uncontroulable is the divine power over all
his creatures, animate and inanimate ! over the beafts,
to make them tame and gentle ; over ail the elements-,
he layeth lip the deep waters in his ftorehoufes, he fetteth
bars that they fhall not cover the earth •, he taketh off
thofe bars when he pleafeth, and caufeth the waters belov/
and above to unite their force to execute his divine com-
mifiion, and chaftife an incorrigible world. He fendeth
rain in its feafon, or can withhold the bottles of heaven.
Who would not adore and fear this awful God ? Who can
ftand before him when he is angry !
4. Obferve how exadly God fulfils his threatenings, as
well as his promifes. He had long foretold this judgment
by the preachers of righteoufnefs in the old world, but the
ungodly thought it would never come. Probably when
Noah was building this ark, they came and afked him
what he was about. When he told them, they laughed at
him, and aflced him, if he would fail on dry ground ? and
thought much piety had made him mad. What contempt
muft have been poured upon Noah, when they faw him
Ihut himfelf up in his ark, with fo many beafts and birds.
If there were any poets in thofe days, they were probably'
fatiricai
GENESIS. VII. 39
fatirlcal and witty upon the enthufiaftical o)d man ^ per-
haps they made ballads of him, and he became the fong
of the drunkard, Mark tjie end. The flood came, as God
had faid. Juft and true are all his declarations. Men may
fneer and defpife, but the Lord is a God of truth andjudg^
ment j and blejfed are all they that wait for him^ and hope in
him. Once more,
5. How unable fhall finners be at the great day to
efcape divine judgment ! So fudden and unexpeded fhall
that day come, as Luke fays, ch. xvii. 26. As it was in the
days of Noah^ fo fhall it be at the coming of the fon of man.
How awful was the judgment in the days of Noah — to be
furprized by death in fo carnal and fecure a flate •, — in the
midfl of peace and fafety, perhaps of mirth and riot. — Alas !
What became of their fumptuous buildings, of the tyrants
of the earth, of their giants and opprefTors !
. — — the floating veflbl fwum
Uplifted,
— — — —. — — — all dwellings elfe
Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their pomp
Deep under water roll'd.
MiLTOM
No doubt they tried all means to efcape -, in vain they fled
to trees and mountains •, perhaps clung about the ark, and
believed what Noah had fpoken •, but too late. Thoufands
might be waiting round the ark, and crying for admittance
before it was borne upon the waters, but in vain j God had
fhut the door, and man could not open it again. They faw
that ark with envy, which before they ridiculed and fcorned.
JVhen God judges he will overcome, Noah is fafe in his
vefTel amidft the gufhing torrents, the roar of beafts, and
the fhrieks and cries of his drowning neighbours. So fhall
the coming of the Son of man be — ludden and unexpeded.
Sinners fhall have no way of efcaping •, none but thofe
who are in Chriit, of whofe falvation the ark was a type,
fhall be fafe-, all the reft fhall perilli. The Saviour, the
Ark, whom they defpifed, will not take them in. Be
fober, left that day come upon you unaw^ares. Seeiitg ws.
look for fuch things as thefe^ what manner of perfons ought we
to be in all holy converfation and zodhiefs,
^ ^ D 4 C H A P.
40 GENESIS. VIII.
CHAP. VIII.
^hls chapter pre fents a new fcene : the former was dark, and
judgment was over the earth •, but in the midft of judgment
God remembers mercy, 'The waters ajfwage, Noah comes
out of the Ark •, offers an acceptable facrifice \ and God pro-
mifes to drown the world no more,
1 AND God kindly remembered Noah, and every
XX. living thing, and all the cattle that [was] with
him in the ark : and as foon as the end was anfwered for
which the flood was fent, God made zfjoarp drying wind,
which he brought out of his treafures, to pafs over the
2 earth, and the waters were aftwaged -, The fountains
alfo of the deep and the windows of heaven were ftop-
3 ped, and the rain from heaven was retrained ; And
the waters returned from off the earth continually ♦,
gradually gathering into feas, or finking into the bowels of
the earth : and after the end of the hundred and fifty
days in which they continued in their ftrength, the waters
were abated, or began to abate,
4 And the ark refted in the feventh month, on the
feventeenth day of the month, upon one of the moun-
5 tains of Ararat/ And the waters decreafed continually
until the tenth month : in the tenth [month,] on the
firft [day] of the month, were the tops of the moun-
■ tains feen •, about the beginning of May, when the heat of
the fun would contribute much to dry the ground.
6 And it came to pafs at the end of forty days after
the tops of the mountains were fir fl feen, that is, about the
end of our July, that Noah opened the window of the
7 ark which he had made : And he fent forth a raven,
which went forth to and fro about the ark, until the
8 waters were dried up from off the earth. Alfo feven
days after, the air probably being ftill foggy, and Noah
incapable of making obfervations, he fent fprth a dove
from him, to fee if the waters were abated from the
9 face of the ground •, But the dove found no reft for
the
^ A long chain of mountains like the Alps. The Syriac ren-
ders it Jtrmeuia^ io does the Vulgate.
GENESIS. Vm. 41
the fole of her foot, the ground being ftill muddy ^ and fhc
returned unto him in the ark, for the waters [were]
on the face of the whole earth : then he put forth his
hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into
10 the ark. And he ftayed yet other {^wtw days •, ^ and
again he fe^it forth the dove out of the ark, probably
on the evening of the fabbath^ after fame peculiar folem-
1 1 nities of devotion^ in order to ftrengthen his faith -, And
the dove came in to him in the evening •, and, lo, in her
mouth [was] an olive leaf plucked off: fo Noah knew
that the waters were greatly abated from off the earth,
J 2 tho* not quite gone. And he flayed yet other {Qvtn.
days, that is, till the next fabbath •, and fent forth the
dove ; which returned not again unto him any more,
finding reft and food fufficient.
13 And it came to pafs in the fix hundredth and firil:
year of Noah^s life, in the firft [month,] the firil [day]
of the month, the waters were entirely dried up from
off the earth : and Noah removed part of the covering
of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the
ground was dry,, free from waters, yet foft and muddy.
14 And in the fecond month, on the {zvtrv and twentieth
day of the month, was the earth dried, grown hard and
Jit for ufe •, fo that it was a complete folar year, or three
hundred and feventy-five days, from the beginning of the
flood to the drying up of the waters. See ch, vii. 1 1.
J5 16 And God fpake unto Noah, faying. Go forth
of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy Tons, and
J 7 thy fons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee
every living thing that [is] with thee, of all flefh,
[both] of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth ; that they may
breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and
18 multiply upon the earth. And Noah v/ent forth, and
his fons, and his wife, and his fons' wives with him :
19 Every beafl, every creeping thing, and every fowl,
[and] whatfoever creepeth upon the earth, after their
kinds, went forth out of the ark.
20 And Noah, full of gratitude, builded an altar unto
the
5 An intimation of their early meafaring time by weeks.
42 GENESIS. VIII.
the Lord, before he built a houfe for himfelf\ and took
of every clean beaft, and of every clean fowl, and offer-
ed burnt offerings on the altar, as an acknowledgment for
2 1 his remarkable prefervation. And the Lord fmelled a
fweet favour ♦, this was pleafant and acceptable to him \
and the Lord faid in his heart, refolved in himfelf and
made known his purpofes to JSfoah^ f^ji'^g-t I will not
again curfe the ground any more for man's fake with
fuch a deluge •, for, or rather^ though the imagination of
man's heart [is] evil from his youth ♦, neither will I
again fmite any more every living thing, as I have done.
22 For While the earth remaineth, feed time and harveft,
and cold and heat, and fummer and winter, and day
and night ihall not ceafe. God here obliges himfelf not to
overthrow the general courfe of nature all the world over
any more, tho" particular places may fuffer ; and^ bleffed be
God^ his promt fe hath never failed,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us adore the mercy of -God to Noah and his
i J poderity. He kindly remembered him, watched
over the ark, and took care that it fhould be fettled
upon a mountain, while the valleys were like a quagmire.
He alfo remembered the beads, to whom fuch a con-
finement muft have been very difagreeable. It gives us
an amiable idea of the goodnefs of God to other crea-
tures, as well as to man. O hord^ thou prefervefi man
and beafi,
2. Let us wait God's time for coming out of the moll
confined and uneafy circum (lances. In trouble the heart
is ready to fret againfl him •, but it is good to hope and
quietly wait for God^s falvation : fo Noah waited for God's
command •, he would not venture to come out of him-
felf. Let us learn in all our ways to acknowledge him
and he will dired our paths •, to eye his providence and fol-
low his leadings, then we fhall be fafe and happy. He that
believeth fhall not make hafle^ but wait God's time. Had
Noah gone out fooner, the earth would have been damp,
provifions would have been wanting for the beails, and
all
GENESIS. VIII. 43
ail might have perifhed together-, there is nothing like
having a commifTion from God.
3. Let us learn to pay cheerful facrifices to God for all
his mercies, efpecially for fignal deliverances. Thus Noah
did, and it was pleafing and acceptable to God. When he
brings our fouls out of prifon, let us praife his name. If
God hath preferved us in deep waters, when the waves
and billows were ready to go over us, let us blefs him :
for this Jhall every one that is godly pray unto thee. Of the
few creatures that Noah had left, he is willing to facri-
£ce fome. Let us not grudge our tribute of praife to God,
who in fix and feven troubles hath delivered us. The of-
ferings of a devout and grateful heart are ftill acceptable
to him •, and if they are prefented in the name of Chrift,
they will be a facrifice of a fweet fmelling favour.
4. We fhould thankfully acknowledge the divine pa-
tience in bearing with the provocations of men, and con-
tinuing his mercy to the earth. Let us be thankful that he
does not turn ei fruitful world into harrennefs for the wickednefs
of thofe that dwell therein — but giveth rain from heaven^
and the appointed weeks of harveft. He crowneth every
day with loving kindnefs and tender mercy ; he crowneth
the year with goodnefs, and the whole earth is full of it.
He hath fulfilled his promife to this day , feed time and
harveft, cold and heat, fummer and winter, day and night,
have not ceafed. And this fhould alfo confirm our faith in
the fulfilment of thofe promifes which are yet to. come, of
fpiritual and eternal blefTings. So God himfelf teacheth us
to conclude in Ifa, liv. 9, 10. For this is as the waters of
Noah unto me : for as I have fworn that the waters of Noah
fhould no more go over the earth ; fo have I fworn that I would
not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee. For the mountains
pall depart^ and the hills be removed^ but my kindnefs fmll not
depart from thee^ fieither fhall the covenant of my peace be
removed^ faith the Lord^ that hath mercy on thee.
(?HAP.
44 GENESIS. IX.
CHAP. IX. I— 17.
In the two preceding chapters we had an account of the world
being drowned^ and reftored to its original (late of one family^
In this^ we have God^s covenant with them^ and the feat of it.
1 A ^ ^ Go*^ blefled Noah and his fons, on their
±\_ coming out of the ark^ and fald unto them, as he
hadfaidto Adam andEve^ Be fruitful, and multiply, and
2 replenifh the earth. And he renewed to him the dominion
originally given to Adam^ f^j'^^^gt the fear of you and the
dread of you Ihall be upon every beaft of the earth,
and upon every fov/1 of the air, upon all that moveth
[upon] the earth, and upon all thefifhes of the fea^ into
your hand are they delivered, and for your ufe are they
3 intended, 'Therefore Every moving thing that Jiveth,
which is fit for food^ fhall be meat for you ; even as
freely as the green herb have I given you all things ;
4 therefore it is lawful to kill arid eat. But fleih with the
life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, that is, raw
5 Mood and raw fiefh, fhall ye not ec^t.*" And furely your
blood of your lives will I require, that is^ take venge^
ance for the fhedding of it ; at the hand of every beai^
will I require it, the beaft that kills a man Jhall be Jlainy
and at the hand of man ; at the hand of every man's
6 brother will I require the life of man. Whofo wil-
fully and unjuftly fheddeth man's blood, by man, by the
magiftrate, fhall his blood be fhed : for in the image
of God made he man, and therefore fuch an injury
to man is a high affront to God, whofe image he hears.
7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply ; bring forth
abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
8 And God fpake unto Noah, and to his fons with him,
9 faying. And I, behold, I, the almighty and unchangeable
Jehovah, eflablifh my covenant with you, and with
your
*» This is a pofitive precept, intended for their health and pre-
fervation, to prevent unneceflary cruelty in the ufe of the crea-
tures, a^d becaufe blood was to be offered as a ranfom for man^^
life and inrtead thereof, which he had forfeited to God's juftice;
and to make them more fearful of'iliedding man's blood, as the
next word; fticw.
GENESIS. IX. 45
10 your feed after you, to the lateft pofterity •, And with
every living creature that [is] with you, of the fowl, of
the cattle, and of every beaft of the earth with you ;
from all that go out of the ark, and to every beaft of
1 1 the earth which Jhall hereafter inhabit it.^ And I will
eftabllfh my covenant with you, this 7ny decree Jhall never
be revoked \ neither fhall all flefh be cut off any more by
the waters of a flood ; neither fhall there any more be
12 a flood to deftroy the earth. And, to give 'Noah and his
pofterity the fulleft fatisfaBion^ God faid. This [Is] the
token, the Jer.fibleftgn or feal^ of the covenant which I
make betwen me and you and every living creature
13 that [is] with you, for perpetual generations: I do fet
my bow in the cloud, / now appoint it for this end^ and
it fhall be for a token of a covenant between me and the
14 earth. And it fhall come to pafs, when 1 bring a cloud
over the earth, that the bow fhall be feen in the cloud :
1 5 And, to fpeak after the manner of raen^ I will remember
my covenant, which [is] between me and you and every
living creature of all fiefh ; and the waters fhall no
16 more become a flood to deftroy all flefh. And the
bow fhall be in the cloud; and 1 will look upon it,
that 1 may remember the everlafting covenant between
God
* This fhows that creatures are capable of being parties in a
covenant and receiving benefit from it, who are not capable of
underftanding any thing about it- ?
^ There was a peculiar propriety in appointing the rainbow to
be the token, as it appeared at a time when their fears would be
naturally moft apt to rife. The Greeks call it ^xv^aroq, to intimate
its being a wonderful work of God. As the rainbow is a na-
tural appearance, occafioned by the refrafticn of the fun's light
in drops of falling rain, moil interpreters fuppofed thac it ap-
peared before the flood, and was now only appointed as a voluntary
lign. But others, thinking this would not have been fatisfadory
to Noah, are of opinion, that there was no rainbow before the
deluge, and that either there were no clouds, or they had not
that quality which is requifite to produce this appearance. In
this particular thofe two dilterent theoiilrs, Whiston and Bur>
NET, are fully agreed. Homer feems to have had a notion that
the rainbow was at firil fet in the clouds to be a i'ig'nt to men.
Iliad xi. v* 28,
Jove*s v/ondrous bow, of three celelliai dyes,
Plac'd as a fign to man amid the Ikies.
45 GENESIS. IX.
God and every living creature of all flefh that [is] up-
1 7 on the earth. And God again faid unto Noah, This
[is] the token of the covenant, which I have eftablifhed
between me and all fiefh that [is] upon the earth. 'This
is often repeated^ to ftrengthen the faith of all men^ and
efpecially of Noah and his fons^ whom the remembrance of
that dreadful deluge had 7nade too apprehenftve of the like
again.
REFLECTIONS.
I . T E T us be thankful for the divine blefling, by
I J which the world is peopled, and fo many millions
raifed from Noah and his three fons ; fo that fuch multi-
tudes of inhabitants have fpread over the whole earth.
That this blelTing of God ftill continues, and as one gener-
ation pafTeth away another cometh j this calls for thankful-
nefs and praife.
2, Let us blefs God for imprefUng this fear of man up-
on the beafls. It is a great happinefs that they have not
the ufe of reafon, thereby to confederate together and
purfue their common intereft. It is an inftance of divine
goodnefs, that lions, tygers, and other furious bealls, are
generally found in deferts where men cannot inhabit. God
in his righteous judgment fometimes makes them the
fcourge of nations. Thus he fent lions among the Afly-
rians. It is his bridle in their jaws that keeps them from
making havock of men. Let us admire his goodnefs, and
be thankful, as Job expreffes it, that we are at league with
the flones of the fields and that the beafts of the field are at
peace with us. Again,
3. Let us acknowledge the liberal provifion which God
hath made for the fuftenance and refrelhment of men ! that
he hath not only given us herbs, but allows us to kill and
feed on his creatures : that the flefh of different animals
hath fuch different tafte and flavour •, that there is fuch an
agreeable variety, and that in general it is fo wholefome a
diet. Every creature of God is good\ let us receive them
with thankfgiving ; and whether we eat^ or drink^ or what-
ever.
GENES IS. IX. 47
ever we do^ let us do all to the glory ^of God in the yiame of
Jefus Chrijt.
. 4. Let us aclcnowledge the divine goodnefs in his tender
regard for the life of man : that we are not, as the lifh of
the fea, or the fowls of the air, left to devour one ano-
ther. \Ve are under the protection of good laws, and
fpend our days fecure from violence. If God hath fuch re-
gard for the life of man in general, how much more for the
lives of good men ! Precious in the fight of the Lord is the
death of his faints \ and they fhall be feverely punifhed who
fhed innocent blood. God will certainly make inquifition
for the blood of his faints, and will awfully avenge it, not
only feven times, but feventy times {tvtw. Here it is de-
clared, V. 6. ^j!;hofo fheddeth man's bloody by man fhall his
blood be fhed ; and the gofpel adds, that no murderer hath
eternal life — he fhall perifh for ever. Let us then be
tender of the lives of our fellow creatures, and do what
we can to make them eafy and comfortable -, for he that
hateth his brother is a murderer,
5, Let us be thankful for the covenant made with man
^^ 9. It is a remarkable expreflion, /, behold^ I; this
fpeaks his condefcenfion and goodnefs •, /, the eternal and
infinite Jehovah, eftabli/h my covenant with you and with your
feed after you. Let us be thankful that he will not drown
the world again ; but more efpecially fo for the new and
better covenant which is eflablifhed in Chrift Jefus, who
came to fave the world. This covenant is called everlafl-
ing, that is, it Thall continue as long as the world endures'.
But the new covenant is everlafling in a nobler fenfe, as it
extends thro' eternity. And to confirm God's fidelity, he
is reprefented both in Ezekiel and the Revelation as feat-
ed on a throne, and a rainbow round about it. When-
ever we fee this glorious appearance in the heavens, let
us remember the everlafling covenant, well ordered In all
things and fure •, and rejoice that he is faithful who hath
fromifed^ and will alfo do it,
CHAP.
4B G E N E S I S. IX.
CHAP. IX. 1 8, to the end.
pVe have here the Jin and Jhame of Noah ; the wickednefs of one
of his fons ; the dutiful refpe5i of the other two ; andfome
remarkable freditUons of his concerning the?n.
1 8 /| N D the Tons of Noah, that went forth of the ark,
X\ were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth : and Ham
[is] the father of Canaan •, from whom the Canaanites de-
fended j that accurfed race^ whofe land God gave to Ifrael,
19 Thefe [are] the three fons of Noah : and of them was
the whole earth overfpread and peopled anew,
20 And Noah, as foon as he was fettled in the earthy be-
gan [to be] an hufbandman, and he planted a vine-
21 yard : And, fome years after ^ he drank too freely of the
wine which he had made^ and, perhaps not knowing its
firength^ and before he was aware ^ was drunken, or in
fome degree intoxicated^ {compare John ii. 10,) and while he
22 lay afleep he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham,
the father of Canaan, being told it by Canaan^ (whoproba^
hly firfl faw it^ and therefore is only mentioned in the curfe^)
law the nakednefs of his father, and told his two bre-
23 thx^n \\\\.\\out^ in derijwn and contempt of his father. And
Shem and Japheth, inftead of joining with him in their
indecent fport^ took a garment, and laid [it] upon both
their fhoulders, and went backward, and covered the
nakednefs of their father ; and their faces [were] back-
24 ward, and they faw not their father's nakednefs. And
Noah awoke from his wine, and perceiving the covering
he had upon hifn^ and enquiring the caufe^ he foon knew what
25 his younger fon had done unto him. And he by divine
infpiration faid, Curfed [be] Canaan, in his per fon and
pojieriiy ; a fervant of fervants, a moft abje^Jlave^ fhall
he be unto his brethren. And from him the curfe both
ajc ended to his father Ham^ and defended to his pojlerity
the Canaanites. But upon his other two fons ^ who dif covered
fo much filial duty^ hepronomiced a moft- import a/nt benediction •,
26 And he faid, Bleffed [be] the Lord God of Shem j who
of his fpecial favour hath enabled him to a5i fuch a worthy
part^ ayid hath taken him into a pecidiar relation to himfelfi
and
G E N E S I S. IX. 49
27 and Canaan fhall be his fervant. God fhall alfo enlarge
Japheth, his territories and his pofterity^ and he fhall
dwell in the tents of Shem, they Jhall join like brethren
in the worjhip of the true God^ "as the Gentiles do who are
grafted on the good olive •, and Canaan fhall be his fer-
vant, be in fubje^iion to Japheth as well as to Shem, and
excluded from the privileges promifed to both,
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and
29 fifty years. And all the days of Noah v/ere nine hun-
dred and fifty years : and he died •, but thirty two years
before the birth of Abram, Hi' great age was Jlngularly
providential for propagating religion in the new world, to
which, as well as the old, he was, no doubt, a preacher of
righteoufnefs,
REFLECTIONS.
I. TXT" E learn hence how odious a fin drunkennefs is.'
V V Tho' many excufes may be urged in behalf of
Noah, and we know not that he ever repeated this crime ;
yet, what dreadful confequences followed ! Let him that
thinketh he ftandeth, take heed left he fall. Let profeffiiig
chriflians walk circumfpedly, and carefully guard againft
whatever might prove the occafion of fin and folly. The
apoflle not only delivered that prohibition, Be not drunk
with wine wherein there is excefs, but adds, Abftain from the
appearance of evil. In order to avoid criminality in this, as
well as in other things, it is good to keep out of the way
of temptation. Look not upon wine when it is red, when it
giveth its colour in the cup, when it moveth itfelf aright •, at the
laft it biteih liketh a ferpent andftingeth like an adder. This
was flrikingly illuftrated in the cafe of Noah •, it expofed
him to fhame. If men did but fee what beafls they make
of themfelves when they are in liquor ♦, how unbecoming a
lituation it often placeth them in ; and what folly it occa-
fions them to utter •, furely they would abhor the thought
of being guilty of this vice. Bleffed is he that watcheth^
and keepeth his garments, left he walk naked, and they fee his
Jhame, Rev, xvi. 15.
2. See the fcandal and fin of difobedience to parents.
Vol. I. E and
50 GENESIS. IX.
and how heinous it is in the light of God. Ham, one of
Noah's fons, was of fo depx^aved a difpofition, that he
made fport of his good father's weaknefs, and publickly
told his brethren of it in the ftreets-, he fecretly rejoic-
ed, it may be, to fee the good old man overtaken in a
fault, for which Noah had feverely reproved others, and
perhaps Ham himfelf. Herein he fhowed himfelfto be one
of thofe fools which Solomon fpeaks of, who make a mock at
fin* It is no uncommon thing for the wicked to make a
jeft of the fins of others, as well as their own \ and to make
the fins and weaknefTes of good men in particular, the
fubjecSis of their ungodly mirth: but it (hows a dreadful
degree of hardnefs in thofe w^ho are capable of it, and ef-
pecially in children, to mock at the weaknefs of their pious
parents. Let young people carefully guard againft every
thing of this kind •, and let good men take care that they
give them no occafion. The condud of the other two fons
of Noah, who fo, decently and kindly laid a covering over
their father, was much to their honour, and affords an
example well worthy of imitation. True charity, or love,
will hide a multitude of fins, and caft a veil over a thou-
fand infirmities of good parents, neighbours, and friends.
Thofe who are thus kind and dutiful may expedl a blef-
jing ; but wicked fcoffers, and efpecially wicked children of
pious parents, Ihall be curfed with Canaan.
3. What a f^riking proof have we here of the foreknow-
ledge of God, and the divine origin of the fcriptures ! This
prophecy hath been moft remarkably accomplifhed in the
hiftory of Noah's fons and their pofterity. We all know
in what an av/ful manner the curfe denounced upon Ham
was executed, in the total extermination of the Canaanites ;
and we know alfo, that the blefTmg pronounced upon the
other two fons of Noah was as remarkably fulfilled, par-
ticularly in the defcent of the glorious Redeemer from the
pofterity of Shem. Let us, with Noah, devoutly fay,
Blejfed be the God of Shem^ for the covenant of grace
effcablifhed in the Redeemer, and all the fpiritual bleflings
conveyed through him. Once more,
4. Let us, v/ho are of the race of Japheth, be thankful
that we have been perfuaded to dwell in the tents of Shem,
and
G E N E S I S. X. 51
and that the Lord God hath dwelt in our tents : that we
/inner s of the Gentiles^ who were once ftr angers and foreigners^
are made fellow-citizens with the faints and heirs of the pro-
mife. Let us be thankful that we have ftill the tokens of
the divine prefence among us •, and efpecially if any of us
have been perfuaded to open to him the door of our hearts.
Let us pray in faith for the accompli fhment of the pro-
phecies concerning the univerfal eftablifhment of the Re-
deemer's kingdom, that all the fons of Noah may become
holinefs to the Lord, and the whole earth be filled with
his glory. Amen,
CHAP. X.
As there is little in this chapter of a praBical nature \ a fhort
illuflration of fome parts of it only will he given,
1 "^T O W thdc following [are] the generations of the
J^^ fons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth : and
unto them were fons born after the flood.
2 The fons of Japheth, who was the eldefl, were thefe
feven •, Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and
3 Tubal, and Mefhech, and Tiras. And the fons of
Gomer, Japheth^s eldefi fon^ were Afhkenaz, and Ri-
4 phath and Togarmah. And the fons of Javan, the fourth
fon of Japheth^ were Eliiha, and Tarfhifh, Kittim, and
5 Dodanim. By thefe fever al branches of Noah's family
were the ifles of the Gentiles^ divided in their lands;
every one after his tongue, after their families, in their
nations.™
6 And the fons of Ham, Noah's fecondfon, were Cufh,
7 and Mizraim, and Phur, and Canaan. And the fons
of Cufh, were Sebah, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and
E 2 Raamah,
* Countries of Europe, called ifles, becaufe feparated from Jude»
by the fea.
^ At the dividing of tongues, God, by his providence, (o
©rdered it, that all of a family or nation fpake the fame lan-
guage, and fettled themfelves together accordingly, in fuch and
fuch places.
St G E N E S I S. X.
Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the Tons of Raamah, were
8 Sheba, and Dedan. And Cufh afterwards begat ano-
^her/on, who was called Nimrod : he began to be a mighty
one in the earth •, to affeB and ufiirp a tyrannical govern-
9 ment, and to enlarge his dominions. He was a mighty
hunter before the Lord-," he jnade himfelf popular by
hunting and killing wild heafis ; and at laft ufurped the go-
vernment ^ and became a cruel persecutory opprejfor^ and
tyrant : wherefore it is faid. Even as Nimrod the mighty
hunter before the Lord j his cruelty and tyranny were Jo
notorious^ that it became a proverb of reproach concerning a
10 tyrannical perjon^ He is a very Nimrod, And the begin-
ning of his kingdom was Babel, he being the founder of
the Babylonifto empire \ and afterwards he built Erech, and
Accad, and Cahieh, in the land of Shinar. But his
1 1 ambition not being yet fatisfiedy Out of that land he went
forth to Asfnur, that is, the land of AJfyria^ which was
called by his name^ Micah v. 6. and there he bullded
12 Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, And
Refen between Nineveh and Calah : the fame [is]
13 Jiill a great city. And Mizraim, the fecond fon of Ham ^
begat feveral fons^ from whom fprang the people called
Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
14 And Pathrufim, and Cafluhim, (out of whom came
Philiflim,) and Caphtorim.
15 And Canaan, the youngejl fon of Ham, begat Sidon his
16 firft born, and Heth, the father of the Hittites^ And the
17 Jebufite, and the Amorite, and the Girgafite, And the
1 8 Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, And the Ar-
vadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite : and
afterward were the feveral families of the Canaanitcs
1 9 now mentioned fpread abroad. And the border of the
Canaanites
° The opprelTion of mankind is reprefented by hunting them-
It is probable that Nimrcd thus hunted men under the pretence
of hunting wild beafts, and his courage and dexterity in the lat-
ter, might qualify him for the former. The cxprelfion before the
Lord, is fometimes ufed only to denote fomething of diftinguilhed
eminence. See Gen. xiii. 13. ^ds vii. 20. margin. Luke i. 6. The
LXX. reads, againji the Lord. Government, before Nimrod's time,
was only patriarchal. It is obfervable that the firft monarch was
a tyrant; and the conquerors of the earth may properly be Hiled
mighty hunters. See Jer, xvi. 16. E%ek* xiii. 21.
G E N E S I S. X. 53
Canaanites was from Sidon,° as thou comeft to Gerar,
and it extended fouthward unto Gaza •, as thou goeft, un-
to Sodom and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim,
20 even unto Lafha,P Thefe [are] the Tons of Ham,
after their families, after their tongues, in their coun-
tries, [and] in their nations.
21 Unto Shem alfo, the father of all who in fcripture are
called the children of Eber, (and after him are named
Hebrews) unto Shem the brother of Japheth the elder
fin of Noah^ even to him, who-m God had aleffed, were
22 [children] born. Jnd The children of Shem, whofe
family is of peculiar importance in the hiftory of the churchy
were thefe -^ Elam, and Asfliur, and Arphaxad, and Lud,
23 and Aram. And the children of Aram, 'it^fr^ Uz, and
24 Hul, and Gether, and Mafh, or Mefloech. And Ar-
phaxad begat Salah •, and Salah begat Eber before men-
25 tioned. And unto Eber were born two fons : the name
of one [was] Peleg, which ftgnifies^ difperfion •, for in his
days was the earth divided i^ and his brother's name
26 [was] Joktan. And Joktan htg2.t thirteen fons \ namely^
Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazermaveth, and Jerah,
27 28 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, And
29 Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, And Ophir, and Ha-
vilah, and Jobab : all thefe [were] the fons of Joktan.
30 And their dwelling was from Meflia, as thou goeft, un-
3 1 to Sephar, a mount of the eaft. Thefe [are] the fons of
Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their
32 lands, after their nations. Thefe [are] the families of
the fons of Noah, after their generations, in their na-
tions : and by thefe were the nations divided in the
earth after the flood-, the occqfion of which divifion is
hereafter related,
E 3 CHAP.
* A famous antient city, lying northward, which took its name
from Canaan's eldeft fon.
f Or the famous city Dan; called alfo Laifli, Judges xviii.
29. and Lelham, Jo/h, xix. 47. This was the country of the Ca-
naanites, which God afterwards gave to the Ifraelites, extending
about one hundred and eighty miles. Wells's Geogr. Vol. I. p. 304.
*i About the time of his birth it happened that the inhabitants
of the earth were divided, firll in language, then in habitation.
54 GENESIS, XI.
CHAP. XL
'The difperjion of the fons of men at Babel \ the pofterity of Shem
dozvn to Ahram ; and his removal from his ndtive country.
1 /\ ^ ^ ^^^ whole earth was //// this period^ that is^
Xm. ^boiit an hundred years after the floods of one lan-
guage, and of one fpeech, which probably was the Hebrew.
2 And it came to pafs, as they, Nimrod and his confederates^
journeyed from the eaft, that they found a large fruit-
ful plain in the land of Shinar ; and they dwelt
there/
^ And they faid one to another, Go to, let us make
brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick
for ftone, which that country did not afford^ and flime' had
4 they for mortar. And they faid. Go to, let us build us a
city and a tower, whofe top [may reach] unto the clouds
of heaven ; and thus let us make us a name, left we be
{battered abroad upon the face of the whole earth •, let us
perpetuate our fame^ fir engthen our union^ and provide our-
5 felves a fettled abode. And the Lord came down to fee the
city and the tower, which the children of men builded \
and made it appear^ by the fequel^ that he took notice of this
6 their proud^ vain-glorious attempt^ to punifh it. And the
Lord faid. Behold, the people [is] one, and are deter-
mined fo to remain ; and they have ail one language, which
is favourable to their purpofe \ and this tvhichth^y begin
to do is an evidence of their ambitious deftgns : and now
they apprehend nothing will be reftrained from them,
7 which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go
down, and there confound their language, that they
may
' The pleafant valley along which the river l^ygyis run?, com-
prehending the country of Eden, in which paradile was fituaied.
See Wells's Geog. Vol. I. p. 209.
« A kind of liquid pitch, which was an exceeding flrong ce-
ment; of which there was, according to Pliny, great plenty in
Aflyria. With this, Herodotus fays, the waiJs ofBabyion were
cemented; it is cailed bitumen by ibme vvriters, and is thought to
be the afphaltus, which (fays Suida^) being mixed wit'.i brick^
and fmall ftoneo, became as hard as iion. Kdit,
GENESIS. XI. ^r^
8 may not underftand one another's fpeech/ So the
Lord, by the confufion he introduced among them^ fcattered
them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth :
and they left off to build the city, without attempting it
9 any more. Therefore is the name of it called Babel, that
is^ confufion-y becaufe the Lord did there confound the
language of all the earth; and from thence did the
Lord fcatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
10 Thefe followiyig [are] the generations of Shem, the
ancefiors of Ahram^ and progenitors of Chrift: Shem [was]
an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years
1 1 afrer the flood : And Shem lived af^er he begat Ar-
phaxad five hundred years, and begar oiker fons and
12 daughters. And Arphaxad lived f„ve '.^ tliirty years,
13 and begat Salah : And Arphaxad lived after he begat
Salah four hundred and three years, and begat fons and
14 daughters. And Salah lived thirty years, and begat
15 Eber: And Salah lived after he begat Eber four
hundred and three years, and begat fons and daughters.
16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg :
17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and
thirty years, the longeft of any of the patriarchs after the
1 8 floods and begat fons and daughters. And Peleg lived
19 thirty years, and begat Reu : And Peleg lived after he
begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat fons
20 and daughters. And Reu lived two and thirty years,
21 and begat Serug : And Reu lived after he begat Serug
two hundred and feven years, and begat fons and
22 daughters. And Serug lived thirty years, and begat
23 Nahor, the firji patriarch who fell into idolatry: And
Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years,
24 and begat fons and daughters. And Nahor lived nine
and twenty years, and begat Terah, Ahram''s father :
25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and
26 nineteen years, and begat fons and daughters. And
Terah lived feventy years, and between that time and his
hundred and thirtieth year he begat three fons •, tlie mojl
E 4 diftinguifjed
* This was done by making them forget their former language,
and imprinting feveral langnageii in the mind.:; of feveral families
or nations.
§6 G E N E S 1 S. XL
difiinguijhed of %vhich^ tho'' theyoungefi^ was Khr^m^ the
other two were Nahor, and Haran.
27 Now thefe [are] the generations of Terah : Terah
begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran •, and Haran, the eldejl
28 fon^ begat Lot. And Haran died before the face of\\\s
father Terah in the land of his nativity, in the country
29 afterwards called Ur of tht Chaldees. And Abram and
Nahor took them wives : the name of Abram's wife
[was] Sarai ; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the
daughter of Haran, their elder brother^ deceafed^ who was
the father of Milcah, and the father of Ifcah, otherwife
30 called Sarai, But Sarai was barren-, fhe [had] no child.
3 1 And Terah took Abram his fon, who had been warned
of God to leave his native country^ and I^ot the fon of
Haran his fon's fon, and Sarai his daughter in law, his
fon Abram's wife •, and they went forth with them from
Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan ; "*
and they came unto a place which they called Haran, after
32 'Terah' s fon who was dead^ and dwelt there. And the
days of Terah were two hundred and five ^ years : and
Terah died in Haran, which was about half way to the
land of Canaan,
REFLECTIONS.
I. '\T17' E learn, that men are often impofed upon by
Y V their own ambition, and that God can eafily
confound their fchemes. He takes the wife in their own
craftinefs\ no device that is formed againft him and his
defigns fhall ftand : the fear of the wicked^ it fh>aU come upon
him. They wanted a name and a defence, and God gave
them confufion. It is to be feared we have our" Babels, on
which we beftpw pains and coft, to be talked of: but let us
be cautious ; Pride goeth before deflru^ion^ and a haughty
fpir it before a fall,
%. Learn
" Here begin the four hundred and thhty years, at the end
of which liracl came out of Egypt.
^ The Samaritan Pentateuch reads one hundred and forty-five;
which, Dr. Keknicott obferves, vindicates the truth of St,
Stephen's aflertion in Acts vii. 4. Edjt,
G E N E S I S. XL 57
2. Learn the dependance of the human mind and
tongue upon God. He made man at firft capable of fpeakl
ing *, gave him ideas, and the power of utterance. The
wifer heathens afcribe the origin of language to God. What
a furprlzing thing was it, that all the ideas of fuch multi-
tudes fhould be changed, and a new language imprefled
on their minds at once 1 Some have fald, that there was
nothing new or ftrange in this ; but no other than a divine,
fupernatural caufe was ever aiTigned that was adequate to
fuch an eifed. God, who made the tongue, can ealily
give the proper ufe of it, and form the mind to the know-
ledge of a new language. Thus, while the v/orld was
peopled by the confufion of tongues, the gofpel was propa-
gated by the gift of tongues. See A^s li. A circum-
ftance equally extraordinary and ufeful in its place.
3. Since we find in this chapter, that human life v/as
fhoitened, it becomes us to work in hafte. Shem lived fix
hundred years i fome of his immediate defcendants only
two hundred years •, and at length the term was reduced to
feventy years : therefore let us redeem the time, begin the
great work of religion early, and whatever our hands find
to do^ do it with all our mighty fince there is neither wifdoniy
nor device^ nor knowledge in the grave^ whither we are
going.
4. Friendfhip with God is a greater honour than birth
can give us. Abram is here put before his elder brother,
becaufe he was chofen to be a remarkable man. The greateft
honour is to be a friend and fervant of God: let us feek
that honour which cometh from him only.
5. Parents fiiould engage their children to fet out with
them in the way to the heavenly Canaan, the land of pro-
mlfe; thus, ^^ 31, Terah took his children. It is not
fufiicient to ferve God ourfelves, but wemuft doit with all
our houfe : while we walk ourfelves in the paths of righ-
teoufnefs and the way to heaven, we ihould endeavour to
lead others with us ; pray for them, that they may be in-
clined to follow us •, tell them what a good land it is, what
God hath commanded us and them, and what kind pro-
vifions he hath made for our eternal felicitv. Let us be
ftedfafi:
58 GENESIS. XII.
iledfaft and diligent in all our attempts to perfuadc and
lead them to the heavenly country.
6. Let not good men be furprized if they meet with ac-
cidents in the way, to retard them in their progrefs toward
the promifed land. Terah died in Haran. His children
hoped for his company and infer unions for years to corne j
but he w^as cut off in the way. This often happens to good
men ; their guides and leaders are taken away. Let us
then be folicitous to fill up their places, to walk in the fame
paths ; and not be Jlolhful^ but followers of them^ who thro*
faith and patience inherit the promifes.
CHAP. XIL
The Old 'Tejiament being principally written for the Jews^ much
isfaid of Abram their anceflor, Antient writers mention him
as a great and good man. We now enter upon hisflory \ and
have here^ God^s call of Abram to leave his native country ;
the divine promife to him in Canaan •, his removal into Egypt ^
on account of the famine \ and Sarai^s danger and deliverance
there.
t T^TOW the Lord had appeared inMefopotamia"^ and
j^^ faid unto Abram^ Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred, left thou be infected with idolatry^
and from thy father's houfe, unto a land that I will
ftiow thee, but with which thou art not at prefent ac-
2 quainted: And I will make of thee a great nation, and
I will blefs thee, and make thy name great •, and thou
^ fhalt be a bleffmg : ^ And I will blefs them that blefs
thee, and curfe him that curfeth thee; I will enter into
the ftri^feft friendfbip with thee •, thy friends fhall be my
friends^ and thy enemies my enemies \ then comes the great
promife \ and in thee, that is^ in thy feed^ which is Chrijl^
(as
^ See J^ls vii 2.
y A means of conveying bleffednefs to thy poilerity, who lliall
be blelTed for thy fake ; to thy friends and fervants, who ihail
be blelled by thy inilruiftion and example ; to all the world,
by being the progenitor of Chrili, and an eminent pattern of
faith and holincfs.
GENESIS. XII. 59
(ds the apoftle fhows^ Gal, ili. 8, 16.) fhall all families
of the e?.rth, believers of all nations y be blefTed.
4 So Abram departed, Jirjl from XJr^ and afterwards
from Haran^ as the Lord had fpoken unto him ; and
Lot went v\ith him : and Abram [was] feventy and five
5 years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram
took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's fon, and all
their fubflance that they had gathered, and the loub
that they had gotten in Haran, profelyted fervants as
well as children ; and they went forth to go into the land
of Canaan, a firange and unknown land-, hut^ trufiing in
God for their guide y they perfevered^ and into the land of
Canaan they came.
6 And Abram pafTed through the land unto the place
of Sichem, afterwards called Samaria^ unto the plain of
Moreh/ And the Canaanite, that acciirfed and idolatrous
people^ [was] then in the land ; fo that he could expe^
7 little comfort ^ and found great trials for his faith. And
the Lord appeared^ unto Abram /^r his encouragement^
and faid. Unto thy feed, thd' not to thyfelf^ will I give
this land, which they fur ely fhall pof}efs\ and there build-
ed he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto
him, for facrifice and thankfgiving for this mercy ^ and to
8 keep them clofe to the worpip of the true God, And he re-
moved from thence fouihward, unto a mountain on the
eaft of Beth^el, as it was afterwards called^ but then Luz^
and pitched his tent, [having] Beth- el on the weft, and
Hai on the eaft : and there alfo he builded an altar unto
the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord ;
worfhipping God by prayer^ preaching to his family ^ and
9 offering facrifices . And Abram journeyed, goiiig on ftill
toward thefouth; hut found repeated difappointments^ and
trials for his faith,
10 And ^/ length there was a famine in the land, which
obliged him to leave it for a time : and Abram went down
into Egypt to fojourn there j for the famine [was]
grievous
* SitUAied near the two mountains Gerizzim and Ebal.
* By a new revelation, to llrengthen his faith, now that he faw
all the land before him pofJelTed by the Canaanite. Abram is the
^rll perfon to whom Gcd is iaid in icripiure to have appeaieJ,
6o GENESIS. XII.
11 grievous in the land of Canaan, And it came to pafs,
when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he
faid unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou
12 [art] a fair v;oman to look upon : Therefore it fhall
come to pafs, when the Egyptians fhall fee thee, that
they fhall fay. This [is] his wife : and they will kill
me,^ but they will fave thee alive, andfome one will take
13 thee as a -wife or concubine. Say, I pray thee, thou [art]
my fifler •/ that it may be well with me for thy fake;
and my foul fhall Hve becaufe of thee ♦, my life fhall be
fafe^ and I fhall have nothing to fear.
14 And according to his expe£iation^ it came to pafs that,
when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians
15 beheld the woman that fhe [was] very fair. The Prin-
ces alfo of Pharaoh faw her, and commended her be-
fore Pharaoh j*^ and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's
16 houfe, probably in order to his marrying her* And he in-
treated Abram well for her fake, to gain his confent : and
ly Pharaoh's gift he had fneep, and oxen, bejtdes what
he had of his own^ and he afTes, and men fervants, and
maid fervants, and fhe afTes, and camels. But the God of
Abram was highly difpleafed at the wicked defigns of the
17 monarchy And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his
houfe with great plagues, becaufe of Sarai Abram's
J 8 wife/ And Pharaoh called Abram, and faid, What
[is] this [that] thou haft done unto me ? why didft
thou not tell me that fhe [was] thy wife ? which he might
19 underfland upon further enquiry by Sarai^s confeffion. Why
faidfl thou, She [is] my fifler ? fo I might have taken
her to me to wife : now therefore \i^\io\di^ fince fhe is thy
wife, take [her,] and go thy way, Pharaoh's reproof was
mild
^ This fear of being killed vvas the more inexcufable in Abram,
as the oromife of a leed to defcend from him was not yet fulfilled,
and therefore was a fecurity to his life.
<^ Tho' this was true in fome fenfe, (ch. xx. 12.) yet not as
they underftood it ; and fo he expofed her to danger, contrary
to his duty.
^ All their kings were called Pharaoh, which iignifies the father
cf the people.
« Probably with fome fuch diitemper as did both chaftife him
for, and hinder him from executing his defigns.
GENESIS. XII. 6
20 //^'.l/ and juflj and his condvM generous. And Pharaoh
commanded [his] men concerning him, that they fliould
not offer him any injury^ hit /how hi-m all ma?mer of kind^
nefs : and they fent him away, and his wife, and all rhat
he had, believing him to be a peculiar favourite of heaven.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us think nothing too dear to leave for God,
I V and implicitly follow wherever he leads. Thus
did Abram, Heh. xi. 8. The golp^l commandeth us to
forfake houfes and land for Chrift's fake •, and if we do fo,
we fhall in no wife lofe our reward ♦, for tJie earth is the
Lord's^ and the fulnefs thereof. All lands are the good
man's country. If we are willing to follow the divine
diredions, God will lead us in the right way to a city of
habitation, and to a happy end.
2. Let us earneftly pray for the divine blefTmg; that he
may blefs us, and make us a bleffmg to others \ biefs us in
temporal, but efpecially in fpirltual things. None can
blefs hke him. Men may curfe, but, if the Lord blefs us,
all fhall be well. Good men are a blelling to others : God
will make them fo to the families and places where they
dwell. Imitate Abram's faith and obedience •, for they that
are of faith are hleffed with faithful Ahram,
3. Let us be thankful for that feed of Abram> in whom
all the nations of the earth are blefTed. We and our fa-
milies fhare in this blefTmg. Chrift is the greateft bleinng in.
the world, the fum and fubftance of all other blefTings. This
blelTmg of Abram is come upon us Gentiles. Blejfed be the-
God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrifi^ 'uoho hath hleffed us
with allfpiritual bleffings in heavenly things in Chrift Jefus.
4. We learn of Abram to acknowledge God wherever wc
go : he built an altar in every place. Wherever we have
a tent, let God have an altar. Let us maintain his worfhip
in our families, and there call on his name. The m.after
of a family fhould be a prieft in his own houfe, fhould pray
with and for them, and teach them the way of the Lord^ and
the judgments of their God. Let us ferve the Lord with all
our houfe, then he will blefs us, and make us a blefling.
5. The
62 GENESIS. XII.
5. The beft of men have infirmities in-thofe graces
for which they are mod remarkable. Who would have
thought that Abram, the father of the faithful, fhould
diftruft God, equivocate, and manifefl: fuch unbelief! Let
us not expedt to live without fears, or believe without
infirmities •, but be fenfible v/hat reafon we have daily to
pray, Lord, mcreafe our faith.
6. Let us revere this remainder of virtue in the Egyp-
tian court. Pharaoh reftored Sarai when he knew fhe was
Abram's wife. Few chriftian princes would have been fo
tender : he would not have taken her, had he known who
ilie was. Adultery is a mod wicked and abominable ^m ;
what i-haraoh would have been alhamed of committing;
and it is ilrange that all profeffing chiftians do not confider
it to be fo.
7. We learn not to be too fufpicious of men's charadters.
Pharaoh and his courtiers were not fo bad as Abram
thought they were. We often find more honour and
virtue among Grangers, than we at firft expeifled. Let us
be on our guard againft a temper that would lead us to fuf-
ped: perfons' chara6lers without reafon, and not fear where
no fear is. We fhould believe the befl we can of every
man. Charity hopeth all things, and believeth all things »
8. Let us adore that w^onderful providence that appeared
for Abram. God appeared for him remarkably *, and, as it
is expreffed Pfalm cv. 14. he reproved kings for his fake. Pie
was difmifTed in an honourable manner, and enriclied with
prefents. The hearts of kings are in the hands of the
Lord : this would be an encouragement to Abram to trufl
him for the time to com.e ; to ad an honeft, upright part,
not doubting but God would appear for him. // was God,
as Ifaiah expreffeth it, who ratfed up this righteous man from
fhe eaft ; called him to his foot, to receive divine directions \
gave the nations before him^ and made him ride over kings*
Pie can never be at a lofs to reward the zeal and fidelity of
thofe who follow him fully, and are upright before him*
CHAP.
GENESIS. XIII, 6^
CHAP. XIII.
Wram returns to Canaan •, the difference het-voeen him and hot
amicably fettled \ Lot^s removal to the plains of Sodom ; God
renews his promife to Abram ; who removes to the plain of
Mamre,
1 AND Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his
jt\ wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him,
2 into the fouth of Canaan. And Abram, thro'* the bounty
of Pharaoh and the bleffmg of Gcd^ [was] very rich in
3 cattle, m filver, and in gold/ And he went on his
journeys from the fouth even to Beth el, unto the place
where his tent had been at the beginning, between
4 Beth-el and Hai ; Unto the place of the altar, which
he had made there at the firil j and there Abram called
on the name of the Lord ; gratefully acknowledged his
goodnefs in preferving him in Egypt ^ and bringing him from
5 thence in greater affluence than he went thither. And Lot
alfo, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds,
6 and fervunts dwelling in tents. Awd. fuch was the increafe
of both of them that the land was not able to bear them,
did not afford food enough for fo many flocks and her ds^ that
they might dwell together: for their fubilance' was
great, fo that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was a ftrife between the herdmen of
Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle, pro-
bably about fome pafture or water :^ and the Canaanite and
the Perizzite dwelled then in the land, and took up the
8 befi pafturage. And Abram faid unto Lot, Let there
be no ftrife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and
between my herdmen and thy herdmen -, for we [be]
brethren, both by nature and religion^ and fuch contention
9 will be a reproach to that religion^ and expfe us to danger,
[Is] not the whole land before thee ? feparate thyfelf,
I pray thee, from me : if [thou wilt take] the left
hand,
^ See Harmer*s Obrervations, Vol. I. p. 121.
5 The LXX. ufe the fame word as John does, when he fiiys,
he 'world could not contain the hooks^ thac is, could not read and
ttend to fo many: fo the land could not contain them,
^ Water was a fcarce commodity in thofe hot ciimates, and the
?urce of manv difoutes.
H GENESIS. XIIL
hand, then I will go to the right -, or if [thou depart]
to the right hand, then 1 will go to the left.
10 And Lot accepted the kind a7id generous propofal of his
uncle^ and lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of
Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before
the Lord deftroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as
Eden the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt,
as thou comeft unto Zoar, all the way till thou comeft to
1 1 Zoar, Then Lot chofe for him felf all the plain of
Jordan -, and Lot journeyed eaft ; and thus they ami-
12 cably feparated themfelves the one from the other.
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwell-
ed in the cities of the plain, and pitched [his] tent to-
13 ward Sodom; a fruitful foil^ but a wicked country. But
the men of Sodom [were] wicked and finners before
the Lord exceedingly, impudent and daring Jinners.
14 And the Lord faid unto Abram, to comfort him af-
ter that Lot was feparated from him, Lift up now thine
eyes, and look from the place where thou art north-
ward, and fouthward, and eaftward and weftward ; *
15 For all the land which thou feeft, to thee will I give it,
as a pledge of the heavenly country^ and to thy feed for*
1 6 ever, for a long time, if they are obedient. And I will
make thy feed as the duft of the earth : fo that if a
man can number the duft of the earth, [then] fhall thy
ly ittd alfo be numbered. Arife, walk through the land
in the length of it and in the breadth of it •, for I will
C V. give it unto thee, as the inheritance of thy pofierity,
18 Then Abram removed [his] tent, and came and
dwelt in the plain of Mamre,^ which [is] in or neat
Hebron, about twenty four miles fouth of Beth-el^ and
built there an altar unto the Lord.
REFLECTIONS.
1. O E E what an happy thing It is to have the bleffing
^^ of God wherever we go. This made Abram rich,
and brought no forrow with it-, his riches gave him an
opportunity
* It is probable he dwelt on a mountain and had a wide profpeft.
^ An Amorite of great note ^ a friend and confederate, and pro-
bably a profelytc of Abram^s,
GENESIS. XIII. 6$
opportunity of doing much good •, and the blefTIng of God
kept him from the fnares of profperity, from pride and
infolence. Let us feek his bleffing to make us prosperous,
to fvveeten our enjoyments, and prevent our failing into
various temptations, and fooHfti and hurtful lufts,
2. The children of Abram fhould cultivate peace. This
Is a beautiful part of Abram's charader. Tho' fuperior
to Lot in nature and grace, yet he condefcends to his
inferior, for peace fake. Let us, as far as poflible, live
peaceably with all men. Abram gave the preference to Lot.
This is a temper becoming chriftians, to fubmit to one an-
other-, to be pitiful and courteous. This is like fome
great and injured perfon making the firft propofals of recon-
ciliation. How truly amiable does he appear ! Obferve
his plea-, and let it ever be remembered when angry paf-
iions rife, that we are brethren^ fellow-men, fellow-chriftians,
members of the fame body -, and alfo, that the Canaanites
are in the land, thofe who wiih us ill, and wait for our halt-
ing. Let us not give occafion to the enemies of the Lord
to blafpheme, but live as brethren, conquer ourfelves, and
hold the unity of the fpirit in the bond of peace.
3. We fee the fad confequence of great plenty In Sodom.
It was a fine, fruitful country, but pride and fulnefs of
bread was its ruin ; they were finners exceedingly againft
the Lord. This is too much the cafe with our own land-,
it is fruitful, we are fed with the fineft of the wheat, but
we are finners before God exceedingly. Lot preached to
them, but they continued wicked. So It is with us, not-
withftanding all the preachers of righteoufnefs in the land :
and we have too much reafon to fear, left God fhould turn
a fruitful land into barrennefs, becaufe of the wickednefs
thereof.
4. Let us not meafure the favour of God by our fitua-
tions In the world. The finners of Sodom dwelt in a
pleafant place •, Abram and his family among the moun-
tains. But this paradife was turned into the likenefs of
hell by the finners that dwelt there. How much happier
was Abram and his pious family on the mountains 1 When
men regard wealth and pleafant places more than the cha-
racter of thofe they dwell among, they do not a6l wifely.
Vol. L F in
66 GENESIS. XIV.
In our choice of callings and relations in life, let the intereft
of the foul be firft confulted : this is the way to have God's
bieiTing, and that will make a defert as the garden of the
Lord.
5. When friends forfake us, it is a pleafant thing to have
God near. When Lot went from Abram, God renewed
the vilits of his grace. His prefence with the foul delights
it at 'all times, efpecially when earthly friends difagree with
us, or part from us-, it is happy then to be able to fay, /
am mi alone ^ for my father is with me. If we feek his friend-
fhip, as Abram did, he will be our ever-prefent friend.
6. Let us often take an attentive view of the bleffings
which God hath promifed, to {Irengthen our faith and hope.
W^e fhould review his promifes ; the fulnefs and freenefs,
the fultablenefs and fecurity of them-, efpecially that of the
heavenly Canaan, v. ly. We fhould live in the exercife of
that faith, which is the fubftance of things hoped for, and
the evidence of things not yet feen -, take a view of the bet-
ter country, in the length thereof and the breadth thereof;
trace it in the reprefentation of God's word, there is the
chart or map of it : and let our joy in the profpecl be lively,
and our converfation daily in heaven.
CHAP. XIV.
In the former chapters we have had fever al inflames of Abram* s
piety \ here is an inflance of his bravery and honour ; a war
in which Lot was taken prifoner ; Abrani's refcue of him *,
and his interview with Melchizedek,
i A N D it came to pafs in the days of Amraphel
XjL ^i"g ^ of Shinar, or Babylon^ Arioch king of Ella-
far, in Arabia^ Chedorlaomer king of Elam, in Ferfia^
2 and Tidal king of nations -, "^ [That thefe] made war
with Beta king of Sodom, and with Biriha king of
Gomorrah,
^ The name of king is given to governors of cities or little
provinces.
" A people gathered together out of divers countries, who put
themfelves under his government.
GENESIS. XIV. 67
Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber
king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
3 All thefe were joined together in the vale of Siddim,
which is the "place that was turned into the fait fea, when
4 God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, Twelve years they
ferved Chedorlaomer, prince of Elam and a defcendant of
Sheniy and in the thirteenth year they rebelled, hop-
5 ing to fhake off the yoke. And in the fourteenth year
came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that [were] with
him, as allies^ and fmote the Rephaims in Afhteroth
Carnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in
6 Shaveh Kiriathaim, or the plain of Kiriathaim^ And the
Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, or the
7 plain of Faran^ which [is] by the wildernefs. And
they returned, and came to Enmifhpat, which [is]
Kadefh,° and fmote all the country of the Amalek-
ites, and alfo the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon-
8 tamar. And when the enemy approached near the cities
of the plain^ there went out the king of Sodom, and
the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and
the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the fame
[is] ZoarO and they joined battle with them in the
9 vale of Siddim -, namely^ With Chedorlaomer the king
of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amra.
phel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellafar ; four
10 kings with five. And the vale of Siddim [was full of]
flime-pits •, and the armies of the kings of Sodom and
Gomorrah fled, and many of their men fell there ; and
11 they that remained fled to the mountain. And they
took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all
their victuals, and went their way.
12 And they took, among the prifoners^ Lot, Abram''s
brother's fon, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods,
13 and departed. And there came one that had efcaped,
and told Abram the Hebrew, fo called,, becaufe he
was defcended from Eber ; for he dwelt in the plain of
F 2 Mamre
" A number of fmall cities who oppofed their expedition.
« The fountain of judgment; fo called in the time of Mofes,
becaufe God judged the Ifraelites in this place for murmuring,
J^umb* XX. 13.
68 GENESIS. XIV.
Mamre the Amorite, brother of Efhcol, and brother
of Aner: and thefe [were] confederate with Abram.^
14 And when Abram heard that his brother or nephew^
Lot^ was taken captive, he armed his trained [fervants,]
who were born, or ififtru^ied^ in his own hoiife, three
liundred and eighteen, and purfued [them] unto a
15 place afterwards called Dan. And he divided himfelf
againft them, that he might come upon them in different
places <, he and his fervants, by night, when perhaps they
were ajleep^ or drunk^ or off their guards and fmote them,
and purfued them unto Hobah, which [is] on the left
16 hand of Damafcus. And he brought back all the goods,
and alfo brought again his brother Lot, and his goods,
and the women alfo, and the people who were carried
captive.
1 7 And the king of So<iomjhowed great refpe^l to Abram
for the fignal fervice he had perfor?ned^ and went out to meet
him after his return from the flaughter of Chedorla-
omer, and of the kings that [were] with him, at the
valley of Shaveh, which [is] the king's dale, where Mel-
18 chizedek lived. And Melchizedek, -ly/tzV/t name fignifies
king of right eoufnefs^ was alfo king of Salem, that is^ king
of peace-, this holy^ generous man brought forth bread
and wine, provifion to refreflo Abram and his army : and
he [was] the prieft of the moft high God ; '^ not of any
particular
P This was about the year of the world 2093, when Abram
was eighty four, or eighty five years old.
1 Thefe two offices antiently belonged to the fame perfon, tho'
afterwards they were diHinguiihed and belonged to different tribes.
In Melchjzedek they were united, and he was both king and
prieft. Who this Melchizedek was, has been matter of much
debate: fome have fuppofed he was Shem, who was then living.
Others have conjedured that he was the fon of God, from what
the apoiHe fays of him, He6, vii. 3. that he was ijoithout father
or mother, i^c. But the meaning of this very plainly is, that his
father and mother are not mentioned in fcripture. Several antient
heathen writers ufe the fame language of perfons whofe anceftors
were unknown. His being ^without defcent, ha-ving neither beginning
of daySf nor end of life, is to be underftood in the fame manner,
with reference to his prieftly ofRce. This one circumftance is fuf-
ficient to prove that he was not Jefus Chrift, i;/«. his being mentioned
as an illuftrious type of him. Compare /y<«///» ex. 4. with Heb» vii. 17.
^rhou art a prief for e^ver after the order of Melchizedek^
GENESIS. XIV. 69
19 particular nation^ but of God. And he, that is ^ Melchizedek^
as a prieftj blefied him, that is^ Abram^ and iaid, BlefTcd
[be] Abram of the moft high God, pofTeffor of heaven
20 and earth : And blefied [be] the moil: high God, which
hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. Abram
humbly received the blejfing of Melchizedek^ as his J'uperior^
and he gave him tithes of all the fpoils that were taken.
This he did in gratitude for his kindnefs^ a?id as a thank'
offering to God^ tc be offered by his priejl.
21 And the king of Sodom faid unto Abram, Give me
t\\t perfons of my fubje^is whom you have refcued^ and take
22 the goods to thyfelf. And Abram faid to the king of
Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the
moft high God, the pofi^efior of heaven and earth, and
13 huve fworn^ That I will not [take] from a thread even to
a fhoe-latchet, not the fmalleft thing belonging to thy fub-
je5is^ and that I will not take any thing that [is] thine,
24 left thou fhouldft fay, I have made Abram rich : Save
only that which the young men have eaten, and the
portion of thefpoil belonging to the men which went with
me, Aner, Efhcol, and Mamre ; this I have no right to
difpofe of\ let them therefore take their portion.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us adore the providence of God in working
I J thefe furprizing things \ in fettling thefe nations
near Abram, that they might fee his devotion, be witnef-
fes of God's blefiing him, and thus making way for the
knowledge of the true God and his worfhip among them.
He fixes the bounds of our habitation, and rules among
the kingdoms of men.
2. We fee how liable good men are to fuifer by bad
neighbours. This is often a punifhment for choofing fitu-
ations, without confidering the charader of the inhabitants
where we are going: fo Lot left the neighbourhood of
Abram to dwell in Sodom, and fuffered fufficiently for it.
If we choofe to live in wicked places we muft expedl to
fhare in their calamities. Let us not think it ftrange, if
we meet with them : but if we keep clofe to God's houfe,
F 3 his
70 GENESIS. XV.
his worfhip and people, we fhall dwell fafe from the fear of
evil.
3. We Hiould think of God as the Moft High, the pof-
leflbr of heaven and earth. So Melchizedek reprefented
him*, fo Abram ftiles him. He has fovereign dominion,
for he made and fupports all creatures. Reverence and
praife are due to him^ truft and confidence fhould be
placed in him, to give us what he thinks beft.
4. Let us praife God as the author of the beft of our
aclions, and thofe of others alfo. He gave Abram the
vidlory, v, 19, 20. and Melchizedek mentioned it to the
honour of the God of all our vidtories. While we rejoice
in the fuccefs of others, let God have all the praife.
5. Let the fervants of the moft high God maintain an
honourable charader. Thus Abram did, 1;. 23. Like him,
let us guard againft a mean and fervile temper. Abram
might have accepted the king's offer •, but true religion re-
quires an indifference to thefe things, an holy decorum and
fuperiority to worldly concerns -, truft and confidence in Go4
raife the mind above them. Abram fhowed nothing of a
mercenary temper, which is a diihonour to religion: every
degree of a niggardly difpofition ftiould be avoided, ef-
pecially as we have fo many enemies to watch for our faults.
Let our converfation he without covetoufnefs ; and whatfoever
things arejuft and true^ and not only fo, but whatfoever things
are lovely^ and of good report^ if there be any virtue^ and if
there be any paife^ let us think on thefe things.
CHAP. XV.
In the hft chapter Abram appeared great in the field-, in this he
is greater in converfe with God^ who condefcends to enter into
a treaty with him -, God's promife to Abram of a numerous
ijjue^ and of the land of Canaan,
I yi F T E R thefe things, Ahram's kindnefs to Lot^ i^c,
XjL the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a
vifion, while he was awake^ faying. Fear not, Abram,
he not alaryned at any of the dangers or enemies which furround
thee in thisfirange land^ I [am] thy fhield to prote^ thee \
[and]
G E N E S I S. XV. 71
[zn^.'l for thy faith and piety I my f elf will he thy exceeding
great reward, and will give thee ahimdantly more than thou
haft reftgned to the king of Sodo'm \ I will reward thee both
2 here and hereafter too. And Abram faid, Lord God,
what wilt thou give me, what will all the earth ftgnify to
me^ feeing 1 go childlefs, have no heir to poffefs it^ thd*
thou gaveft me hopes of a numerous feed -., and the fteward of
my houfe, who is next to myfelf^ is not one of my own
3 defendants^ but [is] this EHezer of Daraafcus ? And
Ahr^im further faid, Behold, to me thou haft given no
feed, tho^ my life draws toward a clofe : and, lo, one
born in my houfe, as a fervant^ is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the Lord [came] unto him,
faying. This fhall not be thine heir j but he that fhall
come forth out of thine own bowels fhall be thine heir.
• 5 And he brought him forth abroad, in his imagination^
for theftars did not yet appear^ (fee v, 12.) and faid, Look
now toward heaven, and tell the ftars, if thou be able
to number them: and he faid unto him. So numerous
and illuftrious fhall thy feed be.
6 And, notwithftanding the promife had been fo long delay-
ed^ he believed in the Lord •, and he counted it to him
for righteoufnefs.""
7 And he faid unto him, I [am] the Lord that brought
thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land
5 to inherit it. And he faid, Lord God, whereby fliall
I know that I fhall inherit it ? "This he afks for the
() Jlrengthening of his faith. And he faid unto him, this
fhall be a ftgn^ Take and offer to me an heifer of three
years old, and a fhe goat of three years old, and a ram
of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young
JO pigeon. And he took unto him all thefe, and^ according
to the ufual method of ratifying a covenant ., divided them
in the midft, to reprefent the torn and diftra^fed condition in
which his feed was to be for afeafon \ and laid each piece
one againft another, that the perfons covenanting might pafs
1 1 between them: but the birds divided he not. And when
F 4 the
' Thus Abram was juftified by faith, being as yet uncircum-
cifed, Rom, iv, 3. Qal, iii. 6. James ii. 23.
72 GENESIS. XV.
the fowls of prey came down in great numbers upon the
carcafes to devour them^ Abram drove them away.'
1 2 And when the fun was going down, a deep fleep, an
ecjlacy or trance^ fell upon Abram •, and, lo, an horror of
great darknefs fell upon hun, under an apprehenfton of
the great diftrefs his pofterity Jhould have by the vexation of
13 their enemies. And he, thatis^ Jehovah^ faid unto Abram,
to explain the vifton^ and to comfort him., Know of a furety
that thy feed fhall be a ftranger in a land [that is] not
theirs, and fhall ferye them ; and they fhall afflid them
four hundred years, from the birth of Ifaac to their de-
14 liver ance out of Egypt •, And alfo that nation, whom they
fhall ferve, will 1 judge, orpunifh: and afterward fhall
1 5 they come out with great fubftance. And thou fhalt go
to thy fathers in peace, into theflate of the dead, whither all
thy fathers are gone before thee -, thou fhalt be buried in a
1 6 good old age, after a feafmable and natural death. But
in the fourth generation, /r^?;;? the def cent into Egypt ^ they
fhall come hither again, to the country where thou now
art ; but it cannot he fooner : for the iniquity of the A-
morites and Canaanites in general, [is] not yet full, nor
17 the time topunifh them come. And it came to pafs, that,
when the fun went down, and it was dark, behold a
fmoking furnace appeared to Abram, perhaps reprefenting
Abram* s feed qffli^ed in Egypt, and a burning lamp, as a
fymbolofthe divine prefence, noting the covenant between God
and Abram, and their future deliverance, that pafTed be-
tween thofe pieces, to note the ratification of the covenant
18 between God and his people. In that fame memorable day
the Lord made a covenant with Abram, folemnly rati-
fying his former promifes, and faying. Unto thy feed have
I given this land, and they fhall extend their dominion frorn
the river of Egypt, (7iot the river Nile, but fome branch
of it,) unto the great river, the river Euphrates :fo far
did the countries become tributary in David^s and Solomon's
19 days, and fhall include The Kenites, and the Keniz-
zites,
• Perhaps the fowls of prey were an emhlem of the Egyptians
and other enemies, w|io lliould feek to devour :\tA deitroy his
pofterity ; and liis driving them away may reprefent his conquell
over them by faith and prayer.
G E N E S I S. XV. 7CJ
20 zites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittltes, and the
2£ Perlzzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites,
and the Canaanites, and the Girgafhites, and the
Jebufites.
REFLECTIONS.
I. "\T| T' •'^ ^^^ ^^^ happinefs of good men-, God is their
W ihield, V, I, to proteCl them from their ene-
mies, from wicked men, and Satan -, from principahties
and powers that are confederate againft them. God would
not have them to be fearful or forrowful •, he will be their
exceeding great reward ; will give them grace and glory,
and will with-hold no good thing from them that walk up^:
rightly.
2. Let us learn to be content in thofe circumftances
which providence allots us. One cannot but pity the weak-
nefs of the father of the faithful, after what God had faid
to him. All his wealth and honour, the fine country he
lived in, and the favour of God -, all this was nothing with-
out a child. Perhaps the MefTiah or promifed feed may
be referred to, which may plead fomething in his excufe ;
but ftill he feems uneafy in his mind. If God denies us
temporal bleflings, let us ftill be patient and content, and
fcek him for our portion. Let thofe who are childlefs in
the earth be more diligent and adlive in the fervice of God,
as they have more leifure and fewer cares •, then will he give
them a name and a place ^ which ftiall be better to thetn than fins
and daughters,
3 . We learn joyfully to embrace the promifes of God ;
herein imitating the faith of Abram; he believed in God,
and Ji agger ed 7wt at the promifi thro* unbelief. Rom, xiv. 20.
Let us befirong in fait h^ giving glory to God y guard againft
an evil heart of unbelief-, and pray, Lord, increafe our faith.
If we truft his promifes, and adt agreeable to them, we
have, thro' grace, a claim to all the benefits of the covenant^
and by this we ftiall obtain witnefs that we are righteous.
4. Learn to adore the foreknowledge of God in thefe fur-
prizing predidions. They are very remarkable ; fo many
years
74 GENESIS. XVI.
years fliall they ferve their enemies-, then then* enemies
fhall be punifhed, and the opprefled fhall go free. He
knows, not only the external circumftances, but alfo the
moral charaders of men ; when their iniquity is full, and
when it is time to punifh. This knowledge is too high for
us ; we cminot attain unto it \ but it is found in a perfcd
manner in God. May we reverence this glorious "God,
who foreknows whatfoever fhall come to pafs, and jhowetk
unto man his counfel^ declaring the end from the beginning,
^his God is our God for ever^ and he will be our guide unto
death.
5. Let us rejoice in the afTurance of a better country;
Know of a fur ety^ faith God to Abram. The promife to
believers is fure ♦, we have his word and oath, that hy twd
immutable things in which it is impoffible for God to lie^ we
might have flrong confolation^ who have fled for refuge to lay
hold on the hope fet before us. We have a fign and facrament
to confirm our faith : to all the fpiritual feed of Abram
the promife is fure. Let us imitate the faith and piety of
this patriarch, that we may at length pofTefs an inheritance
incorruptible^ undefiicd., and that fadeth not away^ referved in
heaven for us.
CHAP. XVL
'^he origin of nations and kingdoms is generally the darkeflpart of
hijiory: here we have a plain account of one that was very
confiderable\ it arofefrom Abram^ by one of his maid ferv ant s^
who probably came with him from Egypt*
1 T^T O W Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children :
X\| and fhe had an handmaid, or bond woman^ an
Egyptian by birth^ but a profelyte to the true religion^ whofe
2 name [was] Hagar. And Saral, impatient to fee the
promife fulfilled^ faid unto Abram, Behold now, the
Lord hath reftrained me from bearing : I pray thee,
go in unto my maid ; it may be that I may obtain child-
ren by her. And Abram, not confuting with God, as he
3 JJjould have done^ hearkened to the voice of Sarai, And
Sarai
GENESIS. XVI. 75
Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian,
after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan,
and gave her to her hufband Abram to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and fhe conceived :
and when (he faw that ihe had conceived, fioe grew vain
of the honour^ and her miftrefs, as apunifbment for her /;;/-
5 patience and imprudence^ was defpifed in her eyes. And
Sarai, growing jealous^ upbraided her hufl)and^ as if he en-
couraged this infolence^ ajid faid unto Abram, My wrono-
[be] upon thee : 1 have given my maid into thy bofom ;
and when Ihe faw that fne had conceived, 1 was defpifed
in her eyes : the Lord judge between me and thee -,
plead my caufe and ^vindicate my innocence^ fmce thou wilt
6 not do it."" But Abram, far from taking Hagafs part^
faid unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid [is] in thy hand •, do
to her as it pleafeth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly
with her, fhe fled from her face, with a view to. return
to her own country,
7 And the angel of the Lord, appearing perhaps in a
human form^ found her by a fountain of water in the
wildernefs, by the fountain in the way to Shur, where
fhe flopped to refl her f elf and call upon God\ for fhe feems
S to have been a devout woman. And addreffing her in her
proper charaEler^ to make her fenfible of her faulty he faid,
Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence cameft thou ? and whither
wilt thou go ? And fhe faid, I flee from the face of my
9 mittrefs Sarai. And the Angel of the Lord faid unto
her. Return to thy miflrefs, and fubmit thyfelf under
10 her hands. And the angel of the 'Lord further faid
unto her, to comfort her in her difirefs^ I will multiply
thy feed exceedingly, that it fliall not be numbered for
1 1 multitude. And the angel of the Lord faid unto her.
Behold, thou [art] with child, and fhalt bear a fon,
and fhalt call his name Iflimael, that is^ Godfhall hear ;
be caufe the Lord hath heard thy prayers made in thy af-
1 2 fiidion. And he will be a wild man, warlike and violent ;
exerciftng kimfelf in hunting beafls^ and oppr effing men \ his
hand
* By thefe quarrels In the family, God was pleafed to corred
both Abram and Sarai for feeking children in fuch an unwar-
rantable way.
76 GENESIS. XVI.
hand [will be] againft every man, and every man's hand
againft him ; and he fhall dwell in the prefence of aii
his brethren, mar unto them^ in fpite of all their attempts
13 againft him,"^ And fhe called the name of the Lord
that fpake unto her, Thoa God feeft me, haft taken care
of me^ and gracioufty manifefted thyfelf to me : for ihe faid.
Have I alfo here, even in this defer t^ as well as in my
mnfter^s family^ looked after him that feeth me ? and^
notwithftanding my mifhehaviour there^ have had a comforta^
14 able fight of him and prcmife from him? Wherefore the
well w^as called Beer-lahai-roi, that is, the well of him
that liveth and feeth me-, behold, [it is] between Kadelh
and Bered,
15 And Hagar returned to Ahram^s family^ humhled herfelf
to Sarai^ and told what fhe had feen ; and in due time fhe
l)are Abram a fon : and Abram called his fon's name,
which Hagar bare, lihmael, as the angel had command-
16 ed. And Abram [was] foiirfcore and fix years old,
when Hagar bare Ifhmael to Abram.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us view the hand of God in all our afflidions
I J and difappointments, like Sarai, who acknow-
ledged, the Lord hath refrained m-e from bearing, Sarai
had every thing elfe fhe could defire \ but God continued
this difappointment for the exercife of her faith and pa-
tience. It is a good thing to be fenfible of this, and to
fay with Job, when tempted to repine, Shall we receive good
at the hand of God^ andfhall we not receive evil^ or afflidions
alfo ?
2. Let us avoid an infolent temper in profperity, v. 4,
This
" This is one of the moft remarkable prophecies in the whole
fcriptures. The Hagarenes, Saracens, and Arabians, all defcended
from Ifhmael. They called themfelves Hagarenes, as coming from
Hagar; but being reproached for this, they changed their name
to Saracens, as coming from Sarai. They were the fierceft race
of men ever known on earth, and continue of the fame fpirit
to this day; live by rapine and plunder, in the very fame place
for more than 4000 years, and all attempts to conquer them have
been in vain. What a proof is this of the divine authority of
Moies i Who but a prophet of God could have foretold this 1
GENESIS. XVI. 77
This is Qiie of Solomon's four things by which the earth is
difquieted, an odious woman when/he is married^ and an hand-
maid who is heir to her mifirefsy Prov» xxx. 23. This is
pften the cafe, efpecially in perfons who have been fuddenly
advanced from a low to a more exalted ftation ; their
height makes them giddy. However diflinguifhed we may
be from others, let us be careful not to defpife them ;
but remember to whom our profperity is owing 5 confider
who hath made us to differ^ and what is there that we have not
received,
3. Let us be careful not to appeal to God, under tlie
tranfports of a peevifh temper : this Sarai did, and it was
very unbecoming. Abram might have faid. She fpeaketh as
one of the foolijh women fpeaketh. Let us take care not to
jnake God a party in our quarrels. A readinefs to appeal
to him is no argument that we are right ; it is often a
fign that we are wrong, and exped to be believed on that
account, the' we Ihould have neither reafon nor evidence
on our fide. God fearcheth the heart, and it becomes us
to guard againil; fuch tranfports of paflion ; for fhould we
be in the wrong, he certainly knows it, and an appeal to
him will be indeed fealing the curfe on our own head,
4. We fhould admire the condefcenfion of God to a
poor fugitive flave. He mercifully flopped her when
going a foolifh journey ; when her provifions perhaps were
fpent, he fent her back to pious Abram's houfe •, improv-
ed her foul by her afflidions •, and made her a blefTmg to
the family. Again,
5. Learn to avoid that wretched chara6ler here given of
Ifhmael. Thofe who oppofe others will be oppofed them-
felves. Complaifance to fuch will not laft long ; men will
arm themfelves in their own defence. Let us therefore
govern our own fpirits, and not fufFer them to be boiilerous.
Perfons of this charadler have lives full of trouble, run
themfelves into difficulties, and are paid in their own coin;
which is grievous, becaufe they, of all men, are leaft able
to bear fuch affronts. If our hand is againft every man,
every man's hand will be againfl: us, from a principle of felf-
prefervation, but more commonly from that wretched prin-
ciple of revenge, which too much prevails in the world. In
like
78 GENESIS. XVII. i
like manner, if our tongue be againft every man, and we '^
reproach and cenfure others, with what meafure we mete
it fhall be meafured to us again. To prevent this, let us \
honour all men •, he kindly affe£lioned one toward another \ for- \
bearing and forgiving one another ; do good to all men, ;
then men in general will be difpofed to do good to us.
Once more,
6. Refled on God*s omniicience, and his favourable
interpoficion for us. Let us remember, in every place, ,
^hou God feeft me: look continually on him who looks oil i
us-, having our eyes always up unto the Lord for direc- j
tion, fupport, and encouragement, whofe eyes are continu- i
ally upon us for good. It is the charadler of the wicked, !
that God is not in all their thoughts. We Ihould fet the
Lord always before us, .for we depend entirely upon him •, i
in him we live and move and have our being. If he will not i
look on us, how miferable muft we be ! To live as under
his eye will afford us the greateft pleafure and delight •, it
will be our greateft fecurity amidft dangers and difficulties, ;
This fhould be the concern of every one; V7e fhcnild charge '
our hearts to maintain this temper. Nothing will be fo
likely to make us truly ferious and religious, as to recol- i
led, that whatever we do, God foes us, and wherever we
are, God is there. s
CHAP. XVII.
God renews his covenant with Ahram \ irjiitutes circiimcijion as
the feal of it ', changes the names of Abram and his zvife^ to
whom he promifes a fon^ in whom the covenant jhoiild he
€jlahlijhed\ at the fame time he blejfes IJhmael; and Abra-
ham circumcifes his family,
1 /i N D when Abram was ninety years old and nine,
±\^ that iSy thirteen years after the birth of IfhmaeU the
Lord appeared to Abram, and faid unto him, I [am]
the Almighty God, able to fulfil all my promifes \ therefore
walk before me, as always in my prefence^ and be thou
2 perfed, or upright andfincere i7i doing my wilL And I
will
GENESIS. XVII. 79
will make my covenant between me and thee, reneii\
enlarge y and confirm it with afacrament^ and will multiply
3 thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face, in token
of fear and reverence^ being cfraid to look on God: and
4 God talked with him, faying. As for me, behold, I de-
clare on my part that my covenant [is] with thee, and
thou fhalt be a father of many nations ; the Ifraelites and
Ifhmaelites^ and believers in all ages^ fhall be efieemed thy
fpritual feed.
5 Neither fhall thy name any more be called Abram, an
high or mighty father^ but thy name fhall be Abraham, that
is ^-father of a multitude \ for a father of many nations
6 have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding
fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings
7 ihall come out of thee."^ And I will eftablifh my co-
venant between me and thee and thy feed after thee
in their generations for an everlafting covenant,'' to be
a God unto thee, and to thy feed after thee, to employ
all my perfe^lions for thy protection, confolation and falva*
8 tionJ And I will give unto thee, and to thy feed after
. thee, the land wherein thou art a ftranger, all the land
of Canaan, for an everlafling pofTeflion, while they are a
didin^ and obedient people *, and I will be their God.
9 And God faid unto Abraham, And now on thy part I
declare that thou fhalt keep my covenant therefore, as a
condition of all thefe bleffingSy thou, and thy feed after thee
10 in their generations. And This [is] my covenant, which
ye fhall keep, between me and you and thy feed after
thee; Every m.an child among you fhall be circumcifed.
1 1 And ye fhall circumcife the flefh of your forefkin j ^ and
it ihall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and
12 you.^ And he that is eight days old fhall be circum-
cifed
'*' This was true in a literal fenfe; but chiefly in a fpiritual,
in refpedl of the Meffiah, who is King of kings.
* Of long continuance, in refpedt of the outward ceremony of
circumcifion, but for the fpiritual part, literally everlafling in"
Chrill, Heb* xiii. 20. i Peter i. 4.
y This promife includes all temporal, fpiritual, and eternal
bleffings.
* That part which ferves for the propagation of mankind.
* It was defigned to be a further trial of Abraham^s faith; to
feparate
8o GENESIS. XVII.
clfed among you, every man child in your generations,
he that is born in the houfe, or bought with money of
13 any ftranger, which [is] not of thy feed. He that is born
in thy houfe, and he that is bought with thy money,
mud needs be circumcifed : and my covenant fhall be
in your flefh for an everlafting covenant, a ftgn of that
1 4 everlajiing covenant I made with you. And the uncir-
cumcifed man child whofe flefh of Bis forefkin is not
circumcifed, and when he is grown up wilfully or un*
necejfarily neglects it^ that foul fhall be cut off from his
people, from my church and people •, he hath broken my
covenant by his negleU and contempt of the condition re-
quired on his part^ and hath forfeited the bkjfing promifed
on mine.
15 And God faid unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy
wife, thou fhalt not call her name Sarai, which JignifieSy
my princefs only^ but Sarah [fhall] her name [be,] which
fignifies^ a multitude \ fhe fhall he the mother of many people,
1 6 And 1 will blefs her, and give thee a fon alfo of her :
yea, I will blefs her, and fhe fhall be [a mother] of
1 7 nations ; kings of people ihall be of her. Then Abra-
ham fell upon his face, and laughed, in token of his in-
ward joy and fatisfatlion at this news^ and faid in his
heart. Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an
hundred years old ? and fhall Sarah, that is ninety years
old, bear ? He did not doubt the matter^ but was greatly
18 furprized. And Abraham faid unto God, in t/ie midfl of
his holy joy., O that Ifhmael might live before thee ! live
in thy favour y and not be cafi off by thee., tho^ I fhall have
19 another fon to inherit the bleffing. And God faid, Sarah thy
wife fhall bear thee a fon indeed \ and thou fhalt call
his name Jfaac, that is, laughter., becaufe Abraham re-
joiced: and I will eftablifh my covenant with him for
an everlafling covenant, [and] with his feed after him.
20 And
feparate his pollerity from the reft of the world by an indelible
mark; for the prefervaiion of true religion ; and to be a perpetual
memorial of God's covenant with Abraham. Thus a peculiar
people were feparated to ferve God, by fuch a diftin£lion as evi-
dently appeared to be of divine original; and was a proper
emblem of purity and indifference to fenfual enjoyments.
o £. IN E S I S. XVII. 8i
20 And as for Ifhmael, I have heard thee : Behold, I have
blefTed him, and will make him fruitful, and will mul-
tiply him exceedingly -, twelve princes fhall he beget,
2 1 and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant
of grace, including the Mejfiah, will I eftabliih v/ith Ifaac,
which Sarah fhall bear unto thee at this fet time in the
22 next year. And he left off talking with him, and
God went up from Abraham, withdrew the tokens of his
fpecial prefence, and difappeared,
23 And Abraham took Ifhmael his fon, and all that
were born in his houfe, and all that were bought with
his money, every male among the men of Abraham's
houfe •, and circumcifed the flelTi of their foreikin in
the feif fame day, as God had fiid unto him ; fuch was
24 his readinefs to comply with the divine command. And
Abraham [was] ninety years old and nine v/hen he was
25 circumcifed in the flefh of his forefkin. And lihmael
his fon [was] thirteen years old when he was circum-
26 cifed in the flefh of his forefkin.'' In the felf-fame
day was Abraham circumcifed and Ifhmael his fon.
27 And all the men of his houfe, born in the houfe, and
bought with money of the ftranger, a great numler and
from different nations, were circumcifed with him; no
wonder therefore, that the pra£iice fpread to other coun-
tries.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us confider the almighty God as felf-fufHcient
X»j '^. I. as having enough in himfelf to fatisfy all our
defires, and fupply every want. Whom have I in heaven hut
thee ? and there is none upon earth I dejire hefides thee. As we
wifh to fay this, let us confider our duty ♦, walk before him
with a perfect and upright heart; fet him before us at all
times, in every ad of devotion, in all our behaviour \ and
do all as feeing him who is invifible. Without this we are
not interefled in his all-fufHciency, but forfeit all claim to
his favour.
Vol. I. G 2. We
^ Therefore the Arabs nev*r circumcife till the age of thirteen.
82 GENESIS. XVIL I
2. We fhould blefs God that the covenant was made with ]
Abraham, to be a God to him and to his feed after him. ;
This covenant typified and contained better bleffings than i
the land of Canaan, and was eftablifhed on better promifes ; ■•.
it is true and firm •, eflablifhed as an everlafling covenant with \
Abraham and all his fpiritual feed. How rich and precious -
the promife, I zvill he a God unto theef How much comfort ,'
here, and glory hereafter, rs contained m this [ It includes '
not only an earthly but an heavenly Canaan. How conde- ;
fcending was it in God to fpeak fo familiarly to him, and :
give him fuch exceeding great and precious promifes ! |
There is much of the gofpel in this covenant; and in con- \
fequence of it, Abraham rejoiced j or earneflly defired, ^ofee j
Chriffs day % and by faith he faw it^ and was glad, \
3. Let us feek our own part in the bleffmgs of it*, they \
that are of faith are blejfed with faithful Abraham* We fhould
confider their value and extent •, fubmit cheerfully to the \
terms of the covenant •, and ever remember, that in Chrifi '
Jefus neither cireumcifion nor uncircumcifion availeth any things '
but a new creature, God hath now changed the feal of the \
covenant into a more gentle adminiftration, of which both ■
fexes partake ; there is neither male nor female in Chrifi, I
but all are one in him. As we defire the blefTmgs of this i
covenant, let us comply with the tenns of it, which are faith '
and obedience. Thofe who fubmitted to cireumcifion were \
debtors to the whole law, to all the ceremonies and rites of '
the jewifh religion •, and every behever in Chrifi is a debtor i
to the whole of what chriflianity requires, viz. to baptifm, ;
the Lord's fupper, and all moral duties. "
4. We learn to be particular in our addrefTes for thofe j
who are dear to us. Abraham faid unto God, v, 18. 0 that
Ifhmael might live before thee ! When God condefcends to j
converfe with us, when our fouls are enlarged in devotion, '
then we have a good opportunity to put in a word for our ;
friends and relations •, to fpread our own cafes and theirs
particularly before him. Let parents, efpecially, be con- :
cerned for the fouls of their children-, pray that they may '
Jive ; that they may live before God, holily and religiouf- |
]y, to his honour, and the credit of their profefTion. Not ',
only that their temporal lives may be preferved, but the |
fpiritual i
GENESIS. XVIIL S^
fpiritual life carried on in their fouls, and that they may-
be fitted for eternal life. Pray particularly for them all,
as Job and Abraham did. We have great encouragement
to hope that God will anfwer our prayers, as he did that of
Abraham, v» 20. God hath never faid to the feed of Jacob,
Seek ye me in vain: and tho' the bleffmg may be long de-
layed, it will come at laft -, at leaft our prayers fhall not
return into our bofom void.
5. Learn to obey God without delay, as Abraham did;
thefelf-fame day. This is twice remarked by the hiftorian,
to fhow us how readily we muft ferve God, even in painful
and difficult matters. Let us not confer with fleih and
blood, but refolutely perform thofe duties which God hath
commanded. He hath required nothing of us that is un-
reafonable, nothing but what is for our comfort ; may we
therefore refolve according to this example of Abraham,
that whatever our handfindeth to do-, we will do it with all our
mighty and that we will make hafte and not delay to keep God's
righteous judgments.
CHAP. XVIIL I— 19.
V^he prophet Ifaiah ohferves^ that ' God will meet thofe who rejoice
and work right eou'fnefs i' this was exemplified in Abraham, No
fooner had he circumcifed his houfe^ than God appears to him
again j fends him a comfortable mejfage by three angels^ whom
Abraham entertains \ and renews his promife to Sarah ofafon.
1 A N D the Lord appeared unto him, that is, Abra-
jtx ^^^^5 i^ the plains of Mamre : and he fat in the
tent door in the heat of the day, for the fake of being
2 cool\ And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three
men'' flood by him : and when he faw [them,] he ran in
the mofi friendly manner to meet them from the tent door,
and as they appeared to be perfons of rank and refpe liability,
3 he bowed himfelf toward the ground. And faid to one
who appeared to be the chief, and who was probably Chriji,
G 2 by
" Angels in human form ; fo the apoHle afTures us they were,
Hih. xiii. 2.
84 GENESIS. XVIIT. i
by whom God had manif eft cd himfelf to men^ My Lord, If ^
now 1 have found favour in thy fight, pafs not away, I {
4 pray thee, from thy fervant: Let a little water, I pray j
you, be fetched, and wafn your feet,'' and reft yourfelves \
3 under the tree, where it is cool and Jhady : And 1 will :
fetch a morfel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; ;■
after that ye (hall pafs on : for therefore, / prefiimey j
are ye come to your fervant. And they faid, So do, as "
6 thou haft faid.^ And Abraham haftened into thetent \
unto Sarah, and faid, Make ready quickly three mea- \
fures of fine meal, knead [it, J and make cakes upoa I
7 t]\^ hearth, or hot ft one. And Abraham ran unto the •
herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave [it] i
8 unto a young man: and he hafted to drefs it. And
he took butter, and milk, and ^r?r/ o/ the calf which he i
had dreffed, and fet [it] before them \ and he ftood by \
them under the tree, to wait upon them, and they did ;
eat/ ^ ^ ^ I
9 And they faid tmto him, Where [Is] Sarah thy ■
wife ? And he faid, Behold, in the tent. Surprifed to :
hear them call her by name, he began to think his guefts were |
10 more than common ones. And he, who appeared as the \
reprefentative of God, faid, I will certainly return unto ]
thee according to the time of life, or in due time •, and, ;
lo, Sarah thy wife fhall have a fon. And Sarah heard i
i I [it] in the tent door, which [was] behind him. Now :
Abraham and Sarah [were] old, [and] well ftricken in j
age; [and] it ceafedto be with Sarah after the manner j
12 of women. I'herefcre Sarah, not knowing her guefts, ;
laughed, or ftniled, within herfelf, and doubted of what ■
was faid, faying, After I am waxed old fhall I have
J 3 pleafure, my lord being old alfo ? And the Lord, who \
knew the thoughts of Sarah, faid unto Abraham, by the \
angel that reprefented him. Wherefore did Sarah laugh, j
and I
^ This was neceflary and very refreflilng in thofe hot countries, i
where they wore fandals, or went barefoot. i
^ This gives us a beautiful idea of antient hofpitality, when \
there were no fuch places of entertainment as we have. ]
f A delightful inltance of the fimplicity of antient times- So ]
Homer reprefents Achilles as ferving up, with his own hand, a |
(iiih that tutrodui had been cooking, ■
GENESIS. XVIII. 85
and treat the promife with derifion^ laying. Shall I of a
14 furety bear a child, which am old ? Is any thing too
hard for the Lord ? At the time appointed will I
return unto thee, according to the time of life, and
15 Sarah ihall have a fon. Then Sarah came forward^ and
being in confufion^ den-ied /'/, faying, I laughed not; for
fhe was afraid. And he faid. Nay ; but thou didft
16 laugh." And the men rofe up from thence, and look-
ed toward Sodom, where they had an awful commijjion to
execute: and Abraham, to Jhow his refpe^^ went with
them to bring them on the way.
ly And the Lord faid /tf the angels who attended him^ fhall
18 I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing
that Abraham fhall furely become a great and mighty
nation, and all the nations of the earth fhall be bleiTed
in him ? Since I have proynifed to do greater matters for
19 hijn than this^ why JJiould I hide this from him? For I
know that 1 foall net acquaint him with this in vain^ I
know that he will command his children and his houfe-
hold after him, that they fhall keep the way of the
Lord, to do juftice and judgment-, that the Lord
may bring upon Abraham that which he hath fpoken
of him.
R E F L E C T IONS.
E T us imitate Abraham's generofity in a readi-
nefs to do good offices. This is Paul's inference
from this ftory, in Heb, xiii. 2. Be not forgetful to entertain
Jlrangers^ for thereby fome have entertained angels unawares^
Abraham didnotftay to be afked-, but feeing thefe travellers
weary and faint, he haftened to invite and relieve them.
He did it with great modefty and humility. Let me fetch
a little water and a morfel of bread •, he faid nothing of the
provifions he intended •, he treated them with great decency
and hofpitality, and waited on them himfelf, tho' a prince
v^ho had vanquifhed kings. Thus we fhould learn to do
good and to communicate. Thofe whom providence hath
G 3 blefTed
* She probably foon repented and believed the promife, for the
apoftie commends her faith, Heb, xi. 11.
S6 GENESIS, XVIII. |
blefled with abundance fhould be liberal and generous, fin- 1
cere and hearty, without grudging. Here was no luxurious |
entertainment, no coftly niceties, but all was plain and ^ |
friendly. A good example of temperance and friendllnefs 1
united. Luxurious entertainments are not inftances of re- |
fjped ', they are often the caufe of fin in thofe who partake of j
them. While we imitate this good patriarch's charity and
generofity, let us alfo imitate his plalnnefs and fimpllcityj \
and avoid thofe dainties which are fo often deceitful meat. ■
2. Let the daughters of Abraham learn to be in fub- j
jedllon to their hufbands. This is the apoftle's inference I
from this fiory, i Feter ili. i, 5, 6. Likewife ye wives be in \
fuhje£lion to your own hujbands in all things lawful, even as, '
Sarah obeyed Abraham^ calling him^ whenever fiie fpoke of \
him, her lord^ tho' fiie was of the fame family, and greatly \
honoured both by God and men, as well as Abraham. ;
Kemember this excellent wom,an, whofe daughters ye i^- j
deed are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any j
amazement; are not led haftily or inconfiderately, thro' |
fname or fear, to fay or do what is wrong. \
3. Let us imitate Abraham in a religious care of our \
families, v, 19. This was a bright part of his charader-, |
/ know AhraJiam^ fays the Lord, that he will command his \
children and his houfehold to keep the way of the Lord^ to do ■ j
jujiice and judgment. God himfelf approved of this, that \
he taught them diligently •, that his principal care was S
about pradical religion, to keep the way of the Lprd, and i
do juilice and judgment ; that he added his authority to \
his infi:ru6lions, and infifted upon it, as a qualification for !
a place In his family. All heads of families fhould imitate |
this example, and take care of their fervants as well as .;
their children •, they have fouls to be looked after, and in :
minding our bufinefs they too often negledl thofe fouls.
We fhould guard them againft fuch an error •, not labour '
to fill their heads with notions and fpeculations, as too \
many parents and rnafiers do •, but, like Abraham, teach j
them thofe things they can underftand and pradife •, to keep ;
God's ways, to be devout, and do juftice and judgment ; ^
to be honcfi in their dealings, and faithful to their pro- j
mifes. Let us be concerned, like Abraham, that religion \
may .j
GENESIS. XVIII. Sy
may flourlfh when we are gone; and therefore command
our houfehold to keep God*s ways when we are taken from
them. This is the way to fecure God's favour, to enjoy
his gracious prefence in this world, and in that which is to
come.
CHAP. XVIII. 20, to the end.
Gad here acquaints Abraham zvith his intentiun to dejlroy Sodom
and the cities of the plain \ upon which Abraham humbly
and earneftly intercedes for them,
9.0 AND the Lord faid, Becaufe the cry, the fins and
£^%^ provocations^ of Sodom and Gomorrah is great,^'
and becaufe their fin is very grievous •, therefore^ to
21 fpeak after the manner of men^ I will go down now, and
fee, inquire into the truth of the things whether they have
done altogether according to the cry of it, which is
come unto me; and if not, I will know ; I will make a
flri^l fcrutiny^ that my jujiice as well as my righteous judg-
22 ment may appear. And the men, that is, two of the three ^
who were angels^ turned their faces from thence, and
went toward Sodom : but Abraham flood yet before
the Lord.
23 And Abraham drew near, with reverence and humble
confidence^ and faid. Wilt thou alfo deflroy the righteous
24 with the wicked ^ I am fure thou wilt not. Peradven-
ture there be fifty righteous within the city, in all the
cities^ the chief being put for all the reft: wilt thou
alfo deflroy and not fpare the place for the fifty
25 righteous that [are] therein ? That be far from thee
to do after this manner, to flay the righteous with
the wicked : ' and that the righteous fhould be as
the wicked, that be far from thee : Shall not the judge
of all the earth do right, deal in that moderate and equit-
able wayy which God is pleafed to ufe with the fons of men ?
G 4 And
^ Thefe two cities only are mentioned, becaufe they were the
chief, and perhaps the mod wicked.
i Sometimes the righteous are taken away in publick caUmiiie*^
but then it is in mercv to them.
88 GENESIS, XVIII.
26 And the Lord faid, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous
within the city, then I will (pare all the place for their
27 fakes. And Abraham anfwered and faid, Behold now,
I have taken upon me to fpeak unto the Lord, which
28 [am but] duft and afhes/ Peradventure there fhall
lack five of the fifty righteous : wilt thou deftroy all
the city for [lack of] five ? And he faid, If I find there
29 forty and five, I will not deftroy [it.] And he fpake
unto him yet again, and faid, Peradventure there ihall
be forty found there. And he faid, I will not do [it]
30 for forty's fake. And he faid [unto him,] Oh let not
the Lord be angry, and I will fpeak : Peradventure
there fhall thirty be found there. And he faid, I will
31 not do [it,] if I find thirty there. And he faid. Behold
now, I have taken upon me to fpeak unto the Lord :
Peradventure there fhall be twenty found there, And
52 he faid, I will not deftroy [it] for twenty's fake. And
he faid, Oh let net the Lord be angry, and I will fpeak
yet but this once : Peradventure ten fhall be found
there. And he faid, 1 will not deftroy [it] for ten's
fake. Abraham could not in decency proceed any further ;
and he might reafonahly hope that in all the cities there were
at leaft ten righteous perfons^ including Lot and his family^
33 And the Lord .went his way, withdrew the tokens of his
prefence^ and difappeared^ as foon as he had left com-
muning with Abraham : and Abraham returned unto
his place to wait the event,
REFLECTIONS.
ET us learn from hence, humility in all our ad-
dreffes to God. This was an amiable part of Abra-
ham's character •, How fhall /, who am duft arid afloes^ mean
and vile, take upon me to fpeak unto thee ? It becomes us thus
to draw nigh to God, with reverence and godly fear •, to ac-
knowledge our unworthinefs and finfulnefs, and the vafl dif-
tance there is between God and us. Let us not be rude in the
divine prefence, or ruih into it /is the horfe into the battle,
but
^ The nearer we approach to Gcd, the more fenfible we are \
of our own meannefs and viicnefs.
G E K E S I S. XVIII. 89
but confider Him with whom we have to do. How admira-
ble is his condefceniion to fufter us to come into his pi*e-
fence and to fpeak to him, yea, plead with him, as a
man with his friend ! Well may we come before the Lord,
as David did, and fay, TFho am /, O Lord^ and what is
my hoitfe^ that thou haft brought me hitherto ! Weil may we
break out in a holy ftrain of gratitude, and fay, Thanks be
to God for J ejus Chrift^ thro* whom we have accefs with humble
confidence^ and can come with an holy boldnefs to the throne of
grace^ to feek ynercy^ and grace to help in every time of need,
2. We fee how highly God 'titeems and regards the
righteous : if only ten righteous perfons had been found in
Sodom, it would have been faved. Good men are the de-
fence of a nation ♦, better than the chariots of Ifrael, and
the horfemen thereof. They are blefTmgs to any place or
neighbourhood *, and when they are removed, our glory and
fecurity are taken away. Thofe who think otherwife, and
perfecute or opprefs them, are cutting the bough on which
they themfelves ftand; See in this inftance how acceptable
their piety is to God ; He woidd fpare the wicked for their
fake. The faints are the excellent ones of the earth, aild
our delight ihould' be in them. And if in the midft of
publick calannties the righteous fliould be taken away, it
is in mercy to them.
3. We fee the aftonifhing efficacy of prayer. It had in
this inftance great honour put upon it, and met with great
fuccefs. God was pleafed to come down to very low terms
indeed ; nor even then left off granting till Abraham was
quite afhamed, and could aik no more. Let this encourage
us to intercede for our own land, where there are fo many
righteous perfons •, let us ft and in the breach^ and lift up holy
hands without wrath or doubting. It is a fad thing indeed when
the times are fo bad, that the prayers of the remaining few
will not prevail. Let us ftir up ourfelves to call upon God ;
and let the fuccefs of Abraham's petitions in behalf of
wicked Sodom, excite our hope and humble boldnefs.
Above all, let the long-fuffering, the compaffion, thegood-
nefs, and mercy of God, confirm our faith and confidence
that we fliall not feek his face in vaiu,
4. What
90 GENESIS. XIX.
4. What great reafon have we all to rejoice In the inter"
ceflion of the Lord Jefus Chrift ! If the prayer of a righte-
ous man availeth much •, if the prayer of Abraham almofl
prevailed for Sodom ; if the prayer of Mofes fo often de-
livered Ifrael •, how much more reafon have we to hope,
that the intercefTion of our great High Prieft, the Son of
God, who is pafled into the heavens for us, fhall be fuc-
cefsful ? He offers tke prayers of all the faints^ mixed with his
much incenfe^ and him the father heareth always. In his name
let us intercede for our country, and for our own fouls ; for
whatfoever we aik of the Father in his name, it fhall be
done unto us.
CHAP. XIX. 1—22.
Contains an account of Lot's entertaimnent of the angels ; the
Jliamefid attempt that was made upon them , and the deliver-
ance of hot from titti wicked place,
1 AND there came two angels ' to Sodom at even j
Xf\^ and Lot fat in the gate of Sodom, probably to
invite ftrangers^ knowing how apt his townfmen were to
abiife them ; and Lot feeing [them] make a refpe^iable
appearance^ rofe up to meet them •, and he bowed him-
2 felf with hl5 face toward the ground ^ And he faid. Be-
hold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you^ into your fer-
vant's houfe, and tarry all night, and wafli your i^€i^
and ye fhall rife up early, and go on your ways. And
they faid, Nay •, but we will abide in thenflreet all night,
3 which was common in thcfe hot countries. And he, knowing
the danger of being expofed all night in Sodom^ prefled up-
on them greatly -, and they turned in unto him, and
entered into his houfe -, and he made them a feafl:, of
fuch provifions as he had., and did bake unleavened bread,
and they did eat.
4 But a mojl horrible attempt was made upon thefe flrangers
before they lay down, for the men of the city, [even]
the men of Sodom, compafTed the houfe round, both
old
1 Perhaps thofe two who had departed from Abraham.
GENESIS. XIX. gi
old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5 and they called unto Lot, and faid unto him. Where
[are] the men which came in to thee this night ? bring
them out unto us, that we may know them. They were^
as Paul exprejjes it ^ Rom, i 17. given up to vik affe^ions^
burning in lufi one toward another \ men with men, working
6 that which was unfeemly. And Lot went out at the
7 door unto them, and fhut the door after him. And
faid, I pray you, brethren, do not fo wickedly; with
all tendernefs and earnefinefs^ befeeching them to refrain
3 from their wicked defigns. Behold now, I have two
daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray
you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as
[is] good in your eyes : only unto thefe men do no-
thing; for therefore came they under the fhadow of my
9 roof."" And they faid, in the height of rage and refent-
ment^ Stand back. And they faid [again,] This one
[fellow] came in to fojourn, and he will needs be a
judge : now will we deal worfe with thee, than with
them. And they prefled fore upon the man, [even]
^o Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men,
the two angels^ put forth their hand, and pulled Lot
1 1 into the houfe to them, and ihut to the door. And
they fmote the men that [were] at the door of the
houfe with blindnefs," both fmall and great : fo that
they wearied themfelves to find the door.
12 And the men, that is^ the angels^ faid unto Lot,
Haft thou here any relations befides ? fon in law, and
thy fons, and thy daughters, and whatfoever thou haft
in the city, bring [them] out of this place; thd* they
Jhould be wicked^ we have commijfton to fhow them mercy
13 for thy fake : For we will deftroy this place, becaufe
the cry of the fins of them is waxen great before the
face of the Lord ; and the Lord hath fent us to deftroy
14 it. And Lot went out, and fpake unto his fons in
law,
°» This was, undoubtedly, a very unwarrantable offer in Lot,
and what he ought not to have made; it was doing evil that
good might come. Of two evils we may choofe the lead, but of
two iins we mull choofe neither.
"Not with the lofs of their eyes, but with a great dimnefs,
or a thick dark milt.
j-^ G E N E S I^ S. XiX,
law, which married his daughters, or were betrothed to
tliern^ v,- 8. and^ noHmthftanding the danger to which he
ecKpofed kimfelf^^ e^pvftulated with them, and faid, Up, get
you out of this plaee •, for the Lord will deftroy this
city. But he feemed as one that mocked unto his fons
in law, and they made a jeft of his warning,
15 And vv'heh X^a^ morning aroie, then the angels
hailened Lot, faying, Arife, take thy wife, and thy
two daughters, which are here •, left thou be confumed
1 6 in the iniquity or punijhment of the city. And while he
lingered, perhaps defirous of faving fome others, cr praying
God to fpare the city, the men laid hold upon his hand,
and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of
his two daughters •, the Lord being merciful unto him:
and they brought him forth, and fet him without the
17 city. And it tame to pafs, when they had brought
them forth abroad, that he, one of the angels, faid, E-
fcape for thy life-, look not behind thee, neither flay
thou in all the plain ; efcape to the mountain, left thou
I S be confumed. And Lot faid unto them. Oh, not fo,
19 my Lord : Behold now, thy fervant hath found grace
in thy fight, and thou haft magnified thy mercy, which
thou haft fhowed unto me in faving my life -, and I can-
not efcape to the mountain, left fome evil take me, and
20 I die before I can get there: Behold now, this city, called
Bela, [is] near to flee unto, and it [is] a little one: and
therefore as its inhabitants, fo its fins are fewer : oh, let
me efcape thither, ([is] it not a little one ?) and my foul
2 1 fhall live, fliall rejoice and be cheerful. And he, that is, God^
faid unto him by the angel. See, I have accepted thee,
granted thy requefi concerning this thing alfo, that I will
not overthrow this city, for the which thou haft fpoken;'
fo nmch do I regard the prayers of my people, for their fafety
22 and happinefs. Hafte thee, efcape thither; for I can-
not do any thing till thou be come thither, becaufe of
God's projnife to fave thee from the deftruolion. Therefore
froyn that time the name of the city was called Zoar, that
is, a little one,
REFLECT-
"GENESIS. XIX. 9j
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT TE fee in thefe verfes, v/hat rnonftrous wicked nefs
W the human nature is capable of. We cannot
think of it without horror, that the men of Sodom, young
and old, fhould attempt the commifTion of fuch a crime in
fuch an open and impudent manner. When men declare
their fin like Sodom, they muft be daring finners indeed.
Pride, fulnefs of bread, and much idlenefs, led thofe ex-
ceeding great iinners to fuch a pitch of wickeJnefs ^ their
habitual prad:ice of fin, took away the horror of it. Fiiihj
coH'verfaHon and itnlawful deeds the apoille Peter charges
them with. Thefe wretches were not afhamsd, neither
could they bluih. Their wickednefs was greatly aggra-
vated by the temporal blefTmgs which God had beftowed
upon them, and by the example and reproofs of Lot ^ but
they continued in the pradice of the moft vile and un-
natural wickednefs, till wrath came upon them to the utter moft.
Let us bewail their degeneracy, and avoid every appearance
of fuch evil.
2. Obferve here with pleafure God's care of a good
man, and his favour to him. This is the apoftle's in-
ference in 2 Feter ii. 7, 8, 9, where he fays^ God delivered
jiift Lot^ 'vexed ii'ith the filthy converfation of tlie wicked : and
infers, The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temp-
tations^ and to referve the tmjuft unto the day of judgment to
he puniflied. Lot lived in a wicked place, and kept himfelf
pure ; he did not follow a multitude to do evil -, but was
iingularly holy, and reproved them by his preaching and
example; and God fhowed fuch a regard for him, and his
promifes to him, that he fays, v. 22. I cannot do any thing
till thou art fafe. He would rather let them all efcape,
than hurt him. How precious are the lives of good men
in the fight of God ! He will take care that they are pre-
ferved. Thofe who like Lot, mourn for the abomination
of the times and places where they live, fhall have a mark
fet upon them before the deftroying angel goes forth ; and
he (hall not come near any man on whom that mark is
found j he will fpare themi now, and when tKe day comes,
in
94 6 E N E S I S. XlX:
in which he maketh up his jewels, he will honour arid re-
ward them. Let this engage us to be blamekfl and harmlefsy
the fons of God xjoithout rebuke^ in the miafi of a crooked and
pcrverfe generation,
3. God's dealings with Lot are an emblem of his deaU
ings with his people in general. He hath fent meflengers
to conviiTce them of the evil of fin, and exhort them to flee
from the wrath to come 5 yet fometimes, when they believe
the mefTage, they linger, and are too much attached to
■I iTth and fenfe ; but God being merciful to them, as was
here faid of Lot, repeats the warning, takes them by the
hand, and pulls them out. Their falvation is to be afcrib-
ed to God's mercy ; they are faved by grace. If God had
not brought them out, they would have lingered ftill, and
perifhed with the ungodly. We are exhorted to efcape for
our hves, as w^e prize the life of our fouls, and defire eter-
nal life. We are not to look behind, to fiacken our pace,
or hearken to the allurements of the world \ but efcape to
the mountain ; reach toward Chrift and heaven, and take
up with nothing fhort of it. That is a neceflary exhorta-
tion, work out your own falvation ; for we are too prone to
trifle, tho' we know we are in danger of being confumed ;
and that is a moft encouraging promife which follows it,
for God will work in us to will and to do of his goodpleaftire»
CHAP. XIX. 23, to the end.
^he defiru5lion of Sodom and the cities of the plain \ and fome
unhappy circumflances relating to Loi^s family,
23 ^"T^' H E fun was rifen upon the earth when Lot en-
, j^ tered into Zoar ; it was a fine bright mornings and
no appearance of the florm that was jufl going to fall,
24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Go-
morrah, and upon Admah and Zeboim^ hail and lightnings
briraftone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, by his
own immediate power^ and not according to the common
25 courfe of nature ', And he overthrew thofe cities, and
all
GENESIS. XIX. 95
all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and
that which grew upon the ground."
26 But his wife looked back from behind him, out of
curioftty^ unbelief and a covetous dcjire of what Jhe had
left behind^ and fhe became a pillar of falt.^
27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning, full of
anxiety to hiow the events and he haftened to the place
28 where he ftood before the Lord : And he looked to-
ward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of
the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the fmoke of the coun-
try went up as the fmoke of a furnace.
29 And it came to pafs, when God deftroyed the cities
of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, his ir-
tercejfion and the promife made to hirn^ and Lot^s relation
to him^ and he fent Lot out of the midft of the over-
throw, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot
dwelt, lihis intimates that Lot^ tho^ a good man upon the
whole^ yet had deferved to perijh with this wicked people^
becaufe he fixed his rejidence among them from worldly views ;
30 and alfo that he was faved for Abraham's fake. And Lot
went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and
his two daughters with him •, for he feared to dwell in
Zoar, left the people of that place fhould fall upon him^ as
the caufe of the deJlru5fion of Sodom : and he dwelt in a
cave, he and his two daughters.
3 1 And the firft born faid 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 -, we live here
in a cave without the fociety of any but ourfeheSy and it is
all one to us as if there was not a man upon the face of the
3 2 earth : Come, let us make our father drink wine,^ and
we will lie with him, that we may preferve feed of our
33 father. And they made their father drink wine that
ni^ht :
** The plain where they Hood was changed into a fulphureous
lake, called the Dead Sea»
p The lightning blafted her. She was ftruck dead, but net thrown
down. She ftood eredt like a pillar or ftatue. The brimftone and
fait which were rained down, fell upon her, and not only crafted her
over, but penetrated thro' her whole body. Thus fhe was inflantly
petrified; changed into a fubllance that would endure for many
ages; a metallic fait. Josephus tells us he himlelf had feen it.
^ Which perhaps they had brought from Zoar.
^G GENESIS. XIX,
night : and the firft born went in-, and Jay with her fa-
ther •, and he perceived not when fne lay down, nor
when fne arofe. Bru7ikennefs drowns the ujiderfiancling^
S 4. fenfes^ confcience^ and all And it came to pafs on tihe
morrow, that the firft born faid unto the younger. Be-
hold, I lay yefternight with my^ father : let us make
him drink wine this night alfo •, and -go thou in, [and]
lie with him, that we may preferve feed of our father.
35 And they made their father drink wine that night alfo :
and the younger arofe, and lay with him •, and he per-
ceived not v;hen fhe lay-dov/n, nor when ihe arofe.
^6 Thus v/ere both the daughters of Lot with child by
^j their father.^ And the firft born bare a fon, and cal-
led his name Moab, that is^ a child from my father . the
famiC [is] the father of the Moabites unto this day.
38 And the younger, fhe alfo bare a fon, and called his
name Ben-ammi, that is, the fon of my people, and not of
a firanger : the fame [is] the father of the children of
Ammon unto this day. We read no more of Lot^ and
hope he repented', hut it was a Jhameful crime, with the
fmoke of Sodom before his eyes*
REFLECTIONS.
i.T ET us think of the terrible judgment that fhall
1 J overtake all the wicked, illuftrated by the deftruc-
tion of Sodom. This was defigned to be a ftanding mark
of the difpleafure of God againft fin, efpecially the lufl of
uncleannefs ; and it is made an example of the ruin of many
nations that rebel againfl God. Thofe people fuitered the
vengeance of eternal fire ; and their deflrudion is an em-
blem of that which fhall come upon all the ungodly. Ac-
cordingly, hell is reprefented as a lake that burneth with fire
and
^ Some writers have endeavoured to excufe the fcandal of this
Hory, by faying. They were influenced by a defire of being the
remote parents of the Meffiah ; and urged that they Jived chaftely
in Sodom; that they joined in the contrivance, which guilty per-
fons in fuch a cafe would not do ; and that they perpetuated
the fad in the names of the children : but it is to be feared they
hnd no fuch expeiSlations j and whatever .their pretence wasj their
cpndud was ihamefully wicked.
GENESIS. XIX. , 97
and brimftone. They have frequent warnings from the
righteous men that live among them, but they are difre-
garded. Minifters call to finners to turn and live ; fay un-
to them, as Lot did to his fons, Up^ and get ye out of this
place \ but they feem as thofe that mock •, they think them
in jeft, or defpife their remonftrances. God's bowels
yearn over them, as well as men's •, and he fays, How /hall
I give thee up ? but they refufe his offer •, they think them-
felves fecure, till fudden deftrudion comech upon them.
They are engaged in their worldly concerns or pleafures ;
and the fun of profperity fhines brightly upon them ; but
the breath of the Lord kindleth a ftream of brimftone be-
fore they are aware. Our Lord illuftrates the deftru6lion
of finners by this flory, in Luke xvii. 28. Let wicked
men promife themfelves ever fo much peace and happinefs,
and go on ever fo daringly and impudently in fin, it is cer-
tain, as it is exprefTed Pfalm xi. 6. Upon the wicked God /hall
rain fnares^ /ire and hrim/ione^ and an horrible tempejl. What
a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God!
who hath fuch ftores of vengeance •, who can kindle a fire
in his anger, that fhall burn to the loweft hell ! Be warned
therefore, O finners, and efcape for your lives to the rock
of refuge ; or be afTured, as our Lord himfelf argued, that
after all thefe warnings, it will be more tolerable for Sodom
and Gomorrah in the day of judgment^ than for you,
2. Remember Lot's wife \ as Chrift exhorts us, Luke
xvii. 32. She was punifhed for lingering, when fhe fhould
have fled-, for loving the things of the world, and turning
back from the path which God had appointed. Tho' the
wife of a good "man, and remarkably favoured by her de-
liverance from Sodom, yet fhe was deflroyed, and made a
monument of wrath to future generations. Let us fly
earneftly for refuge^ and lay hold on the hope that is fet before
us •, guarding againft the prevailing love of the world, and
facrificing every thing to the welfare of the foul •, not drawing
backy le/l it be to perdition ; but fetting our faces Zion-ward,
and prefTing on to the kingdom of heaven. Linger not in
the plains of defhrudion, or in the practice of fin. God
hath declared. If any man draw back^ my foul fhall have no
plea/lire in him. Let us then forget what is behind^ and
Vol, I. H prefs
98 GENESIS. XIX.
prefs on to thofe things that are before^ toward the mark for the
prize of our high calling ; conAderIng, What is a man profited
if he gain the whole worlds and lofe his own foul?
g. It is a happy thing to be nearly allied to thofe who
are eminent for religion. Lot's fons in law and daughters
would have been faved for his fake, if they had taken the
warning •, but they would not. God faved Lot for Abra-
ham's fake, in anfwer to the prayers of this his pious rela-
tive, V. 29. The relations of good men often fare better for
their prayers and interceflions -, it is frequently fo with re-
gard to temporal concerns, and would be often fo in fpirltual
things, if it were not their own fault. It will therefore be
our wifdom to form alliances with thofe only who fear God
and work right eoufnefs^ and from whofe prayers, counfels,
and examples we may exped the greateft advantage.
4. We fee the odious and enfnaring fin of drunken-
nefs. A certain writer againft the fcriptures, has ventur-
ed to aflert, that there is nothing in the Mofaic law to dif-
courage this vice. But, befides feveral other paiTages that
might be mentioned, this ftory itfelf anfwers that objec-
tion. We fee how big it is with all manner of mifchief. It
is bad in itfelf; difhonourable to our rational natures ; an
ungrateful abufe of the kindnefs of God, in giving fuch
things for our refrefhment and entertainment •, and an in-
let to all manner of vice. It makes the tongue pervert
right things •, and a perfon, who is in the main good, when
overtaken with this fault, may be guilty of fuch adtions as
will bring perpetual fhame on himfelf •, a great reproach on
his profefTion ; and may make him go mourning all hi?
days. Juftly does the pious Herbert fay,
* He that is drunken, may his mother kill
Big with his fifter : He hath loft the reins,
Is outlaw'd by himfelf. All kind of ill
Did with his liquor Hide into his veins.'
Thus Lot, who had kept himfelf pure amidft all the de-
bauchery of Sodom, when he was drunk commits inceft
with his own daughters. A man may be guilty of fuch faults
in fimilar circumftances, of which, if he were told before,
iie would fay, Is thy fervant a dog^ that hejhould do fuch things
as
GENESIS. XX. 99
as thefe?" Perfons cannot be too much on their guard agalnft
fo frequent and fo abominable a pradice. Be not drunk with
wine^ wherein there is excefs. But if men will, with fuch in-
ftances as thefe before their eyes, go on to add drunkennefs to
thirft^ make a god of their belly ^ and dethrone their reafon,
let them remember what the apoftle declares, that fuch
^tx(ons Jh all not inherit the kingdom of God. Let us conclude
with the exhortation of our Lord m Luke xya, 34. 'Take
heed to yourfelves^ leji at any time your hearts be overcharged
with furfeitingy and drunkennefs^ and cares of this life^ arid fa
that day come upon you unawares^
CHAP. XX.
I^he progrefs of Abraham* s hifiory hath been a little interrupted
by the account of the deJiru5lion of Sodom *, but here we return
to it again, and find him a fecond time denying his wife ;
Abimelech takes her \ is reproved of God for it \ and^ after
expofiulating with Abraham, reflores her to him,
1 AND Abraham, after refiding at Mamre fourteen
±\, years, journeyed from thence toward the fouth
country, and dwelled between the two deferts Kadefh and
Shur, and fojourned in Gerar, a city of the PhiliflineSy
2 fouth of Canaan.^ And Abraham unaccountably fell into the
fame fin which he had before beenguiltyofin Egypt, andfciid
of Sarah his wife, She [is] my fifter : and Abimelech^
king of Gerar fent, and took Sarah : flie was fiill
beautiful, thd* ninety years old-, and the king took her, per-
3 haps by force, to make her his wife. But God came to
Abimelech in a dream by night, and faid to him. Be-
hold, thou [art but] a dead man, for the woman which
thou haft taken, // thou reftore her not ; for fhe [is] a
4 man's wife. But Abimelech had not come near her :
and, being thus made fenftble of the wrong he had done,
and fear Jul left his people fhould fuffer for it^ he faid,
H 2 Lord,
» Probably the flench of the lake was difagreeable, and Lot's
inceft had brought a reproach upon him and his religion.
« A name common to all the kings of Paleftine, as Pharaoh was to
the kings of Egypt. It fignifies, my father is king, Calmet. Edit,
loo GENESIS. XX.
Lord, wilt thou flay alfo a righteous nation, who art
5 innocent as to this point ? Said he not unto me. She [is]
my fifter ? and (he, even (lie herfelf faid. He [is] my
broLher : in the integrity of my heart and innocency of
my hands have I done this ; I had no adulterous defign in
6 the leofi in it \ I meant nothing but what was honeji. And
God faid unto him in a dream. Yea, I know that thou
didft this in the integrity of thy heart •, for I alfo v^ith-
held thee from finning againft me: therefore fufFered I
7 thee not to touch her. Now therefore reftore the man
[his] wife-, for he [is] a prophet, an interpreter of my
will^ arid one who is very dear to me-, therefore the injury
. done to him I confuler as done to myfelf\ and // thou wilt
reflore her^ he fhall pray for thee, and I will hear him ^ and
thou fhalt live : and if thou reftore [her] not, know
thou that thou fhalt furely die, thou, and all that [are]
8 thine. 'Thus God reproved kings for his fake. Therefore
Abimelech rofe early in the morning, and called all his
fervants, and told all thefe things in their ears : and the
men were fore afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and faid unto him.
What haft thou done unto us P hoiv great a danger haft
thou expofedus to I and in what have I offended thee, that
thou haft brought on mc and on my kingdom a great fin,
orpunifhment ? thou haft done deeds unto me that ought
not to be done, that were neither honourable nor juftifable,
10 And Abimelech faid unto Abraham, What levity or im-
purity faweft thou in us, that thou haft done this thing,
1 1 that hath moved thee to deal thus with us ? And Abraham
faid, Becaufe I thought, Surely the fear of God, a prin-
ciple of real religion, [is] not in this place: they will be
guilty of any violence, and perhaps they will flay me for
12 my wife's fake. And yet indeed [fhe is] my fifter ; fhe
[is] the grand daughter of my father Terah, but not
the daughter of my mother ; and fhe became my wife."
13 And it came to pafs, when God caufed me to wander
from my father's houfe, that I faid unto her. This [is]
thy
" When Haran, her own father, died, (he lived with Terah,
her grandfather, who was alfo Abraham's father ; and thus living
as brother and fifter in the fame family, in time Ihe became his
wife.
GENESIS. XX. loi
thy kindnefs which thou fhalt fhow unto me •, at every
place whither we fhall come, fay of me, He [is] my
brother."^
14 And Abimelech took (heep, and oxen, and men
fervants, and women fervants, and gave [them] unto
15 Abraham, and reftored him Sarah his wife. And
Abimelech, being glad to have fuch a propnet^ and fuch a
friend of God near him^ faid. Behold, my land [is] before
16 thee : dwell where it pleafeth thee. And unto Sarah
he faid, by way of reproofs Behold, I have given him
whom thou dtdft call thy brother a thoufand [pieces] of
filver : "" behold, he [is] to thee a covering of the eyes,
unto all that [are] with thee, and with all [other-,] a
defence of thy chaftity^ to fecure thee from the eyes and
addrejps of all others •, and therefore own him hereafter :
thus he was reproved.''
17 So Abraham prayed unto God : and God healed
Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid fervants, of
the iudifpofition under which they laboured-, and they bare
18 [children.] For the Lord had faft clofed up all the
wombs of the houfe of Abimelech, becaufe of Sarah
Abraham's wife; God by.fome righteous judgment had
fmitten them with barrennefs,
R EFLECTIONS.
I. Til 7^ E fhould be cautious of relapfmg into thofe fins
V V ^^^t ^^ have been convinced of and humbled
for. Abraham did fo ; and his guilt was aggravated by
God's having formerly appeared for him in Pharaoh's
court. It was ftrange that he fhould diffemblc again, when
he had (ttn the vifion of God fince that time, and had the
promife of a child by Sarah too *, yet he relapfed again.
Lord^ what is man! How painful is it to obferve the father
of the faithful repeatedly equivocating ! Let us avoid this
H 3 - fin,
^ Abraham alleges it was his common prafllce, and therefore
he did not deHgn to affront Abimelech ; but it was done with a
defign to deceive, and therefore unjullifiable and finful.
^ About one hundred and twenty hve pounds.
y Or, as it is much better rendered by Dr. Kennicott, and in
all things /peak the truth. Remarks, p. 22. Edit.
102 GENESIS. XX.
fin, and efpecially be on our guard in thofe inftances in
which we have fallen before. Paft mifcarriages Ihould be
as marks to prevent our making fhipwreck of faith and a
good confcience.
2. It is a great comfort to preferve the teftimony of our
own confcience : fo Abimelech did. He had no ill defign,
no intention of injuring Abraham or Sarah. Polygamy was
reckoned unlawful even in thofe days. Let us keep a con-
fcience void of offence toward God and man. It will be
our rejoicing in the day of evil : and then, // our hearts
condemn us not^ we /hall have confidence toward God If
he knows that we a6t in the integrity of our hearts, it is
happy for us, whether men will own it or not. 'T'lofe who
walk uprightly-, walk furely \ and they may humbly hope,
that God will keep them from fmning againil: him, when
they defire to know their duty, and avoid the appearance
of evil.
3. We fhould acknowledge it as a great mercy to be
reftrained from fin, tho' it fhould be by afHidlion God
often makes ufe of affliding providences as a mean of
curing vicious inclinations -, and thus he takes away the
opportunity of our doing evil. Thofe afflidions that keep
us from fin are bleffings indeed. God fhould be praifed for
reflraining grace j and it fhould be our daily prayer, that
he would not permit us to fall into temptation, but that
he would deliver us from evil.
4. The fear of God is a good refliraint from iin v, 11,
Abraham thought. Surely the fear of God is not in thisplace^ and
they will flay me for my wife's fake. The want of this principle
introduces all manner of confufion. Juftly do our indid-
ments fay, concerning criminals, that they do fo and fo,
not having the fear of God, There is no good to be expedled
without this. David fays, Pfalm xxxvi, i. The tranfgrejfion
of the wicked faith within my hearty that there is no fear of
God before his eyes ; whatever they prpfefs, their condud faith
fo. An holy awe of God will keep us from fin, as in the
cafe of Nehemiah, This did not I becaufe of the fear of the Lord,
If therefore we would avoid fin, and every appearance of
evil, let us be in the fear of the Lord all the day long,
5. Some-
GENESIS. XX. 103
5. Sometimes it is a fnare to us to have a bad opinion of
others, and to fufpecfl their characters more than we ought.
-Abraham fuipedled Abimelech, but without reafon. He
appears to have been a man of great wifdom, judgment,
and integrity ♦, not an idolater, but a worfhipper of the true
God, as Melchizedek was. God converfed with him by
dreams, and thus made knov/n his v/ill to him. It feems
that he abhorred adultery, and had he known that Sarah
was another man's wife, would not have attempted to take
her. Perhaps Abraham might think, that Abimelech and
his people did not fear God, becaufe they were not circum-
cifed ; had not the feal of God's covenant -, or did not offer
facrifices, or not fuch facrifices as he did. Uncharitablenefs
leads to other fins ; particularly, to take wrong methods to
fecure ourfelves ; charity hopeth all things. ' There are, fays
' Mr. Henry, many perfons that have more of the fear of
* God in their hearts than we think. Perhaps they are not
' called by our dividing names, nor wear our badges. They
* are not of our opinion, and therefore we conclude that
* they have not the fear of God in their hearts. But this
* is injurious both to Chrifl and chriftians, and makes us
* obnoxious to the divine judgment.' — Once more,
6. Let us learn to temper our rebukes with gentlenefs
and kindnefs ^ thus Abimelech did. Men are apt to be
difpleafed at a reproof, hovyever juft it may be -, and there-
fore we ought to mingle it with kindnefs : when we do fo,
they will hearken the better, and believe we have a good
defign. Many a reproof lofes its force, by being delivered
with too much heat. Men are ready to think that zeal for
God and holinefs will vindicate this -, but they are miflaken.
The wrath of man worketh not the right eoufnefs of God. Let
us then in meeknefs inftrud: thofe who oppofe themfelves,
and with gentlenefs reprove thofe who do amifs ; and en-
deavour, by real kindnefs, to fhow that we wifh them well,
and fhould be glad to fee them happy. An arrow winged
with love is molt likely to reach the heart. So God deals
with us, and fo fliould we deal with each other.
H 4 CHAP,
104- GENESIS. XXI.
i
CHAP. XXI.
PFe are now entering upon the hijlory of Ifaac^ who is one of the
moji perfe5i charaBers of the Old ^ejlament. ^kis chapter
contains an account of his birth \ how JJIimael was cafl out ;
cf a treaty made between Abraham and Abimelech •, and of
Abraham's folemn devotion,
1 /% N D the Lord vifited Sarah as he had faid, and
jt\. the Lord did unto Sarah as he had fpoken, that
2 is, performed his promife. For Sarah conceived, and
bare Abraham a f i in his old age, at the fet time of
which God had fpoken to him : for this reafon Ifaac is
3 faid to have been born by promife. And Abraham called
the name of his fon that was born unto him, whom
Sarah bare to him, ifaac, that is^ laughter ^ becaiife of the
4 joy he had in him. And Abraham circumcifed his fon
Ifaac being eight days old, as God had commanded
5 him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when
his fon Ifaac was born unto him, and Sarah ninety years
old,
6 And Sarah faid, God hath made me, -who once foolifh-
ly laughed thro' diftrufl^ to laugh for joy -, holy gratitude
Jills my heart : [fo that] all that hear will laugh with m,e
7 and rejoice at his birth. And fhe faid. Who would have
faid unto Abraham, that Sarah fhould have given
children fuck ? who would have ventured to affert fo im^
probable a tUng ? none but God •, and he hath fulfilled his
word'y for I have born [him] a fon in his old age, and
8 can fuckk and nourifh it from my own breaft. And the
child grew, and was weaned : and Abraham made a
great feaft the [fam.ej day that Ifaac was weaned/
9 And Sarah faw the fon of Hagar the Egyptian, which
ihe had born unto Abraham, mocking •, perhaps at the
great feafi^ and jeering Ifaac in fome malignant bitter way^
as their young mafler^ he that^ forfooth^ r/iufi^ be heir of all -,
this made Paul call it perfecytion^ Gal. iv. 29. Per-
haps
* Not the day he was circumcifed, that would have interrupted
their regard to this religious rite; but the day he was weaned,
when the motner and child were both flronger.
GENESIS. XXI. 105
haps he was put on by Haga)\ who thought her fon^ who
io was the firfihorn^ fhould be the heir. Wherefore fhe
faid unto Abraham, / cannot bear this infolent behaviour^
and therefore befeech you to caft out this bondwoman,
and her fon •, for the fon of this bondwoman fhall not
1 1 be heir with my fon, [even] with Ifaac. And the
thing was very f^rievous in Abraham's fight becaufe
of his l-ve to to Ton, and God's promife concerning him^
1 2 and left he Jhould be expo fed to danger and idolatry. And
God faid unto Abraham, Let It not be grievous in thy
fight becaufe of the lad, and becaufe of thy bond-
woman •, in all that Sarah hath faid unto thee, hearken
unto her voice •, for in Ifaac fhall thy feed be called :
Ifaac^ as heir to thy hcufe^ fhall bear and propagate thy
name : and the promifed feed^ and fpiritual prerogatives
13 fliall be entailed upon him. Heb. xi. 18. And alfo of the
fon of the bondwoman will I make a nation, as I have
14 promifed., becaufe he [is] thy feed. And Abraham, to
foow his readinefs to obey the divine command., rofe up early
in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of^ water,
and gave [it] unto Hagar, putting [it] on her fhoulder,
and the child, and fent her away : and fhe departed,
and wandered In the wlldernefs of Beer-fheba.'
15 And the water was fpent in the bottle, and fhe caft
16 the child under one of the fhrubs. And ilie went and
fat her down over againfl [him] a good way oiF, as it
were a bow-fhot : for fhe faid, Let me not fee the death
of the child. And fhe fat overagainfl [him,] and lift
up her voice, and wept. God did not deftgn that they
fhould perifh., but that they fhould be brought to repentance ;
17 And therefore God heard the voice of the lad j and the
angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and faid
unto lier, Whataileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God
iB hath heard the voice of the lad where he [is.] Arife,
lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand -, for I will
19 make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes,
and
* This might be done to humble both herfelf and her Ton for their
improper conduct, and to be an emblem of her poilerity, who
fhould wander in the wildernefs.
io6 GENESIS. XXI.
and fhe faw a well of water, which was there before^ thd"
jhe faw it not^ by reafon of grief ^ or fome other caufe j and
fhe went and filled the bottle with water and gave the
20 lad to drink. And God was with the lad, bleffedhhn in
temporal things \, and he grew, and dwelt in the wilder-
nefs, and became an archer, a fiilful hunter of heafis
21 and warrior with men^ ('^^. xvi. iz.) And he dwelt in
the wildernefs of Paran : and his mother took him a
wife out of the land of Egypt..^
22 And it came to pafs at that time, that Abimelech
and Phichoi the chief captain of his hoft fpake unto
Abraham, faying, God [is] with thee in all that thou
23 doeft : Now therefore let us enter into a league of friend-
Jliip and mutual kindneffes •, fwear unto me here by God,
that thou wilt not deal falfely with me, nor with my fon
nor with my fon's fon : [but] according to the kind-
nefs that I have done unto thee, thou Ihalt do unto me,
24 and to the land wherein thou haft fojourned. And
25 Abraham confented and faid, I will fwear. And Abra-
ham reproved Abimelech, cr, debated the matter with
him^ becaufe of a well of water, which was exceeding
valuable in that country^ ^//i which Abimelech's fervants
26 had violently taken away. And Abimelech faid, I wot
not who hath done this thing, / am quite ignorant of the
affair: neither didft thou tell me, or I would have re-
drejjed the grievance j neither yet heard I [of it,] but to
27 day. And Abraham, out of gratitude for former favours^
took fheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech ;
and both of them made a covenant, according to the
28 cujlom of the country. And Abraham fet {tvtw ewe lambs
29 of the flock by themfelves. And Abimelech faid unto
Abraham, What [mean] thefe \twQn ewe lambs which
30 thou haft fet by themfelves ? And he faid. For [thefe]
{^wtn ewe lambs ftialt thou take of my hand, that they
may be a witnefs unto me, that I have digged this
31 well, and a token of our agreement in this matter. Where-
fore he called that place Beer-ftieba, that is, the well of
the
•* It is probable that he often faw Abraham afterwards, and had
gifts from him ; and we find in chap, xxv. 6. that he was at his
lather's funeral.
GENESIS. XXI. 107
32 the oath \ becaufe there they fware both of them. Thus
they made a covenant at Beer-fheba : then Abimelech
rofe up, and Phichol the chief captain of his hoft, and
they returned into the land of the Philiftines.
^^ And [Abraham] planted a grove in Beer-fheba, for
peace and retirement^ and a Jhelter from the heat \ or rather^
for publick worjhip^ as a tent could not hold his large fa-
mily •, and he called there on the name of the Lord, the
everlafting God. This praSIice was afterwards ahufed to
fuperjlition and idolatry^ and therefore forbidden^ Exod,
34 xxxiv. 13. Beut. xvi. 21. And Abraham fojourned in
the Philiftines' land m.any days, or years,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us patiently and cheerfully wait for God's
I J promife, after the example of Abraham and Sarah,
who ftaggered not tiiro' unbelief. Through faith alfo Sarah
herfelf received firength to conceive feed^ and was delivered of a
child when fhe waspafi age^ becaufe fhe judged him faithful who
had promifed. Therefore fprang there even of one^ and him as
good as dead^ fo many as the Jlars of the fay in multitude^ and
as the fand which is by the fea fhore innumerable, Heb, xi. if,
1 2, Thus their deiire was anfwered, and what they exped-
ed came to pafs. Faithful is he who hath prcmifed^ and at
the fet time his promife was fulfilled, v, 2. God is pundual
to his W'ord, and his time is the beft ; let us therefore wait
for it, and not prefcribe to him.
2. Parents fhould cheerfully devote their children to the
fervice of God. Abraham circumcifed Ifaac and complied
with the divine appointment. However dear Ifaac was, it
muft be done. Let parents enter their children into God's
family, and be thankful that he will admit them. As the
promife is to us and our children, let us fee to it that we
put them in the way of God's blefTmg, and devote them
early to him.
3. From the example of Sarah, wc may infer the duty
of mothers to nurfe their own children. The good women
of thofe days thought it their duty to do fo, and dry breafts
were reckoned a great reproach. Sarah was a perfon of
quality
io8 GENESIS. XXL
quality, of great eminence, had a large family, and many
cares •, they had three hundred and eighteen fervant men
befides women -, and yet thought that no excufe. She had
women enough to nurfe it in her houfe, and was herfelf
aged, being ninety years old •, but (lie did it herfelf, and
fpeaks of it with the greateft pleafure. It is a refinement
of this laft age for women to conlign that work to ftrangers ;
which is a very cruel and barbarous pradice, and fhows
the mind to be almoft deftitute of natural aifeClion. The
Lord himfelf fays this. Lam. iv, 3. Even the fea monfters
draw out the breaft^ they give fuck to their young ones : but the
daughter of my people is become crueU like the oflriches in the
unidernefs^ who leave their young to be hatched and brought
up by others. It Is a pradlice diredlly contrary to the dic-
tates of nature, and the clear intention of providence.
Isfeither quality, nor bufinefs, nor difficulties, nor incon-
veniences, will excufe for the negled of this plain duty ;
and what God hath made a duty, we may hope he will give
ftrength'to perform, as multitudes would experience, if
they v/ould but try : nothing but evident neceffity can vin-
dicate fo unnatural a cuftom. Thefe v;ere the fentiments of
Archbifhop Tillotson, who fays, ' It is a natural duty •,
' and becaufe it is fo, of more neceffity and indifpenfableob-
' ligation than any poiitive precept of revealed religion, fuch
' as baptifm, or the like •, and that the general negled of
* it, is one of the great and crying fins of this age and
' nation •, and the world is not likely to be better till this
* great fault is mended.'
4. It is no new thing for the fervants of God to be
hated and perfecuted : this is Paul's refledlion in GaL
iv. 29. for as then (fpeaking of Ifaac and Ifhmael) he that
was born after the fiefh perfecuted him that was horn after the
fpirit^ even fo it is now, God's favourites are often the
world's laughing flock : but let them not think that any
ftrange thing hath happened to them, if they are fometimes
made a jeft of, and defpifed •, for fo Chrift was, fo were
his apoftles, fo have good men been in all ages : yea, and
all that will live godly in Chrift Jefus fhall fuffer perfecution.
But let them learn to bear up with patience under this
common
GENESIS. XXI. 109
common lot of good men : God will remember and recom-
penfe them at laft.
5. See how eafily God can chaftife and bring down the
h^ughtleft fplrlt. So he did that of Hagar and IfKmael ;
they grew infolent in Abraham's family, and therefore were
expelled. When driven Into the wildernefs and almoft pe-
riihing for want of food and water, fhe no doubt began to
wifh herfelf in Abraham's houfe again •, and would have
been thankful for the crumbs that fell from her old matter's
table. Thus many foolifh fervants throw themfelves^ out
of comfortable places and families, by their pride and info-
lencc : and have often caufe to repent it bitterly, when it is
too late. A meek and humble behaviour is the way to
fecure the favour of God and men.
6. Learn to cultivate friendfhips with thofe who are the
friends of God : fo Abimelech did with Abraham. When
we fee that God is with his fervants in all they do, v, 22.
let us covet their friendfhip. He fometimes fo blefles and
profpers them, that others cannot but fee it. It is good to be
the friends of thofe who have an intereft in heaven ; who can
counfel us, and pray for us. The fcriptures declare, that
in the latter davs the Jews fhould be fo favoured of God,
that their neighbours fhould fay, V/e will go with you, for
we have heard that God is with you. Enter not therefore
into the path of the wicked, but endeavour to be a companion of
thofe who fear God, and have his prefence and blelTing with
them
7. Let us, after the exam.ple of Abraham, call on the
name of the everlailing God. Confider him in this view ;
as the eternal Jehovah : Before the raountalm were brought
forth, or ever the earth was formed, from everlafttng to ever^
lafting T HOU art the fame. Let this fill our fouls with a
holy awe and veneration of him. Whenever we approach him
we fhould confider him as God, the Lord, the everlafling
God, who was, and is, and is to come. Whatever creature
comforts perifh and decay, tho* we ourfelves die, tho^ heaven
and earth pafs away, yet he is the fame, and of his years there
/hallbe no end. Let us therefore, with the profoundefl vener-
ation, worfhip him who live th for ever and ever. Amen,
CHAP,
no GENESIS. XXII.
CHAP. XXII.
Contains a moft furprijtngftory^ as much admired^ and as much
found fault withy as any 'part of fcripture. We have here
the command to Jhraham to offer up his fon \ his readinefs to
obey ; how the execution was pr event ed^ and another facrifice
fubfiituted in his room ; a confiderable promife renewed to
Abraham •, and fome account of the family of Nahor,
1 A N D it came to pafs after thefe things which hap-
jt\^ pened at Beer-Jheba^ and all his troubles and mercies^
and ajter God had given him a fon according to his promife^
that God did tempt Abraham, tried the ftrength of his
faith and obedience^ that it might be better known both to
himfelf ayid other s\ and G(?i faid unto him, Abraham:
2 and hefaid, Behold, [here] I [am.] And he faid. Take
now thy fon, thine only [fon] Ifaac, the promifed feed^
whom thou loveft, who is the joy of thy old age^ and get
thee into the land of Moriah ; "" and offer him there
for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains vvhich I
will tell thee of/
3 And Abraham, all filence and fubmiffion^ and to fhow
his readinefs to obey^ rofe up early in the morning, and
faddled his afs, and took two of his young men with
him, and Ifaac his fon, and clave the wood, which he
probably carried with him^ for the burnt offering, and
rofe up, and went unto the place of which God had
4 told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up
his eyes, and faw the place afar off •, the divine Shekinah
5 or glory perhaps refting upon tt. And Abraham faid unto
his young men, Abide ye here with the afs ; and I
and the lad will go yonder and worfhip, and come again
to you. ^liis was no equivocation^ for he firmly believed
6 that God would reftore him his fon again. And Abra-
ham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid
[it] upon Ifaac bis fon •, and he took the fire in his
hand, and a knife ; and they went both of them to-
gether.
^ A range of hills, fome of which lay in Jerufalem, others near
it; and among them were Calvary and the Mount of Olives.
^ Probably on Calvary, where Chriit was afterwards crucified.
GENESIS. XXil. Ill
7 gether. And Ifaac, who was well acquainted with the
nature of religiotis fer-vices^ fpake unto Abraham his fa-
ther, and faid, My father : and he faid, Here [am] I,
my fon. And he faid, Behold the fire and the wood :
8 but where is the Jamb for a burnt offering ? And A-
braham, thd* no doubt much affe^ed with Ifaac* s queflion^
made a mofi ■prudent reply^ and faid, My fon, God will
provide himfelf a lamb for a burnt offering : fo they
9 went both of them together. And they came to the
place which God had told him of-, and Abraham built*
an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound
Ifaac his fon,'' and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
T^here now lies Abraham^ s jo)\ Sarah's delight^ and th^
heir of the promife^ all 7neek and refigned to the fatal Jlroke,
10 And Abraham ftretched forth his hand, and took the
knife to flay his fon. — And now^ the trial being made^
and the end anfwered^ the order is countermanded,
1 1 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of
heaven, and faid, Abraham, Abraham : and he faid,
12 Here [am] I. And he faid. Lay not thine hand upon
the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him : for now I
know that thou feareft God, feeing thou haft not with-
held thy fon, thine only [fon] from me; thou hafl given
me the higheft proof of thy faith and obedience^ andjhown
to me^ and to all who fJoall hear of this^ tJiat thou art a
1 3 proper fubje5l for 7ny choicefi benefits. And Abraham
lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there was
behind [him] a ram, frayed from the reft of the fiock^ and
dtre5fed hither by God's providence, and he was caught
in a thicket by his horns : and Abraham, with great
thankfulnefs and joy ^ went and took the ram, and offered
him up for a burnt offering in the ftead of his fon«
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-
jireh, the Lord will fee, or provide: as it is faid [to] thb
day,
* No doubt Abraham had now informed his fon of the divine
command ; Ifaac neither contradided nor refilled ; he was now near
thirty years old, and was ilrong enough to have oppofed, and
young enough to have fled from his father; yet the pious youth
did neither, but willingly yielded up himfelf; wherein he was a
type of Chrift, and a pattern for us.
112 GENESIS. XXII.
day. In the mount of the Lord it fhall be feen : this
became a proverbial exprejfton^ ^ofignify^ that in the great ejt
dijffictilties God will take care of his fervants,
15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham
out of heaven the fecond time, after he had done offering
16 the facrifice^ And faid, By myfelf have I fworn, faith
the Lord, for becaufe thou haft done this thing, and
17 haft not withheld thy fon, thine only [fon:] That in
blefling 1 will blefs thee, greatly and abundantly blefs thee^
and in multiplying 1 v^ill multiply thy feed, Ifaac^s
foflerity^ as the ftars of the heaven, and as the fand
which [is] upon the fea fhore ; and thy feed fhall pofTefs
the gate of his enemies •, he jJoall have dominion over
18 them\ And in thy feed, that is^ Chrift^ fhall all the
nations of the earth be blefled •, becaule thou haft obey-
19 ed my voice. So Abraham returned unto his young
men, and they rofe up and went together to Beer-
fheba ; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-fheba.
20 And it came to pafs after thefe things, that it was told
Abraham, faying. Behold, Milcah, fhe hath alfo born
2 I children unto thy brother Nahor •, ^ Huz his firft born,
and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
22 And Chefed, and Hazo, and Pildafh, and Jidlaph,
23 and Bethuel. And Bethuel begat Rebekah, who was
afterwards Ifaac^s wife: thefe eight Milcah did bear
24 to Nahor Abraham's brother. And his concubine,''
whofe name [was] Reumah, fhe bare alfo Tebah, and
Gaham, and Lhahafti, and Maacah.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TTirE learn from the example of Abraham, who
VV g^^^ "P ^^^^ ^°"' ^-^^ ^"^y ^^^ whom he loved,
to be willing to give up our deareft comforts to God.
He
^ This was fulfilled, as to the temporal part, in the time of
'Jojliua, Da^vid, &c. but efpecially and fpiritually in the Mejftah*
Pjalm viii. 9. Dan. ii. 44, 4(5. i Cor. xv. 57. Col, ii. 15.
e This genealogy is added here to introduce Rebekah.
^ Concubines were not full and complete wives, not being folemnly
betrotned, nor fharing in the government of the family, but fubjedl
to the lawful wives, and therefore called fervants, chap, xxxii. 22.
GENESIS. XXIL 113
He gave him to be facrificed; yea, himfelf was willing to
facrlfice him with his own hands, when he thought it to be
the will of the Lord. Thus fhould we give up our com-
forts to God, from whom we hav^ received them. Parents
fhould refign their children to the difpofal of heaven ; give
up their fuppofed intereft to their true intereft •, always ob-
ferve the will of God, and he will bring good out of evil.
Let us maintain a full perfuadon of the juftice and mercy
of God, that we may not fcruple to give up our deareft
comforts to his difpofal -, and if he is pleafed to take our
friends or children away, by the fevereft ftrokes, let us fay,
as Eli did, // is the Lord^ let him do what feemeth him ^oody
2 Sam. iii. 18. And our Lord requires us to be r^<rv to
make the fame furrender as Abraham did ; If any man come
to me^ and hate not (be not willing to abandon) his father and
mother^ and wife and children^ and brethren aiidftfiers^ yea^ and
his own life alfo^ he cannot be my difciple. Luke xiv. 26. We
muft daily fay, Lord, here am I, what wouldft thou have
me to do ? It will be of no avail to oppofe the divine will*,
JVho hath hardened himfelf againfl God, and profpered? But
God is well pleafed when we humbly fubmit to his ap-
pointment, and fay, without referve, 27zy will be done. He
can make up the want of thofe comforts which he takes
away, by giving us cheerful hope that they are removed to
a better world j by alFording us peace and pleafure in our
own fpirits-, and improving our graces by it. Abraham
intended to offer his fon, and God promifed that his feed
fhould be multiplied as the ftars of heaven, or the fands
upon the fea fnore. Whatever we part with for God
and Chrift, Vv'e fhall be no lofers by, at lead: we fhall
be none in the end. Perhaps Abraham was too fond
of Ifaac, and therefore he made him undergo this fevere
trial. If our lives are bound up in the lives of our children
or friends, God may take them away. If this fhould be the
cafe, let us ftill fay, with the pious Shunamite, who, when
fhe was afked. Is it well ? anfwered, It is well\ well, for God
doth it; he hath wife ends in doing it, and great good fhall
come out of it •, and therefore, not as we will, but as thou
wilt. This will have a great tendency to remove our doubts
Vol. I. I and
114 GENESIS. XXII.
and fears*, it will be a proof of our own fincerity, and a
ilrong teftimony that we fear God, and love him.
2. Let us imitate Abraham in his prudence and readi-
nefs in this affair •, his prudence, in leaving the young men
behind-, in not telling Ifaac or Sarah-, his readinefs, in not
confulting tlefh and blood. Abraham^ take now thy Jon \
Abraham rofe up early and took his fon. Who but Abra-
ham xould have foieborne to remonftrate and plead upon
fuch an occafion? — *' Lord, might he have faid, muft I
' lofe my child, lofe him almoft as foon as I have re-
* ceived him \ Didil: thou give him only to tantalize thy
' fervant ? Remember, gracious God, the name he bears ;
' — //(jtc' {hall he anfwer its cheering import ? — How^2\\ he
' be the fource of fatisfadlion to his parents, and the fa-
' ther of many nations, if thou takeft him away in the
* morning of his days ? If (in lieth at the door, let me ex-
* piate the guilt-, let thoufands of.rams, every bullock in
' my ilall, bleed on thy altar -, — my wealth, blefled Lord,
' and all my goods, are nothing in comparifon' with my
' Ifaac : command me to be ftripped of all my poffeiTions,
' and beg my bread, and I will blefs thy holy name ♦, only
* let my child, my dear child, be fpared. — Or, if nothing
* will avert thy indignation but human blood, let my death
' be the facrifice \ upon me be the vengeance. I am old
' and grey headed •, the beft of my days are paff, and the
' befl: of my fervices are done-, if this tottering wall tum-
' ble, there will be little or no caufe for regret •, but the
' pillar of my houfe, the foundation of my hope, if he be
' fnatched from mie, how fnall I fupport life, or what good
' will my life (^o me ? 0 my fon^ my fon ^ would to God I
* might die for thee ! — If it mufi: be a blooming youth in the
' prime of his llrength, be pleafed to fetch it from fome
' fruitful family -, there are thofe who have many, while I
' have but this one little lamb, tlie folace of my foul, and
' the flay of .my declining years -, and fhall this be taken
' away, while all thofe are left ? — Or if the decree cannot
' be reverfed, if it muft be the fruit of my body, O that it
* might be Iflimael, the fon of my hand-maid ! Yet my
' heart bleeds at the thought of his untimely death •, — but
' as
* See IIervei's Theron & Afpafia, vol. iii. p, 244., Sec, 6th. Edit.
GENESIS. XXII. 115
' as for Ifaac, the Ton of my beloved fpoufe, the fon of my
* old age, the crown of my labours, I fhall never furvlve
' fuch a lofs ! — Yet, if he muft die, and there is no re-
' medy, — may not fome common diftemper loofen the
' cords of life, and let him dov7n gently into the grave ?
* may not his mother and myfelf feal his clofing eyes, and
' foften his dying pangs by our tender offices ?' — " No,
" Abraham, thy fon muS: be facrificed on the altar." — ' Well,
' if all muft he executed, (he might fay) God grant that
' thefe eyes may never behold the difmal tragedy, if my
' Ifaac muft be bound hand and foot for the flaughter, if he
' muft receive the fteel into- his bofom, and welter in his
' innocent blood, heaven forbid that I fhould behold fb
' difmal a fpedlacle!' — " Alas! Abraham, this mitiga-
" tion cannot be granted ; thy own hand muft point the
" deadly weapon at his breaft, and urge its way thro' the
" guftiing veins and ihivering flefti, till it be plunged in
" the throbbing heart-, the father, the father muft be the
'' executioner." — ' Unheard of adion 1 How can I anfwer it
' to the wife of my bofom, the mother of the lovely youth P
' — How can I juftify it to the world? — Will they not take
' up a taunting proverb, and fay, at every turn, There
* goes the man, the monfter, that embrued his hand in
' his own fon's blood •, this is he that pretends to piety,
' and yet could kill his own fon in cold blood -, kill a
* good, a duteous fon, an only child.' Thus Abraham
might naturally have pleaded; but, aftoniftiing to tell, he
made no reply, he faid nothing of all this •, but quietly and
patiently fubmitted. Thro' all the three days' journey, every
moment fire and blood prefented themfelves to his view.
Ifaac's converfation increafed his grief-, yet it was the
divine command \ he refolved therefore to obey, however
contrary it v/as to flefh and blood. This was the fa-
ther of the faithful^ this the friend of God, — Go ye^ and do
Ukewife. Make hafte to obey every command of the
Lord your God. Beware of every thing that would pre-
vent your following him fully. The greateft refignation
appears in giving up thofe comforts that are moft valua-
ble, and which we are ready to think ourfelves miferable
without. Abraham breaks thro' all objedlons, fo fhould
I 2 ' we
ii6 GENESIS. XXIL
we. Let us be willing to deny ourfelves, to fufferper-
fecution, to give up every idol, the favour of friends, or
fortune, or good name •, give up any thing, yea, every
thing, that would hinder us in the way and works of God.
Plere Ihow your courage^ your refolution, your faith, your
fincerity. Be prudent, lilce Abraham, and fieady herein,
and be afTured God v.'iU be gracious to you. In the mount
of difficulty JJiall the Lord be Jecn: our extremity is God's op-
portunity. God's voice was never fo fweet to Abraham as
now; his love is never fo welcome as when it comes after
fubmiflion to his will ; and whenever this is the cafe, God
will not forget our labours of love^ but amply and eternally
reward them,
3. Let us learn, like Ifaac, to be willing to die when
and how God pleafes. God is the fovereign of life and
death, and may remove his creatures to another world,
when and by what means he will; and as to his faithful
fervants he will certainly, do it in the bed manner. On a
convidion of God's over-ruling providence, and difpoling
all events, of life and death, let us truft in him, and leave
it to him to order the time, manner, and circumftances of
our removal. JVhile we live^ let us live to the Lord, May
our lives be devoted to God, and fpent in a holy, humble,
and ufeful ilianner •, then death will be comfortable ; com-
fortable whenever it comes, and however it comes. When
we die, we fhall die by the hand of God; die, as it were,
on Pifgah's top, from whence we may fee the heavenly
world, the glories of which are fo great, that it is worth
while to fubmit to, yea, to rejoice in, the iharpeft pangs of
death that open a way to it ; remembering, as Abraham and
Ifaac believed, that wx fhall rife again. Tho' abfent from
the body for a while, yet we fhall receive it again, improved
and beautified ; when we fhall have no more of thefe pain-
ful exercifes, no more trials of our faith and obedience.
4. Let us adore the love of God, in not fparing his
only fon, but giving him up for us. There is much of
Chrift in this chapter. Now^ fays the angel, / know that
thou fear eft God : and may we not fee here an evident proof
of the love of God toward us, in that he hath not fpared his
own fon J but ^iven him up to death for us all? The fufferings
of
GENESIS. XXII. 117
of Chrlfl are reprefented as the ad of God ; // pleafed the
Lord to bruife him for ns^ and to lay on hi?n the iniquity of us
alL Sinners were doomed to be facrificed, to be flain, and
made miferable for ever; but God hath -provided a lamb for
a burnt ofering\ the contrivance is his ov^n-, no angelic
fpirit could have done it-, infinite wifdom alone could con-
trive it-, infinite love alone could execute it. Abraham
received remarkable favours from God, tho' he had been
guilty of many tranfgreliions againft him \ he was therefore
bound in gratitude to give up his fon at his command, at
leaft to bear it patiently, as a punifliment for his fin. But
God was under no obligations to us ; yet he fays, Awake^
O fword^ againji my fliepherd^ and againfl the man that is my
felloijo^ faith the Lord of hofis. Jefus, like Ifaac, made no
reply, but faid, Lo, I come to do thy wilU 0 my God Like
Ifaac he was bound before he was facrificed, and like him
cheerfully fubmitted to the fatal ftroke, exprefTing no re-
ludlance. He made his foul an offering for fin, and died,
the jufl: for the unjuft. Herein is love^ not that we loved
God^ but that he loved us^ and gave up his only fon to be a
facrifice for us, ^c. The mount on which Ifaac was to have
been facrificed was Moriah, probably the very fpot of ground
on which Chrifl was crucified ; at leafl, it was very near it :
and no doubt this command to Abraham was defigned,
among other important reafons, to be typical of this great
event. Let us admire and adore the love of God, that he
gave his dear, his well beloved and only fon, the mofl pure
and innocent being, to become a facrifice for our fins.
Thanks be unto God for his unfpeakable gift ! Let this love
greatly aifedl our minds •, efpecially at thofe feafons when
Chrijl is fet forth as crucified before us ; when we fee him
bleeding and dying in the room and for the fake of finners.
Was Abraham's love fo great and remarkable, the wonder
of the church, and a pleafing fpedacle to angels ? What is
the love of God to us then, and how fhould it fill our
fouls with the higheft raptures and tranfports of joy I
I 3 CHAP.
Ii8 GENESIS. XXIII.
CHAP. XXIII.
An account of Sarah's age and death •, of Abraham's purcho.ftng
a burying 'place ; and Sarah's funeral : which circumftances^
tho^ of fmall importance in themfelves^ were of great confe-
quence^ as they fixed Abraham and his foflerity to thepromifed
land^ and by this he took poffeffion of it,
1 AND Sarah was an hundred and feven and tlventy
jf\ years old : [thefe were] the years of the hfe of
2 Sarah.' And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba i the fame [is]
Hebron in the land of Canaan:^ and Abraham came
to mourn for Sarah in her tent^ and to weep for h-x ;
to make a publick lamentation^ as was common upon fuch
occafions,
3 And Abraham ftood up from before his dead, and
fpake unto the fons of Heth, the governors or elder s of
4 the Hittites^ faying, I [am] a ftranger and a fojourr.er
with you : give me a pofleihon of a burying place
with you, that I may bury my dead out of my fight.
5 And the children of Heth anfwered Abraham, fay-
6 ing unto him, Hear us, my lord •, thvou [art] a mighty
prince among us, a prince of God^ a -perfon of great power
or eftate^ and a favourite of heaven •, in the choice of our
fepulchres bury thy dead j none of us ihall withhold
from thee his fepulchre, but that thou mayell: hury thy
7 dead. And Abraham ftood up, and bowed himfelf to
the people of the land, [even] to the children of Heth,
8 the governors of the peopled And he communed with
them, faying, If it be your mind that I fliould bury
my dead out of my iight ^ hear me, and intreat for me
9 to Ephron the fon of Zohar, That he may give me the
cave of Machpelah, or^ the double cave^ which he hath,
which [is] in the end of his field-, for as much money as
it is worth he (hall give it me for a poflcffion of a
lo {jurying place among you. And Ephron dwelt or fat
among
* She js the only woman whofe age is recorded in fcripture.
^ When chey removed there is uncertain.
^ Religion not only allows, but requires cii'ility, and thofc
geftures which exprefs it.
GENESIS. XXIIL 119
among the children of Heth : And Ephron the Hittlte
anfwered Abraham in the audience of the children of
Heth, [even] of all that went in at the gate of his
11 city, faying, Nay, my lord, hear me : the field give I
thee, and the cave that [is] therein, I give it thee •, in
the preience of the fons of my people give 1 it thee :
12 bury thy dead. This was indeed a generous offer. And
Abraham, in return for this civility which was fliown him^
1 3 bowed himfeif down before the people of the land. And
he fpake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of
the land, faying. But if thou [wilt give it,] // thou
he the poffeffor of the land^ and wilt fart with it^ I pray
thee hear me : 1 will give thee mioney for the field;
14 take [it] of me, and I will bury my dead there. And
l^ Ephron anfwered Abraham, faying unto him. My lord,
hearken unto me: the land [is worth] only (our hundred
fhekels of filver ;■'" what [is] that betwixt me and thee ?
/*/ is a prefent hardly worth your acceptance •, bury therefore
16 thy dead. And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron -, and
being perfectly fatisfied with the terms., Abraham weighed
to Ephron the filver, which he had nam.ed in the audi-
ence of the fons of Heth, four hundred fhekels of
17 filver, current [money] with the merchant. And the
field of Ephron, which [was] in Machpelah, which
[was] before Mamre, the field, and the cave which [was]
therein, and all the trees that [were] in the field, that
[were] in all the borders or fences round about, were
18 made fure Unto Abraham for a pofTefTion in the pre-
fence of the children of Heth, before all that went in
at the gate of his city •, Ephron accepted the money in tht
fight of thefe witfieffes ; and thus the field was made over to
Abraham and his pofierity,
19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in
the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre : the
20 fame [is] Hebron in the land of Canaan. "" And the
I 4 field,
™ About forty five pounds of our money ; but feme fay only twenty
five pounds.
" Several of Abraham's defcendants defired afterwards to be
buried there, to intimate their faith in the future poiTeiFion of the
land of Canaan,
120 GENESIS. XXIII.
field, and the cave thr [is] therein, were made fure
unto Abraham for a pofTeiTion of a burying place, by
the fons of Heth.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T O W awful a change does death make in our
X. JL dearefl comforts ! Sarah, the mother of the
faithful, muft die. Tho' y' braham and fhe lived happy to-
gether for many years, death parts them Sarah appears
to have been beautiful, and it is very uncommon for beauty
to laft to fo great an age -, but jfhe at laft dies, and fo rnuft
all her daughters. Let them be folicitous then, to fe-
cure thofe inward beauties of the mind, which (hall live,
not only when age withers their countenances, but v^/hen
death fhall deftroy their bodies, Abraham is obliged to
fay. Bury my dead out uf my fight When thofe, who once
delighted our eyes, become ghaftly and loathfome, wi fhall
be glad to remove them to the land of darknefs. We may
lawfully mourn over them, and indeed ought to do fo •, and
be humbled for fm, that brought death into the world,
which changes the lovelieft pieces of human nature into
loathfomenefs and corruption. Let us rejoice in the prof-
pedt of life and immortality by Chrift Jefus -, when thefe
vile bodies Jhall he changed^ this corruptible JJiall put on incor-
ruption^ this mortal immortality^ and death jhall be fwdlgwed
up of life,
2. Cbferve how amiable civility and generohty appear.
To refufe the common forms of civility, is no part of re-
ligion, but fhov/s a great deal of pride ; if they have no great
meaning, there is no harm in them. Abraham was a man
of diftinguifned gravity and piety, a friend of God, and
the father of the faithful, yet he ufed the greateft refped:
to others. A rude, clownifh behaviour, is as inconfiftent
with the gofpeJ as with common decency. Abraham's be-
haviour might fhame many chriftians ; yea, the children of
Heth teach the fons of Cod good manners. The generofity
of Abraham is remarkable, who v/ould not take the advan-
tage of a fudden generous oirer, but was willing to pay a full
equivalent. Let us be ready to ferve and oblige, but never
impofe
GENESIS. XXIV. 121
impofe upon thofe who are friendly and generous, nor fhow
a niggardly, felfifh dilpofition, which is a difhonour to re-
ligion, and detrimental to our comforts and interefls. May
we pradife thefe amiable virtues, as we defire to partake of
Abraham's bleffing.
3. How different was the manner in which Abraham
took pofTefTion of the earthly and the heavenly Canaan !
God had given him the whole land ; but the time to take
pofTedion was not yet come ; therefore, without any diftruft
of the divine promife, or renunciation of his right, he
bought a parcel for his prefent neceffity. In the earthly
Canaan, his firft poiTcfiion was a burying place, in which
his beloved wife v/as depofited •, and it v.-i;, the only fpot of
it chat ever was in his own aftual poflefTion. Into the heav-
enly Caa'ian he entered as a triumphant fpirit, and partook
of the entertainment which God had there provided for
thcie tnat love him. There is a grave at the end of every
earthly pcfTeiTion ; and we muft foon follow our friends
whom we have laid in the duft. Let us then be looking
to, and preparing for, that better country, that is, the heav-
enly one; whe.ice, not only forrow and fighing, but even
death itfelf, f]-\alj be for ever banifhed. There ail good
men Jhall fi^t down with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacobs in the
kingdom of their heavenly father^ and go out no more.
CHAP. XXIV. J— 28.
In this chapter are fome further partictdars about Abraham^s fa-
mily^ and the fetiiement of Ifaac \ which teach us^ that ' if we
acknowledge God in all our ways^ he will dire5l our paths,^
1 j\ ND Abraham was old, [and] well ftricken in age,
±\^ an hundred and forty years old : and the Lord
2 had blefled Abraham in all things. And Abraham faid
unto his eldeftfervant of his houfe, Eliezer of Damafcus^
(ch. XV. 2.) that ruled over ail that he had. Put, I pray
thee, thy hand under my thigh, in token of fubje^ion, and
3 as a promife of faithful fervice: And I will make thee fwear
by
122 GENESIS. XXIV.
by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the
earth, that thou flialt not take a wife unto my Ton, not
perjuade him to take a w'lfe^ of the daughters of the
Canaanltes, among whom I dwell, becaufe they are a
4 curfed race^ (ch.ix. 25.) and devoted to dejtru^ion : But
thou fliak go unto my country, Mefopotainia^ and to my
kindred, to my brother Nahcr^ who has many children^ and^
thd* among idolaters^ they worjhip the true God \ (ch. xxxi.
p)Q,.) and take a wife unto my fon Ihzc from thence,
5 And the fervant, ivho was a pious ^ prudent man^ and
defiroiiS to know the ebUgation of his oath, faid unto him,
Perad venture the woman will not be willing: to fol-
low me unto this land : muft I therefore needs biing
thy fon again unto the land from whence thou cameO; ?
6 mufi Ifaac go and dwell there J And Abraham, warmly
protejling againfl that^ faid unto him. Beware thou that
thou bring not my fon thither again •, he mufi by no means
7 fettle there. However^ I have authority to fay ^ The Lord
God of heaven, which took me from my father's houfe,
and from the land of my kindred, and which fpake un-
to me, anci that fware unto me, faying, Unto thy feed
will I give this land; he fhall fend his angel before
thee, and thou fhalt take a wife unto my fon from
thence ; thy journey fliall be profperous^ and thou fhalt fucceed
8 in the bufinefs. And if the woman will not be willing to
follow thee, then thou fhalt be clear from the obligation of
9 this my oath : only bring not my fon thither again. And
the fervant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham
his mafter, and fware to him concerning that matter.
10 And the fervant took ten camels of the camels of
his mafter, and departed ; for all the goods of his mafter
[were] in his hand: and he arofe, and went to Mefo-
potamia, unto the city of Nahor, that is^ Haran, where
11 Nahor lived, (ch. xxviii. 10. xxix. 4.) And he made his
camels to kneel down without the city by a well of
water at the time of the evening, [even] the time that
women go out to draw [water.]
12 And he faid, O Lord God of my mafter Abraham,
I pray thee, fend me good fpeed this day, and ihow
« kindnefs unto my mafter Abraham, in providing a wife
for
GENESIS. XXIV. 123
for Ifaac^ ar,d making thy choice plain to mc -, and in order
13 //? this^ Behold, I ftand [here] by the Well of water •, and
the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw
14 water : And let it come to pafs, that the damfel to
whom 1 fhall fay. Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee,
that I may drink ^ and £he fhall fay. Drink, and I will
give thy cam^els drink alfo : [let the fame be] fhe [that]
thou haft appointed for thy fervant Ifaac •, and thereby
fhall I know that thou hail fliowed kindnefs unto my
mailer. This he defired^ not out of prefuniption or dtftrufi^
but by c^fecret mfimSl of God^s fpirit •, jiiftly concluding,, that
one who ivas diligent and inditjirious in dra'wing water^ and
affable ana kina toftrar.gers^ would make Ifaac 'a good wife,
15 And God heard his prayer : And it came to pq^is, before
he had done fpeaking, that, behold, Rebekah came
out, who was born to Bethuel, fon of Milcah, the wife
of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her
16 fnoulder. And the damfel [was] very fair to look up-
on, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and fhe
*went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came
17 up. And the fervant Eliezer ran to meet her, and
faid, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy
18 pitcher. And fhe, feeing by his attendants and camels that
he was a per fon of eminence^ addrefjed him with refpe£f^ and
faid. Drink, uiy lord : and fhe hafted, and let down her
19 pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when
fhe had done giving him drink, fhe faid, in the moft
obliging manner^ I will draw [water] for thy camels alfo,
20 until they have done drinking. And fhe hafted, and
em.ptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again un-
to the well to draw [water,] and drew for all his camels,
21 And the man wondering at her, to fee how all things
fucceeded according to his deftre^ held his peace, to wit, to
mark every circumftance^ and covjider clofely^ whether the
Lord had made his journey profperous or not.
22 And it came to pafs, as the camels had done drinking,
that the man took a golden earring, or jewel for the
forehead^ o{ half a fhekel weight, and two bracelets
for her hands of ten [fhekcls] weight of gold, in
23 'value about eighteen pounds five JhilUngs of cur money -, And
faid.
124 GENESIS. XXIV.
fald, Whofe daughter [art] thou ? tell me, I pray
thee : is there room [in] thy father's houfe for us to
24 lodge in ? And fhe faid unto him, I [am] the daughter
of Bethuel the fon of Milcah, which fhe bare unto
25 Nahor. She faid moreover unto him, We have both
ftraw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26 And the man bowed down his head, and worfnipped
the Lord ; feeing that jhe was all he could wipo for^ fair
and healthy^ humhlt and diligent^ courteous and obliging^ he
27 concluded that -his prayer was heard. And he faid, Blefled
[be] the Lord God of my mafter Abraham, who hath
not left deftitute my mafter of his mercy and his truth :
I [being] in the way, the Lord led me to the houfe of
28 my mafter's brethren. And the damfel ran, and told
- [them of ] her mother's houfe thefe things.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T is a great part of parental kindnefs and duty, to
J^ fettle their children with fuitable companions in
life. This was a very important affair, and lay much up-
on Abraham's thoughts. He recommended the care of it
to a faithful fervant, in a very folemn manner. He chofe
to match his fon in a family which had the fear of God. So
great a man as Abraham might, no doubt, have had a
rich wife for his fon among fome noble family of the
Canaanites •, but he knew that they were /inner s before the
JLord^ and doomed to deftru6lion, and was fearful left
they fhould be a fnare to the foul of his child. Is it not
ftrange that fo many parents in thefe days fhould make
the welfare of the foul the leaft concern to be regarded, in
difpofmg of their children ? that they fhould mind every
thing but the one thing needful? The only enquiry with
many, is, whether a man or woman be rich ? not whether
they fear God and work righteoufnefs *, not whether they
have the amiable virtues which Rebekah difcovered ? When
we hear perfons fpeaking of the marriage of their neigh-
bours, the only thing faid is, that they have fuch and
fuch fortunes, and are in fuch circumftances. Ah ! when
will
GENESIS. XXIV. 125
will parents be wife for the fouls of their children, and
feek alliances for them with thofe v/ho will help and forward
them in the way to heaven ? If parents would lay it down
as a maxim, to confent to no propofal for their children,
but in behalf of thofe who, as far as they can judge, are
truly ferious and holy, the world would foon be mended,
and the rifing generation, in mod: families, v/ould be a feed to
ferve the Lord. An alliance with thofe of our own fentiments
in religious matters, is mod: likely to be comfortable and
agreeable j but I do not fee how it is poffible thofe alliances
fhould be fo, where one party is going to heaven, and the
other to hell.
2. Let us Icarn in all our ways to acknowledge God,
and fubmit to his guidance and diredlion: fo Abraham and
his fervant did. May we fet the Lord always before us,
and feek wifdom from him; efpecially let us do it when
entering upon new relations, and the mod important con-
cerns of life-, then we fhall be likely to have God's bleffing;
and he will fend his angel before us, and make our way
profperous. We, like Abraham, fhould learn from for-
mer experience, to truft in him-, we fhould plead his pro-
mifes as a ground of that trult -, and have our eyes ever to-
"joard the Lord^ who hath the hearts of all men in his hand,
and knows who and what is beft for us. We learn alfo
that his providence extends to the moft minute events, and
it will be our wifdom in all our affairs to follow it. So
Rebekah did. Her's was far from being a rafh and hafty
refolution. How long fhe ftaid with her parents after fhe
had agreed to the propofal, is uncertain •, but providence fo
remarkably pointed out her way, that it would have been
impiety to have delayed. If we defire to follow God fully ^
and do his will^ we may hope that he will make the path of
duty plain he fore our face ^ and lead us in the way in which we
JJiould go,
3. Let us accuftom ourfelves to ejaculatory prayer, and
lifting up our hearts to God : Abraham's fervant did fo
feveral times. It is a good thing to keep God always in
our thoughts ; and in every inftance in which we receive
mercy from his hand, to dart forth a grateful afcription of
praife to him, who deals bountifully with us. This will
prepare
126 GENESIS. XXIV^.
prepare us to receive further mercy ; and we may hope
that God: will make our journey through life profperous.
Thus are we to pray without ceafing^ and in every thing to
give thanks*
C H A P. XXIV. 29, to the end.
29 AND Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was]
jf~\^ Laban : and Laban ran out unto the man, un-
30 to the well. And it came to pafs, when he faw the ear-
ring and bracelets upon his fifter's hands, and when he
heard the words of Rebekah his filler, faying, Thus
fpake the man unto me •, that he came unto the man ;
31 and, behold, he flood bv the camels at the well. And
he faid, Come in, thou bleffed of the Lord, vjhom God
hath fo eminently favoured and hkjfed : wherefore ftandeft
thou without ? for I have prepared the houfe, and room
32 for the camels. And the man came into the houfe:
and he ungirded his camels, and gave ftraw and pro-
vender for the camels, and water to wafh his feet and
the men's feet that [were] with him •, for in thofe hot
countries they went either barefoot^ or with fandals only,
33 And there was fet [meat] before him to eat : but he
faid, 1 will not eat until I have told mine errand. And
he faid, Speak on.
34 35 And he faid, I [am] Abraham's fervant. And
the Lord hath bleiTed my mafter greatly •, and he is be-
come great : and he hath given him flocks, and herds,
and filver, and gold, and men fervants, and maid
36 fervants, and camels, and affes. And Sarah my maf-
tcr's vvife bare a fon to my mafier when fhe was old, by
a fwpernatur^ zvork of God: and therefore fome thing ex-
traordinary may be expelled from him : and unto him hath
37 he given, by promife^ all that he hath. And m.y mafter
made me fwear, faying. Thou fhalt not take a vvife to
my fon of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whofe
38 land I dwell : But thou fhalt go unto my fither's houfe,
and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my fon.
39 And I faid unto my mafter, Perad venture the woman
will
GENESIS. XXIV. 127
40 will not follow me. And he faid unto me, The Lord,
before whom I walk, will fend his angel with thee, and
profper thy way •, and thou fhalt take a wife for my fon
41 of my kindred, and of my father's houfe : Then ihalt
thou be clear from [this] my oath, when thou comeft
to my kindred-, and if they give not thee [one,] thou
fhalt be clear from my oath, and ivhatever might be
42 the co}2feqtience of the violation thereof. And I came this
day unto the well, and faid, O Lord God of my
mafter Abraham, if now thou do profper m.y way which
43 1 go : Behold, I iland by the well of watery and it fhall
com.e to pafs, that when the virgin cometh forth to
draw [water,] and I fiy to her, Give m.e, 1 pray thee,
44 a little water of thy pitcher to drink -, And (he fay to
me, Both drink thou, and I will alfo draw for thy
camels: [let] the fame [be] the woman whom the
45 Lord hath appointed out for my matter's fon. And
before I had done fpeaking in mine heart, behold, Re-
bekah came forth with her pitcher on her fhoulder ; and
llie went down unto the well, and drew [water :] and I
46 faid unto her. Let me drink, 1 pray thee. And fhe
made hafte, and let down her pitcher from her [{houU
der,] and faid. Drink, and I will give thy camels drink
alfo : {o I drank, and {he made the camels drink alfo,
47 And I alked her, and faid, Whofe daughter [art] thou ?
And fhe faid, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's fon,
whom Milcah bare unto him : and I put the earring
48 upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands. And
T bowled down my head, and worfhipped the Lord, and
bleifed the Lord God of my mafter Abraham, which had
led me in the right way to take my mailer's brother's
49 daughter unto his fon. And now if ye will deal kindly
and truly with my mafter, fhow true kindnefs and real
friendfui-p in giving your daughter to his fon, tell me : and
if not, tell me \ that I may turn to the right hand, or
to the left, and feek a wife for hi?n elf e where.
50 Then Laban and Bethuel anfw^ered and faid, The
thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot fpeak un-
to thee bad or good, any thing which may hinder thy de-
51 fign\ hut do fully acqiiiefce in this firange providence. Behold,
Rebekah
128 GENESIS. XXIV.
Rebekah [is] before thee, take [her,] and go, and
let her be thy mafter's fon's wife, as the Lord hath
fpoken, dire5ied by his providence^ as we plainly perceive
52 by the whole of this bufmefs. And it came to pafs, that,
when Abraham's fervant heard their words, he wor-
ihipped the Lord, [bowing himfelf ] to the earth, and
53 praifmg him for having this inclined their hearts. And the
fervant brought forth jewels of filver, and jewels of
gold, and raiment, and gave [them] to Rebekah : he
gave alfo to her brother and to her mother precious
things, as a proof of his mafler''s wealth and generofity^ and
54. in return for their civility to him. And they did eat and
drink, he and the men that [were] with him, and tar-
ried all night ♦, and they rofe up in the morning, and he
^c^ faid. Send me away unto my mafter. And her brother
and her mother faid. Let the damfel abide with us [a
^6 few] days, at the leaft ten ; after that flie fhall go. And
he faid unto them. Hinder me not, feeing the Lord
hath profpered my way \ fend me away that I may go
57 to my mailer. And they faid, We will call the dam-
58 fel, and enquire at her mouth. And they called Re-
bekah, and faid unto her. Wilt thou go with this man ?
And, having an high opinion of the piety of Abraham's fami^
ly^ from what fJie had feen in his fervant^ fhe faid, I will
59 go. And they fent away Rebekah their fifter, and her
60 nurfe, and Abraham's fervant, and his men. And they
blefled Rebekah, and faid unto her. Thou [art] our
fiPcer, be thou [the mother] of thoufands of millions,
and let thy feed pofTefs the gate of thofe which hate
them. Probably Eliezer had told them there was fuch
a promife made to Abraham and his feed., and here they
61 turn it into a prayer and a blejfing. And F^ebekah arofe,
and her damfels, and they rode upon the camels, and
followed the man : and the fervant took Rebekah, and
went his way.
62 And Ifaac came from the way of the well Lahai-
^l roij for he dwelt in the fouth country. And Ifaac
went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide, to
converfe with God and himfelf by pious thoughts and eja-
cidaticnsy and fervent prayer : and he*lifted up his eyes,
and
GENESIS. XXfV. 129
64^aiid faw, and behold the camels [were] coming. And
Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when fhe faw Ifaac, fhe
6§ lighted off the camel. For fhe [had] faid unto the fer-
vant, What man [is] this that walketh in the field to
meet us ? And the fervant [had] faid, It [is] my mafter :
66 therefore fhe took a veil, and covered herfelf. And the
6y fervant told Ifaac all things that he had done. And
Ifaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took
Rebekah, and I?y the folemnity of marriage fhe became his
wife ; and he loved her : and Ifaac was comforted after
his mother's [death,] which was about three years beforey
and for which he ftill grieved, This was very fuitable to
Ifaac* s chara^er^ who feems to have been as blamelefs a
perfon as any we read of.
REFLECTIONS.
I . T T 7 E fee what great bleflings good fervahts are to
V V ^ family \ and fervants may here fee what they
ought to be. Abraham was fo well convinced of Eliezer*s
piety and fidelity, that he trufled him with this mofl im-
portant concern, for he was old, and could not go on the
bufinefs himfelf. Here is a good example to fervants. This
man was eminent for piety ; he abounded in prayer and de-
votion, called upon God in every flep he took, and praifed
him for every mercy he received. He was much acquainted
with the methods of providence -, joined with pleafure, un-
doubtedly, in the religious exercifes of Abraham's family,
and carried his religion with him wherever he went. He
delivered his matter's orders with all fidelity and diligence,
and with a great deal of prudence and caution ; he did his
bufinefs with difpatch •, he minded it more than his meat or
drink ; he would not eat till he had told his errand. He re-
garded his mafler's profit and comfort, more than his own
pleafure. He knew his mafler would be anxious to know
what fuccefs he met with, and that affairs wanted him at
home ; he was therefore in hafte to return. Let fervants
learn from this example, firfl, to ferve their mafter in hea-
ven, by prayer and devotion •, and to fhow all good fidelity t^
their mafiers on earth, by being diligent in their bufinefs;
Vol. L K and
igo GENESIS. XXV.
and not trifling over their work, or ftaying unneceflarily
on their errands. Let them all remember that they have a
mafter in heaven, to whom they are accountable for that
psitt of their behaviour which their earthly mafters cannot
fee. Thus they will adorn the religion they profefs, and
be a credit and com^fort to the families where they live.
If we dedre to have uich fervants, we {hould do as Abra-
ham did •, command cur children and houfehold to keep the way of
the Lord^ arid to do jujlice and judgment,
2. Let us be excited, by the example of Ifaac, to give
ourfelves to prayer and meditation. Ifaac did not go into
the field to amufe himfelf, but to converfe with God and
his own heart. Like him, let us often retire from the
world, and leave its company and cares behind us. Let
us examine our hearts *, fet God before us j and remember
in our private walks and chambers, that we are not alone,
for God is with us. Let our walks in the fields be improved
to fuch purpofes ; there we fee the beauties of creation, and
the goodnefs of God. After the bufinefs of the day, it is
delightful to refrefh ourfelves with pious meditations, and
to take a review of God's goodnefs and dealings with us.
Thus we fhall be likely to meet with mercies and comforts
in our walks, as Ifaac did -, and fhall be training up for that
world, where tkey neither marry nor are given in marriage.
CHAP. XXV. I— 1 8.
Alterations in families ofdijlin^ion are much taken notice of and
the common topic of converfation. Here are feveral particulars
relating to Abraham* s family worthy of our attention *, nameh^^
his fecond marriage •, the dijiribution of his goods ♦, his death
and burial j andfome account of the defcendants of IJhmaeh
1 rr^ HEN again, after Sarah^s death and Ifaac* s mar*
X riage^ Abraham, wanting a companion in his old
agCy took a wife, called a concubine^ and her name [was]
Keturah. She was born in his houfe^ and perhaps the chief
2 of his maid fervants. And fhe bare him fix fons^ namely^
Zimran,
GENESIS. XXV. 131
Zimran, and Jokfhan, and Medan, and Mldian," and
3 lihbak, and Shuah.^ And Jokfhan begat Sheba, and
Dedan. And the Tons of Dedan were Afshurim, Le-
4 tufhim, and Leummim. And the Tons of Midian were
five\ Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah,
and Eidaah. All thefe [were] the children of Keturah.*^
5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Ifaac, as
6 hemg his only heh\ and the child of promife. But unto the
fons of Hagar andKeturah^ the concubines which Abra-
ham had, Abraham gave gifts, money and goods ^ and
fent them away from Ifaac his fon, while he yet lived,
eaftward, unto the eaft country,' that they might not
interfere with him or claiyn the land,
7 And thefe [are] the days of the years of Abraham's
life which he lived, an hundred threefcore and fifteen
8 years; his latter days were /pent in ftlence and peace. Then
Abraham gave up the ghoft, yielded his fpirit calmly and
cheerfully to God^ and died in a good old age, that is, in
an holy old age, free from the calamities and infirmities which
often attend that period^ an old man and full [of years ♦,*]
and was gathered to his people, to his pious anceflors in the
9 other world. And his fons Ifaac and Ifhmael buried him
in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the
fon of Zoar the Hittite, which [is] before Mamre ;*
10 The field which Abraham purchafed of the fons of
Heth : there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
1 1 And it came to pafs after the death of Abraham,
K 2 that
• The father of the Midianites, of whom we read chap, xxxvi,
35. I/a. X. 26.
P Thefe children fettled in Arabia and Syria, and became the
heads of families or tribes, job probably defcended from fome
of them, as Bildad feems to have done from Shuah.
1 We read afterwards of the five kings of Midian ; fo that
probably a fmall kingdom rofe from each of thefe.
*■ Tho* Sarah was dead when he married Keturah, yet it feems
Ihe was but a half wife, becaufe her children did not inherit.
* That is, Arabia, which lay eaft of Canaan. Hence they are
fomedmes called children of the eajl. All the reft was given la
Ifaac, agreeable to the marriage fettlement with Rebekal:.
' Full of days, Samar. Pent.
'^ Ifh^ael feems to have had a great refped for his father,
and perhaps often faw him ; and now at leaft, if not before, Ifaac
and he were reconciled.
132 GENESIS. XXV.
that God blefied his fon Ifaac, applying and confirming t§
him the promifes made to Abraham ; and Ifaac dwelt by the
well Lahai-roi ; near the place where the Lord appeared to
Hagar when JJie fled from Sarah,
12 Now thefe [are] the generations of Iflimael, Abra^
ham*s fon, whom Hagar the t gyptian, Sarah's hand-
13 maid, bare unto Abraham : And thefe [are] the names
of the fons of Ifhmael, by their names, according to
their generations : the firft born of Ifhmael, Nebajoth;""
14 and Kedar,* and Adbeel, and Mibfam, And Mifhma,
and Dumah, from whom came the IdumeanSy and MafTa,
15 Hadar, and Tema, from whom EJiphaZy Jcb^s friend^
16 came, Jetur, Naphiih, and Kedemah: Thefe [are] the
fons of Ifhmael, and thefe [are] their names, by their
towns, and by their caftles ; twelve princes according to
17 their nations/ And thefe [are] the years of the life of
Ifhmael, an hundred and thirty and {Qvcn years : and
he gave up the ghofl and died -, and was gathered unto
1 8 his people. And they, IJhmaePs fons, dwelt from Ha-
vilah unto Shur, that [is] before Egypt, as thou goefl
toward AfTyria, almojt acrofs the north part of Arabia :
[and] he died in the prefence of all his brethren ; tht
original is, he fell, that is, his lot fell, in the midfl of his
brethren, as the angel foretold to Hagar.
REFLECTIONS.
i.^T^HE death of Abraham may convince us of a fu-
J^ ture flate. He was an eminently pious and good
man ; a friend of God, and his peculiar favourite ; and, ac-
cording to our Lord's reafoning, the covenant made with
him extended to fpiritual and eternal blefTmgs, When God
promifed that he would be a God to Abraham, it intimat-
ed, that he was to live for ever in a future ftatc ; and that
both
^ Hence Arabia is often called by the antients, Nabatasa.
* Another part of Arabia; and hence wc read of dnvelling in
the tents of Kedar,
y Twelve heads of houfes or tribes; and they continued fo til!
near four hundred years after Chrift. Thus the promife made
to Hagar, that her feed jliould not be numbered for multitude t was
fulfilled.
GENESIS. XXV. 153
both foul and body were to be happy there. We can never
think that To good a man as Abraham was loft in the cave •,
no ; his defire to be buried there, fpoke his hope and ex-
pedlation, not only that his feed fhould pofTefs the earthly
Canaan, but that he fhould pofTefs an heavenly one. So
Paul interprets it, o^ faking a better country^ that is^ an
heavenly. The faith of this patriarch was remarkable -, he
looked to things unfeen and eternal ^ and firmly believed
that God had provided for him a better city. His removal
from this world, after fo many appearances of God to him
and for him, after the covenant fo firmly eftablifhed, and
fo many promifes made, lead us to conclude, that he went
to dwell with God, In that ftate where all his pious fervants
fhall be happy with him, and where he was gathered to his
own people. Let us firmly believe in a future ftate, which
is fo much more clearly revealed in the gofpel, and give all
diligence to prepare for it. It is called Abraham^ s bofom^
becaufe he was fo intimate a friend of the moft High, and
therefore admitted to peculiar nearnefs to God •, and our
Lord tells us, that many Jhall come from the eaft and the wefi^
from the north and the Jouth^ and fit down with Abraham^
Ifaac^ and Jacobs in the kingdom of their heavenly father.
2. We learn that there is very little in worldly grandeur.
Ifaac lived obfcurely in tents, a fblitary paftoral life, and
yet was the friend of God and the heir of heaven •, while
Ifhmael had a large and fpacious country, numerous de-
fcendants, towns and caftles, and his fons were all princes.
One would be ready to conclude, Surely this is the heir of
the promife. But when we judge by appearance we gene-
rally judge falfely •, not many wife^ not mar.y noble and mighty
are called. It is fo now : the beft men often fare worft
as to temporal things. It was fo formerly, under a more
equal providence^ no wonder it fhould be fo now, when
we are called to live by faith and not by fight ; and are
to wait for our good things till hereafter. While Ifhmael
was fo great, and made fuch a figure among the nations,
Ifaac and his family were little, and lived retired and
obfcure-, but yet, to him were the beft bleflings pro-
mifed ^ In his feed was the covenant eftablifned \ while
Ifhmael, with all his wealth and power, was a ftranger to
K 3 the
134 GENESIS. XXV.
the covenant of promife. Thus many, even now, have
their riches and honours, while they are enemies of God
and children of difobedience. On the contrary, holy
fouls, who live in retirement, in order that they may
converfe with God and their own hearts, have moft eafe
and comfort j and the thoughts of having God for their
.God, is a noble fource of joy, and a fpring of unutterable
delight. Shall we then fooliihly choofe or wifh for our por-
tion to be among the princes and lords of the earth, and
envy their grandeur and power, when we fee that thofe
are happiefl: who want thefe things ? Shall we feek to be
rich and great, when fo many better bleffings are proraifed
to us ? Let us not ad fo flupid a part ; hut feek firft the king-
dom of God and his righteoufmfs^ and other things^ all other
important blefTmgs, 7^^// be added to us : that, like Ifaac, we
may dwell comfortably in the communion of God's church
and people, and be preparing for the heavenly Canaan,
where Ifaac has his refidence, and all the holy people of
pld their eternal dwelling*
CHAP. XXV. 19, to the end.
Contains an accotmt of the birth and character of Ifaac^s fons\
and of Efau felling his birthright to Jacob.
19 AND thefe [are] the generations of Ifaac, Abra-
20 Ji\ ham's fon : Abraham begat Ifaac : And Ifaac
was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the
daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the
fjfter to Laban the Syrian.
21 And Ifaac intreated, prayed fervently and continually^
for near twenty years together^ to the Lord for his wife,
becaufe £he [was] barren •, and the Lord was intreated
22 of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the
children, in an unufual and painful manner^ ftruggled to-
gether within her •, a prefage of the enmity which would fiibfifi
between their poflerity : and (he faid, If [it be] fo, why
[am] I thus ? if God hath anfwered our prayers^ why am I
in
GENESIS. XXV, 135
in danger of death ? why did I conceive if I cannot he deli^
23 vered? And fhe went to enquire of the Lord, by for
lemn prayer^ and other atls of devotion. And the Lord
faid unto her, Two heads of nations [are] in thy womb •,
two children^ different in their bodily conftitution^ in their
temper of jnind, in their courfe of a5lion^ and the pra5iice
of religion \ and two manner of people ihall be fepa-
rated from thy bowels, the Edomites and the Ifraelites ;
and [the one] people fhall be ftronger than [the
other] people, the Edomites fhall be ftronger than the
Ifraelites for a time^ but afterwards it fhall be otherwife ;
and the elder fhall ferve the younger. 'J'his was fulfilled
in David's time, when the defendants of Efau were con-
quered*
24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, be-
25 hold, [there were] twins in her womb. Aiidthe firft came
out red, all over like an hairy garment, a ftroYig, full-
grown child \ and they calkd his name Efau, which fig-
nifies perfe^ed, being of a more ftrong and perfe6l natural
conftitution^ than other children ufually are \ and hairy, like
26 a man full grown. And after that came his brother out,
and his hand took hold on Efau's heel, as if he would
draw him back, that he might he horn firft \ and his name
was called Jacob, which ftgnifies a fupplanter j a divine
prefage of what would afterwards come to pafs : and Ifaac
[v/as] threefcore years old when fhe bare them.
27 And the boys grew : and Efau was a cunning hunter,
a man of the field, fpending moft of his time abroad in the
fields, in hunting and the like exercifes -, and Jacob [was] a
plain man, dwelling in tents •, keeping at home, and minding
houfehold affairs, and the herds and flocks of his father.
28 And Ifaac loved Efau, becaufe he did eat of [his] veni-
fon, and confidered the prefents he brought him as tokens of
refpe^t : but Rebekah loved Jacob, becaufe of his more
mild and gentle temper, his piety, and the divine prediction
29 concerning him. And Jacob fod pottage, had prepared
fome rich broth or foup : and Efau came from the field,
30 and he [was] faint, being fatigued with his exercife: And
Efau faid to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that
K 4 fame
136 GENESIS. XXV.
fame red [pottage] ;* for I [am] faint : therefore was
31 his name called Edom, that is^ red. And Jacob,
taking advantage of his brother's nicety and hafiy temper y
faid. Sell me this day, fpeedily without delay^ thy birth-
32 right.* And Efau faid, Behold, I [am] at the point
to die, always in danger of my life : and what profit fhall
this birthright do to me when I am dead? I care nothing
33 for it. And Jacob faid, Swear to me this day ; and he,
being a profane man^ and not regarding an oath^ fware unto
34 him: and he fold his birthright unto Jacob.'' Then
Jacob gave Efau bread and pottage of lentiles •, apd he
did eat and drink, and rofe up, and went his way,
without fhowing any remorfe or forrow for his profane bar-.
gain, for his ingratitude to Gody or the injury he had done
himfelf and all his fofierity ; preferring the prefent and mo-
mentary gratification of his appetite^ before his father'' s blef-
Jtngy and all the privileges of the birthright : thus Efau
defpife^ [his] birthright.
REFLECTIONS.
i.T E T us feek the bleffing and counfel of God in all
I ^ our affairs. Thefe good men of old were men of
prayer j they lived near to God, and converfed much with
him. Let us emulate their piety, and, in every time of
difficulty, feek the Lord •, {o Ifaac did, for his wife and
with her, as the word mJght be rendered. God is capable
of giving thofe bleffings which feem moft unlikely. Let us
pray in faith *, waiting for the accomplifhment of our defire,
tho'
" Perhaps it was tJnftured red by faffron, or fome other herbs
or fpices ; and To of an agreeable flavour and fmell. feet/ me nuith
that red redy for 1 am faint* The word red is repeated in the
original ; which Ihowed hi§ extreme faintnefs, and the impatience
of his appetite. Edit.
* Several privileges attended this, as for inftance, a double por-
tion of the father's goods ; greater authority and dignity in
the family ; and probably fome fpiritual bleffings, particularly the
conduding of religious fervices, and inftrudling the younger bran-
ches of it.
*> In the whole of this, Jacob was highly to blame, and did
not aft that plain and honourable part he ought to have done j
he took an unfair advantage, and hurried on an unfair bargain.
GENESIS. XXV. J37
tho' it fhould be long delayed. God promlfed Ifaac a nu-
merous offspring, yet he prayed. God's promifes are de-
signed to encourage, and not to fuperfede our prayers ; fcr
this will I be fought unto, to do it for them^ faith the Lord. Ifaac
prayed for near twenty years, before he was anfwered. Thus
men ought always to pray and not to faint, being. aflured that
God will at length be the rewarder of all them that diligently
feek hhn. Let us thus afk that we may receive, and feek
that we may find, in every affair of doubt and uncertainty.
Let us enquire of the Lord, as Rebekah did : and tho' we
have no Shekinah, or vifible appearance of God among us,
and tho' dreams and vifions are not to be expedled, yet by
his fecret influences God can fhow.us the path of life, and
lead us in the right way to a city of habitation. \i in all our
ways we acknowledge him, he will dire^ our paths. He hath
aflonifhing and unexpected methods in the courfe of his
providence to ihow us our duty : let us therefore wait on
him continually. This will be a prefent eafe and fatisfaflrion
to the mind, amidft ten thoufand uneafy flruggles, and is
the likelieft way to have fuccefs. The fuccefs that Ifaac
found in his prayer, and the anfwer Rebekah received to
her inquiry, fhould teach us to be careful for nothing, that is,
not to be immoderately anxious about any event, but by
prayer and ihankfgiving make known our requejls unto God,
2. Let us learn, from the example of Efau, not to in-
dulge fenfual appetites and paflions, and defpife our fpirit-
ual birthright. This is Paul's refledlion in Heb. xii. i6.
left there he any fornicator, or profane perfon among you, who,
like Efau, for one morfel of meat fold his birthright. We are
God's rational creatures, formed for himfelf, and born for
eternal glory : that fpiritual birthright is ours, if w^e do
not mifs of it thro' our own folly. Let us be thankful that
we are made capable of being happy, have rational facuU
ties, and immortal natures. Let us praife God that we are
diflinguifhed from the heathen nations, in having an afilir-
ance of a future eternal world ; and that fo many fpiritual
bleflings are promifed us in our way to it. May we guard
againft every thing that would alienate our minds from, it,
and make us defpife the favour of God's covenant •, or think
lightly of his bleffings, and efteem them not worth having.
He
i3« G E xN E S 1 S. XXV.
He will juftly be difpleafed if we do fo •, and will not fuffer
them to be defpifed with impunity. Let us efpecially guard
againft flefhly lulls-, all degrees of Tenfuality, and particularly
fuch a love of meat and drink, as would unfit us for com-
munion with God, and the pleafures of devotion. This many
may indulge, who are not called drunkards or gluttons. What
a wretched figure does Efau make ! And how do we pity
his folly, who for a meal of meat would fell his birthright,
his worldly goods, his authority, and his father's bleffing.
And are not thofe greater fools, who facrilice their fouls for
fuch things ? Yet, alas ! how many, like him, are always
ftudying how to indulge their appetites •, eager after ev/^ry
thing that is new, and grateful to their tafte •, and are ready
to faint and die if their appetite be not indulged 1 What an
unmanly temper is this ! What a contemptible figure do fuch
perfons make in the eyes of all ferious and thinking men !
What a wretched thing is it for Chriftians to make a god of
their belly, fell their claim to eternal happinefs, and facrifice
their precious fouls to pleafe their palates ! What a dreadful
bargain do they make ! Efau, if he had poffefied but a little
patience and felf denial, might have had his hunger fatisfied,
and kept his birthright. So we may moderately ufe the good
things of life, and our fpiritual intereft not be in danger by
it : but if men will make provifion for the flefh, run on to
excefs, and deftroy their reafon, then, when their pafTions
are ftrong, they will do any thing ; blafpheme God, injure
their neighbours, and fport away their fouls : and their
cafe will be the fame as Efau's -, they, if they do not repent
immediately, may find no place for repentance hereafter ;
nor will God accent them *, but, according to his threaten-
ings, exclude all fuch fhamelefs perfons from the khigdom
of heaven, as he did Efau from the earthly Canaan. Let us
therefore be upon our guard, knowing that we are in a cor-
rupt body, and eafily led aftray •, furrounded with bad ex-
amples, and expofed to the folicitations of the evil one, who
takes advantage of all our hafty paflions, to hurry us on to
fin and ruin. Let us deny ourfelves, keep under our
bodies, and be fpiritually minded-, never refign fpiritual
blefiings and eternal glory, for any of the accommodations
and delights of this world. Better, a thoufand times bet-
ter,
GENESIS. XXVI. 139
ter, to die by hunger or thirft, than to go down to deflruc-
tion, where there is not a crumb of comfort, or a drop of
eafe. If we habituate ourfelves to a fteady courfe of fobriety
and heavenly- mindednefs, God will delight to blefs us ;
he will fulfil -the promife of his covenant to us here, and
at length give us a place in the church of the firfi born that
are written in heaven.
CHAP. XXVI.
We have here Ifaac^s departure to Gerar^ on account of the fa-
mine •, his denying his wife^ and the reproof for it ; the envy
and contention f the Philiftines at his profperiiy -, the covenant
between him and Abimelech ; and the marriage of his eldefl
fony Efau,
X AND there was a famine in the land, befides the
JfS^ firft famine that was in the days of Abraham.
nd* a good land^ yet it was turned into barrennefs by the
wickednefs of thofe who dwelt therein. And Ifaac went
unto Abimelech king of the Philiftines, {not the fame
Abimelech that was mentioned before^ but his fon^ or fuc^
ceffor^) unto Gerar, where Ifaac was born,
2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and faid^ Go
not down into Egypt, where Abraham went\ ^z^/ dwell in
the land which I fhall tell thee of: T^hus God was pleafed
to direEi his Jieps^ and alfo to renew the promife made to
3 Abraham^ Jaying^ Sojourn in this land, and I will be with
thee, and will blefs thee-, for unto thee, and unto thy
feed, I will give all thefe countries, and I will perform
4 the oath which I fware unto Abraham thy father •, and
I will make thy feed to multiply as the ftars of heaven,
and will give unto thy feed all thefe countries ; and
in thy feed fhall all the nations of the earth be blefted;
5 for this reafon, Becaufe that Abraham obeyed my voice,
and kept my charge, my commandments, my ftatutes,
and my laws.*^
6 And
^ It muft give high deh'ght to Ifaac to hear his father thus
honourably mentioned, and i% was a powerful motive to him to
go and do likewife.
i^o GENESIS. XXVI.
67 And Ifaac dwelt in Gerar : And the men of the
place aflced [him] of his wife-, and he faid, She [is]
my fifter : for he feared to fay, [She is] my wife \ left,
[faid he,] the men of the place fhould kill me for
Rebekah •, becaufe fhe [was] fair to look upon. T/ius
he fell into the jame fnare and fin that Abraham did,
8 And it came to pafs, when he had been there a long
time, that Abimelech king of the Philiftines looked out
at a window, and faw, and, behold, Ifaac [was] fporting
with Rebekah his wife; uftng fome familiarity^ which he
thought a man of Ijaac's gravity andgoodnefs would not take
9 wiih his Jijier. And Abimelech called Ifaac, and faid.
Behold, of a furety fhe [is] thy wife: and howfaidft thou
She [is] my filler? And Ifaac. faid unto him, Becaufe I
10 faid, Left 1 die for her. And Abimelech faid. What
[is] this thou haft done unto us ? one of the people
might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou fhouldft
11 have brought guiltinefs upon us.*^ And Abimelech
charged all [his] people, faying, He that toucheth, or
hurfeth^ this man or his wife fhall furely be put to
death.
12 Then Ifaac fowed mfome part of |hat land, which he
had probably hired^ and received in the fame year an
13 hundred fold: and the Lord blefTed him: And the
man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he
14 became very great : For he had pofTefTion of flocks,
and pofTeffion of herds, and great (tore of fervants, for
managing his hujhandry : and the Philiftines envied him.
!£; For ail the wells which his father's fervants had digged
in the days of Abraham his father, the Philiftines, con-
trary to their covenant and oath^ (ch, xxi. 30, 31.) had ftop-
ped them, and filled them with earth, becaufe they envied
16 Ifaac, And Abimelech faid unto Ifaac, Go from us ; for
thou art much mightier than we ; this may breed conten-
17 iio72s^ and be attended with dangerous confequences. And
Ifaac, without refftance^ and for "peace^ fake ^ gave up his
lands
^ Such an enormous crime did the Philiftines think adultery
to be, that Abimelech expeded God would have puniilied all his
country for It.
GENESIS. XXVf. 141
lands and departed thence, and pitched his tent in the
valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
18 And Ifaac digged again the wells of water, which
they had digged in the days of Abraham his father j*
for the Philiftines had ftopped them after the death of
Abraham : and he called their names after the names by
which his father had called them, out of refpetl to his fa*
19 thefs memory. And Ifaac's fervants digged in cne valley,
20 and found there a well of fpringing water. And the
Jierdmen of Gerar did ftrive with Ifaac's herdmen, fay-
ing, The water [is] ours : and he called the name of the
well Efek, that is, contention \ becaufe they ftrove with
21 him. And they digged another well, and ftrov^e for taat
alio : and he called the name of it Sitnah, that is, hatred,
22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well;
and for that they ftrove not : and he called the name of
it Rehoboth, that is, room ; and he faid. For now the
Lord hath made room for us, and we ihall be fruitful
in the land.
23 And after fome time, the famine being ended, and being
afraid of the Philifiines, he went up from thence to Beer-
24 fheba. And the Lord appeared unto him the fame
night, and faid, 1 [am] the God of Abraham thy fa-
ther : fear not thefe Philifiines, or any mifchief by them,
for I [am] with thee, and will blefs thee, and multiply
thy feed for my fervant Abraham's fake, and for the fake
25 of the covenant made with him. And he builded an altar
there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and
pitched his tent there : and there Ifaac's fervants digged
a well.
26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and
Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol ^ x}[\q chief
27 captain of his army. And Ifaac faid unto them. Where-
fore com1b ye to me, feeing ye hate me, and have fent
2 8 me away from you ? And they faid. We faw certainly
that
« This he had a right to do by agreement, and there he was
fure to find water.
^ This was probably a general name for the chief officer of
the army.
142 GENESIS. XXVI.
that the Lord was with thee : and we faid, Let there
be now an oath betwixt us, [even] betwixt us and thee,
29 and let us make a covenant with thee ; That thou wilt
do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we
have done unto thee nothing but good, and have Tent
thee away in peace : thou [art] now the bleiTed of the
Lord; and ftnce God hath bleffed thee fo abundantly^ thou
oiighteft not io remember the fmall unkindnefs Jhowed thee,
30 And he made them a feaft, and they did eat and drink.
3 1 And they rofe up betimes in the morning, and fware
one to another : and Ifaac fent them away, and they
32 departed from him in peace. And it came to pafs the
fame day, that Ifaac's Servants came, and told him con-
cerning the well which they had digged, and faid unto
3 j him, We have found water. And he called it Shebah,
that is^ an oath: therefore the name of the city [is]
Beer-fheba, that is^ the well of the oath^ unto this day.
34 And Efau was forty years old when he took to wife
Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bafhe-
math the daughter of Elon the Hittite, both of them
35 Canaanites: Which were a grief of mind unto Ifaac and
to Rebekah-, being contrary to the command of his father^
mother^ and grandfather,
REFLECTIONS.
X . T T O W comfortable is it to converfe with God, aS
XTl ^^ God of our fathers ! It was fo to Ifaac. He
undoubtedly was glad that he was the heir of fo good a man,
and to have the promife, made to Abraham, renewed to
him and his feed. As we defire the God of our fathers to
blefs us, let us fee to it that we walk in their fteps. Know
thou the God of thy fathers^ -and ferve him with a ferfeEl heart
and a tvilling mind. As our God, Tet us praife him ; as our
fathers' God, let us exalt him.
2. We are in danger of imitating the failings of good
men who are near and dear to us. Affedion for them, and
regard to their memory, lefTen their faults in our eiteemt
1 here was a meannefs even in Ifaac's condud. The ap-
pearance of God twice for his father, ihould have taught
him
GENESIS. XXYI. 54.^
him to av5l better-, but he fell into the fame error. We
have all need to be watchful in following the example even
of good men, left we adopt their mifcarriages : we Ihould
follow them no further than they followed Chrift •, only in
that which is good.
g. Adultery is a great crime, and brings guilt upon a
nation ♦, it is bafeneis and injuftice both to God and man ;
it was condemned by heathen nations , by the law of the
Jews fuch were to be put to death; fo they were by the
Saxon law ; and it is ftrange it Ihould not be fo now. Pro-
fane perfons may think and fpeak lightly of it, but fuch
God will judge •, and they that do fuch things Jh all not inherit
the kingdom of God,
4. Let us feek the blelTing of the Lord, that maketh
rich. Ifaac occupied other people's land, and the Lord
bleffed him. On that we ihould all depend. Let thofe
whofe labour is in the field, and who cultivate the land>
look up to God for a bleffing on the feed they fow, and
pray the God of nature to profper their labour. Let minif-
ters alfo look to God to profper the feed of the word, that
it may not return void, but bring forth abundant fruit to
the glory of God, and the eternal advantage of men's
fouls. Neither is he that foweth or planteth any things nor he
that water eth^ but God that giveth the increafe,
5. It is God that maketh room for us in every agreeable
fettlement, v, 22. After difficulties and ftraits God will
bring us into a large place, and make our way profperous.
Let us fee his hand and adore his goodnefs, who fixes our
ftations, and makes our endeavours fuccefsful •, and give
him all the praife. We fhall be likely to find it fo, if we
fludy a peaceful, contented fpirit, and give up our intereft
for the fake of peace. To promote this, let us carry a
fenfe of his prefence wherever we go ; build an altar, and
call upon his name, in thofe fettlements which providence
allots us. If we fet the Lord always before us, we fhall
not be moved.
6. The imprudent and finful behaviour of children, is a
great grief to pious parents*, efpecially when they join
themfelves to irreligious families, and are unequally yoked
with unbelievers. Efau's condudl embittered Ifaac's com-
fort.
144 GENESIS. XXVTt.
fon, notwithftanding all his profperity. A foolijh fon is a
keavinefs to his father. Let thofe wicked children, who
sre a grief of mind to their pious parents, and are bringing
down their grey heirs with forrow to the grave, know and
confider, that God remembers their grief, will reckon with
thofe v/ho were the authors of it, and inflidl a heavy punifh-
ment upon them, unlefs they repent of fo ungrateful and
abominable a condu(5t. Let parents enure their children to
afls of felf-denial and mortification ; and carefully reftrain
rhem from the appearance of evil, as the moft likely way
to keep them from fuch pradices as would be a grief to
their parents ; and incline them to thofe which would make
them growing comforts to their parents and friends, and
ornaments to religion. My fon^ fays Solomon, if thou be
wife, my heart fhall r^joice^ even mine.
CHAP. xxvn.
IFe have before been informed of the Jlruggles between Efau
and Jacob, here we have a further account of them, Ifaac
intended to blefs Efau \ Rebekah contrives to prevent it ; the
bleffmg is conferred on Jacob ; Efau laments it in vain \ and
difcovers great enmity to his brother,
J yt N D it came to pafs, that when Ifaac was an hundred
Jf\^ and thirty feven years old, and his eyes were dim,
fo that he could not fee, he called Efau his eldeft fon,
and faid unto him. My fon : and he faid unto him,
2 Behold [here am] I. And he faid. Behold now, I am
old, I know not the day of my death ; how foon I may
3 die, I expert it every day : Now therefore take, I pray
thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go
4 out to the field, and take me [fome] venifon; And
make me favoury meat, fuch as 1 love, and bring [it]
to me, that I may eat, and be refrefhed and flrengtJwied \
that my foul may blefs thee before I die-, beflow my fo-
lemn^ extraordinary, and prophetical bleffmg, whereby I de-
clare and conftitute thee my heir apparent of all the blejjings
beflowed by God upon ?ne and my fathers, Ifaac, out of his
fond
GENESIS. XXVII. 149
fond affeSfion to Efau^ endeavours to entail the Uejfing upon
him \ hut God^ by Rebekah's means^ difappoints his purpofe.
5 And Rebekah heard when Ifaac fpake to Efau his fon.
And Efau went to the field to hunt [for] venifon, [and]
to bring [it.]
6 And Rebekah fpake unto Jacob her fon, faying, Be-
hold) I heard thy father fpeak unto Efau thy brother,
7 faying, Bring me venifon, and make me favoury meat,
that 1 may eat, and blefs thee before the Lord, in his
8 prefence and by his authority^ before my death. Now
therefore, my fon, obey my voice according to that
9 which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch
me from thence two good kids of the goats ; and I
will make them favoury meat for thy father, fuch as he
10 loveth: And thou fhalt bring [it] to thy father, that
he may eat, and that he may blefs thee before his death,
1 1 according as God hath promijed. And Jacob faid to Re-
bekah his mother. Behold, Efau my brother [is] a
12 hairy man, and I [am] a fmooth man : My father per-
adventure will feel me^ and I fhall feem to him as a
deceiver -, and I fhall bring a curfe upon me, and not a
13 bleffmg. And his mother faid unto him. Upon me
[be] thy curfe, my fon : only obey my voice, and go
14 fetch me [them.°] And he went, and fetched, and
brought [them] to his mother : and his mother made
15 favoury meat, fuch as his father loved. And Re-
bekah took goodly raiment of her eldefl fon Efau,
which [were] with her in the houfe, and put them up-
on Jacob her younger fon : fome fay^ the facer dot at gar*
ments \ probably they were fome rich perfumed garments that
i6 were made for Efau^ as the eldejl fon. And fhe put the
flcins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon
17 the fmooth of his neck: And fhe gave the favoury
meat and the bread, which fhe had prepared, into the
hand of her fon Jacob.
Vol. I. L 18 And
S Her defign was undoubtedly good, being under the direction
of a divine oracle, (ch. xxv. 23.) but fhe took a wrong method to
accomplifh it: it was inipofing upon Ifaac, it was teaching Jacob
to lie, and might have brought a curfe upon him, had the cheat
been difcovered. She ought to have informed Ifaac of her ap-
prehenfion of the defign of the oracle, and prayed God to direct
him right in the matter.
I50 GENESIS. XXVII.
1 8 And he came unto his father, and faid. My father:
^ and he faid, Here [am] I ; who [art] thou, my fon ?
19 And Jacob fud unto his father, I [am] Efau thy firft
born i I have done according as thou badeft me •, (this
was a downright Ue^ and cannot he vindicated :) arife, I
pray thee, iit and cat of my venifon, that thy foul may
20 bids me. And Ifaac faid unto his fon, How [is it]
that thou haft found [it] fo quickly, my fon ? And he
faid, Becaufe the Lord thy God brought [it] to me.
Strange that he Jhoidd introduce the name of God •, but one lie
21 generally draws on another. And Ifaac faid unto Jacob,
Come near, I pray thee, that I may feci thee, my fon,
22 whether thou [be] my very fon Efau or not. And
Jacob went near unto Ifaac his father ; and he felt him,
and faid, The voice [is] Jacob's voice, but the hands
23 [are] the hands of Efau. And he difccrned him not,
becaufe his hands were hairy, as his brother Efau's
24 hands : fo he bleffed him. And he faid, [Art] thou
25 my very fon Efau ? And he faid, I [am.] And he faid.
Bring [it] near to me, and I will eat of my fon's venifon,
that my foul may blefs thee. And he brought [it]
near to him, and he did eat : and he brought him wine,
26 and he drank. And his father Ifaac faid unto him.
Come near now, and kifs me, my fon : this was a mark
of that fpecial favour and affe^-icn wherewith he beflowed
27 the blejfing. And he came near, and kifled him : and
he fmelled the fmell of his raiment, and blefled him,
and faid, See, the fmell of my fon [is] as the fmell of a
28 field which the Lord hath blefled : Therefore God give
thee, cr^ he will give thee^ (it is both a prayer and afrornife)
of the dew of heaven, and the fatnefs of the earth, and
plenty of corn and wine : thefe temporal bleffings were
7nore frequently promifed and beftowed under the Old 1'efia-
29 ment^ and were types of fpiritual bleffings: Let people
ferve thee, and nations bow down to thee ; be lord over
thy brethren, and let thy mother's fons bow down to
thee, hereby confirming to him the right of the firfi born :
curfed [be] every one that curfeth thee, and blefled
[be] he that bleflTeth thee.
30 And it came to pafs, as foon as Ifaac had made an
end
GENESIS. XXVII. 151
end of blefling Jacob, and Jacob was yet fcarce gone out
from the prefence of Ifaac his father, that Efau his bro-
3 1 ther came in from his hunting. And he alfo had drejed
'his venifon ayid made favoury meat, and brought It unto
his father, and fald unto his father, Let my father arlfe,
and eat of his fon's venifon, that thy foul may blefs me.
32 And Ifaac his father faid unto him. Who [art] thou?
33 And he fald, 1 [am] thy fon, thy iirft born Efau. And
Ifaac trembled very exceedingly, and faid. Who ? where
[is] he that hath taken venifon, and brought [It] me,
and I have eaten of all before thou cameft, and have
bleffed him ? yea, [and] however I might wijh the contrary^
I find my mind fo much under a divine impulfe^ that I mufi
confirm what I have done^ and he ihall be bleffed ; God
will ratify and eftahli/h it,
34 And when Efau heard the words of his father, he
cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and faid
unto his father, Blefs me, [even] me alfo, O my father :
but he found no place for repentance in Ifaac^ thd' he fought
35 it earnefily with tears. And he faid. Thy brother came
with fubtilty, and hath taken away thy blefTmg ; that
which by birthright belongs to thee^ and which I had fully re-
36 folved to heftow upon thee. And he faid. Is not he rightly
named Jacob ? that isj afupplanter \ for he hath fupplant-
ed me thefe .two times : he took away my birthright, (a
falfe acciifation^ for he himfelf defpifed it .^ and fold it .^) and,
behold, now he hath taken away my blefTmg. And he
9^^ faid. Haft thou not referved a 'blefTmg for me t And
Ifaac anfw^ered and faid unto Efau, Behold, I have
made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given
to him for fervants-, and with corn and wine have I fuf^
talned him : and what fhall I do now unto thee, my fon ?
I have no other blejfing^ comparatively^ to beftow upon thee,
38 And Efau faid unto his father. Haft thou but one blef-
fing my father? blefs me, [even] me alfo, O my fa-
^<^ ther. And Efau lifted up his voice, and wept. And
Ifaac his father anfwered and faid unto him. Behold,
thy dwelling fhall be the fatnefs of the earth, and of
the dew of heaven from above •, in a country competerJly
L 2 fruitful^
152 GENESIS. XXVII.
fruitfuk and refre/hed with convenient dews and Jliowers}
40 And by thy fword fhalt thou live, by violence^ rapine^
a7idzvar^ and flialt ferve thy brother ^' and it fhall come
to pafs when thou fhalt have the dominion, not over the
Jfraelites^ for we never read of this \ hut^ when thou JJialt
gain fir ength it fioall come to pafs that thou fhalt break his
yoke from off thy neck."^
41 And Ffau hated Jacob becaufe of the bleffmg where-
with his father bleffed him : and Efau faid in his heart.
The days of mourning for my father are at hand, ac-
cording to the courfe of nature \ {yet he lived forty four years
after) then will I flay my brother Jacob.
42 And thefe words of Efau her elder fon were told to
Rebekah : and fhe fent and called Jacob her younger
fon, and faid unto him. Behold, thy brother Efau, as
touching thee, doth comfort \i\m.{zVl with thoughts of re-
venge^ [purpofing] to kill thee, and by that cruel means
^'i he hopes to recover his birthright again. Now therefore,
my fon, obey my voice -, and arife, flee thou to Laban
44 my brother to Haran ; And tarry with him a few days,
(which proved to be above twenty years^ ch. xxxi. 38.) until
45 thy brother's fury turn away ; Until thy brother's anger
turn away from thee, and he forget [that] which thou
haft done to him : then I will fend, and fetch thee from
thence : why fhould I be deprived alfo of you both in
one day ? one by murder y the other by the hand of jujiice^
46 or by fome remarkable Jlroke of divine vengeance. And
Rebekah faid to Ifaac, I am weary of my life becaufe
of the daughters of Heth : if Jacob take a wife of the^
daughters of Heth, fuch as thefe [which are] of the
daughters of the land, what good fhall my life do m.e ?
therefore let us fend him to fetch a wife from his own kind-
re d^ as Abraham did, This was a plaufihle ex cufe for fending
him away : and Ifaac fell in with the propofal^ as is related
in the next chapter,
REFLECT.
^ Mount SeJr was fuch a place, Jo/hua xxiv. 4.
' I'his was fulfilled in the time of David. Sec 2 Sam. viii. 14.
^- This was done in the days of Joram, as we read, 2 Kings
viii. 16, 20, 22, when the Edomites rebelled and threw off the
yoke.
GENESIS. XXVII. 153
REFLECTIONS.
I. rTTMIERE Is but JIttle reafon to wifh for a very
j[ advanced age. Ifaac's life was a burden to him,
tho', no doubt, he enjoyed the pleafures of meditation and
devotion. He lived above forty years after he was almoft
blind. It often happens in advanced age for thofe that look
out of the windows to be darkened. Let young perfons, there-
fore, be adnionifhed to remember their creator in the days
of their youths before the evil days come^ and the years draw
nigh^ when they (hall fay ^ we have m pleafure in them. Im-
prove the benefit of fight in reading God's word, treafure
it up in your mind, and thereby get wifdom and underftand-
ing. Let aged chriftians y^/ their hoiife in order ^ like ifaac,
V, 2. make their wills, and fettle their affairs. This thought,
zve know not the day of our deaths (hould quicken us all, that
whatever our hands find to do, we may do it with all our
might ; for time is uncertain, and the fon of man may come at
an hour when we think not. Let us thank God for a better
world, where we fhall no more labour under the infirmities
of age, and where the eyes that fee fhall no more be dim, Ifa,
xxxli. g.
2. See the wifdom of God In carrying on his own gracious
purpofes. He can over-rule the mifguided pafTions of men to
perfed his own fchemes, as In the cafe of Ifaac, who, contrary
to his partial aifedlion for Efau, was led to confer, and after-
wards to confirm the bleffmg on Jacob. The means by which
it was obtained on the part of Jacob cannot be vindicated.
This however Is no objedion againft the credibility of the
fad itfelf, which was undoubtedly under the divine direc-
tion, for It Is fald, By faith Ifaac blefjed Jacob and Efau con-
cerning things to come, Heb, xi. 20.
3. How unaccountably does God difpofe of his favours !
This is Paul's refledlon from this {lory ; Rom. xi. 1 6. // is
7Wt of him that willeth^ or of him that runneth^ but of God that
fhoweth mercy, Efau was willing, and ran ; but God knew him
to be a profane man, and gave the bleffmg to Jacob. In all
this he doeth according to his own will, and ads with uner-
ring wifdom even when his difpenfatlons are darkeft : this
is a good reafon why we fhould fubmit to his determlna-
L 3 tions ',
154- GENESIS. XXVIIL
tions -, there are many devices in the heart of man^ but the
counfel of the Lord^ that fhall ftand,
4. Let us be careful not to defpife the blefling, left it be
too late to obtain it. This is another refledion of Paul's
in Hekxiu i6, ij^for (fpeaking of profane Efau, he fays)
ye know how that afterward^ when he would have inherited the
blejfng^ he was rejc^ed : for he found no place of repentance^ thd*
he fought it carefully with tears. Thofe who facririce their
intereft in God, their religion and confcience, for worldly
things, judge themfelves unworthy of fpiritual bleflH-gs,
and fhall never poflefs them, Efau wept when it was too
late, and fo will iinners hereafter *, they will cry with* an ex-
ceeding bitter cry, but there is no bleffing for them -, they
will know how to value it when it is too lace. Ttf d(^y^ tnere-
fore, if ye will hear his voue^ harden not your hearts \ but feek
the Lord while he may be founds and call upon him while ne is
near,
5. Let us guard againft thofe malignant pallions that are
fo ready to rife in our breafts. What a horrid figure does
Efau make ! what a ftrange compofition of hatred to his
brother, and afFedion to his aged father ! It was not on a
fudden pafTion only, but rank malice in his heart ; he hoped
for his father's death, like a wicked fon •, and this only kept
him from imbruing his hand immediately in his brother's
blood. Let us keep a guard upon our fouls, and rule our
own fpirits •, and learn to be content and eafy under the
difappointments of life. If others profper more than we,
it is God's appointment •, and it is highly wicked to quar-
rel with him. We learn from the whole, that thofe who
defpife and undervalue fpiritual blefTmgs, lay a foundation
for bitter difappointment, remorfe, and vexation. Look
diligently^ theretore, kfl any fail of the grace of God.
CHAP. XXVIIL
Gives an account of Jacobus journey^ vifion., and vow.
I A ND Ifaac called Jacob, and blefTed him, purpofedly.,
Jf\^ and defignedly \ in faith he now confirmed that blef-
fmg to him^ which before he had given hijn unknowingly \ and
hereby
GENESIS. XXVIII. 155
h-erehy God confirms Jacobus faith againft doubts and fearSy
and comforts Mm againft future troubles that might befal him\
and Ifaac charged him, and faid unto him, Thou fhalt
2 not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arife, go
to Padan-aram, to the houfe of Bethuel thy mother's
father •, and take thee a wife from thence of the daugh-
3 ters of Laban thy mother's brother. And God Almighty
blefs thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee,
4 that thou may eft be a multitude of people •, And give
thee the blefiing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy feed
with thee •, thr^i: is^ the land of Canaan^ a numerous offsprings
and that the Mefftah mayfpring from thee ; that thou may eft
inherit the land wherein thou art at prefent a ftranger,
not being yet poffeffed of it\ but which God gave unto
Abraham, l^hus God cofifirms the fettlement to him^ exclufive
5 of Efau. And Ifaac fent away Jacob alone^ that Efau
might not fufpe^ him: and he went to Padan-aram unto
Laban, ion of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Re-
bekah, Jacob's and Efau's mother.
6 When Efau faw that Ifaac had blefled Jacob, and fent
him av/ay to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from
thence ; and that as he biefTea him he gave him a
charge, faying. Thou fhalt not take a wife of the daugh-
7 ters of Canaan j And that Jacob obeyed his father and
.8 his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram; And Efau
feeing that the daughters of Canaan pleafed not Ifaac
Q his father ; Then went Efau unto the family of Ilhmael,
and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the
daughter of Ifhmael Abraham's fon, the lifter of Ne-
bajoth, to be his wife. This he did in hope of ingratiating
himfelf with his father ; hut it was quite too late^ and but
a partial amendment -, for his hatred to Jacob and his pro-
fanenefs ft ill continued,
10 And Jacob took with him his ftaff^ and fuch fmall pro-
vifions as he could carry ; to have taken more would have in-
creafedhis brother^ s hatred and envy •, and he went out from
11 Beer-fheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted
upon a certain place,' and tarried there all night, becaufe
L 4 the
^ A fhady fpot, where were almond trees, between thirty and
forty miles from the place where he fet out, and about eight miles
from jerafalem.
156 GENESIS. XXVIIL
the fun was fet -, and he took of the ftones of that place,
and put [them for] his pillows, and lay down in that
place to fleep. He had a cold lodging and a hard pillow^
but a comfortable nighty jor God appeared to him there in a
12 vifion. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder fet up on
the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven •, to repre-
fent to Jacob the providence of God^ who^ tho* he dwells in
heaven^ extends his government and care to the earthy and all
who dwell thereon: and, behold, the angels of God afcend-
13 ing and defcending on it."" And, behold, tht glory of
the Lord flood above it, appeared at the top of the ladder^
and a voice faid, I [am] the Lord God of Abraham
thy father, and the God of Ifaac : the land whereon
14 thou lieft, to thee will I give it, and to thy feed; And
thy feed fhall be as the duft of the earth, and thou
jfhalt fpread abroad to the weft, and to the eaft, and to
the north, and to the fouth : and in thee and in thy feed
15 fhall all the families of the earth be blefted. And, be-
hold, I [am] with thee, and will keep thee in all [places]
v/hither thou goeft, and will bring thee again into this
land •, for I will not leave thee, until I have done [that]
which I have fpoken to thee of. nus God confirmed his
promifes to Jacob •, affuring him of defence^ provifton^ pro-
te^ion^ and at length a happy fettlement in that land^ to^
gether with all fpiritiial blejfings,
16 And Jacob awaked out of his fieep, and he faid.
Surely the Lord is in this place, by thefe tokens of his
fpecial and gracious prefence^ and the revelation of his mind
and will to me-^ and I knew [it] not, I little expeEled fuck
1 7 revelations here. And he was afraid, flruck with a reveren-
tial fear of the majefly of God^ in refpe5t of his own vilenefs
and unworthinefs^ and he faid. How dreadful, or awful^
[is] this place ! this [is] none other but the houfe of
God, the habitation where he dwells^ with all his glorious
attendants^ and this [is] the gate of heaven, that l$ads to
his
^ To (how that God makes ufe of thern as miniftrlng fpirits,
to execute his orders and do his pleafure : that they are all
a6tive, all under the diredion of infinite vvifdom, who will give
them a particular charge concerning his fervants. How fuitable
and encouraging a repref^.n ration was this to Jacob, when flying
ior his life, and deitituce of all things 1
GENESIS. XXVIII. X57
1 8 his high and holy courts. And Jacob rofe up early in the
morning, and took the ftone that he had put [for] his
pillows -, and fet it up [for] a pillar, as a monument for the
remembrance of God's appearing to him^ and poured oil
19 upon the top of it, as a thank ofering to God. And he
called the name of that place Beth- el, that is, the houfe
of God: but the name of that city, near to which this
pillar was fet up, [was called] Luz at the firfl, that is,
almond, or, the city of almond trees,
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, entered into afolemn religious
promife or obligation, faying, If God will be with me, and
will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me
21 bread to eat, and raiment to put on. So that 1 come again
to my father's houfe in peace, that is, when Goafhall have
done according to his promife^ f'^-iSO i^hich I firyyily believe
he will perform •, then fhall the Lord be my God, owned
by me as the author of my welfare and falvation, and wor-
Z2 /hipped in my family as fiich : And this ftone, which I have
fet [for] a pillar, fhall be God's houfe -, a place for his
worfhip, where I will build an altar and offer facrifices : and
of all that thou fhalt give me I will furely give the
tenth unto thee, for the maintenance of thy worfliip, and
Other pious ufes.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T is a great mercy to have religious parents, to re-
X commend us to the blefting of God ; to pray for us
and with us ; thefe prayers fhould be highly valued by us,
for God values them. The children of his fervants jfliould
rejoice in their privileges, and improve them -, and above
all, be thankful for Jefus Chrift, who ever liveth to make
intercejjion for us.
2. Let us adore the providence of God, as exercifed by
his angels ; and beg of him to give them charge concerning
us ', that we may have their guardian care and protection in
all our motions. This muft have been a great comfort to
Jacob, and confirm his faith and hope, and confidence in
God and his providence. The great God hath legions of
angels at his command -, and they are all minijiring fpirits,
fent
158 GENESIS. XXVIII.
fent forth to minifier to the heirs offalvation. How cheerfully
may good men go on in the way of duty, when they have
fuch protedors ! The ladder is ftill fixed •, and by faith v^e
may iee the angels afcending and defcending to receive or-
ders from God, and execute his will, Tho' God's throne
of glory is in heaven, and he keeps his brighteft court
there, his providence extends to this world, and not a ff ar-
row falls to the ground without his notice. He feeds the ravens
when they cry, and the lions when they roar •, he clothes the
grafs and the lilies ♦, and will he not much more take care
of his fervants ? Let them exercife faith in his protedling
providence, when, like Jacob, they are expofed to dif-
ficulties and dangers •, when going on journeys •, Vv^hen en-
tering on new fettiements, or relations in life j when leaving
old friends, and going to ftrange places or families, or
bufinefs •, for he hath (aid, / will give my angels charge con-f
cerning thee •, and / will never leave thee^ norforfake thee. Let
us rejoice in this, and blefs God^ who caufeth his angels to
encamp around us, to be our defence in this world ; and
at length will condud us in our laft remove, and carry us
to Abraham's bofom, to join their innumerable company
there, together with the fpirits of all juft men made per-
fed. Once more,
3. When God hath fhown us mercy, let us renew our
vows to ferve him ; fo Jacob did. By religious vows we
give glory to God, and own our dependence upon him ;
and we lay a bond upon our own fouls in all our religious
engagements, to excite and quicken our obedience to him.
Let us imitate Jacob's faith and gratitude. God had pro-
mifed to be with him, and provide for him \ Jacob lays
hold on this promife, and fays. Seeing God will do thus
with me, I will love and ferve and honour him. liCt us
imitate his modefty and moderation ; tho' heir to great
things, he only afks food and raiment. Nature is con-
tent with little, grace with lefs. Agur's wifh was. Feed me
with food convenient for me. Let us imitate his piety in
what he defired^ that God would he with him and keep him \
and alfo in what he defigned^ that he would acknowledge the
Lord as his God^ build an altar for his worfhip, and give him
the tenth of all that he had. Thus ihould all the mercies we
receive
GENESIS. XXIX. 159
receive be improved as additional obligations to walk clofely
with God, as our God; and when we receive extraordinary
mercies from him, let us ftudy to fhow fbme fignal inftance
of gratitude and obedience to him ; fo jfhall the God of
Jacob be our God for ever and ever, and our guide even
unto death.
CHAP. XXIX.
Contains an account of Jacobus arrival at the place appointed ; his
marriage there ; and how thepromife began to be fulfilled^ that
God would make of him a great nation,
1 ry^HEN Jacob went on his journey, or, lifted up his
X f^^' "^''^ great cheerfulnefs and vigour^ (as well he
might after fuch a vifion) and came into the land of the
people of the eaft, to Mefopotamia^ where ho.han dwelt,
2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo,
there [were] three flocks of fheep lying by it \ for out
of that v/ell they watered the flocks : and a great flione
[was] upon the well's mouth, topreferveit fweet and fecure,
3 And thither were all the flocks gathered : and they
rolled the ftone from the v/ell's mcuth, and watered the
fheep, and put the fl:one again upon the well's mouth
4 in his place. And Jacob, believing that they were of the
fame employment as himfelf^ refpetlfully faid unto them,
My brethren, whence [be] ye? And they faid, Of Haran
5 [are] we. And he faid unto them. Know ye Laban the
6 fon of Nahor ? And they faid, We know [him.] And
he faid unto them, [is] he well ? And they faid, [He
is] well : and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with
7 the flieep. And he began to talk with -them about their
occupation y and the befi way of managing their flocks^ and
faid, Lo, [it is] yet high day, neither [is it] time that
the cattle ihould be gathered together : water ye the
8 fneep, and go [and] feed [them.] i\nd they faid. We
cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and
[till] they roll the fl:one from the well's mouth, for we
have
i6o GENESIS. XXIX.
have made an agreeme7tt to wait for one another \ and when
all are gathered together^ then we will water the iheep.
9 And while he yet fpake with them, Rachel came with
her father's fheep : for flie kept them, '^hts was formerly
reckoned a noble employments as their chief zvealth lay in cat-
tle, Rachel probably had Jhepherds under her^ but fhe fre^
10 fided^ and looked well to her flock. And it came to pafs,
when Jacob faw Rachel the daughter of Laban his
mother's brother, and the fheep of Laban his mother's
brother, that Jacob went near, and, as an introduElion to
further acquaintance^ he rolled the ftone from the well's
mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's
1 1 brother, that is^ he affifted in doing it. And Jacob killed
Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept -, he fhed tears of
joy^ to think of the kind providence that had attended him in
his journey,, and that he had happily met with fuch an agr ce-
ll able relation at the end of it. And Jacob told Rachel that
he [was] her father's brother, or kinfman^ that is^ ftftefs
fon^ and that he [was] Rebekah's fon : and fhe ran and
13 told her father. And it came to pafs, when Laban
heard the tidings of Jacob his fifter's fon, that he ran
to meet him, and embraced him, and kiffed him, and
brought him to his houfe, and thus gave him the moft kind
reception^ thd* he might be furprifed to fee him come alone^
and not attended as his fathers fervant was ; but Jacob
opened his heart to his kinfman,, and he told Laban all thefe
things, about his journey ^ and the caufe of it, what he had
feen in the way, and the reafon he had to hope for the
14 divine prote^ion and bleffing. And Laban faid to him.
Surely thou [art] my bone and my flefh, my near kinf-
man and nephew. And he abode with him the fpace of a
month ; after which he agreed to take care of haban^ s fheep
and cattle,
15 And Laban faid unto Jacob, Becaufe thou [art] my
brother, or kinfman, fhouldft thou therefore ferve me
for nought ? this would be unreafonable, let us therefore
come iofome agreement-, tell me, what [fhall] thy wages
16 [be?] And Laban had two daughters : the name of the
elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was]
1 7 Rachel. Leah [was] tender eyed -, but Rachel was
beautiful
GENESIS. XXIK. i6i
iS beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel;
and // was the cufiom in thofe days to purchafe wives^ but
Jacobs having nothing togive^ fald, I will ferve thee (^vtn
19 years for Pvachel thy younger daughter. And Laban
faid, [It is] better that 1 give her to thee, than that I
fhould give her to another man : abide with me ; ait
ambiguous and crafty anfzver^ intended to make Jacob think
that he confented^ but ferving only to hide his real dejign,
20 And Jacob ferved iQWQn years for Rachel ; and his af-
feolion .for his coufm was fo greats that they feemed unto
him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 And Jacob faid unto Laban, Give [me] my wife,
for my days are fulfilled, the fevenyears^ fervice agreed up-
on^ that I may go in unto her, and make her my wife by
22 marriage^ as fhe hath already been by contra^. And Laban
feemingly confented to this •, and as thefe marriages were done
publickly before proper witnejfes^ fo he gathered together
23 all the men of the place, and made a feaft. And it came
to pafs in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter,
and brought her to him •, and he went in unto her ♦, and,
jhe being veiled and in the darky he could not difcern the
24 fraud. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah
Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid, or bondwoman.
25 And it came to pafs, that in the morning, behold, it
[was] Leah ! What a grievous dif appointment was this !
What afliameful return of Laban for Jacob'' s faithfulfer-
vices I What a foolifh thiyig in Leah ! for what happinefs
could flie expeEl in fuch a connexion : and what injufiice to
Rachely as well as Jacob ! He was juftly provoked^ and he
faid to Laban, What [is] this thou haft done unto me ?
did not I ferve with thee for Rachel ? wherefore then
26 haft thou beguiled me .? And Laban faid, It muft not
be fo done in our country, to give the younger before
the fir ft born, nis was a firry anfwer •, probably there
was no fuch cufiom •, if there was., he ought to have been told
27 of it before. He adds^ Fulfil her week, keep the week of
feafting for thy marjiage with Leah, and fo confirm the mar-
riage with her^ and we will give thee this alfo for the
fervice which thou ftialt ferve with me yet {qwqw other
years. This was quite a new contrary and a very unjuft
demand \
ibz GENESIS. XXtX.
demand', but Jacob was obliged to comply with it, as Ht
cGuld not think of leaving RacheU or putting away Leah,
28 And Jacob did fo, and fulfilled her week : and at the
end of that week he gave him Rachel his daughter to
wife alfo, on condition that he ferved him f even years longer*,
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his
^o handmaid to be her maid. And he went in alfo unto
Rachel, and he loved aifo Rachel more than Leah, and
ferved with him yet feven other years.
31 And when the Lord faw that Leah [was] compara^
tively hated, and Rachel preferred before her, (by which fhe
was pumfhed for confenting with her father to the fin) that
32 he opened her womb : but Rachel [was] barren* And
Leah conceived, and bare a fon, and fhe called his name
Reuben, that is. See a fon, or. Behold how God hath given
me now a fon in my affli5iion : for fhe faid. Surely the
Lord hath looked upon my afflidion •, now therefore
^2 niy hufband will love me. And fhe conceived again,
and bare a fon •, and faid, Becaufe the Lord hath heard
that I [was] hated, he hath therefore given me this [fon]
alfo : and fhe called his name Simeon, that is, hearings
34 becaufe God heard her prayer. And fhe conceived again^
and bare a fon •, and faid. Now this time will my huf-
band be joined unto me in more fjuere and fervent af-
feElion, becaufe I have born him three fon s : therefore
2f^ was his name called Levi, that is, joined. And fhe
conceived again, and bare a fon : and fhe faid. Now
will 1 praife the Lord openly, in a folemn manner : there-
fore fhe called his name Judah, that is, praife-, and
after this flie left (j^ bearing /<?r a while -, for fhe had other
children afterzvards, as we flmll fee in the next chapter,
REFLECTIONS.
I. TTfHEN we have enjoyed communion with God,
VV ^^^ h'a.vQ been favoured with his bleflings, we
may go on cheerfully. The defign of his favours is to
make us a6tive in his fervice, that we may lift up our feet
in the way to heaven. When he hath enlarged our heart,
we fhouid run in the way of his commandments j v/hen he
hath
GENESIS. XXIX. 163
hath put fplritiiai ftrength into us, that flrength fhould be
employed in making advances heaven-ward. When we,
like Jacob, have devoted ourfelves to God, and have reafon
to hope he hath accepted us, we may ftill, as the pious
eunuch when he was baptifed, Juls viii. 39. ^^ o?i our way re-
joicing i tho' difficulties and dangers are before us, we may
lift up our feet, having God with us; being furrounded
with angels ; having his fpirit for our guide, and his pro-
mifes for our cordial. We are to run with patience the race
that is fet before us -, and thus, by being ftrong in faiths we
are to give glory to God.
2. We have in Jacob a good example of civility and a
readinefs to do good offices, and the happy confequences
of it. Courteous civility even to ftrangers is commendable ;
it gains a man efteem and makes way for him. Had not Ja-
cob fpoken civilly, to thofe ffiepherds, he might not have
known his relations, or not have been fo welcome to them.
Jacob was a plain man, and yet he knew how to treat others
In an obliging manner. On his tongue was the law of kind-
nefs ; this made his abode in that country more agreeable,
and kept up a good underftanding between him and his
brother ffiepherds. Probably he met with refped and
kindnefs from them. So v/e ffiould learn to be courteous,
to ferve one another in love, and to treat even ftrangers
with civility and refpedl •, knowing that it is agreeable to
them, may be very ufeful to us, and is Indeed fulfilling ths
law of Chrift.
3. God fometimes fhows his people their former (ins in
thofe afflictions that he caufes to befall them. Jacob had
craftily obtained his father's bleffing, had beguiled and
fupplanted his brother •, and here he is beguiled and fup-
planted by Laban in a very tender inftance. This proba-
bly brought his own fin to remembrance, and would make
his difappointment more grievous. Such methods God is
pleafed fometimes to take, in order to lead men to repent-
ance ', with what meafure they rnete^ it is meafured to them
again. There is much wifdom in this, as it humbles them,
renews their repentance for (in, which they had perhaps
forgotten, and makes them more cautious and watchful for
the time to come. Jacob could not but own, as Adonibe-
zek
i64 GENESIS. XXIX.
^ek afterwards did, when he loft his thumbs and toes, that
the Lord was righteous in To requiting him. It is well if,
amidft the afflidions of life, we can appeal to God concern-
ing our integrity, and have not former fins brought to our
remembrance, to increafe the trouble and double the grief.
Innocence is a good fupport under difappointment.
4. Let us cherifh the love of God, as that which v^ill
make his fervice moft eafy and delightful to us, v, 20. This
is the great commanding paflion that regulates and governs
the reft •, if this be rightly fixed, and rifes high, apparently
difficult things will be eafy. Jacob regarded not the heat
by day, nor the froft by night, nor fo long fervitude, to
have an agreeable relative •, and fhall we think a few years
too much to employ in the fervice of God, when attended
with fo much prefent pleafure, and the agreeable prof-
ped of being completely happy for ever ? We may reft
allured, that when the fervice is over, and we reft from
our labours, we fhall not be, like Jacob, difappointed, and
forced to begin again, but ftiall be put in the full pofteftion
of that which is the great object of our defire and purfuit.
We do not, we fhall not, ferve God for nought. Let us
cultivate love to him, and delight in him *, that will make
even difficulties pleafant, and teach us to glory in tribula-
tion. If we had fincere love to God, we ftiould never fay,
IVhat a zvearinefs is it to ferve him ? when will the fabhath be
gone^ and his fervice he over P It is in vain for men to pretend
to love God, when their hearts are not with him, and when
they do not take pleafure in his fervice. If we love him,
we ftiali call the fahbath a delight^ the holy of the Lord^ and
honcurable^ and it will be honoured by us \ nor ftiall we
fcruple, to break thro' difficulties to ferve and obey him^
As he is the moft worthy objed of our love and dcfire, if
our afFeclions are fuitably raifed, we ffiall be glad of any me-
thod to ftiow our love and refpedl. In like manner fhould
we cherifti a kind and benevolent affisAion to our fellow-
creatures, as the only foundation for kind and benevolent
words and adions. If devotion and charity freeze at the
heart, the life will be deftitute of the fruits of them. Ear-
lieft longings after the enjoyment of God*s favour and
friendfhip, and the profpedt of likenefs to him in a better
world.
GENESIS. XKX. 165
world, will make us fteady and conftant in his Tervlce. This
will be the beft remedy againft the evils of life ; none of thefe
things will then move us, neither Jhall we count our lives dear
unto us, fo that we may finijh our courfe with joy. If the love
of God be fhed abroad in our hearts, thro' the holy fpirit
given unto us, we fhall efteem the afflidions of the prefent
life light, and not worthy to be compared with the glory
that fhall be revealed in us. ne Lord dire 51 our hearts^
therefore, into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for
of Chrift Jefus ', for eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, nor hath
it entered into the heart of man to conceive, thofe things which
God hath prepared for them that love him.
CHAP. XXX.
Gives an account of the increafe of Jacobus family and fuhftance,
1 AND when Rachel faw that ihe bare Jacob no
jf\^ children, Rachel envied her fifter ; and faid un-
^ to Jacob, Give me children, or elfe I die with grief and
2 vexation. And Jacob's anger was kindled againft Ra-
chel his beloved wife, and he made a very grave and pious
reply, and faid, [Am] I in God's ftead, who hath with-
held from thee the fruit of the womb ? It is his prerogative
to give children. But fo defirous was Rachel to have child^
3 ren of her own, Andj^ impatient, that fhe faid, Behold
my maid Bilhah, go in unto her ; and fhe Ihall bear up-
on my knees, or lap, that I may alfo have children by
her, that may be brought up and nurfed by me as my own
4 And fhe gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife, or as a
concubine : and Jacob, overcome by her conftant importu*
nity, complied, and went in unto her.
5 6 And Bilhah conceived and bare Jacob a fon. And
Rachel faid, God hath judged me, given fentence on my
fide againji Leah^ and hath alfo heard my voice, and
hath given me a fon : therefore called fhe his name Dan,
7 that is, judging. And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived
8 again, and bare Jacob a fecond fon. And Rachel faid.
With great wreftllngs have I wreftled with my fifter.
Vol, L M and
i66 GENESIS. XXX.
^^--v! I have prcraikd ^ / ^md my J^tr fc^:v Jrivfv fw
-», jmi I hg^ye gtUem j»jf w^ ^ !m»;ih An^wji my
j^iT's expiS^nkn: and Ihc oJled his name Xaphtali,
9 WKen Leah uw that {he had Im bearing, fee took
10 Ziijuh her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. And
1 1 Z::pjih Leah's inaid bare Jacob a ion. And Leah laid,
A troop conierh, ! JhiJj h^^ fasrr cbiUrfvJiH: and /he
1 1 calle." "- ^ - - '-je Gad, /ite cs *: Tr^tp^ rr i:!j»Pdm\ And
i^ y^^r - . s maid bare Jacob a lecond ion. And
, Happy am I, fbr the daughters will call me
v\i ... , ind ihe called his Tjan^e Aiher, :hM £.?, A^/T^.
14 And Keiiben, LtjJ:\^ tl^f^ ji^ went in the days of
«toit harv'^ei^, and ibuod mandrakes in the held, pr9^
h^ a^^ if* heaauijMi aisar^ and brought them unto
his modwr IjctSbu Then Rachd fiud to Leah, Give
13 me, I pray thee, of thy fon*s mandiakes. And flic
^ud unto her, [Is it] a imail matter that thou haft taken
ht eSrwi^^ htm/i^ Jh» m ie^ tkr9* tfy jksau, and
noaldft nxm take swaj my ion's mandrakes alio ? And
^ Radid fiod, Tbercfbte he (hall lie with thee to night
i^ tor thy ibn's mandnkes. And Jacob came out ot the
fidd in the cvccii^ and Leah went out to meet him,
and findy Thoa maft come in unto me; for finely 1
have lured thee widi my fiMi*s mandiakes. And he ky
with her that n^t.*
x? And God teurkened unto Leah, t9ber urm^ frm^Sy
1$ andihecoDcdved, andfaore Jacnb diefifthf«L. And
Leahfidd, God hxdi given me my hire, bccanfe I have
^vca my maxkn to my hnfhand : and (he called his
19 nainc Iffichar, that is^ sm ksrty tr ^nqps. And Leah
conceived
X
Tbe rain of Ais coaftestioi batm Jacob's witb far itis
the oneft ^§n ^b^ kad 10 lUin die prawle
Made 10 Alaska*, tkat itr JkJ Jtmll i* s» ik Jimrs rf ib«««
air *mni JtmU U Ug^ It wmU hnc beea be-
«f tmdk a bend haMory as tins to relate focli
if dne lad aot beeo li—riSio^'of gictt ooofideradoo io
OKs; aad ikas ic vas o« a id^ioas accooot^ feess plmis hoot
G L : ;. s I s. XXX. 1^7
20 conceived again, and bare Jacob die fixth (otu And
Ledi iaid, God hath copied me [widi] a good dowry;
now will mj hnfband dweli widi me, becaoie I hare
bom him fix fbns : and fhe called his name Zebafain,
zi that is, dweUtHg. And aftowards (he bare a daog^iCer,
and called ho- name Dinah, that //, /«d^7«9Kf, ^' ^>6f
hadnr/w got tht letter of Rackil.
2 2 And God tawr/i notfi^er LmH vj iTiu7Tq>Oy icir^^j/n re-
membered Rachel, and God hearkened tt> her and open*
23 ed her womb. And ihe concaved, and bare a ion ; and
{aid, God hath taken awaj my rqMtiadi, M^ cf, 49
24, harrcmufs: And fhe called his name Joiqph, Mbi/ if, «<-
^>g^ ; and &id, the Loed ihall add to me 2acdiar btu
25 Aiid it came to pa^ when Radid had bom Jo^qihy
^»i^ the fumd frocH year f fervia wasfM^lUd^ that Jacob
laid onto Lal»n, Send me away, that I may go ODtD mine
26 own place, and to my coantry. Give [mej my whres
and my children, for whom 1 hare ierved tbee, and let
me go: for thoa knoweft my fervice which I haire done
- thee. And Laban kid mAo him, I pray thee, if I
have found favour in thine eyes, [tarry : for] I hare
learned by esqierience that the Load hath bkfid me
2 3 for thy fake. And he £ud. Appoint me diy wages, and
29 1 will give [it.] And he (aid anlo him, Thoa knoweft
how I have fenred thee, and how thy cattie was wtth
30 me. For [it was] litde winch thoa hadfk before I
[came,] and it is ^now] increased onto a mnhitadej
and the Lord hadi bk&d thee fince my coming:
and now when fhall I povklefor mineownhoafoaiib?
31 Andiieiaid,¥niatihalllgivethee? Andjacobfiud,
Thoa ihalt not ^e me any thing, m§ ifrUum fn^es
or filmed hirCy ha mify wlutt G^s fnrsidau fikdl 2S§t
me-, if thoa wilt 60 diis thing for me, 1 will agaiii^
32 feed [and] keep thy flock: I wifl pafe throog^allthy
flock to d^, removing d-om thence all the ^Kckkd and
^xmed catde, and dl the brown cattie among tiie
flieep, and tiie fpotted and ^>edded among die goats ^
dlthiJeJbaUhcrm^aedaadJinUUsSfiimu'^VMlfrim
time aU [of foch] ctimvs or marks iu I hmx dtptrihtiytikat
foidl be bvm ^ tke rMu dams Maiar my carCt ihaObemy
M 2 hire.
i65 GENESIS. XXX. \
33 hire. So fliall my nghteoufnefs anfvver for me hi tima j
to come, my juft dealing fiall be raade evident by the very \
colour of the cattle^ and when it fhall come for my hire |
before thy face : every one that [is] not fpcckled and i
fpotted among the goats, and brown among the fheep, \
34 that ihall be accounted ftolen with me. And Laban i
faid, Behold, I would it might be according to thy i
word •, knoimng that cattle naturally bring forth young ones \
55 like themfelves. And he, that is^ Laban^ removed that day '
the he goats that were ring-ftreaked, had rings of different \
colours round their legs or bodies^ and fpotted, and all \
the die goats that were fpeckled and fpotted, [and] '
every one that had [fome] white in it, and all the brown i
among the fheep, and gave [them] into the hand of his '
36 fens. And he {zt three days' journey betwixt himfelf :
and Jacob : and Jacob fed the reft of Laban's flocks. ^
37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of |
the hafel and chefnut tree •, and pilled white ftreaks '
in them, and made the white appear which [was] in ;
38 the rods. And he fet the rods which he had pilled be-
fore the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs !
when the flocks came to drink, that they fhould con- |
39 ceive when they came to drink. And the flocks con- ;
ceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring- j
40 ftreaked, fpeckled, and fpotted.° And Jacob did fepa- |
rate all the lambs, which were thus brought forth fpot* ;
ted^ and fet the faces of the flocks of Laban^ which were \
white or brown^ toward the ring-flreaked, and all the
brown in the flock of Laban, that by looking on theparty- \
coloured at the time when they coupled^ they might bring forth 1
the like : and he put his own flocks by themfelves, and ;
put them not unto Laban's cattle, lejl by looking on
41 them they Jhould bring forth fingle-coloured. And it came \
to pafs, whenfoever the flronger cattle did conceive, that |
Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the j
gutters, that they might conceive among the rods, and :
42 be ring-ftreaked. But when the cattle were feeble, as in \
the autumn^ (for the cattle bred twice a year) he put [them] j
not \
° Tho* the llrength of imagination in time of conception may '
be very great, yet there was a fpecial providence in this, as a
rccompenre for his fore labour.
\
GENESIS. XXX. 169
not in : fo the feebler were Laban's, and the Wronger
43 Jacob's. And hy thefe three ftratagems^ or contrivancesy
and the hlejfing of God upon him^ the man increafed ex-^
ceedingly, and had much cattle, and maid fervants, and
men fervants, and camels, and alTes,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us guard againft envy. What a wretched figure
f J does Rachel here make I She was grieved and
vexed at the profperity of her fifter, till fhe almoft fretted
herfelf to death. Envy is the rottennefs of the bones^ deftroys
all health and felf-enjoyment •, and often occafions great
difFerences between near relations. It is alfo a fm againft
God, who makes men to differ. Let us check the firft
beginning of fo baleful a paffion. To envy the profperity
of others is foolifh and wicked, and makes us our own
tormentors. Envy not finners, therefore, but be in the fear
of the Lord all the day long.
2. Let us regard God as the author of all the pleafing
and calamitous events of life. Children are an heritage of
the Lord , his hand is to be owned in all our mercies , it is
he alfo who withholds any mercy from us, and he has a right
to do it, for we have forfeited all. He may do what he will
with his own •, on his blefling we conftantly depend for the
moil common enjoyments : Shall we receive good from the hand
of the Lord, andjliall we not receive evil and aiflicflion alfo ?
When he withholds or takes away children, as well as when
he gives them, it becomes us to.fay, The Lord gave, and the
Lord taketh away, blefjed he the name of the Lord,
3. See the fatal and natural confequence of polygamy.
Into how many fnares and vexations was Jacob led by the
fcandalous difputes of his wives, the debates of his father in
law, and his own imprudent condud 1 and what a wretched
life muft that man have, who is perpetually vexed with fuch
competitors ! This is defigned to fhow us what an evil
thiing polygamy is, and the wifdom of that divine inftituti-
on, which enjoins that one man and one woman only fhould
be joined together. And to prevent all thofe jealoufies,
vexations, and quarrels, things of fuch ill report, the apof-
M 3 tie
T70 GENESIS. XXXT.
tie comiTiRnds, i Cor, vli. 2. Let every 7ymn have his own
ivifey and let every woman have her o-ivn hiijband.
4. It is defirable to be fuch In our refpedive ftations, as
that God may blefs others for our fakes. Laban owns he
was blefled, not for his own fake, but for Jacob's. Good
men are a blefling to families where their lot is caft. Such
Ihould all fervants be, and fuch fervants fhould be highly
efteemed and prized : the wicked may fometimes be blefT-
ed, for the fake of their pious relations* In whatever fta-
tions of life providence fixes us, let us behave well in
them, and fill them up with honour and integrity ; that we
may, in this way, be a blefling to all who are related to us,
and have the comfort of being ferviceable to them as well
as others. To obtain the blelfing of God on others, is
the beft fervice we can do them •, and to be inftrumental in
this will be a foundation for the greateft fatisfadion. Jacob,
for whofe fake Laban was blefied, was remarkably blefled
himfelf; he had been jufi: and induftrious in Laban's fer-
vice, and God made his own affairs profperous. It is the
blefling of God alone that maketh rich, and addeth no for-
row with it.
CHAP. XXXI.
Jacob having fpent fever al years in Lab an'' s fervice^ begins to be I
weary ^ and to think of returning home. We have in this '\
chafer his intention to depart^ and the reafon of it. He he^-- \
gins his journey •, Laban pirfues him^ and expojlulates with \
him on his flighty JacoFs wife and admirable reply % and their '
happy agreement and friendly parting: in all of which we fee \
much of the hand atid providence of God,
'I yt N D he, that is, Jacob, heard the words of La- \
j[\_ ban's fons, who began to quarrel zvith and repre-l
fent him as a thief, frying, Jacob hath taken away all
that [was] our father's : and of [that] which [was] our ;
2 father's hath he gotten all this glory, or wealth. And:
Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it ;
[was] not toward him as before -, he could not conceal his\
hatreds '
GENESIS. XXXI. lyi
haired. This jnade Jacobus fttuation very uneafy ; bui he
could not deter?nine to leave it till God commanded him,
3 And the Lord faid unto Jacob, perhaps in a dreain^
Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred;
4 and I will be with thee, and deal zvell zvith thee. And
Jacob fent and called Rachel and Leah to the field un-
5 to his flock. And faid unto them, 1 fee your father's
countenance, that it [is] not toward me as before ^ but
the God of my father, whan he worjhipped., and with
whom my forefathers were in covenant^ hath been with me,
6 to bid me depart. And ye know that with all my power I
have ferved your father, as became a faithful fcrv ant to do,
7 And your father hath deceived me, and dealt very lau
juflly by me^ for he hath changed my wages ten times ; but
8 God fufFered him not to hurt me. If he faid thus. The
fpeckled fhall be thy wages-, then all the cattle bare
fpeckled : and if he faid thus. The ring-ftreaked fhall
9 be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ring-ftreaked. Thus
God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and
given [them] to me; it was no fraud of mine., but the
10 hand of God., what he floowed me in a vifion. And, or For.,
it came to pafs at the time that the cattle conceived,
that 1 lifted up mine eyes, and faw in a dream, and,
behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle [were]
ring-ftreaked, fpeckled, and grifled : whereby I was taught
that the breeding of the cattle in that manner was by tJm
21 providence of God. And the angel of God fpake unto
me in a dream, [faying,] Jacob : And I faid. Here
1 1 [am] I. And he faid, Lift up now thine eyes, and fee,
all the rams which leap upon the cattle [are] ring-
ftreaked, fpeckled, and grifled : for 1 have {^t\\ all that
13 Laban doeth unto thee. I [am] the God of Beth-el, who
appeared unto thee there., where thou anointedil the pillar,
[and] where thou vowedft a vow unto me : now arife,
get thee out from this land, and return unto the land
14 of thy kindred. And Rachel and Leah anfwered and
laid unto him, [Is there] yet any portion or inheritance,
1 5 any hope of benefit., for us in our father's houfe ? Are we
not counted of him ftrangers ? dealt with as fir angers ra-
ther than children ? for he hath fold us to thee for fourteen
M 4 years^
172 GENESIS. XXXL
. . " i
•gears'* fervice, and hath quite devoured alfo our money, ^
, wholly converted that to his own iife^ which in equity was \
due to lis for our portions^ and for our hufhand's fervice,
J 6 For all the riches which God hath taken from our fa- |
ther, that [is] our's, and our children's : now then, j
whatfoever God hath faid unto thee, do, and we confent !
to go with thee. . ■
1 7 Then Jacob rofe up, and fet his fons and his wives \
i8 upon camels -, And he carried away all his cattle, and all j
his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his get- ;
ting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to go to
Ifaac his father in the land of Canaan. This Jacob had a ,
1.9 right to do, for he took only what were his own. And he i
contrived to do it while Laban went to fhear his (heep,
and was therefore at a difiance : and Rachel had ftolen :
20 the images that [were] her father's.^ And Jacob ftole \
away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told :
him not that he fled •, he went without his kyiowledge, con- \
21 fent, or goodwill. So he fled with all that he had; and ;
he rofe up, and pafl^ed over the river Euphrates, and fet |
his face [toward] the mount Gilead, which joins to \
mount Lebanon. |
22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob ;
23 was fled. And he took his brethren with him, colleEled all i
his ferv ants a?id relations, and purfued after him fevendays \
journey, intending to flrip him of every thing, a?7d perhaps i
make him ajlave during his whole life ; and they overtook \
24 him in the mount Gilead. And God came to Laban the !
Syrian in a dream by night, and faid unto him. Take \
heed that thou fpeak not to Jacob either good or bad, j
25 neither threat eniyigs ncr reproaches. Then Laban overtook;
Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and \
Laban and his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.;
26 And Laban faid to Jacob, "What haft thou done, thaf:
thouj
1 The Teraphim or houfehold gods, like the Lares and Penatei.
of the Romans; probably little images in the Ihape of men, to ;
whom thefe idolatrous people prayed, and of whom they aflcedj
counfel about fecret things. Rachel perhaps had Itiil a fuperfti-,
tious regard for thefe; or ibe might fear that her father, by con-
fulting them, would find which way they were gone; or it might
be to convince him of his i<^\\y, that fliC took them away.
GENESIS. XXXI. 173
thou haft ftolen away unawares unto me, and carried
away my daughters, as captives [taken] with the fword ?
He fpeah as if they had been taken away by force ^ whereas
it appears from v. 16, they were willing to go^ it was there-
27 fore ajlanderous acciijation. Wherefore didft thou flee away
fecretly, and ileal away from me, and didft not tell me,
that I might have fent thee away with mirth, and with
28 fongs, with tabret, and with harp ? And haft not fuf-
fered me to kifs my fons and my daughters ? He pretends
loz'e^ but hatred was in his hearty and Jacob knew him well:
29 thou haft now done fooliftily in \{o'\ doing. It is in the
power of my hand to do you hurt, and it was his inten-
tion to doit : but the God of your father fpake unto me
yefternight, faying, Take thou heed that thou fpeak not
30 to Jacob either good or bad. And now, [though] thou
wouldft needs be gone, becaufe thou fore longedft after
thy father's houfe, [yet] wherefore haft thou ftolen my
gods ? Precious gods, that could befiolen !
3 1 And Jacob, protefling his innocence in that and in every
other particular, anfwered his Jlanderous fuggefiions, and
faid to Laban, Becaufe 1 was afraid ; for 1 fuid, Perad-
venture thou wouldft take by force thy daughters from
32 me : therefore Iwentfecretly away : but With whomfoevcr
thou findeft thy gods, let him not live : before our
brethren difcern thou what [is] thine with me, and take
, [it] to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had ftolen
33 them. And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into
Leah's tent, and into the two maid fervants' tents •, but
he found [them] not. Then went he out of Leah's
34 tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. Now Rachel had
taken the images, and put them in the camels' furni-
ture, and fat upon them. And Laban fearched all the
^^ tent, but found [them] not. And ftie faid to her fa-
ther. Let it not difpleafe my lord that I cannot with
decency rife up before thee in my prefentfituation •, for the
cuftom of women [is] upon me. And he fearched, but
found not the images.
36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban-, it
was now his turn to expoflulate, and he does it in a very
wife, fpirited, and admirable manner : and Jacob anfwered
^nd
174 GENESIS. XXXL
and faid to Laban, What [is] my trefpafs ? what [Is]
my fin, that thou haft fo hotly purfued after me ?
37 Whereas thou haft fearched all my ftufF, what haft thou
found of all thy houfehold ftuft*? fet [it] here before
my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge be-
38 twixt us both. This twenty years [have] I [been] with
thee ♦, thy ewes and thy ftie goats have not caft their
youx^g^ partly by reafon of my care and diligence in ordering
them^ hut pri7tcip ally from God's blejfiyig upon thee for my
2^ fake^ and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That
which was torn [of beafts] I brought not unto thee ;
I bare the lofs of it ; of my hand didft thou require it,
40 [whether] ftolen by day, or ftolen by night. [Thus]
I was ; in the day the drought confumed me, and the
froft by night •, and my fleep departed from mine eyes.
41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy houfe ; I ferved
thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and fix years
for thy cattle : and thou haft changed my wages ten
42 times. ^ Except the God of my father, the God of
Abraham, and the fear of Ifaac, t/ie God whom Ifaac
worfhipped with reverence and fear^ had been with me,
furely thou hadft fent me away now empty. But God
hath ktn mine afRidion and the labour of my hands,
and rebuked [thee] yefternight.
43 And Laban anfwered and faid unto Jacob, [Thefe]
daughters [are] my daughters, and [thefe] children
[are] my children, and [thefe] cattle [are] my cattle,
and all that thou feeft [is] mine: furely this was falfe\
hut he endeavoured to put on the appearance of tendernefs^
nnd faid^ What can I do this day unto thefe my daugh-
ters, or unto their children which they have born ^
how Jhould I he able to go about to hurt them^ fi^i^^g they
44 are my own fefh and hlood? Now therefore come thou,
let us make a covenant, I and thou ; and let it be
45 for a witnefs between me and thee. And Jacob confentedy
and
q Dr. Kennicott fuppofes that Jacob lived in Haran forty
years, a/Zs. fourteen years in Laban's houfe, a covenant fervant
for Rachel and Leah; twenty years in Laban's neighbourhood, as
a friend ; and fix years in Laban's houfe, a covenant fervant fur
cattie. Remarks, p. 27 — 33.
GENESIS. XXXI. 175
and took a ftone, or a heap of ft ones ^ and fet it up [for]
46 a pillar, ^j a monument of the covenant. And Jacob faid
unto his brethren, Gather ftones •, and they took ftones,
and made an heap ; and they did eat there upon the
47 heap. And Laban called it Jegar-fahadutha : but
48 Jacob called it Galeed.' And Laban faid. This heap
[is] a witnefs, a memorial^ which may he alleged in after
times as a witnefs between me and thee this day. There-
49 fore was the name of it called Galeed ^ And Mizpah;
that isy a beacon^ or watch-tower^ for he faid, The Lord
watch between me and thee, when we are abfent one
50 from another. Now this was the covenant \ If thou fhalt
afflidl my daughters, or if thou fhalt take [other] wives
befides my daughters, no man [is] with us ; fee, God
5 1 [is] witnefs betwixt me and thee. And Laban faid to
Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold [this] pillar, which
52 I have caft betwixt me and thee \ This heap [be] wit-
nefs, and [this] pillar [be] witnefs, that I will not pafs
over this heap to thee, and that thou fhalt not pafs over
^'^ this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. The God
of Abraham thy father^ and the God of Nahor my father t,
the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob
fware by the fear of his father Ifaac, the God whom Ifaac
54 feared^ and before whom he walked. Then Jacob killed
beafts and offered facrifice upon the mount, and called his
brethren to eat bread : and they did eat bread, and tarried
e^Cj all night in the mount. And early in the morning La-
ban rofe up, and kiffed his fons and his daughters, and
blefTed them, wifljed them all happinefs and profperity : and
Laban departed, and returned unto his place. Thus God
overruled his cruel defigns^ and they parted in peace,
REFLECTIONS.
I. TTTHAT a happy thing is it to have God's blef.
VV ^i"g • '^he earth is the Lord's^ and the fulnefs
thereof'^ the beafts of the for eft are his^ and the cattle on a
thoufand
' Both thefe words, Jegar-fahadutha and Galeed, are of the
fame fignification, that is, the heap of 'witnefs; only Laban fpake
in the Syrian and Jacob in the Hshre^M tongue.
17^ GENESIS. XXXL
thoujand hills \ he is the great God of nature and provi-
dence. He can make rich, notwithllianding the opprei--
fion of the wicked ; when men deal cunningly he is above
them ; he can eafily controul the fpirits of men, and turn
foes into friends ♦, and make all thofe affairs terminate well,
that appear dark and gloomy. Worldly profperity and fuc-
cefs is agreeable when the hand of God is feen in it \ it is
his blefling that maketh rich and happy.
2. Here is a good leffon for fervants and mafters. Ser-
vants may fee what they fhould be, and mafters what they
ihould not be, Jacob was a faithful fervant, and minded his
mafter's bufinefs amidfi; heat and cold. Thus fervants fhould
take as much care of their mafters' goods as if they were
their own. Jacob was content with his homely fare, with
what his mafter allowed him, without plundering from the
€ock : a good example to fervants, to be content with their
provifions, and not take what they know is not defigned
for them. Amidft all his hardifhips, and the unkind and
unjuft treatment he met with from Laban, he was careful
of every thing : fo ought all fervants to be. Mafters may
here fee what they ftiouid not be : they fhould not be hard
and unreafonable i but give good and faithful fervants en-
couragement and fuitable rewards: they ftiould not be
made to fuffer, as Jacob was, for what they cannot help.
They fhould, as Paul obferves, give fervants what isjuft and
equals andfei-vants {hou\d Jliow all good fidelity ,
3. Let us rem.ember God, as the God of our fathers.
"When entering into covenant with God or man, this fhould
be an engagement to us to be faithful, ' It is our fathers'
God by whom we fwear.' His kindnefs, and care, and
fidelity to them, are encouragements to us, and ftiould
excite us to fear him, to walk before him all the days of
our life, and to exalt and honour him by our fidelity.
4. Let us maintain a conftant regard to the omnifcience
of God, to fecure us in our duty to our fellow creatures: fo
both Laban and Jacob' did. We all ftand related to the fame
God, and therefore ftiould love as brethren, ftiow a peace-
ful and candid fpirit, be willing to agree when differences
arife. God is witnefs between us -, he fees and knows
whether we are faithful to our promife, or not -, that we do
not
GENESIS, XXXIL 177
not go beyond or defraud one another. Let us therefore
fet the Lord akvays before us^ and fanElify hm in our hearts^
as Ifaac and Jacob did, and make him our fear \ then fhall
we be quiet from the fear of evil, and be preferved from
wicked and unreafonabie men.
CHAP. XXXII.
Jacob being now on his return to Canaan^ we are here informed
of fame remarkable -providences which he met with in his way,
1 AND Jacob went on his way, and the angels of
±\^ God met him, in fome 'vifible and glorious appear ^
2 ance^ to comfort him againfi the danger by Efau. And when
Jacob faw them, he faid, on account of their number^ order^
andpower^ and their attendance on the divine prefence^ This
[is] God's hoft: and he called the name of that place
Mahanaim, that is^ two hofls or camps-, probably one be-
fore and the other behind him •, but they foon difappearedy
which much difc our aged him,
3 And Jacob fent meffengers before him to Efau his
brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom ;
not as if the whole of Edom was Efau^s^ hut to Seir, a part
of it which he had probably conquered^ according to the blejfing
of his father, (ch, xxvii. 40.) By thy fword ftoalt thou live,
4 And he commanded them, faying. Thus ihail ye fpealc
unto my lord Efau \ he ufes this refpePfid term to mollify
his refentment'y Thy fervant Jacob faith thus, I have
fojourned with Laban, and ftayed there until now, as a
5 fir anger and an exile : And am no-w returning home, but
not to be a burden to my relations, for I have oxen, and
afies, flocks, and men fervants, and women fervants :
and I have fent to tell my lord, that I may find graca
in thy fight,
6 And -the mefTengers returned to Jacob, faying. We
came to thy brother Efau, and alfo he cometh to meet
thee, and four hundred men with him ; probably with
an intention to defiroy thee, and poffefs thy fubjlance. So
7 Jacob thought, for Then Jacob' was greatly afraid and
diftrefTed :
^jS GENESIS. XXXII.
diftrefled : and he divided the people that [was] with
him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into
S two bands ; And faid. If Efau come to the one com-
pany, and fmite it, then the other company which is
left fliall efcape ; thus making the heft preparation he couldy
and then betook himjelf to 'prayer.
9 And Jacob faid, O God of my father Abraham, and
God of my father Ifaac, the Lord which faidft unto me.
Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I
10 will deal well with thee : I am not worthy of, or 1 am
lefs than the leaft of all the mercies, and of all the truth,
which thou haft fhowed unto thy fervant, in making and
performing thy gracious promifes : for with my ftafF I
pafled over this Jordan, a poor exile^ alone^ on foot ^ and
1 1 having nothing •, and now I am become two bands. De-
liver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother,
from the hand of Efau : for I fear him, left he will
come and fmite me, [and] the mother with the children.
'Thus he e>:pre[fed his fear and his danger^ and then pleads the
12 divine promife. And thou faidft, I will furely do .thee
good, and make thy feed as the fand of the fea, w^hich
cannot be numbered for multitude j and ztilt thou not
perform thy word ?
1 3 And he lodged there that fame night; and took of that
which came to his hand, which he had to give, a prefent
for Efau his brother ; as he prayed and trufled in God^fo he
1 4 ufes means'. Two hundred ftie goats, and twenty he goats,
15 two hundred ewes, and twenty rams. Thirty milch ca-
mels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty
ftie afles, and ten foals ; a noble prefent, five hundred and
16 eighty head of cattle! And he delivered [them] into the
hand of his fervants, every drove by themfelves ; and
faid unto his fervants, Pafs over before me, and put a
fpace betwixt drove and drove, to mitigate his difpleafure
by degrees •, every new drove, every new fpeech from the fer-
17 vant, would tend to fof ten his anger. And he commanded
the foremoft, faying. When Efau my brother meeteth
thee, and afketh thee, faying, Whofe [art] thou ? and
whither goeft thou ? and whofe [are] thefe before thee ?
i8 Then thou fhalt fay, [They be] thy fervant Jacob's -, it
[is]
GENESIS. XXXII. 179
[is] a prefent fent unto my lord Efau : ^nd, behold, alfo
19 he [is] behind us. And fo commanded he the fecond
and the third, and all that followed the droves, faying.
On this manner Ihall ye fpeak unto Efau, when ye find
20 him. And fay ye moreover. Behold, thy fervant Ja-
cob [is] behind us. For he faid, I will appeafe him with
the prefent that goeth before me, and afterward I will
2 1 fee his face •, perad venture he will accept of me. So
went the prefent over before him : and himfelf lodged
22 that night in the company. And he rofeup that night,
and took his two wives, and his two women fervants,
and his eleven fons, and Dinah his daughter^ and palfed
23 over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and fcnt
them over the brook, and fent over that he had.
24 And Jacob was left alone ; he flayed behind the company
infome retired place ^ to pray and fp end the night in devotion :
and there wreftled a man with him, probably an angel of
25 God^ until the breaking of the day. And when he faw that
he prevailed not againft him, he touched the hollow of
his thigh-, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of
joint, as he wreftled with him -, the hip bone flipt out of its
fickct. ms was defignedtoflwiv how eajily the divine mefl'enger
26 coidd have conquered hira^ tho" he fufferedhim to prevail. And
he faid. Let me go, for the day breaketh; this he faid to
fhow the prevdency of Jacobus prayers with God^ and alio to
quicken and encourage him to perjift in his confiiSl : And he
faid, I will not let thee go, except thou blefs me zvith
27 prote^ion in this time of danger. And he faid unto him,
28 What [is] thy name? And he faid, Jacob. And he
faid. Thy name ihall be called no more Jacob, but If-
rael, that is, a prince of God: for as a prince haft thou
power Vv'ith God, hy thy earneft prayers, and with men, Efau
andLaban, 2indi h.2i^ ^v^vdAl^d., and fhalt ftill prevail -, of
which this prefent conflicl is ari emblem, to encourage thy faith
29 and hope in God, And Jacob, encouraged by all this good-
nefs, afked [him,] and faid, Tell [me,] I pray thee, thy
name, that I may retain a grateful remembrance of thee^
and make honourable mention of thy name to others : but the
angel waved an anfwer to this. And he faid, Wherefore
[is] it [that] thou doft alk after my name ? to know
that
iSo GENESIS. XXXII.
that will be of no ufe to thee. And as he was departing^
he blefled him there-, granted his rcquefiy and confirmed his
30 former promifes. And Jacob called the name of the place -
Peniel, that is^ the face of God: for I have {ttn God face
to face J not his divine ejfencey but in a more manifefl^ fa-
miliar^ and friendly manner than in common vifions -, and
my life is prefer ved/r^/w Efau^ who threatened it^ by the
divine promife and a/furance of help.
31 And as he pafTed over Penuel the fun rofe upon him,
32 and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children
of Ifrael, to perpetuate the memory of this honour done to
Jacobs eat not [of] the finew which fhrank, which [is]
upon the hollow of the thigh, and fixes the thigh bone in
thefocket^ unto this day : becaufe he touched the hollow
of Jacob's thigh in the finew that (hrank.
REFLECTIONS.
I, T E T us be thankful for the care of angels, who are
JL/ God's hoft. The angels of the Lord encamp a-
about them that fear him. Tho' they are not feen vifibly,
yet good men fee them by faith •, and God gives his angels
charge concerning them^ to keep them in all their ways. No
doubt we receive many kind offices from them, when we
know it not •, and they often preferve us from danger, and
bear us up, left we dafh our foot againft a ftone. We may
cheerfully go out to the duties of life, while under their
care; and fliould daily blefs God, who fends his angels as
minifiring fpirits^ to minifier to the heirs offalvation.
2. Let us learn to make prayer our refuge in every time
of difficulty. Call upon me in the day of trouble^ faith God,
and I will hear and deliver thee^ and thou JJialt glorify me. Ja-
cob's experience confirms the truth and the advantage of
this. Is any 7nan affli^ed? let him pray, Jacob fought the
Lord, and he heard him, and faved him from that which he
feared. This eafes the mind, fupports the fpirit, and fe-
cures deliverance. For God hath never faid to the feed of
Jacobs Seek ye my face in vain,
3. In prayer let us acknowledge our unworthinefs, and
plead
GENESIS, XXXII. i8i
plead the divine favour toward us, v. lo. This temper is
requifite in order to our being accepted. We are not wor-
thy of the leaft blefling, much lefs of the great things we
are feeking after. The beft of us have need daily to make
this acknowledgment ; and this is the frame, above all
others, that prepares us to receive divine mercy. For
God rejifteth the proud^ and giveth grace to the humble : JVith
this man will he dwell, who is humble, and of a contrite
fpirit, and who trembles at his word. We fhould alfo re-
colled his paftgoodnefsj he hath begun already to fhow
us great kindnefs. Let us blefs the Lord, and not forget any
of his benefits. Let us alfo plead his promifes that he will
fiill do us good', ^ov faithful is he who hath promifed, who alfo
will do it. Thefe are at once a diredion and an encourage-
ment to our prayers.
4. We learn holy importunity in prayer to God. The
prophet alludes to this ftory, Hof, xii. 4. Tea, he had power
over the angel, and prevailed : he wept, and made fupplication
unto him : he found him in Beth-el, and there he fpake with us»
It is great condefcenfion in God to reprefent things in this
view. Let us therefore learn to continue inftant in prayer;
to pray without ceafing-, our redeemer himfelf ufed flrong
cries and tears. We fee that the effe£lual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much -, and this is an encouragement
to come boldly to the throne of grace, to feek mercy and grace to
help in every time of need. Let us then, as the prophet
exhorts, ftir up ourfelves to take hold on God. The beft way
to be delivered from wicked and unreafonable men, is to
be earneft with God in prayer; keep not filence, give him no
refi, till he come and blefs us.
5. Prudence and devotion fhould always go together.
Prudent precaution fliould always be added to the prayers
we oiFer in difficulties and emergencies •, to afk fuccefs with-
out this, is m.ockery. We fhould contrive our affairs pru-
dently ♦, be wife as ferpents, and harmlefs as doves. Learn ef-
pecially in time of danger, to walk circumfpe6lly -, remember,
a foft anfwer turneth away wrath, and a prefent maketh room
for him that offereth it. We muft be willing to purchafe
peace at a dear rate, and be fenfible of its value, or we can-
not exped God to give it. In all fuch cafes wifdom ispro*
Vol. I. N fitabk
i82 GENESIS. XXXIII.
h.ble to dire^f, God will help us in the way of prudence
and diligence •, watchfulnefs and prayer fhould always be
joined together. Thus we fhall find, as the next chapter
plainly proves, that when a man's ways pleafe the Lord^ he can
make even his enemies to be at peace with him.
CHAP. XXXIII.
Jacoh was now returning over the hrook to his family and flock ^
to fee what God would do for him in the affair of his brother
Ejau ; and here we have their friendly meetings their bro-
therly converfe^ and their amicable parting,
1 AND Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and,
jf\ behold, Efau came, and with him four hundred
men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and un-
2 to Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put
the handmaids and their children foremoft, and Leah
and her children after, and Rachel and Jofeph hinder-
3 moft, referving the dearefl to thefafeft place. And he paf-
fed over before them, expofing himfelf to hazard for the
fafety of his family \ and bowed himfelf to the ground
feven times, in token ofhisfubjeUion^ until he came near
to his brother, trufting in God that he fliould he delivered
4 from him. And Efau ran to meet him, and, God having
changed his hearty he embraced him, and with the mqft
tender offeBion fell on his neck, and kifTed him : and
they wept ^ Jacob for joy^ and Efau perhaps for fliame
to think of his ill deftgn, and how God had overruled it.
5 And he lifted up his eyes, and faw the women and
the children; and faid. Who [are] thofe with thee?
And he faid, The children which God hath gracioufly
given thy fervant." This was a ferious and pious reply % he
owns God's hand in them^ efteems them a favour^ and that
6 it was a mercy to have fo large a family. Then the hand-
maidens came near, they and their children, and they
7 bowed themfelves. And Leah alfo with her children
came
« Xe NOP HON reprefents Cyru3 as faying, when he was dying,
'Uie children 'which the gods ha've gi'ven me.
GENESIS. XXXIII. 183
came near, and bowed themfelves : and after came
Jofeph near and Rachel, and they bowed themfelves,
8 all paid their refpe5is to Efau. And he faid. What
[meaneft] thou by all this drove which I met ? thefer-
vants had told him before ; but he ajks the quejlion, that he
might civilly refufetheprefent. And he, Jacobs faid, [Thefe
9 are] to find grace in the fight of my lord. And Efau,
unwilling to rob him^ faid, I have enough, my brother •,
keep that thou haft: unto thyfelf •, / neitherneedj nor dejire
10 them. And Jacob faid. Nay, I pray thee, if now I have
found grace in thy fight, if thou art fully reconciled^ then
receive my prefent at my hand : for therefore I have
{^ti\ thy face, as though I had (^^n the face of God, and
thou waft: pleafed with me •, thy meeting me in this peace^^
able manner, is very comfortable and refrejhing ; and an
11 evident token of God^ s favour to me. Take, I pray thee,
my blefiing that is brought to thee \ this gift, which, as
I received it from God, fo I heartily give it with my
blejfing, and pray that God would abundantly blefs it to
thee •, becaufe God hath dealt gracioufly with me, and
becaufe I have enough, and to fpare. And he urged
12 him, and he took [it.] And he, Efau, faid. Let us
take our journey, and let us go to ray habitation, where I
1 3 -may requite thy kindnefs, and I will go before thee. And
he, Jacob, faid unto him, My lord knoweth that the child-
ren [are] tender, and the flocks and herds with young
[are] with me : and if men fhould overdrive them one
14 day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, 1 pray thee,
pafs over before his fervant: and I will lead on foftly,
, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the
children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord,
unto Seir. It is probable he and his family went there topay
1 5 his brother a vifit, tho^ it is not mentioned afterwards. And
Efau faid, Let me now leave with thee fome of the
folk that [are] with me, to be thy guard: And he faid.
What needeth it ? I have train enough-, God's hofi are with
me, and zvillprote5l me : let me find grace in the fight of
16 my lord, let me have thy leave to go alone. So Efau return-
ed that day on his way unto Seir.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an
N 2 houfe,
I $4 GENESIS. XXXIII.
houfe, or tent^ and made booths for his cattle : there- ;
fore the name of the place is called Succoth, that is,
booths.
18 And Jacob came to Shalem a city of Shechem, which .'
[is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-
aram •, that is^ he canie fafe and found •, (fo the Hebrews un^ <
dcrfiand Shalem) his hailing was cttred^ and he was preferved ;
from all evil in his journey from Padan-aram to Shechem^ or ■.
Sychem^ in the land of Canaan \ and he pitched his tent
before the city, for the convenience of his family and flocks,
19 And becaufe it zvas the .land of promife^ and the time of :
pojjejfion was not yet come^ he bought a parcel of afield, a '
little parcel of ground^ where he had fpread his tent, at the
hand of the children or fubjeEls of Hamor, Shechem's \
20 father,* for an hundred pieces of money." And he \
eredted there an altar for a thankfgiving^ and called it -
El-elohe-ifrael, to God^ the God oflfrael^ who had delivered
him from Lab an and Efau^ and given him a new name. It
was here Abraham built hisfirjl altar to God. ]
REFLECTIONS.
I. O E E here an inftance of the benefit of humility and
1^ fubmilTion : thefe two brothers happily met *, but if
Jacob had entertained fome falfe notion of honour, and that
it was beneath him to ftoop, how fad would have been the
confequence ! Peace is fo valuable a blefiing, that a great ,
deal (hould be parted with, or borne, to fecure it. ^e meek
ftiall inherit the earthy and delight themfelves in abundance of peace. ■■
Behold how good a?td how pleafant a thing it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity I Had Jacob been obftinate, he and ■
his wives and children might have been deftroyed, and his '>
cattle ;
* He only of Hamor*s fons is mentioned, becaufe he was more
honourable than the reft of his brethren, {^ch. xxxiv. 19,) and
therefore might probably tranfadl this affair with Jacob, the reft
confenting thereto.
" The original is Lambs : but it fcems to have been money
with the figure of a lamb flamped upon it. The Athenian
money was called an Ox, for the like reafon. So we ufed to call
fome coins an Angel, or a Jacobus, becaufe thofe figures were
upon them.
GENESIS. XXXIII. 185
cattle carried away ; and the whole flory would have been
a melancholy tragedy. Submiflion was the wifeft ftep in
fuch a cafe -, it recovered the loft affedion of his brother,
and fecured his own fafety and peace. I his is a temper
which the gofpel requires, i Peter v, 5. yea^ all of you be
fubje£i one to another •, and he clothed zvith humility -, for God
rcfifieth the proudy and giveth grace to the humble.
I. We fee that the hearts of all men are in God*s hand,
and he can eafily turn them. His fecret influences can
quell the molt turbulent, and foften the moft obdurate
hearts •, can turn the bittereft enemies into kind friends.
It is good to make him our truft, who ruleth the fpirits of
the mighty, and reftrains the fury of the opprefTor.
3. How happy is a good man in the divine favour! Ja-
cob acknowledged that he had all thofe good things, becaufe
God had blefled him -, his comforts had a peculiar relifh and
fweetnefs, as coming from the divine favour. He refufes
the guard of Efau, becaufe God was with him, and his
angels encamped round him. Happy is he that maketh the
Lord his truji^ for he fliall not be afraid in the day of evil.
4. Let minifters and parents learn prudence and tender-
nefs from the example of Jacob before us. The weaknefs
of reafon and age is to be confidered : no heavy tafks in re-
ligious fervices fhould be laid on youth •, they muft be led
as they are able to bear it -, no doubtful difputations fhould
be taught them, but the plain things of the gofpel, which
are milk for babes. Minifters muft look well to their
flocks \ conflder the circumftances and capacities of their
hearers, that they may lead them on with prudence and
caution. A greater than Jacob hath fet us a pattern, even
the Lord Jefus Chrift, who fed his flock like a fJiepherd -, car^
ried the lambs in his arms^ and gently led thofe that were with
young : thus let us feed and treat his lambs.
5. Let us not be afhamed to own our obligations to God,
and the relation in which we ftand to him. When Jacob
was afked, IVho are thefe? he humbly and pioufly replied,
- The children which God hath gracioufly given thy fervant ; he
was not alhamed to own this. Children are an heritage from
the Lord. V/hen we mention them, let it be to the glory
of God, and as his gift. Thus let us acknowledge the
N 3 loving
i86 GENESIS. XXXIV.
loving kindnefs of the Lord. Jacob alfo afcribes his fuc-
cefs to God : God hath dealt gracioujly with me^ given me
more than 1 defired •, thro' his bleffing I have gotten wealth,
and have enough^ and to fpare : and when he came to his
fettlement, he fet up an altar to the God of Ifrael. Thus in
all our ways let us acknowledge him •, and afcribe all our com-
forts and fuccefs to him. Let his worfhip be our daily
bufinefs -, let us never be afhamed of the Lord as our God-,
but render hearty love and grateful obedience to him, who
hath d^alt bountifully with us.
C H A P. XXXIV.
In the former chapter we find Jacob peaceably fettled in the land
of Canaan \ but he was born to more than common trouble ;
and here evil comes upon him out of his own houfe^ the children
of his own bowels prove as thorns in his fide.
1 A ND Dinah the only daughter of Leah, [which] flie
j^f\^ bare unto Jacob, a fine and favourite child^ about
fifteen years of age ^ went out to fee the daughters of the
land, at a time when there was a great feaft in the city of
2 Shechem.'' And when Shechem the fon of Hamor the
Hivite, prince of the country, faw her, he took her, and
Jay with her, and defiled her. V/e do not find that he ujed
any force in the cafe j but fhe being from under her parents^
eye^ in had company and the way of temptation^ was cafily
3 feduced. And his foul clave unto Dinah the daughter of
Jacob, and he loved the damfel, and fpake kindly unto
the damfel, fpake to her hearty perhaps won her affe^ions,
4 And Shechem fpake unto his father Hamor, faying,
5 Get me this damfel to wife. And Jacob heard, no doubt
with great grief and concern^ that he had defiled Dinah
his daughter : now his fons were with his cattle in the
field : and Jacob held his peace until they were come,
6 that he might confult with them what to do. And Hamor
the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune
with him, and make a propofal of marriage between Shechem
7 0nd J)inah-i and other branches of ihi family. And the fons
of
^ JOSEPHUS*
GENESIS. XXXIV. iS;
of Jacob came out of the field when they heard [it:]
and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth,
becaufe he had wrought folly in Ifrael in lying with
Jacob's daughter ; it was a hafe^ foohfli^ and finful deed ;
an infult on Ifrael^ and on the good patriarch \ vv'hich
thing ought not to be done in a family confecrated to God,
8 and which duty, decency, and hofpitality forbade. And Ha-
mor communed with them, faying. The foul of my
fon Shechem longeth for your daughter : I pray you
9 give her him to wife. And make ye marriages with us,
[and] give your daughters unto us, and take our
10 daughters unto you. And ye fhall dwell with us r and
the land fhall be before you •, dwell and trade ye there-
1 1 in, and get you poffeflions therein. And Shechem
feconded the propofal, and faid unto her father and unto
her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, grant
me this requefl, and what ye fhall. fay unto me I will
12 give. Afk me never fo much dowry for her portion, and
gift for reparation of the wrong done her, and as a teflimony
of my refpeSl to you, and kindnefs to her, and I will give
according as ye fhall fay unto me: but give me the
^ damfel to wife.
13 And the fons of Jacob anfwered Shechem and Ha-
mor his father deceitfully, and faid, or feemed to confent\
tho" they never intended to give her in marriage to Shechem,
14 becaufe he had defiled Dinah their filler : And they faid
unto them. We cannot do this thing, to give our fifter
to one that is uncircumcifed -, for that [were] a reproach
unto us : pretending honour and confcience, and a regard to
15 religion, while they were dealing deceitfully: But in this will
we confent unto you : If ye will be as we [be,] that
16 every male of you be circumcifed -, Then will we give
our daughters unto you, and we will take your daugh-
ters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will
17 become one people. But if ye will not hearken unto us,
to be circurncifed -, then will we take our daughter, and
we will be gone. // was exceeding wrong in it f elf to offer
this ftgn of God'' s covenant to the Canaanites \ hut ahomina-
tie to do it with an ill defign, and with a lie in their
18 jnouths^ And their words pieafed Hamor, and She-
N 4 cheni
188 . GENESIS. XXXIV.
ig chem Hamor's fon. And the young man, out of love to
JDinah^ deferred not to do the thing, becaufe he had de-
light in Jacob's daughter : and he [was] more honour-
able than all the houfe of his father ; wns greatly ejleemed
both by his own family and country -, which was the reafon
he prevailed fo much with them in Jo ftrajtge a requejl.
20 And Hamor and Shcchem his fon came unto the
gate of their city, and communed with ihe men of their
21 city, faying, Thefe men [are] peaceable with us; there-
fore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein ; for
the land, behold, [it is] large enough for them, afid a
great deal of it is uncultivated; let us take their daughters
to us for wives, and let us give them our daugaters.
Thus many pretend to fpeak for the puhlick inter efi^ when
22 they aim only at their own private advantage. Only herein
will the men confent unto us for to dwell with us, to be
one people, if every male among us be circumcifed, as
they [are] circumcifed \ only let us comply in this one
23 things and we fhall have great advantage ; for [Shall • not
their cattle and their fubftance and every beaft of their's
[be] our's, by commerce^ marriage^ ^c. only let. us con-_
24 fent to them, and they will dwell with us. And unto
Hamor and unto Shechem his fon hearkened all that
went out of the gate of his city ; all were prevailed upon,
either out of love to their young prince^ or from the hope of
advantage-, and every male was circumcifed, all that
went out of the gate of his city ; which being done with-
out knowledge and faith, was a profanation of God's ordi-
vance^ for which they werejuflly punifhed,
25 And it came to pafs on the third day, when they
were fore and unable to defend themfelves, that two of the
fons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren,
got together a hand of men, probably all the Jervants who
were trained in the houfe \ and they took each man his
fword, and came upon the city boldly, perhaps in the
night, and, breaking open the houfe of Shechem, flew all
26 the males. And they flew Hainor and Shechem his
fon with the edge of the fword, and took Dinah out of
27 Shechem's hcuie, and went out. And The fons of Ja-
fob, Simeon and Leviy with their attendants^ came upon
the
GENESIS. XXXIV. l^
the flain, and fpoiled the city, becaufe they had defiled
their fifter ; one of thejn had done fo^ and the others did not
28 cenfure him for it. They took their fheep, and their oxen,
and their afles, and that which [was] in the city, and
29 that which [was] in the field. And all their wealth, and
all their little ones, and their wives took they captive,
and fpoiled even all that [was] in the houfe, in every
houfe ; chiefly Shechem'^s^ where Dinah was. Tkey might h^rve
taken her without all thefe j hut they regarded the fpil^ and
bafely murdered the men to fecure it,
30 And Jacob faid to Simeon and Levi, Ye have
troubled me, not only difcompofed my mind, but entangled
my affairs^ and expojed me to imminent danger^ to make me
to ftink, or render me odious^ among the inhabitants of
the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites :
and I [being] few in number, they fhall gather them-
felves together againft me, and flay me ; and I fhall be
deflroyed, I and my houfe. To which they ynake this fancy
3 1 anfwer \ And they faid, Should he deal v^ith our filler
as with an harlot ? No \ he ought not. But this was no
good reafon for all their bafenefs and cruelty. Had open war
been declared,^ it would have altered the cafe ♦, hut it was done
by treachery^ under the cloak of religion. It is likely Jacob fent
hack the women and children,^ and the fpoils. We read no
more of Dinah: fome rabbies fay^fhe was afterwards Job's
wife» However^ her ft or y teaches us the following leffons,
R EFLECTIONS.
I. O E E the fatal confequence of ungoverned appetites
Ik^ and pafTions. A vain curiofity betrayed Dinah
into this fnare; and was the fource of all thefe dreadful
calamities. She was an only daughter, thought it was me-
lancholy to flay at home, and therefore went to this feftival
or ball to divert herfelf. Obferve what fad confequences
pride and vanity produce ; fome light or indecent behaviour
perhaps betrayed her. This ftcry, yea, daily experience,
fhows the reafonablenefs of Paul's advice, that young women
Jhould be chaftcy keepers at home. They that will indulge
themfelves in the gaieties of the age, run into the way of
tempt-
190 GENESIS. XXXIV.
temptation, and generally mourn at the laft, repent it all
their days, and prove a grief of heart to all their pious
friends. Shechem's fiery paffions overcame him •, he faw,
and took her. It is good for all, efpecially young men, to
make a covenant with their eyes. Whence come wars and
fightings^ death and damnation? but from unbridled lufts.
We have need to pray, that God would keep us, and to
watch alfo, that we enter not iato temptation.
2. How abominable is it to make religion an inftrument
of deceiving and injuring thofe, who truft to us on account
of it. God is never more diihonoured than when this is
the cafe. Hypocrify in ail cafes is deteftable -, but when it
is made an initrument to deiiroy and ruin others, it dif-
honours God as much as poffible, and brings the moft
aggravated guilt on our own fouls. Thefe young'apoftates
had God in their mouths, and Satan in their hearts-, they
cloaked their bloody deflgn under the pretence of religion :
God's name was blafphemed by them. What muft the
heathen think of the God of Abraham, and of his covenant ?
and how would they curfe the facrament that fealed it !
It is a fad thing indeed when religion is made a cloak of
covetoufnefs, cruelty, and malicioufnefs •, and God will
judge and feverely punifh fuch perfons.
3. The beft education may not be fuccefsful to form the
minds and manners of thofe Vv^ho have enjoyed it. Would
one have expe6led fo deteftable a condud from the fons of
good Jacob ? They were devoted to God, inftrudled and
admonifhed, had good examples, and the prayers of their
father •, yet they proved a fcandal to religion, and a trouble
and grief to their aged parents. Thus children of God's co-
venant, and of God's people, fometimes prove children that
cauje Jliame^ and are a trouble and reproach to them that bore
them and brought them up. But there will be a terrible
reckoning another day for thofe children who bring a difgrace
on religion, and are the caufe of grief and forrow to their
pious relations and friends. One of the Apocryphal writers
fays, Judith ix. 2. that God gave Simeon a fword to take ven*
gcance of the fir angers •, but Jacob thought otherwife, and ex-
prefTed his abhorrence of this fad \\lth his dying breath, ch.
xlix. 5, 6, 7, Simeon and Levi are brethren^ infiruments of
cruelty
GENESIS. XXXV. 191
cruelty are i?i their habitations. 0 my foul^ come not thou into their
fecret \ unto their ajfembly^ mine honour^ he not thou united : curfed
be their anger ^ for it was fierce ; and their wrath^ -for it was
cruel : I will divide them in Jacobs and feat ter them in IfraeL
CHAP. XXXV.
Jacob having been greatly diflreffed on account of the murder of the
Shechemites^ by which his flay in that country was rendered
painful and dangerous^ God fends him to Beth-ely about thirty
miles fouth of Shechem^ where he builds an altar : after which
we have an account of the death of Rachel and Ifaac,
1 /^ N D God faid unto Jacob, Arife, go up to Beth-
±\^ el, and dwell there : and make there an altar unto
God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddeft from
the face of Efau thy brother \ there offer, facrifice^ 'pay
thy vow zvith thankfgiving for thy former deliverance^ and
firengthen thy faith agairfi thy prefent fears \ for^ as thou
wafi delivered from that danger^ fo fJialt thou be from this,
2 Then Jacob faid unto his houfehold, and to all that
[were] with him. Put away the ftrange gods that [are]
among you, (either the l^eraphimftolenfrom Laban^ or fame
images taken out of Shechem) and be clean, and change
your garments, out of reverence for that God before whom
3 you are to appear : And let us arife, and go up to Beth- el ;
and I will make there an altar unto God, who anfwered
me in the day of my diftrefs, and was with me in the
4 way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the
ftrange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their]
earrings, idolatrous jewels and fuperfiitious marks^ which
[were] in their ears \ and Jacob hid them under the
5 oak "^ which [was] by Shechem. And they journeyed:
and the terror of God was upon the cities that [were]
round about them, and they did not purfue after the
fons
^ The oak was often dedicated to falfe gods. This might be
the place where fuch fuperftitions had been practiled ; and here
he made a grave for thofe images which had bcea employed in
this idolatry.
192 GENESIS. XXXV.
fons of Jacob. Had it not been for this miraculous terror
on their minds ^ they might eafily have gathered together^
furfued^ and dejiroyed them all.
6 So Jacob Qcimt fafe to Luz, which [is] in the land of
Canaan, that [is,] Beth-el, he and all the people that
7 [were] with him. And he built there an altar, and
called the place El-beth-el, that is^ the God of Beth-el :
becaufe there God appeared unto him, when he fled
from the face of his brother. Before^ he called it Beth-
el ; nowy upon God's renewing his grace unto him^ he added
the name of God to it.
8 But Deborah, Rebekah's nurfe died •, flie was a pous^
prudent woman ^ and^ after the death of Rebekah^ came to
live in Jacob*s family, where fhe was much wanted^ much
refpe5fedy and at her death greatly lamented ; and fhe was
buried beneath Beth-el under an oak: and the name of
it was called Allon-bachuth, that is^ the oak of weeping,
^he jews fay ^ Rebekah had fent her to fetch Jacob from ha-
han^s houfe^ as fJie had promifed to do^ when it was proper
for him to return.
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came
out of Padan-aram, and bleffed him. This is the feventh
time that God revealed himfelf unto Jacob in a fpecial man-
10 ner. And God faid unto him. Thy name [is] Jacob :
thy name fhall not be called any more Jacob, but Ifrael
fhall be thy name : and he called his name Ifrael. God
confirmed the change of his name^ to affure him^ that as he
prevailed over Efau^ fo now he fhould prevail over thofe of
1 1 whom he was afraid. And God faid unto him, I [am]
God A\m\g\ityy therefore able to fulfill all my promifes: be
fruitful and multiply ; a nation and a company of na-
tions fhall be of thee, (hereby confirming and enlarging the
promife made ch. xvii. 5. xxviii. 3.) and kings fhall come
out of thy loins, tribes for number and power ^ equal to fo
12 many nations •, And the land which I gave Abraham and
Ifaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy feed after thee will
1 3 I give the land. And God, the divine majefty or Shekinahy
went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
14 And Jacob fet up a pillar in the place where he talk-
ed with him, [even] a pillar of ftone •, either the old pillar ^
or
GENESIS. XXXV. 195
QY one like it : and he poured a drink offering thereon,
i§ and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name
of the place where God fpake with him, Beth-el. Thus
he did according to his vow thirty years before,
16 And they journeyed from Beth-el •, and there was but
a little way to come to Ephrath, or Beth-lehem : and Ra-
ly chel travailed, and fhe had hard labour. And it came
to pafs, when llie was in hard labour, that the midwife
faid unto her, to encourage her^ Fear not -, thou (halt have
iS this fon alfo. And it came to pafs, after the child was
horn^ and^is her foul was in departing, (for fhe died) that
fhe called his name Ben-oni, that isy the fon of my for row \
but his father called him Benjamin, that is^ the fon of the
right hand^ for he Jhall always be near and dear to me^ as
19 riiy right hand. And Rachel died, and was buried in the
way near to Ephrath, which [is] Beth-lehem, where
20 Chrifi was horn^ and the infants vjere flain. And Jacob
fet a pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Ra-
chel's grave unto this day ; at the time Mofes wrote this
account^ and long after ^ to-. the days of Samuel^ ( i Sam. x. 2.)
21 And Ifrael journeyed, and fpread his tent beyond the
tower of Edar, or^ the tower of theflock^ where there was
excellent pafiiire,
22 And it came to pafs, when Ifrael dwelt in that land,
that Reuben went and lay w^ith Bilhah his father's con-
cubine : this was an horrid incefl \ he thought to have kept it
fecret^ as a thing he had caufe to be afliamed of: and Ifrael
heard [it] withjiijl i?idignation^ and no doubt reproved him
for ity and abandoned Bilhah : Jacob remembered it when
he came to blefs Reuben^ and he lofi his birthright for it*
Now the fons of Jacob were twelve, which were the heads
2^ of the twelve tribes of Ifrael : The fons of Leah were fix ;
Reuben, Jacob's firftborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and
24 Judah, and Iflachar, and Zebuiun : The fons of Ra-
25 chel were two *, Jofeph, and Benjamin. And the fons
of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, were two\ Dan and
26 Naphtali : And the fons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid,
were two% Gad, and A/her: thefe [are] the fons of
Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram, all
except Benjamin,
27 And
194 G E N E S I S. XXXV.
27 And Jacob came unto Ifaac his father unto Mamre,
unto the city of Arbah, which [is] Hebron, where
Abraham and Ifaac fojourned. No doubt he often vifited
hhn before, but noiv came to dwell near him^ to ajjift and
comfort him in his old age,
28 And the days of Ifaac were an hundred and fourfcore
29 years, five years longer than Abraham, And Ifaac gave
up the ghoft, and died, and was gathered unto his
people, [being] old and full of days : he was one of the
mojt perfe5i characters in holy writ \ he was blamelefs^ ex-
cept in denyiyig his wife \ he was a peaceable, devotional
man \ of a fweet temper, and his heart zvas much in heaven.
And his fons Efau and Jacob buried him in the cave of
Machpelah •, and probably on this occafion their friendfhip
was more perfe^ly eftabltfJied,
REFLECTIONS.
I . £^ O D remembers thofe folemn vows by which we
\jr are devoted to him,, and therefore we fhould not
forget them ; he put Jacob in mind of his. Let us ever
be mindful of our covenant ♦, let no time wear out a fenfe
of our obligation to perform our vows •, let us not defer or
delay to pay them, \vhen it is in our power •, but ever re-
member our folemn engagements, and ad fuitably to them.
// is better not vow, than to vow, and not pay,
2. It is neceflary to prepare for the folemnities of divine
worfhip, by putting away fm from our hearts and houfes.
The flrange gods muft be put away \ every thing that
{lands in competition with God's honour, glory, and wor-
fhip. Wafji ye^ make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings \ -
put them all away •, harbour no fm, no luft •, Wliat have we
to do any more with idcls? If we would appear comforta-
bly before God, let us cleanfe ourfelves from all our pol-
lutions. Mafters of families fhould be folicitous about
this, and not fuffer fin upon thofe who are under their
care ; they fhould put away iniquity from their tabernacles,
elfe their fervice will not be acceptable. If I regard ini-
qtdty in tny heart, the Lord will riot hear me. Be ye feparate,
and
GENESIS. XXXV. 195
and touch not the unclean things and I will receive you^ faith
the Lord*
g. See how eafily God awes the mhids of men: he
brought terror on the minds of the inhabitants of Canaan.
This is a great fecurity and mercy to his people, that he
has accefs to the hearts of all men. Plow cheerfully may
we trufl God in the way of duty •, he can make even our ene^
mies to be at peace with us, and fo influence their minds,
that they ihall do us no harm.
4. There is a refped due to worth, even in the loweft
ftations of life. Deborah died very much lamented; (he
was ^ prudent, religious woman, and well beloved in the
family. Virtue is not lefs virtue for being in a low ftation,
tho' vice in a high one is more aggravated. A regard is
due to old and faithful fervants •, they are fuch bleflings to
a family, that they ought to be refpeded, and, if poflible,
comfortably provided for. God deals fo with his faithful
fervants ; and fo fhould we by our's.
5. How often are we miftaken in our defires ! Give me
children, or Idle, faid Rachel : God granted her requeft, and
fhe died. We often wifh for thofe things which would prove
our 'greateft detriment. When Jacob's other wives left oiF
bearing, her being with child filled her with complacency and
fatisfadion ; and perhaps fhe now looked on them with fome
degree of pride and contempt. God often punifhes irre-
gular pafTions, by granting men their wifhes, and giving
them up to their own hearts* lufls. Let our defires be un*
der the conduft of reafon and religion. Let us cultivate
fubmifTion to the will of God ; which will moderate and
regulate them. Very excellent is the advice of David,
Delight thy f elf alfo in the Lord, and he will give thee the de*
fires of thine heart \ truft alfo in him, and he will bring it to
pafs.
CHAP,
196 GENESIS. XXXVI.
CHAP. XXXVI.
Contains an account of Efau and his pofterity \ to/Iiow the accom-
pli/hment of the promifeSy ch. xxii. 17. xxv. 23. xxvii. 39,
40. and to remind the Ifraelites, that the Edomites were their
brethren,
1 "X^T O W^thefe [are] the generations of Efau, who
2 -L^ [is] Edom. Efau took his wives, other wives
than thofe before mentioned^ ch, xxvi. 214. of the daughters
of Canaan •, Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite,
and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of
3 Zibeon the Hivite-, And Bafhemath IfhrnaePs daugh-
4 ter fifter of Nebajoth. And Adah bare to Efau
5 Eliphaz •, and Bafliemath bare Reuel •, And Aholiba-
mah bare Jeuih, and Jaalam, and Korah : thefe [are]
the fons of Efau, which were born unto him in the land
of Canaan.
6 And Efau took his wives, and his fons, and his daugh-
ters, and all the perfons of his houfe, and his cattle, and
all his beafts, and all his fubftance, which came to him
on the death of his father Ifaac^ and that which he had got
in the land of Canaan ♦, and v/ent into the country, the
7 land of Seir^ from the face of his brother Jacob.* For
their riches were more than that they might dwell to-
gether ; and the land wherein they were ftrangers could
8 not bear them becaufe of their cattle. Thus dwelt
Efau in mount Seir \ Efau [is] Edom.
9 And thefe [are] the generations of Efau the fa-
10 ther of the Edomites in mount Seir : Thefe [are]
the names of Efau*s fons-, Eliphaz the fon of Adah
the wife of Efau, Reuel the fon of Bafhemath the wife
I r of Efau. And the fons of Eliphaz were Teman,
12 Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. And Timna
was concubine to Eliphaz Efau's fon ; and fhe bare
to Eliphaz Amalek : thefe [were] the fons of Adah
13 Efau's v/ife. And thefe [are] the fons of Reuel;
Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah : thefe
14 were the fons of BaOiemath Efau's wife. And thefe
were
GENESIS. XXXVI. 197
were the fons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah
the daughter of Zibeon, Efau's wife : and fhe bare to
Efau Jeufh and Jaalam, and Korah.
15 Thefe [were] dukes of the fons of Efau, princes or
heads of their fever al families or principalities : the fons
of Ellphaz the firft born [fonj of Efau ; duke Teman,
1 6 duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, duke Korah,
duke Gatam, [and] duke Amalek: thefe [are] the
dukes [that came] of Eliphaz in the land of Edom ;
17 thefe [were] the fons of Adah. And thefe [are] the
fons of Reuel Efau's fon j duke Nahath, duke Zerah,
duke Shammah, duke MIzzah: thefe [are] the dukes
, [that came] of Reuel in the land of Edom ; thefe [are]
18 the fons of Bafhemath Efau's wife. And thefe [are]
the fons of Aholibamah Efau's wife ; duke Jeufh, duke
Jaalam, duke Korah : thefe [were] the dukes [that
came] of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Efau's
19 wife. Thefe [are] the fons of Efau, who [is] Edom,
and thefe [are] their dukes.
20 Thefe [are] the fons of Seir the Horite, who inha-
bited the land ; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and
21 Anah, And Difhon, and Ezer, and Diflian : thefe
[are] the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in
22 the land of Edom. And the children of Lotan were
Hori and Heman ; and Lotan's fifter [was] Timna.
23 And the children of Shobal [were] thefe; Alvan, and
24 Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. And thefe
[are] the children of Zibeon •, both Ajah, and Anah :
this [was that] Anah that found the mules" in the
wildernefs, as he fed the afles of Zibeon his father.
25 And the children of Anah [were] thefe ; Difhon, and
26 Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. And thefe [are] ■
the children of Difhon •, Hemdan, and Efhban, and
27 Ithran, and Cheran. The children of Ezer [are]
28 thefe-, Bllhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. The children
29 of Difhan [are] thefe ; Uz, and Aran. Thefe [are]
the dukes [that came] of the Horites •, duke Lotan,
Vol. I. O duke
^ * Or rather, a gigantic race of people called Emims, (Deut,
ii. 10.) whom this Anah found, that is, encountered or fell upon
wnexpededly. Edit.
198 G E N E S I S.. XXXVII. \
30 duke Shobal duke Zlbeon, duke Anah, Duke Difhon, ;
duke Ezer, duke Difhan : thefe [are] the dukes [that
camej of Hori, among then* dukes in the land of Seir. I
"3 I And thefe [are] the kings that reigned in the land of ;
Edom, before there reigned any king over the children :
32 of Ifrael. And Bela the fon of Beor reigned in Edom : j
33 and the name of his city [was] Dinhabah, And Bela j
died, and Jobab the fon of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in j
34 his (lead. And Jobab died, and Hufham of the land '
2^ of Temani reigned in his (lead. And Hufham died, !
and Hadad the fon of Bedad, who fmote Midian in the ■
field of Moab, reigned in his ftcad : and the name of \
26 his city [was] Avith. And Hadad died, and Samlah of j
37 Mafrekah reigned in his ftead. And Samlah died, and |
Saul of Rehoboth [by] the river reigned in his ftead. i
38 And Saul died, and Baal-hanan the fon of Achbor j
2^ reigned in his (lead. And Baal-hanan the fon of Achbor
died, and Hadar reigned in his ftead : and the name of !
his city [was] Pau-, and his wife's name [was] Mehetabel, i
the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. \
40 And thefe [are] the names of the dukes [that came] •
of Efau, according to their families, after their places,
by their names -, duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke j
41 Jetheth, Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pi* ]
42 non, Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: thefe [be] the dukes of E- ;
dom, according to their habitations, in the land of their j
pofleflion : he [is] Efau the father of the Edomites. i
CHAP, xxxvir.
^e are now entering on the hiftory of Jofeph^ who was a mofi
amiable and excellent chara^er. ^ I believe^ fays a good writer^
it is impojjible for any one in the world to read the hiftory of
Jofeph^ as related by the f acred hiftorian, without being pre-
poffeffed in favour of that great man, ^he occurrences of his life
are fo peculiar \ the extraordinary providences that attended
him^ are fo remarkable \ the moderation and equity of his con-
duSf^ are fo apparent thro' the whole of his behaviour , that
no
GENESIS. XXXVII. 199
no terfon of humanity can help jharing with him in his misfor*
tunes^ taking pleafure in his profpenty^ and admiring the life
and character of a perfon who feemed to be the favourite both
of God and man: Moft of the remainder of this hook is taken
up with his hiftory. This chapter gives an account of his bre^
thr en's great hatred to him% their infamous defign to murder
him \ their felling him as a Jlave \ and the behaviour of his
father when he was told of his death,
1 AND Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father
2 jfjL was a flranger, in the land of Canaan. Thefe
[are] the generations of Jacob, the events or occurrences
that bef el him and his family. Jofeph, [being] feventeen
years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren ; and
the lad [was] with the fons of Bilhah, and with the fons
of Zilpah, his father's wives : and Jofeph brought unto
his father their evil report •, the report of their wicked con-
duct and converfation^ or ill ufage of him •, this was one caufi
3 of their hatred of him. Now Ifrael loved Jofeph more
than all his children, becaufe he [was] the fon of his
old age,^ the fon of his dear eft ivife^ whomfhe bore after long
barrennefs : Benjamin indeed was younger^ but being only
four years old^ he had not fo engaged his fathers affe5fion :
and he made him a coat of [many] colours ; a rich
ftriped garment, fuch as diftinguiflied him from the reft of his
brethren-, being a mark of his fathef s favour, and of his
4 giving him the birth right, which Reuben had forfeited. And
when his brethren faw that their father loved him more
than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not
fpeak peaceably unto him •, all their zvords and actions
were ill natured and churlifh,
5 And what confirmed their hatred of him was, that Jofeph
dreamed a dream, which probably he did not underftand at
firft, and he, with an honeft fimplicity, told [it] his bre-
6 thren : and they hated him yet the more. And he faid
unto them. Hear, 1 pray you, this dream which I have
7 dreamed : For, behold, we [were] binding fheaves in the
O 2 field,
y The jewifh writers would render it. He ivas the fon of the
Elders, their difciple. The Chaldee paraphraie lays. He was a
wife and prudent child ; Ihowed marks of piety and ^ goodnef*
betimes; and excelled the reit in wifdom and underftaading.
200 GENESIS. XXXVII.
field, and, lo, my fheaf arofe, and alfo flood upright •,
and, behold, your fheaves ftood roundabout, and made
8 obeifance to my fheaf. And his brethren faid to him,
Shalt thou indeed reign over us ? or fhalt thou indeed
have dominion over us ? And they hated him yet the
more for his dreams, and for his words.
9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his
brethren, and faid, liehold, 1 have dreamed a dream
more -, and, behold, the fun and the moon and the
10 eleven ftars made obeifance to me. And he told [it]
to his father, and to his brethren : and his father, partly
thro'* ignorance^ and -partly in policy^ to abate the hatred of
his brethren^ rebuked him, and faid unto him. What
[is] this dream that thou haft dreamed ? Shall 1 and thy
mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down our-
1 1 felves to thee to the earth ? And his brethren envied
him •, but his father obferved the faying : being thus
doubled^ and Jo very remarkable^ it made a deep impreffion
on his mind^ and he laid it up in his heart,
12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in
13 Shechem, about twenty miles off. And Ifrael faid unto
Jofeph, Do not thy brethren feed [the flock] in She-
chem ? 1 fear left fome evil fhould come to them from thein^
habitants^ becaufe of their murder of the Shechemites\ come,
and I will fend thee unto them, to fee how they are. And
he faid to him, Here [am] I, ready to obey your com^
14 mands. And he faid to him. Go, I pray thee, fee
whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the
flocks ; and bring me word again. So he fent him out
15 of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And
a certain man found him, and, behold, [he was] wander-
ing in the field : and the man afked him, faying. What
16 feekeft thou? And he faid, I feek my brethren: tell
17 me, I pray thee, where they feed [their flocks.] And
the man faid. They are departed hence ; for I heard
them fay. Let us go to Dothan. And Jofeph went after
his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
18 And when they faw him afar off, even before he
came near unto them, they confpired againfl him to
19 flay him. And they faid one to another. Behold, this
dreamer
GENESIS. XXX VIL 20 f
20 dreamer comerh. Come now therefore, and let us fla/
him, and caft him Into Tome pit tk.it is digged to hold rain
water ^ and we will fay, Some evil beaft hath devoured
him : and we fhall fee what will become of his dreams.'
21 And Reuben heard [it,] and lie, to fnake fome amends for
the injury he had done his father^ and to regain his favour^
delivered him out of their hands •, and faid. Let us not
22 kill him. And Reuben faid unto them, Shed no blood,
[but] caft him into this pit that [is] in the wildernefs,
and lay no hand upon him ; that he might rid him out
of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
23 And it came to pafs, when Jofeph was come unto his
brethren, that they ftripped Jofeph out of his coat, [his]
24 coat of [many] colours that [was] on him •, And they
took him, and caft him into a pit-, tho\ as ive are told
(ch, xlii. 21.) he be/ought them with great anguijh of foul
not to do it: and the pit [was] empty, [there was] no
25 water in it. And they fat down to eat bread, tofeafi on
the proz'ijions^ which ^ it is probable^ he had brought them^
while he was ftarving in the pit (fee Amosvu 6.) : and they
lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company
of Iftimeelites came from Gilead with their camels
bearing fplcery and balm and myrrh, going to carry [it]
26 down to Egypt.* And Judah f?id unto his brethren.
What profit [is it] if we flay our brother, or fufer him
27 toperifh in the pit ^ and conceal his blood ? Come, and let
us fell him to the Iftimeelites, and thus make feme ?noney
of him ^ and let not our hand be upon him ; for he [is]
our brother and our flefti. And his brethren were con-
28 tent. Then there pafted by Midianites merchantmen •,
and they, that is, Jofeph's brethren, drew and lifted up
Jofeph out of the pit, and fold Jofeph to the Iftimeelites
for twenty pieces of ftlver, about forty fhillings of our
money: and they brought Jofeph into Egypt.
29 And Reuben, who it feems was abfent at the time this
O 3 ivas
* It is a lamentable and furprifing thing, that there ihould be
fuch wretches in Jacob's family; and fuch treachery, ingratitude,
cruelty, and inhumanity, among this good old patriarch's children !
* A caravan of Iftimeelites and Midianites ufed to travel together,
for fear of robbers or wild beads.
202 GENESIS. XXXVII.
was done^ returned unto the pit, probably to deliver Jofepk
out of it^ and fend him home : and, behold, Jofeph [was]
not in the pit •, and he rent his clothes, and thus expreffed
his grief and concern^ becaufe^ being the eldeft brother^ his fa^
iher ivould expe£l that he pjould have taken care of him •, and
for this negleh would treat him more feverely^ on account of
30 his former crime. And he returned unto his brethren,
and faid. The child [is] not in the land of the living •, and
I, whither fhall I go ? His brethren then told him iheftory^
and he confented to the cheat intended to be put on his father.
3 1 And they took Jofeph's coat, and killed a kid of the
32 goats, and dipped the coat in the blood •, And they
fent the coat of [many] colours, 'probably fir fl by a mef-
fenger^ and then they them f elves came^ and they brought
[it] to their father \ and faid, This have we found :
know now whether it [be] thy fon's coat or no 3 7wt our
33 brother^ Sy but thy fon's ^ thy favourite^ s coat? And he
knew it, and faid, [It is] my fon's coat -, an evil bead
hath devoured him -, Jofeph is without doubt rent in
34 pieces And Jacob rent his clothes, and put fackcloth
upon his loins, and mourned for his fon many days.
35 And all his fons and all his daughters, Dinah, and his
fons'' wives, rofe up to comfort him ; but he refufed to
be comforted •, and he faid. For 1 will go down into the
grave unto my fon mourning. Thus his father ^ v/ept
for him.
0^6 And the Midianites fold him into Egypt unto Poti-
phar, an officer of Pharaoh's, [and] captain, or chief
commandery of the king^s guard, ^hus, as Stephen obferves
(AEts vii. 9,. I Go) God was with him and delivered him out
of all his affii^ions,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T is dangerous for parents to manifeft too great par-
X tiality to any of their children. Jacob's fondnefs
for Jofeph caufed him a great deal of grief, and expofed
his
^ That is, as fome imagine, and I think very probable, thus
Ifaac, Jacob's father, wept for the lols of his grandfon : he was
alive at this time, and no doubt bore his part in the melancholy
affiidlioa of the family.
GENESIS. XXXVII. 203
his fbn to imminent danger. Allowances ought to be made
for merit ; where there is any thing ferious and pious, it
ought to be cherifhed, encouraged, and rewarded : but
this fliould be done prudently •, for the fpirit even of
children lufteth to envy. The difference ihould not be too
remarkable between one and another. This is one inftance
in which Paul's advice may be applied -, Fathers^ provoke not
your chilaren to anger ^ left they he difcuuraged,
2. How hateful and dangerous a paflion is envy ! It had
like to have coft this amiable youth his life, as well as his
liberty, if God had not interpofed. It led his brethren to
a moil: deliberate and malicious defign, that fhocks human
nature. What a diabolical fpirit is this ! and how careful
ihould we be to guard againft it. It deftroys all the bonds
of natural affedlion, and makes perfons deaf to all pity and
humanity. Who^ fays Solomon, is able toftand before envy?
When we fee others more beloved and applauded than our-
felves, more rich and healthful, eafy and comfortable, let
us guard our minds, check and fupprefs the firft rifings of
an envious difpoHtion, which tends to fo much milchief •,
and ever rerhember, that envy is one of thofe wretched
tempers which exclude from the kingdom of heaven.
3. Inordinate paffions are their own punifhment. Ja-
cob's fondnefs for Jofeph was a fource of bitternefs and
anxiety: it was near twenty years after this before he heard
of him, A mind which is not under the influence of ftrong
paffions, is likely to be moft at eafe. The nearer creature'
comforts are to us, the fafter root they take in our hearts',
and the removal of them, or the fear of that removal, is
the more grievous. It is our duty, and will be our wifdom,
to have relatives and other comforts, as tho' we had them
not ; that is, not to be over fond of them, but exped trou-
ble and changes. The greater our love, the greater will
be our grief.
4. See how fecretly the providence of God works to
bring about its own purpofes, and in how myfterious a man-
ner ! This was the beginning of the whole fcheme of tlie
Jewifh CEconomy. Obferve on how many circumftances
it depended; on Reuben's interpofltion — on Judah's pro-
pofal— on the merchants coming by at that time — on
O 4 his
204 GENESIS. XXXVIi.
his being fold into Egypt, to one of Pharaoh's officers !
In all this we fee the finger of God. nere are many devices in
the heart of man^ hut the counfel of the Lord^ that fhall Jiand.
This is a key to many circumftances in the courfe of our
lives, which may feem trifling in themfelves, but on which
great and important events depend.
5. Much of our forrow for our departed friends arifes
from ignorance and miftakes. Jacob's forrow is an emblem
of ours ; he faw the garment torn, and concluded that Jo.
feph was deftroyed. We fee the body, which is but the foul's
clothing, torn and breathlefs, and we conclude the foul is
loil, at leaft we too often adl as if we thought fo •, but the
rent of the body only ferves to let out the foul. Thus, like
Jacob, we often perplex ourfelves with fuppofing things to
be much worfe than they are. If we could but be un-
deceived, if we did but know things right, we fhould adt
quite otherwife. We mourn our departed friends, becaufe
their bodies are torn and left behind, when, like Jofeph, they
are gone to reign, and to be ten thoufand times happier
than they could be with us. To give way to immoderate
forrow for our departed friends, is difhonourable to God
and religion, and ihows our ignorance or forgetfulnefs. So
Paul in I nefs, iv. 13, 14, I would not have you ignorant^
brethren^ concerning them which are afleep^ that ye forrow not
even as others who have no hope. For if w^ believe that Jefus
died^ and rofe again^ evenfo them alfowhofleepin Jefus will God
bring with him, Jacob's over affedionate Ipve to Jofeph,
and his immoderate grief, when he fuppofed him dead,
teach us, as the apoftle advifes, to rejoice as tho* we re-
joiced not^ and to weep as thd" we wept not^ and to ufe all our
comforts fo as^ lot to over- value or abufe them, fince they
are continually paffing away.
CHAP.
' GENESIS. XXXVIII. 205
CHAP. XXXVIII.
In the middle of JofepJfs Jiory we find here related fome par^
ticulars of JudaHs family : his marriage -, the death of his
fans ; his incefi with Tamar \ his confufion at its difcovery %
and the birth of twin fans ^ in whom his family was built up!"
t A ND it came to pafs at that time, that Judah
X^\^ went down from his brethren, having quarrelled
with them about felling Jofeph^ and turned in to a certain
Adullamite, whofe name [was] Hirah •, a Canaanite^ of
2 little religion^ but perhaps as much as himfelf. And Judah
faw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whofe
name [was] Shuah -, and he took her to wife^ contrary
to his father' s confent^ (ch. xxiv. 3. J and went in unto
3 her. And fhe conceived, and bare a fon •, and he called
4 his name Er. And fhe conceived again, and bare a
5 fon •, and fhe called his name Onan. And fhe yet
again conceived, and bare a fon ; and called his name
Shelah : and he was at Chezib, when fhe bare him.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firft born, whofe
name [was] Tamar ; a tall ^ beautiful perfon^ like a palm
7 tree^ as the wordfignifies. And Er, Judah's firfl born,
was wicked in the fight of the Lord •, and the Lord flew
8 him, in fome extraordinary and remarkable manner. And
Judah faid unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife,
and marry her, according to that levitical law^ made after-
wards (Deut. XXV. 5. J and raife up feed to thy brother.;
hget a child which may bear thy brothers name^ and have
his inheritance. In this cafe the eldefi child was looked
upon as the brother's^ all the rejl would be conftdered as
9 his own. And Onan knew that the feed, the firfl born
(Deut. XXV. t.) fhould not be his; and it came to
pafs, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he
fpilled [it] on the ground, left that he fhould give feed
to his brother. This was a wicked a5fion^ fpringing from
an envious and ohflinate temper ; and God was pleafed feverely
10 topunifhit. And the thing which he did difpleafed
the
c As this chapter interrupts the hiflory of Jofeph, the reading
of it may be omitted in families.
2o6 GENESIS. XXXVIIL
the Lord : wherefore he flew him alfo, ftruck him dead
in an awful manner. Let felf -polluting finners hear and fear ^
1 1 and do no more wickedly. Then faid Judah to Tamar
his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's
houfe, till Shelah my fon be grown : for he faid, Left
peradventure he die alfo as his brethren [did.] And
Tamar went and dwelt in her father's houfe.
12 And in procefs of time the daughter of Shuah
Judah's wife died •, and Judah was comforted, and went
up unto his jiheep-fhearers to Timnah, he and his
13 friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was told Tamar,
faying, Behold, thy father in law goeth up to Timnath
14 to fhear his iheep. And ihe put her widow's garments
off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped
herfelf, and fat in an open place, which [is] by the way
to Timnath , for ihe faw that Shelah was grown, and
fhe was not given unto him to wife. Her intention pro-
bably was to catch Shelahy whom fhe expected Judah would
15 bring with him. When Judah faw her, he thought her
[to be] an harlot •, becaufe Ihe had covered her face.
So harlots were ufed to do^ not having then learned to glory
16 in their fhame. And he turned unto her by the way, and
faid, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto theej (for
he knew not that fhe [was] his daughter in law.) And
fhe faid, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayeft
17 come in unto me ? And he faid, 1 will fend [thee] a kid
from the flock. And fhe faid, Wilt thou give [me] a
18 pledge, till thou fend [it ?] And he faid. What pledge
fhall 1 give thee ? And fhe faid, Thy fignet, and thy
bracelets, perhaps a cloak or a girdle of fmall value^ and
thy flaff that [is] in thine hand. And he gave [it] her,
19 and came in unto her, and fhe conceived by him. And
fhe arofe, and went away, and laid by her vail from her,
20 and put on the garments of her widowhood. And Ju-
dah fent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adulla-
mite, to receive [his] pledge from the woman's hand :
21 but he found her not. Then he afked the men of that
place, faying. Where [is] the harlot that [was] openly
by the way fide ? And they faid, There was no harlot
^2 in this [place.] And he returned to Judah, and faid, I
cannot
GENESIS. XXXVIII. 207
cannot find . her •, and alfo the men of the place faid,
23 [that] there was no harlot in this [place.] And Judah
faid. Let her take [it] to her, left we be (hamed : be-
hold, I fent this kid, and thou haft not found her.
24 And it came to pafs about three months after, that it
was told J j.ciah, fiy!ng,Tamar thy daughter in law hath
played the harlot •, and alfo, behold, fhe [is] with child
by whoredom. And Judah faid. Bring her forth //z^/
Jhe mojy he tried^ and if foivid guilty^ whenjbe is delivered^
let her be burned •, let her be put to deaths according to the
25 law of God and of nations. When fhe [was] brought
forth, to be tried for her adultery (for fhe was betrothed to
Shelah and corfJered as his wife,) fhe fent to her father in
law, (ayi'^.g, By the man whofe tliefe [are, am] I with
child : and Ihe faid, Difcern, I pray thee, whofe [are]
26 thefe, the fignet, and bracelets, and ftaiF. And Judah
acknowledged [them,] and faid, She hath been more
righteous than I ; /2?f has more reafon to accufe me, than I
her-, fince I have been the caufe ofherfm \ becaufe that I
gave her not to Shelah my fon. And he knew her again
no more ; he was afhamed of his fin, and did not repeat it ;
and probably was not married after this., as we do not read
of any other children of his,
27 And It came to pafs in the time of her travail, that,
behold, twins [were] in her womb ; and fhe had hard la-
28 hour, as a punifhment for her fin. And it came to pafs,
when fhe travailed, that [the one] put out [his] hand ;
and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a fcarlet
thread, faying. This came out firft, andfhall be confiidered
2^ as the firft born. And It came to pafs, as he drew back
his hand, that, behold, his brother came out : and fhe
'faid. How haft thou broken forth ? [this] breach [be]
upon thee : therefore his name was called Pharez, that
30 is, a breach. And afterward came out his brother, that
had the fcarlet thread upon his hand : and his name
was called Zarah, he arifeth, or cometh forth again. Some
commentators have laboured to find an extraordinary myftery
in the birth of thefe children, as relating to the Jews and
Gentiles \ hut I think without any folid foundation,
REFLECT.
toS GENESIS. XXXVIII.
REFLECTIONS.
I, y^ OD is highly difpleafed with the fins of young
\jr people. Neither Er nor Onan could be much
above iixteen, yet they were feverely puniihed. Youth has
no licenfe to a6l at random. Some fins are called tricks of
youth, and therefore are looked upon as fmall matters^ but
they are not fo in God's efteem. When men are capable of
difcerning good and evil, God expedls that they ad wifely,
and he will punifh them here or hereafter if they do not.
He fometimes takes them away in his wrath, and thus
makes them awful warnings to others. Therefore young
men are exhorted to be fober-minded^ and to flee youthful Itifts^
which war againfi the eftate and reputation, the body ^ndfouL
2. How does lufl befot the mind, and bring fhame on
thofe who indulge it ! What fcandalous flories are thefe !
Such as Jofephus, the Jewifh hiflorian, was afhamed to
mention, as bringing a difgrace on the father of his na-
tion. Lufl robs a man of his bracelet and flafF, his orna-
ment and defence, and leaves men in a weak, infamous flate.
What a wretched figure does this patriarch make, when
going in, as he fuppofed, to an harlot ! It fhould make
us all careful to mortify the deeds of the body, and keep
ourfelves pure.
3. How many dread fhame more than fin; the tongues
of men more than the eyes of God ! Lefl we be Jhamed,
has a greater influence with many, than left; we be damned ;
fo unaccountable is the folly of this world. But how un-
worthy is this of the chara6ter of one of God's people !
Seneca, an heathen, could fay, * Tho' all men jfhould be
* ignorant of the evil I do, and I knew the gods would
' forgive me, yet for the filthinefs there is in fin, I would
* not commit It.' Fear of fhame may preferve from fome
iins, but the fear of God is the only prefervative from all
fin.
4. How ready are we to cenfure our own faults when we
obferve them in others ! Judah pronounced a very fevere
fentence on Tamar. Let us take heed that wherein we
judge
GENESIS. XXXIX. 209
judge others, we do not at the fame time condemn our-
felves: our Lord's advice is, Firft take the beam out of
thine own eyey then thou wilt fee clearly to take the mote out of
thy brother's eye.
CHAP. XXXIX.
We have before us a remarkable injlance of Jofeph' s chafiity and
integrity, and his overcoming one of the moft formidable temp-
tations that ever youth was attacked with \ a deliverance, fays
one of the antients, as aftonifhing and remarkable as that of
the three children in the fiery furnace. We have in this chapter
his advancement, his glorious conquefi ofafirong temptation-^
his falfe accufation and imprifonment -, and God's gracious
appearance for him,
1 AND Jofeph was brought down to Egypt ; and
jfj^ Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the
guard who attended the king' s perfon when he went abroady
and who had the charge of the ftate prifon, an Egyptian,
bought him of the hands of the Ifhmeelites, which had
brought him down thither : into his family Jofeph was
2 taken, and God bleffed hifn. And the Lord was with
Jofeph, and he was a profperous man ; God was with
him, blejftng and profpering all he took in hand: and he was
in the houfe of his mafter the Egyptian, and applied
himfelf patiently and faithfully to that low ejiate wherein
3 God's providence had placed him. And his mafter faw that
the Lord [was] with him, and that the Lord made all
that he did to profper in his hand ; which probably was
4 not the cafe before Jofeph came into his family. And Jofeph
found grace in his fight, was no longer treated by him as a
Jlave, and he ferved him, attended his perfon ; and, after
fome time, he made him overfeer over his houfe, and all
[that] he had he put into his hand, he became fieward of
5 his houfehold, and fuperintcnded all his affairs. And it came
to pafs from the time [that] he had made him overfeer
in his houfe, and over all that he had, that the Lord
bleffed the Egyptian's houfe for Jofeph's fake ; and the
bleffing
2io GENESIS. XXXIX.
blefling of the Lord was upon all that he had in the
houfe, and in the field ; ivery thing fucceeded the better for
6 Jofeph^s having a hand in them. And he left all that he
had ^n Jofeph's hand •, and he knew not aught he hadj
fave the bread which he did eat j every thing was trufted
to JofepKs management, 'J'hiis was the mafter happy in an
excellent fervant^ and thefervant happy in a kind and friendly
mafter. But in this changi?ig ftate^ the moft pleafing fitua-
tion may be rendered uncomfortable^ yea^ dangerous. And
Jofeph was [a] goodly [perfon,] and well favoured, a
beautiful youths about twenty fev en years of age.
7 And when Jofeph was in thefe flourifhing circumfiances^
an iinexpe^ed trouble came upon hlm^ for it came to pafs
after thefe things, that his inafter's wife caft her eyes
upon Jofeph, and became a lewd tempter to him\, and,
forgetting her f ex .i her duty .^ andftation^ having loft all prin^
ciples of virtue and honour^ with an impudent face Aie faid
to him^ Lie with me. Who can hear fuch apropofal without
indigyiationl It is probable fhe had tried fome other methods
to allure him^ befm^e her paffion rofe fo high \ but finding
them difregarded^ f/oe became more urgent, Jofeph was young
and proJperouSy and ftood high in his mafter'' s favour : it
would have been much for his intereft to have obliged his
miftrefs , it was at his peril to refufe\ he had contiiiued im-
. S port unity and convenient feafons •, But ^jy divine affiftance he
overcame this llrong temptation and refufed, and held f aft
his integrity ; never thelefs he ftoowed fo much refpe5l to his
miftrefs as to reafon withy and did not fly in her face and re-
- ' proach her : he fuggefts many arguments why he could not
comply^ and faid unto his mafter's wife, Behold, my
malter wotteth not what [is] with me in the houfe, and
9 he hath committed all that he hath to my hand •, [There
is] none greater in this houfe than I •, neither hath he
kept back any thing from me but thee, becaufe thou
[art] his wife: how then can I do this great wickednefs,
and fm againfl God ? '' who has been fo good to me^ and who
fees
•* He argues i. from gratitude to his mafter; He hath advanced
me io much above my expedation. and fhowed me fo much
generofity, that 1 Ihouid be a moniler of ingratitude if I was to
abufe
GENESIS. XXXIX. 211
fees and knows all my fecret thoughts and Culions •, how can I
do it ? Hefpeaks of it as an impoffihk thing. One would have
thought fo much virtue would have ahafhed and confounded
10 this abandoned feducer^ hut fJie haunted hi?n ftilL Audit
came to pafs, as fhefpake to Jofeph day by day, that he
hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, [or] to be with
her. He refolutely and wifely fJmnned her difcourfe and coyn^ .
foMy^ till^ tired with his refufals^fhe refolved to ficceed or ruin
1 1 Kim, And it came to pafs about this time, that [Jofeph]
went into the houfe to do his bufinefs ; and [there was]
none of the men of the houfe there within, being gone to
12 afeafl^ as Jofephus tells us. And, Jofeph coming in to fettle
his accounts^ fhe caught him by his garment, faying.
Lie with me : and he thought it to no purpofe to reafon any
more, and not being zvilling to ftyuggle with her, left his
garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out, fled
13 as for his life, for his foul. And it came to pafs, when fhe
faw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was
14 fled forth, that her luft turned to rage, fo That fhe called
unto the men of her houfe, made an uproar, and forged
a moft notorious falfloood, and fpake unto them when they
came, faying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto
us to mock us, to abufe us, and fo caufe us to be dif-
graced -, he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried
1 5 with a loud voice : And it came to pafs, when he heard
that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his
16 garment with me, and fled, and got him out. And fhe
laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17 And
abufe him in this matter. Shall I, a ftranger and a flave, put
infamy upon my mafter, and do him irreparable mifchief? 2. He
argues from his fidelity ; My mafter knoweth not what is in the
houfe, he hath committed all to me, except thyfelf, and fhall I
prove a traitor and deceive him ? Shall I be guilty of the bafeft
treachery and unfaithfulnefs, by invading his bed, and breaking
the facred matrimonial tye ? But then comes the chief argument,
3. How (hall I do this great wickednefs, and fm againft God?
His virtue was founded on religion, and this made it ftedfaft
and unmoveable. This interrogation fpeaks the greateft deteftation
of the vice to which he was folicited ; How can 1 fm againlt
my mafter ; againft thee ; againft my aged father and my bre-
thren; againft my own body and foul? iiut above all. How can
1 fin againft God ?
212 GENESIS. XXXIX.
17 And file fpakeunto him according to thefe words, fay-
ing, The Hebrew fervant, which thou haft brought unto
18 us, came in unto me to mock me : And it came to pafs,
as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his gar-
ment with me, and fled out. 'This Jlory was very unlikely
to be true •, her having his garment^ rather JJiowed that /he
folicited him^ than he her •, had he attempted to force her^
ig he might eafily have fecured his garment. And it came to
pafs, when his mafter heard the words of his wife, which
fhe fpake unto him, faying, After this manner did thy
20 fervant to me •, that his wrath was kindled. And Jo-
feph's mafter took him, perhaps without hearing his
apology^ or at leaft to fave appearances and his wife's credit y
and put him into the prifon, or dungeon^ a place where the
king's prifoners [were] bound : and he was there in the
prifon, in irons ^ as the pfalmijl tells us, (Pfalm cv, iS.)
' IVhofe feet they hurt with fetters -, he was laid in iron*
21 But the Lord was with Jofeph, and fhowed him
mercy, and gave him favour in the fight of the keeper
of the prifon, that is, the under keeper , to whom he pro^
22 hably told this Jlory, And the keeper of the prifon, being
convinced of his innocence and integrity , committed to Jo-
feph's hand all the prifoners that [were] in the prifon ;
and whatfoever they did there, he was the doer [of it,]
23 that is, it was done by his dire 51 ion and order. The keeper
of the prifon looked not to any thing [that was] under
his hand ; becaufe the Lord was with him, anci
[that] which he did, the Lord made [it] to profper.
So true, were Jacobus words (eh, xlix. 23, 24 J The archers
have forely grieved him, and Jhot at him, and hated him :
hut his bow abode in Jirength •, and the arms of his hands
were made Jirong by the hands of thj mighty God of Jacob,
RE FLECTIONS.
1. T T O W happy is it for a man to enjoy the blefTmg of
JiX ^^^ upon his affairs ! Jofeph's brethren fold
him, and left him in great diftrefs •, but the Lord was with
him ; and no wonder then that he was a profperous man.
He was feparated from his friends, but not deprived of the
prefence
GENESIS. XXXIX. 213
prefence of God ; tho' removed from his earthly father, his
heavenly father was near him ftill ; the hlejjing of God came
upon the head of him who was feparated from his brethren.
I'hofe who defire profperity, ihould fecure the favour of
God, make him their father and friend, and carry with
them, wherever they go, a fenfe of his prefence and
friendfhip, and do nothing to forfeit that favour. Then,
as the pfalmift fays, they fhall be like a tree planted by the
rivers of water ; their leaf alfo fhall not wither^ and what-
joever they do^ it fhall profper,
2. To have good fervants is to be confidered as an in-
flance of the kind providence of God : and thofe who are
fo, fhould be efteemed and valued. God made Jofeph a
good fervant, and gave him grace, or favour, in the eyes
of his mafter j and he advanced him, took him to be his
own fervant, and chief fteward. It is a great fatisfacflion to
mafters and miftrefles to have thofe about them in whofs
prudence and integrity they can confide. Potiphar trufted
all to Jofeph -, whereas mafters in general are obliged to be
the chief fervants in a family, and the work often falls
heavieft upon them. Good fervants are a blefling to the
family where they dwell, and families may fometimes be
blefTed for their fake. Potiphar was blefTed for Jofeph's
fake, and Laban for Jacob's fake. Such therefore ihould
be highly prized and efteemed, not only as fervants, but as
brethren in the Lord: all kindnefs and encouragement
fhould be fhown them, to reward their fidelity -, and tho'
perhaps they may not be altogether fo fuitable in other
refpeds, if they fear God, and are faithful to their truft,
they fhould be efteemed very highly in love.
3. Plow infamous and w^retched is that mind which is
abandoned to the irregularity of paflion 1 What a wretched
figure does this audacious woman make ! Her name is
buried in oblivion and forgetfulnefs, but her charadler re-
mains as a reproach to the family and nation to which fhe
''belonged. Her headftrong paffeons hurried her along to
break thro' all the bonds of decency, modefty, and fidelity •,
her confcience was feared and unimprefled. When this
unclean fpirit gets pofieflion of human nature, it is hard
to difpofiefs him. How careful therefore ftiould men and
Vol. I. B womea
214 GENESIS. XXXIX. I
women be to guard againft the lead approach to fuch fins, to ]
check all unclean and fenfual thoughts. How careful fhould i
they be to make a covenant with their eyes, and keep a \
rule over their own {pirits, that they may not be, as this I
wretched creature was, like a city without any defence, ]
ading a difagreeable, Ibameful, fcandalous part, and ad- j
ding one degree of horrible wickednefs to another. Let-|
every one learn to poffefs his veflei in fandification and
honour; neither ufing filthinefs, or foolifh talking, or jeft-
ing, which are not convenient. How fuitable is the apof-
tie's advice, keep thyfelf fare •, and how much need have we ,
to pray, Lord^ creaie in us a dean hearty and renew a right ^
fpirit within us, I
4. The fear of God is the mod excellent prefervative I
from fin. The omnifcience and univerfal government of :
God, made Jofeph refift this violent temptation fo boldly, j
He confidered it not oiily as a fm againft his mafter, but ;
againft God. Thus Nehemiah, fpeaking of the wicked- \
nefs of his predecefTors, adds. So did not /, hecaufe of the fear I
of COD. The fear of men, or fhame, or natural decency i
and modefty, may keep men and women from fin in fome ;
circumftances, and on fome occafions ; but real religion is |
an univerfal prefervative from fin •, it gives a divine fan6lion |
to focial duties, and all the ftrideft branches of perfonal :
virtue. It is a good thing then, that the heart he well \
efiahlifhed with grace^ which will keep us from thofe fnares j
which are moft artfully laid. By the fear of the Lord men \
depart from evil\ and hapfy is he that fear eth always,
5. What an amiable and lovely charadler is this of Jo- ;
feph, and how fit a model for young men to imitate. Paul ]
commands Timothy to flee youthful lufts^ and Titus, to ;:
exhort young men to he fober-yninded, Jofeph was ftrlpped •
of his coat, but not of his virtue \ he carried that along \
with him. Satan tried him by fuch a temptation as was :
peculiarly fuitable to thofe whofe blood is warm, and
their conftitution vigorous ; but he refifted him ftedfaft \
in the faith. He looked upon uncleannefs, and efpecially
adultery, as a moft enormous crime •, he did not efteem
It, as too many in thefe days affed: to do, as a light
matter, a trick of youth \ as a thing that by right fhould
not
GENESIS. XXXIX. ^i^
hot have been a fin, as fome have profanely talked ; but he
was ftruck with horror at the thoughts of it, and chofe ra-
ther to expofe himfelf to the hatred and refentment of an
imperious, ludfuj, revengeful woman, than fin againft
his mafter and his God. The example of fome great men,
and the generality of our modern plays, are eminently cal-
culated to corrupt the minds of youth ; the debauchery of
their heroes, and their men of refolution and bravery, have
a wretched influence on young minds. There was every
circumftance in Jofeph's temptation, that could render the
fin p'':ifant and profitable •, but, thro' divine grace, he
overcame it. He is the only hero, who can refill: tempta-
tion. My foHj if Jinners entice thee ^ confent thou not \ and in
order to this, he ftrong in the grace that is in Chrift Jefus ;
repel every temptation with this reply, How can I do this
great wickednefs and fin againft God f
6. If we would avoid fin, we muft keep out of the way
of temptation. Jofeph did fo •, he kept out of the fight and
company of his miftrefs, he would not fit with her, or be
near her. This lovely youth might have argued and reafon-
ed ever fo long, but probably he would have been overcome
if he had not avoided the tempter. Thus mufl: we do, if we
would be fafe. So Solomon advifes. Go not near the door of
her houfe^ the houfe of the fi:range woman, or harlot. Avoid
every occafion of fin •, mind your own proper bufinefs •, for
idlenefs is an inlet to this and every other ^\n. Do not
ftand parleying with temptation, but give it a fiiort and
fharp repulfe ; Get thee behind me^ Satan, He that parleys is
half won. Get out of harm's way. To pray, Lord^ lead
us not into temptation^ and yet to run into it, is an abomina-
ble mockery of God. Watth and pray^ that ye enter not into
temptation,
7. How liable is innocence to be injured by falfeaccufa-
tions ! Jofeph feemed to be jufi:ly condemned, when for
his eminent virtue he was caft into prifon. It is eafy for
men to raife and fpread a fpiteful ftory, to ruin the reputa*
tion and comfort of the perfon injured, as long as he lives.
What devilifii malice mull: it be to charge perfons in any
circumfl:ances, and efpecially perfons of worth and eminence,
with fuch vices as bring a wound, and a difhonour, and
P 2 a re-
2x6 GENESIS. XXXIX. ^
a reproach, which perhaps can never be wiped orF. A
malicious tongue is iet on fire of hell j the wifefl and bell:
of men have- often been injured by it, and have had no re-
medy but an appeal to the heart- fearching God. Thofe who
are mod clear and untainted, may yet be expofed to hard
fpeeches and unjud; reproaches. So Jofeph was-, fo Chrift
himfelf was •, but God will at length bring forth the righ-
teoufnefs of his fervants as the noon day : and thofe who
have reviled and flandered others, fhall feel the moft bitter
remorfe, in this world probably, but certainly in another,
when chara(5lers that have been unjuftly afperfed fhall be
cleared up. Jefjs, who bore the contradidtion of finners
againfc himfelf, fhall then plead the caufe of his injured
fervants ; and to thofe who have been flandered and op-
prefied he fhall give eternal reft.
8. How cheerfully may innocence repofe itfelf on God,
under all the injuries it fulFers ! God diftinguiftied Jofeph
by his favour and bleffing, in the prifon, as well as in
Potiphar's houfe. From his having the favour of the keeper
of the prifon, one would think that Potlphar fuppofed it to
be a fufpicious affair, and therefore he was not fo highly
incenfed againft Jofeph. Perhaps he knew fomething of his
wife's charader ♦, tho' for the fake of his own, as* well as
her's, he ftill kept him in prifon ; but God was with him
there, ^o the upright there arifeth light in darknefs and dun-
geons ; the gates of the prifon could not fhut out God's fa-
vour and bleffnig. He raifed him up friends during his con-
finement, and made his bondage comfortable. So will God
do for all his opprefied fervants. This inftance fhould en-
courage thofe who fuffer wrongfully, to bear it patiently.
l^his^ fays the apoftle Peter, is praife worthy^ if a man for
confcience toward God endnreth griefs fuffering wrongfully. To
conclude with the words of one of the Apocryphal writers:
Jofeph, that righteous man^ was fold \ but wifdom, that is^ the
wife God^ forjcok him not^ but driver ed him from fin \ went
down with him into the pit^ and left him not in bonds ^ till he
brought him the fceptre of the kingdom^ and power againfi
thofe that oppreffed him : as for them that had accufed him^ he
fJoowed them to he liarsy hut gave unto him perpetual glory,
IVifdom X. 13, 14.
chap;
GENESIS. XL. 217
CHAP. XL.
Jofeph's ftory is continuecU whom we left in prifon ; a:id have
here the imprifonment of tzvo of Pharaoh^ s fervants •, their
dreams^ and Jofeph^s interpretation of them \ and the acco:n ■
flijhment of Jofeph*s predi5iions concerning them,
1 y% ND it came to pafs after thefe things, [that] the
±\^ butler, or cup-hearer^ of the king of Egypt and
[his] baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
2 And Pharaoh was wroth againfl: two [of] his gnat
officers, againfl the chief of the butlers, and againil:
the chief of the bakers. JVhat their crime was^ isnot men-
tioned ; forne think a confpiracy to take away the king's life
3 by poifon. And he put them in ward in the houfe of
Potiphar the captain of the guard, into the prifon, the
place where Jofeph [was] bound, or had been bound-, for
he was now at liberty^ and made overfeer of the prifoners,
4 And the captain of the guard charged Jofeph with
them, being told by the under-keepcr of his fidelity and care^
and probably believing his innocence^ thd" he ftillkept him in
prifon •, and he ferved them, that is^ waited and attended
upon them : and they continued a feafon in ward.
5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man
his dream in one night, each man according to the in-
terpretation of his dream •, that is^ a dream which was
Significant of fomething to come^ which did alfo come to pafs.
according to the interpretation given thereof \ (<h. xli. 13 J
the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which
6 [were] bound in the prifon. And Jofeph came in un-
to them in the morning, and looked upon them, and,
behold, they [were] fad -, becaufe they perceived the dreayn
was fent from God to betoken fomething future^ and they un-
7 derftood not the meaning of it. And he aiked Pharaoh's
officers that [were] with him in the ward of his lord's
houfe, faying. Wherefore look ye [fo] fadly to day ?
8 And they faid unto him, We have dreamed a dream,
and [there is] no interpreter of it j there is no magician
or foQthfayer that we can apply to in our pre fent confinement.
And Jofeph faid unto them, [Do] not interpretations
P i of
2iS GEN E S I S. XL.
of dreams [belong] to God ? not to fuch perfons as
thofe ? tell me [them,] I pray you, for I fear and feriie
him^ and doubt not hut he will hear my prayers^ and reveal
this matter to me. Probably he had a (irong impulfe on his
9 mind^ which led him to fay fo. And the chief butler told
his dream to Jofeph, and fald to him, In my dream,
10 beheld, a vine [was] before me-. Ana in the vine
[were] three branches : and it [was] as though it bud-
ded, [and] her bloIToms fhot forth; and the clufters
1 1 thereof brought forth ripe grapes : And Pharaon's cup
[was] in my hand : and I took the grapes, and prefTed
them into Ph.raoh's cup, and I gave the cup into
Pharaoh's hr.nd.
12 And Jofeph faid unto him, This [is] the interpreta-
tion of it : The three branches [are] three days, that is^
13 fignify three days : Yet within three days (hall Pharaoh
lift up thine head, that is, bring thee to trials and at
that tim.e reilore thee unto thy place : and thou (halt
deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former
14 manner when thou waft his butler. But think on me
when it Ihall be well with thee, and fhow kindnefs, 1
pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto
Pharaoh, and bring me out of this houfe : Jofeph, tha*
patient in adverfjy, yet iifes all good means to procure his,
15 liberty : For indeed I was ftolen away out of the land of
the Hebrews : and here alfo have I done nothing that
they fhould put me into the dungeon. This modefl and.
decent requefl, is admired by the critics as one of the finefi
paffages of antiquity, 'The requefi is made in the firongeft
manner, with the tender efl motive, and has every thing in it
that could affe5f a generous, grateful, and com.paffwnate
hreafi •, and as the butler knew the mifery of confinement^
Jofeph therefore hoped he would take pi iy upon him,
16 When the chief baker faw that the interpretation was
good, he faid unto Jofeph, 1 alfo [was] in my dream,
and, behold, [I had] three white bafkets on my head :
17 And in the uppermoft baflcet [there was] of all manner
of bake- meats for Pharaoh -, and the birds did eat them
out of the basket upon my head.
18 And Jofeph anfwered and faid. This [is] the inter-
pretation
GENESIS. XL. 219
pretation thereof : The three baikets [are] or fignify
19 three days : Yet within three days fhall Pharaoh hft
up thy head from off thee, fioall bring thee to trials take
thy office from thee^ and cut off thy head^ and (hall hang
thee on a tree ; and the birds fhall eat thy flefh from off
thee.
20 And it came to pafs the third day, [which was]
Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feaft unto all his
fervants \ and he lifted up the head of the chief butler
and of the chief baker among his fervants ; he reckoned
2 1 with them, brought them to trial before all his officers. And
finding him innocent, he reftored the chief butler unto his
butlerihip again •, and he gave the cup Into Pharaoh's
2 2 hand : But he hanged the chief baker, whom he found
guilty \ as Jofeph had interpreted to them.
23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Jofeph, but
courtier Itke, forgat him, negle5fed him and his dejire : but
God remembered, and at length delivered him,
REFLECTIONS.
I. /^ BSER VE here how gradually the providence of
V^ God wrought for Jofeph*, in bringing thofe men
to prifon, in filling their heads with lignificant dreams, and
fo ordering it, that the butler fhould tell his dream firft.
Had the baker began, the interpretation would have been
fo difmal, that the butler would probably have concealed
his. In thefe circumftances we may fee, and fhould own,
the hand of God, in which are the hearts of all men, and
who can turn them as he pleafes,
2. We may learn humanity to fufferers, from the con-
dud: of Jofeph to thefe prifoners. They were put under
his care, and he treated them with fympathy and kindnefs.
He did not think the crimes, with which they were feverally
charged, to be a fufHcIent ground for ufing them feverely
and roughly \ he miniftered unto them, and compaffionately
enquired about their grief. It is the duty of all to be
pitiful and courteous ; to be kindly affe5fioned one toward ano-
ther, even to thofe who have been guilty of great offences. It
is a part of chrlftian compaffion to enquire into the caufe of
P 4 the
220 GENESIS. XL.
the forrow of others, that we may do kind fervices fo
them ; at lead: fpeak comfortable words to them *, thus are
we to bear one another'* s burdens.
3. Let us humbly refer to God all thofe gifts with which
we are favoured. Do not interpretations belong to God ? Jofeph
was defirous that God might have the glory of this gift of
forefeeing things to come. All things come of him, ordi-
nary as w^ell as extraordinary, and he Jhould have the praife,
1 he reafoning of the apoftle will hold good with regard to
every advantage and accomplifhment •, Who maketh thee to
differ^ and 'what is there that thou haft not received? Wherefore
thenjhouldft thou boaft?
4. Let us be careful not to indulge ourfelves in paflion-
ate complaints of injuries received, v, 15. Jofeph made
no complaint of his miflrefs, any more than of the cruelty
of his brethren •, but only afferted his own innocence, which
was necefiary for his deliverance. It is the glory of a man to
pafs by a tranfgrejfion. When men are obliged to vindicate
themfelves, they think they have a right to fpeak evil of
others, and reprefent thofe who have injured them in the
blacked light. But we fee, in the condud of Jofeph, how
much more agreeable and fitting it is to prove our innocence,
without upbraiding others. Let us learn to forgive and
forget, forbearirig one another^ and forgiving one another^ even
as God for Chrifi^s fake hath forgiven us>
5. We learn fidelity in delivering the moft awful mef-
fages, when a man's welfare is concerned. Jofeph told the
baker plainly his terrible doom, and perhaps inftru6led him
. in the knowledge of the true God, and the nature of reli-
gion, and urged him to improve the little time he had left.
This is a good hint to minifters, to fpeak the Lord's
word faithfully, and deliver their mefTage with ferioufwefs
and fidelity •, efpecially to thofe who are near the grave.
Beca^.'fe they fee them in an opprefled ftate, and for fear of
difobliging their friends, and the like, they are often too
negligent- in this inftance ; but it is a cruel kindnefs, and
they are accefTary to the blood and ruin of their fouls, if
they neglect to give them fair and faithful warning.
6. Learn to avoid ingratitude, which appears fo cdioas .
in the butler, v/ho forgat Jofeph. Jofeph had ferved him
in
GENESIS. XLI. 221
in prifon, fympathlzed with him, brought him good
tidings, and done him many kind offices •, yet he was un-
mindful of his fuiferings, and his kindnefs : when advanced
in Pharaoh's court, and furrounded with all the delicacies
and pomp of it, he forgot his fellow-fufferer. It is probably
in allufion to this, that the prophet, fpeaking of the obr
duracy and infenfibility of the people, fays, Amos vi. 6. They
drink wine in bowls^ and anoint ihemfelves with the chief of
ointments, but they are not grieved for the affli^fion of Jofeph.
Let us abhor this charader, and not think it ftrange if vv^e
fhould meet with fuch treatment. Efpecially let us abhor
ingratitude to God, who hath done fo much for us, and
laid us under fuch ftrong obligations to remember and ferve
him. Let us ever be mindful of his goodnefs ; ftudy, by
holy and obedient lives, to fhow forth his praife, who hath
fent his own fon from heaven, to proclaim liberty to the cap-
tivesy the opening of the prifon to them that are bounds and to
bring our feet into a large place.
CHAP. XLI.
// is the obfervation of an infpired writer, that * many are the,
affii^iions of the righteous, but the Lord deliver eth him out of
them all' This is ilhiflrated in the hijlory of Jofeph, particu-
. larly in this chapter -, where are related Pharaoh* s remarkable
dreams -, Jofeph' s interpretation of them -, his advancement to
a place of great trufi and power, and his prudent manage-
ment of it,
1 A N D it came to pafs at the end of two full years
x\. ^/^^^ ^^^^ butlefs rejidration, that Pharaoh dreamed
and, behold, he flood by the river Nile ; on the rife
of which in the fpring. the fruitfulnefs of the next year de^
2 pended^ there beijig no rain in that country. And, be-
hold, there came up out of the river {t^tn well
favoured kine, and fat flefhed •, and they fed in a
3 meadow. And, behold, {^w^n other kine came up
after them out of the river, ill favoured, and lean
flefhed-, and flood by the [other] kine upon the
brink
222 GENESIS. XLI.
brink of the river, feeding on the nifJies that grew on Us
banks^ and not in meadows as the former did. This alfo
fhows that the river did not then overflow its hanks^ and
4 confequently there mtifi he a famine in the land. And the
ill favoured and lean flei"hed kine did eat up the feven
5 well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And
he flept, and dreamed the fecond time : and, behold,
feven ears of corn came up upon one ftalk, rank and
6 good. And, behold, {QVQn thin ears and blafted with
7 the ead wind fprung up after them. And the (Qven thin
ears devoured the (Qvtn rank and full ears. And Pha-
raoh av/oke, and, behold, [it was] a dream •, a divine^
fupernatural dream^ fent immediately by Godj and in-
8 timated that both the grazing and arable land would then
fail. And it came to pafs in the morning, that his fpirit
was troubled •, and he fent and called for all the magi-
cians of Egypt, and all the wife men, or philofophers^
thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream ; but [there
was] none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. //
is a wonder they did not find fomething to fatisfy his mindy
but God refrained their fpirit s.
9 Then fpake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, faying, I
do remember my faults this day, my ingratitude to Jo-
10 feph and breach of promife : Pharaoh was wroth with his
fervants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's
1 1 houfe, [both] me, and the chief baker : And we dream-
ed a dream in one night, I and he •, we dreamed each
man according to the interpretation of his dream. (See
1 2 ch. xl. 5.) And [there was] there with us a young man,
an Hebrew, fervant to the captain of the guard •, and
we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams ; to
1 3 each man according to his dream he did interpret. And
it came to pafs, as he interpreted to us, fo it was j me
he reftored unto mine office, and him he hanged.
14 Then Pharaoh fent and called Jofeph, and they
brought him haftily out of the dungeon, that isy out of
the prifon houfe ^ a part being put for the whole of it. Here
he had let his hair grow^ and wore the habit of mourning -,
but it was not decent to appear before the king in this man-
ner^ and therefore he iliaved [himfelf,] and changed his
raiment,
GENESIS. XLI. 22^
Z5 raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh
faid unto Jofeph, I have dreamed a dream, and [there
is J none that can interpret it : and I have heard fay of
thee, [that] thou canft underftand a dream to interpret
i6 it. And Jofeph anfwered Pharaoh, faying, [It is] not
in me, / cr.nnol do it ofmyfelf: the interpretation of dreams
belongs to God, who fhall give Pharaoh an anfwer of
peace •, fuch an anfwer as may portend happinefs^ profperity^
and all good to thee^ and may quiet thy troubled mind,
^his he '•joijhed^ and perhaps forefaw. No doubt Jofeph^ s
mind was greatly ir/iprefjed with thefe things : perhaps he
now began to fee the meaning of his own dreams^ and how
providence was gradually working for their accomplifhment,
ly And Pharaoh faid unto Jofeph, In my dream, behold,
18 I ftood upon the bank of the river : And, behold, there
came up out of the river {^yq-w kine, fat flelTied and
19 well favoured: and they fed inameadov/ : And, behold,
{^vtn other kine came up after them, poor and very
ill favoured and lean flefhed, fuch as 1 never faw in
20 all the land of t gypt for badnefs : And the lean and the
2 1 ill favour^^.d kine did eat up the firft (tvtn fat kine : And
when they had eaten them up, it could not be known
that they had eaten them ; but they [were] ftill ill fa-
il 2 voured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I faw
in my dream, and, behold, feven ears came up in one
23 ftalk, full and good: And, behold, (tvtn ears, withered,
thin, [and] bladed with the eaft wind, fprung up after
24 them : And the thin ears devoured the feven good ears :
and I told [this] unto the magicians •, but [there was]
none that could declare [it] to me.
25 And Jofeph faid unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pha-
raoh [is] or\Q in fignification^ that is ^both dreams fignify the
fame thing: God hath fhowed Pharaoh what he [is]
26 about to do. The feven good kine [are] feven years ;
and the {^Ytn good ears [are] {^n^w years : the dream
?7 [is] one. And the feven thin and ill jfavoured kine that
came up after them [are] {^v^n years ; and the {^wtn
empty ears blafled with the eaft wind, fhall be {^wtrx
28 years of famine. This [is] the thing which I have
fpoken unto Pharaoh : What God [is] about to do, he
fhoweth
224 GENESIS. XLI.
29 flioweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come feven years
of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt :
30 And there fhall arife after them feven years of famine ;
and all the plenty ihall be forgotten in the land of
Egypt ; there /hall be no remains of former plenty ; their pre-
fent mi fery fhall make them forget it\ and the famine fhall
3 1 confume the land ; And the plenty fhall not be known
in the land by reafon of that famtne following ; for it
32 [fhall be] very grievous. And for that the dream v;^as
doubled unto Pharaoh twice •, fit is] becaufe the thing
[is] eilablifhed by God, and God will fhortly bring it
to pafs ; it is both certain and near. Upon this Jofeph^ under
the influence of that fpirit by which he had interpreted the
^2 dream^ gives this wife and prudent advice ; Now therefore
let Pharaoh look out a m.an difcreet and wife, and {tt
34 him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do [this,]
and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up
the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the {tvtw plen-
2iS teous years.^ And let them gather all the food of thofe
good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand
of Pharaoh, according to Fharaoks appointment^ and let
2,6 them keep food in the cities. And that food fhall be
for {lore to the land againd' the feven years of famine,
which fhall be in the land of Egypt; that the land
37 perifh not through the famine. And the thing was
good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his
fervants. Having truly interpreted the butler"* s dream, and
his interpretation of this being fo natural and likely, greatly
affected the king^s mind, and the minds of his courtiers,
38 And Pharaoh faid unto his fervants. Can we find
[fuch an one] as this [is,] a man in whom the Spirit of
God [is ?] fuch prudence, as God by his fpirit hath befiowed
2^ on this man in fuch afingidar manner ? And Pharaoh faid
unto Jofeph, Forafmuch as God hath fhowed thee all
X}cii^, given thee this extraordinary gift of forefeeing andfore-
telling
* If it be afxced. Why no more than a fifth part? It may be
replied. That a tenth was the ufiial tax of the king; this year it
might be double the quantity of former years, becaufe of the
great plenty. He might alfo purchafe a fifth part befides the
tax; and all this, in a plentiful year, would be c^ual to a whole
crop in a common feafon.
GENESIS. XLI. 2iS
telling thmgs to come, and of giving fuch prudent advice for
the future, [there is] none fo difcreet and wife as thou
40 [art:] Thou fhalt be over my houfe, and according
unto thy word fliall all my people be ruled : only in
41 the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh
faid unto Jofeph, See, I have fet thee over all the land
42 of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his
hand, and put it upon Jofeph's hand, and arrayed him
in veftures of fine linen, and put a gold chain, an enftvn
43 of honour^ about his neck ; And he made him to ride in
the fecond chariot which he had ; and they cried before
him. Bow the knee : the Hebrew wordfignifies^ the king^s
father or tender father^ kindfaviour of the people-, or perhaps
it was a common phrafe, as ' God fave the king" is with
us : and he made him [ruler] over all the land of Egypt.
44. And Pharaoh faid unto Jofeph, I [am] Pharaoh, and
without thee fhali no man lift up his hand or foot in all
the land of Egypt; that is, as fur e as I am king, fo fure
without thy advice and authority fhall no man do any
45 thing in point of government. And Pharaoh called Jo-
feph's name Zaphnath-paaneah ; mofi commentators fay
it means a revealer of fecrets, hut Jerome fays, it means the
faviour of the country. It is common to this day for eajiern
kings to give names to their favourites^ fignificant of fome
fervice they have done, or fome honour conferred upon thera^
And he gave him to wife Afenath the daughter of
Poti-pherah prieft, or prince of On ; a city afterwards
called Heliopolis, where was a famous temple dedicated to the
fun. And Jofeph went out over [all] the land of Egypt.^
46 And
f See De la Valle's Travels to the Eaft.
s A late infamous writer endeavours to fully the character of
Jofeph, and to prove him ambitious, tyrannical, and oppreffive; and
fays, that Pharaoh divefted himfelf of all regal authority, and
put the whole military force of the kingdom into Jofeph's
hands, and gave him the nomination to all places of power and
trull. But thefe things are evidently falfe, for Pharaoh fays in
nj, 40, In the throne nvill I be greater than thou ; he rode only ia
the fecond chariot. The alTertion, that he had the military forces
under his command, is founded on a marginal reading, <v. 40.
at thy word Ihall .all my people be armed: but in moft other
plsces (fome critics fay in all) it iignifies to ki/s, or pay civil
refpedt.
lie GENESIS. XLL
46 And Jofeph [was] thirty years old when he flood be-
fore Pharaoh king of Egypt, And Jofeph went out
from the prefence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all
47 the land of Egypt. And in the feven plenteous years
48 the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered
up all the food of the feven years, which were in tho,
land of Egypt, the fifth -part (v. 34.) of all manner of
eatable things^ and laid up the food in the cities : the food
of the field, which [was] round about every city, laid he
49 up in the fame. And Jofeph gathered corn as the fand
of the fea, very much, until he left numbering the
meafures ; for [it was] without number.
50 And unto Jofeph were born two fons before the
years of famine came, which Afenath the daughter
of Poti-pherah prieft, or prince of On bare unto him,
5 1 and Jofeph called the name of the firfl born ManafTeh,
that is ^ forgetting: For God, [faid he,] hath made me
forget all my toil, hath ei^pelled all for row ful remembrance
of it by my prefent coynfort and glory ^ and all my father's
houfe, that is, all my fufferings there from my brethren,
52 And the name of the fecond called he Ephraim, that is,
fruitful: For God hath caufed me to be fruitful in the
land of my afHidlion.
^^ And the (Qwtn years of plenteoufnefs, that was in the
£4 land of Egypt, were ended. And the {Qv&n years of
dearth began to come, according as Jofeph had faid :
and the dearth was in all lands ♦, but in all the land
^5 of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of
Egypt was famifhed, or pinched with famine, the people
cried to Pharaoh, as to their king and common father, for
bread : and Pharaoh faid unto all the Egyptians, Go
56 unto Jofeph •, what he faith to you, do. And the fa-
mine was over all the face of the earth : and Jofeph
opened all the florehoufes, and fold unto the Egyp-
tians •, and the famine waxed fore in the land of Egypt.
57 And
refpe£t, as in Pfalm ii. 12. k'^fs the Sou, t^c. And that he was
empowered to nominate whom he pleafed to places of traft, is
equally groundlefs, for he had not power to raife his brethren
when they came, or to fend for his father, without Pharaoh's
command. See ckcf/>, xlv. 19,
GENESIS.. XLL 227
57 And all countries came into Egypt to Jofeph for to buy
[corn^] becaufe that the famine was [fo] fore in alllands.
JSlo doubt this buftnefs was managed with great prudence and
compajfion^ corn was fold at a rea finable price ^ and the peo-
ple were not oppreffed^ tho' the king was enriched.
REFLECTIONS.
X, T T 7 E fee here how eafily God can trouble and (!on-
W fouled the fpirits of men, even of princes. Pha-
raoh's dreams troubled him •, fo did Nebuchadnezzar's and
Belfhazzar's, of which we read in the Book of Daniel. How
cafily can he fcare men with dreams and vifions on their
bed ! As we have reafon to believe that this extraordinary
method of communicating convidions and knowledge is
ceafed, let us not be anxious about thefe things, but keep
clofe to God's written word. I do not fay, that God never
communicates admonitions this way, but we have no reafon
to exped It. In the multitude of dreams^ fays Solomon, Eccles,
V. 7. there are divers vanities \ but fear thou God,
2. See how eaiily God can deliver his people, and turn
their captivity into triumph and joy. This Jofeph little
expedled, after a delay of two full years. Deliverances are
often neareft v/hen leaft expected ^ and, when moil unlikely,
they are moft feafonable and welcome. ' Behold,' fays Bp.
Hall, ' one hour has changed his fetters, into a chain of
' gold-, — his prifon garments, into robes of fine linen; —
* his ftocks, into a chariot, and his gaol, into a palace ; —
' Potiphar's flave, to be his mailer's lord \ — and the nolfe
' of his chains, into the acclamation of the people, Bow
* the knee J" The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of
all their tribulations-^ and thofe who fufFer for well-doing,
and commit the keeping of their fouls to him, Ihall at
length be advanced to all the dignity and glory of heavenly
beings.
3. See the influence of God on the fpirits pf men, in
Jofeph thus interpreting the dreams, and in Pharaoh and
his courtiers falling in with his advice. God inclines men
to do thofe things that anfwer the fchemes and purpofes of
his providence. Let us reverence and adcre him, who or-
ders
228 GENESIS. XLIL
ders all things according to the purpofes of his own wilU iJOho is
v^onderfulin counfel^ and excellent in workings or in contrivances.
4. Let us learn, from fuch interpofitions of providence 33
thefe, to commit our ways to the Lord^ and truft in him for de-
liverance, till the happy time fhall come, when he will make
us forget all our forrows. They were fignificant names which
Jofeph gave his children. It is God who fends us fuch
comforts, as make us forget our forrows, and remember
our troubles no more. The afflidions of his people are
defigned to make them fruitful j and they fhould bear with
patience what he lays on them, and wait all the days of their
appointed time^ till their change comes, God's providence may
be working for us, tho' we cannot perceive it-, and thofe
light affii5iions which are hut for a moment^ may be working out
for us a far more exceeding^ and an eternal weight of glory.
CHAP. XLII.
Jacoh fends his fons into Egypt to buy corn-, their treatment by
. their brother there ^ and return to their father with an account
of it. It may appear flrange that Jacob never heard of his
fon^s advancement J and that Jofeph never fent to his father^
or paid him a vifit when he went thro* the land^ and was
vjithin forty or fifty miles of the place where he lived: but
undoubtedly the hand of providence was in it ♦, and Jofeph^ who
had the gift from God of interpreting dreams^ might fo far un-
derfiand his own^ as to wait till his brethren bowed themfelves
before him •, and if Jacob and his family heard of fuch an ex-
traordinary perfon in Fharaoh^s courts they would not have
known his new name*
1 IV T O W when Jacob favv, or heard front fome of his
jL^ neighbours,, who had been there^ that there was corn
in Egypt, Jacob faid unto his fons, Why do ye look one
upon another ^.fttftill^ and do nothing in this time ofdiftrefs?
2 And he faid, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in
Egypt : get you down thither, and buy for us from
3 thence ; that we may live, and not die. And Jofeph's
ten
GENESIS. XLIL 229
4 ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But
Benjamin, Jofeph's brother, Jacob's deareft child by his
beloved wife Rachel^ Jacob fent not with his brethren ;
for he faid. Left perad venture mifchief befall him :
5 And the Tons of Ifrael came to buy [corn] among thofe
that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 And Jofeph [was] the governor, or full an ^ over the
land, [and] he [it was] that, by his officers^ fold to all
the people of the land : but the names of all the pur chafers
might be brought to him^ efpecially foreigners^ that he might
keep a watchful eye over them: and Jofeph's brethren
came and bowed down themfelves before him [with]
7 their faces to the earth, and thus fulfilled his dream. And
Jofeph faw his brethren, and he knew them, but made
himfelf ftrange unto them, and fpake roughly unto them;
and he faid unto them. Whence come ye ? And they
8 faid. From the land of Canaan to buy food.^ And Jofeph
knew his brethren, but they knew not him, being much
altered in his countenance^ fiature and appareU and fpeaking
9 to them by an interpreter. And Jofeph remembered the
dreams which he dreamed of them, fo as to obferve their
(iccomplifliment^ and faid unto them. Ye [are] fpies; this
he fpeaks only by way of trial and difcovery^ as if he had
faid^ One may well fiifpeii you to be fpies^ if you cannot clear
yourfelves •, to fee the nakednefs of the land ye are come,
10 where the country lies mojl open and expo fed to danger. And
they faid unto him. Nay, my lord, but to buy food
1 1 are thy fervants come. We [are] all one man's fons ;
and it is not likely one man would expofe all his fons at once to
fo dangerous an employment ♦, we [are] true [men,] thy fer-
1 2 vants are no fpies. And he faid unto them. Nay, but to
fee the nakednefs of the land ye are come, to obferve it^s
13 weaknefs^ and where you may befl attack it. And they
Vol. I. (^ faid,
^ He deab thus with them, that he might bring them to make
a full relation of the prefent ftate of their family ; to humble
them the better with the remembrance of their former fins; to
enhance their joy when the truth of things (hould be difcovered ;
and the more fully to manifefl the accomplifiiment of his dreams,
when, being under his power, they (hould in an humble manner
fue to him for their liberty.
230 GENESIS. XLIL
faid, Thy fervants [are] twelve brethren, the Tons of
one man in the land of Canaan ^ and, behold, the
youngeft [is] this day with our father, and one [is]
I 4. not. And Jofeph faid unto them, That [is it] that I
fpake unto you, fi^^ing. Ye [are] fpies ; this confirms
wy frying : it is not likely a father Jhould fend ten fons on
15 fiich an errand^ and keep only one at home. Hereby ye
fhall be proved : By the life of Pharaoh, as fare as
Pharaoh lives ^ ye fhall not go forth hence, except your
16 youngeft brother come hither. Send one of you, and
let him fetch your brother, and ye fhall be kept in
prifon, that your words may be proved, whether [there
be any] truth in you : or elfe by the life of Pharaoh
furely ye [are] fpies. 'They might have brought any young
man^ and called him their brother : and it is 'probable Jofeph
17 fuppofed they had really made away with him. And he put
them all together into ward three days ♦, that their own
1 8 fin might be brought to remembrance. And Jofeph faid
unto them the third day. This do, and live ♦, [for] I fear
19 God, and would not do an inhuman a^lion : If ye [be] true
[men,] let one of your brethren be bound in the houfe
of your prifon : go ye, carry corn for the famine of your
20 houfes : But bring your youngeft brother unto me ; fo
fhall your words be verified, and ye fhall not die. And
they did {o, cr promifed and refolved to do fo.
2 1 And they faid one to another, while in Jofeph^sprefencCy
(little thinking that he under flood the Hebrew language^)
We [are] verily guilty concerning our brother, in that
we faw the anguifh of his foul, when he befought us,
and we would not hear ; therefore is this diftrefs come
upon us. We fold our brother Jofeph for ajlave^ and now
we ourfelves are captives ; we would not hear his cry^ and
now our cry will not be heard : this brought their fin to their
22 remembrance. And Reuben anfwered them, faying.
Spake I not unto you, faying, Do not fin againft the
child ; and ye would not hear ? (this fljows thai they fold
him unknown to Reuben:) therefore, behold, alfo his blood
23 is required -, we fhall now be punifJied for his death. And
they knew not that Jofeph underftood [them-,] for he
fpake unto them by an interpreter, The interpreter might
now
GENESIS. XLII. 251
now he withdrawn^ or atlending only to one of them, while
24 Jofeph heard the difcourfe of the reft. And he turned him-
felf about from them, and wept; and returned to them
again, and communed with them, and took from them
Simeon, and bound him before their eyes ; who by this
fecms to have had the greateft hand in Jofeph'' s trouble ; ^r,
being by nature bold and fierce, Jofeph thought he might be
the moft likely to hinder Benjamin from coming,
25 Then Jofeph commanded to fill their facks with
corn, and to reftore every man's money into his fack,
and to give them provifion for the way : and thus did
26 he unto them. And they laded their afles with the
27 corn, and departed thence. And as one of them opened
his fack to give his afs provender in the inn, he efpied
his money; for, behold, it [was] in his fack's mouth,
28 And he faid unto his/brethren. My money is reftored ;
and, lo, [it is] even in my fack : and their heart failed
[them,] and they were afraid; they thought it could not be
defigned as a kindnefs, but mufl be intended as a foundation
for a quarrel ; however they acknowledge the hand andjuftice
of God in it, faying one to another. What [is] this
[that] God hath done unto us .? Is it not a jufi punifli*
men t for onr fin againfl our brother?
29 And they came unto Jacob their father unto the
land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them ;
30 faying. The man, [who is] the lord or governor of the
land, fpake roughly to us, and took us for fpies of the
g I country. And we faid unto him. We [are] true [m^en ;]
32 we are no fpies : V^e [be] twelve brethren, fons of our
father; one [is] not, and the youngeft [is] this day with
33 our father in the land of Canaan. And the man, the
lord of the country, faid unto us, Hereby fhall I know
that ye [are] true [men;] leave one of your brethren
[here] with me, and take [food for] the famine of your
^4 houfeholds, and be gone: And bring your youngeft
brother unto me : then fhall I know that ye [are] no
fpies, [but] that ye [are] true [men : fo] will I de-
liver you your brother, and ye fhall traffick in the
land.
55 And it came to pafs as they emptied their facks, that,
0^2 behold.
2^2 GENESIS. XLII. i
behold, every man's bundle of money [was] in his '
fack: and when [both] they and their father faw the ]
bundles of money, they were afraid •, their fear returned \
zvith more violence^ having more time to think of the matter ; ]
and their wife^ experienced father fuggefling many things to \
them^ which might deeply affeul both himfelf and them : he I
probably imagined they had behaved themfelves ill and brought \
36 the money away craftily. And Jacob their father /^f;;W ;
to think they only were in faulty and faid unto them. Me ,j
have ye bereaved [of my children:'] Jofeph [is] not, J
and Simeon [is] not, and ye will' take Benjamin \
[away:] all thefe things are againft me-, this renewed \
ftroke upon my former forrows is very grievous^ and greatly !
37 affiles me. And Reuben fpake unto his father, faying, |
Slay my tv/o fons, or two of my fons^ (for he had 'fow\ [
ch, xlvi. 9.) if I bring him not to thee: deliver him
into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. This \
was a rafh andfoolifh propofal -, but it was only intended to i
exprefs his full belief that the man would releafe Simeon^ and ;
to perfuade him to kt Benjamin go^ which for the prefent he \
38 refufes. And he faid. My fon ihall not go down with \
you ; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone of j
Rachel's children : if mifchief befall him by the way in j
the which ye go, then fhall ye bring down my gray ;
hairs with forrow to the grave.
REFLECTIONS. 1
I. ^ I A H E fear of God, wherever it prevails, will pro-
J[ mote a fenfe of humanity, v. 18. Jofeph duril '\
do no wrong — no, nor deal unkindly with thofe who had \
injured him, becaufe he feared God — the almighty, all- i
knowing, and merciful God. Tho' Jofeph was a great
man, he was fenfible there was one infinitely greater than ,
he, to whom he was accountable, and whom he ought to
reverence. This is the beft principle for focial duties to be \
difcharged by ; reverence for God will make us deal honeft- \
\y and tenderly \ it will guard us againft all rigour and i
feverity.
* Of my children, is not in the original, and fpoils the beauty of ,
the fentence. The expreffion is elliptical; Me ha-ve ye Bereaved; \
then perhaps followed a figh or groan.
GENESIS. XLII. 233
feverlty. It was a ftrange and abfurd fpeech of a great
man, that he was ' the friend of God, but the enemy of
tnanklnd.' The bcft way to incline us /o dojujily^ and love
mercy is, to ixalk humbly with Gcd^ and be in his fear all the
day long,
2. See the force of confcience : It brought to the mind of
Jofeph's brethren, thofe crlm.es that were committed twenty
years before •, their confcience immediately ftruck upon this •,
they remembered their faults that day, Confcience brings
old fms to a new reckoning •, tho' it feems to be aileep, it
records faithfully, and will be a fearful accufer another day.
Let us guard againft fin, for it may be very bitter many
m^onths, yea m.any years, after it is committed and forgotten.
Reuben had this fatlsfadllon, that he did not confent to this
wicked adl ; it will be comfortable amidft the calamities we
may fuffer with others to think we had no hand in the guilt.
Herein then, let us exercife ourfelves^ to maintain a cotifcience
"void of offence toward God and man.
3. See the ufefulnefs of afflidion In bringing our fins to
remembrance. Thefe men perhaps never thought much of
Jofeph before, nor were much concerned about what became
of him ; but nov/ they think of his cafe, with deep forrow
and repentance. God will write bitter things againft us, to
bring our (in to remembrance, and humble us for it. Af-
flidllons, in this view, are great mercies, and it is God's
common method of dealing with men : fee Job xxxvi.
8 — 10. And if they be bound in fetters^ and be holden in cords
ofaffli^ion\ then he flwiveth them their work., and their tranf-
greffionsy that they have exceeded. He openeth alfo their ear to
difcipline^ and cotmnandeth that they return from iniquity. Let
us, therefore, patiently bear God's rebukes, and confider
wherefore he contendeth with us •, and refolve, that wherein
we have done iniquity, we will do fo no more.
4. How ready are we to draw rafh conclufions, as Jacob
did, v/ho faid, All thefe things are againft me., when all were for
him, and working together for his good. We are ready to
conclude, when we lofe our wealth or fame, our health or
friends, all this is againft us •, but God intends it for our
good. To judge by paflion, or affection, is the way to
judge wrong : Jacob's grief darkened his mind, and over-
Q^ ^ whelmed
234 GENESIS. XLIII.
whelmed his faith. We are in great danger of forming a
wrong judgment of the divine difpenfations, efpecially of
thofe which are a fource of grief and forrovv: Jacob was
happily difappointed. Let us learn to judge yiothing before the
time^ but patiently wait till the myftery of providence is
opened ; and then we fhall fee the truth o^ Paul's obferva-
tion, that all things work together for good to them that love
Gody and are the called according to his furpofe.
CHAP. XLIII.
Jacobs fins are forced to go afecond tine into Egypt •, Benjamin
goes with them -, their converfalion with Jcfepi's jieward ;
and the kind entertainment they received from their brother,
1 l\^^ ^^^ famine [was] fore in the land ; a ftill
2 ji\ greater fcarcity prevailed. And it carne to pafs,
when they had eaten up the corn which they had
brought out of Egypt, their father faid unto them,
Go again, buy us a little food, jufi enough for the pre-
3 fent^ hoping next year to have a plentiful crop, hm Ju-
dah, who probably had more inter eft with his father than
Reuben or Levi^ fpake unto him, faying, The. man did
folemnly proteft unto us, faying. Ye (hall not fee my
4 face, except your brother [be] \a ith you. U thou wilt
fend our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee
. 5 food-. But if thou wilt not fend [him,] we will not
go down, we cannot go ^ without breach of our promfe^ nor
without danger : for the man faid unto us, Ye ihall not
6 fee my face, except your brother [be] with you. And
Ifrael faid, wherefore dealt ye [foj ill with me, [as]
7 to lell the man whether ye had yet a brother ? And they
faid, The man afked us ftraitly of our ftate and of our
kindredj faying, [Is] your father yet alive ? have ye
[another] brother ? and we told him according to the
tenor of thefe words ; gave him fuck anfwers as thefe
queftions required-, could we certainly know that he
8 would fay. Bring your brother down ? And Judah faid
unto Ifrael his father. Send the lad with me (fo called^
hecauf
GENESIS. XLIIL 235
hecauje he was theyoungeft^ tW now above thirty years old)
and we will arife and go •, that we may live, and not die,
9 both we, and thou, [and] alfo our little ones. I will
be furety for him; of my hand fhalt thou require him ;
/ will do all I can to fecure him^ and rather fuffer any thing
than lof>^ him : If I bring him not unto thee, and fet him
before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever, and
10 lie under thy difpleafure: For except we had lingered, fure-
11 ly now we had returned this fecond time. And their
father Ifrael, when he faw there was no help^ but he mujl
rijk an unceriain danger^ or be accejfary to the certain nan
of his family, confented^ and faid unto them. If [it muft
be] fo novv, do this *, take of the beft fruits in the land
in your vefTels, and carry dovv'n the man a prefent, a
little balm, and a little honey, fpices, and myrrh,
nuts,*" and almonds -, having found in the cafe of Efau^
1 2 that a gift pacifieth anger : And take double money in
your hand, as corn may now he grown dearer •, and the
money that was brought again in the mouth of your
facks, carry [it] again in your hand •, peradventure
it [was] an overiio ht, either in yoii^ or the receiver of the
1 3 money ^ and it muft therefore be reftcred : Take alfo your
14 brother, and arife, go again unto the man: And God
Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may
fend away your other brother, and Benjamin, if 1 be
bereaved [of my children,] I am bereaved -, God's will
he done -, / commit the iffue wholly to him,
15 And the men took that pref^nt, and they took
double money in their hand, and Benjamin ; and rofe
up, and went dov/n to Egypt, and ftood before Jofeph,
16 at the place where he gave audience^ or fold corn. And
when Jofeph faw Benjamin with them, he (did privately
to the ruler of his houfe. Bring [thefe] men home, and
flay, and make ready \ for [thefe] men fhall dine with
me at noon. In thofe hot countries it was neceffary to drefs
1 7 their tneat immediately after it was killed. And the man
did as Jofeph bade •, and the man brought the men in-
18 to Jofeph's houfe. And the men were afraid, becaufe
0^4 they
^ Moll probably the Piftachio nuts, which were reckoned a great
dainty, and were pecuhar to Judea and Syria.
236 GENESIS. XLIII.
they were brought into Jofeph's houfe •, and they fald,
Becaufe of the money that was returned in the facks at
the firfl: time are we brought in •, that he may feek oc-
cafion againft us, and fall upon us, and take us for
bondmen and our afles. Confcience accufed them^ and
they thought they JJiould he taken up for cheats^ and made
Jlaves of •, therefore they begin eagerly to make their apology*
19 And they came near to the fteward of Jofeph's houfe,
and they communed with him at the door of ii\<~ houfe.
20 And faid, O fir, we came indeed down at the firfl: time
21 to buy food: And it came to pafs, when u'e came to
the inn, that we opened our facks, and, behold, [every]
man's money [was] in the mouth of his fack, our
money in full weight : and we have brought it again in
22 our hand. And other money have we brought down
in our hands to buy food', we cannot tell wlic* put our
money in our facks. J'o this the fteward made a wife and
23 religions anfwer -^ And he faid. Peace [be] to you, fear
not : your God and the God of your fatlier, hath given
you treafure in your facks *, this fhows that Jofeph had in-
firu5led him in the knowledge of God: i had your money, and
no harm fliall co7ne to you on that account. And as a fur-*
i her proof of his kind defign^ he, hy Jofeph^s order^ brought
24 Simeon out unto them. And the man brought the
men into Jofeph's houfe, zni. gave [them] water, and
they wafhed their feetj and he gave their affes pro-
vender.
25 And they made ready the prefent againft Jofeph
came at noon : for they heard that they fhould eat bread
26 there. And when Jofeph came home, they brought
him the prefent which [was] in their hand into the
houfe, and bowed themfelves to him to the earth.
27 And he afked them of [their] welfare, and faid,
[Is] your father well, the old man of whom ye fpake ?
28 [Is] he yet alive? And they anfwered, Thy fervant
our father [is] in good health, he [is] yet alive. And
they bowed down their heads, and made obeifance,
29 I'hus Jofeph^s drea?n was repeatedly accomplifhed. And he
lifted up his eyes, and faw his brother Benjamin, his
mother's fon, he ohferved him more narrowly than atfirft^
and
GENESIS. XLIII. 237
and faid, [Is] this your younger brother, of whom ye
fpake unto me ? And he faid, God be gracious unto
thee, my fon. A kind and tender appellation^ by ij^hich an
30 elder or fuperior addre[fed a younger or inferior. And
Jofeph made hafte •, for his bowels did yern upon his
brother : and he fought [where] to weep *, and he
entered into [his] chamber, and wept there.
3 1 And he wafhed his face, and went out, and refrained
32 himfelf, and faid. Set on bread. And they fet on a
table ^ov \nm. by himfelf, as viceroy, B.nd for them by
themfelves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with
him, by themfelves : becaufe the Egyptians might not
eat bread with the Hebrews •, for that [is] an abomination
unto the Egyptians, becaufe the Hebrews dideatfheep and
goats, which the Egyptians worfJiipped, ( Exodus wm. 26.)
33 And they fat before him, the iirft born according to his
birthright, and the youngeft according to his youth :
and the men marvelled one at another, that he, who had
before ufed them fo roughly, fhouldnow treat themfo kindly,
and place them according to their fever al ages. 'This was an
extraordinary circumflance, ayid might well illufirate what he
afterwards faid to them about his divining, if that were the
2,^ fenfe of thofe words. And he took [atfd fent] mefies
unto them from before him, difhes from his own table*,
but Benjamin's mefs was five times fo much as any of
their's.^ Jofeph intended hereby to f how Benjamin peculiar
affcofion, and fee whether his brethren would envy him on
the occafion. And they drank, and were merry with
him. So kind and generous a reception, made them for a
'while forget their hardfliips andforrows,
REFLECTIONS.
I. "^^ r E hence fee the extreme force of neceffity, and
y V what reafon we have to be thankful for the com-
fortable provifions of life. Jacob's was a rich and wealthy
family, but fore famine made him travel far for proviiions.
The
^ A favourite guefl was always diftinguiftied By one of the largeft
and bcR. Thus Homer mentions fetting a chine before a ftranger,
in token of refpevft.
238 GENESIS. XLIII.
The good man put off the evil day, and protraded the
time of fending Benjamin as long as poflible ; but the fa-
mine being heavy, he was forced at lafl: to comply. Skin for
Jki7i^yea all that a man hath^ will he give for his life. Let us
blefs God that this is not our cafe; we are fed with the finefh
of the wheat \ God fpreads our tahle^ and fills our cup ; he give tk
us all things richly to enjoy \ and has not broke our ft a ff of bread.
Let us then ferve him cheerfully in the ufe of all the good
things which he giveth us.
2. We fee in the conduce of Jacob an example of the
ftrideft honefty. He fends his fons with the money again,
V. 12. he does not boaft of the bargain •, is not glad of the
miftake in his favour-, but willing to make reftitution ; he
"Would not take advantage of the hurry of felling the corn,
to efcape v/ithout paying : a miftake is no payment. Let
us learn from his example to reftcre what comes to us by the
miflakes of our brethren, and in every inftance deal, not
only honeftly, but honourably, for God fees it. To take
advantage of the ignorance of our brethren, or to keep what
does not by right belong to us, tho' we did not come by it
fraudulently, are each contrary to ftridl honefty, and to the
rule of doing to others as we would have them do to us,
3. We learn to depend on God for the fuccefs of the beil
concerted meafures. j acob fays, ^ake double money ^ and a
prefent^ and your brother *, and then adds, God Almighty give
you mercy before the man. He knew that God has accefs to
the hearts of men, and can eafily turn them, as he did
Efau's ; he therefore looked up to him, and followed his
fons with many an earneft prayer. Prudence and piety
fhculd thus always go together j in all thy ways achiowledge
God^ and he will dire^ thy paths, AVhen we want favour
and mercy from men, let our eyes be up toward the Lord,
for he can influence them which way he pleafeth,
4. Let us relign ourfelves and our deareft comforts to
God's difpofal. Ifrael's, in v, 14. was not the language of
paffion or defpair, but of fober reafon, and humble fub-
miffion to God; like Efther, If I perifli^ Iperifh; I muft
fubmit to the providence of God •, not difpute his fuperior
will, but compofe myfelf under it. Thus, whatever afflic-
tions come, let us be refigned to them, and bear them
patiently.
GENESIS. XLIIL 239
patiently. When God takes away our comforts, let our
language be, // is the Lord^ let him do what feemeth good in
his Jght,
5. See how rufpiclous guilt makes men : no fooner were
Jofeph's brethren brought to his houfe, than they fulpeded
fome ill defign, and that he was feeking an occafion of mif-
chief againft them, or to roll himfelf upon them^ as the origi-
nal is i to employ his power and authority to crufh them.
What an uneafy thing is it to have fear when no man pur-
fucuh ! ne wicked fear where no fear is\ every thing appears
gloomy and dark ; but to the upright there arifeth l"/ht in
darkne/s. The beft prefervative from groundlefs fear and
unreafonable fufpition, is to keep a good confcience.
6. We fee what a great advantage it is to ferve in a re-
ligious family. Jofeph's fteward, by acquaintance with his
mailer, was brought to an acquaintance with the true God,
the God of the Hebrews. Mafters fhould teach their fer-
vanis the knowledge of God, and lead them to fear and re-
verence him. Servants fhould choofe fuch families where
they may have opportunities of knowing God ; and thofe
who are favoured wath fuch opportunities, fhould carefully
improve them ; mention the name of God with the highefi:
reverence; and never be afhamed to own their acquaintance
with him, and their obligations to him.
7. How neceffary is it that the greateft of men fhould
learn and pradife the government of their paflions, if they
deiire to appear either with honour or comfort. Jofeph
prudently withdrew when his afPedions began to warm, and
refrained himfelf The heart that is a flave to paffion, and
has never yet obtained the government of itfelf, is in a
wretched condition. Let us learn to keep our hearts with all
diligence^ that we may be cahn and fedate,, and not hurried
away by torrents of pafhon ; for he th^4 hath no ride over his
own fpirit is like a city that is broken dozvn, and without walls.
Frc{u, XXV. 28.
CHAP.
240 GENESIS- XLIV.
CHAP. XLIV.
JofepJi's brethren zcere merry with him^ and little expe5fed to he
in thofe circumftances in which this chapter finds them ; but it
was his policy^ in order to detain and try them,
1 A ND he commanded the fteward of his houfe, fay-
jf*\ ing, Fill the men's facks [with] food, as much' as
they can carry, and put every man's money in his fack's
2 mouth. And put my cup, the large ^ valuable cup which I
drink out of^ even the filver cup that is embojjed^ or wrought ,
as the original figmfies^ in the fack's mouth of the young-
eft, and his corn money. And he did according to the
word that Jofeph had fpoken. Hereby Jofeph meant to try
his brethren'' s affe^ion to Benjamin^ and to their father^ and
3 whether they would ajjift him in his extremity. As foon as
the morning was light, the men were fent away, they
4 and their affes. [And] when they were gone out of
the city, [and] not [yet] far off, Jofeph faid unto his
fteward, Up, follow after the men •, and when thou doft
overtake them, fay unto them, Wherefore have ye re-
warded evil for good ? He charges them with ingratitude
5 and then with theft: [Is] not this cup which ye have
taken^ [it] in which my lord drinketh, and whereby
indeed he divineth ? or^ as in the margin of our bibles y
maketh trial ; he left this cup in your way to try your honejiy ^
ye have done evil in fo doing •, // was wicked to Jieal it^
and foolifh to attempt it^ becaufe my majler would foon mifs
it, and eafily conje5fure where it was gone,
6 And he overtook them, and he fpake unto them
7 thefe fame words. And they faid unto him. Where-
fore faith my lord thefe words? God forbid that thy
fervants ihould do according to this thing : thus vindi-
cating themfelves with eager nefs, and then urging the former
S proof of their honefly •, Behold, thenioney, which we found
in our facks' mouths, we brought again unto thee Cut
of the land of Canaan : how then fhould we fteal out of
5 thy lord's houfe filver or gold ? With whomfoever of
thy fervants it be found, both let him die, and we
alfo will be my lord's bondmen. This was honejlly, but
not
GENESIS. XLIV. 241
io mi prudently /aid. And he faid, Now alfo [let] it [be]
according unto your words : he with whom it is found
fhall be my fervant ; and ye fhall be blamelefs, free from
1 1 pum/Iiment^ and at liberty to return home unmokjled. Thea
they fpeedily took down every man his fack to the
12 ground, and opened every man his fack. And he
learched, [and] began at the eldefl:, and left at the
youngeft : and the cup was found in Benjamin's fack.
11, Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his
afs, and returned to the city •, thinking that Jofeph^ being
a man of generofity and humanity^ would forgive Benjamin^
when he faw another brother willing to become his flave,
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Jofeph's houfe ;
for he [was] yet there: and they fell before him on the
15 ground. And Jofeph faid unto them, What deed [is]
this that ye have done? wot ye not that fuch a man as I
can certainly divine, or make trial? that I^ who foretold this
1 6 famine, . could not eafily find outfuch a cheat ? And Judah,
beginning abruptly, faid, What Ihall v/e fay unto my lord ?
what fhail we fpeak ? or how ihall we clear ourfelves ?
And, after a paufe, added, God hath found out the ini-
quity of thy fervants, of one of us, thd* the refi be free :
behold, we [are] my lord's fervants, both we, and [he]
alfo with whom the cup is found; we are all in thy hands,
l"] to do with us as feemeth good in thy Jighi, And he faid,
God forbid that I fhould do fo : [but] the man in whofe
hand the cup is found, he fhall be my fervant •, and as
for you, get ye up in peace unto your father, without
any prejudice to your perfons or goods. He might fay this,
to try Benj amines temper, and how he would bear fuck an
affliction, as well as his brethren'' s affe5lion to him and to
his father,
1 8 Then Judah, being particularly concerned becaufe he had
undertaken for Benjamin, came near unto him, and faid.
Oh my lord, let thy fervant, I pray thee, fpeak a word
in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn againft
thy fervant : for thou [art] even as Pharaoh, in his room
andflead, whofe difpleafure therefore is equally to be feared,
19 My lord aiked his fervants, faying. Have ye a father,
20 or a brother P And we faid unto my lord. We have a
father.
Q42 GENESIS. XLIV.
father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little
one, theyowigeft \ and his brother is dead, torn to pieces^
and he alone is left of his mother Rachel^ and his father
loveth him. Jojeph would perceive by this account what
7.1 a lie they had told their father concerning him. And thou
faidft unto thy fervants, Bring him down unto me,
that I may fet mine eyes upon him, or, ffiow him fa-
22 voiir. And we faid unto my lord, The lad cannot leave
his father: for [if] he fliould leave his father, [his
23 father] would die. And thou faidft unto thy fervants.
Except your youngeft brother come down with you, ye
24. fhall fee my face no more. And it came to pafs when
we came up unto thy fervant my father, we told him
25 the words of my lord. And our father faid, Go again,
26 [and] buy us a, little food. And we faid, We cannot
go down : if our youngeft brother be with us, then will
we go down : for we may not fee the man's face, ex-
27 cept our youngeft brother [be] with us. And thy fer-
vant my father faid unto us. Ye know that Rachel my
28 wife bare me two [fons.] And the one went out from
me, and I faid. Surely he Is torn in pieces ; and I faw
29 him not fince : And if ye take this alfo from me, and
mifchief befall him, ye fhall bring down my gray hairs
30 with forrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to
thy fervant my father, and the lad [be] not with us ;
feeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life, that his
31 life and his all depends upon the welfare of the lad: It fhall
come to pafs, when he feeth that the lad [is] not [with
us,] that he will die : and thy fervants fliall bring down
the gray hairs of thy fervant our father with forrow to
3 2 the grave. For thy fervant became furety for the lad
unto my father, faying. If 1 bring him not unto thee,
'^^'i^ then I fhall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now
therefore, I pray thee, let thy fervant abide inftead of
the lad a bondman to my lord ; and let the lad go up
34 with his brethren. For how fhall I go up to my father,
and the lad [be] not with me? left peradventure I
fee the evil that fhall come on my father. Thus Judah
urges the grief it would be to the old 7nan^ offers to be
JofepKs
GENESIS. XLIV. 24^
Jofeph^s Jlave^ inftead of Benjamin^ as he could do him
fuore fervice^ and 'pleads the infuppor table diftrejs that his
aged father would fufer^ if Benjamin did not return with
his brethren^''
REFLECTIONS.
I. /^ O D fometimes brings his people into the greateft
\^ diftrefs, when dehverance is neareft. So here :
they had given up all, thought there was no hope ; — but
the time of favour was come. In the mount of difficulty
God is feen. See how good it is to hope^ and quietly wait
for the fal-vation of God,
2. It is good to acknowledge our iniquity, when the
afflicting hand of God is upon us ; as Jofeph's brethren
did, V. 16, Afflidions are defigned to bring our fin to
remembrance, and engage us to confider it, and be humble
for it ; the fruit of affli£lion is to take away Jin. Let us ac-
knowledge our guilt in fuch circumftances ; and pray, like
Job, Show me wherefore thou contendefi with rae -, wherein I
have done iniquity^ I will do fo no more,
3. See here an example of filial tendernefs. Judah
chofe rather to be a flave all his days, than go home, and
fee the evil that would come upon his aged father. Child-
ren fhould learn to love their parents, to be tender of their
comforts, and do nothing to grieve them. Thofe are very
wicked children who are a grief to their father, and heavi-
nefs to their mother : they can never fufficientiy repay their
tendernefs and care toward them, and therefore fliould
labour to make their cares eafy, and their burdens light ;
and
^ This addrefs mult uridoubtealy have afFeded a ftranger, more
efpecially Jofeph, and prod^jced that efFe^lt of which the next
chapter gives an account. It is iinpolTible to read it without per-
ceiving it full of the mofl natural eloquence, and extremely well
adapted to excite Jofeph's compaffion. It is remarkable he does
not acknowledge the crime, for that would have reflected on Ben-
jamin ; nor does he deny it, which would have refiefted on Jofeph's
jufticej but he labours to move his pity, and that in language
that no art or impoftor could have imitated, but feems plainly
fuggelled by that fpirit v/liich gireth fpeech and wifdom to men.
244 GENESIS. XLV. '
and efpecially fhould give them the high fatisfadion of \
feeing them walking in truth.
4. We fhould not defpair of reformation even in thofe '
whofe charadters are the worft. Judah had been a fcandal -
to Jacob's family ; but here he feems greatly reformed, '
full of humility, tendernefs, and compaffion, and a regard \
to his promife. Young men oftentimes grow wifer as they \
grow older ; and God makes ufe of afflidions to humble \
and reform them. Let us not give up all hopes even :
of the worft, but labour to make them better •, and God |
may, in his good time, add his ^'lefTing to our conftant :
endeavours.
5. We fee how happy it is to maintain a circumfped
regard to truth. This gave them fo much confidence in i
what they faid to the fteward, and in their plea before ]
Jofeph. If our hearts condemn us not, then have we con- ;
fidence both toward God and man. Integrity and iiprightnefs^ \
if maintained, will freferve us •, let us therefore labour to j
fecure thefe for our rejoicing ; and in ftmplicity and godly \
Jincerity to have our converfation in the worlds \
CHAP. XLV.
Solomon ohferves^ Prov. xxv. 25. ^ As cold waters to a thirfiy
/only fo is good news from a far country,^ I'his obfervation is
illuflrated by the tidings that Jacob and his fons received of
Jofeph, 'the lafl chapter clofedwith Judah^s fpeech *, in this
we have the effe5i of it\ it touched JofepUs hearty and put an
end to all the filterings of his brethren,
1 rr^HEN Jofeph could not refrain himfelf before all
i them that flood by him -, and he cried, Caufe every
man to go out from me. And there flood no man with
him, while Jofeph made himfelf known unto his bre-
thren : that fo he might conceal his brethren's faulty and not
render hi?nfelf contemptible to the Egyptians byhis excejfive
tears ^ and familiar and aff'e5lionate converfe with his bre-
2 thren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the
houfe of Pharaoh heard-, fome who were mar overheard
him
GENESIS. XLV; 245
3 him and carried the intelligence to Pharaoh^ s court. And
Jofeph, unable to contain himfelf any longer^ faid unto his
brethren, I [am] Jofeph. ^his muft ftrike them with
afionijhment, ' Wonder^ doubts reverence^ joy^ fear^ hope^
and guilty (fays Bp. Hall) all mufi ftrike them at once,'' Jo-
fefh adds^ Doth my farher yet Hve ? can I believe the ac^
count you have given me'^ and his brethren couid not an-
fwer him ; they flood before him with palenfs and fdence^
looking on him and each other :, for they were troubled, or
terrified^ at his prefence, thro' a fenfe of guilty fear of
4 punifhment^ and the ftrangenefs of the event. And Jofeph,
to raife their courage^ (did unto his brethren. Come near
to me, I pray you, with cheer fulnefs and confidence. And
they cam.enear. And he faid, I [am] Jofeph your bro-
ther, whom ye fold into Egypt. / mention this^ not to
upbraid you^ but to affure you that I am he^ and that I
fiill own the relation^ notwithfianding ^ny dignity and your
wickednefs. He then takes the kindeft method to remove
their fears ^ by leading them to obferve the wifdom and good-
5 nefs of providence in this event. Now therefore be not
grieved, nor angry with yourfelves, that ye fold me
hither : for God did fend me before you to preferve
life •, both your lives and the lives of all the people in this
6 and the neighbouring countries. For thefe two years [hath]
the famine [been] in the land : and yet [there arej
five years, in the which [there fhall] neither [be] earing
7 nor harveft, ploughing nor tillage. And God fent me be-
fore you to preferve you a pofterity in the earth, and
to fave your lives by a great deliverance, brought about
Z by a wonderful and extraordinary work of providence. So
now [it was] not fo much you [that] fent me hither, but
God, who turned it to good: and he hath made me a
father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his houfe, and
ruler throughout all the land of Egypt ; his principal
counfellor of flat e^ to guide his affairs with a fatherly care^
and to have the authority., refpe^ and power of a father
9 with him. Hafte ye and go up to my father, and fay
unto him. Thus faith thy fon Jofeph, God hath made
me lord of all Egypt : come down unto me, tarry not :
10 And thou ihalt dwell in the land of Gofhen, and thou
Vol. I. R ihalt
246 G'lE N E S IS.' XLV/ ]
fhalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy \
children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and j
1 1 all that thou haft:" And there will I nourilh thee -, for r\
yet [there are j five years of famine •, lefl thou, and ^
thy houfehold, and all that thou haft, come to poverty. ;
12 And, behold, your eyes fee, and the eyes of my brother I
Benjamin, that [it is] my mouth that fpeaketh unto i
13 you, in your o^an language, and not by an interpreter'. And 1
ye fhall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and
of all that ye have feen •, and ye fliall hafte and bring |
down my father hither. |
14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and ,
15 wept-, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover i
he kif^ed all his brethren, and wept upon them : and i
after that his brethren talked with \{nn freely and fa- ;
miliarly •, being encouraged by his kindnefs^ they acknowledged \
their guilty and told him uhat had happened fince he was
abfent from the family,
1 6 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's houfe,
faying, Jofeph's brethren are come : and it pleafed ]
Pharaoh well, and his fervants. He was a generous \
prince^ and glad of an opportunity to exprefs his affection
for fo wife and pious a minifier^ by fhowing refpe^ to his ■
1^ family. And Pharaoh faid unto Jofeph, Say unto thy \
brethren. This do ye ; lade your beafts, and go, get ;
18 you unto the land of Canaan; And take your father |
and your houfeholds, and come unto me : and 1 will ;
give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye fhall
19. eat the fat of the land, the choicefl produce of it. Now |
thou art comm^anded, this do ye ; take you waggons i
out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for -i
20 your wives, and bring your father, and come. Alfo \
regard not your ftufF at hon\e \ for the good of all the I
land of Egypi [is] yours. i
2 1 And the children of Ifrael did fo : and Jofeph gave :
them waggons, according to the commandment of;
Pharaoh,
'^ Gofhen lay near to Canaan, on the north. ead part of Egypt. '
It was a rich land, good for feeding cattle, a proper diilance fronij
the court, where they would not be {q likely to be corrupted,^
and might more eafily return when the famine was ended. '
GENESIS. XLV. 247
22 Pharaoh, and gave them provifion for the way. To all
of them he gave each man changes of raiment, two or
three upper garments^ new and handfome^ that they might
make a good appearance *, but to Benjamin he gave three
hundred [pieces] of filver, about thirty fev en pounds of our
23 mmey^ atid five changes of raiment. And to his father
he fent after this [manner;] money ^ and change of raiment^
and provijions for his journey^ namely^ ten afTes laden with
the good things of Egypt, and ten fhe aiTes laden with
24 corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. So
he fent his brethren away, and they departed : and he
faid unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way,
about your dealing with me -, as I forgive you^ fo do ye to
one another.
25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the
26 land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him,
faying, Jofeph [is] yet alive, and he [is] governor over
all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for
he believed them not •, he was quite overcome between
27 hope^ and doubt ^ and fear ^ and excejfive joy. And they
told him all the words of Jofeph, which he had faid unto
them : and when he faw the waggons which Jofeph had
fent to carry him, the fpirit of Jacob their father re-
vived. To fee Simeon and Benjamin return^ with a flock of
proviftons^ made it a day of great joy to the good old man ;
efpecially when he heard that Jofeph^ whom he thought had
- been dead twenty years^ was alive^ and governor of Egypt,
28 And Ifrael faid, [It is] enough •, Jofeph my fon [is]
yet alive : I will go and fee him before 1 die. / have
lived long enough^ and fh all be happy enough if Hive to fee
him but once again \ I fhall then be willing to die whenever
Godpleafes,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T O W amiable do generoflty and forgivenefs ap-
X~l pe^r • Had we heard of Jofeph putting any of his
brethren to death, or feverely upbraiding them with their
condu6l, it would have fpoiled the pleafure which the flory
of his exaltation gives us : but he kindly forgave them ; and
R 2 in
24^ GENESIS. XLV.
in this he was a type of Chrift, who forgave thofe that be-
trayed and murdered him. The beft v/ay of revenging an
injury, is to ufe the offender as well as we can, and put him
out of countenance by our kindnefs •, this is true greatnefs
of fpirit. The fliame which this generofity brought upon
them, was a fufficient punifhment. Let us a6l thus, for (o
the gofpel direds •, If thine enemy hunger^ feed him •, overcome
evil with good. Forgive men their trefpafjes^ and you may
hope that God will forgive you your trefpaffes.
2. How unfearchable are the difpenfations of providence,
in turning evil into good, and over-ruling even the fins of
his creatures, for the good of his people, and the benefit of
the woild. Thus he did in the cafe of Herod and Pilate,
as v;ell as in the inftance before us. There is in providence
a wheel within a wheel ; and, however myfterious, all is
diredted by infinite wifdom and goodnefs-, all is wifely con-
duced to a merciful end. Who would have thought, if
they had feen Jofeph in the pit, that it was he who fhould
deliver Egypt and Ifrael ! Who, that had {^^n Jacob's
grief when he faw the bloody coat, would have thought
that it iliould be exchanged for tranfports of joy ! God is
indeed wonderful in counfel^ and excellent in contrivances. Let
us own and adore his wifdom and grace, when we fee them
thus manifefted-, and learn not to be rafh in our judgment
of things, but wait the iffue. We fliall often difcover the
wifdom and goodnefs of God in various inftancesnow ; and
hereafter, all the myftery fhall be cleared up, and we fhall
find, that all his ways are mercy and truth to them that fear
him,
3. How careful fhould we be to maintain mutual peace !
Jofeph's advice was proper for his brethren, and for all of
us: See that ye fall not out by the way. The arguments that
fhould have influenced them, are applicable to us; we are
brethren by nature, friendfhip, and religion — belong to
the fame family of God's Ifrael — we are going to our fa-
ther's houfe — in our way we are expofed to many enemies
and dangers — if we go in peace, we fhall find the way fe-
cure and pleafant — if not, we {hall bring a reproach on
our profeffion, and become the fcorn of our enemies. Be-
fides, we are all guilty, therefore all to blame, and have no
reafon
GENESIS. XLV. 249
rtafon to accufe one another. 0 how pkafant a thing is //,
for brethren to dwell together in unity! Let us cultivate peace,
and recommend it to others. Let us avoid the beginning
of contention, and labour to make up differences as foon
as pofTible; as the brethren of Chrift, agalnft whom we
have rebelled, and by and thro' whom we hope to be for-
given. Let us love one another^ as he hath loved us — and
hold the unity of the fpirit in the bond of peace,
4. How willing fhould the true chriftian be to go to his
heavenly father's houfe ! Jacob was glad to hear that Jo-
feph was alive, and governor of Egypt, and faid. It is enough^
I will furely go and fee him before I die. He knew he fhould
have a moft kind reception, and all good things there. Thus
let us long to be above, in that better country, where our
dearefl friends dwell — where every good thing is to be had.
We liave many attradives to draw us there — regard not the
Jluff that mufh be left behind — the good of the land is
before us. While here, let us not feek great things for our-
felves^ and ufe what we have, as not abufing it. The good
of all the heavenly country is ours ; let us therefore fit loofe
to earthly things, and be v/illing to leave them. Did Jacob
rejoice to go out of the land of promife, to a foreign
ftrange land, for Jofeph's fake ? How glad then fhould we
be, to leave this flrange land, to go to the heavenly Canaan,
to a glorious inheritance in that better and lightfome Go-
fhen, which Is full of all durable riches^ and divine delights !
To dwell with all our beft friends, and Jefus, our beil be-
loved, and be for ever with each other and the Lord! The
holy foul may, with humble refignation, fay, Why are the
chariots, that are fent to fetch me, fo long in coming ? why
tarry the wheels of his chariots ?
R X CHAP
250 GENESIS. XLVI.
CHAP. XLVI.
ne apojlle fays^ concerning the patriarchs^ that they were pil-
grims and Jlr angers; they were driven from place to place^ and
had no continuing city, ^his was remarkably the cafe with
Jacob, We have here an account of his journey to Egypt ^ and
his interview with his beloved f on Jofeph,
1 AND Ifrael took his journey with all that he had,
jt\^ and came to Beer-iheba, thirty- two miles from
Hebron<i and, as it had been a place of devotion for Abraham
and Ifaac^ there he alfo offered facrifices unto the God of
his father Ifaac ; he was thankful for God's kindnefs to
Ifaac^ and to himfelf^ and fought his proteBion and blejfmg
2 on his journey to fee Jofeph, And God fpake unto Ifrael
in the vifions of the night, in a dream^ and faid, Jacob,
Jacob j repeating the name as a token of affe^ion^ and a
3 note of attention. And he faid, Here [am] I. And he
faid, I [am] God, the God of thy father : fear not to
go down into Egypt -j" for I will there make of thee a
great nation : tho' thou hafi now but feventy fouls belonging
to thee., thy feed fhall foon become as thejlars of heaven for
4 multitude : I will go down with thee into Egypt •, and
I will alfo furely bring thee up [again-,] that is^ thy
hones., or rather., in thy pofierity •, and Jofeph fhall put
his hand upon thine eyes ; he fhall outlive thee^ and
clofe thine eyes., as the lafi office of refpeEl and friend-
fhip.
5 And Jacob rofe up from Beer-fheba, and went cheer-
fully on his journey : and the fons of Ifrael carried Jacob
their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in
the waggons which Pharaoh had fent to carry him.
6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they
had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt,
Jacob, and all his feed with him : bringing thefe things
with
''•Jacob had many fears; he was an old man, it was a long
journey; Ifaac was forbidden to go there in the time of famine;
it was a kind of forfaking the holy land, and he was fearful of
idolatry, and what the confequences might prove to his children
and pofierity.
GENESIS. XLVI. 251
"with them^ that they might not he chargeable^ and that none
7 might reproach them with coming empty : His Tons, and his
.. fons' fons with him, his daughters, and his fons'
daughters, and all his feed brought he with him into
Egypt.
8 And thefe [are] the names of the children of Ifrael,
which came into Egypt, jnoji: of whom we afterwards read
of as heads of large families or tribes •, Jacob and his fons :
9 Reuben, Jacob's firft born. And the fons of Reubea;
10 Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. And
the fons of Simeon-, Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, of
whom we never read any more^ and Jachin, and Zohar,
1 1 and Shaul the fon of a Canaanitifa woman. And the
fons of Levi •, Gerfhon, Kohath, the grandfather of
12 Mofes and Aaron^ and Merari. And the fons of Judahj
Er and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but
Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the fons
of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. Pharez was very
youngs not above fifteen^ when he went into Egypt \ perhaps
1 3 thefe fons were born afterwards. And the fons of IfTachar ;
Tola, who , was fo fruitful^ that in the days of David
{1 Chron. vii. i,) twenty -two thoufand fix hundred valiant
men were defcended from him^ and Phuvah, and Job, and
14 Shimron. And the fons of Zebulun •, Sered, and Eton,
15 and Jahleel. Thefe [be] the fons of Le^h, which fhe
bare unto Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter
Dinah: all the fouls of his fons and his daughters
[were] thirty and three : counting Jacob himfelf for one^
and excluding Er and Onan who were dead^ as Leah herfelf
16 alfo was. And the fons of Gad \ Ziphion, and Haggi,
17 Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areh. And the
fons of Afher; Jimnah, and Ifhuah, and Ifui, and Be-
riah, and Serah their fider : and the fons of Beriah ;
18 Heber, and Malchiel. Thefe [are] the fons of Zilpah,
whom Lab an gave to Leah his daughter, and thefe fhe
19 bare unto Jacob, [even] fixteen fouls. The fons of
20 Rachel Jacob's wife •, Jofeph and Benjamin. And unto
Jofeph in the land of Egypt were born Manafleh and
Ephraim, which Afenath the daughter of Poti-pherah
21 prieft, or prince^ of On bare unto him. And the fons of
R 4 Benjamin
252 GENESIS. XLVI;
Benjamin [were] Belah, and Becher, and Afhbel, Gera,
and Naaman, Ehi, and Rofh, Muppim, and Huppim,
2 2 and Ard. Thefe [are] the fons of Rachel, which were
23 born to Jacob •, all the fouls [were] fourteen. And the
24 fons of Dan; Hufliim. And the fons of Naphtali;
25 Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem. Thefe
[are] the fons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Ra-
chel his daughter, and fhe bare thefe unto Jacob : all
26 the fouls [were] feven. All the fouls that came with
Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, belides
Jacob's fons' wives, all the fouls [were] threefcore and
fix; they werefo many, excluding Jacob their common parent^
and Jofeph and his two fons, who were there before \ which
27 four being included, make up the number of feventy. And
the fons of Jofeph, which were born him in Egypt,
[were] two fouls : all the fouls of the houfe of Jacob,
which came into Egypt, [were] threefcore and ten.*
28 And he fent Judah before him unto Jofeph, to diredl
his face unto Gofhen, to yneet him in a convenient place
29 there-, and they came into the land of Gofhen. And
loit'^h. fhowed great refpetl to his father, and honoured him
before all the people, and made ready his chariot, and
went up to meet Ifrael his father, to Gofhen, and pre-
fented himfelf unto him, as fubje5fs do before a prince-,
and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good
while ; this filled the good old man with joy and triumph,
30 And Ifrael faid unto Joff ph. Now let me die, fince I
have feen thy face, becaufe thou [art] yet alive. Since
Jofeph is alive and happy, all my wipes feem accomplifhed
at once, and I am willing to die when God pleafes. Never-
ihelefs God fpared him feventeen years after this. — Jofeph
then proceeds to dire^ his father and brethren how to behave
before Pharaoh.
3 1 And Jofeph faid unto his brethren, and unto his fa-
ther's
« Stephen, in A£ls vii. fays they were feventy five fouls. The
difference may be thus accounted for ; Moles only mentions Ja-
cob's immediate defcendants, and not his fons' wives, without
which they were not fo many ; that is, eleven brethren and a
filler, fifty-two grandchildren, and the eleven wives of the bre-
thren^ made feventy-fiye.
GENESIS. XLVI. 253
ther's houfe, I will go up, and fhow Pharaoh, and fay
iinto him. My brethren, and my father's houfe, which
32 [were] in the land of Canaan, are come unto me ^ And
the men [are] fhepherds, for their trade hath been to
feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and
33 their herds, and all that they have. And it fhall come
to pafs, when Pharaoh fhall call you, and fhall fay,
34 What [is] your occupation ? That ye fhall fay. Thy
fervants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth
even until now, both we, [and] alfo our fathers : that ye
may dwell in the land of Gofhen, a place fit for your oc-
cwpation^ and at a dijiance from Pharaoh and his court ; for
every fhepherd [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians,
efpecially the Ifraelitifh fJoepherds \ hecaufe they lived by felling
thofe cattle for Jlaughter which the Egyptians held facred\
particularly the ox and the cow, which the Egyptians wor^
/hipped as emblems of Ofiris and IJis,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us acknowledge God in all our journeys and
I J removes. The patriarchs walked with God ; fo
Jacob did in this important affair. The heathen never fet
out on a journey, without offering facrifices to their deities.
It is good in all our ways to acknowledge God^ to beg his
protedion and bleffmg •, it is that which maketh men
rich and profperous. A horfe, or any carriage, is but
a vain thing to truft to for fafety. Let us have our eyes
ever toward the Lord ; he can make our journeys fafe and
fuccefsful. It is an old faying, that ' prayer and provender
hinder no man.'
2. Let the thought which comforted Jacob, when going
down to Egypt, comfort us when going down to the grave.
V, 4. We may go with fear and trembling, but we have
God's promile to refl upon, that he will not fuffer his fef-
vants to perifli in the grave •, but will furely bring us up
again. Let us rejoice in this thought, and be willing to
go where God would have us, fince he will go with us. Tea^
fays
P The great Ali Bey, governor of Egypt, who died but a very
ftvv years ago, was in Tome refpefts a fecond Jofeph. Sec
Savary's Letters on Egypt. Vol, II. Let. 41.
254 GENESIS. XLVI.
fays David, thd* I walk thro* the valley of the Jliadow of
deaths I will fear no evil-, for thy rod and thy fiafffhall comfort
me,
3. How comfortable will be -the interview of good men
in heaven ! It was agreeable to Jacob to fee Jofeph again ;
v/hat congratulations and joy were there on this occafion !
But how much more excellent will the meeting of parents
and children, and friends be, in that better world ! There
will be no weeping, even for joy — all will be tranquilhty
and peace — harmony and eternal friendfhip. What an
happy meeting will that be ! An heathen philofopher
could fay, ' Let us make hafte to our heavenly country \
* there are our fathers, and there are all our friends.*
Should not the chriftian then fay fo •, blefs God for the
profpedl of meeting them there, and cultivate fincere affec-
tion and friendfhip one toward another, that we may relifh
the heavenly country ?
4. It is a great inftance of friendfhip, to keep thofe that
we love out of the way of temptation. Jofeph was defirous
that his brethren fhould abide in their calling, and remain
in Gofhen •, he did not wifh to prefer them at court, to
put them in places of trufl and power, and raife them above
the flation in which they were brought up, and for which
they v/ere befl qualified ; but to keep them to the innocent
life of fhepherds, that they might not be corrupted by the
vices and idolatry of the Egyptian court •, that they might
not forget Canaan, but be defirous of returning to it, and
keep together while they were abfent from it. Parents will
do right and well to choofe fuch fettlements in life for
their children, where they will be mofl free from tempta-
tion, and thofe occupations in which they will be in leafl
danger of being corrupted ; if thofe are not fo profitable,
yet they are much to be preferred by all, except thofe whp
think this world better than the other. Let us learn to
watch over one another, as Jofeph did over his brethren ♦,
and labour to keep all around us, efpecially our relations,
from thofe flations and circumflances which would be in-
jurious to their virtue, and make them forget their heaven-
ly country. Let us thus watch over others as well as our-
felves, and pray alfo that we enter not into temptation.
CHAP.
GENESIS. XLVIL 255
CHAP. XLVII.
// is promifed to good men^ in Pfalm xxxvii. 19. ^ nat in the
days of famine they fh all be fatisfied •,' this was the cafe here,
Jofeph prefents his father and brethren to Pharaoh -, they are
provided for^ while the famine greatly prevails. We have
an account of Jofeph^s prudent management at this time ; and
hispromife to his father concerning his funeral
1 r^^HEN Jofeph came and told Pharaoh, and fald,
JL My father and my brethren, and their flocks,
and their herds, and all that they have, are come out
of the land of Canaan ; and, behold, they [are] in the
land of Gofhen. Tho^ prime minifier^ he came to know
2 Pharaoh's pleafure. And he took fome of his brethren,
[even] five men, and prefented them unto Pharaoh.
Some fay the meaneft of them^ lefl Pharaoh fhould have em^
3 ployed them at courts or in the army. And Pharaoh faid
unto his brethren. What [is] your occupation ? And
they faid unto Pharaoh, Thy fervants [are] fhepherds,
both we, [and] alfb our fathers •, our ancefiors have always
4 been ufed to this employment. They faid moreover unto
Pharaoh, For to fojourn in the land are we come,
during the famine \ for thy fervants have no pafture
for their flocks -, for the famine [is] fore in the land of
Canaan : now therefore, we pray thee, let thy fervants
dwell in the land of Gofhen.
5 And Pharaoh fpake unto Jofeph, faying, Thy fa-
6 ther and thy brethren are come unto thee : The land of
Egypt [is] before thee •, in the beft of the land make
thy father and brethren to dwell ♦, in the land of Gofhen
let them dwell : and if thou knowefi [any] men of
adivity among them, then make them rulers over my
cattle. Ihis was the highefl preferment that their bujinefsy
and their refolution of continuing in it^ would permit.
7 And Jofeph brought in Jacob his father, and fet him
before Pharaoh •, and Jacob bleffed FhcLYciohy faluted /um^
praying for his welfare^ a?id giving him thanks for his bounty.
8 And Pharaoh faid unto Jacob, How old [art] thou ?
In the original^ how many are the days of the years of thy
life?
256 GENESIS. XLVII. :|
9 life ? And Jacob faid unto Pharaoh, The days of the ]
years of my pilgrimage, of my wandering life^ [are] an !
hundred and thirty years : few and evil have the days |
of the years of my life been, full of labour and toil^ trou^ \
bk and vexation^ more than my fathers had, and / have .
not attained unto the days of the years of the life of |
10 my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. '^ And Ja- ',
cob blefied Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh j '\
took his leave^ commending him to God, j
11 And Jofeph placed his father and his brethren, and I
gave them a poffeffion in the land of Egypt, in the beft \
of the land, in the land of Kamefes, as Pharaoh had |
11 commanded. And Jofeph nourifhed his father, and ]
his brethren, and all his father's houfehold, with bread, *
according to [their] families. i
13 And [there was] no bread in all the land; for the \
famine [was] very fore, fo that the land of Egypt and i
[all] the land of Canaan fainted by reafon of the famine. \
14 And Jofeph gathered up all the money that was found ■
in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for i
the corn which they bought : and Jofeph brought the
15 money into Pharaoh's houfe. And when money failed ;
in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all •
the Egyptians came unto Jofeph, and faid, Give us ;
bread : for why fhould we die in thy prefence ? for the ;
16 money faileth. And Jofeph faid. Give your cattle; 1
17 and 1 will give you for your cattle, if money fail. And :;
they brought their cattle unto Jofeph : and Jofeph gave '
them bread [in exchange] for horfes, and for the flocks, !
and for the cattle of the herds, and for the afles ; and |
he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that
iS year, which was the Jix^h year of the famine. When that :
year Vvas ended, they came unto him the fecond year of
their I
1 Abraham lived one hundred and feventy five years, Ifaac one |
hundred and eighty. Jacob had reafon indeed to fay, his days ;
were few and evil ; he had calamities in abundance, in Reuben, '
and Simeon, and Levi; in Judah and Dinah; in Er and Onan; j
Benjamin and jofeph: what with the wickednefs of fome, and the ;
jDisfcrtunes of ethers, his was a moft afflidled family, and it is a !
wonder his heart was not broken. Surely the title of 7//^ God of \
Jocobt muil have in it, principally, a view to a future ilute !
GENESIS. XLVIL 257
their great extremity^ and the fevenih year of the famine^
and (aid unto him. We will not hide [it] from m/
lord, how that our money Is fpent -, my lord alfo hath
our herds of cattle ; there is not aught left in the fight
19 of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: Where-
fore fhall we die before thine eyes, both we and our
land P (the land is faid to die, when it becomes de folate for
want of tillage \) buy us and our land for bread, and we
and our lands will be fervants unto Pharaoh : and give
[us] feed, that we may live, and not die, that the land
20 be not defolate/ And Jofeph bought all the land of
Egypt for Pharaoh \ for the Egyptians fold every man
his field, becaufe the famine prevailed over them : fo the
21 land became Pharaoh's, And as for the people, he re-
moved them to cities from [one] end of the borders of
Egypt even to the [other] end thereof, to the nearefi
cities where there was corn hid up \ which was an a5l of
Z2 prudence^ compajfion^ arJ, generofity. Only the land of
the priefts, or princes^ bought he not -, for the priefts
had a portion [afligned them] of Pharaoh, a decree of
Pharaoh that it fhould be fo^ and did eat their portion
which Pharaoh gave them : wherefore they fold not their
lands, ^hey were princes^ counfellors^ and chief ?nagijlrates,
as well as friefls^ and had a fettled flipend from the crown^
23 Then Jofeph faid unto the people, Behold, I have
bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh : lo,
24 [here Is] feed for you, and ye fhall fov7 the land. And
it fhall come to pafs in the increafe, that ye (hall give
the fifth [part] unto Pharaoh, and four parts ihall be
your own, for feed of the field, and for your food, and
for them of your houfeholds, and for food for your lit-
tle ones. He dealt ynercifully with them^ yet faithfully for
25 his lord* And they faid. Thou haft faved our lives : let
us
' Some have wondered they did not mutiny before this time ;
hut garrifons in the cities, and guards over the granaries, might
prevent it,
» Jofeph hath been refiedled upon as ading a bafe part in
buying the land, and enflaving the people; but Jofeph only afted
as the minifter of Pharaoh, and by his diredion ; he could not
give the corn away ; it was reafonable the crown fhould have fome
advantage; only a fifth part was laid up by the king's orders;
particular
25S GENESIS. XLVIL
us find grace in the fight of my lord, and we will be
16 Pharaoh's fervants, ^as farmers and tenants. And Jo-
feph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this
day, [that] Pharaoh fhould have the fifth [part •,] ex-
cept the land of the priefts, or princes^ only, [which]
became not Pharaoh's.^
27 And Ifrael dwelt in the land of Egypt in the country
of Gofhen •, and they had pofi^efTions therein, and grew,
and multiplied exceedingly, according to the fromife in
chap. xlvi. 3.
28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt feventeen
years : fo the days of the years of his life^ or the whole age
29 of Jacob, was an hundred forty and {^-^^xv years. And
the time drew nigh that Ifrael muft die : and he called
his fon Jofeph, and faid unto him, If now I have
found grace in thy fight, put, 1 pray thee, thy hand
under my thigh, as a teftimony of fubje^ion and obediencCy
and deal kindly and truly with me, fhow me true kind-
,30 nefs; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: But I will
lie with my fathers, and thou fiialt carry me out of
Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place, in token of
my affiirance that God in due time will bring back my pof-
- terity^ and fettle them in Canaan, and as a fign of my
expe^ation and defire of the heavenly inheritance, whereof
Canaan is a type. And he faid, 1 will do as thou haft
3 1 faid. And he faid. Swear unto me. And he fware unto
him. And Ifrael, who probably was now fitting up in his
. bedy
rarticalar perfons might ftore up great quantities for themfelves: if
they ufed it too freely, or lold it ro llrangcrs for an extravagant
price, they only were to blame ; they knew how long the famine
was to laft, and were fairly forewarned. — It was great kindnefs
in Jofeph to take their cattle, or they would have periilied;-—
and as to their lands, they were bu!: tenants to the crown before
this as they were under an arbitrary government ; and, whatever
we may think, they acknowledged it as a great kindnefs. See
Chandler's Anfwer to Morgan.
^ Thus he gave them their lands again, only referved a fifth
part of the produce for Pharaoh ; he laid on the land a tax
of four {hillings in the pound. They were thus exempted from
arbitrary impofitions, and fecured in the full pofieflion of their
lands, on paying a r?afonable tax, as much as we in Britain are
at this day.
GENESIS. XLVII/ 259
hed^ or on the fide of it^ bowed hirnfelf upon the bed's
head, or upon the top of hisftaff^ and zvorfhipped God with
thankfulnejs for his promifes^ and for this prefent mercy.
' REFLECTIONS.
I. T T is an niftrudlve view of human life which this
J|[ patriarch gives us : lue are ftr angers and travellers •,
are not at home. To this the apoftle refers, Heb, xi. i ^.
All his life was a pilgrimage, as well as the time fince he
left Egypt. So is our life •, our ftay is fhort -, we are
going to another ftate and world, and we have many in-
conveniencies in our journey. Let us confider life in this
view, and not ad as if we were to continue here always,
nor expedl too much in the way. Let us often think of
changing our habitations, blefs God for what he hath done
for us hitherto, and rejoice that there remaineth a reft for th^
people of God hereafter.
2. Let chriftians fhow kindnefs at home. Jofeph is a
good example of filial piety •, he was tender of his aged
father, nourifhed him, fware to him that he would do as
he defired him, and was very kind to all his brethren.
Children, learn hence, to honour your father and mother \ do
not forfake them when they are infirm and old •, love your
brethren, and be ready to do all the good you can for them.
Thus you will imitate Jofeph, and likewife the bleffed
Jefus •, and at laft have a place with Abraham, Ifaac, and
Jacob, in the kingdom of your heavenly father.
3. See what a terrible thing famine is, and let it teach us
to be thankful for our daily bread. Skin for fiin^ yea^ all that
a man hath^ will he give for his life -, his money, his cattle,
his land •, he will part with all, even liberty itfelf, to fave
life, Let us be thankful this is not our cafe, that we are
not reduced to this extremity. God gives us all things richly
to enjoy. Let us improve our money, our cattle, our
land, for that God who feeds and clothes us, and bleps us
with allfpiritual hlejfings in Chrift Jefus. Let us rejoice, that
we live under fuch a government, where our liberties and
properties are fecure •, and employ all our mercies for him>
to whofe care and goodnefs we owe them.
CHAP.
26o GENESIS. XLVIII.
CHAP. XLVIII.
^ofeph vijiteth his father -, Jacob repeateth the promife 5 and
prophefieth their return to Canaan,
1 A ND it came to pafs after thefe things, X^ddXfome
±\_ [one] told Jofeph, a mefjenger brought him tidings^
faying^ Behold, thy father [is] ficic : and Jofeph hafted
to fee him •, andht took with him his two fons, ManafTeh
and Ephralm, that they might hear his dying advice, and
2 fhare in his hleffing. And [one] told Jacob, and faid.
Behold, thy fon Jofeph cometh unto thee : and Ifrael
ftrengthened himfelf, and fat upon the bed : the hope of
feeing Jofeph and his fons revived him, and gave him frefh
fpirits,
3 And Jacob (aid unto Jofeph, God Almighty appear-
ed unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and bleifed
4 me. And faid unto me, Behold, I will make thee
fruitful and multiply thee, and 1 will make of thee a
multitude of people ; and will give this land to thy feed
after thee [for] an everlafting pofTeffion. 'Thus reciting
5 God's appearances for him, and promifes to him. And now
thy two fons, Ephraim and ManafTeh, which were born
unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee
into Egypt, [are] mine, / own and adopt them as if they
were mine -, as Reuben and Simeon, they fhall be mine \
they fhall be particular tribes, and have an equal fhare of my
prefent efiate, and future inheritance, zvith their brethren*
6 And thy iflue, which thou begetteft after them, fhall
be thine, [and] fhall be called after the name of their
brethren in their inheritance : or. If thou hafl any more
children hereafter, they fhall be counted as the children of
Ephraim or Manaffeh, and belong to one of thofe tribes, and
7 not be heads of tribes themfelves. And as for me, when I
came from Fadan, Rachel died by me in the land of
Canaan in the way, when yet [there was] but a little
way to come unto Ephrath^ and I buried her there m
the way of Ephrath ; the fame [is] Beth-lehem: as if
he had faid. And now, my fon, this reminds me of Rachely
thy dear mother, who died hnmediately after the promife of
' God
GENESIS. XLVIII. 261
God to multiply my feed^ and yet I fee it fulfilled in the
children God hath given to thee,
8 And Ifrael beheld Jofeph's fons, and faid, Who
9 [are] thefe ? And Jofeph faid unto his father, They
[are] my Tons, whom God hath given me in this
[place.] And he faid, Bring them, I pray thee, unto
10 me, and I will blefs them." Now the eyes of Ifrael were
dim for age, [fo that] he could not fee. And he brought
them near unto him ; and he kiffed them, and embraced
1 1 them. And Ifrael faid unto Jofeph, I had not thought
to fee thy face : and, lo, God hath fhowed me alfo thy
1 2 feed ; he hath outdone all my expe^ations. And Jofeph
brought them out from between his knees, removed them
from the embraces of his father^ and fet them orderly before
him^ to receive his blejfing^ and he bowed himfelf with his
face to the earth, in reverence and thankfulnefs for the honour
1 3 and affection fhown to him and his. And Jofeph took them
both, Ephraim in his right hand toward IfraePs Ith
hand, and Manafleh in his left hand toward Ifrael's
14 right hand, and brought [them] near unto him. And
Ifrael {l:retched out his right hand, and laid [it] upon
Ephraim's head, who [was] the younger, and yet fhould
have the preeminence y and his left hand upon ManafTeh's
head, guiding his hands wittingly, prudently^ or by di*
15 vine dire5iion\ for ManalTeh [was] the firft born. And
he bleffed Jofeph in his children^ and faid, God, before
whom my fathers Abraham and Ifaac did walk, or be-
have themf elves in a holy and acceptable manner ^ the God
which fed me all my life long unto this day, ever fines
16 I had a beings The Angel which redeemed me from
all evil, blefs the lads •, and let my name be named on
them, let them be called the children of Jacobs or Ifrael^
that they may remember the country and family to which they
belongs and the name of my fathers Abraham and Ifaac j
and let them grow into a multitude in the midft of the
Vol. I. S earth.
" Paul fays, Heb. xi. 21. By faith Jacob nuhen he niuas a dying,
hlejfed both the Jons of Jofeph, with a paternal, patriarchal, and
prophetical blelTing, in the name and by the Ipirit of God ;
praying for, and foretelling thofe bleffings which God would confer
upon them.
262 GENESIS. XLVIII.
17 earth. And when Jofeph faw that his father laid his
right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it difpleafed him,
hccc.uje of his great affeMion for ManaJJ'eh his eldefl fon :
and he held up his father's hand to remove it from
18 Ephraim's head unto Manaffth's head. And Jofeph
fald unto his father, Not fo, my father: for this [is]
19 the lirft born ; put thy right hand upon his head. And
his father refufed, and faid, I know [it,] my fon, I
know [it :] thefe two holy prophets differed in judgment ^ not
about the fubflance^ but the circumjlance of the hlejfing \ they
dtf agreed about the ceremony only : and Jacob faid^ He alfb
fliall become a people, and he alfo fhall be great : but
, truly his younger brother fhall be greater than he, and
his feed fhall become a multitude of nations, greater in
number of pojierity^ and power ^ and dignity •, for of him
came JcJJiua the conqueror of Canaan^ and Jeroboam king
of Ijrael; wherefore that kingdom is frequently called by
20 the name of Ephraim. And he bleffed them that day,
faying, In thee fhall Ifrael blefs ; when the Ifraelites blefs
or wijJo profperity one to another^ they fhall to.ke thee for an
example or pattern^ frying? God make thee as Ephraim
and as ManafTeh : and he fet Ephraim before ManafTeh.
21 And Ifrael faid unto Jofeph, Behold, I die: but
God fhall be with you, and bring you again unto the
22 land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to thee
one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of
the hand of the Amorite with my fword and with my
bow •, / do now prophetically give^ and God will really
and aHually give., to thy fon Ephraim^ or his poflerity., that
parcel of land which I bought of Hamor., ( ch, xxyim. 19.)
for tho" the whole land was given to me and my pofierity^
yet this was mine by a fpecial civil right y which being feized
upon by the inhabitants of the land after I had bought it^ I
drove them out of it again, ^
REFLECT.
*' This afterwards became the inheritance of Jofeph, (fo^.xxW,
32.) It is mentioned in the New Tellament (John iv. 3.) as a
parcel of ground which Jacob gave. Here Chrift converfed with
the woman of t>amaria. There is a fine clofe in the neighbour-
hood of Shechem to this day, which Maundrell fuppofes to be
the fame which is here faid to have been given to Jofeph,
GENESIS. XLVIII. 263
REFLECTIONS.
I. /t G E D and dying faints fhould thankfully com-
j[\^ memorate the goodnefs of God to them : they
jfhould enter into particulars, and keep a catalogue of the
mofl: remarkable events ; as Jacob, David, and many others
did. Aged chriftians fhould bear teftimony to the truth
and goodnefs of the Lord, to the pleafures of religion,
and the comfort of God's ways ♦, and take occafion frorh
thence to encourage others to walk in them •, thus fliowing
God's ftrength to this generation^ and his -power and glory to
thofe who may come after them.
2. How defirous fhould chriftian Parents be to put their
children in the way of God's bleffing, and engage, the
prayers of eminent faints for them ! Jacob's prayers and
blefling were worth more to the fons of Jofeph, than all the
wealth and power that he could beflow upon them in the
land of Egypt. What pafled on this occafion made a laft-
ing imprefTion on the minds of thefe youths : the effe5lual
fervent prayer of a righteous man avaikth much. Young per-
fons, in the prefent degenerate day, have need of all pof-
fible helps and encouragements in the way of religion. The
prayers and inflrudions of chriftian friends and minifters,
and efpecially the blefting of God, which is neceflary to
make young perfons fober and virtuous, fhould be highly
valued and carefully fought. Let us look on thofe as our
beft friends, who do any thing to make our children wife
and good.
£-. We fee that the bleffmg of God Is not beilowed
according to the natural affedion of parents and friends.
God's gifts differ from ours ; he fometimes highly fa-
vours and difllnguifhes thofe, whom we think are mofl
unlikely, and for whom we are leafl defirous of his favours.
He does not ad by the order of nature-, he fees farther
than we do, and a6ls accordingly. There are many in-
ftances in which the younger is preferred to the elder; for
his gifts and grace are free.
4. When our friends are taken away, the prefence of
the living God is indeed comfortable ; and never more fo
S 2 than
264 G E N E S 1 S., XLIX.
than then. He will never leave norforfake us •, he can make up
all our lofTes. Tho' others fhould depart, and leave us alone v
if God be with us, we need not fear ; he can do for us
whatever our beft friends could, yea, and infinitely more
than they could do ♦, his prefence and blefling can attend us
in thofe circumflances, in which they could not poffibly
help or comfort us : and ere long, if we are faithful, lieivill
take us to himfelf^ bring us to the land where our pious
fathers are gone. Let us, therefore, ftrengthen and en-
courage ourfelves in the Lord our God, from henceforth,
and for ever. Ame?i.
CHAP. XLIX. I— 18.
Cyrus f aid y ' l^hat the fouls of men at the point of death became
prophetick.^ This antient opinion never was univerfally true •,
yet Jacob in this chapter prophejies in a moft fublime and lofty
fliky when nature was f,nking and dying, T" he words of dying
parents generally leave aflrong imprejfion on the mind. Having
received blejft7igs from his father^ Jacob now divides them
among his children,
1 AND Jacob called unto his fons, and faid, Gather
jtv yourfelves together, that I may tell you [that]
which fhall befall you in the laft days •, what Jlioll happen
2 to you and your pofierity in future times. Gather yourfelves
together, and hear, ye fons of Jacob j and hearken
unto Ifrael your father.
3 Reuben, thou [art] my fir ft born, my might, and the
beginning of my ftrength, begotten in the prime and vigour
of my days \ the excellency of dignity, and the excellency
of power ; it was thy due to have had the precedency both in
dignity and power \ but thou hafi forfeited it^ and art now
4 Unftable as water, without felf- government^ a man of no
refolution\ thou fhalt not excel, never come to any degree
of eminence^ either in number^ valour^ or extraordinary at-
chievements ; becaufe thou wenteft up to thy father's bed;
then defiledft thou [it :] then Jacobs as with indignation
at thefaSi^ turns hisfpeech from Reuben to his brethren^ and
fhows
GENESIS. XLIX. 265
piows how juft caufe there was to pronounce this fentence
againjl him^ andfays^ He went up to my couch, this my
firft born fon fcandaloujly defiled his father'' s bed\ heJJiall not
exceL And Jo it came topafs •, there never was any eminent
perfon of that tribe •, they were opprejfed by their enemies^
and never made any figure,
5 5>imeon and Levi [are] brethren ; not only by nature,
but Ukewife in manners-, and alfo confederates in the fame
iv'ifked ciejign, inftruments of cruelty, or cruel weapons,
fare in] their habitations, their bloody fwords Jlill remain
6 to bear wttnefs againjl them. O my foul, come not thou
into their fecret -, or, thou cameji not into their fecret-, I
proteft with my dying breath, I knew nothing of it, neither
in word or thought confented to it -, unto their aflembly,
mine honour, be not thou united, let not my honour or
good 7iame be bound up with theifs, whofe wickednefs I
abhor -, for in their anger they flew a man, that is. She-
chem, and in their felf will, not in a fudden pajfion, but
upon a wilful and fettled refolution and deliberation, they dig-
ged down a wall, the walls of the houfe where Dinah was ;
or, as in the 'margin of our bibles, 'They houghed oxen, that is,
7 drove away the oxen and cattle of the Shechemites. Curfed
[be] their anger, for [it was] fierce \ and their wrath,
for it was cruel,'' violent and outrageous -, therefore the
divine purpofe is this, I will divide them in Jacob, and
fcatter them in Ifrael •, / will difperfe them and their
pojlerity among the children of Jacob or Ifrael y
8 Judah, thou [art he] whom thy brethren fhall praife,
thy tribe Jhall be famous for the royal dignity belonging to it,
and the MeJfiaK s coming out of it, (Heb. vii.14. i Chron,
V. 2.) which fhall he matter of great praife and honour to
thee: thy hand [fhall be] in the neck of thine enemies,
thou jhalt attack them fword in hand, and titterly dejlroy
S 3 their
^ Dr. Kennicott tranflates thefe verfes thus: 'v. 5. their njery
contrails are injiruments of 'violence, "j, 6. For in their anger they
flew the meriy and in their felf-will they dejlroy ed the princes, 'v, 7.
Curfed be their anger, for it was lierce ; and their confederacy ^
for it was cruel.
y This accordingly came to pafs, and they had cities in every
one of the tribes ; yet this was afterwards turned into a bleiling.
See Deut* xxxiii, 9, 10.
^ee GENESIS. XLIX.
their power-, thy father's children fhall bow down before
thee : this was fulfilled in David and Solormn^ who govern-
ed all the twelve tribes. Then follows a beautiful coynpanfon *,
9 Judah [is] a lion's whelp, who walks about with aftaiely
air when he goes from devouring the prey \ my fon, ihou
art gone up : he ftooped down, he couched as a lioii, who
fomctimes lies down^ and even Jleeps over his prey^ confcious
of his own flrength and fearlefs of any foe \ fo jfhalt thou be
greats andfecure in thyvi5iories \ and as an old lioo, one full
grown and fierce :, who iliali roufe him up? none of his
enemies Jhall dare to provoke hrm -, at leafi not without ruin
to themfelv^ : this is a beautiful gradation^ and infimates
the increafe of his power. 1" hen follows the great prrmife of
10 the Mejjiahfrom him: The fceptre, the walking ft aff\ or
rod, the emblem of authority^ fhall not depart from J wdah,
nor a lawgiver from between his feet, from his pofteriiy^
until Shiloh come, //// the promifed Mejffiah jhall be ferit\
it fliall be a difthiEl tribe ^ judged by its rivn laws., and not
difperfed till Chrift fhall come ; and unto him [fl^.ailj ;he
gathering of the people [be;] fomc of all nations, both
Jews and gentiles., fliall yield obedience to Chrift., acknow-
11 ledging him for ihar Lord and Saviour. Binding his foal
unto the vine, and his afs's cok unto the choice vine j
hewalhedhis garrnents in wine, and his cloches in the
blood of grapes ; his portion of land in Canaan [ball abound
with vines ayidfat paftures., infomuch that wine and milk fb all
12 he as plcfittful and common^ in a manner., as water : His
eyes [fhall be] red with wine, and his teeth white with
milk •, his eyes fioall be brighter than wine., and his teeth
whiter than milk ; all the people fhall be healthful and
cheerful., thro" the abundance they fhall poffefs.
13 Zebulun fhall dwell at the haven of the fea-, here is
an alliifon tp his name., which ftgnifies., dwellings \ thefituation
of the twelve tribes being determined by lot., makes thefe
predi5iions the more remarkable-, and he [fliall he] for an
haven of fhips : and his border [fhall be] unto Zidon'-,
their coafts were f fttuated as to be fit for eafy and ordinary
0mmerce with the Sidonians,
14 Ifiachar [is] a ftrong afs "^ couching down between
two
* The alTes of that country were larger thiin ours ; princes and
great men ufcd to ride upon them.
GENESIS. XLIX. 267
two burdens: his pofterity fliall be of great ftrength^ hut
fmall courage •, and therefore fhall patiently fubmit to any taxes
15 which may be laid upon them by their neighbours : And he
faw that reft [was] good, and the land that [it was]
pleafant \ he fliall delight in peace and cultivating the earth%
and accordingly he bowed his fhoulder to bear, and
became a fervant unto tribute-, inftead of oppofing the
Canaanites^ they actually became tributary to them.
16 Dan fhall judge his people, as one of the tribes of
Ifrael. An allufion to his na^ne^ ch. xxx 6. he has abfolute
power within himfelf to rule and govern-, thd* the fon of a
concubine -■» as other tribes who are defcended from free
17 women have, Dan fhall be a ferpent by the way, an
adder in the path, that biteth the horfe heels, fo that
his rider iball fall backward ^—Then Jacobs finding him"
18 f elf ready to faint., breaks out into this ejaculations I have
waited for thy falvation, O Lord •, ^ or., I am waiting
for thy falvation^ for the happinefs of a future^ flat e and
world \ I am ready and willing to die when thou pleafefl ,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us guard againft an unftable temper, which
p y was the caufe of Reuben's fm, and the lofs of his
privileges. Let us labour after ftedfaftnefs of foul, that
we may not waver to and fro, and be eafily imprefled and
feduced by temptation ; that our hearts may be fixed for
God and religion •, that we may be ftedfaft and unmove-
able ; that nothing may turn us afide trom it. If we lofe
the excellency of virtue and piety, no other excellency will
be of any avail to us.
S 4 2. Let
* A perfon (hould arife out of that tribe, who, tho' no danger
Ihall be apprehended, yet he fhall be like a ferpent, or red
adder, lying in the duft, which may be trod upon unawares, and
fhall bite the horfe and throw the rider. This was fulfilled in
Samfon deltroying the Philillines when blind, and in the difpo-
fition of this tribe to manage their wars rather by cunning and
craft, than open hoiliiities. See 'Judges xviii. 27.
^ The Chaldee fays, For the /ah at ion if the kitig, the Mejfiah.
268 GENESIS. XLIX.
2. Let us abhor cruelty of all kinds ; efpeclally under
the malk of religion. Jacob remembered Simeon and
Levi. Mofes alfo leaves a mark of infamy on his great
grandfather. We here fee, to what a length the irregular
Workings of anger and refentment may carry us, and what
a lafting blot they may leave on our names. Let us guard
againft felf-will and obftinacy, running haflily to exircute
revengeful and wicked purpofcs. It is curfed anger, ef-
pecially v/hen religion is brought in and made the pretence
for it. What innumerable evils and miferies arift froni
a^^ger and revenge! Be angry and fin not\ reftrain its work-
ings, and guard your own fpints ; make no friendihip
with furious men, avoid their company ; and let all thofe
who hate and deftroy one another, be our abhorrence. O
my foul J come not tJiou into their Jeer et\ unto their ajfembly^ mine ■
honour^ he not thou united.
3. Let us be thankful that Shiloh is come, and that we
are gathered to him. Jacob, at this diftance of time, and on
his dying bed, faw his day^ and was glad \ it was his fupport
and comfort. In the fulnefs of time he was manifefted ; the
promifed feed was born before thefceptre departed from Judah^
or a lawgiver from between his feet. By him the people were
gathered together, united in a new, a glorious, a chriilian
church •, and thro- the riches of divine grace we are gachered
into it. Tho' by nature we belong to the wild olive, to the
'gentile world, yet by grace we are united to die true vine;
and all the children of God that were fcattered abroad are
gathered together, and are one in Chrift Jefus. Many
patriarchs, kings, and prophets defired to fee this day, but
were not fo highly favoured. Let us be thankful for our
privileges, and improve them well, that vv'e may be a holy
nation^ a peculiar people-, otherwife, we may fear that God
will yet divide and fcatter us •, and the greater our privileges
have been, the forer will be our puniihment,
4. Let us adore th^ hand of God in all the blefTings of
our iituation. It is he who fixes tlie hounds of our habitation ;
who hath caifed the lines to fall to us in pkafant places^ and
given us a goodly heritage^ a fruitful country, where agricul-
ture and navigation are fo happily united, and the blefllngs
ot Judah and Zebulun are joined together. Let us ferve
the
GENESIS. XLIX 269
the Lord with cheerfulnefs, in the abundance of all the
good things we enjoy •, never make them a bait to luxury,
but ufe them fo as not to abufe them, and fhow our
gratitude to God for them. We ihould be thankful that
God hath given to fome a tafte for navigation and the fea,
and to others for the labours and pleafures of a country life j
that we have the produce of our own land in fuch abun-
dance, and the produce of other countries, and of foreign
climes, brought to our fhores. God is to be owned and
honoured in all this.
5. Let us be thankful that God hath raifed us up fo
many judges, who have judged the people in equity, and
formed wife and good laws ; fo many deliverers, who have
refcued us from tyranny, flavery, and fin, and overthrown
thofe who would have trampled upon us, faying to our fouls ^
Bow down^ that we may go over you ; who have confounded
our enemies amidft their moft fanguine profpcds, and
eftablifhed our civil and religious liberties.
6. Let us, like the good patriarch, be waiting for God's
falvation ; and thankful that we have fo much clearer dif-
coveries of it than he had : it is a falvation worth waiting
for. Aged chriftians, efpecially, fhould cultivate this tem-
per •, they have {^^n much of the goodnefs of God to them,
and experienced his faithfulnefs and care. Truft him
then, in the laft ftages of your journey •, and patiently
wait all the days of your appointed time^ till your great change
fhall come. Be alTured that God's time is the beft \ wait cheer-
fully for fo glorious an event •, it is the beft frame to be
found in when your Lord comes \ and you will find it good
indeed to hope and quietly wait for the falvation of God,
CHAP.
270 GENESIS. XLIX.
CHAP. XLIX. 19, to the end.
*Jacoh having recovered a little Jlrength^ a?id being revived-*
proceeds to blefs the other tribes.
19 /^^ A D, a troop fhall overcome him : but he fhall
\J' overcome at the laft.^
20. Out of Afher his bread [fliall be] fat, and he /hall
yield royal dainties ; his corn land /hall be very rich, and
his bread corn of the choiceft fort ^ fit for princes. They dwelt
near mount Carm-el^ which was a very rich country.
21 Naphtali [is] a hind let loofe : he giveth goodly
words. Some think this refers to his temper.^ that hefhould
he amiable and gentle^ and his defendants remarkable for
eloquence ^
22 Jofeph, whofe name Jignifies fruitful., [is] a fruitful
bough, [even] a fruitful bough by a well •, [whofe]
branches run over the wall ; his pofterity fpread themfelves
to a great diftance ; we read of the thoujands of Manajjeh^
23 and ten thoufand's of Ephraim. The archers have forely
grieved him, and fliot [at him,] and hated him *, many
fet themfelves againfi him \ his brethren.^ mifirefs.^ 'mafler^
and Pharaoh's courtiers., as the rabbies fay., and endeavoured
24 to ruin him: But his bov/ abode in ftrength-, he flood
againfi all^ like a tough bow., which neither breaks nor is
weakened by life ; his virtue was flrong and unconquerable ;
and the arms of his hands were made ftrong, to draw his
bow and ft and his ground^ by the hands of the mighty
[God] of Jacob, who laid his hand on Jofeph^ s arm., while
he was drawing the bow., and enabled him to conquer 5
(from thence, that is., from God., [is] the fhepherd, the
done of Ifrael ; from God's power and providence it was^
that
* Here is an allufion to his name, which fignifies a troop;
many enemies Ihall overcome him ; the Ammonites and Moabites
did fo; fee Jer. xlix. 1. hut he fhall o-vercome at the laji. So he
did under Jephtha, and kept pofTefTion of the country till the
captivity, i Chron, v. 18 — 22. Dent, xxxiii. 20.
^ 1 rather think it means they ihould live in a large and plenti-
ful country, be lovers of liberty, like a hind let looie; and, being
of a courteous, friendly difpofuion, fhould live in peace with their
neighbours. Accordingly, we read of few wars among themfelves,
or opprelTion irom others.
GENESIS. XLIX. 271
that Jofeph became the /hepherd^ to feed me and my family in
the famine : or^ the rock of Ifrael, to fupport us -, he was the
25 feeder and f upper ter of the whole family :) [Even] by, or
from^ the God of thy father, who fhall help thee; and
by the Almighty, v.ho fhall blefs thee with blefTings of
heaven above, rain and dev.\ which fliall make thy land
fruifuU bleffings of the deep that liei:h under, y^nV^j of
water ^ bklTings of the breaib, and of the womb, muU
tiiudes both of children and cattle^ and thcfe well nourifked:
26 The blefTings of thy father have prevailed above the
blelTmgs of my progenitors ; I tenderly bleffed thee when a
child ^ and prayed for thee ; and now I have the plea fur e to
fee my prayers have been heard for thee^ more than myfathefs
for me, in the extent of the blejfings^ which are unto the
utrnoft bound of the everbfting hills ; of large extent and
long continuance^ even unto Bafban^ and Tabor ^ and Hermon^
and they fhall be on the head of Jofeph, and on the crown
of the head of him that was feparate from his brethren,
when he was fold into Egypt^ and afterwards was there
highly advanced to a Jingular degree of honour,
27 Benjamin fhall ravin [as] a wolf, be fir ong^ fierce^ and
warlike : in the morning he fhall devour the prey, and
at night he fhall divide the fpoil. This was the cafe at
the beginning and end of that tribe ; when ten were lofiy this
returned with Judah^ and mingled with it.
28 All thefe [are] the twelve tribes of Ifrael, the flat e
and condition of the twelve tribes : and this [is it] that
their father fpake unto them, and blefTed them ; every
one according to his blefTing he blefTed them, with fuch
a bkjfing as God f aw fit for them^ andhisfpirit di^iatedto
Jacob.
29 And he charged them, and faid unto them, I am to
be gathered unto my people : bury me with my fathers
in the cave that [is] in the field of Ephron theHittite,
30 In the cave that [is] in the field of Machpelah, which
[is] before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which A.-
braham bought with the field of Elphron the Hittite for
a pollelTion of a burying place. Hereby he defigned to
withdraw their minds from Egypt ^ ayid to fix them upon Ca-
3 I naan. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife ;
there
272 GENESIS. XLIX. |
there they burled Ifaac and Rebekah his wife ; and there |
32 I buried Leah. The purchafe of the field and of the |
cave that [is] therein [was] from the children of Heth. \
3^ And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his j
fons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded 1
up the ghoft, and was gathered unto his people, to his \
pious a7ueJlors in another world, Thus peaceful and happy I
was the death of this friend of God ! \
REFLECTIONS. •
I, ^T^ H E lot of Gad is an emblem of the ftate of true '
JL chriftians •, Gad, a troop jliall overcome him : hut he \
ffiall overcome at the lafi. They are often overcome in this ;
world, by afRidions and temptations-, but at length they fhall ;
he conquerors, and more than conquerors. It is an emblem of i
the ftate of the church ♦, which has often been overcome and i
brought low, but not deftroyed \ and at length it fhall |
triumph gloricufly, and vanquiili all cppofition. Great is |
the truth, and will prevail •, even the gates of hell fhall not \
prevail againft it. \
2. Let us imitate the fweetnefs of difpofition that is cele- I
braled in Naphtali -, as a loving hind, who giveth goodly words. '\
Good words are cheap ; it is eafy to behave with civility j
and refpedl, and to fecure the friendlhip of, and an intereft i
in, thofe around us. It is not in our power to do fervice to 1
every body, but we may ufe kind and refpedful words to :
every one. The poor may do this •, and if the rich will not J
add this to their other gifts, they will fignify little. On
our tongue let there be the law ofkindnefs. Yet we fhould not ,
be content with this, hut love, not in word or tongue only, hut •
in deed and in truth, \
3. Let us pray, that the power which firengthened Jofeph, \
may alfo ftrengthen us under our difficulties and tempta- ;
tions. The archers have fhot at us ♦, many are tempting us ■
to fin •, there is a bufy adverfary who is fhooting his fiery \
darts. Let us pray, that the Lord would be our fhield ^ ■
bur flrength is from him ; he makes our how to abide in ;
Jlrength j and the arms of our hands are madefirong, by the hand \
of the mighty God of Jaccb, What an amiable idea does this |
give \
G E N E S I S. XLIX. 273
give us of divine affiftance, and how fuitable a prayer is
this for all chriftians, and miniiiers efpecially ! They draw
the bow — God mufc put his hand on theirs, if they deiire
fuccefs. They mufl aim right — but it is God alone that can
give their words force and ftrength. Let us pray for this,
and remember, that our ftrength to bear afflidions, and to
vanquish temptations, is all from God. Lord^ make thy
ftrength perfect in our wcaknefs^ and thy grace fufficient for us.
4. In whatever inftances we find fupport or efteem, leani
from whence it proceeds, and to whom we are to give the
praife. If we meet with thofe who are friends, either to
body or foul, that feed the one or the other, on whofe
friendfhip or affedlion we can build a fure foundation, re-
member from whence it proceeds, tv^nfrom the mighty God of
Jacob. This made Jofeph firong againft temptations J gave
him favour in the fight of men, and profperity in all that
he fet his hand unto. Tho' the archers Jliot at him^ his hoisy
abode in ftrength. This was efpecially true of our Lord Jefus
Chrift \ the archers fliot at him, the fcribes and pharifees,
and Herod and Pilate •, Satan tempted him, but he over-
came all. Nov/, he is the finepherd of his church ; he feeds
his people with knowledge and underftanding \ leads them
in the right way •, fecures them from danger, and caufes them
to lie'do-wn in grem paftiires. He is the foundation fl:one ;
the chief corner fl:one; the fupport of the whole fpiritual
building; all this is owing to the hand of the Lord that
was with him. Let us afcribe praife to God, who deliver-
ed his dear fon, and made him fuch a bleiTmg to the world ;
thanks be to God for this unfpeakable gift.
5. Learn to adore the perfed knowledge of God, that
points out fuch a variety of events ; that foretells the con-
dition of each tribe fo long before, and exacftly correfpond-
ed with their circumfi:ances, tho' determined afterwards by
lot. Let us reverence and adore fo wife and glorious a
God, and the fpirit of prophecy which he gave to Jacob.
6. Let us choofe our lot among God's people, that we
may be gathered to them at laft. Jacob had followed the faith
of Abraham and Ifaac, and others of the patriarchs, holy
men that went before him, and at death he was gathered
to them.^ and joined to their fociety. Let us alfo be followers
of
274 GENESIS. L.
of them who thro' faith and 'patience inherit the promifes. Let
us join our fouls to God, and walk In his ways; and at
length we fha!l be joined to the general affemhly of the church
ofthefirft horn^ and to the fpirits of juft men made 'perfect ; to
enjoy all thofe bleffings, which God hath prepared for them
that love him.
CHAP. L.
^his chapter gives an account of J acoh" s funeral \ of the friend-^
fJiip renewed between J of eph and his brethren ; andofJofepKs
death.
1 AND Jofeph, who exceeded his brethren^ as in piety
Jf\ toward God^ fo in filial affection and duty to his
father^ fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him,
and kijffed him, and thus paid his laft refpe^is to fo pious
2 and tender a parent. And Jofeph commanded his fer-
vants the phyficians to embalm his father : ^ and the
3 phyficians embalmed Ifrael/ And forty days were
fulfilled for him -, for fo are fulfilled the days of thx)fe
which are embalmed : and the Egyptians mourned for
him threefcore and ten days, thirty days more than the
forty for embalming,
4 And when the days of his mourning were pail:, Jo-
feph fpake unto the houfe of Pharaoh, faying. If now
1 have found grace in your eyes, fpeak, I pray you, in
5 the ears of Pharaoh,^ faying. My father made me
fwear,
^ Tt was a piece of Hate to have phyficians in the hoiife, who
performed the necclFary ads of furocry, and embalmed the dead.
^ This was done by walhing the body with oil of cinnamon,
myrrh, and other rich fpices, for forty days, and by putting
fome of tbefe ingredients into, the body. It then lay in pickle,
in nitre or fait petre, till feventy days were completed from the
time they began their work ; and thus the body would keep for
many centuries, as we know the mammies do. Tiius Jofeph
complied with the Egyptian cuflom out of refped to his father,
and to prelerve the body for burial in Canaan.
6 Jt was refpedful to Pharaoh not to go without his leave; and
he fet fome of the couitiers to afk for it; becaufe, as Herodotus
tells us, it was not permitted for any in mourning to come into
the prefence of the prince; therefore he defires them to tell Pha-
raoh of his oath.
GENE S I S. L. 275
Iv/ear, faying, I^o, I die : in my grave which I have
digged for me in the land of Canaan, there fhalt thou
bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee,
6 and bury my father, and I will come again. And
Pharaoh faid, Go up, and bury thy father, according
as he made thee fwear.
7 And Jofeph went up to bury his father : and with him
went up all, or many of the fei vants of Pharaoh, the
elders of his houfe, and ail the elders of the land of
Egypt, the conjiderable perfons of the king's houfehold^ and
officers^ civil and military^ to fhow refpe5l to Jofeph and
8 Jacob \ And all the houfe of Jofeph, and his brethren,
and his father's houfe : only their httle ones, and their
flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Gofhen.
9 And there went up with him both chariots and horfe-
micn, to he a defence^ and drive away the CanaaniteSy if
they had taken poffejfion of the place : and it was a very
10 great company, and agrand procejfion. And they came
to the threfhing floor of Atad, which [is] beyond Jor-
dan, that isyfrom Egypt •, and there they mourned with a
great and very fore lamentation : and he made a mourn-
1 1 ing for his father feven days. And when the inhabitants
of the land, the Canaanites, faw the mourning in the
floor of Atad, they faid. This [is] a grievous mourn-
ing to the Egyptians : wherefore the name of it was
called Abel mizraim, that is, the mourning of the Egyp-
\ 2 tianSy which [is] beyond Jordan. And his fons did
13 unto him according as he commanded them: For his
fons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried
him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abra-
ham bought with the field for a polTeirion Oi a burying-
place of Ephron the Elittite, before Mamre.
14 And Jofeph returned into Egypt, he, and his bre-
. thren, and all that went up with him to bury his
father, after he had buried his father.
15 And when Jofeph's brethren faw that their father
was dead, they faid, Jofeph will peradventure hate us,
and will certainly requite us ail the evil which we did
unto him. They had no reafon to imagine this j hut a guilty
confciencs
276 G E N E S I S. L. -
16 confcience caufes fear^ and is never fully at reft. And they
fent a meflenger unto Jofeph, faying, Thy father did
17 command before he died, faying. So fhall ye fay unto
Jofeph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trefpafs of thy
brethren, and their fm •, for they did unto thee evil : *
and now, we pray thee, forgive the trefpafs of the
fervants of the God of thy father. This may be deftgned
to intimate their repentance^ and /how they were of the fame
religion with him. And Jofeph wept when they fpake
unto him, pitying their perplexity^ and grieving at their
18 doubts of his good wilL And his brethren alfo went and
fell down before his face •, and they faid, Behold, we
19 [be] thy fervants. And Jofeph made a noble reply, and
faid unto them. Fear not : for [am] 1 in the place of
God, /o punifh the injury done to me ? Ought I not rather to
remember that I am mortal and accountable, and need for-
givenefs ? Am I not under God, (as others read it) under his
20 eye, and fubjetl to him ? But as for you, ye thought evil
againft me ; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring
to pafs, as [it is] this day, to fave much people alive.
2 1 Now therefore fear ye not : I will nourilh you, and
your little ones. And he comforted them, and fpake
kindly unto them, mentioned their fault very gently^ and
promifed them his favour and protection, , ^'
22 And Jofeph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's
houfe : and Jofeph lived an hundred . and ten years :
23 having been eighty years governor of Egypt. And Jofeph
faw Hphraim's children, of the third [generation :] the
children alfo of Machir the fon of ManafTeh were
brought up upon Jofeph's knees •, he took pleafure, in
their infancy, to let them fit on his lap, and dandle them on
his knees.
24 And Jofeph, finding his end draw near, took a folemn
farewell of, and faid unto his brethren, I die : and
God will furely vifit you, and bring you out of this
Innd unto the land which he fware to Abraham, to
Ifaac, and to Jacob. Thus he exprefi^d his faith in God*s
promife,
^ This was probably a falfe ftory; Jacob knew Jofeph too well
to fulpedlt that he would bear ill-wiU to his brethren, or he wouli
have given the charge to jofeph, and not to them.
GENESIS. L; 277
profnife^ and his full ajfurance that he would accompUJh it,
25 And Jofeph took an oath of the children of Ifrael, fay-
ing, God will furely vifit yoli, infome extraordinary man^
ner^ and deliver you from this land^ and ye Ihall carry up
my bones from hence.'"
26 So Jofeph died, [being] an hundred and ten years
old : and they embalmed him, and he was put in a
coffin in Egypt. "Thus this Book concludes with the death
of thefe eminent men. A. M. 2369.
REFLECTIONS.
I . T T TE fee that mourning and death invade the houfes
V V ^^ ^^^ ^^^ eminent faints, and the palaces of
the greateft princes. Neither piety nor grandeur can be
fecure from this •, there is no difcharge in this war v death
makes no diftindlion, but comes to all.
2. When eminent faints are taken away, the forms of
mourning are peculiarly proper, both on account of the lofs
which the world fuftains, and out of refped to the pious dead.
It is fit that we ihould lament the death of good men, and
lay it to heart •, when the righteous perifh^ the excellent of the
earth are taken away. Decent funerals, according to per-
fons' circumftances, are very commendable. Thus devout
men carried Stephen to his burial, and made a great la-
mentation over him. The bodies of the faints are under
Chrift's care j he will watch over them, and put honour
upon them another day.
3. How reftlefs docs guilt make the mind ! After fo
many years of kind and generous treatment, it is ftrange
that Jofeph's brethren fhould fufped that any degree of
refentment or revenge was harboured in his breaft. They
knew they had done iniquity, and therefore fufpeded him.
See the importance and neceffity of keeping a good con-
fcience •, fear and fufpicion arife from a guilty mind.
4. Hov/ beautiful does generofity and kindnefs appear !
Jofeph was remarkable for this •, the belief of providence
Vol. I. T led
^ Accordingly, when they went out of Egypt, we are expreftly
told they carried Jofeph's bones with them, as Stephen intimaivS
they did the bones ot the other patriarchs. A^s vii. 16.
278 GENESIS. L.
led him to it. He not only pardoned and excufed his bre-
thren, but nourifhed them as his own children. He /poke
kindly to them, fpoke to their hearts, removed their fears,
and did not keep them in fufpenfe. We learn from fo
bright an example, to forgive them that injure us. Let
the remembrance of Jofeph excite us to this, that we be not
overcome of evil, hut overcome evil with good •, thus let us be
imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love,
5. Let us labour and pray that we may die in faith, as
Jofeph did. So the apoftlefays, Hch. xi. 22. By faith Jofeph
when he died, made mention of the departure of the children of
Ifrael *, and gave commandment concerni?ig his bones. Let us
exercife faith in God's promifes •, believe that it fhall be as
he hath declared-, truft in his mercy and faithfulnefs, and
quietly wait for his falvation,
6. When our pious friends are taken away, it is a very
great fatisfaflion to think, that God will vijit us, and fulfil
all his gracious promifes. This hath often been the language
of good men to their furvivors, I die^ but God will furely
vifit you, and bring you out of this land, to the land he hath
promifed. Whatever friends die, God lives ; tho' we fhould
be difappointed in our hopes from them, or they be taken
away from us, God will furely vifit us \ vifit us with the
' tokens of his prefence and favour, and make up the want
of all earthly comforts -, he will vifit us in our retirements
and folitude, and bring us out of this houfe of bondage, to
the heavenly Canaan, to the land which he hath promifed ;
he will bring us to that better country, which the patriarchs
fought, even an heavenly one. Inhere we fhall fit down with
Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, and Jofeph, and other faints,
who are gone before us to the kingdom of God : wherefore
comfort one another with thefe words.
The
The Second Book of MOSES, called,
EXODUS.
INTRODUCTION.
IT/' E are now entering on the fecond Book of Moses, called^
Exodus, that is. The going out, or. The departure.
// contains the hifiory of the Ifraelites for the period of one
hundred and forty five years, from the death of Jofeph to the
building of the Tabernacle •, including an account of the increafe
and opprejfton of Ifraelin Egypt -, c/ Moses being fent to deliver
them ', of the ten plagues ; of their deliverance withaftrong hand\
of their pajjing thro* the Redfea, and the deftru5lion of Pharaoh
and his hoji there-, of their fafe condu^ thro* the wilder nefs for
forty years \ of the covenant between God and them at Sinai \ of
his giving them laws and judgments-, of his ordaining thepriejl-
hood J and the ere^ion of the Tabernacle^
CHAPTER. I.
Contains an account of the increafe of the Ifraelites; the oppref-
/ton they underwent \ and of the deftru5lion of their children,
1 1^ TOW thefe [are] the names of the children of
j ^^ Ifrael, which came into Egypt -, fet down here
X^ ^ tojhow the accomplifhment of the promifes in their
great increafe \ every man and his houfehold, that is, his
children and nephews, but not ferv ants, who came with Ja-
2 3 cob. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, IfTachar,
4 Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and
5 Aiher. And all the fouls that came out of the loins of
Jacob were feventy fouls : for Jofeph was in Egypt
6 [already.] And Jofeph died, and all his brethren, and
7 all that generation. And the children of Ifrael were fruit-
ful, and increafed abundantly, like thefijh of the fea, and
they multipled, and waxed exceeding mighty, hadfirong
and healthful children \ and the land was filled with them;
T 2 fo
iSo EXODUS. I.
fo that in two hundred and fifteen years they amounted to fix
hundred thoufand men, Nmnb, xxvi. 51.
8 Now there arofe up a new king over Egypt, of a
different race^ or family^'' which knew not Jofeph, rf-
garded not him^ nor any of his kindred^ tho'* he had defervedfo
9 well of the whole kingdom. And he faid unto his people.
Behold, the people of the children of Ifrael [are] more
and mightier than we; their country is more populous^
wealthy^ and fruitfuL Upon this he called his counfellors^
xo andfatdwitJi violence^ Come on, let us deal wifely with
them -5^ left they multiply, and it come to pafs, that,
when there falleth out any war, they join alfo unto our
enemies, and fight againfl us, as it is natural for people
in fuch circumflances to do^ and [fo] get them up out of
the land, to. Canaan^ which they are often talking about,
1 1 Therefore they did fet over them talk matters to afflidt
them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh,
which was a common name for all the kings of Egypt^
treafure cities, Pithom and Raamfes, ftrong fortified
12 cities to lay up their ft ores in!" But the more they afHid-
ed them, the more they multiplied and grev^, thro^ the
overruling providence and hleffing of God, And they, that
isy the Egyptians^ were grieved, thro^ envy andfear^ be-
13 caufe of the children of Ifrael. And the Egyptians
J 4 made the children of Ifrael to ferve with rigour : And
they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in
mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of fervice in
the field, building thofe cities^ making bricks digging trenches
for rivers to convey the water thro^ the land : and all their
fervice
* Probably one of the Ihepherd kings who came from Arabia,
according to Manetho as quoted by Jofephus, and who about this
time invaded Egypt; or the Horites, v/hom the defcendants of Efau
drove out. Deut. ii. 12, 22.
** Or, craftily ; fo Stephen, j^s vii. 19, T'/ie fame dealt fuhtilly
imth our children, i^c* or formed crafty and treacherous defigns
again ft them.
' The firft was called Tanis, and the latter thought to be
Ptlufum, which in Ezek, xxx. 15. is called the ftrength of Egypt,
and by hiftorians, the i^ey of Egypt. Thefe were on the borders
of Syria, which kept them from the encroachments of their ene-
mies on that fide, and prevented the Ifraelites from returning
back to Canaan.
E X O D U S. I. 23f
fervice, Vv^herein they made them ferve, [was] with
rigour, that they might reduce their numbers^ and more
eqfily keep them in fiavery,^
15 And the king of Egypt fpake to the Hebrew mid-
wives, the mid-wives who attended the Hebrews^ but were
themfehes Egyptians^ of which the name of the one [was]
Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah : theje were
the chiefs to whom^ no doubt ^ great rewards were promifed :
16 And he faid. When ye do the office of a midwife to the
Hebrew women, and fee [them] upon the ftoolsi if it
[be] a fon, then ye Ihall kill him, let him be ftr angled
privately : but if it [be] a daughter, then flie fhall live/
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king
of Egypt commanded them, // would have been the
highefi treachery and cruelty to have done it j but faved the
J 8 men children alive. And the king of Egypt called for
the midwives and faid unto them, Why have ye done
19 this thing, and have faved the men children alive ? And
the midwives faid unto Pharaoh, Becaufe the Hebrew
women [arc] not as the Egyptian women ♦, for they [are]
: lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto
them. This was no doubt often the cafe^ but not akvays.
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives : and the
21 people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it
cametopafs, becaufe the midwives feared God, that he
made them houfes ; God increafed their familieSy and
profpered their affairs,
22 And Pharaoh, finding this dejign ineffe5lual^ broke out
into open rage and violence^ and charged all his people,
faying. Every fon that is born ye fhall take by force and
cafl into the river, and every daughter ye fhall fave
alive.
T3 REFLECT.
** Well might Egypt be called an iron furnace, an houfe of
bondage! but God appointed all this as a punifhment for their
growing idolatry, to awaken their defires to return to Canaan,
and to make their national deliverance the more remarkable,
* They preferved the females, who were in general more beau-
tiful than the Egyptians.
282 E X O D U S. I.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T EARN hence how wifely God permits his churches
X^ to be afflided. He did thus to Ifrael, as a punifh-
ment for their idolatry, and to excite their defires to depart
from Egypt. Thus God afflids his people ftill, to punifh
them for fm, to wean them from this world of diftrefs •, and
makes it a houfe of bondage, that they may long to go
free, and not defire to live here always. Be our afflictions
ever fo long, or ever fo bitter, they are appointed to
anfwer fome very wife purpofe.
2. See how powerfully he canpreferve them amidft their
afflidion, and ftrengthen them by it. Their enemies thought
by this means to weaken their ftrengtli, and lefTen their
numbers •, but God increafed them. Thus the enemies of
the church, like the Egyptians, do but increafe their own
grief. Times of afflidion and perfecution, have been thofe
times in which the church has flourifhed moft ; the or-
dinances of worfhip are more confcientioufly attended upon,
and watchfulnefs and prayer more ferioufly regarded. The
faith and patience of God's fervants bring in others, fo that
the faying is true, ' the blood of the martyrs is the feed of
the church.' Perfecuting the church, is but like cafting
manure upon the ground -, which for a while covers the
plants, and feems to deftroy them, but it makes the earth
more fertile, and the ^^^ants more numerous and vigorous.
3. What an except . principle is the fear of God, and
what a noble remedy ..gainft the fear of man ! 'The midwives
feand God, and therefore fe<^; ^-f not the wrath of the king.
They thought it was thtli J*, ty rather to obey God, to
keep to the rules of juftice, fidelity, and humanity, than
to obey men % and dared to difobey a bloody and tyranni-
cal prince, rather than difpleafe God. The fear of man bring-
eth a fnare, hut the fear of God keepeth from evil, even from
doing evil privately ^ which the midwives were commanded
to do, tho' hid from the eye and infpedion of men. The
fear cf the Lord is the beginning ofwifdom \ a good imderfiand-
ing have all they that keep his commandments,
4r* How
EXODUS. IL 283
4. How fafe and happy are they in whom fuch pnncipl«:;s
prevail ! Pharaoh might be angry ; but what did it lignify,
when God favoured them and made their way profperous ?
Some have aflerted that they were married to Ifraelites, and
their families built up by them, and made eminent in If-
rael ; but this is certain, God rewarded their kindnefs to
his people, and repaid their compaflion with profperity. He
that feareth the Lord, fhall not only be fafe from fear of
evil, but fhall be rewarded with all defirable good. O fear
the Lordthen^ all ye his faints^ for there is no want to them that
fear him. The Egyptian mid wives were an inftance of this
truth ; In every nation he that feareth God and worketh righ-
teoufnefs^ is accepted of him, 0{ this we may be fure, that
God's falvation is nigh unto them that fear him. In the fear
of the Lord is Jirong confidence^ and his children fhall have a
place of refuge.
CHAP. II.
We are now entering on the hifiory of Mofes^ the man of Gody
the deliverer and lawgiver of IfraeL In this chapter we have
the occurrences of his infancy j his pious choice when grown
up'y his fettling for a while in the land of Midi an ; and God's
gracious regard to the affli^ions of his people,
1 AND there went a man of the houfe of Levi, Am-
jTj^ ram the f on ofKohath^ (ch., vi. 20.) and took [to
2 wife] Jochebedhiskinfwoman^ a daughter of Levi. And
the woman conceived, and bare a fon j Jhe had two child-
ren before this^ Miriam and Aaron : And when flie favv
him that he [was a] goodly [child,] fhe hid him three
3 months, in his fathers houfe^ AEis vii. 20. And when
fhe could not longer hide him, when notice was taken of
it by the Egyptians^ andfearch was made for him^ fhe took
for him an ark, or hafket^ of bulrufhes, and daubed it
with flime and with pitch, and put the child therein -,
and fhe laid [it] in the flags by the river's brink. No
doubt her defign waSy to hide it there till thefearch zvas over
T 4 an^
284 EXODUS. II.
md then fetch it back and preferve it. This^ the apoftle tells
us^ was dene infaith^ tj'ufting in -providence to preferve it.
4 And his fifter, who was about twelve years old, ftood afar
oiF, to wit, or mark, what would be done to him.
5 And the daughter of Pharaoh ^ came down to wafh
[herfelf] at the river, /;/ a bathing place at the bottom of
the king's gardens, which came down to the river \ and her
maidens walked along by the river's fide-, and when fhe
faw the ark among the flags, fhe fent her maid to fetch
6 it. And when fhe had opened [it,] fhe faw the child :
and, behold, the babe wept. And fhe had compafTion
on him, and faid, This [is one] of the Hebrew's child-
ren, ^he might imagine this by the king's ediB, and be
certain of it, from his circumcifion. Her maidens gathered
7 around to look at the babe, and his Jifier joined them. Then
faid his fifter to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call
to thee a nurfe of the Hebrew women, that fhe may
8 nurfe the child for thee ? And Pharaoh's daughter faid
to her. Go. And the maid went and called the child's
9 mother. And Pharaoh's daughter faid unto her. Take
this child away, and nurfe it for me, and I will give
[thee] thy wages. And the woman took the child, and
10 nurfed it.^ And the child grew, and fhe brought him
unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her fon.
And fhe called his name Mofes, that is, drawn out : and
fhe faid, Becaufe I drew him out of the water.^
1 1 And it came to pafs in thofe days, when Mofes was
grown, being forty years old (A5is vii. 23.) that he went
out unto his brethren, with a full purpofe to abandon the
honours
f Calkd Thermutis by Josephus, and Meris by others; Ihe
was married, but had no children.
^ It was a happy circumftance that he was nurfed by his own
mother, as he would be managed with tendernefs; know his own
parents; be brought up in the true religion; have hi? life fe-
cured thro' Pharaoh's daughter; and fome wages and provifion
be made for the family.
^ Here is. a great chafm in the hiftory of Mofes. His modefty
forbade him relating particulars; but Stephen tells us ( A^s vii.
22.) that he was brought up at court, and {killed in all the
learning of the Egyptians; fuch as arithmetick, geometry, aflronomy,
and
EXODUS. II. 285
honours of the courts to join hmfelf to the poor opprejjed
people of God^ and lend them what help he could for their de-
liverance-, and he looked on their burdens, with grief and
pity : and he fpied an Egyptian fmiting an Hebrew, one
of his brethren •, probably a tajk majler on the point of kilU
12 ing an Ifraelite. And he looked this way and that wa3%
and when he faw that [there was] no man, he flew the
Egyptian, he defended the oppreffed -, and, knowing the If-
raelites could not have jujiice doyie ihem^ he prudently hid
J 3 him in the fand.' And when he went out the fecond
day, behold, two men of the Hebrews ftrove together:
and he faid to him that did the wrong, Wherefore
fmitefl: thou thy fellow ? and would have reconciled mat-
14 ters between them, -And he that did the wrong (A^svu.
27.) faid, Who made thee a prince and a judge over
us ? intended: thou to kill me, as thou killedft the Egyp-
tian ? '' And Mofes feared, and faid, Surely this thing
>5 is known. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he
fought to flay Mofes. But Mofes fled from the face of
Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian : and he fat
down by the well.
16 Now the prieft, or prince^ of Midian, who was a
defcendant of Abrah^m^ by Keturah^ had {tvtn daughters:
and they came and drew [water,] and filled the troughs
to water their father's flock -, this was the employment of
perfons
and natural philofophy, and thus fitted for his future ftatlon,
Stephen adds, that he was mighty in words and deeds ; an elo-
quent man, (tho* not a good fpeaker) as his admirable compofiti-
ons teftify ; a wife counfellor; and, fome add, a mighty general j
with many other particulars of his early life, which cannot be
depended upon.
' Stephen fays (JSis vii. 25.) he fuppofed that the Ifraelites
by this would have known that he would deliver them. Probably
he exhorted them to return to Canaan, promifed to lead them,
and told them the time for their deliverance was near; but they
underflood not, therefore their captivity was prolonged.
^ This was an impertinent and ungrateful fpeech ; he upbraided
him with that for which he ought to have praifed him, and
which was a fpeclmen of their promifed deliverance : and this re-
fufal of Mofes by one, is imputed to all the reft of the Ifraelites,
(j^^s vii. 35.) and God, for their unthankfulnefs, withdrew him
i'ar forty years.
286 EXODUS. 11/
17 prfons of rank in thofe days. And the fhepherds offome
neighbouring prince came and drove them away, inftfting
that they would water their flocks firft : but Mofes ftood
18 up and helped them, and watered their flock. And when
they came to Reuel their father, another name for Jethro^
or elfe his father^ he faid, How [is it that] ye are come
19 fo foon to day ? And they faid, An Egyptian delivered
us out of the hand of the fliepherds, and alfo drew
20 [water] enough for us, and watered the flock. And
he faid unto his daughters. And where [is] he? why
[is] it [that] ye have left the man ? call him, that he
21 may eat bread : and they did fo. And Mofes was con-
tent to dwell with the man: thus he was fheltered for the
frefent^ and prepared for the greater fervices that were he^
fore him : and he gave to Mofes Zipporah his daughter.
22 And fhe bare [him] a fon, and he called his name Ger-
fliom : for he faid, I have been a fl:ranger in a fl:range
land.^
23 And it came to pafs in procefs of time, after forty
years (ASls vii. 30.) that the king of Egypt died : and
tht children of Ifrael fighed by reafon of the bondage,
and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by
reafon of the bondage. 27i(?' there was a new king^yet the
old opprejfion continued^ and their fufferings were as great
24 as ever. And God heard their groaning, took notice of
their affli5lions and burdens^ and God^ remembered his
covenant with Abraham, with Ifaac, ' and with Jacob.
25 And God looked upon the children of Ifrael with a kind
and companionate regard^ and determined tofhow them mercy ^
and God had refped: unto [them.""]
REFLECT.
* The Syriac, Arabic, and Vulgate verfions add here, Sht al/o
bare another Jon to Mofes, and he called him Eliezer, fayhg. The God
ef my fathers hath been my helper , isfc. Kennicott.
«" Or, according to the LXX, Jnd was made known unto ihem>
EXODUS. 11. 287
REFLECTIONS.
I, ^EE how much of providence is to be obferved in thofe
1^ things which feem the refult of chance. Providence
appeared in the birth of Mofes, and in fupporting him till he
was three months old, when he was better able to bear an
abode in the ark. The fame wife providence laid him in the
river, juft at the time when Pharaoh's daughter came ; flie
meant only to wafh, but God intended other things. It was
a providential circumftance to find the child weeping, to
move her companion. Had any other perfon came there
and feen the child, it, mofl probably, had been thrown into
the river, for to have refcued it would have been death.
Let us adore the wifdom of providence, which is wonder^
ful in counfel^ and excellent in working.
2. On what minute accidents do the lives of men depend,
yea, the lives of fome of the befl: of men ! In how precarious
a fituation was Mofes ! A little longer delay, and he had
famifhed, or been carried away with the tide or ftream of the
jriver, or been devoured by the crocodiles. How many
narrow efcapes had thofe perfons, whofe names are fo
eminent in the jewifh and in the chriftian church ! There
are feveral inftances in hiftory, of moft furprifing events
attending the births of the moft eminent perfonages-, in
all which the wifdom and goodnefs of God is ktn. The
mercies of our infancy fhould be thankfully acknowledged.
How many near efcapes from death have we all had, tho*
not in fo remarkable a manner as Mofes ; by the fame pro-
vidence we were taken out of the womb, hung on our
mothers' breafts, and are preferved to this day.
3. Obferve with pleafure, Mofes chooiing to fuiFer af-
flidion with God's people: it was a wife choice, which the
apoftle Paul extols. There was every thing in Pharaoh's
court, but rehgion, to engage him; nothing among the
Ifraelites, but religion, to tempt him. He might have
been ferviceable to the Ifraelites at court; but he knew
they were God's people, and therefore he chofe to fuiFer
with them. This choice we fhould make; we fhould
form alliances with God's fervants, and prefer afflidion to
fin.
288 EXODUS. II.
fin, the reproach of Chrift rather than the riches of Egypt ^ and
fhould have refpeEl to the recompenfe of reward^ that is, to the
glory which God hath promifed.
4. How fhameful are any contentions among brethren,
efpecially under afflidions. It is a fad thing for them to
quarrel, efpecially when they are joined in one common af-
fiiftion. 1 his is too often the cafe. The Englifh exiles in
Queen Mary's days, at Frankfort, quarrelled about habits
and ceremonies, Thofe who were advocates for them, called
the civil magiftrate to interpofe, and would not reft till
they had driven out their brethren. There has often been
great quarrels among fufferers, when perfecuted by their bre-
thren. Uncharitable contentions are ihameful among chrif-
tians, efpecially among thofe who are under national dif-
couragements, tho' not under great oppreflions. One would
have thought thefe troubles fhould have united the Ifrael-
ites, but we find they did not. Bp. Hall obferves, ' had
this Ifraelite had a fpark of good nature, he muft have re-
lented at Mofes's remonftrance.' It is fad to vex one ano-
ther, while vexed by a common ad verfary. One would have
thought they had blows enough from the Egyptians. And
thus, ftill is our great enemy bufy, and chriftians are too
prone to contend with each other. Let us avoid this, and
remember that we are brethren, that we are fellow-chrif-
tians, fellow-fervants, and fellow-fufferers. Let brotherly
love continue; and leaving hatred and variance to the
Egyptians, let ns follow after peace with all men, and holinefs^
mthout which no man fio all fee the Lord,
5. Thofe that are in the wrong are often moft impatient
of reproof. "What a furly anfwer was given to Mofcs.
This language we often hear, or fomething like it, when
we admonifh tranfgreffors. Mofes intended a kindnefs to
both, and to prevent the effedt of the quarrel -, but one of
them could not bear it, and he was the aggrefTor. Nay,
had not the ftory mentioned this, we fhould have con-
cluded it from his angry impatience, which was a fign of
guilt. It is our duty to exhort and reprove : but we
muft expe6l to meet with thofe who will be peevifti and
angry, and queftion our authority, which indeed the law of
God,
EXODUS. IIL 289
God, and the common principles of humanity give us. Let
us carefully avoid this temper ourfelves, and take reproof
kindly. What fignifies who it is that reproves, or v/hat his
qualities are? it becomes us to confider what foundation
there is for it. To call a man impertinent, and bid him look
at home, is not clearing ourfelves. Let the righteous fmite us,
and we fhould efteem it a kmdnefs ; take it well, and make
a good ufe of it, from whatever hand it comes.
6. God has a gracious regard to his people under their
heavieft anlidions ; he hears their groanings, which afFedl
his heart. He remembers his covenant, and has refped
to them. See how tenderly God concerns himfelf for his
people, as a father pitieth his children, fo the Lordpitieth them
that fear him: therefore let us be patient, and cafi our care
upon him who careth for us.
CHAP. III.
mio ohferves, that ' the feeding offheep, is the heft exercife and
preparation for a kingdom^ and the general government of
mankind.'' We find here, that Mofes was firft a floepherd, and
then raifed to be a leader and governor of God^s people,
1 ]^T O W Mofes kept the fiock of Jethro his father
J[^ in law, the prieft of Midian : ° and he led the
flock to the back or fide of the defert, and came to the
mountain of God,y2> called hecaufe fan^ified by God's ap-
pearing there now, (v, 5.) and giving the lazv there after-
2 wards, [even] to Horeb.° And the angel of the Lord,
that is, the Shekinah, appeared unto him in a flame of
fire, out of the midft of a bufli : ^ and he looked, and,
behold, the bufh burned with fire, and the bufh [was] not
con-
^ This was not a mean employment, great men and princes
were often engaged in it; but it was mean for him who was bred
at court, and perhaps might have looked forward to the crown
of Egypt.
<» This mountain had two tops, one called Horeb, the other
Sinai, In this retirement it is thought by fome, that he wrote
the books of Genefis and Job.
P A bramble, or thorn bu(h, which might have been eafily
confumed; feveral heathen writers have mentioned this circum--
llance. See PATRiCK's Com. in loc.
290 E X O D U S. III.
3 condimcd. T'/tis was fomething very unaccountable^ And
Mofes therefore fald, I will now turn afide, and fee this
4 great fight, why the bufh is not burnt. And when the
Lord faw that he turned aiide to fee, God called unto
him out of the midft of the bufh, and faid, Mofes,
Mofes : calling him by name^ muft greatly add to hisfurprife.
5 And he faid. Here [am] I. And he faid, Draw not
nic2;h hither, keep a refpeliful difiance : put oiF thy (hoes
from off thy feet, in token of reverence and humility y"^ for
the place whereon thou ftandeft [is] holy ground, made
fo by the fpecial prefence of God here, ^hus he was excited
6 to humility y reverence^ and godly fear. Moreover he faid,
I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham,
the Godof Ifaac, and the God of Jacob; engaged to them
by covenant andpromife^ which I am now come to perform ;
and by this declaration he alfo intimated^ (as Chriji oh-
ferves^ Matt. xvii. 7.) that they were happy in another
worlds for God is not the God of the dead^ hut of the living.
And Mofes hid his face : for he was afraid to look upon
God; his eyes were dazzled with the glory,
7 And the Lord faid, I have furely feen the afflidtion
of my people which [are] in Egypt, diligently obferved^ and
mercifully regarded and pitied their mifery^ and have heard
their cry by reafon of their tafk-mafters -, for I know
8 their forrows ; And I am come down to deliver them out
of the hand of the Egyptians, (this intimates the fpeed and
certainty of their deliverance^) and to bring them up out
of that land unto a good land and a large one<, in com-^
parifon with Gofhen^ unto a land flowing with milk and
honey, abounding with all the blejfmgs of a fruitful land^
not only for neceffity^ but delight (Deut, viii. 7 — 9.) ; unto
the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the
Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and
9 the Jebufites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the
children of Ifrael is come unto me : and I have alfo {qqii
the opprefTion wherewith the Egyptians opprefs them.
He then gives him his commijfion and appoints him his am-
haffador
q It was cuftomary for the Egyptians to do fo in the prefence
of their princes or great men, or when entering into the temples
of their deities.
EXODUS. III. 291
to hajfador or viceroy. Come now thefore, and I will fend
thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayeft bring forth my
people the children of Ifrael out of Egypt.
1 1 And Mofes modeftly declined the fervice^ and faid unto
God, Who [amj I, that I fhould go unto Pharaoh, and
that I fhould bring forth the children of Ifrael out of
1 2 Egypt ? And he, that is^ God^ faid to encourage him^
Certainly I will be with thee ; and this [fliall be] a
token unto thee, that I have fent thee : When thou haft
brought forth .the people out of Egypt, ye fhall ferve
1 3 God upon this mountain.' And Mofes faid unto God,
Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Ifrael, and
fhall fay unto them, The God of your fathers hath fent
me unto you; and they fhall fay to me, What [is] his
name ? what fhall I fay unto them ? which of thy names
Jhall I ufe^ whereby thy people may be encouraged to expert
14 deliverance from thee?^ And God faid unto Mofes, I AM
THAT I AM: and he faid. Thus fhalt thou fay unto
the children of Ifrael, I AM hath fent me unto you.*
1 5 And God faid moreover unto Mofes, Thus ihalt
thou fay unto the children of Ifrael, The Lord God of
your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Ifaac,
and
' Thus God gave him two tokens of his prefence with him ;
the firft was the burning bufh, not confumed ; and the other, that he
ihould worfhip hereafter on this mountain. Thefe were deiigned to
encourage him to deliver his meflage to Pharaoh, and to fupport
and comfort him under the obftinacy and rebellions of the people.
Mofes was the firft that ever fpoke to others in the name of God,
under fuch a commiffion, and therefore had need of forae extraor-
dinary fign to confirm his faith.
• It was cuftomary in Egypt to give their gods feme title of
honour, befides the local name, taken from the plac^ where they
^ere worfhipped, or their manner of doing it. So the Ifraelites
would exped that fome name or title of their God fhould be given
them, befides that of the God of Abraham.
* This name was not only a title of honour, but it fliowed the
vanity of other gods. It fignifies, permanent, immutable, necef.
fary exiftence, the fame as Jehovah, / nvill he <what 1 -wilt he.
This name would awaken the fpirit, and encourage the hearts of
all confiderate Ifraelites. Many heathens after this infcribed it,
or fomething fimilar to it, on their temples. Hilary, an antient
chriftian writer, fays, thefe words charmed him, and gave him an
high opinion of Mofes, before he became a chriftian, there bcin^
no words fo proper to defcribe the felf-exiftence of God.
292 EXODUS. III.
and the God of Jacob, hath fent me unto you : this [is j
my name for ever, and this [is] my memorial unto all
generations, hy which I will be remembered^ owned ^ and
16 ferved by my people^ and diftingiiijhed from all others. Go,
and gather the elders of Ifrael together, the heads of their
tribes^ and fay unto them, The Lord God of your fa-
thers, the God of Abraham, of Ifaac, and of Jacob,
appeared unto me, faying, I have furely vifited you,
17 and \k,tK{\ that which is done to you in Egypt : And I
have faid, 1 will bring you up out of the afflidion of
Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hit-
tites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the
Hivites, and the Jebufites, unto a land flowing with
18 milk and honey. And they fball hearken to thy
voice ; this was a great encouragement to him : and thou
fhait come, thou and the elders of Ifrael, unto the king
of Egypt, and ye fhall fay unto him. The Lord God
of the Hebrews hath met with us : " and now let us go,
we befeech thee, three days' journey into the wildernefs,
that we may facrifice to the Lord our God. 'This was
a prudent and modejl demand, Their facrifices would be an
abomination to the Egyptians^ and would not be fuffered
among them \ therefore they ajked to go to Sinai,, which was
jufi three days^ journey^ where they might ferve him with
fafety.
19 And I am fure that the king of Egypt will not let
20 you go, no, not by a mighty hand."^ And I will ftretch
out my hand, and fmite Egypt with all my wonders
which I will do in the midft thereof: and after that he
2 1 will let you go. And I will give this people favour in
the fight of the Egyptians : and it fhall come to pafs,
22 that, when ye go, ye fhall not go empty: But every
woman fhall borrow, or requefi^ of her neighbour, and
of her that fojourneth in her houfe, jewels of filver,
and
^ Is called upon us, is our God, we are called by his name,
are his fervancs. Kennicott,
^' God's foreknowledge of this did not leffen Pharaoh's guilt.
Had Pharaoh granted this requeft, they would probably have re-
turned; but his refufing this jull demand, made his future punifh-
i};C'.u juft and righteous.
^ KsNNicoTT fays, nfi, leg, or fray for.
EXODUS. III. 293
and jewels of gold, and raiment : and ye fhall put [them]
upon your fons, and upon your daughters j and ye fhali
fpoil the Egyptians.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us try to accommodate our minds to whatever
JL/ circumftances God allots us. Mofes was the Ton
of Pharaoh's daughter •, he was learned in all the knowledge
of the Egyptians, and yet was content with the humble life
of a fhepherd. We fee the wifdom of God in all this : by
living at court, he was formed to bufinefs -, by his retire-
ment, meditation, and devotion, he was formed to eminent
wifdom and piety, and a great command of temper. Mofes
had learned to fubdue ambitious delires, and to reft con-
tented with his obfcurity ; he followed the employment to
which God called him. A contempt of an honeft calling
in thofe who are well born, fhows great pride, but neither
fenfe nor grace. If we keep to our callings, and are diligent
therein, we are likely to meet with God, as Mofes did;
for he will meet thofe that work righteoufnefs and put
their truft in him.
2. How lively an emblem was the burning bufn of the
ftate of the church ! Many fires have been kindled to con-
fume and deftroy it, but it fubnfts to this day ; and all is
owing to the good will of him that dwelt in the buJJj. It was
an emblem of the church in Egypt, which was afflided, but
not deftroyed. The bufh is ftill burning, as it were, but
is not confumed. Let us adore the power that preferves
it, and that keeps his people. God is to none, but his
enemies, a confuming fire. His church fhall never perifh,
nor fhall the gates of hell prevail againft it.
3. Let us learn reverence in all our approaches to God •,
^ake thy Jhoes from off thy feet ^ was his command to Mofes.
Let us keep at an humble diftance. So Solomon exhorts,
Eccles, V. 1. Keep thy foot when thougoefl to the houfe of God,
No ground is now holy •, but we have a holy God to do
with, holy duties to be employed ,in, and holinefs hecometh
his houfe \ he will he fanElified by all them that draw nigh unto
him^ and by all the pople he will be glorified. He muft be ap-
VoL. I. U preached
294 EXODUS. III.
preached with holy reverence. However this may be an
emblem of the difpenfation of the law, which was a difpen.
fation of terror, yet the gofpel permits us to draw near with
holdnefs and confidence^ but flill with reverence and godly fear.
Nothing light, or trifling, ihould be found in his prefence
or woriliip ; every thing fhould be grave and folemn. God
is afpirit^ end they that worjlup him miifl worjhip him in fpirit
and in truth,
4. Let us entertain a venerable idea of the great and
glorious Jehovah, as the I AM, the felf-exiilent Being,
vyho has life in himfelf, who is unoriginated, and felf-fuf-
ficient. Adore him as eternal and immutable, the Father
of lights, who is from everlafting to everlafting ; who is,
and was, and is to come. Let us rejoice that we have fuch
a God to do with, and make him our confidence and joy.
5. We fliould adore God's companionate regard to his
people, V. 7. 1 have furely feen the affS^fion of my people,, which
are in Egypt,, and have heard their cry,, by reafon of their ta/k-^
majlers,, for I know their forrows, I have {c^n^ 1 have feen •,
have looked on till I could bear the fight no longer. God's
people are ready to conclude, when afilidlions are long and
tedious, that he does not fee, that he h^LS forgotten to he gra-
cious \ but his eyes are ever on the righteous,, and his ear is
open to their cry \ in proper time he will come down and help
them \ he will not only deliver, but enrich them, like If-
raelj give them all fpiritual blejfings in heavenly things \ will
improve their virtues, and redtify their diforders •, he will
guide them by his counfeU and afterwards receive them to glory.
Their fecret forrows and groanings are known to him •, their
mightieft: oppreflbrs are not too hard for him. This fhould
comfort affiided faints ; and lead us to pray, that God
v/ould arife and iielp thofe that are perfecuted and opprefi!'-.
ed J that he would fiiretch out his hand againfi: their ene-
iTjies. His kindnefs to Ifrael manifefi:s his mercy, and
gives encouragement to his afflidled fervants in all ages.
Wait on the Lord,, then,, be of good courage,, and he fhall Jlrength-
en thin^ heart \ and tho' the ajfii5iions of the righteous are many^
the Lord will deliver them out of them all
CHAP,
EXODUS. IV. 295
C H A P. IV.
God anfwers the ohje5iions of Mofes againft going to Egypt to
deliver Ifrael\ his journey toward it \ in which he meets
with Aaron^ and delivers his mejfage to Ifrael,
1 AND Mofes anfwered and fald, But, behold, they
£\^ will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice :
for they will fay. The Lord hath not appeared unto
thee •, how then Jhall I prove my divine mijfion to them ?
2 And the Lord faid unto him. What [is] that in thine
hand ? confider it welU and regard it attentively. And he
3 faid, A rod, or Jhepherd's ftaff. And he faid, Caft it
on the ground. And he caft it on the ground, and it
became a ferpent, of a large and terrible kind^ fuch as that
defert abounds with •, ^ and Mofes fled from before it.
4 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Put forth thine hand,
and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and
caught hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand : and
5 Godfaid^ Thou fhalt do this miracle^ That they may be-
lieve that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of
Abraham, the God of Ifaac, and the God of Jacob,
hath appeared unto thee.
6 And the \aOKDgave him another ftgn^ and faid further-
more unto him. Put now thine hand into thy bofom.
And he put his hand into his bofom : and when he took
7 it out, behold, his hand [was] leprous as fnow. And
he faid. Put thine hand into thy bofom again. And he
put his hand into his bofom again •, and plucked it out
of his bofom, and, behold, it was turned again as his
8 [other] flefh/ And it Ihall come to pafs, if they will not
believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the firft
fign, that they will believe the voice of the latter fign.
9 And it fliall come to pafs, if they will not believe alfo
thefe two figns, neither hearken unto thy voice, that
U 2, thou
y Ov, as Dr. Lightfoot thinks, with To me reafon, a crocodile,
to vvhofe devouring jaws the Hebrew infants had been expofed. -
=^ To cleanfe and cure a leper, was reckoned the work of God
alone; and this might be dehgned to teach him and them, that
God can change things on a ludden ; and that the miracles Mofes
ihould work, were not done by any inherent power in himfelf.
2g6 EXODUS. IV.
thou (halt take of the water of the river, which they
worjhipped as a god^ and pour [it] upon the dry [land :]
and the water which thou takeft out of the river fhall
become blood upon the dry [land:] thou jh alt work this
miracle^ if they are not convinced hy the other two^, — Mofes
then raijed a fee on d ohje5iion^ taken from his own inability,
10 And Mofes faid unto the Lord, O my Lord, I [am]
not eloquent, not of a free and ready utterance^ neither
heretofore, nor iince thou haft fpoken unto thy fer-
vant, that is^ fince I have received thy commiffion) but 1
[am] flow of fpeech, and of a flow tongue. God then
1 1 makes a very grand reply ; And the Lord faid unto him.
Who hath made man's mouth ? or who maketh the
dumb, or deaf, or the feeing, or the blind ? have not
12 I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with
thy mouth, and teach thee what thou fhalt fay •, I will
fuggefl words^ and make thee fpeak fuperior to all the ora-
tors of the age. Never thelefs Mojes dejired to be excufed-^
13 And he faid, O my Lord, fend, I pray thee, by the
hand [of him whom] thou wilt fend; fuch an one as
thou knowefi to be fitter for the employment than I am*
14 This however was a poor excufe: And the anger of the
Lord was kindled againft Mofes, for 7iegle5ling the di-
vine commiffion^ and he faid, [Is] not Aaron the Levite
thy brother ? I know that he can fpeak well ; Aaron's
tongue^ and thy head and hearty will make a complete am-
baffador^ (as Mr, Henry obferves.) And alfo, behold, he
Cometh forth to meet thee by my direction : and when he
feeth thee, he will be glad in his heart to execute this
commiffion. This was faid to reprove Mofes for his hack-
ly wardnefs. And thou fhalt fpeak unto him, and put
words in his mouth ; clearly inflru5t^ and flri^ly charge
him^ faithfully to declare my words : and I will be with
thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you
1 6 what ye fhall do. And he fhall be thy fpokefman unto
the people: and he fhall be, [even] he fhall be to thee
inftead
^ Both thefe ohjeftlons of Mofes are remarkably perplexed in
the Hebrew, and critics fcarce know how to render it. In this
view, they are very natural, as expreffing the perplexity of his
mind.
EXODUS. IV. 29^
Inflead of a mouth, to deliver thy commands to Pharaoh
and thou fhalt be to him inilead of God, to direct and
17 enjoin him what to fay. And thou (halt take this rod in
thine hand, wherewith thou fnalt do figns. Hence it zvas
called the rod of God.
18 And Mofes went and returned to Jethro his father in
law, and faid unto him. Let me go, I pray thee, and
return unto my brethren which [are] in Egypt, and
fee whether they be yet alive. He did not tell Jethro the
great reaf on ^ left he fboidd have hindered him. And Jethro
19 faid to Mofes, Go in peace. And the Lord faid
unto Mofes in Midian, (this was a fecond appearance^)
Go, return into Egypt : for all the men are dead which
fought thy life. Herein Mofes zvas a type ofChrift, Matt,
20 ii. 20. And Mofes, thus encouraged^ took his wife and
his fons, and fet them upon an afs, and he returned to
the land of Egypt : and Mofes took the rod of God in
his hand, becaufe God had commanded him to carry it^ and
do wonders with it. Thus it was honoured above the fceptre
of Pharaoh,
2 1 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, When thou goeft to
return into Egypt, fee that thou do all thofe wonders
before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand : but
I will harden his heart, that he fnall not let the people
go : be hath wickedly hardened his heart againft Ifrael^ for
a long time^ and now\ in righteous judgment^ I will harden
22 it. And thou fhalt fay unto Pharaoh, Thus faith the
Lord, Ifrael [is] my fon, / have adopted Jnm as mine^
[even] my firft born \ thefirft and only nation that J have
chofen for my peculiar people^ and therefore not to he any
23 longer fubje^ to thy commands : And I fay unto thee, Let
my fon go, that he may ferve me : and if thou refufe to
let him go,*" behold, 1 will flay thy fon, [even] thy firft
born. This plague was afterwards infli^ed,'^
24 And it came to pafs by the way in the inn, where they
U 3 flopped
^ Mofes probably was Hill backward to go for fear of being
flain there; but God aiTures him that his enemies were all dead.
This was a further encouragement which he had not before,
^ But thou hajl refujed to let him go, Samar. Pent.
^ The whole mefiage is very grand and awful ; menacing the
proud prince with intinitely fuperior authority.
29B E X O D U S. IV.
flopped to reft all nighty that the Lord met him, appear-
ed to him infome vTftbleJJiape^ and fought, hyjhowing him-
felf infome threatening pofture^ to kill him, for neglecting to
circumcife his fon •, which was probably done in compliance
25 with his wife^s humour,^ Then Zipporah, by the order of
Mofes^ took a fharp ftone, or knife made of flinty and cut
off the forefkin of her fon, and caft [it] at his feet in a
rage^ and faid, Surely a bloody hufband [art] thou to
26 me, becaufe he infifted on the child's being circumcifed. So
he, that is^ the angel^ let him, namely^ Mofes^ go : then
Ihe faid, A bloody hufband [thou art,] becaufe of the
circumcifion.
27 And the Lord faid to Aaron, Go into the wildernefs
to meet Mofes. And he went, and met him in the
28 mount of God, and kiffed him.^ And Mofes' received
him with great affe5iion^ and told Aaron all the words of
the Lord who had fent him, and all the figns which
he had commanded him.
29 And Mofes and Aaron went and gathered together
30 all the elders of the children of Ifrael : And Aaron fpake
all the words which the Lord had fpoken unto Mofes,
and did the figns in the fight of the people, as God or-
dered^ v. 16. And the people received them and their
meffage with a fuitable difpofition^ and believed : and when
they heard that the Lord had vifited the children of If-
rael, had thus appeared to them^ and promifedto deliver them^
and that he had looked upon their afflidion, then they
bowed their heads and worfhipped, in token of their gra-
titude and readinefs to comply with all the requirements of
the Lord. • '
REFLECT-
* This was a great negleft in Mofes, and, as he was going in
a publick character, would be a reproach to him apd his famiiy.
^ Others render it. So he, that is, Mojesy let her go\ fent her
back to her father ; it was not proper fhe (hould accompany him
with fuch a turbulent temper; and that this was the cafe, is pro-
bable from ch, xviii. 2.
s This plain and exprefs revelation to Aaron, direfting him to
the time and place where he fhould mee-: Mofes, would tend
greatly to confirm the faith of Mofes.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T X r ^ ^^^ ^^^^ encouraged to truft in God to furnllK
V V us for the work to which he calls us : as he is
able to ftrengthen the faith and enliven the obedience of his
fervants. Let us not be difcouraged from his fervlce, by a
fenfe of our own weaknefs. A modeft felf diffidence is allow-
able and commendable ♦, but when it carries us fo far as to ne-
glecft our duty, and diftruft God, it is criminal. God made
man's mouth, and gave him capacity. The confideration of
this is a great comfort to private chriftians, when they are
called to lead the devotions of their families, or more private
religious focieties ; and is alfo a great comfort to miniiters,
amidft the imperfections of their fpeech and addrefs. He
can give us a mouth and wifdom. God vvill take it ill If we
are backward to fpeak and a6t for him, when we have fo
good a mafter to ferve, fo kind a mediator, (o many pre-
cious promifes, and fuch glorious rewards. If our hearts
are fincere, his fpirit will help our infirmities \ and then, tho'
our addrefs fliould be mean, and our language not eloquent,
we may truft in him to give his blefTmg, who out of ths
mouths of babes and fucklings can perfect praife,
2. God's children may depend upon it that he will de-
fend their caufe, and proted them in every circumftance ♦,
for, as a father pitieth his children^ fo the Lord pitieth them that
fear him. Ifrael is myfon ; I will not fufFer him to be abufed
or opprefTed. God regards his children amidft all their
forrows -, he remembers their relation to him j and will,
iboner or later, appear for their deliverance.
3. Thofe who are employed for God, and are In con-
fpicuous ftations, fhould manage themfelves and their fa-
milies wifely. God's anger againft Mofes for negleding
his duty, ihould teach minifcers and heads of families to
remove every thing that may be offenfive to him, and to
praftife diligently what he requires •, not to fet a bad exam-
ple, or give encouragement to fin. It Is a melancholy
thing, when the wives of fuch hang heavy on the intereft
of religion, and hinder the regular obfervance of divine
U 4 inftitutions.
300 EXODUS. V.
inftitutions. Let heads of families, therefore, learn to rul^
their own houfes well.
4. Learn with what temper we fhould receive the pro-
mifes of deliverance in the gofpel, 1;. 31. And the people
believed : and when they heard that the Lord had vifited the
children of Ifrael^ and that he had looked upon their affliSlion^
then they bowed their heads and worjhipped. Thus let us
exprefs our gratitude to God, that he hath vifited and re-
deemed his people ; be ready to follow his diredions, and
behave worthy the favours which he intends to beftow upon
us. Let us blefs the Lord, who hath fhowed us light and
mercy, and meet him in the way of righteoufnefs and
obedience.
CHAP. V. i,totheend. CHAP. VL i.
Mofes having delivered his mejfage to Ifrael^ waits upon Pha-
raoh. V/e have here the reception which Pharaoh gave the
^^Jf^g^ from Gody the further hardfhips the people endured \
and their remonflrances to Pharaoh and Mofes,
I A ^ I^ afterward Mofes and Aaron, and the elders of
jt\_ Ifraelwith them^ as they were commanded ^ ch. iii.
went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus faith the Lord God
of Ifrael, Let my people go, that they may hold a feaft
unto me in the wildernefs, that is^ a feaft upon a facrifice.
« And Pharaoh 77iade a mofi impious and infolent reply ^ and
faid,Who [is] the Lord, that I fliould obey his voice to
let Ifrael go ? I know not the Lord, neither will 1 let
3 Ifrael go.^ And they faid, ?% is nofcheme or contrivance
of our otvn, for iho, God of the Hebrews hath met with
us, hath appeared to us and given us a command to dofo ,
therefore let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey
into the defert, and facrifice unto the Lord our God ;
left
^ Pharaoh thought he was fome titular, or local God of Ifrael,
and concluded, that fince he was not able to prevent their being
m fubjedion to Egypt, there was no danger to be jjpprehended
from him. This was an impious fpeech, even upon his own prin-
ciples, for the heathens thought it a neCeflary duty to treat the
gods of their nei'c'h hours with ereat reverence.
EXODUS. V, 301
left he fall upon us with peftilence, or with the fword -,
left he be angry and deftroy us^ and then you will lofe ibe
4 benefit of our labour} And the king of Egypt faid unto
them, Wherefore do ye, Mofes and Aaron^ let the peo-
pie from their works? get you unto your burdens, yo:i
among the reft^ tho' you take upon you to reprefent others,
5 And Pharaoh faid, Behold, the people of the land now
[are] many, and ye make them reft from their bur-
dens, and therefore I fuftain great damage by thefe your
impertinent applications.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the fame day the talk-
mafters of the people, and their officers, Ifraelites who
7 were employed under the tajk-mafters^ faying. Ye ftiall no
more give the people ftraw to make brick, as hereto-
fore, to mingle with the clay^ or rather^ to burn the bricks
with: let them go and gather ftraw for themfelves.
8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make here-
tofore, ye ftiall lay upon them ; ye fhall not diminifti
[aught] thereof: for they [be] idle, they have not work
enough^ and their minds wander \ therefore they cry, fay-
9 ing. Let us go [and] facrifice to our God. Let there
more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour
therein-, and let them not regard vain words, and what
thefe men fay unto them.
10 And the taik-mafters- of the people went out, and
their officers, and they fpake to the people, faying,
1 1 Thus faith Pharaoh, I will not give you ftraw. Go ye,
get ye ftrav/ where ye can find it : yet not aught of
12 your work fnall be diminifned. So the people were
fcattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt* to
13 gather ftubble inftead of ftrav/. And the tafk- mafters
hafted [them,] faying, Fulfil your works, [your] daily
14 taiks, as when there was ftraw. And the officers of the
children of Ifrael, which Pharaoh's tafk-mafters had fet
over them, were beaten, [and] demanded, Wherefore
have
* It might alfo intimate, that as God would punifh them if
they did not go, fo he would alfo punifh Pharaoh if he did not
fuffer them to go. There is a decency and fpirit in this ad-
drefs, beyond what comrhentators have taken notice of> but it had
KO 5ood effetl.
302 EXODUS. VI.
have ye not fulfilled your taflc in making brick both
yefterday and to day, as heretofore ?
15 Then the officers of the children of Ifraei came and
cried unto Pharaoh,^ faying. Wherefore dealeil thou
16 thus with thy fervants ? There is no ftraw given unto
thy fervants, and they fay to us, Make brick : and, be-
hold, thy fervants [are] beaten; but the fault [is] in
17 thine own people. But he faid. Ye [are] idle, [ye
are] idle : therefore ye fay, Let us go, [and] do facri-
fice to the Lord. This was a bitter farcafm-, when their
hearts were broken with the extremities of their labours^ they
1 8 are taxed with idlenefs. He then ratifies the command : Go
therefore now, [and] work; for there fhall no ftraw be
ip given you, yet (hall ye deliver the tale of bricks. And
the officers of the children of Ifraei did fee [that] they
[were] in evil [cafe,] after it was faid. Ye ftiall not
minifti [aught] from your bricks of your daily tafk.
20 And they met Mofes and Aaron, who ftood in the
way, waitifig to hiow what fuccefs they had met with^ as
2 1 they came forth from Pharaoh ; And they faid unto
them, in a violent pajfion^ The Lord look upon you,
and judge-, becaufe you have made our favour to be
abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his
fervants, to put a fword in their hand to flay us -, you
have been the caufe of increafing our burdens and punijhment ,
They began to fufpeh their divine commijfion^ and ufed God's
meffengers in this cruel and outrageous manner,
22 And Mofes returned unto the Lord ; he betook him-
felfto fome retired place, where he might pour out andfrefent
his own^ Und the people's dijlrefs unto God, and faid, with
too much heat. Lord, wherefore haft thou [fo] evil en-
treated this people ? why [is] it [that] thou haft fent
23 me? For fmce I came to Pharaoh to fpeak in thy name,
he hath done evil to this people-, neither haft thou
delivered thy people at all, as thou hafi promifed,
I Chap. VI. Then the Lord, pitying the warmth and
weaknefs of his fervanty faid unto Mofes, Js thou canfi
make
^ In thofe days the meaneft of the people had accefs to their
prince j and their bufiRtfs now was to know whether it was his
order or not.
EXODUS. VI. 503
make nothing of Pharaoh^ I will take him in hand^ and humble
this proud prince \ now llialt thou fee what I will do to
Pharaoh : for with a ftrong hand fhall he let them go,
and with a ftrong hand fhall he drive them out of his
land ; he who now fo infolently refufes to let them go^ Jhall
- even he glad to drive them out of his land^ becaufe of the
terrible judgments which I Jhall injii£l upon him.
REFLECTIONS.
I, T % 7" E may obferve that thofe who do not know God
y Y are the perfons who refufe to obey him, v, 2.
And Pharaoh faid^ Who is the LOP^ Z), that IJhould obey his
voice to let Ifraelgo ? I know not the LO R D, neither will I
let Ifrael go. While men are ignorant of God, and negled:
his fervice, they fay this, if not in words, yet by their
actions. It is a fad thing to be ignorant of God : the more
we know of him, the more we ihall love him, and more
cheerfully and fteadily obey him.
2. The difpleafure of God muft be expedled, where the
known duties of his fervice are omitted. If we negleft
his worfhip in publick, in our families, or in fecret, he
will be difpjeafed, and we muft expedt to meet the tokens
of his anger. God is jealous of his honour, and will not
fufFer his creatures to negledl his work. The beft fecurity
for his favour, is to walk in all his Jtatutes and ordinances
blamelefs,
3. God often brings his people into extremities, that he
may magnify his mercy in their extraordinary deliverance.
Perfecutions are often moft extreme, when liberty is near.
Thus God manifefts his power and juftice over his enemies,
and his favour and mercy to his friends. Deliverance is
neareft when difficulties are greateft, for then their deiires
of deliverance are moft earneft, and they put the greateft
value upon it.
4. It is no new thing for worldly-minded men to charge
religion with idlenefs -, Te are idle. Luther tells us, he
once heard a great man fay, ' They muft needs be idle
' fellows who are fo much taken up with the bufinefs of
": religion.' Any thing feems proper work to a carnal
mind,
304 E X O D U S, VI.
mind, but God's fervice ; nothing is fuperfluous to them,
but religious duties ♦, tho' true religion will make a man
diligent in his bufinefs, Induftry is a duty which we owe -
to God, to our families, and to the publick ; and religious
duties fhoukl be fo timed as not to interfere with worldly
bufinefs •, and this may eafily be done : but any time that
is feparated for religious purpofes, is apt to be reckoned
loft time by men of the world. Yet let fuch remember,
that if a man be ever fo diligent in worldly bufinefs, if he
rife up early ^ and fit up late^ and eat the bread of f or rows ^ and
at the fame time negled: religion, he will be condemned at
laft as aflothful fervant.
5. How ready are men in afflidlion to quarrel with their
beft friends ! Mofes and Aaron promifed the Ifraelites
deliverance, but, becaufe it did not come at the time they
expeded, they were infulted and abufed by them. Per-
fons in afflidion often cenfure their beft friends •, but let us
giiard againft this temper. Ifrael never needed the pity
and prayers of Mofes and Aaron fo much, as when they
were quarrelling with them and reproaching them.
6. Thofe whom God calls to publick fervices muft feek
their comfort in him, when things wear a difcouraging
-^.^v^z^k. among thofe to whom they are fent. The officers
liifulted Mofes, and Mofes returned to the Lord, when
difappointed in his attempts of fervice. Thus' fhould minif-
ters and chriftian parents do-, lay the cafe before God, plead
before him their fincere, tho' feeble endeavours ; plead
his promifes, and then they may hope that in his good
time things will take a more favourable turn. However,
tho' they lahour in vain, and fp end their fir ength for nought,
this is their comfort, that their work is with the Lord, and
their judgment with their God,
CHAP. VI. 2, to the end.
God renews hfs promifes to Ifrael by Mofes ; and encourages him
in his addrefjes to them and to Pharaoh.
2 AND God fpake unto Mofes, and faid unto him, I
3 £%^ [am] the Lord : And I appeared unto Abraham,
unto Ifaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of J God Al-
mighty,
EXODUS. VI. 305
mighty, and difplayed to them my great power^ but by
my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them •, that
is^ he had difplayed his almighty power ^ but not his immu-
tahility and faithfulnefs to his promifes^ which the word
Jehovah principally ftgnijies. He had promifed many things
to Abraham^ Ifaac^ and Jacobs and now they Jhall fee
them accomplifhed^ and perceive the name Jehovah was
fully anfwered in all its import. See Ifaiah Hi. 5, 6 J
4 And I have alfo eftablifhed my covenant with them,
to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their
5 pilgrimage, wherein they were ftrangers. And I have
alfo heard the groaning of the children of Ifrael, whom
the Egyptians keep in bondage •, and I have remem-
6 bered my covenant. Wherefore fay unto the children
of Ifrael, I [am] the Lord, and I will bring you out
from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will
rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you
with a ftretched out arm, with great power^ and with
7 great judgments, which 1 will inflict upon them : And
I will take you to me for a people, under jnine owa im*
mediate government^ and you foall know and ferve me, and
enjoy all manner of temporal and fpiritual bUjfings^ and I
will be to you a God : and ye (hall know that I [am]
the Lord your God, which bringeth you out fromun-
8 der the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring
you in unto the land, concerning the which I did fwear
to give it to Abraham, to Ifaac, and to Jacob *, and I
will give it you for an heritage : I [am] the Lord,
and therefore have authority to difpofe of lands and king-
doms as I pleafe^ and will faithfully give you what I have
promifed,
9 And Mofes fpake fo unto the children of Ifrael : but
they
^ But my name Jeho'vah I did not make mantfeji to them, Ken-
NicoTT. It appears from many paffages in Genefis, and parti-
cularly from chap, xxii. 14. that the name Jeho-vak was known
to them, tho' they might not underftand its full import. But if
we only change the pointing, and read the pafTage witrs an in-
terrogation, it removes the difficulty ; Did not I appear to Abrahom ,
by the name of God Almighty^ and by my name Jnho-vah <^Mas I not
kno vjh to them ?
3o6 EXODUS. VI.
they hearkened not unto Mofes for angulfh of fpirit, and
for cruel bondage ; they could neither mind what he faid^
nor believe any thing concerning their deliverance^ j Nidging it
to he impojffihle.
And Mofes went to the place where he ufed to converfe
10 with God, And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying,
11 Go in, fpeak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let
12 the children of Ifrael go out of his land. And Mofes
fpake before the Lord, faying. Behold, the children
of Ifrael have not hearkened unto me \ how then Ihall
Pharaoh hear me, who [am] of uncircumcifed lips ? "*
J 3 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes and unto Aaron, and
gave them a charge unto the children of Ifrael, and
unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children
of Ifrael out of the land of Egypt. — Noiv follozvs the
genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi,
14 Thefe [be] the heads of their fathers' houfes : the
fons of Reuben the iirft born of Ifrael •, Hanoch, and
Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi : thefe [be] the families of
Reuben.
15 And the fons of Simeon ; Jemuel, and Jamin, and
Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the Con of a
Canaanitifh woman : thefe [are] the families of Simeon.
Mofes having jufl mentioned thefe, enlarges on the tribe or
genealogy of Levi, from whom he himfelf was defcended, and
this was the more neceffary, as he was a foundling,
16 And thefe [are] the names of the fons of Levi ac-
cording to their generations; Gerfhon, and Kohath,
and Merari : and the years of the^iife^ of L-evi [were]
17 an hundred thirty and izvzw years. The fons of Ger-
fhon •, Libni, and Shimi, ac^^ording to their families.
18 And the fons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and
Hebron, and Uzziel : and the years of the life of Ko-
19 hath [were] an hundred thirty and three years. And
the
* Circumcifion being a mark of God's people, uncircumcifion
was reckoned a blemilh ; fo that any thing which had a blernifn,
natural or moral, was Called uncircumcifed. Mofes pleads, that he
had a blemilh or defedl in his fpeech, and was therefore unable
to fpeak in a prev^filing manner Ncverthekfs God coniirmed the
charge, 'v, 13.
EXODUS. VI. 307
the fons of Merarl ; Mahali, and Mullil : thefe [are]
the families of Levi according to their generations.
20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's fifter, or
kinfwoynan^ to wife ; and fhe bare him Aaron and
Mofes, and Miriam {fee Numb, xxvi. 59.): and the years
of the life of Amram [were] an hundred and thirty and
21 feven years. And the fons of Izhar ; Korah, and
22 Nepheg, and Zithri. And the fons of Uzziel ; Mifhael,
23 and Elzaphan, and Zithri. And Aaron took, him
Elifheba, or Elifabethy daughter of Amminadab, fifter
of Naaihon, to wife ; and ihe bare him Nadab, and
24 Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. And the fons of Ko-
rah ♦, AfTir, and Elkanah, and Abiafaph : thefe [are] the
25 families of the Korhites. And Eleazar Aaron's fon took
him [one] of the daughters of Putiel to wife ; and fhe
bare him Phinehas: thefe [are] the heads of the fathers
26 of the Levites according to their families. Thefe [are]
that Aaron and Mofes, to whom the Lord faid, Brino-
out the children of Ifrael from the land of Egypt ac-
cording to their armies, or numerous families^ which went
out of Egypt like fever al armies in military order ^ and with
27 great power, Thefe [are] they which fpake to Pha-
raoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Ifraei
from Egypt : thefe [are] that Mofes and Aaron.
28 And it came to pafs on the day [when] the Lord
29 fpake unto Mofes in the land of Egypt, That the Lord
fpake unto Mofes, faying, I [am] the Lord : fpeak
thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I fay unto
30 thee. And Mofesfald before the Lord, Behold, I [am]
of uncircumcifed lips, and how Ihall Pharaoh hearken
unto me ? Mofes reports what paffed between him and Gody
to make way for what follows in the next chapter.
REFLECTIONS.
I. A I A HOSE who own God's dominion, and truft his
JL all-fufficiency, fhall experience his fidelity to his
promifes. Abraham believed him as El Shaddai, a God
all-powerful, or all-fufficient, and alfo found him Jehovah,
a faith-
3o8 E X O D U S. VII.
a faithful God, the fulfiller of his promifes. He will always
prove himfelf to be what he has declared, and will not
fufFer his people to be difappointed.
2. God will faithfully remember his covenant, tho' he
may feem to forget it -, tho' his people think he forgets it,
becaufe deliverance is delayed, yet he is ever mindful of his
promifes. Thofe who truft him, and wait on him, fhall
always find that it is indeed fo.
3. God can add energy to worthlefs lips, and make
them triumph over all oppofition. Miniilers are too ready
to adopt the words of Mofes, If Ifrael, to whom I am fent,
will not hear, how then Ihall Pharaoh? If chriftians are
perverfe, haughty, and difobedient, how fhall we deal with
the openly profane ? But God can make his firength perfe5f
in our weaknefs^ when he gives a commifTion, we may
hope for fuccefs.
4. The afflidions of God's people may be fo many, that
his confolations may appear fmall. When their hearts are
oppreffed with grief and concern they fee not their own
comforts, and a veil is fpread over the promifes. This is
often owing to difcontent and fretfulnefs •, and then men
may thank themfelves if they tafte not the pleafures of re-
ligion. It is good for a man to hope., and quietly w ah for the
fahation of God. If it be long delayed, and afflidlions are
continued, let it be our daily prayer, Lord, I believe^ help
thou my unbelief.
CHAP. VII.
In this chapter the plagues of Egypt begin., which evihihit an
azvful inftance of the power of God., andfhow., that when he
judgeth he will overcome,
I AND the Lord faid unto Mofes, See, I have
/\_ made thee a god to Pharaoh •, clothed thee with
a divine power., to reprefent me., to fpeak in my name., and
my power fo all be with thee:'' and Aaron thy brother
fhall
" Mofes was a God by commiflion ; the viceroy, or deputy, to
the only living and true God,
EXODUS. VII. 309
{hall be thy prophet, thy fpokefman^ a reprefentative to my
1 reprefentative ° Thou Jfhalt fpeak all that I command
thee : and Aaron thy brother fhall fpeak unto Pharaoh,
3 that he fend the children of Ifrael out of his land. And,
or^ neverthelefs^ I will harden Pharaoh's heart, fmce he
hath hardened his own heart againft me and Ifrael fo long^
now in judgment 1 willpunifh him for it^ and multiply my
4 figns and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pha-
raoh fhall not hearken unto you, that i may lay my hand
upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, [and] my
people the children of Ifrael, out of the land of Egypt
by great judgments. Thefe were defigr/ed on the one hand^
to bring Ifrael out \ on the other ^ to. punifo the princes and
people for their barbarous treatment of Ifrael^ for their
5 idohitry^ and to make them fee and own Jehovah* And
the Egyptians (hall know that I [am] the Lord, and
that it is in vain to contend with me^ when I ftretch forth
mine hand upon Egypt, to flay their firfi horn^ and bring
6 out the children of Ifrael from among them. And
Mofes and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them,
fo did they. An emphatical repetition^ to fbow their courage
in attempting to do andfayfuch things to fo great a monarchy
in his own dominions \ and their fidelity in the execution of
all God's commands.
7 And Mofes [was] fourfcore years old,^ and Aaron
fourfcore and three years old, when they fpake unto
Pharaoh.
8 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes and unto Aaron,
9 faying. When Pharaoh fhall fpeak unto you, faying.
Show a miracle for vou, that I may know you are fent
Vol. L ' W of
« Mofes being a man of uncommon modefty, might be em-
barrafled in common converfation, and not have that readinefs
of fpeech which another, of far lefs abilities, might have,
P The age of Mofes is taken notice of, to fhow that he had
now a venerable afpedi, which would command reverence; that he
had great experience, which rendered him fit for the troublefome
fcenes he was to engage in ; and that he would not be fo apt
to invent things, and be under the power of fancy, as younger,
perfons would be. We may oblerve here, that all the plagues
of Egypt did not laft more than one year ; he was now eighty,
he died at one hundred and twenty, and they were forty years
in the wildernefs.
310 EXODUS. VIL ]
of God:'^ then thou (halt fay unto Aaron, Take thy i
rod, and caft [it] before Pharaoh, [and] it fhall become
10 a ferpent/ And Mofes and Aaron went in unto Pha- \
raoh, and they did fo as the Lord had commanded : -
and Aaron caft down his rod before Pharaoh, and be- \
1 1 fore his fervants, and it became a ferpent. Then Pha- \
raoh alfo called the wife men, or philofophers^ and the
forcerers : now the magicians of Egypt,' they alfo did ;
in like manner with their enchantments. God fuffered ,j
them to do fo^ either in reality^ or by fome deception^ that "^
Pharaoh^ s heart being hardened^ he might make his plagues
wonder ful -, and that Mofes might triumph over them at lajl, j
12 For they caft down every man his rod, and they be- 'i
came ferpents : but Aaron's rod, the dragon into which \
his rod was turned^ fwallowed up their rods \ to fhow that \
the power^ whereby Mofes and Aaron had wrought their .:
miracles^ was far above that^ whereby the magicians had ^
wrought theirs^ and was alfo an emblem of their power ^
i3 being deftroyed. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that ;
he hearkened not unto them j* as the Lord had faid, ]
chap, iv. 21,
14 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Pharaoh's heart [is] ''
15 hardened, he refufeth to let the people go. Get thee \
unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto :
the water : and thou flialt ftand by the river's brink :
againft he come : " and the rod which was turned to a
ferpent fhalt thou take in thine hand, tojtrike Pharaoh* s \
mind ^
* It was agreeable to the common fenfe of mankind, to expedl, :
that if God had fent a perfon on an extraordinary embafTy, he
fhould work a miracle, to prove his divine miffion.
' A large dragon or crococ'ile, to intimate, that he would make \
the rod of Mofes a terrible fcourge. This emblem was exceeding
proper, among a people who dealt fo much in Hieroglyphics. |
• Thefe were perfons who pretended to have commerce with
demons or evil fpiritsj the Apoftle Paul calls them Jannes and ;
JambreSf 2 Tim, iii. 8. '
'The Hebrew is, j^nd the heart of Pharaoh nuas hardened » as
in «v. 22. This was one of the methods of God's providence, j
againft which Pharaoh hardened himfelf, and it was fuffered as a •
judgment to him.
" Mofes was probably forbid the court, and therefore God ,
ordered him to meet Pharaoh at the river, where he went in the
morning to worihip it, as was their cullom, |
EXODUS. VII. 311
1 6 mind more powerfully. And thou fhalt fay unto him.
The Lord God of the Hebrews hath fent me unto
thee, faying, Let my people go, that they may ferve
me in the wildernefs : and, behold, hitherto thou
wouldft not hear. // was a great mercy in God to fend
fuch a mejfage, after he had been fo objiinate and hardened,
17 Thus faith the Lord, In this thou fhalt know that I
[am] the Lord : behold, I will fmite with the rod that
[is] in mine hand upon the waters which [are] in the
18 river,"^ and they fhall be turned to blood. And the
£fh that [is] in the river fhall die, ^nd the river fhall
flink •, and the Egyptians fhall lothe to drink of the
water of the river/
19 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, Say unto Aaron,
Take thy rod, and flretch out thine hand upon the
waters of Egypt, upon their ftreams, upon their rivers,
and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of
water, that they may become blood ; and [that] there
may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both
20 in [vefTels of] wood, and in [vefTels of] flone. And
Mofes and Aaron did fo as the Lord commanded; and
he lifted up the rod, and fmote the waters that [were]
in the river, in the fight of Pharaoh, and in the fight
of his fervants -, and all the waters that [were] in the
river, were turned to blood.
2 1 And the fifh that [was] in the river died ; and the
river flank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the
water of the river : and there was blood throughout
all the land of Egypt.
22 And the magicians of Egypt did fo with their en-
chantments, in fome other places where the water was not
changed', but this only increafed their plague^ and made Pha*
raoh the more objiinate •, and Pharaoh's heart was harden-
ed, neither did he hearken unto them ; as the Lord
W 2 had
* This is a remarkable form of fpeech. Mofes was as a God
to Pharaoh ; he fpeaks as Jehovah, / ov/// fmite the ^waters *whick
are in the ri'ver, a branch of the Nile, or a cut from it, to water
their ground, and fill their pools.
* How righteous and terrible was this judgment! Here they
had murdered the Hebrew children, and now, they have blood to
drink; their chief dainties were deftroyed, and they were made
to lothe that which they worfhipped as a God,
312 E X O 1) U S. VII.
23 hadfaid. And Pharaoh turned and went into his houfe
neither did he fet his heart to this alfo •, his proud heart
24 regarded not^ nor was properly affe5led with it. And al '
the Egyptians digged round about the river for water
to drink •, for they could not drink of the water of the
river-, and they probably found fome frnall quantity for their
25 prefcnt necpjjiiy. And feven days were fulfilled, after
that the Lord had fmitten the river : But during, this
time., Pharaoh was not humbled i and after this^ God pro-
bahly removed that plague^ to make way for another.
REFLECTIONS.
I. ¥ E T us adore the almighty power of God In this
\_j remarkable change. He turns v/ater into blood,
and inanimate into living bodies, and changes them again.
Flow wonderful is his power ! and what madnefs is it for
any, even the greateft men, to contend with him !
» 2. God knows how to overrule the hardnefs and ob-
ftinacy of men's hearts, to ferve the pnrpofes of his own
glory. He overruled Pharaoh's obftinacy, that he might
make himfelf known to Ifrael, a? the faithful God-, to
Egypt, as the only true God\ the almighty, irrefiftible King;
and to make way for the deliverance of Ifrael : thus he can-
feth the wrath and the pride of man to praife him.
3. God forefees the excufes finners will make, and pro-
vides a proper anfwer to them. Pharaoh will fay. Show me a
miracle. Sinners will plead in their own excufe, what they
retain in their hearts ; but God directs his ambafladors
to give proper replies. Fie has in his word furnifhed
anfwers to thefe pleas •, and it is the bufinefs of minifters to
ftudy that word, and human nature too, that they may
know how to difcharge their duty.
4 . God fometimes honours the advanced age of his fer-
vants with diftinguifhed ufefulnefs. Thus he did with re-.
gard to Mofes and Aaron, when they perhaps began to
think their days of fervice over \ thus he puts an honour
upon aged piety. Bays (hall fpeak^ and multitude of years
Jhall teach knowledge. When God is pleafed to preferve the
itwkz and memory, aged chriilians fhould be willing to be
employed
EXODUS. VIII. 31^
employed for God ^ fhowing to Jke gemratm^s to come the
praifes of the Lord^ and his ftrength^ and his wonderful works
that he hath done,
5. Sinners are but hurting themfiilves, when rebelling
againft the divine revelation and command. Pharaoh, by
his obftinacy, only made his plagues more wonderful : he
had better have fubmitted at once. He thought his ma-
gicians could do wonders, and would not let Ifrael go, even
when he faw the magicians overpowered. God's hand will
be ftretched out till the finner is humbled ; for none ever
hardened himjelf againft God, and profpered,
6. Gv-id, in the midft of judgment, remembers mercy :
during the (zv^n days while the v/ater was turned into blood,
fome water was to be found by digging pits. He does not
let forth all his wrath, but has compaflion for a people,
while he punifhes them for their (ins. And has he fuch
compaflion for his enemies ? happy then are all his friends -,
bleffed are all they that put their trujl in him !
CHAP. VIII.
In this chapter we have an account of three more plagues^ the
frogs, the lice, and the flies.
1 A ND the Lord fpake unto Mofes, Go unto Pha-
£%_ raoh, and fay unto him. Thus faith the Lord,
2 Let my people go, that they may ferve me. And if
thou refufe to lee [them] go, behold, I will fmite all
3 thy borders with frogs : And the river fhall bring forth
frogs abundantly, which (hall go up and comxC into
thine houfe, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy
bed, and into the houfe of thy fervants, and upon thy
people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-
4 troughs : And the frogs {hall come up both on thee,
and upon thy people, and upon all thy fervants. Mofes
gives him fair warning, tells him what the plague fhall be,
and how dreadful to himfelf and all his people •, but he Jiill
hardened his heart,
. 5 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, Say unto Aaron,
Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the ftreams,
W 3 over
314 EXODUS. VIII.
over the rivers, and over the ponds, and caufe frogs to
6 come up upon the land of Egypt. And Aaron ftretch-
ed out his hand over the waters of Egypt-, and the
frogs came up in immenfe quantifies^ and covered the
7 land of Egypt/ And the magicians did fo with their
enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of
Egypt. God fuffered them to do this-, but they were not
able to dejlroy them^ nor fend them away,^
8 Then Pharaoh called for Mofes and Aaron, and
faid, Intreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs
from me, and from my people-, and 1 will let the
people go, that they may do facrifice unto the Lord.
9 And Mofes faid unto Pharaoh, Glory over me : when
fhall I intreat for thee, and for thy fervants, and for
thy people, to deftroy the frogs from thee and thy
houfes, [that] they may remain in the river only ? As
if he hadfaid^ Prefcribe your own time when it Jhall be done^
that you may know it is the mighty work of God, and not by
chance^ or any natural means^ that the frogs are deftroyed,
10 And he faid, To-morrow. He wasfo loth to be beholden
to God or Mofes^ that he chofe rather to endure the plague
till next day^ to fee whether it might not go away of itfelf
And he faid, [Be it] according to thy word : that thou
mayeft know, that [there is] none like unto the Lord
1 1 our God. And the frogs fhall depart from thee, and
from thy houfes, and from thy fervants, and from thy
1 2 people; they fhall remain in the river only. And
Mofes and Aaron went out from Pharaoh : and Mofes
cried unto the Lord becaufe of the frogs which he had
13 brought againft Pharaoh. And the Lord did accord-
ing to the word of Mofes -, and the frogs died out of
the
y Thi$ was a fad plague, as it was conftant and general. The
creatures were offenfive to the fight and fmelJ, made a very dif-
agreeable noife, came upon their perfons, hindered their baking,
and made their food loathfome. It was a plague that fell heavier
on Pharaoh than the former. Pfalm cv. 30. they came in abundance
to the chambers of the king: No art could dellroy them, or keep
them out.
^ At Pharaoh*s command, they pradifed feme of their divina-
tions, and God gave them fuccefs, contrary to their own expec-
tations. Thus they increafed the plague, and hardened Pharaoh,
but cpuld not remove the fi'ogs.
EXODUS. VIII. 315
the houfes, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
14 And they gathered them together upon heaps : and the
land ftank. This was a further rebuke to the Egyptians.
15 But when Pharaoh faw that there was refpite, he har«
dened his heart, and hearkened not unto them ; as the
Lord had faid.
16 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Say unto Aaron,
Stretch out thy rod, and fmite the duft of the land,
that it may become lice throughout all the land of
I J Egypt. And they did fo •, for Aaron ftretched out
his hand with his rod, and fmote the duft of the earth,
and it became lice in man, and in beaft -, all the duft of
the land, that is^ the duft in every part of the land^ be-
came lice throughout all the land of Egypt. Here was
no warning given^ becaufe Pharaoh had been perfidious^ and
18 dealt treacheroujly. And the magicians did fo with their
enchantments to bring forth lice, that is^ fmote the dufty
as Aaron had done^ but they could not : fo there were
19 lice upon man and upon beaft. Then the magicians
faid unto Pharaoh, I'his [is] the finger of God, the im-
mediate power and work of God:* and Pharaoh's heart
was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them •, as the
Lord had faid *, therefore this plague feems to have been
continued on man and beaft,
20 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Rife up early in
the morning, and ftand before Pharaoh ; lo, he cometh
forth to the water *, and fay unto him, Thus faith the
Lord, Let my people go, that they may ferve me,
2 1 Elfe, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, 1 will
fend fwarms [of flies,] mixed fw arms of hornets^ wafps^
gnats^ and all kinds of troublefome flies ^ (Pf^- Ixxviii. 45.)
upon thee, and upon thy fervants, and upon thy people,
and into thy houfes : and the houfes of the Egyptians
fhall be full of fwarms [of flies,] and alfo the ground
W 4 whereon
* There was nothing more difficult in the producing lice than
frogs, but God here fruftrated their counfellors, and made their
diviners mad. Now the magicians owned a divine power was
prefent, and that it was above all the power of enchantment to
do this thing; they probably referred to the other miracles as
well as to this. It might have been expeded that Pharaoh would
now have relented, but he did not.
3i6 E X O D U S. VIII.
22 whereon they [are.] And I will fever in that day the
land of Gofhen, in which my people dwell, that no
fwarms [of flies] (hall be there-, nis was furprifing-^ for
the air was open^ and their motion fwift •, there were much
cattle^ and good food for infe^^s there •, hut none could pafs the
hounds which God had prefcrihed to them •, I will do thits^ to
the end thou niayefl know that"! [am] the Lofid in th^
midft of the earth, and have the whole creation at ?ny com-
23 mand.^ And 1 will put adivif^on between my people and
thy people : to-morrow fliall this fign be. He fixes thetime^
to JIoow that he had a divine commijfion \ to give Pharaoh
fpace to repeyit •, and convince him that it was not owing to
?4 any natural caufes. And the Lord did fo •, and there came
a grievous fwarm [of flies] into the houfe of Pharaoh,
and [into] his fervants' houfes, and into all the land of
Egypt : the land was corruptecl by reafon of the fvvarm
[of flies-,] the air was infe^ied^ and many of the people
poifoned or flung by them. Pfalm Ixxviii. 45.
25 And Pharaoh began to relent^ and he called for Mofes
and for Aaron, and faid. Go ye^ facriiice to your God
in the land •, you may facrifice to your God^ but not go out of
26 this layid to do it. And Mofes ^^i;^ a remarkable reafon
why they could ?iot do fo^ and faid, It is not meet fo to do ;
for v/e fhall facrifice the abomination of the Egyptians
to the Lord our God, thofe animals which you. worjhip as
idols ^ and thus make them an abomination : lo, fliali vjq
facrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their
27 eyes, and will they not fl:one us ?*" We will go three
days' journey into the wildernefs, and facrifice to
28 the Lord our God, as he fhall command us. And
Pharaoh faid, 1 will let you go, that ye may facrifice
to the Lord your God in the wildernefs •, only you fliall
29 not go very far away : intreat for me. And Mofes,
having
^ The rod of Mofes was not ufed in this inlhince; God fhowed
that there was no virtue in the rod, and ihat he was not con-
fined to any particular mode of operation.
* There was no law for doing this, but they would do it in
a popular fury. A R.oman in Egypt once killed a cat inadver-
tently, upon which the people tumultuouHy nnet together, befet
the houfe, and killed the man, in fpite of the king and princes
who endeavouied to prevent it. This ilory illuflraies what Mo-
ics here fayi.
E X O D U S. VIII. 317
having gained his confent fo far^ agreed to intercede for him^
and faid, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intrcat
the Lord that the fwarms [of files] may depart from
Pharaoh, from his fervants, and from his people, to-
morrow : but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more
in riot letting th6 people go to facrifice to the Lord,
fmce the fame almighty power can bring even worfe plagues
30 than tnefe. And Mofes went out from Pharaoh, and in-
31 treated the Lord. And the Lord did according to the
word of Mofes ; and he removed the fwarms [of flies]
from Pharaoh, from his fervants, and from his people ;
32 there remained not one. And Pharaoh hardened his
heart at this time alfo, continued obdurate^ neither would
he let the people go, notwithftanding the prornife he had
made^ and the warning he had received from Mofes only the
day before.
REFLECTIONS.
I. ^T|TE may learn hence, the uncontrouled pov/er of
W God over the creatures. He doeth according to
his wilU makes them inflruments of mercy, or judgment.
See what power he gave to Mofes, and to the magicians ;
and when he pleafed he retrained it. He is the great
God, and of great power •, his underftanding is infinite. He
overrules various orders of beings \ holds infernal fpirits
in his chains, and reilraineth them when he pleafeth, as
eafily as he does a frog or a liy. Who would not reverence
fo glorious a Being !
2. See by what contemptible inftruments God can fcourge
the proudeft enemies : how eafiiy he can bring fwarms of
frogs, lice, and nies ; and thus caft contempt upon princes.
God hilTeth for the flies and other animals, he calls them
forth with infinite eafe \ they are all at his controul. How
much reafbn have we to fear before him, who can make fuch
fm.all, defpicable creatures, the inflruments of terrible ven-
geance ! who can make them trample upon, and conquer
the mightieft of the fons of men ! Herod was deftroyed
by them \ fo , were fome other emperors and princes, of
whom
318 EXODUS, VIII.
whom we read in hlftory. Let all worfliip and reverence the
King of kings, againft whom none can prevail.
3. See what an honour God puts upon prayer, in that
he made it the means of delivering Egypt. Mofes cried
unto the Lord, and intreated him, and he heard. Mofes
compaflionately prayed for this tyrannical prince, and God
chofe to communicate his mercies in this way. He would
have men pray always ; and delights to fee his fervants
fenfible of their dependance upon him.
4. Profeffions of repentance are little to be regarded,
when tliey are extorted by divine judgments. This is an
awful truth, remarkably illuftrated in Pharaoh. When the
judgment was removed, he forgot his promifc; when the rod
was gone, the convicftion was gone, and he repented of his
repentance. In afcidlions men will feek God early, andpro-
mife, and vow ; but fuch impreffions too frequently wear
off: when there is not a principle of religion in their fouls,
they will come to nothing. If the goodnefs of God does
not lead men to repentance, his judgments feldom do it.
* The difpofition of the heart muft be changed (as Mr.
* Henry obferves) by divine grace, or elfe, what melts
* in the fun, will freeze in the fhade.' Thus the pro-
phet obferves. Let favour be Jhowed to the wicked^ yet will
he not learn right eoufnefs : in the land of uprightnefs will he deal
unjujlly^ and will not behold the majejiy of the Lord, Ifa, xxvi.
10. When he Jlew them^ then they fought him^ and they re-
turned and enquired early after God, Pfalm ixxviii. 34. This
ihows how careful and ferious we ihould be in making
engagements, left we add treachery and deceit to our
other crimes, as Pharaoh did.
5. How eafily can God preferve his people in times of
general calamity ! He direds the motion of the meaneft
creatures, or infedls ; and when he makes the plagues of a
finful people wonderful, he will hide his fervants in the day
of his anger. He knoweth them that are his^ and will proted:
them, generally in this world, always in another. For the
eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earthy to
fhow himfelf Jirong in behalf of thofe whofe heart is perfe^
toward him,
CHAP.
EXODUS. IX.
^9
CHAP. IX.
This chapter contains an account of the mortality among the cat-
tle ; of the boils and Mains i and of the ftorms of hail •, which
were the fifths Jixth^ and feventh plagues of Egypt,
1 /np^ HEN the Lord faid unto Mofes, Go in unto
JL Pharaoh, and tell him. Thus faith the Lord
God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they
2 may ferve me. For if thou refufe to let [them] go, and
3 wilt hold them ftill, Behold, the hand of the Lord; the
extraordinary^ immediate power of God^ without any human
means^ {as ch. viii. 24.) is upon thy cattle which [is] in
the field, upon the horfes, upon the affes, upon the
camels, upon the oxen, and upon the iKeep, (which they
kept for their milk and other ufes^ thd* not to kill^ ch, viii.
4 2 6. J [there fhall be] a very grievous murrain. And the
Lord fhall fever between the cattle of Ifrael and the
cattle of Egypt: and there fhall nothing die of all [that
5 is] the children's of Ifrael. And the Lord appointed
a fet time, faying. To-morrow the Lord fhall do this
6 thing in the land. And the Lord did that thing on the
morrow, the plague was fent as God had threatened^ and
all the cattle of Egypt died ; fome of all for ts^ for forne
were afterwards defiroyed by the hail. This fhowed the
vanity qf their idolatry^ for they worfhipped fome of thefe
cattle as gods : but of the cattle of the children of Ifrael
7 died not one. And Pharaoh fent, and, behold, there
was not one of the cattle of the Ifraelites dead. This
was indeed wonderful, fince they breathed the fame air, and
drank the fame water as the Egyptian cattle. And the
heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the
people go, notwithfianding this remarkable providence in
their favour J^
8 And
* A Roman hillorian wonders, why man fliould be efteemed
the wifeft of creatures, for no creature adts fo fooliftily ; other
creatures, when they have fmarted once, will beware for the fu.
ture. Man only is not weary of finning, but repeats it, tho* he
fmarts for it. This was remarkably the cafe with the king of
Egypt-
320 E X O D U S. IX.
8 And the Lord faid unto Mofes and unto Aaroiij
Take to you handfuls of afhes of the furnace/ and let
Mofes fprinkle it toward the heaven in the fight of
Pharaoh ; to note that this judgment came upon them in a
9 f pedal mayiner from God. And it fhall become fmali duil
in all the land of Egypt, and fhall be a boil breaking
fbrtii [with] blains, or a burning kind of ulcers^ which were
incurable^ (Deut, xxviii. 27 J upon man and upon beaft,
10 throughout all the land of Egypt. And they took
afnes of the furnace, and flood before Pharaoh •, and
Mofes fprinkled it up toward heaven •, and it became a
boil breaking forth [with] blains upon man, and upon
1 1 beail : the affli^ion now came on their bodies. And the
• magicians could not fland before Mofes becaufe of the
boils •/ for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon
12 all -the Egyptians. And the Lord hardened the heart
of Pharaoh, gave him up to the corruptions of his own
hearty and he hearkened not unto them ; as the Lord
had fpoken unto Mofes.
13 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Rife up early in the
morning, and fland before Pharaoh, and fay unto him.
Thus faith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my
14 people go, that they may ferve me. For I will at this
time fend all my plagues which I intended upon thine
heart, they fhall fting thee to the hearty and upon thy fer-
vants, and upon thy people j that thou mayefl; know
15 that [there is] none like me in all the earth. For now
I will ftretch out my hand, that I may fmite thee and
thy people with peftilence-, and thou fhalt be cut ofF
1 6 from the earth.^ And in very deed for this [caufe] have
I raifed
* As they oppreiTed the Ifraelites with furnace-work in burning
of brick, fo now they are puniihed with burning fores, which
came from alhes taken out of the furnace.
' Till this time they continued with Pharaoh, probably en-
deavouring to harden his heart, and to pcrfuade him it was all
done by magic, and that they (hould overcome Mofes at lafi ; but
now they retreated, and we hear no more of them. Their folly nvas
manifcji to all men. See 2 Tim. iii 9.
8 It might be better rendered, / ha^ve Jl ret died out mj hand to
f?nite thee, and thou hadjr been before this cut off, that is, were it
not to difpi:4y my jultice, hz as it follovvb in «v. 1 5.
EXODUS. IX. 32£
I raifed thee up, made theeking^ and fpared thy Ufe^ for to
fhow [in] thee my power •, and that my name may be
declared throughout all the earth •, that the glory of my
^ juftice^ power^ and feverity^ may be made more HhiJtriQus
before all the worlds as a warning to incorrigible finners,
1 7 As yet exalteft thou thyfelf againft my people, that thou
1 8 wilt not let them go? Behold, / again fok'-nnly warn
theey that to-morrow about this time I will caufe it to
rain a very grievous hail, fuch as hath not been in
Egypt fince the foundation thereof, even until now.
X9 Send therefore now, [and] gather thy cattle, and all
that thou hail in the field ; [for upon] every man and
beati: which fhall be found in the field, and fhall not be
brought home, the hail fhall come down upon them,
and they fhall die. T^kis God mixed mercy with judg-
ment^ gave them an opportunity of faving their cattle^ and
20 fome were fo wife as to improve it \ He that feared the
word of the Lord among the fervants of Pharaoh
made his fervants and his cattle fiee into the houfes :
2 1 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left
his fervants and his cattle in the field, and thus bid de-
fiance to God and to Mofes.
22 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Stretch forth thine
hand toward heaven, that there may be hail, not only in
local fijowersj which is commonly the cafe with hail jiorms^
hut in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beaft,
and upon every herb of the field, throughout the laud
of Egypt, ms would be the more remarkable^ as hail and
rain were uncommon in Egypt •, and the more dreadful^ as it
would deflroy the grafs and herbs ^ and fruits of the earth,
23 And ?-vlofes flretched forth his rod toward heaven : and
the Lord fent thunder and lightrting^ and hail, and the
balls of fire ran along upon the ground j and the Lord
rained hail upon the land of Egypt, but the land of Go-
24 fjjen was free from it. So there was hail, and lire mingled
with the hail, very grievous, fuch as there was none
like it in all the land of Egypt fince it became a nation.
25 And the hail fmote throughout all the land of Egypt
all that [vv^as] in the field, both man and beaH: •, and the
hail fmote every herb of the field and brake every tree
of
322 EXODUS. IX.
26 of the field. Only in the land of Goflien, where the
children of Ifrael [were,] was there no hail.
27 And Pharaoh fent in great hafte^ and called for Mofes
and Aaron, and faid unto them, I have finned this
time : the Lord [is] righteous, and I and my people
[are] wicked. I^his acknowledgment and fubmijfion was
very jufi ; hut it only 'proceeded from fear^ and had no effect
28 on his ohftinate heart, Intreat the Lord (for it is enough)
/ will not provoke him to infli^ any more plagues upon me \
thoje which have been already inflicted jhall fuffice for your
difmijfion \ intreat him that there be no [more] mighty
thunderings and hail -, and I will let you go, and ye
29 fiiall fl:ay no longer. And Mofes faid unto him.
As foon as I am gone out of the city, I will fpread
abroad my hands unto the Lord ; [and] the thunder
ihall ceafe, neither fiiall their be any more hail ; that
thou mayeft know how that the earth [is] the Lord's,
and that he can fend or remove judgments when he pleafes,
30 But as for thee and thy fervants, I know that ye will
3 1 not yet fear the Lord God. And the flax and the bar-
ley was fmitten : for the barley [was] in the ear, and
the flax [was] boiled, the head began to appear above the
32 fialL But the wheat and the rye were not fmitten : for
3 3 they [were] not grown up. And Mofes, calm and fe-
cure amidfl all thefiorm^ went out of the city from Pha-
raoh, and fpread abroad his hands unto the Lord ; and
the thunders and hail ceafed, and the rain was not pour-
ed upon the earth, nus Mofes prevailed with God to re^
move the judgment^ but could not prevail with Pharaoh to
34 keep his word. And when Pharaoh faw that the rain and
the hail and the thunders were ceafed, he finned yet
35 more, and hardened his heart, he and his fervants. And
the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he
let the children of Ifrael go j as the Lord had fpoken
by Mofesr
REFLECT-
EXODUS. IX. 323
REFLECTIONS.
I, TT 7" E l^^rn how immutable God is in his demands,
W '^- ^' Go to Pharaoh and tell him^ T^hus faith the
LORD God of the Hebrews^ Let my people go^ that they may
ferve me. The fame mefTage is to be delivered •, he will not
take up with any thing but an exa6l compliance. He makes
the fame demand on finners, fends the fame mefTage, time
after time; Repent and be converted '■> except ye repent ye fhall
all likewife perifh. Men muft come to God's terms, he will
not ftoop to theirs. Tb day then^ if ye will hear his voice^
harden not your hearts,
2. Who would not fear fo awful a God as this is ! This
is a lefTon to all fucceeding generations, and fhows what a
fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God, Fire,
hail, thunder, and ftorms, fulfil his word •, he has ftores of
vengeance in the Ikies •, he can meet finners, abroad or at
home •, afflid them in their bodies, or in their cattle •, afflid:
them in time, and eternity. God direds his arrows againft
tyrants and perfecutors •, if one plague will not humble
them, he will fend another. How eafily can he deftroy
the beafts of the field, fend murrain thro' a land, that
fhall take away the moft valuable and ufeful creatures ! In
the licknefs and death of cattle we are to obferve the hand
of God. He knows how to feparate between the cattle of
the righteous, and the cattle of the wicked, for he is the
preferver both of man ayid beaft. It is by the wickednefs of
the land that the beails are confumed •, and when this is
the cafe it becomes us to humble our f elves under God'^s
mighty hand»
3. We may obferve to what a wretched degree the heart
of man is capable of being hardened. All Pharaoh's ex-
cufes were gone ; the magicians were confounded ; a dif-
tindion is made between the Ifraelites and the Egyptians ;
he knew all this, and yet hardened his heart. Could one
have thought that the human mind was capable of fuch im-
penitence ? Let us keep our hearts with all diligence^ and pro-
voke one another to love and to good works^ lejl any of us be
hardened through the deceitfulnefs of Jin,
4. We
324 EXODUS. X.
4. We may lee the happinefs of fearing the word of the
Lord, and recoiled v/ith pleafure that there were fome who
did fo in Pharaoh's court. Some of his' courtiers were affed-
ed with God's hand, obeyed his word, and he faved their
cattle ; probably they efcaped the reft of the plagues. Let
us fubmit our hearts to the word of the Lord, that we may
be under the care of his providence-, for it is promJfed, Ifa,
xxxii. 18. And my people Jhall d-:jDell in a peaceable habitation^
and in fare dwellings^ and in quiet refting places •, wlun it Jhall
hail^ coming down on the for eft ^ and the city Jhall be low in a
low place.
5. Let us obferve how myfterious the condudl of provi-
dence is, and not judge of good or evil by any thing under
the fun. That fuch a proud, oppreffive man, fhould be raifed
to be king over this rich, populous, and fruitful country •,
that when fo many of his fubjeds died by one plague or
another, he fhould be fpared : but God intended to make
him a fignal monument of his wrath. This may be the cafe
of many who are the terror and plague of the nations on
earth : God has vengeance in ftore for them •, he is whet-
ting his glittering fw or d^ and making ready his bow. Some-
times calamities are a favour to the world -, and what ap-
pears a favour (as in the cafe of Pharaoh being fpared) is a
judgment and a punifhment. We muft take things in their
connections ; be cautious in our cenfures, efpecially of the
difpenfations of providence, Rud judge Jio thing before the time.
The language of fuch difpenfations is, that God is greats and
greatly to be feared \ and that when he judge th he will overcome.
C H A P. X.
Contains an account of the eighth and ninth plagues of Egypt^
the locufts and the d^rknefs. JVoe unto him who ftriveth
with his maker,
1 A ND the Lord faidunto Mofes, Go in unto Pha-
jfj^ raoh : for, or though^ I have hardened his heart,
and the heart of his fervants, that I might fhow thefe
2 my figns before him : and that thou mayeft tell in the
ears
E X O D U S. X. 325
cars of thy fon, and of thy Ton's fon, what things I have
wrought in Egypt, and my figns which I have done
among them ; that it may be a lejfon to all the fucceeding
generations of the children of Ifrael-, that ye may know how
that I [am] the Lord, that ye may know the power of God
over all creatures and elements^ and his goodnefs to IfraeL
% And Mofes and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and
faid unto him. Thus faith the Lord God of the He-
brews, How long wilt thou refufe to humble thyfelf
before me ? ms pointed quejiion was now proper^ con/ider-
ing all that had been done, and to how little effe^ : let my
4 people go, that they may ferve me. Elfe, if thou re-
fufe to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I
bring the locufts into thy coaft : thefe were very large,
terrible^ and devouring creatures, the like to which are never
5 feen in this country : And they ftiall cover the face of the
earth, (the original is, the eye of the earth, that is, the fun,)
that one cannot be able to fee the earth : and they fhall
eat the refidue of that which is efcaped, which remaineth
unto you from the hail, and fhall eat every tree which
6 groweth for you out of the field : And they fhall fill
thy houfes, and the houfes of all thy fervants, and the
houfes of all the Egyptians •, which neither thy fathers,
nor thy fathers' fathers have {^Qn, fince the day that they
were upon the earth unto this day, for number, fize, and
mifchievous effects. And he turned himfelf, and went out
from Pharaoh.
7 And Pharaoh's fervants, the miles and counfellors of
Egypt, faid unto him. How long fhall this man be a
fnare, a means of deftru5iion, unto us ? let the men go,
that they may ferve the Lord their God : knoweft thou
not yet that Egypt is, in a great meafure, deftroyed ?
l!his was good advice, and had he taken it^ it would have
prevented that mortification which he afterwards fuffcred,
8 And Mofes and Aaron were brought again unto Pha-
raoh: and he faid unto them, Go, ferve the Lord your
9 God : [but] who [are] they that fhall go ? And Mofes
faid. We will go with our young and with our old,
with our fons and with our daughters, with our flocks
and with our herds will we go -, for we [mufl: hold] a
Vol. L X feafl
326 E X O D U S. X. i
feaft unto the Lord : // is to he a feaft upon a facrlfice^ \
therefore the heafts muft go for facrtfice and food^ and all \
10 our families muji attend. And he faid unto them, Let |
the Lord be To with you, as I will let you go, and your i
little ones •, this was a kind of imprecation^ Iwifhyou may '
he no more fecure of the favour of God ^ than you are of my \
letting you go •, look [to it •,] for evil [is] before jou^you
have a feditious defign^ and 1 will make you fmart for it» 1
1 1 Not fo, your wives and children fhall not go: go now ye j
[that are] men, and ferve the Lord ; for that ye did \
defire -, this, was falfe^ for there was nofuch limitation made i
in any of their requefs. And hefore Mofes could make a re- .]
ply^ they were driven out from Pharaoh's prefence, per^ i
haps with violence^ by fome of his officers, ,
12 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Stretch out thine |
hand over the land of Egypt for the locufts, that they '
may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every "'•
13 herb of the land, [even] all that the hail hath left. And j
Mofes ftretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt ; ;
and the Lord brought an eaft wind upon the land all ;
that day, and all [that] night •, [and] when it was morn- ]
ing, the eaft wind brought the locufts from Arahia^^ \
14 And the locufts went up over all the land of Egypt, \
and refted in all the coafts of Egypt: very grievous 1
[were they •,] before them there were no fuch locufts as :
15 they, neither after them ftiall be fuch. For they co- ■
vered the face of the whole earth, fo that the land was i
darkened •, and they did eat 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 1
the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.* \
i6 Then
^ This is no unufual plague in Arabia and Africa; where,
when the harveft is ripe, they frequently come in vail numbers,
and eat up all the corn. What they do not deflroy, they fpoil,
and then die and breed infedlions.
* Natural hiftorians give us a terrible account of their fize, and
the numbers in which they come : they are fomething like grafs- ,
hoppers, but much larger, fometimes fix or feven inches long. |
They darken the heavens where they coine; breed a famine in \
a. night; fill up the highways, fo that they cannot be paffed ; 1
and break down large arms of trees on which the lodge. See a
beautiful defcription of this calamity, Jeel ii. at the beginning, j
See alfo Thevenot's Travels, P. 1. p. 12.
EXODUS. X. 327
1 6 Then Pharaoh called for Mofes and Aaron in hafte ;
and he faid, I have finned agalnft the Lord your God,
by contemning his works ^ by refujing his demand^ and breaks
ing my promife^ and againft you Ifraelites in general^ by
your cruel bondage \ and againfiyou Mofes and Aaron in par^
ticular^ by a denial ofyourjuft requejls^ and my fcornful deaU
17 ings with you, ^os^ thtvtfovQ ceafe to punijh me any fur-
ther^ forgive, I pray thee, my fin, only this once, if ever I
trefpafs again in this kind^ pray for me no more •, and entreat
the Lord your God, that he may take away from me
1 8 this death only, this deadly plague. And he went out
19 from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. And the
Lord turned a mighty ftrong weft wind, which ca?ne
from the Mediterranean fea^ and took away the locufts, and
caft them into the Red fea-, he fixed them there ^ as the word
fignifies \ had they died on the land^ they would 'probably have
produced the plague •, ^ there remained not one locuft in
20 all the coaft of Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pha-
raoh's heart, fo that he would not let the children of
Ifrael go •, all his repentance went away with the locufls,
21 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Stretch out thine
hand toward heaven, that there may be darknefs over
the land of Egypt, even darknefs [which] may be felt^
(?r, as in the Hebrew^ that one may feel darb^efs •, the air
being fo thickened with grcfs mifts and vapours that it might
22 be felt. And Mofes ilretched forth his hand toward
heaven, and there was a thick darknefs in all the land
of Egypt three days, which fliut out all the rays of the
23 fun^ and put out all their lamps and fires : and They faw
not one another, neither rofe any from his place for three
days : but all the children of Ifrael had light in their
dwellings, fo that they might have gone away with all they
had •, but God would have ther/i march out like triumphant
conquerors^ and not go out like fugitives.
24 And Pharaoh, roufed by this plague^ called unto MofQ3,
and faid. Go ye, ferve the Lord^ only let your flocks
X 2 and
^ Homer, fpeaks of the wind fweeping away locufls into the
water; and Pliny fpeaks of a wind that was ufeful to Egypt,
by carrying locufts into this fea; which was called the Red fea,
from the abundance of reddiih reeds, or bulrulhes, which grew
on its bank, or at its bottom.
32S EXODUS. X:
and your herds be flayed : let your little ones alfo go
25 with you. And Mofes faid, with a becoming dignity and
fpirit^ fuitable to his chara5ler^ Thou muft give us alfo
facrifices and burnt offerings, that we may facrifice unto
26 the Lord our God. Our cattle alfo fhall go with us ;
there fhall not an hoof be left behind, not the fmalleji
thing to tempt us to turn back again *, for thereof muft we
take to ferve the Lord our God •, and we know not with
what we mufl ferve the Lord, until we come thither,
what folemn and extraordinary Jacrifices will be required.
27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he
would not let them go •, he did not permit Pharaoh to com-
ply with this motion., but fuffered him to go on in his objlinacy.
28 And Pharaoh faid unto him, Get thee from me, take
heed to thyfelf, fee my face no more j for in [that] day
thou feeft my face thou fhalt die. Strange., that hejiiomd
threaten a perfon with death who had done fuch miracles^
29 and might Jirike him dead on the fpot ! And Mofes faid.
Thou hafl fpoken well, or right •, fo it /hall come to pafs :
as thou haft warned me^ I affure thee in the name of God,
that thou jhalt fee me no more^ either to beg my prayers^ or
be helped out of thy troubles by my means ; I will fee thy
face again no more.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT r E fee the folly of refufing to humble ourfelves
V V before God. Our meflage to every finner is
the fame as that of Mofes to Pharaoh, How long wilt thou
refufe to humble thyfelf? and this is a juft defcription of the
nature of true repentance. Men are exhorted and be-
fought to do this j and it is highly fit and reafonable that
creatures who have offended fhould humble themfelves,
acknowledge God's righteoufnefs, and own their diftrefs,
and with humility entreat his favour. God expefts this
from all men, for all have finned \ the greatefl are not
exempted -, he infifts upon it, that they reverence and
bow down before him. For negleding this, Belfhazzar
was punifhed: and all thofe who lift themfelves up a-
gainil God, who adl proudly and arrogantly, fhall foon be
brought
EXODUS. X. 329
brought low. Remember, It is not fufficient that we fhow
external reverence to God -, unlefs the heart be humble, and
our difpofitlons be fincere and contrite, it will be fo far from
fecuring us, that it will make our cafe worfe, and our plagues
the more wonderful.
2. We fee the ineffic.icy of partial reformation, and a
partial compliance with the commands of God. Pharaoh
offers fome terms, but will not come up to God's require-
ments. He never yields God his whole demands, but, as
Bp. Hall expreffes it, ' dodges like fome hard chapman.'
Firfl, Ifrael fhall not go. Then, they may facrifice, but it
fhall be in Egypt. Then, in the wildernefs, but not far off.
He would then allow the men, and then the children, but
not the cattle. In this manner do finners trifle with the al-
mighty and everlafting God : when his word and their own
confciences alarm them, they will part with one luft, and
then another, that which they can fpare with leafl: relud-
ance, and are leaft profited by -, but llill they have fome
foolifh referve, they have fome favourite paffion, that they
will indulge: they will not part with every lull, nor give
up their whole heart to God, Thus Herod heard John
gladly, and did fome things. This is a foolifh and abfurd
condud •, for there is no treating with God, without fur-
rendering at difcretion. If we would be accepted of him,
we mufl: efteem his 'precepts concernmg all things to he rights and
hate every falfe way,
3. See the vanity of confeffing fin, when it is not reform-
ed. Pharaoh acknowledges his fin, prays that he may bd
forgiven, and defires Mofes to intercede for him ; but at the
fame time was hardening his heart. He prays to be for-
given this once, which implies a promife that he would
offend no more : but all this was the efFecft of a fright ; he
had no ferious meaning in it. Thus finners, when greatly
terrified, think of repenting, and perhaps call upon God for
mercy, entreat the prayers of others, and promife how holy
and obedient they will be ; while their hearts continue the
lame ; and they are deceiving themfelves, while attempting
to mock God. Such unhappy perfons fin againfl the con-
vidions of their own minds; and their hearts grow harder,
by every inflance in which the word or providence of God
X 3 feems
330 E X O D U S. X.
feems to fofteii them^ while they continue impenitent and \
unreformed. Let us guard againft fuch a miftake as this. '
It is in vain to confefs fin, and exprefs our fhame and grief |
on account of it, while we do not utterly forfake it. Re-
member how that promife is expreffed. He that confejjethand \
forfaketh his fin ^ JJo all find mercy, \
4. The ftate of the Egyptians and Ifraelites during the ^
plague of darknefs, is a lively emblem of the different con-
dition of faints and finners. Darknefs overlhadowed the j
Egyptians •, a terrible emblem of that darknefs of mind \
in which finners are involved : they are furrounded with 1
fpiritual darknefs -, the god of this world hath blinded thei r
eyes. But faints are children of light; they were once dark-
nefs^ hut are made light in the Lordy they walk in his light. ;
How happy the condition of the Ifrael of God, of all up- !
right fouls, to whom there arifeth light in the thickeft darhiefs, \
Thus it is faid in Ifa, Ix. i, 2, (in v^'hich there is probably !
an allulion to the ftory before us) Arife^ Jhine^ for thy light is \
come, and the glory of the Lord is rifen upon thee. For, heboid, the ;
darknefs fh all cover the earth, andgrofs darknefs the people-, hut '
the Lord fliall arife upon thee, and his glory fJjall be feefi upon {
thee. Sinners ihall be banifhed to a ftateof everlafting dark- \
nefs ; for them there is refer ved hlacknefs of darknefs for ever, \
But light is fownfor the righteous -, they fhail be advanced tp |
a W'orld, where thefunfliall no more be their light by day, neither. \
for brightnefs fhall the moon give light unto them^ but the Lord \
fhall he unto them an everlafling light, and their God, their glory. \
JlvA he Jliall lead them to fountains of living water, and wipe j
azvay all tears from their eyes. And the inhabitant fb all not fay, ]
lamfick', the people that dwell therein fhall be forgiven their \
iniquity. \
5. See the goodnefs of God, in the complete redemption \
of Ifrael, not a hoof was left behind. He that has begun de- -
iiverance, will complete it. But there is a nobler falvation, \
vvhich God hath in referve for his people, and he will com- |
plete and perfect that alfo. He will not lofethe meaneft of j
his fervants, nor fuffer one to rem.ain under the power and ;
tyranny of the god of this v^orld. Nay he will not lofe ;
tl^e meaneft part of this mortal body -, every part of the •
flamina, or principles of it, fliall be laifcd from the bond- \
aee ;
EXODUS. XL 3^f
age of corruption -, he will fv/allow up death in vidtory ; and
give all his people a full releafe from the power of the ene-
my. The hiftory afterwards fhows, that the words of Mofes
were made good ; and we have the aflurance of a faithful
God, that the deliverance and falvatlon of all his fervants
fhall alio be complete -, and when he g..^hers his faints to-
gether out of this lower world, to bring them to the land
that he hath promifed, not one (hall be lef c behind. Faith-
ful is he that hath fromifed^ who will alfo do it \ not one tittle
of his word fhall fail to be accomplifhed.
CHAP. XI.
In the conclujlon of the laji chapter^ Mofes faid to Pharaoh^ ' I
will fee thy face again no more,^ It is generally thought^ that
before he went out he threatened the lafi plague ; iffo^ the three
frji verfes of this chapter mujl be in a parent hefts. But perhaps
Pharaoh^ contrary to his refolution^ fent for Mofes again \ as
it is plain he did^ after thefrft born were (lain,
I yt N D the Lord faid unto Mofes, Yet will I bring
X\, one plague [more] upon Pharaoh, and upon
Egypt •, afterwards he v/ill let you go hence : when he
ihall let [you] go, he fhall furely thruft you out hence
altogether \ hefiall be glad to get rid ofyou^ even by force.
1 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man
borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her
3 neighbour, jewels of filver, and jev/els of gold.^ And
the Lord gave the people favour in the fight of the
Egyptians. Moreover the man Mofes [was] very great
in the land of Egypt, in the fight of Pharaoh's fervants,
and in the fight of the people. 'This was the reafon why
the courtiers did not meddle with Mofes^ and why the
Egyptians fo readily granted the requefts of the Ifraelites,
X 4 4 And
^ Many objeflions have been made to this con dud of Mofes, and
many commentators and others have endeavoured to vindicate it, but
have done it very indifferently. The truth is, the Hebrew word
Shaat does not fignify to borronv, but to ajk one to give^ as Pjatm
ii. 8. aj% of me, Uc. God here faid, Aik of, or request your neigh-
bours to give you fuch things, and 1 will difpofe their minds to
lltow you favour; and fo he did, a/. 3. Sec cL iii. 22.
332 EXODUS. XL
4 And Mofes faid io Pharaoh^ before he went out of his
prefence^ (compare v. 8. with ch, x. 29.) Thus fajth the
Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midftof
Egypt, will manifejl my power in an eminent manner^ with-
5 out ufing thy rod^ or any other inftrument : And all the firft
born in the land of Egypt ihall die, from the firft born
of Pharaoh that fitteth upon his throne, his f on and fuc-
cejfor^ even unto the firft born of the maid fervant that
[is] behind the mill, the meanefi Jlave •, and all the firft
6 born of beafts. And there ftiall be a great cry through,
out all the land of Egypt, fuch as there was none like
7 it, nor ftiall be like it any more. But againft any of
the children of Ifrael ftiall not a dog move his tongue,
againft man or beaft, they fhall not have the leaji dtftur-
bance i that ye may know how that the Lord doth put
8 a difference between the Egyptians and Ifrael. And all
thefe thy fervants, who are now ready to drive me from thy
prefence^ ftiall come down unto me, and bow down them-
felves unto me, faying. Get thee out, and aft the people
that follow thee, that put themf elves under thy conduct and,
command: and after that I will go out. And he went out
from Pharaoh, whp was in a great anger, or ra^e againjl
Mofesy hecaufe of this threatening J^
9 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Pharaoh ftiall not
hearken unto you ^ that my wonders may be multiplied
In the land of Egypt. God being determined to pumJJi him
further^ in righteous judgment fujfered him to continue in
10 his objiinate fury. And Mofes and Aaron did all thefe
wonders before Pharaoh: and the Lord hardened Pha-
raoh's heart, fp that he would not let the children of
Ifrael go out of his land, //// he was forced to it by the
death of thefirjl born.
REFLECTIONS.
I. TT| r Emayobferve, that to fear and reverence God,
W ^s ^^^ "^ay to be feared and reverenced by the
worft of men ; v. ^, Moreover the man Mofes was very
great in the land of Egypt., in the ftght of Pharaoh^s fervants.,
and in the fight of the people. He was beloved of God, and
reverenced
f» See this fenfe ellabliflied in Shuck fork's Cpn. vol. \\. p. 336,
EXODUS. XL 223
reverenced by man. When God's fervants ad from re-
ligious principles, and evidence to the world their regard
for God, men cannot but have an efteem for them : bad
as the world is, wicked men will always have a fecret re-
verence for the righteous. Let us, therefore, fear and
honour God, and keep his charge -, and thus ihall we have
favour and good underftanding in the Jlglit of God andfnaiu
2. What reverence do we owe to that God, in whofe
hand our breath is ! How eafily can he cut off the fpirits of
men *, the fpirits of princes, the greateft of men, are in his
hand. He knew how to feparate the firfi: born in all the
families of Egypt to deftrudion. Who would not fear fo
awful a Being, and reverence him, as the preferver of man
and beaft 1
3. Let us be folicitous to be found among God's people,
that we may efcape the plagues which he brings upon the
wicked. The Lord puts a difference between them, often-
times in this world, and preferves them from the noifome
peftilence : but when the day cometh that fhall hum as an
pven^ it lliall put a ftill greater difference between him that
feareth Gad^ and him that fear eth him not. ^he wicked fjjall
be turned into hell^ with all the nations that forget God \ fudden
deftru£iion fhall come upon them. But thofe who fear the
Lord, he will hide in the day of his anger, and fix in a
ftate of everlafting tranquillity and repofe j there remaineth a
reft for the people of God.
4. What a melancholy inftance have we of an impotent,
obllinate rage in Pharaoh. After having fuffered fo much,
it might have been expedled that he would have h^^n
mollified and humbled ; inflead of this, he hardens his hearty
and rages againft Mofes. This is too often the cafe of
• wicked men: they grow hardened by their afHiftions.
When God's meflengers give them warning, fet before
them the terrors of the Lord, and point out the threaten-
ings of his word, they grow angry at the meffengers ^
minifters become their enemies by telling them the truth.
But whether men v/iil hear, or whether they will forbear,
whether they will bear it patiently, or let their paiTions
rage, the meffage muft be delivered, as we would deliver
our own fouls. God approves the zeal and fidelity of his
fervants.
134 E X O D U S. XII.
fervants, however men may defpire or be offended at them.
Let men page ever To much, and ftand out ever lb long,
God will humble them at laft. His counfel fljall ftand\ and
his minifters ihall be a fweet favour in them that perifh, as
well as in them that are faved.
CHAP. Xll. i_28.
God had "promt fid to Abraham^ in Gen. xv. 13, 14, ^ Know of
a furety that thy fied JJiall he aftranger in a land that is not
theirs, andJJiaUfirve them-, and they Jhall affli^ them four
hundred years -, and alfo that nation^ whom they flo ell ferve, will
I judge \ and afterward fhall they come out with great fub-
fiance:^ in this chapter we have the fulfilment of that prophecy,
1 A -^ ^ ^^ Lord fpake unto Mofes and Aaron in
2 ±\. the land of Egypt, faying, This month Ahih
[fliail be] unto you the beginning of months : it [fhall
be] the firft month of the year to you."^
2 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Ifrael, faying.
In the tenth [day] of this month they {hall take to them
every man a lamb, according to the houfe of [their]
4 fathers, a lamb for an houfe : And if the houfehold be
too little for the lamb 5 too few to eat it at one meal^ let
him and his neighbour next unto his houfe take [it]
according to the number of the fouls •, every man ac-
cording to his eating fhall make your count for the
lamb j every 'mafler of a family flo all compute how much his
family ufeth to eat^ and fhall take fuch afhare of the lamb
as may fuffce them,
5 Your lamb fhall be without blemifh •, intimating that
God muft be fcrvedwith the befl •, a male of the firft year,
c/r, about a year old: ye fhall take [it] out from the
6 iheep, or from the goats : And ye fhall keep it up until
the fourteenth day of the fame month : and the whole
affembly of the congregation of Ifrael fhall kill it in the
evening.
^ Thus the beginning of their year was changed ; it was be-
fore this command in the middle of September, but now in the
middle cf ^iarch. Hence in all reckonings of the months in
fcripture, where they are numerically named, this is counted the
■firil, and the others as they lie in order from this.
EXODUS. XII. 335
evening ; Ike Hebrew fignifies^ between the two ez'eningSy
between three o'clock andfunfetJ"
7 And they Ihall take of the blood, and ftrike [it] on
the two fide pofts^ and on the upper door pofl: of the
hoiifes, wherein they fhall eat it ; not on the threfoold^ left
it jJoGuld he -profaned^ as trampling upon any thing was
reckoned to do,
8 And they Ihall eat the flefh in that night ^ following the
fourteenth^ and begiyining the fifteenth day^ roaft with fire,
and unleavened bread ; [and] with bitter [herbs] they
fnall eat it. This was to remind them of their bitter bondage
9 in Egypt. Eat not of it raw% nor fodden at all with water,
but roaft [with] fire ; his head with his legs, and with
the purtenance thereof, all the entrails that are proper
10 for food. And ye ihall let nothing of it remain until the
morning, for any fuperftitious ufe ; like fame of the antient
idolaters^ who preferred fome part of the facrifices for fuper-
ftitious purpofes •, but ye fhall entirely confume yours : and
that which remaineth of it until the morning ye fhall
1 1 burn with fire. And thus fhall ye eat it at this time \
[with] your loins gix<^.Qd^ your long garments tiedup^ your
fhoes on your feet, as afign and token of your liberty^ (for
fio/ves always went barefoot^) and your flafF in your hand;
and ye fhall eat it in hafle, like perfons on the point of
departing: it [is] the Lord's pafTover-, that is^ a fign
of his paffing over you and your houfes^ when he comes to
defiroy the Egyptians,
1 2 For I will pafs through the land of Egypt this night,
and will fmite all the firfl born in the land of Egypt,
both man and beafl ; and againfi all the gods of Egypt
13 I will execute judgment : "J I [am] the Lord. And the
blood which fhall be fp-rinkled on the door pofts f[-iall be
to you for a token upon the houfes where ye [are ;] riot
to
e Every mailer of an houfe was to kill it In the prefence of
his whole family, which made him a prieft in his houfe; but af-
terv.'ards it was reilrained to the prielb only.
^ P The lamb was killed on the fourteenth day in the evenio'r,
that is, after three o'clock, ^j. 6. but was eaten that night, which
was the beginning of the fifteenth day.
"i^This was deiigncd to ihow them the vanity of idols and to
coanrm their faith in the God of Ifrael. An heathen writer
i?-)'Si that an earthquake threw down their temples alfo.
Sl^ EXODUS. Xlf.
to direr: the defircying angeU 'but to confirm your faith and
hope : and when I fee the blood, I will pafs over you,
and the plague fhall not be upon you to deftroy [you,]
14 when I fmite the land of Egypt.* And this day fhall
be unto you for a memorial of this deliverance from Egypt y
and a type of your redemption by Chrifl •, and ye fhall
keep it a feaft to the Lord throughout your genera-
tions, as a time of rejoicing for your deliverance: ye
fhall keep it a feaft by an ordinance for ever, every year ^
all the days of your life^ or rather^ till the coming of Chriji
who is our paff over, i Cor, v. 7, 8.
15 Seven days after the paffover fhall ye eat unleavened
bread •, even the firft day after the paffover ye fhall put
away leaven out of your houfes : * for whofoever eateth
jeavened bread from the firft day until the feventh day,
that foul fhall be cut off from Ifrael, he excommunicatedy
or cut off by the hand of God, as a rebel againfi him ; as
16 one who hath renounced his religion and his covenant. And
in the firft day [there fliall be] an holy convocation,
ii folemn day of publick worfhip, and In the feventh day
there fhall be an holy convocation to you ; no manner
of work fhall be done in them, fave [that] which every
1 7 man muft eat, that only may be done of you.' And
ye fhall obferve [the feaft of] unleavened bread ; for in
this felf fame day have 1 by my angel brought your ar-
mies, all your tribes y like a triumphant army, out of the
land of Egypt : therefore fhall ye obferve this day In
1 8 your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the firft
[month,] on the fourteenth day of the month at even,
ye ihall eat unleavened bread, until the one and
19 twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days fhall
there be no leaven found in your houfes : for whofoever
eateth
' Epiphanius tells us, that the Egyptians ufed at this time of
the year to mark their cattle, trees, and one another, with red
ochre, which they fancied to be a prefervative from death; it
probably took its rife from hence.
* This was to be a memorial of their fpeedy departure oat of
Egypt, when they had not time to leaven their bread.
t On the firft of thefe holy days their deliverance was begun,
by the death of the firll born of Egypt ; and on the laft of them
their deliverance was completed, by the drowning of Pharaoh and
his hoft in the fea.
EXODUS. XII. 3^7
eateth that which Is leavened, even that foul fhall be
cut off from the congregation of Ifrael, whether he be
a ftranger, that is^ a profelyte^ or one born in the land.
20 Ye fhall eat nothing leavened ; in all your habitations
fhall ye eat unleavened bread.
2 1 Then Mofes called for all the elders of Ifrael, to give
theyn the dire£fions he had received from God^ and faid unto
them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to
your families, and kill the pafTover, that is^ the lamb
22 appointed for a memorial And ye fhall take a bunch of
hyfTop, and dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the bafon,
and ftrike the lintel and the two fide pofts, with the
blood that [is] in the bafon v and none of you fhall go
23 out at the door of his houfe until the morning. For
the Lord will pafs through to fmite the Egyptians ; and
when he feeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the
two fide pofls, the Lord will pafs over the door, and
will not fuffer the deflroyer to come in unto your houfes
24 to fmite [you."] And ye fhall obferve this thing, this
commandment of the paffover^ hut not all thefe rites and
ceremonies of ity for an ordinance to thee and to thy fons
25 for ever. And it fhall come to pafs, when ye be
come to the land which the Lord will give you,
according as he hath promifed, that ye fhall keep
this fervice, and infiru5l your children and houfeholds in
26 the nature and defign of it. And it fhall come to pafs,
when your children fhall fay unto you. What mean
27 ye by this fervice ? That ye fhall fay. It [is] the fa-
crifice of the Lord's pafTover, who paffed over the
houfes of the children of Ifrael in Egypt, when he fmote
the Egyptians, and delivered our houfes. And the
people bowed the head and wgrfhipped God^ in token of
their thankful acknowledgment of his favour^ and cheerful
28 fubmijfion to his command and ordinance. And the children
of
" God could have diftinguilhed them without this blood, and
preferved them if they had gone out; but it was his own ap-
pointed method for their fafety, and had they negleded it, they
would have been juftly deftroyed Thus it is f\ud, Heb. xi. 28.
Through faith he^ that is, Mofes, kept the pajjo'ver and fprir.kling of
hloody that is, thro' faith in God's declaration, and in this condiiioii
of their prefervation.
33^ te X o D u s. xn.
of Ifrael went away, and did as the Lord had conl-
manded Mofes and Aaron, fo did they.
REFLECTIONS.
I . Y E T us be thankful that Chrrft our paflbver was
JLy facrlficed for us. He is the lamb of God, with-
out blemifh and without fpot. Let us rejoice in his facrifice.
The fprinkling of the blood of Jefus was deligned to purge
our confciences, and fo fave us from the wrath to come.
2. Let us keep the chriftian feaft in a gofpel manner; not
with the leaven of malice and wickednefs, but with the unleaven-
ed bread of fincerity -, mingling (incerc repentance with our
joy •, and whatever we do, do it heartily as unto the Lord.
3. Let us do what we can to tranfmit the memory of this
tranfadion from generation to generation. If it was reafon-
able for the Ifraelites to teach their children the meaninor
of the paflbver, much more fhould we teach ours the nature
and defign of gofpel ordinances. Children fhould alk pa-
rents the meaning of Baptifm and the Lord's Supper ; and
parents fhould labour to underftand them, and be careful to
explain them, and do it frequently, that they may know the
obligations they are under, and be brought to join them-
[elves to the Lord in the bonds of an everlajling covenant, never
to be forgotten.
CHAP. XII. 29, to the end.
We have here the lajl andmofi dreadful plague of Egypt \ Ifrael* s
departure', and fome further dire ^ions about the pajfover,
2^ y% N D it came to pafs, that at midnight the Lord
j[\ fmote all the firft born in the land of Egypt,
from the firffc born of Pharaoh that fat on his throne,
his fin and heir, unto the firft born of the captive that
[was] in the dungeon, the houfe of the pit, that is, the
30 drawers of water; and all the firft born of cattle. And
Pharaoh rofe up in the night, he, and all his fervants,
and all the Egyptians •, and there was a great cry in
Egypt-,
EXODUS. XII. 339
Egypt ; for [there was] not a houfe where [there was]
not one dead, where there "doas any firft horn [on, ^^
31 And he called for Mofes and Aaron by night, and
faid. Rife up, [and] get you forth from among my
people, both ye and the children of Ifrael ; and go,
32 ferve the Lord, as ye have faid. Alfo take your
flocks and your herds, as ye have faid, and be gone ;
33 and blefs me alfo, fray for me that J may notperijh. And
the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they^
might fend them out of the land in hade •, for they fald^
34 We [be] all dead [men,] we Jhall all be deftroyed. And
the people took their dough before It was leavened,
their kneading troughs being bound up In their clothes
';^^ upon their flioulders. And the children of Ifrael did
according to the word of Mofes -, and they borrowed, or
requefted^ of the Egyptians jewels of filver, and jewels of
36 gold, and raiment: And the Lord gave the people
favour in the fight of the Egyptians, fo that they lent,
or gave freely^ unto them [fuch things as they required.]
And they fpoiled the Egyptians.
37 And the children of Ifrael journeyed from Ramefes,
their place of general rendezvous^ to Succoth,y^ called^ be-
caiife they there dwelt in tents or booths \ about fix hundred
thoufand on foot [that were] men, befides women and
38 children. And a mixed multitude went up alfo with
^zns^ fir angers of fever al naTions \^ and flocks, and herds,
39 [even] very much cattle. And they baked unleavened
cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of
Egypt, for it was not leavened •, becaufe they were thrufl:
out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they
40 prepared for themfelves any. victual. Now the fojourn-
in^from place to place of the children of Ifrael, and their
fathers
"^ This was at midnight, when afleep, and they thought them-
felves fecure. They expedted fome comfort after the three days
of darknefs, when this great calamity came, upon them. Thus
God fulfilled his threatening, chap. xi. 5. and awfully puniih-
ed them for the death of thofe children of the Ifraelites, whom
they had deftroyed.
* At ieait iiftten hundred thoufmd in all ; fome writers fay;
more than two millions. A vail increafe from feventy fouls !
340 EXODUS. XlL
fathers who dwelt in Egypt, [was] four hundred and
41 thirty years. ^ And it came to pafs at the end of the
four hundred and thirty years, even the felf fame day it
came to pafs, that all the hofts of the Lord went out
42 from the land of Egypt. It [is] a night to be much
obferved, cr, as in the Hebrew ^ a night of ohfervations^
unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of
Egypt : this [is] that night of the Lord to be obferved
of all the children of Ifrael in their generations j in which
his power ^ mercy , and faithfulnefs appear eL
43 And the Lord faid unto Mofes and Aaron, This
[is] the ordinance of the paflbver: There ihall no
fir anger, that iSy no uncircumcifed gentile^ eat thereof:
44 But every man's fervant that is bought for money, when
45 thou haft circumcifed him, then fhall he eat thereof. A
foreigner, and an hired fervant fhall not eat thereof.
46 In one houfe fhall it be eaten, to promote family piety,
find brotherly love •, thou fhalt not carry forth aught of
the flelh abroad out of the houfe i neither fhall ye bre^k
47 a bone thereof. All the congregation of Ifrad'^all
48 keep it. And when a ftranger fhall fojourn with thee,
and will keep the paffover to the Lord, let all his males
be circumcifed, and then let him come near and keep
it •, and he fhall be as one that is born in the land : for
49 no uncircumcifed perfon fhall eat thereof. One law fhall
be to him that is home born, and unto the ftranger
that fojourneth among you.
50 Thus did all the children of Ifrael •, as the Lord com-
51 manded Mofes and Aaron, fo did they. And it came
to pafs the felf fame day, [that] the Lord did bring the
children of Ifrael out of the land of Egypt by their
armies, ordering and marfhalling them in a regular manner,
REFLECTIONS.
I, f^ O D can make the ftouteft flnners yield and fubmit
\jr to his commands. It is in vain to contend with him-,
if one plague will not do, he has more •, men muft bend, or
break.
y That is, from the time of Abraham's departure from Haran, Gen.
■xW, I — 5, to the giving of the law, as the apoftle Ihows, Gal iii,
\b, 17. A^riiham and his pofterity were two hundred and fifteen
jv'urs in Canaan, and two iiundred a;id Efiet-n ycMi in Egypt.
EXODUS. XIII. 341
break. Submit to God, therefote, left he he angrj^ and ye
per ijh from the way,
2. The time will come, when the proudeft iinners will
be glad of the prayers of thofe fervants of God whom they
have defpifed. And Pharaoh faid, Be gone^ and hlefs me alfo^
V. '^2. He w^as glad of the prayers of thofe whom he had
threatened with continued flavery, yea, with death. This
is the cafe v^ith Unners, when on a lick and dying bed; they
then fend for minifters, or for this or that good man
whom they have defpifed, and fay, Blefs me alfo. But
how little good can be expected from thofe who have ob-
ftinately defied the Almighty, and flighted his mefTages, all
their days.
3. See the wifdom of the inftitution of the Lord's Sup-
per, and the reafonablenefs of attending upon it. The
pafTover was a wife and good inftitution, the Lord's Supper
anfwers the fame end. It is the memorial of a great event,
of a glorious deliverance •, it is more worthy of remem-
brance, as the redemption it celebrates is greater, and the
obfervation of it eafier. All chriftians fhould attend upon
it, for it is an ordinance for ever, and the command of
Chrift is, This doy in remembrance of me.
CHAP. XIII.
Ifrael being led out of Egypt ^ God here gives them directions
about fan^iifying their fir ft horn ; repeats the warning about
thefeaft of unleavened bread-, and the Ifraelites march^ under
the divine guidance, with JofepHs hones,
.1 A N^ ^^ Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Sanc«
2 x\ ^^^y ^"^^ ^^' confecrate, orfet apart to my fervice,
all the iirft born, vvhatfoever openeth the womb among
the children of Ifrael, [both] of man and of beaft : it
[is] mine, by a pecidiar right, being preferved, when the
Egyptians were deftroyed,
3 And Mofes faid unto the people. Remember this
day, this firft day of unleavened bread, to keep up a memorial
of it, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the
Vol. I. y houfe
342 EXODUS. XIIL
houfe of bondage; for by ftrength of hand the Lord
brought you out from this [place :] and this (hall be the
4 memorial^ there fhall no, leavened bread be eaten. This
day came ye out, in the month Abib, which, fignifies^
5 an ear of corn. And it fhall be when the Lord fhall
bring thee into the land of the Cahaanites, and the Hit-
tites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Je-
bufites, which he fware unto thy fathers to give thee,
a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou fhalt
6 keep this fervice in this month. Seven days thou fhalt
eat unleavened bread, and in the feventh day [fhall be]
7 a feaft to the Lord. Unleavened bread fhall be eaten
feyen days ♦, and there fhall no leavened bread be {^^w
with thee, neither fhall there be leaven feen with thee in
8 all thy quarters. And thou fhalt fhow thy fon in that
day, faying, [This is done] becaufe of that [which] the
Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt ;
that isy this feaft of unleavened bread Jhall be as a continual
9 rneans to remind you of your deliverance out of Egypt, And
it fhall be for a fign unto thee upon thine hand, as fa-
miliar to you as any thing on your hayid^ which you are
continually looking on\ and for a memorial between thine
eyes, like fomething hung there^ which comes continually in
thy fight', ^ that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth:
for with a flrong hand hath the Lord brought thee out
10 of Egypt. Thou fhalt therefore keep this ordinance
in his feafon from year to year.
1 1 And it fhall be when the Lord fhall bring thee into
the land of the Canaanites, the nations defended from
Cain^ as he fware unto thee and to thy fathers, and
12 fhall give it thee; That thou fhalt fet apart unto the
Lord all that openeth the matrix, every firft born male^
and every firfWing that cometh of a beafl which thou
13 hafl; the males [fhall be] the Lord's. And every firll:-
ling of an afs, or of any unclean beaft^ thou fhalt redeem
with a lamb ; and if thou wilt not redeem it, ;/// is not
worth
^ This is an allufion to the forehead or frontlet jewels, which
were commonly worn by the eaftern ladies. The fuperftitious Jews
underilood this literally; hence they wore fcrolls of parchment, on
which particular portions of the law were written, upon their
foreheads and arms, which they called Philaaeries,
EXODUS. XIII. si3
ivorth the price of its redemption^ which is left to thy own
choice^ then thou fhalt break his neck, that it may not be
put to any other ufe : and all the firft born of man among
thy children Ihalt thou redeem, for five fhekels ; (Num,
xviii. 1 6.) no choice is left here^ it is exprefsly commanded J^
14 And it fhall be when thy fon afketh thee in time to
come, faying. What [is] this }^ that thou fhalt fay unto
him. By ftrength of hand the Lord brought us out
15 from Egypt, from the houfe of bondage : And it came
to pafs, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the
Lord flew all the firft born in the land of Egypt, both
the firft born of man, and the firft born of beaft : there-
fore I facrifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix,
being males-, but all the firft born of my children I re-
16 deem. And it fhall be for a token upon thine hand,
and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by ftrength
of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.
17 And it came to pafs, when Pharaoh had let the peo-
ple go, that God led them not [through] the way of
the land of the Philiftines, although that [was] near ;
not above three or four days journey ; *^ for God faid, Left
peradventure the people repent when they fee war, and
18 they return to Egypt : But God led the people about,
[through] the way of the wildernefs of the Red fea : '^
and the children of Ifrael went up harnefTed, or^ by five
in a rank, in great order and regularity^ out of the land
of Egypt.
Y 2 19 And
* In Num. i\\. 12. the tribe of Levi was taken, inftead of the
firft born of Ifrael, and devoted to God's fervice. Travellers in-
form us, that the nation of Tanguth, in the Eaft Indies, redeem
their fons with a ram, which they offer as a kind of facrifice ;
which probably took its rife from this, as the ten tribes were
fcattered throughout all Afia.
** The Jews fay, that thofe who had no children of their own
were obliged to teach the children of others.
= PhililHa lay on the back of Gofhen. The Philiftines were
a warlike people ; and the Jfraelites, undifciplined, and juft come
out of flavery, were unfit to ftand before them.
'^ Here they might be trained up in the art of war, and would
be abftradcd from the idolatry of their neighbours. Here alfo
they were to receive a fyftem of laws, and have many miracles
wrought for them, to ftrengthen their faith in God*s power and
goodnefs.
344 E X O 1) U S. Xlll.
19 And Mofes took the bones of Jofeph with him: for
he had ftraitly fworn the children of Ifrael, faying, God
v/ill furely vifit you; and ye ihall carry up my bones
away hence with you.
20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and en-
camped in Etham, in the edge of the wildernefs.
21 And the Lord, the Shekinah^ or vifible token of his
prefence^ went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud,
to lead them the way ; and by night in a pillar of fire,
22 to give them light •, to go by day and night : ^ He took
not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar
of fire by night, [from] before the people.
REFLECTIONS.
I. Y T O W proper is it that thofe, who are redeemed to
Jj^ God, fhould devote themfelves to him. He
has a claim to this, as he is the firfb and befh of Beings,
and were there no extraordinary interpofitions of his pro-
vidence in our favour, to entitle him to it. But there
are fuch : we are delivered by him from worfe than
Egyptian flavery •, we are not our own^ but bought with a
price-, therefore obliged to yield ourfelves to him. We
fhould yield to God our firft and our beft-, the firft of our
days, our youth, ftrength and vigour, and the beft of our
faculties •, he beft deferves them. Parents fhould devote
their children to God-, and when their lives are fpared,
and they are delivered from enemies and dangers, they
fhould make a thankful acknowledgment of his mercy.
Let us be engaged by the mercies of God, and efpecially
by the redemption thro' Jefus Chrift, to prefent our fouls,
bodies, time, ftrength, children, wealth, and all we have,
to God, as a facrlfice, holy and acceptable in his fight.
2. We
• This was a large cloud that overfpread the camp, like a
pyramid, v/ide at the bottom and narrow at the top. It directed
their march, went with them, Iheltered them from the heat by
day, and perhaps diftilled fome refrelliing dews by night. In the
day time it appeared like fmoke, in the night like fire, to light
them and keep off tke bealts of prey ; and this continued with
rhem till they came near to Canaan.
EXODUS. XIII. 345
2. We fee the importance of making the deliverances
granted by God to his people, familiar to the minds of the
ri/ing generation. It is our bufmefs to take every method
to form them to wifdom and virtue : this is an important
and necefiary duty. Children fhould be early taught fcrip-
ture ftories, and God's dealing with his antient people.
7'hat we have been contemplating is proper to teach them,
efpecially if we proceed to an account of our fpiritual re-
demption and deliverance. Children when they hear or
read of any thing they do not underftand, or when they
attend upon gofpel-ordinances, as baptifm, or the Lord's
fupper, fhould afk, l^Fhat mean you by this fervice ? They
ihould be defirous and willing to learn •, parents fhould put
them upon afking queflions, be ready to teach them, if
they do not enquire -, and not hide God's w^onders from
their children ; Ihowing to generations to come the praife
of the Lord, and his flrength, and the wonderful works
that he hath done. Pfalm Ixxviii. i — 4.
3. We fee the wifdom and goodnefs of God, in propor-
tioning the trials of his people to their ftrength. Their
fpirits were broken with flavery •, they were unfit to encoun-
ter difficulties, or to face any danger : this is a remarkable
inflance of divine compafTion. Thus he deals with his peo-
ple to this day. He knows their frame, and has compafTion
on their infirmities. God is faithful \ who willnot fuffcr youto
he tempted above what you are able^ hut wilU '^ith the tempa-
iion^ alfo make a way to efcape^ that you may be able to bear it,
4. Let us adore and praife God for the provifion he
made for guiding and conducting his people thro' the wil-
dernefs. 1 he Lord w^ent before them, and the God of Ifrael
was their rereward, their diredion and protec^tion. This was
a conflant miracle. We are not to expe6l fuch extraordinary
appearances •, but if we acknowledge God in all our ways^ he
will dire5l our paths. Providence takes care of good men,
leads them in the way, in the right way to the city of habit a-
tion^ tho' not the nearefl. Whatever difficulties he brings
us into, he can extricate us out of them. How happy is
it to be under the divine guidance, to be hid under the
fhadow of his wings I This is the privilege of the chriflian
Y 3 church,
346 EXODUS. XIV.
church, and of all its members. See a prophecy of this in
Jfaiah iv. 5, 6. which plainly refers to gofpel times. And
the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion^
and upon her ajfemblies^ a cloud and [moke by day^ and the Jhin-
tng of a flaming fire by night \ for upon all the glory Jliall be a
defence. A'^d there Jhall be a tabernacle^ for afhadow in the
day time from the heat^ and for a place of refuge^ and for a
covert from fi or m and from rain. Happy the church and peo-
ple who are in fuch a cafe, yea, thrice happy the people^ whofe
God is the Lord I
CHAP. XIV.
Contains a remarkable fiory^ often referred to in fcripture^ by
which God made to himfelf an everlafling name. We have
here Pharaoh's pur fuit of Ifrael\ their temper \ the dire^ions
given to Mofes -, the deliverance of Ifrael •, and the deftru£lion
of the Egyptiayis.
1 A -^ ^ ^^ Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak
2 jtiL "^to the children of Ifrael, that they turn and
encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the
fea, over againft Baal Zephon: before it fhall ye en-
3 camp by the fea/ For Pharaoh will fay of the children
of Ifrael, They [are] entangled in the land, the wilder-
nefs hath fhut them in \ the mountains are on each fide of
4 them^ and the fea is before them^ fo that they cannot efcape.
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he fhall follow
after them \ and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and
upon all his hofts, I will fhow my power and juftice : that
the Egyptians may know that 1 [am] the Lord. And
they did fo.
5 And it was told the king of Egypt, by feme of the
mixed
^ Inftead of going over the Jllhmus of Suez, they were com^
manded to turn to the right, alcng the edge of the Red fea,
into the flraits, or paflage between the mountains of Hiroth.
Into thefe llraits God icd them, ro avoid war with the Philiilines,
ch. xiii. 17. to draw Pharaoh torth upon a fuppofed advantage
gotten, v» 3« and to try the faith of his people.
EXODUS. XIV. 347
mixed multitude who returned^ that the people fled>
were going away with a purpofe not to return : and the
heart of Pharaoh, and of his fervants was turned
againft the people, and they repented of having let them
go^ and they (aid. Why have we done this, that
6 we have let Ifrael go from ferving us ? And he
made ready his chariot, and took his people with
7 him: And he took fix hundred chofen chariots, and
all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one
8 of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pha-
raoh king of Egypt, who knew the Ifraelites were an un-
difciplined multitude^ and therefore he purfued after the
children of Ifrael : and the children of Ifrael went out
with an high hand; not like fugitives^ but openly and boldly ^
and in military order ^ (ch. xiii. i8 J being refcued out of
9 their bondage by the mighty power of God. But the Egyp-
tians purfued after them, all the horfes [and] chariots of
Pharaoh, and his horfemen, and his army, and over-
took t\itm juft as they were encamping by the fea, befide
Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Ifrael
lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians march-
ed after them ; and they were fore afraid •, and no wonder ^
for they were in a fir ait between two mountains^ the fea be-
fore them^ and Pharaoh and all his army in their rear ; and
the children of Ifrael cried out unto the Lord : fome
prayed fincerely^ others only cried for fear, Then they began
li to murmur^ And they faid unto Mofes, as if he had in*
tended their deftru5iion^ Becaufe [there were] no graves
in Egypt, haft thou taken us away to die in the wilder-
nefs ? wherefore haft thou dealt thus with us, to carry
12 us forth out of Egypt ? [Is] not this the word that we
did tell thee in Egypt, faying. Let us alone, that we
may ferve the Egyptians ? For [it liad been] better for
us to ferve the Egyptians, than that we fhould die in
the wildernefs.^
Y 4 13 And
I It was (Irange that they (hould thus defpife their liberty,
diftruft God's power, and affront Mofes. Jullly does the pfalmift
fay, Pfalm cvi. 7. ' Our fathers underftood not thy wonders in
Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but
provoked him at the fea, even at the Red fea/
348 EXODUS. XIV.
13 And Mofes, who lore this with unparalleled mee^nefs^
made a moft courageous and heroic anfwer^ and faid unto
the people, Fear ye not, ftand ftill, and fee the falvation
of the Lord, which he will fhow to you to day ; ftand
Jiill in folemn admiration^ till you fee caufe to break out into
fongs of praife ; for the Egyptians whom ye have {t^n
to day, ye fhall fee them again no more for ever, in
that manner^ namely^ alive^ armed^ and ready to devour you,
14 The Lord fhall fight for you, and ye (hall hold your
peace ^ only forbear murmuringj and God will do all for you,
15 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, probably in anfwer
to fome fecret petition he had offered to God to pardon the
people and appear for them-i Vv^hei-efore crieft thou unto
me ? this is not a time for prayer^ hut for a^live fervice :
Speak unto the children of Ifrael, that they go forward
16 toward the Red fea^ that lies before then^: But lift thou
up thy rod, and ilretch out thine hand over the fea,
and divide it, command it in my name to divide it felf: and
the children of Ifrael fhall go on dry [ground] through
17 the midft of the fea. And I, behold, 1 will harden the
hearts of the Egyptians, and they fhall follovy then; •,
and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all
his hofr, upon his chariots, and upon his horfem.en, and
1 8 will make mjyfelf known and feared thro^ all the earth. And
the Egyptians fliall know that I [am] the Lord, when
1 have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his
chariots, and upon his horfemen.
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp
of Ifrael in the cloudy now removed and went behind
them-, and the pillar of the cloud went from before
their face, and (tood behind them, and thus feparated be^
tween the Ifraelites and the Egyptians^ giving light to one^
20 and darknejs to the other : And it came between the camp
of the Egyptians atid the camp of Ifrael •, and it wasra
cloud and darknefs [to them,] but it gave light by
right [to thefe:] fo that the one came not near the
'' r 'u\\ Mie night.
'. '■ ; '• s ftretched out his hand over the fc^i ; ^nd
.uled the fea to go [back] by a ftrong eafl
L night, and made the fea dry [land,] and
the
EXODUS. XIV. 349
the waters were divided, to the right hand^ and to the left,
22 And the children of Ifrael went Into the midft of the
fea upon the dry [ground:] and the waters [were] a wall
unto them on their right hand, and on their left. God
could immediately have frozen the fea ^ and made a way cuer
it ; but he chofe to do a new and ft range thing in the earth,
23 And the Egyptians purfued, and went in after them
to the midft of the fea, [even] all Pharaoh's horfes, his
chariots, and his horfemen. It is probable they did not fee
24 where they were going, ^ And it came to pafs that in the
morning watch, between day-break and fun-rife^ that the
Lord looked unto the holl of the Egyptians, frowned
upon them, through the pillar of fire and of the cloud,*
and troubled the hoft of the Egyptians, (Pfa, xviii. 14.)
with terrible a?id prodigious ft or ms of thunder and lightnings
(ch, XV. io. Pfa. Ixxvii, i8, 19.) whereby they were
25 thrown into great dif order •, And, r mining foul on each
other,, took off their chariot wheels, that they drave
them heavily ; perhaps the water began to rife thro"" the f and ^
and their wheels funk in : fo that the Egyptians, feeing
the dreadful cafe they were in, f\id, Let us fiee from the
face of Ifrael j for the Lord fighteth for them againft
26 the Egyptians, "l^hey began to be wife too late. And. while
they were thus in the midft of the fea, all in confufion^ and
the Ifraelites on the fhore^ the Lord faid unto Mofes,
Stretch out thine hand over the fea, that the waters
may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their
27 chariots, and upon their horfemen. And Mofes ftretch-
ed forth his hand over the fea, and the fea returned to
his ftrength, to its ordinary courfe and motion, when the
morning appeared ; and the Egyptians fled againft it ;
and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midft of
28 the fea. And the v/aters returned, and covered the
chariots,
^ It was about midnight, feven days after the full moon, there-
fore dark; and the cloud between them and the Ifraelites might
prevent their feeing the fea Handing as walls on each fide of
them. '
» Or the meaning may be, that God turned the bright fide
of the cloud toward the Egyptians, on which they faw the fire,
and, by the light of it, the f?a in walls, as it were, on each
fide of them, and were terrified exceedingly.
350 EXODUS. XIV.
chariots, and the horfemen, [and] all the hoft of Pha-
raoh that came into the fea after them ; there remained
29 not fo much as one of them. But the children of Ifrael
walked upon dry [land] in the midft of the fea-, and the
waters [were] a wall unto them on their right hand,
and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord faved Ifrael that day out of the hand
of the Egyptians-, and Ifrael faw the Egyptians dead
31 upon the fea fhore. And Ifrael faw that great work
which the Lord did upon the Egyptians : and the peo-
ple feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his
fervant Mofes. ^hey fang his -praife^ as in the next chap-
ter^ but foon forgat his works.
REFLECTIONS. ]
I. TJROVIDENCE fometimes leads men into!
Jf^ ftraits, to anfwer wife purpofes -, to magnify :
his power and goodnefs in their remarkable deliverance-, :
to fhow the vanity of human helpers, and encourage con- \
fidence in him. Let. not this feem ftrange, or difcourage :
any. Wait on the Lord^ be of good courage^ and he fhall |
Jlrengthen thine heart. i
2. Obferve and lament the great degree of hardnefs to i
which the heart may be brought. What folly and madnefs i
was Pharaoh guilty of ! what excufe can be made for fuch a j
condud ? What could he intend by it ? But he and his
people were mad with envy and revenge. One would have :
thought the laft plague fhould have humbled him -, but he !
grew worfe and worfe, till utter deftru6tion came upon him. j
The condu6l of the Ifraelites was equally ftrange, in doubt- 1
ing and murmuring, after all thefe glorious appearances for 1
them. It had been righteous in God to cut them off. Bp.
Hall obferves, ' God's patience was no lefs a miracle, =
than their deliverance.' :
3. Let us adore the divine power in thus dividing the !
fea. Whatever objedlion there may be raifed againft this |
miracle, we may juftly fay, with the Pfalmift, IVhat ailed ;
thee^ O thou fea^ that thou fieddefi ? Pfa. cxw, 5. No wonder j
it divided at the prefcnce of the Lord^ at the prefence of the .
God \
EXODUS. XIV. 351
God of Jacob ! We are called upon to behold, and meditate
on this great work, P/a, Ixvi. 5, 6, 7. Come and fee the works
of God : he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
He turned the fea into dry land ; they went through the flood on
foot : there did we rejoice in him. He ruleth by his power for
ever \ his eyes behold the nations : let not the rebellious exalt
thefnfelvcs. Obferve God's power •, the waters faw thee^ O
God^ the waters faw thee^ the depths alfo were troubled. The
fea is his^ and he made it \ he governs it as he pleafeth.
God is ftili able to defend his people -, and he promifes,
V/hen thou paffeft thro" the waters^ I will be with thee^ and thro*
the rivers^ they fhall not overflow thee \ when thou walkeft thro*
the fire^ thoufmlt not be burned j neither fliall the flame kindle
upon thee \ therefore truft in him. The apoftle fays, Heb.
^i. 29, By faith they paffed thro' the Red fea as by dry
land. And the prophet Ifaiah exhorts us to truft in the Lord
for ever,, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlafting ftrength.
4. With what horror and confufion will finners at laft
fee their mifery, when it is too late, and God looks upon
them with the terrors of his final wrath ! What a terrible
fcene of confufion was here, when the ground began to open
under them, when the waves were rolling down upon them,
and no poffibility of efcape ! 'The Lord is known by the judg-
ments which he CMcuteth, The fea fwallowed them up, and
having overwhelmed them awhile, cafl them on its fands,
a fpedacle of triumph to the adverfaries. Like this fhall be
the cafe of impenitent finners ; they oppofe God, hut fudden
deftru5fion cometh upon them,, from which they fhall not efcape.
With what horror will finners fee the bottomlefs pit open
before them ! They will then be glad to return to the body,
or the world they have left •, but they are fwallowed up in
the gulph of immeafurable eternity ! Let finners hear and
fear, and fin no more prefumptuoufly.
5. With what joy fhall good men, at lafl, fee all their
enemies deftroyed, and themfelves fecured in perfedl vic51:ory
and triumph. The enemies that perplex them at prefent,
ihall at length be deftroyed, and vex them no more for ever.
So fhall God overwhelm Satan and all his hofls-, death and
deftrudion fhall be fwallowed up in vidory. The people of
God fhall lland or? tjhe fhore of another world, and fee them
aii
S51 E X O D U S. XV.
all deftroyed, to rife no more ! In the faith and hope of
this great work indeed, let us fear the Lord and believe the
Lord, d?id his fervant Mofes ; then fhall we be made meet to ^
fhare in the deliverances of God's people, and to join in I
the fong of Mofes and the Lamb for ever. ]
C H A P. XY. 1 — 19. i
Contains the fong of Mofcs^ the fervant of the Lord, It was \
indited hy him, and ftmg by him and the Ifraelites on the fhore \
of the Red fea, on the laft day of unleavened bread, which was \
appointed to be an holy convocation. 'The defign of it was, to '
exprefs joy in God for their late deliverance, and to cherifhfen^ j
timents of gratitude and obedience to him, both in Mofes and \
the people.^ \
1 rw^ HEN fang Mofes and the children of Ifrael this 1
j^ fong unto the Lord, and every one, being imprejfed [
with a lively fenfe of his deliverance, fpake, faying, I will \
fing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed glorioufly, '
the horfe and his rider hath he thrown into the fea. Thd* :
the horfes were numerous and terrible, yet God overthrew \
the?n all, as eafily as if there had been but one horfe and one \
2 rider. The Lord [is] my flrength, not only my power- \
fid helper, but my flrength and courage itfelf, havi?ig had no ]
occafion to exert any of my own ; and my fong, he alone is the \
fubjc^l of it ; and he is become my falvation, he did it all '
himfclf, and perfonally engaged for me: he [is] my God, -
particularly concerned for my happinefs as an Ifraelite, and ;
the fole objeU of my worfhip, love and trujl •, and I will
prepare him an habitation, contribute cheerfully to it out '
of my fpoils -, he is alfo my father's God •, not a firange \
God, imhiown till this day, but the antient proteBor of my \
family^ .
^ This is, undoubtedly, the mod antient and noble piece of ;
poetry in - the world. A French critic obferves, the turn is great,
the thoughts noble, the itile fublime and magnificent ; the ex- !
prelTions Itrong, the iigures bold : every pa-t abounds with images |
that'ibike the mind and pofTefs the imagination. Some of the !
lined pafTagcs in heathen venters appear cold and groveling, when j
compared with this fong,' j
EXODUS. XV. ^s3
family, the God of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob •, and I
will exalt him ; / have a thoufand proofs of his love and
care, therefore I will maintain the higheft veneration for
him, fpeak well of his name, celebrate his praife, and join
3 heartily in his worfhip. The Lord [is] a man of war, a
noble warrior, an irrefiftible champion, better than thou-
fands of chariots and horfemen: the Lord Jehovah [is]
4 his name, the Almighty God that keepeth his word, Pha-
raoh's chariots and his hoft hath he caft into the {Qd.with
violence, like an arrow fhoi out of a bow : his chofen cap-
tains alfo, the mofi valiant, the great efi tyrants, are
drowned in the Red fea, which was thought to, be under
5 the protection of the gods of Egypt, The depths have
covered them : they Tank into the bottom as a ftone, as
unable to rife again, as a flone plunged in the depth of the
fea, — 'Then Mofes, leaving the plain narration of the fa5i,
6 breaks out into the mo ft grand and fublime figures. Thy
right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power:
thy right hand, O Lord, hath dalhed in pieces the
enemy, hurled them againft the rocks in the Red fea, and
7 dafhed them in pieces at once. And in the greatnefs of
thine excellency thou haft overthrown them that rofe
up againft thee : ^ thou didft not employ any earthly force,
or angelic hofts, but fenteft forth thy wrath, [v»/hich]
confumed them as eajily^ fuddenly, and utterly, as ftubble.
8 Ifa, xlvii. 14. And with the blaft of thy noftrils the
waters were gathered together,"" the floods ftood up-
right as an heap, [and] the depths were congealed in
the heart of the fea, 7nade to ft and ft ill on heaps, as if
9 they had been mountains of ice. The enemy fiid, I will
purfue, I will overtake, I will divide the fpoil; my luft,
my
* Egypt was proud of its excellency and firength, and defpifed
and contemned God; and as thofe proud creatures rofe up againli
him, he alfo rofe and aifumed all the eieva-ion of his infinite
grandeur, all the height of his fupreme majedy, againfl them,
^ Better to paint tne divine indignation and its efrecls, the
prophet borrows the image of human wrath, whofe lively tranf*
ports are accompanied with an haity breathing, which caufes a
violent and impetuous blaft ; and when this wrath, in a powerful
perfon, direds itfelf to a fearful populace, it forces them to give
way, and fall in a tumultuous manner upon one another. Thus
the affrighted waters fiew from their bed, and crowded together.
354 E X O D U S. XV.
my revenge^ fhall be fatisfied upon them -, I will draw my*
lo {word, my hand fhall deftroy them " Thou didft blow
with thy wind, no need to fir etch out thy arm^ thy breath
was fufficient^ the fea covered them, overwhelmed the vaft
and mighty hofi : they fank as lead in the mighty waters,
fuddenly^ irrecoverably. — Then Mofes^ tranfported beyond
himfelf^ breaks out in the nobleft afcriptions of praife,
J I \V'ho [is] like unto thee, O Lord, among the
gods, among the great ones of the earthy or the heathen godsy
on whom they called in their diftrefs? who [is] like thee,
glorious in holinefs, manifefting thy power in an holy
manner^ punifhing tyrants ^ and delivering the oppreffed', whofe
holinefs is thy chief excellency and glory •, fearful [in] praifes,
terrible in thofe things for which we praife thee ; doing won-
ders, great and marvellous works ^ for an ungrateful people^
1 2 who provoked thee even at the Red fea. Thou ftretch-
edft out thy right hand, the earth fwailowed them ; the
fea returned with fo much force as to bury fome in the earth
i^ at the bottom^ and threw others on the fands onfhore. Thou
in thy mercy haft led forth the people [which] thou haft
redeemed : thou haft guided [them] in thy ftrength un-
to thy holy habitation. ?Ve are confident thou wilt lead
them fafely and quietly ^ as a fhepherd his fiock% wilt guide
them by thy prefence^ defend them by thy firength^ till they
come unto thy holy habitation^ to Canaan^ the promifed land.
The effe5l this would have on neighbouring nations is then
14 beautifully defcribed. The people fhall hear, [and] be
afraid', (fee Deut, ii. 25. Jofij, ii. 9.) forrow fhall take
hold on the inhabitants of Palcftina, the Philifiines who
1 5 lived nearefi and would firfi hear of it. Then the dukes of
Edom, the defandants of EJau^ who lived on the borders
of the Red fea^ and thro' whofe country they were to pafs^
fliall be amazed -, the mighty men of Moab, trembling
fhall take hold upon them when they hear of thefe things \
all the inhabitants of Canaan fhall melt away, like wax
16 before the fire. Fear and dread fhall fall upon them \ by
the
^ Some I will cut to pieces, others 1 will bring back to fla-
very. They thought themfelves fare of victory, rioting in the
ffo.!, and defying the God of Ifrael: but how dreadful the iiTue,
and how beautiful the defcription ! 1/. 10,
EXODUS. XV. S55
the greatnefs of thine arm they fhall be [as] flill as a
ftone, quite impotent^ unable to refift^ like men amazed and
out of their fenfes : till thy people pafs over, O Lord, till
the people pafs over, [which] thou haft purchafed, that
ly is, redeemed with aftrong arm. Thou (halt bring them in
with great kiiidnefs^ tendernefs and care, and plant them in
the mountain of thine inheritance, in the mountainous coun-
try of Canaan, or in the mountain where the temple was after-
wards built, [in] the place, O Lord, [which] thou haft
made for thee to dwell in, [in] the Sanduary, O Lord,
[which] thy hands have eftabliftied, which thou wilt cer-
1 8 tainly caufe to be built andeftablijhed. The Lord ftiall reign
for ever and ever, to prote^ his Ifrael, and perpetuate their
bleffings from generation to generation, — 'Then the fong con-
cludes, as it began, with relating the plain matter of fa^^
that their gratitude and obedience to their great deliverer
1 9 might be handed down from generation to generation. For
the horfe of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with
his horfemen into the fea, and the Lord brought aaain
the waters of the fea upon them *, but the children of
Ifrael went on dry [land] in the midft of the fea.
REFLECTIONS.
(Particularly adapted to the defeat of the Rebels, at the battle
of Culloden, April i6, 1746, when thefe were written.)
I. T 11 r E may learn how proper it is, to take a folemn
Y Y view of the deliverances God hath afforded us.
Ifrael ftood on the ftiore of the Red fea, and looked back on
the danger they had efcaped, and the enemy they had feen
deftroyed before their eyes. Let us alfo look back on the de-
liverances God hath wrought for us, with wonder, gratitude,
and joy. Let us recoiled!: the imminent danger v/e were in,
and the remarkable manner in which- we were freed from it.
God, to puniih us for our fins, hath caufed a fword to go
thro' great part of our land ; fuifered our enemies, more
than once, to be fuccefsful •, while every good man's heart
trembled for fear, for himfelf, his family, his friends, his
country, and the church of God. Our national fins had
been io many, that we had reafon to fear God was angry,
and
35^ EXODUS. XV.
and would utterly confume us. Our hearts were ready to
melt at the apprehenfion of one or another inftance of the
faccefs of our enemies -, the confequence of which would
have been the lofs of every thing dear and valuable. We
fhould have been brought to worfe than Egyptian flavery,
to the cruel bondage of popery, and all the difmal effedls of
arbitrary power. But we were delivered, and our liberty
fixed on a firm foundation. How proper is it, that we fhould
remember this, to make us cautious, humbicj watchful, and
obedient. We fnall not think this exhortation unfeafon-
able, when Vv^e recolledt how prone we are to forget our
dangers and efcapes, at leaft when they are pail and gone,
and to think each of them lefs confiderable than they really
were. We are apt to laugh at our former fears, and di-
minifh the glory of our mercies.
2. Let us alcribe the praife of all our deliverances to
God, even to I he Lord^ who is a man of war ^ whofe name is
Jehovah •, his right hand got us the victory •, he is become our
falvation. Whoever was the inftrument, he was the great
author, and fhould have the praife. He is our fathers'
God, let us exalt him. In various inftances he hath freed
us from the yoke of bondage, and baffled the defigns of
that tyrannical and cruel family, that had been the fcourge
and plague of this nation for more than one hundred and
fifty years. Let us exalt him in our thoughts •, entertain
the highell: veneration for fo excellent and glorious a
Being •, efpecially one who haa been fo kind to us. Let us
reverence his name, his day, and his fanduary ^ exalt him
in our hearts, by our lips, and in our lives. Let us ihow
our gratitude^ by tranfmitting to the rifing generation, the
knovv ledge o^ his mighty ads and the woi^derful works he
hath done ♦, and thus keep the memory oi them m our own
hearts, and teach our children's children the loz'ing kindnefs
of the Lord.
3. We may obferve the remark of Solomon verified
here, that pride and infoience often go before definitions and
a haughty fpir it before a fall. This was the cafe with Pharaoh
and his hofts. The enemy f aid I will piirfuey I will overtake^ T
will divide thefpoil; wy In ft fk all be fatisfied upon them \ IwiU
dram my fword^ my hand jh all deflroy them. This was the cafe
with
EXODUS. XV. 257
with our rebellious enemies •, they feemed to be fure of vic-
tory, expeded nothing but to fee our armies flying, this
happy land of liberty enflaved worfe than ever, and the
whole nation carved out among the favourites and friends of
an infolent pretender. Having been long, as they thought,
kept out of pofTefTion of what they imagined their due, or
their defert, they would have feized upon it violently ; and,
like an hungry beaft, have devoured every thing that came
in their way, without pity or remorfe. They expedted no-
thing but to purfue and overthrow -, to riot in the fpoil of
the nation, and to fatisfy their lufts upon thofe who had op-
pofed their fchemes. But in the greatnefs of his excellency,
God lifted up himfelf, and overthrew them. They rofe up
againil the king he had made, the people lie had chofen,
and the religion he had eftabliftied -, and he fent forth his
wrath^ which confumed them as ftubble ; and perhaps there
fcarce ever was a vldlory, to which this fimilitude, confumed
as ftubble-, might more juftly be applied ; fo fpeedily and
irrecoverably were they defeated. Let us learn to guard
againft pride and infolence, when fpeaking of the moft con-
temptible enemy, for the race is not to thefwift^ nor the battle
to theftrong, Thofe that walk in pride ^ God is moft likely lo
abafe. He refifteth the -proud ^ and giveth grace to the humble,
4. When under impreffions of gratitude for great de-
liverances, let us bind ourfelves by folemn ties to the Lord,
and devote ourfelves, and what we have and are, to his fer-
vice. Mofes, in v. 2. takes advantage of the good dlfpofi-
tlon of the people, to lead them to promlfe that they would
be grateful, dutiful, and obedient : and this fhould be the
fruit of thofe good ImprelTions which divine mercy makes
upon us. Has the Lord preferved our liberty, our property,
and religion ? Let all be employed for him. Let us ftudy,
that we may render to the Lord^ according to his benefits ^
and confider what we can do for his honour, and what
good offices for the houfe of our God. Let us not only
offer to Gadthankfgiving^ h\Mpay our vows^ the vows we made
In the day of trouble. Every frefti remembrance of divine
favour, is a renewed call to be grateful and obedient. Are
we delivered out of the hands of our enemies ? Lei usferve
Vol. L Z him
358 EXODUS. XV,
him zvil/wul fear^ in holinefs and righteoufnefs \ not like Ifracl,
yR\iQ Jang his praifes, but foon forgat his works. Let us re-
member them, and be engaged by them to obey his laws,
and ferve his intereft. This is the bell and moft acceptable
expreilion of gratitude : to obey is better than facrifice ; better
than even finging and giving praife: it is the likclieft way
to obtain further favour. Let us then, this day, lay our fouls
under frefli engagements to do the will of God, in all its
branches, with all fteadinefs and cheerfulnefs. An humble,
holy heart, is the beft habitation we can prepare for him,
and well-doing is the fureft and beft method of exalting and
glorifying him.
5. Let us take encouragement from what God hath done,
to truft him for the future, and to hope that he will ftill
proteA us : thus Mofes did. The malice of our enemies
was reftlefs and implacable •, they feemed defirous to move
heaven and earth to bring about their purpofes, and were
quite mad with envy, rage, and difappointment. But he
thatfitteth in heaven laughed at them \ the Lord had them in de^
rifion. Thus, like the Canaanites before Ifrael's God, they
trembled and melted away. Let us adore that kind provi-
dence, which not only fuppreffed the rebellion, but brought
to light the fecret combinations and rebellious aflbciations
of thofe, who, while they ftiled themfelves patriots, and
the only efpoufers and defenders of the interefts of their
country, have been labouring to fubdue and undermine it;
or, which is nearly as bad, have ftood tamely by to fee
others do it. God hath not yet forfaken our land, but will,
we truft, difcover and confound all the plots of our enemies,
that fear and dread fhall fall upon them, and that they
fhall be ftill as a ftone. May we not hope, that the Lord^
who is our ftrength and our fong^ will, with regard to this alfo,
become cur falvation. Let our fouls make our boaft in God^
and place our confidence in him alone, who hath delivered^
and doth deliver^ and we truft will ftill deliver us.
6. Let us be thankful for our more excellent deliver-
ance by Jefus Chrift, and, with the fong of Mofes, join
alfo that of the Lamb. This refledlion and advice is never
unfeafonable. When we commemorate temporal deliver-
ances,
EXODUS. XV. 359
ances, we fhould then, efpecially, ftir up our hearts to re-
member fpiritual ones. God's right hand became glorious
in power, when by his fon, he deftroyed the works of the
devil, and overcame principalities and powers ; and he
fhall at length deftroy all the church's enemies. According
to Rev. XV. 2, g, 4. the heavenly hoft, thofe efpecially that
had gotten the vi5lory over the heaft^ flood upon the fea of glafSy
having the harps of God in their hands. And they ftng the
fong of Mofes^ the fervant of God^ and the fong of the Lamb^
faying^ Great and marvellous are thy works^ Lord God Al-
mighty ', juft and true are thy ways^ thou King of faints. Who
fhall not fear thee^ O Lord^ and glorify thy name ? for thou only
art holy : for all nations fJiall come and worjhip before thee ; for
thy judgments are made manifefl. This is defcribed as their
ftated employ •, it is an abridgment of this fong we have been
confidering : they celebrate the complete vi6lory over their
enemies, and afcribe the honour of all to God. It is called
the fong of the Lamb^ becaufe Jefus, the Lamb of God, is
therein celebrated as the author and finifher of that great
deliverance. He does for his people, what Jehovah did for
Ifrael. Let us be folicitous, that, by divine grace, we
may be qualified to bear our part in this fong. Let us
boldly oppofe the yoke of our fpiritual enemies, and carry
on our warfare againft them, till viflory be completed. In
the profpe6t of this, let us begin the fong of heaven upon
earth, and long to perfed it in a better world, where no
tears are mingled with the fong, no murmurings nor pro-
vocations are known. We fhall there fee Mofes and the
Lamb, and by them be taught thefe fongs of praife ; and
fee abundantly more of their excellency, beauty, and fuit-
ablenefs, than it is poffible for us to do here. Thither all
the redeemed of the Lord fhall come^ with fongs and everlafling
joy upon their headsy a^idforrow and fighing Jhall flee away.
Z 2 CHAP.
36o EXODUS. XV.
CHAP. XV. 20, to the end. ;
Having coyifidered the fong of Mofes^ we have here an account of \
the manner in which it wasfung -, and feme circumftances that '
attended Ifrael's march from the Red fea, j
20 AND Miriam the prophetefs, the fifter of Aaron, '
£\^ and half ftfier of Mofes^ took a timbrel, or fmall ]
drum^ in her hand ; and all the women went out after
her with timbrels and with dances, which was the ufual
2 1 way of rejoicing in thofe days. And Miriam anfwered j
them, that is, the men, fayi^g-> probably after every verfe \
that they fung^ Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath \
triumphed glorioufly •, the horfe and his rider hath he \
thrown into the fea. \
2 2 So Mofes brought Ifrael from the Red fea, and they \
went out into the wildernefs of Shur, or Etham, of which '
Shiir might he a fart \ and they went three days in the ,
wildernefs, and found no water, '^his was a great dif- '
23 ficulty to them and their cattle. And when they came to \
Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, \
for they [were] bitter : therefore the name of it was i
called Marah, that is, bitternefs,
24 And the people, infiead of looking up to God, ungrate- \
fully murmured againft Mofes, faying, What fhall we '
25 drink? And he cried unto the Lord •, and the Lord j
fhowed him a tree, [which] when he had caft into the
waters, the waters were made fw^eet ; God could have done \
this with a word, hut he chofe to ufe means, to exercife the .,
faith and fuhmijfion of Mofes and the Ifraelites : there he \
made for them a ftatute and an ordinance-, he admonifh- \
ed them to take heed of murmuring, and to carry themfelves |
more obediently for the future -, and made this a ftatute, !
that if they would do fo^ he would be gracious to them ; ;
and there he proved them ; tried their faith, by the want !
of water, and their obedience, by this general commatfd ; i
26 And he faid. If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice ^
of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right I
in ':
° This was a common method among the Ifraelites, and their i
temple worlhip was a good deal in this way.
EXODUS. XV. 361
in his fight, and wilt give ear to his commandments,
and keep all his ftatutes, I will put none of thefe
difeafes upon thee, which I have brought upOn the
Egyptians : for I [am] the Lord that healeth thee •, am
able to heal and help thee in body and foul ^ and to preferve
thee from all evil, both prefent and future.^
27 And they came to Elim, where [were] twelve wells
of water, enough for themfelves and their cattle, and three-
fcore and ten palm trees, which were refrefhing, both by
their fhade and their fruit \ and they encamped there by
the waters, which was one of the mofl pleafant fpots in their
journey.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T y| 7 E 1^^^^ hence, how foon the moft pleafing cir-
Y V cumftances in life may be embittered. The
Ifraelites were very happy on the borders of the Red fea ;
wonderful miracles were wrought for them, and their ene-
mies were quite deftroyed : they entered into the wildernefs,
and there wanted water •, but they could find none but bitter
water. This is often the cafe of the Ifrael of God : when
they have got rid of this or the other diflUculty, or enemy,
they think all is fafe, and that there is no more danger :
but the next ftage of their journey tries their faith and
their patience again. They fee water, and expedl comfort
and refrefiiment in it, but meet with difappointment.
Thus are we often pleafed with expedlations that only
tantalize us. We fiiould therefore not exped too much in
this wildernefs, fhould not be too fond of any creature en-
joyment. If at any time we come to Elim, to wells of
water, we fhould be thankful for it, but not take up our reA
there •, we fhould think of going forward. Let us keep
Canaan in view, and the profped of that will bear us thro'
all the difficulties and hardfhips of the wildernefs.
2. Let us take encouragement from God*s promifes to
Z 3 Ifrael,
P It was neceflary this precaution fhould be added : conilder-
ing what God had done for them, they might expect he would
bear with every thing, and not be difpleafed with nor punifh their
difobedience; but here he declares the contrary.
362 EXODUS. XVI. 1
Ifrael, humbly to hope, that if we hearken to the voice of \
the Lord our God, and do that which is right in his fight, he \
will bring none of thofe difeafes upon us, which he brought :\
upon the Egyptians; that we fhall find him ready to blefs
us, and to fecure us from thofe evils, which he brings upon
his enemies. God's commandments are life to them that
find them, and health to all their bones. Let us hope that
he will heal our difeafes, and crown our lives with loving- \
kindnefs. But if not, he will in a fpiritual fenfe be our \
phyfician, the Lord that healeth us ; he will rectify our dif- ]
orders, make afflidions ufeful, and fubfervient to the
health of our fouls •, and at length bring us to the heavenly ;
Canaan. \
CHAP. XVI.
ne hji chapter concluded with an account of Ifrael being eafy \
and happy at Elini, but here we find them in the wildernefs, ^
in difficulties and fir aits, They murmur for want of meat \ God i
promifes to provide for them \ he accomplifJoes the promife ; and ;
gives directions about the management of their new provifions, \
1 AND they took their journey from Eiin^, and all ;
Xf\_ the congregation of the children of Ifrael came \
unto the wildernefs of Sin, which [Is] between Elim i
and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the fecond month \
after their departing out of the land of Egypt, jufi a \
month from their coming out of Egypt -, fo long the provifions \
2 lafled which they brought with them. And the whole con- :
gregation, that is, the greatefi part of the children of •
ifrael murmured againft Mofes and Aaron in the wil- \
3 dernefs ; And the children of Ifrael faid unto them, ;
Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord, \
by any of the plagues, in the land of Egypt, when we fat ■
by the flefh pots, [and] when we did eat bread to the ;
full ; '^ for ye have brought us forth into this wildernefs,,;
to !
^ Probably they h^d not fuch plenty in Egypt, nor did they i
think it fo good, while they were flaves there; but their impa- 1
tience and fretfulnefs made them fay this. \
E X O D U S\ XVL s6s
to kill this whole afTembly with hunger. Ungrateful peo-
ple I thus to ctfiftire Mofes and Aaron^ who had been inftm-
ments of fuck deliverances^ and zvhofe hearts ivere fidl of
kindnefs to them.
4 Then faid the Lord unto Mofes, Behold, I will
rain, not fire and hrimfione., "which they -might juftly have ex-
fe^led^ hut bread from heaven for you, that is^ manna.,
whereof they made themf elves bread -^ it fh all fall down from
heaven., in the manner of rain \ and the people fhall go
out and gather a certain rate, an omer^ every day, that
I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law,
or no, whether they will be drawn to obedience hereby, or
5 //// continue ohftinate and refractory. And it fhall come
to pafs, that on the fixth day of the week., thev fhall pre>^
pare [that] which they bring in •, and it fhall be twice as
much as they gather daily.
6 And Mofes and Aaron faid unto all the children of
Ifrael, At even, then ye fnall know that the Lord hath
brought you out from the land of Egypt, and not we.,
7 as you fay ^ to kill you with hunger : And in the morning,
then ye fhall fee the glory of the Lord, the glorious
appearance of God in the cloud (v. lo.) i for that he heareth
your murmurings againft the Lord : and what [are]
we, that ye murmur againfl us ? IVe are but infiruments
that God makes ufe of in this great work ; he is the principal
author \ therefore your murmurings refle5i more upon him
S than us. And Mofes faid, [This fhall be,] when the
Lord fhall give you in the evening flefh to eat, and in
the morning bread to the full -, for that the Lord hear-
eth your murmurings which ye murmur againfl him :
and what [are] we ? your murmurings [are] not againfl
us, but againfl the Lord.
9 And Mofes fpake unto Aaron, Say unto all the con-
gregation of the children of Ifrael, Come near, in the
place of publick worfJiip., before the Lord : for he hath
10 heard your murmurings. And it came to pafs, as Aaron
fpake unto the whole congregation of the children of
Ifrael, that they looked toward the wildernefs, and, be-
hold, the glory of the Lof d appeared in the cloud, with
an extraordinary brightnefs.
Z 4 II And
3H EXODUS. XVI. I
II 12 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, I have |
heard the murmurings of the children of Ifrael : fpeak i
unto them, faying. At even ye fhall eat flelh, and in ;
the morning ye fhall be filled \yith bread •, and ye fhall '
know that I [am] the Lord your God, ye Jh all have \
frejh proofs of my power and faithfulnefs.
1 3 And it came to pafs, that at even the quails, feathered \
fowls^ came up, and covered the camp : and in the \
morning the dew, under which the manna was hid, lay
14 round about the hoft. And when the dew that lay was ]
gone up, behold, upon the face of the wildernefs [there ;
lay] a fmall round thing, [as] fmall as the hoar froft \
15 on the ground. And when the children of Ifrael faw I
[it,] they faid one to another. It [is] manna, or, fFhai 1
is this ? for they wift not what it [was.] And Mofes !
faid unto them, This [is] the bread which the Lord |
hath given you to eat, the portion which God hath given \
you. ' ~ I
16 This [is] the thing which the Lord hath command- \
ed. Gather of it every man according to his eating, an
omer, about five pints, for every man, [according to] '
the number of your perfons •, take ye every man for |
17 [them] which [are] in his tents. And the children of :
18 Ifrael did fo, and gathered, fome more, fome lefs. And •
when they did mete [it] with an omer, he that gather-
ed much had nothing over, and he that gathered little i
had no lack -^ = they gathered every man according to i
his eating, every' mafter of a family according to the num- \
19 her of his family. And Mofes faid. Let no man leave of it \
till the morning ; what they could not eat was to he made \
away with, to prevent their difiruft in God's care and good- \
20 72efs in giving them more, Notwithftanding they heark- ;
ened not unto Mofes-, but fome of them left of it until |
the morning, and it bred worms, and ftank : and Mofes J
was wroth with them, was angry at this perverfenefs, this \
2 1 unbelief and difobedience. And they gathered it every
' ' ^ ' morning, ;
»■ They put it into a common flock; and tho' fome gathered \
more, and fome lefs, yet,' when meafured cut, it was juft the ;
quantity that was wanted. The apoftle applies this to the con- *
tributions of chriftians, that they fliould impart to thofe who j
need, 2 Car, viii, 14, 15. i
EXODUS. XVI. 365
morning, every man according to his eating: and when
the fun waxed hot, it melted. Hereby God taught them
diligence in providing food while they had time and means ^
and to defend daily upon his -providence.
22 And it came to pafs, [that] on the (ixth day they ga-
thered twice as much bread, two omers for one [man •.''J
and all the rulers of the cpngregation came and told
Mofes, that they might receive directions from him how to or^
23 der this their double portion. And he faid unto them. This
[is that] which the Lord hath faid/r? the patriarchs ofold^
To morrow [is] the reft of the holy fabbath unto the
Lord , a plain intimation^ that the fabbath was obferved
before the covenant at Siitai: bake [that] which ye will
bake [to day,] and feethe that ye will feethe, that ye may
not have it to do on the fabbath •, and that which remaineth
over lay up for you to be kept until the morning,
24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Mofes bade :
and it did not ftink, neither was there any worm there-
25 in.* And Mofes faid. Eat that to day, which ye gathered
yefterday ; for to day [is] a fabbath unto the Lord : to
26 day ye fhall not find it in the field. Six days ye (hajl
gather it , but on the feventh day, [which is] the fab-
27 bath, in it there fhall be none. And it came to pafs,
[that] there went out [fome] of the people on the
feventh day for to gather, and they found none.
28 And the Lord was difpleafed with them^ and faid unto
Mofes, that he might fay it to thefe people^ How long refufe
ye to keep my commandments and my laws ? efpecially
29 the imprtant law of keeping the fabbath ? See, for that
the Lord hath given you the fabbath, therefore he
giveth you on the fixth day the bread of two days :
abide ye every man in his place, in the camp^ let no man
go out of his place on the feventh day, to gather manna^
30 or to do any fervile work. (Lev, xxiii. 3.) So the people
31 refted on the feventh ^2cj from gathering manna. KrA
the
f It 4065 not appear that Mofes had told the people to do this ;
but, to their furprize, when they had gathered the ufual quan-
tity, there was as much more left.
^ This was another extraordinary providence, and fhowed the
difference between doir.g a thing by God's command and blefi-
5ng, and doing it contrary to thefe.
S66 E X O D U S. XVI.
the houfe of Ifrael called the name thereof Manna ;
ivhich was taken from the queftion they ajked^ What is
it? and it [was] like coriander feed, white; and the
tane of it, before it was haked^ [was] like wafers [made]
with honey, but when drejfedy it was like frefh oil.
Numb. xi. 8.
32 And Mofes faid, This [is] the thing which the I-ord
commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your
generations •, that they may fee the bread wherewith I
have fed you in the wildernefs, when I brought you
forth from the land of Egypt ; that they may fee how good
33 Godis^ and how unreafonable your murmur ings are. And
Mofes faid unto Aaron, Take a pot," and put an omer
full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to
be kept for your generations. This was another miracle.,
34 that it kept fo long without putrefaSiion. As the Lord
commanded Mofes, fo Aaron laid it up before the Tef-
timony, to be kept •, that is., in the ark^ where the tefii-
mony or two tables which tefiified or declared God's will to
the people^ were to be put. "^
^^ And the children of Ifrael did eat manna near forty
years, until they came to a land inhabited ; they did eat
manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of
36 Canaan. Now an omer [is] the tenth [part] of an
ephah/
REFLECTIONS.
I . X "^ 7 E fee here the variety of events that befel the If-
VV ^^^1 of God ', we left them at Elim ; perhaps they
expeded to move towards Canaan, but we find them in the
wildernefs ftill. This is frequently the cafe of good men,
in their journey toward the heavenly world -, when pleafed
with the profpedt, they are unwilling to leave the delightful
place : but they muft arife and depart, and enter into the
wildernefs
" Paul tells us, it was a golden pot, Heh.'ix. 4.
=* Tho' this is related here to make a full end of the flory of
the manna, yet it was not done till after the giving of the law,
Deut. X. 5.
y An ephah was about three pecks, or forty eight pints.
EXODUS. XVI. 367
wildernefs again. Let us expec5t fuch things in this world,
and be eafy in every place, fince God's providence is as real
and as great a fecurity, as the pillar of cloud and fire was
to Ifrael.
2. Let us guard our hearts, that they do not murmur
againft God, when we are in difficult circumftances. What
a ftrange and perverfe people was this ! They quarrelled
with Mofes, Vv^ith Aaron, and with God ; as if there were a
combination between them to ftarve them all. The heart
is too ready to fret againft God when brought into ftraits ;
therefore fhould be kept with all diligence. We fhould not
fpeak againft God, nor diftruft his power and care •, efpe-
cially after having had experience of it ; having fang his
fraife for paft mercies^ let us not forget his works ^ left we
difhonour him, injure our own fouls, and provoke him to
take away our remaining comforts. A fufpicious, mur-
muring temper, is a fufficient plague to any man ; there-
fore, watch and fray ; neither murmur ye^ as forne of them
murmured^ and were defiroyed in the wildernefs.
3. Let us be more concerned about God's honour than
our own. Thus Mofes and Aaron were, v. 7. And what
are we^ that ye murmur againft us ? Tour murmurings are
not againfl us^ hut againft the Lord-, our injury is little
when compared with his. We fhould be much more griev-
ed when iinners affront God, and injure their own fouls,
than when they affront and injure us. We may, perhaps,
deferve it from them, at leaft from God ; but he never
deferves it : it is daring impiety againft him, and therefore
fhould aifedt and grieve us.
4. Let the daily fupplies of life teach us to know the
Lord, and depend upon him. v. 12. At even ye fhall eat
flefh^ and in the morning ye fhall he filled with bread \ and ye
fioall know that I am the Lord your God. God giveth food to
all flefi^ for his mercy endiireth for ever, 'The eyes of all wait
on him\ he fpreadsth our table^ and fillet h our cup. The
producing corn out of the earth, is as wonderful as the
raining of manna from,heavenj let us therefore acknow-
ledge God's hand in the fupplies of life. We as con-
ftantly depend upon his providence and care, as Ifrael did;
therefore Chrift teacheth us to pray, Give us th:s day our
daily
368 EXODUS. XVL
daily bread. He expeds that we, like Ifrael, fhould labour
for the meat which perijheth^ but with an eye to and depen-
dance upon his providence ; without his blefTing we fhall
labour in vain •, we ihall eat, but not be fatisfied. Let our
daily bread teach us to know and ferve him, who giveth us
food to eat, and giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Let
us not be anxious for the morrow, but caft all onr care on
him who careth for us,
5. Let us be careful that we fandify God's fabbath.
Remember, it is the reft of the holy fabbath of the Lord^
therefore to be kept holy. It is our duty to be careful that
we do not unneceifarily flir abroad. Provifions muft be
had on the Lord's day ; but good houfeholders, and wife
managers, will take care fo to order it, that it may be had
with as little trouble as pofTible. Such drefling of meat as
keeps fervants from publick worfhip, when otherwife they
might go out, is very wrong. It Ihows too great a fond-
nefs for the body , it is doing unfpeakable injury to fer-
vants •, it is fetting before them and children a very bad
example ^ it is affronting to God, and polluting his fabbath.
To fuch mafters and miftrefles it might be faid, as the
Lord doth, v, 28. How long refufe ye to keep nvy command^
ments and my laws ?
6. Let us blefs God for that living bread which came
down from heaven^ of which the manna was a type. Manna
was pleafant, wholefome and nourifhing; but thofe who
ate of it died •, it did net make them immortal ; but the
bread of life that Chrift gives, doth. This comes down from
heaven •, it feeds and nourifhes us in the wildernefs, and
ftrengthcns us for the adive fervices of the chriftian life.
If any eat of this breads they fhall live for ever, Chrift, in
his dodrines and grace, is the true manna. Let us receive
his dodrines, feed on them by faith, and with underftand-
ing eat his flefh, that is, maintain a lively regard to him.
This is the true bread of God, which cometh down from
heaven, and giveth life to the world •, let us therefore fay,
as the difciples did, Lord^ evermore give tis this bread,
CHAP.
EXODUS. XVII. 369
CHAP. XVII.
Contains an account of the water brought from the rock^ and the
defeat of Amalek.
1 A N D all the congregation of the children of Ifrael
£f\^ journeyed from the wildernefs of Sin, after their
journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord,
and pitched in Rephldim : they had twoftages between^ but
as nothing remarkable occurred there ^ they are not mention-
ed: and [there was] no water for the people to drink.
2 Wherefore the people did chide with Mofes, injiead of
addr effing him in a refpe5iful manner^ and fald, Give us
water that we may drink. And Mofes fald unto them,
Why chide ye with me, can I give you rain or wells of
water? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord ? diftrufi his
power ^ goodnefs and fidelity^ refufing to fubmit to his will,
o and to feek him by fervent prayer ? And the people thirft-
ed there for water ; and the people murmured againft
Mofes, and faid, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou haft
brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children
and our cattle with thirii: ? ^
4 And Mofes cried unto the Loeld, faying. What (hall
I do unto this people ? they be almoft ready to ftone
c me, and my life is in great danger among them. And
the Lord faid unto Mofes, Go on before the people,
and take with thee of the elders of Ifrael, that they may
be eye-witneffes of this glorious work^ and may report it
to the peoples and thy rod, wherewith thou fmoteft
6 the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will
{land before thee there upon the rock in Horeb, in
the pillar of the cloudy the fign of my pre fence \ and thou
fhalt fmite the rock, and there fhall come water out
of it, that the people may drink. And Mofes did
7 fo in the fight of the elders of Ifrael. And he call-
ed the name of the place Maffah, that is, temptation^
and
* This was abfurd, foolidi and wicked language. No doubt Mofes
attempted to quiet them, to reafon with them, to ihow them the
wonders God had wroughc, and to dire^ their eyes to him, but
ail in vain.
370 EXODUS. XVII.
and Meribah, that is^ chiding or firife^ becaufe of the
chiding of the children of Ifrael, and becaufe they
tempted the Lord, faying. Is the Lord among us, or
not ? will he he as good as his word^ or not ?
8 Then came Amalek, who was defcended from the eldefi
fan of Efau by a concubine^'' (fee Gen, xxxvi. 12.) and
9 fought with Ifrael in Rephidim. And Mofes faid unto
Jofhua, Choofe us out men, fome of the ablefi and befi^
and go out, fight with Amalek : to morrow I will
{land on the top of the hill with the rod of God in
10 mine hand. So Jofhua did as Mofes had faid to him,
and fought with Amalek : and Mofes, Aaron, and
Hur, Mirimn^s hujhand^ a f erf on of great wifdom and eX'
perience^ went up to the top of the hill, where the glory
11 of the Lord appeared. And it: came to pafs, when
Mofes held up his hand, that Ifrael prevailed : and
12 when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.^ But
Mofes' hands [were] heavy -, and they took a ftone,
and put [it] under him, and he fat thereon j and Aaron
and Hur ftayed up his hands, the one on the one
fide, and the other on the other fide, or one after
another ; and his hands were fi:eady until the going
13 down of the fun. And Jofhua difcomfited Amalek
and his people, 'that is^ Amalek and his allies, with the
edge of the fword.
14 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Write this [for] a
memorial in a book, and rehearfe [it] in the ears of
Jofiiua, that he may form 710 league with the Amalekites\
tor 1 will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek
from under heaven : tho" they are a numerous and flou-
rifhing people^ by degrees they Jhall he fo weakened^ as to
become of no note -, and be forgotten^ like dead men. (See
15 Leut, XXV. 17 — 19.) And Mofes built an altar, whereon
to
^ The Amalekites lived near the wildernefs, where Ifrael were
encamped, and were a very powerful nation. Perhaps they thought
the llViiclites c.ime to take poireffion of fome part of their country,
and therefore, tho' they might have heard of their great deliverance,
lelolved to attack them.
^ This was a pofture of prayer, which he undoubtedly offered up.
The exprelTjcn alio fignifies, lifting up of the rod, which was
their ftandard.
EXODUS. XVII. 371
to offer facrifices of thankfgiving^ andtoftandas a memorial
of this fir II victory againft the Amalekites^ and called the
name of it jEHOVAH-nifli, that is^ the Lord my banner :
16 For he faid, Becaufe the Lord hath fworn [that,] or,
as the jnargin more plainly renders ity Becaufe the hand of
Amalek is againft the throne of the Lord^ therefore the
Lord [will have] war with Amalek from generation to
generation. Accordingly he zvas defeated hy Saul^ ruined
by David, and never heard of afterwards,
REFLECTIONS.
I. TTT^E have reafon to be aftonifhed at the untracfl-
V V ^^^^ ^^^ incorrigible temper of Ifrael, and adore
the patience of God, in bearing with their murmurings.
They were ftrangely forgetful of his appearances for them,
and fidelity to them. All the neighbouring nations knew
it, but Ifrael would not fee it. Mofes argued with them,
but all in vain. They fhowed themfelves to be an obfti-
nate and felf-willed people. If not humoured, they would
affront God, and flone Mofes. How wonderful was the
divine patience that he did not make a full end! but over-
came evil with good. // is of the Lord^s mercies that we are
not confumed. Thus he ftill bears with untradlable, rebel-
lious men. May the goodnefs of God lead us to repentance,
and make us careful not to tempt hitn, or chide with his
meffengers.
2. Let us adore God's hand that could bring water out
of a rock. This is often taken notice of in fcripture, as a
marvellous event. To have brought it out of the earth,
would have been remarkable ; but out of a rock, was
much more fo. We fhould learn hence, to trufl God in
every exigency, he can open rivers in the wildernefs; he
can turn flints into fountains of water. BlefTed are the
fouls that feek him, thai trufl in his providence, and rely
on his promifes.
3. What a dreadful thing is it to rife up againft God ;
to lift up the hand againfl his throne, as Amalek did !
This we do, whenever v^e oppofe his judgments, or tram-
ple his laws under foot ; efpccially when we abufe his
mercy
372 EXODUS* XVIII.
mercy, and receive his grace in vain. The perfecutors of
God's people lift up their hand againft his throne, and cer-
tain and great will their deftru6lion at length be. Thofe
who think to carry matters with a high hand againft God
and his people, will fink into contempt and ruin.
4. See the prevalence of prayer, when attacking an
enemy. This is true in a fpiritual as well as a temporal
fenfe. Chriftlans Ihould therefore be inftant in prayer, and
to that lliould add vigorous endeavours. Mofes ordered
Jofhua to choofe proper men, to ufe the mod likely means
of fuccefs, tho' his dependance was upon God. Thus let
us take the whole armour of God ; go out to fight manfully 5
and, joining our prayers and endeavours, we may hope for
fuccefs •, out of weaknefs we fliall he made firong. The in-
tcreft of religion in the church of Chrift, and in our own
fouls efpecially, is moft likely to be fuccefsful when our
prayers are moft fervent.
5. We muft be careful to remember the fignal appear-
ances of providence for us. We fhould keep a memorial
of them for our own ufe ; and inform pofterity what God
hath done for his church and people, in conquering their
proud and unreafonable enemies, and in reftoring and eftab-
lifhlng their peace. Let us raife our domeftick altars to
Jehovali our banner^ and fay, as Samuel, hitherto the Lord
hath helped us»
CHAP. XVIII.
J e thro brings Mofes" wife and two fons to him ; Mofes enter-
tains him, and accepts his counfeL
1 T T[ r -^ ^ -^ Jethro, the prieft of Midian, who was
Y Y probably a pious man^ and a worfJoipper of the true
God, the great grandfon of Abraham, by Keturah, and
Mofes' father in law, heard of all that God. had done
for Mofes, and for Ifrael his people, [and] that the
2 Lord had brought Ifrael out of Egypt-, Then Jethro,
Moles' father in law, took Zipporah, Mofes' wife, af-
ter
EXODUS. XVIII. 373
3 ter he had fent her back, (fee ch, iv. 26.) And her two
Tons, of which the name of the one [was] Gerfhom, that
is^ aftranger there ^ for he faid, I have been an alien in
4 a ftrange land : And the name of the other [was] Elie-
zer, that is^ my God is an help •, for the God of my fa-
ther, [faid he, was] mine help, and delivered me from
5 the fword of Pharaoh : And Jethro, Mofes' father in
law, came with his fons and his wife unto Mofes into
the wildernefs, where he encamped at the mount of
6 God, near mount Sinai: And he, that is, Jethro, fent
a meffage, and {3.1(1 unto Mofes, I thy father in law
Jethro am come unto thee, to congratulate thee on IfraeVs
deliverance, and thy wife, and her two fons with her.
7 And Mofes went out to meet his father in law, and
did obeifance after the manner of that country, and kifled
him ', and they afked each other of [their] welfare ; and
8 they came into the tent. And Mofes told his father in
law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to
the Egyptians for Ifrael's fake, [and] all the travail
that had come upon them by the way, and [how] the
Lord delivered them. Jethro had heard fomething of this
before, v, i . but Mofes gave him a more particular ac-
9 count,"" And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodnefs which
the Lord had done to Ifrael, whom he had delivered
10 out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro expreffed
his joy in a very pious manner, and faid, BlefTed [be] the
Lord, who hath. delivered you Mofe: and Aaron, who
were in fuch imminent danger, out of the hand of the
Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who
hath delivered the people from under the hand of the
1 1 Egyptians, Now I know more clearly than ever that the
Lord [is] greater than all the heathen gods : for in the
thing wherein they dealt proudly, carried themfelves with
fuch fcorn and infoknce, as if they thought it impojfihle that
God fhould deliver them out of their hands, [he was] above
12 them. And Jethro, Mofes' father in law, expreffed his
gratitude as the antient patriarchs ufed to do, and took a
burnt offering and facrifices, peace offerings for thayikf-
Vol. I. A a giving
• This fhovvs that the fame of" thofe miracles was fprcad thro*
the neighbouring nations : and how inexcufable ihey were in op-
poling Ifrael, and affronting Jehovah,
374 EXODUS. XVIII.
giving^ for to offer to God : and Aaron came, and all the \
elders of Ifrael, to eat bread, tofeafi on the facrificeSy with j
Mofes' father in law before God, before the cloudy and ''\
the altar on which the facrifices were offered. ;
13 And it came to pafs on the morrow, that Mofes {at \
to judge the people, to hear and determine caufes : and i
the people flood by Mofes from the morning unto the '
14 evening. And when Mofes' father in law faw all that ;
he did to the people, he faid. What [is] this thing '
that thou doeft to the people ? Why fitteft thou thyfelf :
alone, and all the people ftand by thee from morning '
15 unto even? And Mofes faid unto his father in law, Be* \
caufe the people come unto me to enquire of God, to j
enquire what the will of God is in any doubtful cafe : and alfo \
16 When they have a matter between ihemfelves^ they come i
unto me; and 1 judge between one and another, and I
do make [them] know the ftatutes of God, and his laws. ;
17 And Mofes' father in law remonflrated againfi this^ and '
faid unto him. The thing that thou doeft [is] not ■
good, is not convenient^ neither for thyfelf nor the people. \
1 8 Thou wilt furely wear away, dejlroy thy health, both thou, i
and this people that [is] with thQe, they will be weary ;
of waiting till their turn comes : for this thing [is] too
heavy for thee ; thou art not able to perform it thyfelf
19 alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee i
counfel,*^ and God fhall be with thee, to affift and blefs |
thee, andfhow that my counfel is good, by thefuccefs that at^ l
tends it: Be thou for the people to God- ward, that thou ;
may eft bring the caufes unto God, that is, extraordinary \
or difficult cafes, and tell the people the divine determination \
20 referve this privilege and honour to thyfelf: And thou (halt ;
teach them ordinances and laws, and fhalt fhow them j
the way wherein they muft walk, and the work that
they muft do, how to behave to God, and to one another.
2 1 Moreover thou fhalt provide out of all the people ■
able men, who can bear fatigue, men of good fenfe and \
fagacity, i
^ Some think this was after the delivery of the law, becaufe '
in Deut, i. it is mentioned after that important event. But the i
advice might be given now, the' not put in pradice till after the j
giving of the law. ^
EXODUS. XVIIL 375
fagacity^ of aElivity and good jpirit^ of courage and refo^
lution^ and fuch as fear God, who a5i upon religious prin^
ciples^ and jiand in awe of God^ the univerfal governor ;
men of truth, upright^ honeft men^ who will judge without
partiality ; hating covetoufnefs, who will not take a bribe
to pervert jtiftice^ but wiUa5i a generous^ diftnt er eft ed part -,
and place [fuch] over them, [to be] rulers of thou*
fands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and
rulers of tens -. thus forming greater and lejfer courts of
22 juftice: And let them judge the people at all feafons,
fome or other of them Jit continually : and it fhall be, [that]
every great matter they ihall bring unto thee, but every
fmall matter they ihall judge : fo fhall it be eafier for
23 thyfelf, and they fhall bear [the burden] with thee. If
thou fhalt do this thing, and God command thee [fo,] //
he fhall approve of this courfe which I fuggeft^ then thou
fhalt be able to endure, and all this people alfo fhall go
to their place in peace-, they JJiall have their controverjies
endedy and their r/iinds quieted.
24 So Mofes hearkened to the voice of his father in
25 law, and did all that he had faid. And Mofes, upon the
people's recommendation^ chofe able men out of all Ifrael,
and made them heads over the people, rulers of thou-
fands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers
26 of tens. And they judged the people at all feafons : the
hard caufes they brought unto Mofes, but every fmail
matter they judged themfelves.
27 And Mofes let his father in law depart, difmiffed him
honourably •, {fee Num. x. 29.) and he went his way into
his own land, much affe5led with what he had feen^ ajid
informed his neighbours of God's wonderful works.^
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us learn to take part in the joys and forrows
I ^ of God's people. Jethro rejoiced for all the good-
nefs which the Lord had done to Ifrael, and bleffed God
A a 2 on
* It is thought the Kenites came from this country, to whom
God fhowed kindnefs, for their kindnefs to Ifrael ; and the Rhe»
cabites alfo came from hence, whofe virtue Jeremiah celebrates.
376 EXODUS. XVIII.
on their account. All who love God, fhould rejoice to fee j
his intereft flourifhing, his arm made bare for the prof- ;
perity of his fervants. They fhonld talk of and celebrate ^
his wondrous works •, and give him the glory due to his name, \
Unthankful Ifrael overlooked them, while Jethro rejoiced
in them. This makes his conduct more remarkable, and
worthy to be imitated by us. i
2. Let us obferve God's providential dealings with '
others, to increafe our acquaintance with him ; fo Jethro ,
did. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods ; for^ \
in the thing wherein they dealt proudly^ he was above them. Let '
us obferve what he is doing for his church, and^ for par-
ticular fouls, that we may underftand more of his nature,
and the defign of his proceedings, and learn thofe leflbns
he would have us to learn. Let us efpecially obferve his ;
providence, in abafing thofe v/ho deal in pride, that we may
learn humility, and fear the Lord continually. TFhofo is
wife^ and will obferve thefe things^ the difpenfations of pro-
vidence, even they jhall iinderftand the loving- kindnefs of the
Lord, Pfalm cvii. 43,
3, Let us be careful that the prefence of our friends
does not break in on the proper duties of life. Mofes'
father in law was a great and good man ; brought him his
wife and children, whom he had not {ttn for a long time : :
and for this reafon Mofes might have made fome excufe for ,
putting off attendance on publick bufinefs •, but he would \
^ not negled it. After a day fpent in feafting and rejoicing, he
returned to his work. This gives us a good hint how to
behave. Pleafure, or converfe with friends, fhould not be
our whole, nor even our main bufinefs i we fhould fill up
our ftations with proper fervices •, live to important and
ufeful purpofes ; and neither negle6l our {hops, our fields, ;
nor our ftudies, for the company of our friends. Above all, -
let us not negledl devotion •, but keep as near as may be to
the ftated times for it. A good man ufed to fay to his
friends, when time for fecret worfliip was come, ' Excufe me
for a while, I have a friend above, that is waiting for me.' '
Bufinefs, much lefs devotion, fhould never give way to*
the converfation of friends, efpecially not to vifits of form
and
EXODUS. XVIII. 377
and ceremony. ' It is, as one obferves, too great a com-
pliment to our friends, to negled our duty.'
' 4. We fhould guard againft extremes, even in a good
work. Jethro's advice was good; and in confequence of it
Mofes lived forty years longer, and died at the age of one
hundred and twenty in the vigour of nature. We fhould
confider what our ftrength will bear-, too great application
in younger days may perhaps fhorten a man's life, and
make him lefs ferviceabie to the world, than otherwife he
might have been. In this, TVifdom is profitable to dire^.
Friends are too ready to fay to us, as Chrift's difciples did,
' Mafter, fpare thyfelf.' There is very little need to en-
force this advice in the prefent day, fmce it is generally
found that more men ruft away than wear away \ but much
need to quicken and ftir them up to zeal and diligence.
5. .Let us be willing to take advice of thofe, who in
many refpeds are our inferiors, if they have truth and pru-
dence on their fide. Mofes was nearly as old as Jethro-,
tho' as a friend of God, and a king of Ifrael, he was
much his fuperior. But Mofes was a meek man, glad of
advice, and took it ; he did not think himfelf above being
advifed. Thofe who do fo are very proud, or very ignor-
ant, or both. Others can often better judge what is fit for
us than we can ourfelves ^ they are not fo much blinded
by affedlion and interefl. Let us be ever ready to learn
from any one; and Ihow that we are wife, by being willing
to hear, and increafe in learning and prudence.
6. Let us earneflly pray that our magiftrates and gover-
nors may be fuch, as Jethro dire(5ls Mofes to choofe •,
men of clear heads, and honeft, generous hearts ; men of
piety and fagacity ; of unwearied zeal, and undaunted re-
folution. How happy for our Ifrael, if all its magiftrates
were fuch as do noL undertake the work for its honour
and profit, but out of regard to God's honour, and the
benefit of the community. Let us therefore pray for kings,
and all that are in authority, that they may be fuch ; then,
as Jethro fuggefls, it will be likely that the people will lead
quiet and peaceable lives,
A a 3 CHAP,
37^ E X O D U S. XIX.
CHAP. XIX.
W^ have here the people^ s approach to Sinai^ and God^s covenant
with them there ; the dtre^ions given to Mofes and the people
about preparing themfelves ; and thejolemn appearance of Go4
upon mount Sinai^ zvhen he delivered the law,
1 T N the third month/ when the children of Ifrael
X were gone forth cut of the land of Egypt, the
2 fame day came they [into J the wildernefs of Sinai.^ For
they were departed from Rephidim, and were come
[to] the defert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilder-
nefs ; and there Ifrael camped before the mount.
3 And Mofes went up unto God, to the prefence of God
where the cloud refted^ (v, 9.) and the Lord called unto
him out of the mountain, faying. Thus fhalt thou fay
to the houfe of Jacob, and tell the children of Ifrael ;
(God had a right to give them what law he pleafed^ but he
treats them as rational creatures^ and tells them what he had
4 done :) Ye have feen what I did unto the Egyptians, and
[how] I bare you on eagles' wings,^ carried you above all
dijficulties and dangers^ and brought you unto myfeif, to
ferve me on this mounts (ch. iii. 12.) and to be my peculiar
5 people. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed,
and keep my covenant, then ye Ihall be a peculiar
treafure unto me above all people : for, or tho\ all the
earth [is] mine, and I am not confined to this or the other
p nation : And ye ihall be unto me a kingdom of priefts,
a people near to the Lord^ feparated from the refi: of the
worlds and to be an holy nation. Thefe [are] the words
7 which thou fhalt fpeak unto the children of Ifrael. And
Mofes came and called for the elders of the people, and
laid before their faces all thefe words which the Lord
^commanded him, that they might tell them to the people.
8 And
' Or the third new moon, called ^ivan, including the latter
end of May and the former part of Jane.
S Jt is generally thought to be fifty days after they came out
of Egypt; "and accordingly the feaft of Pentccoll, which figniiies
fifty, is obfci-yed in remembrance of this event.
^ Eagles- carry their young ones on their backs, and fpread out
their feathers to keep them from failing.
EXODUS. XIX. 379
8 And all the people anfwered together, and fald, All
that the Lord hath fpoken we will do. And Mofes re-
turned the words of the people unto the Lord, uttered
them before the Lord^ to confirm the obligation on the peo-
9 ple^s part^ ajid to receive his anfwer. And the Lord
faid unto Mofes, Lo, I come unto thee, as the mediator
between me and them^ and the interpreter of my mind to
thern^ in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when
I fpeak with thee, and believe thee for ever, no
longer doubt thy mijfion. And Mofes told the words of
10 the people unto the Lord. And the Lord faid unto
Mofes, Go unto the people, and fandify them to day
and to morrow, ahjiain from all pollution^ and abound in
prayer^ and facrifices^ and holy meditations^ and let them
wafh their clothes, in token of that inward purity which I
11 require from them j And be ready againft the third day ;
for the third day the Lord will come down in the fight
12 of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou (halt
fet bounds unto the people round about, faying. Take
heed to yourfelves. [that ye] go [not] up into the
mount,* or even fo much as touch the border of it : who-
foever toucheth the mount fhall be furely put to death :
13 There fhall not an hand touch it, but he fhall furely be
ftoned, or fhot through ; whether [it be] beaft or man,
it fhall not live:'' when the trumpet foundeth long,
they fhall come up to the mount, to the boundary that is
fixed^ that they may hear what is fpoken^ but no further »
14 And Mofes went down from the mount unto the people,
and fandified the people ; and they wafhed their clothes.
i 5 And he faid unto the people. Be ready againft the third
day : come not at [your] wives *, abflain even from lawful
enjoyments^ that your minds may be wholly intent upon this
folemn bujinefs,
16 And it came to pafs on the third day in the morning,
that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick
cloud upon the mount, out of which the lightnings came,
A a 4 and
* Had any attempted to do fo, they would certainly have been
flruck dead with the lightning.
^ This was defigned to reitrain their curiofity, to give them an
we of God, and train them up to obedience,
38o EXODUS. XIX.
and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud -, the angeU
hy whofe difpofition the law was delivered^ made a found like
a loud trumpet -, fo that all the people that [was] in the
17 camp trembled. And Mofes brought forth the people
out of the camp to meet with God ; and they ftood
18 at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai
was altogether on a fmoke, becaufe the Lord defcend-
ed upon it in fire : and the fmoke thereof afcended as
the fmoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked
J 9 greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet founded
long, and waxed louder and louder, (the Hebrew is very
emphatical^ andftgnifies^ when it exceeded itfelf) then Mofes
' fpake, as mediator^ and God anfwered him by a voice,
by plciin^ dijlincl^ audible words, fo that the people might
20 hear, v. 9.^ And the Lord came down upon mount
Sinai, on the top of tliem.ount: and the Lord called
Mofes, to encourage him, [up] to the top of the mount-,
and Mofes went up,. This was a remarkable infiance of re-
folution, a great triumph of faith in God, andfhowed a full
21 perfuafton of his miffion. And the Lord faid unto Mofes,
" Go down, charge the people, left they break through
unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perilh.
(How much t-endcrnefs and compaffion does God mingle with
22 all his glory and majefiy.) And let the priefts alfo, the firfl
horn, orfome iUufiricus princes, or heads of tribes, who might
officiate on this occafion, which come near to the Lord,
fandify themfelves, left the Lord break forth upon
23 them. And Mofes faid unto the Lord, The people can-
not come up to mount Sinai : for thou chargedft us,
faying, Set bounds about the mount, and fandify it.
'They had been already fufftciently admonifbed, hut God know-
ing their dulnefs and hardnejs of heart, faw it necejfary to
ft 4. repeat it again. And the Lord faid unto him. Away,
get thee down, and thou ftialt come up, thou, and Aa^
ron with thee, who isfocn to be corfiituted high priefi -, and
this will prove his mijfion, andfccure the refpetl of the people
to
^ What a vrice mufl this be, that fix hundied thoufand men,
befides women and children, fnould hear it fo plainly 1 No won-
der it thievv them into the grcattii confternation. The people
trembled before at the found, but now Niofts J aid, I exceedingly
/ear and quake.
EXODUS. XIX. 381
to him . but let not the priefts and the people break
through to come up unto the Lord, left he break forth
25 upon them. So Mofes went down unto the people,
and fpake unto them, flayed with them^ or yiear enough
within the bounds to /peak to them^ while God declared the
law^ as in the next chapter.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us admire and adore the majefty of God, thus
I J fo remarkably difplayed. The Son of God, be-
ing veiled with divine authority, and ading as the ambaf-
fador and reprefentative of the Father, came down with fuch
pomp and fplendor, to publifh the law. The chariots of God
are twenty thoufand^ even thoiijands of angels : the Lord is among
ihem^ as in Sinai^ the holy place, Pfalm Ixviii. 17. Let us re-
verence the Son of God, who hath fuch honour conferred
upon him j and learn, if Jehovah's reprefentative was fo
attended on this occafion, how glorious muft Jehovah him-
felf be, who dwells in light inaccefTible ! Juftly may we afk
with the Pfalmift, IVhat ailed thee^ 0 Sinai^ that thou trem-
bledfl ? Te mountains^ that ye Jkipped like rams? And ye little
hills^ like lambs? And juftly may we reply, Tremble^ thou earthy
at the prefence of the Lord^ at the prefence of the God of Jacob,
2. How terrible will the puniftiment of thofe be, who
violate the law which was given with fuch folemnity ! He that
depifed Mofes'* law^ died v^ithout mercy ; he that came near the
mount, was put to death. How awful is God in his judg-
ments, and how careful to maintain the honour of his law 1
When we confider the breadth and extent of the commands,
which he now delivered, and which, being of a moral na-
ture, are binding upon us, let us be afraid of his righteous
judgments, and labour to continue in all things written in the
book of the law^ to do them,
3. We fhould adore the condefcenfion and goodnefs of
God in taking the Jews to be his peculiar people, when all
the earth was the Lord's^ and the fulnefs thereof. He had little
reafon to choofe them, for they were a perverfe and rebellious
people.' Let us be thankful, that chriftians are admitted to
the fame privileges •, thsit the Gentiles are taken in •, that
we.
382 E X O D U S. XX,
we, in this diftant land, ^re fo highly favoured, when all
the earth is his. We enjoy nobler privileges than the Jews,
are made kings and priejls to God^ and are brought nigh by
the blood of Chrift, Let us attend to the apoftle's inference
from this thought ; But ye are a chofen generation^ a royal
priejlhood^ an holy nation^ a peculiar people^ that ye jhould Jloow
forth the praifes of him^ who hath called you out of darknefs into
his marvellous light* i Fet. ii. 9.
4. Let us confider the obligations which the goodnefs of
God lay us under, to receive the law at his mouth. He
hath delivered us from fpiritual enemies, out of Egyptian
darknefs and tyranny. He bears us, as it were, 07i eagles*
wings \ hath exercifed his power and care toward us, and
raifed us to exalted privileges and hopes. It is therefore
reafonable we ihould fay, as Ifrael did, 1;. 8. All that the
Lord hath fpoken we will do.
5. Let us all be folicitous to fandtify ourfelves, and pre-
pare for the folemn feafons of approaching to God. We
come every fabhath to hear his law; God fpeaks to us in
his word, as plainly as he did on Sinai. Let us be thank-
ful that fuch favours are conferred upon us, that we are
admitted near to God ; and therefore cleanfe ourfelves from
all filthinefs oftheflefb and fpirit. ' He that would profitably
worfhip the gods, faith an heathen philofopher, muft not
worfhip them by the bye, but with previous thought.' We
fhouid maintain fuch a reverent fenfe of his prefence, and of
our relation to him, that we may oiFer a reafonable facrifice
whenever we approach to him. God is greatly to be feared in
the affembly of his faints, and to be had in reverence of all them
that come nigh unto him.
CHAP. XX.
The ten commandments are given *, the terror of the people, and
the addrefs of Mofes to the^n, on that occafion \ with fome
particular cautions and dire^ions about divine worfhip,
1 AND God fpake all thefe words immediately by
JfX himfelf •, fpake with a voice, which, Paul tells us,
fiook the earth -, this numerous affembly of near two millions
of
EXODUS. XX. • 383
%. of people"^ heard it faying, I, the almighty^ Jelf-exiftentj
immutable Jehovah^ [am] the Lord thy God and king^
and ft and in a peculiar relation to thee\ which have
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the houfe
of bondage, and therefore thou art ingratitude hound to obey
3 me. Thou fhalt have no other gods before me ; thou
Jhalt believe in no other ^ and worfhip no other god -, prefer
none other to 'me, nor fet up any in comparifon with me^ not
even in thy heart \ for as all is naked and open before me^ I
4 fhall fee it, and be highly difpleafed at it. Thou {halt not
make unto thee any graven image, or any likenefs [of
any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in
the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the
earth. 'Thou floalt make no likenefs of God^ or angels^ or
5 beafts^ or fifhes^ to worfoip them J" Thou fhalt not bow
down thyfelf to them, nor ferve them: ° for I the Lord
thy God [am] a jealous God, tender of my honour^ and
will bear no rivals nor give my glory to another^ viiiti ng
the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the
third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me ;
all idolaters do fo^ whatever they pretend ; / know it^ and
willpunifh them for it •, and thefe judgments fhall nffeEl their
children to the third and fourth generation^ if they continue
6 in the fins of their fathers: And fhowi ng mercy unto
thoufands of generations of them that love me, and keep
7 my commandments. Thou fhalt not take the name of
the Lord thy God in vain ; fhalt not fwear by it falfely^
nor ufe it irreverently ; thou fhalt not trifle with it in wor^
fhip^ nor in common difcourfe \ for the Lord will not hold
him guiltlefs that taketh his name in vain •, whatever
men do^ however magiftrates may overlook it^ be ajfured that
God
^ Including men, women and children,
» The firfl: command forbids all feigned gods, this fecond for-
bids all feigned fervice of the true God ; all reprefentations of him,
or worlhipping him by images. This was a neceflary caution, be-
caufe the Egyptians woriliipped beafts and fiihes. This a'fo for-
bids any pretended medium of worQiip, any worfhip of God thro*
images, faints, or angeis,
? Here is a remarkable gradation. Thou flialt not make them
thyfelf, nor bow to them in other places, tho* made by other
perfons ; thou fhalt not pay them any kind of refpcd, much lefs
worihip them and offer facrifices to them.
384 EXODUS. XX.
God will punijh it. It is impoffihk that men JhouU always
diJcGver perjury^ or frauds or hypocrify ; but I know it,
8 and will feverely punijli it. Remember ^ the fabbath
day, to keep it holy. Remember it^ conftder it well^ lay
it to hearty and fo order all thy affairs^ as not to hinder the
obfenvation of it. Remember ity to keep it holy •, by careful
abflinence from fervile works^ and worldly bufineffes^ and
by diligently employ iy^g it in holy thoughts^ words ^ and
works •, in the worfhtp of God^ both publick and private,
and in furthering your own and others^ fanSiification and
9 falvation. Six days fhalt thou labour, and do all thy
10 work: But the feventh day [is] the fabbath of the
Lord thy God, is fet apart by him from the beginning,
and is confecrated to his fervice and honour ; [in it] thou
ihalt not do any work, any common worldly bufinefs, or
take unneceffary journeys, thou, nor thy fon, nor thy
daughter, thy rnan fervant, nor thy maid fervant, nor
thy cattle, nor thy ftranger that [is] within thy gates,
11 the Gentiles that fojourn with thee: For [in] fix days the
Lord made heaven and earth, the fea, and all that in
them [is,] and refted the feventh day, from works of
creation, thd* not of providence and grace : wherefore the
LoR^D bleffed the fabbath day,*^ and hallowed it: He
bltffed it, that is, w.ade it a day of bleffing, when men
jhould enjoy his favour, refieM on his goodnefs, and have the
means of the kgkcfl happinefs : he feparated it from the reft
of the days, and from all common employments, and confecrated
12 it to his own holy fervice, and to man's holy ufeJ Honour
thy father and thy mother, honour them in thy heart -,
reverence^
P The word remember , (hows that the fabbath was inftituted
before this time ; it is the reviving of an old law.
<i Not the feventh day from the creation, but the day of re-
ligious relt, whether the jewiih or chriftian fabbath; and the
change thereof feems to be hereby intimated. Thefe commands
rehite to God and his worlhip ; what follow, relate to our neigh-
bour ; and they are called the fecond table.
' See Or ton's Rel gious Exerci/es Recommended : or, Difcourfes on
Secret and Family H orJJiip^ and the Religious Objer<vation of the
hordes Day, With tiuo Difcourjes on the Ueaijenly State, confidered
under the Idea (fa Sabbath. The fecond edition, price 3/. A book,
iays an eminent divine of the Church of England, which well de-
ferves the fre<juent ana attentive perufal of every ferious chriftian.
. EXODUS. XX. sS3
reverence^ fear^ and love them \ honour the?n in thy aEiions^
by obedience to their inftru5fions \ ftipplying their wants ^
covering their infirmities^ andjhowing all reffe5l and duty to
them: ' that thy days may be long upon the land which
13 the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou fhalt not kill;
Thou Jhalt forbear all revengeful^ angry thoughts {Mat. v.
21, 22. I John iii. 15.) and do all thou canft to preferve
14 thy own life^ and the lives of others. Thou fhalt not
commit adultery-,* thou {halt fhun all means ^ occajions^ and
appearances of uncleannefs 5 a?id extrcife chajlity in thought .^
15 affeEiion., words., attire., and gefiure. Thou fhalt not ffeal,
not take away another man^s goods by deceit or violence., or
without his knowledge and confent ; nor life any fraudulent
dealing., (i Thefs, iv. 6 J but give every one his due.
1 6 Thou fhalt not bear falfe witnefs againft thy neighbour,
1 7 nor fpeak an untruth upon any occajion vohatfoever. Thou
fhalt not covet thy neighbour's houfe, thou fhalt not
covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man fervant, nor
his maid fervant, nor his ox, nor his afs, nor any thing
that is thy neighbour's ; not give way to the inward
motions of thy heart toward that which is evil, (Rom. vii.
7 . ) particularly not to an inordinate defire of that which is
thy neighbour's ; but be fully content with* thy own condition,
Heb. xiii. 5."
18 And all the people favv the thunderings, and the
lightnings, and the noife of the trumpet, and the moun-
tain fmoking ; and v^hen the people faw [it,] they re-
19 moved, and flood afar off. And they faid unto Mofes,
Speak thou with us, and we will hear : but let not God
fpeak
* It refers primarily to our parents, and includes all fuperiors
in authority, whether in the family, the church, or the ftate, and
all fuperiors in age, in gifts, or grace. This is the firft command
with a promife, which was peculiarly fuited to the Jews, and
dired^d their views toward Canaan.
* Only one fpecies of uncleannefs is mentioned, becaufe that
was peculiarly abominable, but it includes all others.
" This is a key to open the meaning of all the other com-
mands, and fnows that God regards the temper of mind, as well
as the outward action. It will be proper to read here, our Lord's
fermon on the mount, to obferve hew he illuftrates and explains
thefe precepts and by what arguments he enforces them ; for he
came not to deflroy this law, but to fulfil and eftabliih it.
586 E X O D tJ S. XX.
fpeak with us, left we die. ne terror of the found over--
whelmed them^ and they feared lefi the fire^ out of which the
-fto voice came J fhould confume them. And Mofes faid unto
the people. Fear not, no harm fhall come unto you : for
God is come to prove you, to fee whether this appearance
will influence your minds, and imprefs you with a fenfe of his
majefty, as the heft foundation of obedience ; and that his
2 J fear may be before your faces, that ye fin not. A ad
the people flood afar off, znd Mo(^.s, full of faith and
confidence in God, drew near unto the thick darknefs
where God [was.]
22 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Thus fhalt thou
fay unto the children of Ifrael, Ye have feen that I have
talked with you from heaven •, ye have heard my voice,
23 hut ye have feen yiofhape or appearance of me \ therefore. Ye
fhall not make with me gods of filver, neither fhall ye
make unto you gods of gold, to worfmp me by, or to^
!^4 gether with me. An altar of earth thou fhalt make unto
me ; no high altar or pyramid, with engravings and hiero^
glyphics, but a low, humble altar of earth fJoalt thou makcy
and fhalt facrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy
peace offerings, thy fheep, and thine oxen : in all
places where I record my name, and fix my folemn wor^
fhip, I will come unto thee and I will blefs thee, give
25 thee the teftimony of my approbation and acceptance. And if
thou wilt make me an altar of ftone, thou fhalt not
build it of hewn flone •, for if thou lift up thy tool upon
26 it, thou hail polluted it. Neither fhalt thou go up
by fteps unto mine altar, that thy nakednefs be not
difcovered thereon.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us pray that God would write all thefe laws on
I J our hearts •, teach us our duty to him, to our-
felves, and to others -, teach us to do well, and lead us ia
the way in which we fhould go, in the way of peace and
holinefs. ^he law is holy, and the commandment holy,juft and
good: but we need his aid to help us to obferve them,
and his mercy, to pardon our many breaches of them \ for
'we
E X O D U S. XXi. ^^
we have all finned^ and corns Jhort of the glory of God. Let the
law be a fchoolmafter to bring us to Chrift ; who by his
fpirit can fo renew and fanAify our minds, that obedience
will be a deh'ght. Then fhali we, not from a principle of
terror, but from a principle of love, obey all the com-
mandments from our heart.
2. Let us be thankful that the gofpel, that better dlf-
penfation, is given in fo gentle a manner ; not amidft
thunder and lightning, tempeft and fire •, but by the Smn
of God, the great mediator, arrayed in human flefh, who
hath fpoken to us with all gentlenefs and compafHon. His
terrors do not fall on us, neither doth his dread make us
afraid. The apoftle introduces this thought in a moft
beautiful manner, Heb. xii. i8 — 25. For ye are not come unto
the mount that might he touched^ and that burned with fire ^ nor
unto blacknefs^ and darknefs and tempeft^ and the found of a
'trumpet^ and the voice of words \ which voice they that heard
intreated that the word fhould not he fpoken to them any more •
(For they could not endure that which was commanded. And if
fo much as a beafl touch the mountain^ it fhall be floned^ or thrufl
through with a dart : And fo terrible was thejighty that Mofes
faid^ I exceedingly fear and quake :) But ye are come unto mount
Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerufalem-^
and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general ajfembly
and church ofthefirfi born, which are written in heaven, and to
God the judge of all, and to the fpirit s ofjufl men made perfe5f^
and to Jefus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood
of fprinkkng, thatfpeaketh better things than that of Abel, See
that ye refufe not him that fpeaketh in fuch a gentle manner ;
for if they efcaped not who refufed him that f pake on earth, much-
more fhall not we efcape, if we turn away from him thatfpeaketh
from heaven.
CHAP. XXL
In the former chapter, we had God's moral law, which is of
eternal obligation, delivered with awful majefly, and are
now entering on thofe political laws, by which God, as their
^^^i^ governed the Jewifh nation,
I NOW
388 E X O D U S. XXI.
1 TVT O W thefe [are] the judgments, or judicial laws^
2 X^ which thou fhalt fet before them. If thou buy
an Hebrew fervant,"^ fix years he fhall ferve : and in
the feventh he fhall go out free for nothing ; except
the year of jubile come between^ and then he ftoall go out
3 free^ thd* he hath ferved hut one year. If he came in by
himfelf, he fhall go out by himfelf : if he were married,
4 then his wife fhall go out with him. If his mafler have
given him a wife, a heathen bond woman (forfuch only with
their children^ might he left in fervltude^ Lev. xxv. 44.)
and fhe have born him fons or daughters ; the wife and
her children fhall be her mafler's, and he fhall go out
by himfelf. This was defigned to dif courage the marriage
of the Ifrdelites with Jlr angers.
5 And if the fervant fliall plainly fay, I love my maf-
ter, my wife, and my children •, I will not go out free :
6 Then his mafler fhall bring him unto the judges, or
governors j'' he fhall alfo bring him to the door, or unto
the door pofl : and his mafler fhall bore his ear through
with an awl, to denote his perpetual obligation to abide in
that houfe^ and there to hear and obey his mafter's commands ;
and he fhall ferve him for ever, //// the year of jubile^
Lev. xxv. 40.
7 And if a man thro"* extreme poverty^ ( as was the cafe on
their return from Babylon^ Neh. v. 5.) fell his daughter to
be a maid fervant, in expectation of her 7narrying her maf-
ter^ or his fon^ fhe fhall not go out as the men fervants
8 do, but upon better terms. If fhe pleafe not her mafler,
who hath betrothed her to himfelf, (or rather., fo that he-
doth not betroth her to himfelf.,) then fliall he let her be
redeemed, by any relation or friend that is fo difpofed : to
fell her unto a fcrange nation he fhall have no power,
9 feeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her. And if he
hath betrothed her unto his fon, he fliall deal with her
after
*' This might be done when he Ibid himfelf for poverty, Deut,
>v. 12, Le^. XXV 39. when he was fold by the magiftrate for
theft, ch. xxii. 3. or in cafe of debt, 2 Kings iv. i. Mat. xviii. zt;,
* Perpetual fervitude was too important a matter for a private
bargain ; it muft be done before the niagiilrate, as a proof that
the man was willing.
EXODUS. XXL 389
after the manner of daughters, hy giving her a dowry ^ (ch.
xxli. 16, 17.) and all the other privileges of a free woman.
10 If he take him another [wife-,] her food, her raiment,
1 1 and her duty of marriage, fhall he not diminifh. And
if he do not thefe three unto her, then fhe fhall go out
free without monty for her redemption,
12 He that fmiteth a man wilfully^ fo that he die, fhall
13 be furely put to death. And if a man lie not in wait,
but God deliver [him] into his hand by fome fpecial^
unexpe5fed providence \ then I will appoint thee a place
14 whither he fhall flee. But if a man come prefumptuouf-
ly, purpofedly^ and malicioufly^ upon his neighbour, to flay
him with guile •, thou (halt take him from mine altar,
that he may die •, for God will not have his altar to be a
15 refuge for murderers. And he that fmiteth his father, or
his mother, fliall be furely put to death, tho' he kill
them not,
16 And he that flealeth a man, an Ifraelite, (DeuLxxiv,y.)
and felleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he fhall
furely be put to death.
17 And he that curfeth his father, or his mother, that
wijhes any mifchief may befall them^ or tifes any kind of
malicious^ reviling fpeeches^ which argue acontempt of his
parents^ fhall furely be put to death.
18 And if men flrive together, and one fmite another,
with a flone, or with [his] fift, and he die not, but
19 keepeth [his] bed : If he rife again, and walk abroad,
upon his flaft, theii fhall he that fmote [him,] be quit:
only he fhall pay [for] the lofs of his time, and fhall
20 caufe [him] to be thoroughly healed. And if a man
fmite his fervant, his Jlave^ or his maid, with a rod, any
infirufnent fit for corrections and he die under his hand ;
2 1 he fhall be furely punifhed by the magifirates. Notwith-
standing, if he continue a day or two, he fliall not be
punifhed: for he [is] his money, his property^ and he
had a right to correal him in a proper manner, ^
22 If men ftrive, and hurt a woman with child, who in-
terpofes in the quarrel^ fo that her fruit depart [from her,]
and yet no other mifchief follow : he fhall be furely
Vol. I, B b punifhed.
390 EXODUS. XXr.
punifhed, according as the woman's hufband will lay
upon him •, and he fhall pay as the judges [determine.]
23 And if [any] other mifchief follow, then thou fhalt
24- give life for life. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for
25 hand, foot for foot. Burning for burning, wound for
wound, ftripe for ftripe. Tlits was the law of retaliation^
which might he pit into execution^ if the perfon doing the
injury did not make fatisfa5iion,
i6 And if a man fmite the eye of his fervant, or the eye
of his maid, that it perifh •, he fhall let him go free for
27 his eye's fake. And if he fmite out his man fervant's
tooth, or his maid fervant's tooth ; he fhall let him go
free for his tooth's fake. 'This was defigned to prevent
cruelty^ and to make men cautious not to exceed in due correc-
tion^ or do any thing in a pajfion*
a 8 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die : then
the ox fhall be furely floned, to prevent his doing further
mifchief^ and his flefh fhall not be eaten ; but the olvner
29 of the ox [fhall be] quit. But if the ox were wont to
pufh with his horn in time pail, and it hath been tef-
tified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but
that he hath killed a man or woman •, the ox fhall be
floned, and his owner alfo fhall be put to death, hecaufe
20 he did not take proper care to prevent this J If there be
laid on him a fum of money, then he fhall give for the
3 1 ranfom of his life whatfoever is laid upon him. Whether
he have gored a fon, or have gored a daughter, ac-
32 cording to this judgment fhall it be done unto him. If
the ox fhall pufh a man fervant, or maid fervant •, he
fhall give unto their mailer thirty fhekels of filver,
three pounds eight fhillings jierling^ and the ox fhall be
floned.
3 3 And if a man fhall open a pit in the highway or unin^
clofed grounds, or if a man fhall dig a pit, and not cover
34 it, and an ox or an afs fall therein ; The owner of the
pit fhall make [it] good, [and] give money unto the
owner of them •, and the dead [beail] fhall be his.
25 And
y There is an old Englifti law that makes it felony to let a
mifchievoiis beaft go loofe.
EXODUS. XXI. sgi
25 And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die ; then
they fhalJ fell the live ox, and divide the money of It ;
36 and the dead [ox] alfo they fhall divide. Or if it be
known that the ox hath ufed to puih in time paft, and
his owner hath not kept him in •, he fhall furely pay ox
for ox i and the dead Ihall be his own.
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us be thankful for the good laws by which
I J our lives and properties are preferved*, that we
are not fubjed to the malice and violence of wicked and un»
reafonable men •, that we are not like the fifh of the fea,
where the greater devour the Jefs. We live under a good
government, where our lives and property are fecurej
and thofe who by violence or fraud take it away, will re-
ceive juft punifhment. Blefled be God, who hath fo well
fixed the bounds of our habitation •, that we live in a free
land ; are not fubje6t to bondage, nor at the mercy of
mercilefs tyrants ; the lines are fallen to us in pkafant places,
2. How obfervant fhould chriftians be of all the rules of
equity and law ! Many of thefe laws are happily fuperfeded
and laid afide, by the laws of our country and the rules of
the gofpel : but they teach us this important lefTon, to do
juftice^ and love mercy \ to render unto all their due \ and to
be careful that we do not injure any, even by negligence.
Let mafters and miiirefles learn to treat their fervants with
all gentlenefs and humanity. If thefe direclions were given
with relation to flaves, who were their mafler's property,
being bought and fold; how much more reafonable is it
that we fhould obferve them to fervants who become fo
by their ov/n voluntary choice and confent 1 God will not
allow his people to trample even on flaves. It becomes us
to be courteous to all men, but efpecially to fervants, that
the burden of their fituation may become as eafy as pofTible.
L,et chriilian mafters^ according to Paul's direclions, give to
their fervants that which is rights forbearing threatening ; kno'-jo-
ing they have a majler in heaven^ with who'rn there is no refpeol
of per Jons, Let thofe who tyrannize over their fervants, or
B b 2 treat
392 EXODUS. XXII.
treat their domeftlcs roughly, or cruelly, aik themfelves
that ftriking queftlon, which Job did hlmfelf, and gives It
as a reafon for tendernefs to his fervants, What Jhall I do
when God rifeth up ? When he vifiteth^ what Jhall I anfwer ?
CHAP. XXII.
Contains many other political laws for the government of the
Ifraelites,
1 T F a man fhall fteal an ox, or a ilieep, or goat^ and kill
JL it, or fell it •, he fhali reftore five oxen for an ox,
and four iheep for a flieep/ This was a neceffary law^ con-
2 fidering how much their wealth lay in cattle. If a thief
be found breaking up a houfe by ^ight^ and be fmitten
that he die, [there fhall] no blood [be fhed] for him •,
3 it Jhall not be conftdered as murder. If the fun be rifen up-
on him, [there fhall be] blood [fhed] for him; it Jhall
then be reckoned murder^ hecaufe the majler of the houfe might
fee who he was^ be able to purfue him^ and bring him to
judgment \ [for] he fhould make full reftitutlon; if he
have nothing, then he fhall be fold for his thdt^ for fix
4 years. If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive,
whether it be ox, or afs, or fheep ; he fhall reflore
double, namely^ that which wasjiolen, and another as good^
or the full value of it,
5 If a man fhall caufe a field or vineyard to be eaten,
and fhall put in his beaft, or thro' negle5i fuffer him to
trefpafs, and fhall feed in another man's field-, of the
befl of his own field, and of the befl of his own vineyard,
fhall he make reflitution. This was very proper, confider^
ing their circumjiances in the wildernefs,
6 \i fire break out, and catch in thorns, fo that the
flacks of corn, or the flanding corn, or the field, be con-
fumed
• The general law of reftitutlon was to be double, if the beafl
was found alive; but if flain or fold, four or five-fold, becaufe it
was more difficult to prove the property. There was to be an
ox more than a iheep, becaufe the owner loft his labour while
detained.
EXODUS. XXU. S93
fumed [therewith ;] he that kindled the fire fhall furely
make reftitution. This was defigned to make them u^atch-
ful and cautious^ efpecially with fo dangerous an element,
7 If a man fhall deliver unto his neighbour money or
fluff to keep, on truft^ and for no reward^ but out of friend-
Jhip^ and it be ftolen out of the man's houfe \ if the
thief be found, let him pay double,
8 If the thief be not found, then the mafter of the
houfe fliall be brought unto the judges, [to fee] whe-
ther he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods,
9 or was any way accejfary to the lofs of them. For all manner
of trefpafs about matters depoftted upon trujly and lofl^
[whether it be] for ox, for afs, for fheep, for raiment,
[or] for any manner of loll: thing, which [another]
challengeth to be his, the caufe of both parties fhall
come before the judges; [and] whom the judges fhall
10 condemn, he fhall pay double imto his neighbour. If
a man deliver unto his neighbour /(?r hire^ an afs, or an
ox, or a fheep, or any beaft, to keep •, and it die, or be
11 hurt, or driven away, no man feeing [it:] [Then]
fhall an oath of the Lord be between them both, there
Jliall be a folemn appeal to God^ that he hath not put his
hand unto his neighbour's goods, to injure or deflroy
them % and the owner of it fhall accept [thereof,] and
12 he fhall not make [it] good. And if it be ftolen from
him, thro' his negle^i^ he fhall make reltitution unto the
13 ov/ner thereof. If it be torn in pieces, [then] let him
bring fome part or limb of it [for] witnefs,"" [and] he
fhall not make good that which was torn.
14 ' And if a man borrow [aught,] any beafi^ of his neigh-
bour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof [being]
15 not with it, he fhall furely make [it] good. [But] if the .
owner thereof [be] with it, and was carefid about it^ he
fhall not make [it] good: if it [be] an hired [thing,]
it came for his hire, and he fliall pay that and no more»
16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and
lie with her, he fhall furely endow her to be his wife,
B b 3 17 If
* Or, as antient verfions render It, He fhall bring a ivitnefs to
prove that fome wild beaft was thereabouts, or, that he had always
been careful about it in time pall.
394 EXODUS. XXIL
17 If her father utterly refufe to give her unto him, he
fhall pay money according to the dowry of virgins, ac-
cording to his eftate and circumftances^ as dowries ufed to be
given with maids of like condition.
1 8 Thou fhalt not fuffer a witch, a perfon who pretends to
have commerce with evil fpirits^ to live.''
19 Whofoever lieth with a beaft, Ihall furely be put to
death.
20 He that facrlficeth unto [any] god, fave unto the
Lord only, he fhall be utterly deftroyed, be under a
folemn execration^ and be put to death,^
21 Thou fhalt neither vex a ftranger, nor opprefs him,
neither reproach nor taunt him^ nor opprefs him in his dealings^
but let him live peaceably among you; for ye were ft rangers
22 in the land of Egypt. Ye Ihall not afflid any widow
or fatherlefs child, fhall give them no trouble in thought ^
23 word^ or deed^ in this their helplefs condition, If thou afflid
them in any wife, and they cry at all unto me, 1 will
24 furely hear their cry, and plead their caufe \ And my
wrath fhall wax hot, and I will kill you with the fword,
and your wives fhall be widows, and your children
fatherlefs.
25 If thou lend money to [any of] my people [that is]
poor by thee, thou fhalt not be to him as an ufurer,
neither fhalt thou lay upon him ufury.*^ ms was defigned
to promote love and benevolence among them,
26 If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment //^^/ /j
poor
^ Whether there was any thing real in their pretenfions or not,
they were jullly punilhed, becaufe they were a kind of idolaters,
and paid that honour to evil fpirits which was due only to God,
It is moft probable that it was all a cheat and juggle; but in
this view they were puniihable.
« God was in an extraordinary manner their king and governor;
idolaters were his rivals; to have tolerated them would have de-
feated the end for which they were feparated from other nations ;
it would have been encouraging ^-ebellion ; and therefore they were
as juftly puniftied as traitors in other countries.
•* Ijfury, or intereft for money, is not unlawful in itfelf. There
is no reafon why a man may not take money for the ufe of
money, as well as for oxen, horfes, or land. The jews might
do this from llrangers, but not from their poor neightours and
brethren.
EXODUS. XXIL 2gs
poor to pledge, thou fhalt deliver it unto him by that
27 the fun goeth down : For that [is] his covering only,
it [is] his raiment for his fkin, his i^ed- quill , or coverlid:
wherein fhall he fleep ? the want of it may endanger his
health or his life: and it fliall come to pafs, when he
crieth unto me, that I will hear •, for I [am] gracious,
and would have you be like me.
28 Thou Ihalt not revile the gods, or judges^ nor carfe
the ruler of thy people, not fpeak evil of them falfely^ or
expofe them to the contempt of the people i not breed divijions^
orjlir up fedition,
29 Thou llialt not delay beyond the time appointed [to
offer] the firft of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors, thy
wine and oil: the firft born of thy fons fhalt thou give
30 unto me, that is ^ the price of their redemption. Likevvife
fhalt thou do with thine oxen, [and] with thy fheep :
feven days it fliall be with his dam -, on the eighth day
thou fhalt give it me.
3 1 And ye fhall be holy men unto me, fhall lead holier lives
than others: neither fhall ye eat [any] flefh [that is]
torn of beafts in the field, becaufe there was blood in ity
and to teach them to abhor cruelty ; ye faall caft it to the
dogs. — We are not concerned in many of thefe laws^ but the
chapter affords us the following
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T fhould be our care to avoid the occafion of unde-
i figned mifchief ; this people feldom think of. If a
man injures his neighbour carelefsly, he is chargeable with
guilt in the fight of God Perfons are apt to make light of
imprudences •, but it becomes us to be cautious, to be ten-
der of our neighbour's property and reputation, and to
walk circumfpedtly.
2. It is of the greateft importance, that we keep up a re-
verence for an oath. The want of this is one of the crying
fins of our land, it is a national iniquity. Nothing is more
common than for perfons to forfwear themfelves on almoft
any occafion. An oath before a magiftrate is lawful ; but
fhould always be taken with the greateft ferioufnefs. Let
B b 4 us
396 EXODUS. XXIL
us lament that oaths are (o much trifled with in our country.
Appealing to God is a moft folemn thing •, and our bre-
thren in Scotland are worthy of praife, where oaths are
adminiftered with the greatefl: ferioufnefs and folemnity
and {o are moft likely to anfwer the end defigned by them.
3, Let us learn to be gentle and compaiTionate to all,
efpecially to the afHided and diftrefled. Gentle to fervants,
not treating them hardly for a mifchance, as if it were a
fault, and make them accountable for what they could
not help. V. 10, 11. Jf a man deliver to his neighbour an afs^
or an ox^ or ajheep^ or any beaft^ to keep ; and it die^ or he hurt^
or driven away\ no man feeing it: then fh all an oath of the Lord
be between them both^ that he hath not put his hand unto his
Tieighbour^s goods ; and the owner of it fJiall accept thereof^ and
he /hall not make it good. There are fome accidents, which the
greateft care cannot prevent. Let us alfo learn to be com-
pafTionate to ftrangers : the reafon which is too often given
for not pitying and relieving them is, ' becaufe they are
ftrangers ; w^e do not know who they are \ but this is a
reafon why we (hould ftiow compaftion. The motive urged
upon Ifrael, is equally binding upon us. We were once
fir angers and foreigners., hut now fellow -citizens with the faints.^
and of the houfehold of God, Let us fympathize with, and
help the fatherlefs and the widow. It is not fufficlent that
we do not opprefs them •, v/e fhould pity, and relieve them.
God is thQ father of the fatherlefs^ and the judge of the widow :
he will plead their caufe, and hear their cry. Learn there-
fore to value their prayers ; for, on the fame principle, if
they pray for, and recommend their benefadtors to the
divine blefling, God will hear them. Let us guard againft
biting ufury, as the word fignifies in v. 25. that is, extor-
tion •, taking pledges, where we fhould give and lend free-
]y *, keeping them beyond the proper time -, exading more
than the bargain, or demanding more than is juft and
equitable. All thefe are feandalous things, and the anger
of God waxeth hot againft fuch cruel opprefTors : they fliall
have judgment without mercy., who have fliowed no mercy.
4. Let us maintain the honour of rulers, and not be for-
ward in cenfuring and reviting them. Sometimes indeed, their
condud may be fo wrong, that we cannot help feeing it. Let
us
EXODUS. XXIII. 397
us lament it before God in prayer, efpecially their immo-
rality, and intreat that he would give them a better mind. It
does not become us to revile them •, that would be doing
mifchief, and be apt to fpread difTention and clamour.
This petulant fpirit, of railily cenfuring every meafure of
government, is a great fault in the prefent day ; but be it
far from us. God hath honoured magiftrates by his own
name-, he hath called them godsj and inverted them with
part of his authority. Let us fhow that we fear God, by
honouring the king, and being fubjed to magiftrates, not
only for wrath, but confcience fake -, and not increafe their
burdens, which are heavy enough already, and which all
their honours and profits cannot balance.
^. Let young people give God the prime of their days
without delay. This is intimated by his requiring the firfl:
ripe fruits, v. 29. God's foul difcerns this, and is parti-
cularly pleafed with it; therefore they fhould devote their
time and ftrength to his fervice, whofe they are^ and whom
they ought to ferve ; and do it immediately, left their hearts be
hardened thro'' the deccitfidnefs of Jin. Let God, who is the
beft of beings, be ferved with our beft -, and let us all learn
to glorify him with our bodies and our fpirit s^ which are his.
CHAP. XXIII.
^he political laws refpe5fing fiander and falfe witnefs \ the fab-
bath •, idolatry -, and a bleffing prowl fed to the obedient,
1 /TpHOU /halt not raife or receive a falfe report, fhalt
J^ not go by hearfay evidence^ nor give credit to every
idle report : put not thine hand, do not confpire or agree
with the wicked to be an unrighteous witnefs.
2 Thou fhalt not follow a multitude, the great men^ either
their counfel or example^ to [do] evil •, neither fhalt thou
fpeak in a caufe to decline after many to wreft [judg-
ment,] not give falfe judgment becaufe the many do fo :
3 Neither Ihalt thou countenance a poor man in his caufe;
but do right, without refpeci of perfons,
4 If
39^ E X O D U S. XXIII.
4 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his afs, or any other
heafi^ going aftray, thou jfhalt furely bring it back to
5 him again. If thou fee the afs of him that hateth thee
lying under his burden, and wouldft forbear to help
him, or^ wouldji then ceafe to help him? thou fhalt furely
help with him •, tho' he be at difference with thee^ yet join
with him to help the heaft : fo JJialt thou oblige thine enemy ^
and difpofe him to reconciliation,
6 Thou fhalt not wreft the judgment of thy poor In his
caufe, not opprefs or injure a -poor man^ becaufe he is poor^
7 nor deyjy him common juftice. Keep thee far from a falfe
matter *, and the innocent and righteous flay thou not,
and for the fame reafon inflict no other punifhment on them :
for I win not jufilfy the wicked, that isy wicked judges -,
tho* they may efcape in this worlds I will judge them in
S another y fever ely and openly. And thou fhalt take no gift,
not only no bribe^ but no gifts or prefents of any kind •, for
the gift blindeth the wife, corrupts the judgment^ that it
cannot or will not difcern between right and wrongs and per-
verteth the words of the righteous, makes good men pafs
9 a wrong fentence,^ Alfo thou fhalt not opprefs a flranger :
for ye know the heart of a flranger, their deje^ion and
difirefs^ feeing ye were Grangers in the land of Egypt.
lO And fix years thou ihalt fow thy land, and fhalt ga-
ll ther in the fruits thereof: But the feventh [year] thou
ihalt let It refl and lie fllll •, not fo much that it may get
Jirength, as to teach you that both yourfelves and your
land are God's \ that the poor of thy people may eat
whatever grows of it f elf from the feed that was feat tered the
lajl plentiful years :^ and then all, both poor and rich, may
have time to ftudy and hear the law, which was then to be
read
* The Roman and Grecian laws agreed in this, that judges
fcoald accept no gift or prefent, but their fettled- l^ilary only,
*^ It is to be remembered, that in the fixth year their land
was to bring forth enough for that year, and the year of reft, and
the next year after that, till the new corn was ripe. This
J^ofes foretold, and it was a convincing proof of the divine
authority of his law; for nothing could have been more impru-
dent in human policy, than to have left the ground fallow every
feventh year, with fuch a promife of plenty before hand, if he had
not had divine authority for doing it.
EXODUS. XXIII. 399
read in a folemn manner to all the people ; and what they
leave the beafts of the field fhall eat. In like manner
thou fhalt deal with thy vineyard, [and] with thy olive-
yard, thou Jhalt leave the produce of them for the poor. But
lejl they fliould think that the weekly reji was to ceafe on that
year^ the command is renewed,
1 2 Six days thou fhalt do thy work, and on the feventh
day thou fhalt reft : that thine ox and thine afs may
reft, and the fon of thy handmaid, and the ftranger,
may be refrefhed.^
13 And in all [things] that I have faid unto you be
circumfpedl : and make no mention of the name of
other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth;
endeavour entirely to forget them^ leflye be f educed by them.
14 Three times thou fhalt keep a feaft unto me in the
1 5 year, in fpring^ fummer^ and autumn : Thou fhalt keep
the feaft of unleavened bread :^ (thou fhalt eat unleaven-
ed bread feven days as I commanded thee, in the time
appointed of the month Abib ; for in it thou cameft out
from Egypt : and none fhall appear before me empty,*
1 6 but /hall bring oblations and proviftons for the priejl :) And
the feaft of harveft, (which was the fecond and greatejl
feafi^ feven weeks after the former) in the beginning of wheat
harveft^ thou fhalt bring the firft fruits of thy labours,
which thou haft fown in thy field : and the feaft of in-
gathering [which is] in the end of the year, which was
their third great feafi^ at the end of harveft ^ when thou haft
gathered in thy labours out of the field, then thou fhalt
J 7 bring thefirfi fruits of thy wine and oil. Three times in
the year all thy males fhall appear before the Lord
God, that is^ thofe who were of competent years^ and at
their own difpofal^
18' Thou
5 There were three forts of fabbaths or times of reft to the
jews; weekly, every feventh year, and the jabile, every fiftieth
year.
^ This was joined to the paffover, ch. xii. 18.
* Seme render it, none Jhall appear before me in vain ; intimating
that God would accept and reward their fervices.
^ At thofe times, all their frontiers were unguarded, and it
would have been the ruin of their country, if God had not pro-
mifed by a fpecia] providence to preferve it then.
400 EXODUS. XXIII.
1 8 Thou fhalt not offer the blood of my facrifice with
leavened bread, as the heathens do in the wor/Joip of their
idols ; neither fhall the fat of my facrifice remain until
19 the morning. The firfl of the firfl fruits of thy land
thou fhalt bring into the houfe of the Lord thy God.
Thou fhalt not fecth a kid in his mother's milk.^
20 Behold, I fend an Angel, my mejjenger^ that is^ Chrift^
before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee
21 into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him,
and obey his voice, provoke him not ; for he will not
pardon your tranfgreflions, but will punifh you for them ;
for my name [is] in him, he a5is by my authority^ and we
22 are intimately united^ {John x. 30.) But if thou fhalt
indeed obey his voice, and do all that I fpeak-, then I
will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adverfary
unto thine adverfaries, or^ 1 will affile them that affliti
23 thee. For mine Angel fhall go before thee, and bring
thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the
•Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the
24 Jebufites : and I will cut them off. Thou fhalt not
bow down to their gods, nor ferve them, pay them neither
outward nor inward worjhip^ nor do after their works :
but thou fhalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break
25 down their images, and all monuments of idolatry. And
ye fhall ferve the Lord your God, and he fhall blefs
thy bread, and thy water, all thy proviftons^ and give the?n
power to nourijii thee •, and I will take ficknefs away from
26 the midft of thee. There fhall nothing cafl their young,
nor be barren, in thy land : the number of thy days 1
27 will fulfill, thou fhalt live to a good old age, I will fend my
fear before thee, Jirike terror into the hearts of thine ene^
miesy and will deflroy all the people to whom thou fhalt
come, and I will make all thine enem.ies turn their backs
unto
^ Dr. CuDWORTH tells us, that it was the cuilom of idolaters
at the end of harveft, 19 take the broth of a kid, boiled in the
milk of its dam, and fprinkle the fields, as a libation or thank-
oiFering to the deity which they fuppofed prefided over them.
God fays, thou Ihalt not do thus. And, by the way, this fhows
us how wife and rational many of the laws of the jews were,
tho', for want of being better acquainted with the ancient hea-
then culloms, we cannot at prefent underitand, or fee the reafon-
abienefs of them.
EXODUS. XXIII. 401
28 unto thee. And I will fend hornets before thee, a large
kind of wafps^ terribk creatures^ which fhall drive oat
the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before
thee. T'hofe nations are put for the refty becaufe they were the
29 moft poiverfiil. I will not drive them out from before
thee in one year-, left the land become defolate, and the
30 beaft of the field multiply againft thee. By little and
little I will drive them out from before thee, until
thou be increafed, and inherit the land.
3 1 And I will fet thy bounds from the Red fea even unto
the fea of the Philiftines, the Mediterranean fea^ and from
the defart of Arabia^ or Paran^ unto the river Euphrates'.
for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your
hand •, and thou fhalt drive them out before thee. This
was accompliJJied in the times of David and Solomon^ and not
32 before^ becaufe of their difobediejice. Thou fhalt make no
^'^ covenant with them, nor with their gods. They ihall
not dwell in thy land, left they make thee ftn againft me:
for if thou ferve their gods, it will furely be a faare unto
thee, an occafion of further fin^ and utter ruin,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T ¥ 7 E hence fee the wifdom of being religious, what-
VV ^ver it may coft us. God is ever ready to
protect his fervants in Xki^ v/ay of duty; he preferved the
Ifraelites in going to Jerufalem, without danger of invafion,
or iofs of their fubftance; he promlfed he would blefs
them, drive out their enemies, and give them all defirable
profperlty. See hence how acceptable obedience is to G<:i^^
and how able and ready he is to promote the real interefts
of thofe who ftncerely ferve him \ he will be an enemy to
their enemies^ and efpoufe their caufe. If we adhere to him,
he will blefs our comforts, and give them a relifh, and
deliver us from thofe things which are burdenfome jn his
fervice. We have neither fuch feafts to attend, nor fuch
long journeys to go to his houfe, nor the great expence of
lodgings, provifton, &c. to bear. The law of God is now
known more entirely, and his commayidments are not grievous.
If his will feems in any inftance inconvenient, a refolute com-
pliance
402 EXODUS. XXIV. \
pliance with It will be our higheft wlfdom ; for godlinefs is \
profitable unto all things^ having the promife of the life that now '
iSy and of that which is to come, \
2. See how much religion confifts in juftice and hu- '
manlty, and how tender God is of the property and repu- j
tatlon of his creatures, yea, of the welfare of the brute :
creation. Let us keep ourfelves far from a falfe matter; !
not be free In cenfuring others, or ralfing a falfe report •, ;
nor affert a thing Is fo and fo, when we only fufped, or fear it. :
We fhould not readily receive an evil report •, It Is incon- \
(iftent with that charity which hopeth all things. Let us i
difcourage talebearers, drive them away by an angry coun- i
tenance; and be careful In this and every other inftance, ;
710 1 to follow a multitude to do evil. Let us not be afhamed \
to be fingularly religious. Being on the fide on which :
numbers are, will not vindicate our condudl; Their fins ;
will not excufe ours •, nor will their torments lefTen our own. '
Let us therefore fet our faces like a flint in God's way •, and '
tho' vv'e fhould be fcorned and reproached for our fingularlty, J
let 72one of thefe things move us^ neither fhould we count our lives \
dear unto us^fo that we tnayfinifh our courfe with joy, \
CHAP. XXIV.
^his chapter is preparatory to the giving of the ceremonial laws ;
Mofes is called up into the mountain ; the people promife obe-
dience *, and the glory of God appeareth,
1 A ND he faid unto Mofes, Come up unto the
±\^ Lord, thou, and Aaron, and his two eldefi fonsy
Nadab, and Abihu, and feventy of the elders of Ifrael;
probably fuch as were chofen out by Jethro^s advice •, and
worfhip ye affar off. 27?^ people were to worfhip at a
2 diflance, the elders and priefts to approach nearer. And
Mofes alone lliall came near the Lord : but they jfhal]
not come nigh •, neither fhall the people go up with him.
3 And Mofes, after thefe directions, came down and told
the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judg-
ments, that is, the ten commandments, and all that was
delivered
EXODUS. XXIV. 403
{delivered in thelafi three chapters: and all the people an-
fwered with one voice, and (aid, All the words which
4 the Lord hath faid will we do. And Mofes wrote all
the words of the Lord in a book^ and rofe up early in
the morning, and builded an altar, which reprefented
Gody the firjl and chief f arty in the covenant ^ under the
hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes
5 of Ifrael, to reprefent the people. And he fent young men
of the children of Ifrael, perfons fit for fervice, probably
the firfi born^ who were priefls^ till the Levites were taken
in their Jleady which offered burnt offerings, and facrificed
6 peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord. And Mofes
took half of the blood, and put [it] in bafons -, and
half of the blood he fprinkled on the altar. The blood
was divided between the altar and the people y to denote the
7 mutual Jiipulatibn between God and them. And he took the
book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the
people, or perhaps the heads of the people : and they faid.
All that the Lord hath faid will we do, and be obe-
8 dient. And Mofes took the blood, and fprinkled [it]
on fuch of the people as were near him^ and faid. Behold
the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made
with you concerning all thefe words : you are obliged
by this blood to obferve the covenant ; or^ this blood is ajign
andfeal of the covenant. There is a plain reference in this
to the Mejfiahy and the blejfmgs of his covenant ; fee Heb.
ix. 18 — 20.°
9 Then went up Mofes, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu,
10 and feventy of the elders of Ifrael: And tiiey faw the
God of Ifrael, fome glimpfe of his glory ^ fome illuflrious
reprefentation of him : and [there was] under his feet,
below him^ as it were a paved work of a fapphire flone,
a mixture of blue and gold^ and as it were the body of
heaven in [his] clearnefs, like a clear fky fpangled with
1 1 jtars. And upon the nobles, thofe elders of the children
of
"* It was a common form of making a covenant among the
heathens, to fprinkle the blood of the facrifice on each party;
and it contained, as is generally thought, a fecret wiih that their
blood might be poured' out if they were unfaithful.
404 EXODUS. XXIV.
of Ifrael, he laid not his hand : " alfo they faw God, and
did eat and drink of their facrifices^ v, 5. rejoicing in the
goodnefs of God to them^ and the honour he had done them,
12 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Come up to me into
the mount, and be there : and I will give thee tables
of ftone, and a law, and commandments which I have
written -, that thou mayefl teach them. 'Thisfhould have
engaged their perpetual reverence for a man who was fo
13 higUy honoured. And Mofes rofe up and his minifter
Jofhua, who was to he hisfucceffor \ and Mofes went up
Into the mount of God.
14 And before he went tip he faid unto the elders, Tarry
ye here for us, until we come again unto you : and,
behold, Aaron and Hur [are] with you : if any man
have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
15 And Mofes went up into the mount, and a cloud
16 covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode
upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it fix days ^
duri7tg which time, Mofes ^ and probably Jo/liua with him^
waited before the cloudy to exercife their humility and devo-
tion^ and prepare them for the manifeftation : and the
feventh day, on the fabbath^ he called unto Mofes out
17 of the midfl: of the cloud. And the %ht of the glory
of the Lord [was] like devouring fire on the top of
the mount in the eyes of the children of Ifrael, like
light and flame breaking out of the dark cloud.
18 And Mofes went into the midft of the cloud, and gat
him up into the mount, while JofJiua flood near the bot-
tom of the mounts between Mofes and the people : and Mofes
was in the mount forty days and forty nights, without
eating or drinking, fupported by the miraculous power and
prefence of God, This circumflance gave an air of majefly
to the giving of the law, and intimated, that the dejign .of it
was fomething very great and myfterious,
REFLECT-
» That is, they did not die; alluding to a common opinionj,
that if God appeared to any one, he would foon die.
EXODUS, XXIV.
REFLECTIONS.
405
I. Y E T us receive, with thankful fubmiflion, all in-
I J timations of the divine will : All that the Lord
hath faid, will we do, and be obedient^ v. 7. This is our
duty, for God commands nothing but what is reafonable,
important, and advantageous. • Obedience is highly be-
coming us. This fhould be our language, when the book
of God is read, or his word preached. All that the Lord hath
faid^ will we do^ and be obedient. We (hould not only form
this refolution, but keep it \, and be doers of his word^ not
hearers only^ deceiving otirfelves.
2. Let us be willing to be as exprefs as pofTible in re-
newing our covenant with God •, confider the requirements
of It ; all the words concerning which it v/as made ; ftudy
the extent of it •, endeavour to underftand every particular;
that we may know what to do, and what to exped:. This
will make our vows rational, and more likely to be lafting.
3. Let us remember in how awful a manner our co-
venant with God is ratified ; with blood, qyqw the fprinkling
of the blood of Jefus \ to which there is an allufion in what
Mofes did. His blood is the feal of the covenant-, con-
firms it on God's part, and aflures us that he will be faith-
ful to the contents of it. Chrift is the mediator of the new
covenant, as Mofes was of this. His blood is called the
blood of the everlajling covenant. Let us remember it fo
as to promote our humility and confirm our faith; efpecially
at the Lord's Supper, in the original celebration of which,
Chrifl is thought to allude to this pafTage, when he fays.
This cup is the New T'efiament^ or covenant, in my blood \
it reprefents my blood, with which the covenant is fealed.
When we remember the death of Chrift, let us remember
the covenant fealed by it ♦, take encouragement from thence,
and be animated by it to obedience.
4. Let us admire the condefcenfion of God, In manlfefl-
ing himfelf in fo gracious a manner to finful creatures •, ex-
hibiting his majefty and glory Vv^ith fo much fplendour, and
yet with fo much mildnefs, that we may not be hurt or
Vol. I. C c terrified,
4o6 E X O D U S. XXIV.
terrified, that his terrors may not fall on us, nor his ex-
cellency make us afraid. We have reafon to be thankful,
that we are allowed to approach to God, and to enjoy com-
munion with him. Let us efteem this a great privilege,
and admire that grace which allows it. — But,
5. Let us not lay too great a ftrefs on any external pri-
vileges in religion. Thefe elders faw the glory of God:
what greater honour could they enjoy ! yet their carcafes
fell in the wildernefs, and Nadab and Abihu were con-
fumed by divine vengeance; their privileges were of no
avail. What would it avail us to be thus favc-ured, or to
eat and drink in his prefence, if we continue difobedient ?
It would only aggravate our folly and ingratitude. It will
be in vain to fay, Lord^ we have eaten and drank in thy pre-
fence^ and been admitted to the neareft approaches to thee;
fhould he reply, I know you noty depart from me, ye workers
of iniquity,
6. We have reafon to entertain venerable notions of the
Mofaic difpenfation, which was eftablifhed with fuch pomp,
and came diredlly from God's mouth. It was an excellent
difpenfation, well fuited to the circumftances of the peo-
ple, and to promote the knowledge and worfhip of God,
and faith in a Meffiah to come. Let us not entertain light
notions of it, as if it was trifling and ridiculous ; if any thing
in it appears fo, it is owing to our ignorance. Let us re-
verence the voice of God, that fpake on mount Sinai ; and
be thankful for that purer and plainer revelation, which we
have. May we reverence the law which was given by
Mofes, and endeavour to underftand it ; but efpecially re-
verence, love, underftand, and be obedient to, thai grace
which came hy Jefus Chriji, Amen,
CHAP.
EXODUS. XXV.
CHAP. XXV.
407
God having delivered the moral and judicial laws, now comes to
the ceremonial. In this chapter is an account of the offering of
the tabernacle ; the form of the ark -, the mercy feat j the table^
and candleftickJ"
1 yl N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak
2 jt\ ""to the children of Ifrael, that they bring me
an offering : of every man that giveth it wiHingly with
3 his heart ye fhall take my offering. And this [is] the
offering which ye fhall take of them-, gold, and filver,
4 and brafs. And blue, and purple, and fcarlet wool, and
5 fine linen, and goats' [hair,] And rams' fkins dyed
red, and badgers' fkins, and fhittim wood, (thought to he
a kind of cedar, whereof Solomon^ s temple was built, i Kings
6 vi. 9, 10.) Oil for the light, fpices for anointing oil,
7 and for fweet incenfe. Onyx flones, and flones to be
8 fet in the ephod, and in the breaftplate. And let them
make me a fandluary, a place of publick and folemn wor-
fhip \ it was a kind of moveable temple, which might be
carried about with them \ that I may dwell among them,
by my grace and glorious operations, as well as by this fymbol
9 of my prefence. According to all that I fhow thee, [after]
the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the
inflruments thereof, even fo fhall ye make [itj] ac'
cording to fome model which Mofes had feen, or which was
given to him,
10 And they fhall make an ark [of] fhittim wood, a
C c 2 little
° In the original manufcript, there is no enlargement or refleftions
from this chapter to the thirty fecond, for which the author gives
the following reafon : « I omit the chapters between the twenty fourth
and the thirty third, becaufe they relate entirely to building and
fiirniihing the tabernacle; to the drefs of the priefts, and the
like ; things in which we have but little concern. Critical niceties
may be difpenfed with in fuch a work as this; and the infer-
ences drawn from them, often contain fo much of all ufion and meta-
phor, fo forced and ftrained, as hath done great diilionour to the
Acred writings/ The few illullrations, which the reader will find
in thefe and other fimilar chapters, are chiefly taken from Clarke,
and Doddridge's manufcript notes, &c.
4o8 E X O D U S. XXV.
little cheft or coffer to lay up the tables of the covenant
in : two cubits and a half [{hall be] the length thereof,
and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit
1 1 and a half the height thereof.^ And thou jHialt overlay
it with pure gold, within and without fhalt thou over-
lay it, and Aialt make upon it a crown of gold round
about •, a border or kdge^ both for ornament and for the
12 covering to fall into. And thou {halt caft four rings of
gold for it, and put [them] in the four corners thereof^
and two rings [{liall be] in the one fide of it, and two
13 rings in the other fide of it, to carry it by. And thou
fnalt make (laves [of] {hittim wood, and overlay them
14 with gold. And thou fhalt put the ftaves into the rings
by the fides of the ark, at the ends of the ark., (as appears
from I Kings viii. 8. 2 Chron, v. 9.) that the ark may
15 be borne with them. The ftaves fhall be in the rings of
5 6 the ark : they fhall not be taken from it. And thou
fhalt put into the ark the teflimony which I fhall give
thee ; the two tables of fione^ whereon the law^ or ten
commandments., were written,
17 And thou fhalt make a mercy feat [of] pure gold:
two cubits and a half [fhall be] the length thereof, and
a cubit and a half the breadth thereof-, this was the co-
\% veringoftheark. And thou fhalt make two cherubims
[of] gold, figures of a human fhape., but with wings., to
reprefent the angels^ who continually attend upon God in
heaven j ^ [of ] beaten work fhalt thou make them, in
19 the two ends of the mercy feat. And make one cherub
on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end:
[even] of the mercy feat, <?r, of the matter of the mercy
feat., fhall ye make the cherulDims on the two ends
20 thereof. And the cherubims fhall flretch forth [their]
wings on high, covering the mercy feat with their wings,
and their faces [fhall look] one to another; toward
the mercy feat fhall the faces of the cherubims be, that
is, toward the middle of the mercy feat., where the She-
kinah
P A yard and half long, and two feet nine inches broad, and high.
^ Grotjus and others think they came nearer to the reprefen.
tation of oxen, than any other form; which might be the reafon
why Jeroboam's idols were in the fhape of calves or oxen, i Kings
xii. 28.
EXODUS. XXV. 409
21 klnah was to reftde. And thou fnalt put the mercy feat
above upon the ark, as the covering of it ; and in the
ark, under the cover^ thou fhall put the teftlniony that
22 I fhall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and
I will commune with thee from above the mercy feat,
from between the two cherubims which [are ] upon the
ark of the teftimony, of all [things] which I will give
thee in commandment unto the children of [frael.
23 Thou {halt alfo make a table [of ] fhittim wood : two
cubits [fhall be] the length thereof, and a cubit the
breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height there-
24 of. And thou (halt overlay it with pure gold, and
make thereto a crown, or ledge, of gold round about.
25 And thou Qialt make unto it a border of an hand
breadth round about, and thou (halt make a golden
26 crown to the border thereof round about. And thou
fhalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings
in the four corners that [are] on the four feet thereof.
27 Over againft the border fhall the rings be f )r places of
28 the ftaves to bear the table. And thou fhalt make the
flaves [of] fhittim wood, and overlay them with gold,
29 that the table may be borne v/ith them. And thou ihalt
make the diihes thereof, wherei?i the bread was fet on the
table, and fpoons thereof, or cups, for the incenfe to be
put in, (fee Num. vii. 14.) and covers thereof to cover
the bread in the difJies, and the incenfe in the cups, and
bowls thereof, to cover withal, or, to pour out withal:
30 [of] pure gold fhalt thou make them. And thou fhalt
fet upon the table fhew bread before me alway.'
31 And thou fhalt make a candleftick [of] pure gold :
[of] beaten work fhall the candleflick be made: his
fhaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his
32 flowers, Ihall be of the fame. And fix branches fhall
come out of the fides of it-, three branches of the
candleflick out of the one fide, and three branches of
^2 the candleflick out of the other fide: Three bowls made
C c 3 like
f Shew bread, or bread of the prefence, was fo called, becaufe
it was conftaiitly placed in God's prefence. It was divided into
twelve thin loaves, one for every tribe, as a publick acknow-
ledgment that they received all their food from God, and were
to ufe it as under his eye.
410 E X O D U S. XXVI.
like unto almonds, [with] a knop and a flower in on s
branch *, and three bowls made like almonds in the othe r
branch, [with] a knop and a flower, fo in the fix
34 branches that come out of the candleftick. And in the
candleflick [fhall be] four bowls made like unto al-
35 monds, [with] their knops and their flowers. And
[there fhall be] a knop under two branches of the fame,
and a knop under two branches of the fame, and a knop
under two branches of the fame, according to the fix
36 branches that proceed out of the candleftick. Their
knops and their branches fhall be of the fame : all of it
37 [fhall be] one beaten work [of] pure gold. And thou
fhalt make the feven lamps thereof: and they whom I
Jhall appoint fhall light the lamps thereof, that they may
give light over againft it, that is^ the table of Jliew bread,
38 And the tongs thereof, and the fnufF difhes thereof,
39 [fhall be of] pure gold [Of ] a talent of pure gold
40 fhall he make it with all thefe vefTels. And look that
thou make [them] after their pattern, which was fhow-
ed thee in the mount.
CHAP. XXVI.
An account of the ten curtains of the tabernacle^ and the vait
of the ark,
l-TiyrOREOVER thou fhalt make the tabernacle
J. V jL [with] ten curtains [of [ fine twined linen, and
blue, and purple, and fear let: [with] cherubims of
2 cunning work fhalt thou make them.' The length of
one curtain [fhall be] eight and twenty cubits, fifty one
feet^ orfeventeen yards two inches^ and the breadth of one
curtain four cubits^ feven feet four inches: and every one
3 of the curtains fhall have one meafure, The five cur-
tains fhall be coupled together one to another: an4
[other] five curtains [fliajl be] coupled one to another.
4 And thou fhalt make loops of bine upon the edge of
the one curtain from the felvedge in the coupling ; and
like wife
* la the Hebrew, the work of a cunning workman, or embroiderer.
EXODUS. XXVI. 411
llkewlfe flialt thou make in the uttermoft edge of [an-
5 other] curtain, in the coupling of the fecond. Fifty
loops ihalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops
ihalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that [is] in
the coupling of the fecond ; that the loops may take
6 hold one of another. And thou ihalt make fifty taches
or buttons^ of gold, and couple the curtains together
with the taches : and it fhall be one tabernacle. ^
7 And thou fhalt make curtains [of ] goats' [hair] to
be a covering upon the tabernacle : eleven curtains fhalt
8 thou make. The length of one curtain [fliall be] thirty
cubits, eighteen yards and a quarter^ and the breadth of one
curtain four cubits : and the eleven curtains [fhall be all]
9 of one meafure. And thou fhalt couple five curtains by
themfelves, and fix curtains by themfelves, and fhalt
double the fixth curtain in the forefront of the taber-
10 nacle. And thou fhalt make fifty loops on the edge
of the one curtain [that is] outmofl in the coupling,
and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which
11 coupleth the fecond. And thou fhalt make fifty taches
of brafs, and put the taches into the loops, and
12 couple the tent together, that it may be one. And the
remnant that remaineth of the curtain of the tent, the
half curtain that remaineth, Ihall hang over the back
13 fide of the tabernacle. And a cubit on the one fide, and
a cubit on the other fide of that which remaineth in the
length of the curtains of the tent, it fhall hang over
the fides of the tabernacle on this fide and on that
fide, to cover it.
14 And thou fhalt make a covering for the tent [of]
rams' fkins dyed red, and a covering above [of]
badgers' fjcins.
15 And thou fhalt make boards for the tabernacle [of]
16 fhittim wood ftanding up. Ten cubits, eighteen feet
three inches^ [fhall be] the length of a board, and a cu-
bit and a half, two feet nine inches^ [fhall be] the breadth
of one board. Two tenons [fhall there be] in one
17 board, fet in order one againft another: thus fhalt thou
iB make for all the boards of the tabernacle. And thou
fhalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards
C c 4 on
412 EXODUS. XXVI.
19 on the fouth fide fouthward. And thou fhalt make
forty fockets of filver under the twenty boards *, two
fockets under one board for his two tenons, and two
20 fockets under another board for his two tenons. And
for the fecond fide of the tabernacle on the north fide
21 [there fhall be] twenty boards: And thtir forty fjck-
ets [of] filver j two fockets under one board, and two
22 fockets under another board. And for the fides of the
23 tabernacle weftward thou fhalt make fix boards. And
two boards fhalt thou make for the corners of the taber-
24 nacle in the two fides. And they fhall he coupled to-
gether beneath, and they fhall be coupled together
above the head of it unto one ring : thus (hall it be for
25 them both; they fhall be for the two corners. And
they fliall be eight boards, and their fockets [of] filver,
fixteen fockets*, two fockets under one boaid, and two
26 fockets under another board. And thou fhak make bars
[of] fhittim wood •, five for the boards of the one fide
27 of the tabernacle. And ^vq bars for the boards of the
other fide of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards
of the fide of the tabernacle, for the two fides weflward.
28 And the middle bar in the midfl of the boards fnall
29 reach from end to end. And thou fhalt overlay the
boards with gold, and make their rings [of ] gold [for]
places for the bars and thou fhait overlay the bars with
30 gold. And thou fhalt rear up the tabernacle according
to the fafhion thereof which was fhowed thee in the
mount.
31 And thou fhalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple,
and fcarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work : with
32 cherubims fliall it be made: And thou fhalt hang it
upon four pillars of fhittim [wood] overlaid with
gold: their hooks [ihall be of] go:d, upon the four
S3 fockets of filver. And thou fhalt hang up the vail un-
der the taches, that thou mayeft bring in thither within
the vail the ark of the teilimony : and the vail fhall
divide unto you between the holy [place] and the mofl
34 holy. And thou flialt put the mercy feat upon the ark
2S of the teflimony in the moil holy [place.] And thou
flialt fet the table without the vail, and the candleilick
over
EXODUS. XXVII. 413
over againft the table on the fide of the tabernacle to-
ward the fouth : and thou fhalt put the table on the
^6 north fide. And thou ihalt make an hanging for the
door of the tent, [of] blue, and purple, and fcarlet,
^y and fine twined linen, wrought with needle work. And
tho!i fiialt make for the hanging fivQ pillars [of] fhit-
tim [wood,] and overlay them with gold, [and] their
hocks [fnali be of] gold, and thou fhalt call five
fockets of brafs for them.
CHAP. XXVII.
Contains an account of the altar of burnt offerings with thg
'vejfels-^ the court of the tabernacle ; and the oil for the lamp,
1 AND thou (halt make an altar [of] fhittim wood,
±\ ^"^t cubits long, and ^vt cubits broad ; the
altar fiiall be fourfquare, and the height thereof, [iliali
2 be] three cubits, five feet and a half. And thou (halt
make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof :* his
horns fhall be of the fame : and thou ihait overlay it with
3 brafs. And thou fiialt make his pans to receive his
afiies, and his fiiovels, and his bafons, and his flefh
hooks, and his fire pans : all the vefi^els thereof thou
4 fiialt make [of] brafs. And thou fiialt make for it a
grate of net work [of] brafs ; and upon the net, orgrate^
fiialt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners
5 thereof. And thou fiialt put it under the compafs of
the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the
6 midil: of the altar. And thou fiialt make fi:aves for the
altar, fi:aves [of] fiiittim wood, and overlay them with
7 brafs. And the fi:aves fiiall be put into the rings, and
the leaves fiiall be upon the two fides of the altar, to
8 bear it. Hollow with boards fiialt thou make it: as it
was fiiowed thee in the mount, fo fiiall they make [it.]
9 And thou fiialt make the court of the tabernacle: for
the fouth fide, foUthward [there fiiall be] hangings
for
^ That is, the four riiings, one at each corner, in the fliape of
hoins, either for ornament, or to faften the facriiice unto.
414 EXODUS. XXVII.
for the court [of] fine twined linen of an hundred cu-
10 bits long, almqft fixty one yards ^ for one fide: And the
twenty pillars thereof and their twenty fockets [fhall
be of] hrafs ; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets
11 [fhall be of] filver. And likewife for the north fide
in length [there fhall be] hangings of an hundred [cu-
bits] long, and his twenty pillars, and their twenty
fockets [of ] hrafs •, the hooks of the pillars and their
12 fillets [of] filver. And [for] the breadth of the court,
on the wefl lide [fhall be] hangings of fifty cubits:
13 their pillars ten, and their fockets ten. And the
breadth of the court on the eafl fide eaftward [fhall
14 be] fifty cubits. The hangings of one fide [of the gate
fhall be] fifteen cubits : their pillars three, and their
15 fockets three. And on the other fide [lliall be] hang-
ings fifteen [cubits:] their pillars three, and their
16 fockets three. And for the gate of the court [fhall
be] an hanging of twenty cubits, [of] blue, and pur.
* pie, and fcarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with
needle work : [and] their pillars [fhall be] "four, and
17 their fockets four. All the pillars round about the court
fhall be filleted with filver-, their hooks [fhall be of]
18 filver, and their fockets [of] brafs. The length of
the court [fliall be] an hundred cubits, and the breadth
fifty every where, and the height five cubits [of ] fine
19 twined linen, and their fockets [of] brafs. All the
vefTels of the tabernacle in all the fer vice thereof, and
all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, [fhall
be of] brafs.
20 And thou (halt command the children of Ifrael, that
they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light,
21 to caufe the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle
of the congregation, where the people ufed to meet, not
only one with another, hut with God alfo •, and where the
friejls, levites, and people ajfembkd, according to their fe-
veral degrees of approach •, without the vail, that is, the
fecond vail in the holy place, which [is] before the ark of
the teftimony, Aaron and his fons fhall order it from
evening to morning before the Lord: [it fhall be] a
ftatute for ever unto their generations on the behalf
of the children of Ifrael. CHAP.
EXODUS. XXVIII. 415
CHAP. XXVIII.
Contains an account of Aaron and his fons being fepar at ed far the
prieji*s office -, the ephod\ the JJrim and 'Thummim,
1 AND take thou unto thee, folemnlyfet apart for this
x!L #^^) Aaron thy brother, and his fons with him,
from among the children of Ifrael, that he may minifter
unto me in the prieft's office, [even] Aaron, Nadab and
Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's fons.
2 And thou fhalt make holy garments for Aaron thy
brother, to be ufed only in holy miniftrations^ for glory and
3 for beauty, glorious and beautiful. And thou fhalt fpeak
unto all [that are] wife hearted, fkilful artifts^ whom 1
have filled with the fpirit of wifdom, that they may
make Aaron's garments to confecrate him, that he may
4 minifter unto me in the prieft's office. And thefe [are]
the garments which they (hall make ; a breaftplate, and
an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre,
and a girdle : and they ffiall make holy garments for
Aaron thy brother, and his fons, that he may minifter
5 unto me in the prieft's office. And they (hall take gold,
and blue, and purple, and fcarlet, and fine linen.
6 And they fhall make the ephod [of] gold, [of]
blue, and [of] purple, [of] fcarlet, and fine twined
7 linen, with cunning work. It fhall have the two fhoulder-
pieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof-, and \fo']
S it fhall be joined together. And the curious girdle of
the ephod, which [is] upon it, fhall be of the fame, ac-
cording to the work thereof; [even of] gold, [of]
blue, and purple, and fcarlet, and fine twined linen.
9 And thou fhalt take two onyx ftones, and grave on
10 them the names of the children of Ifrael: Six of their
names on one ftone, and [the other] fix names of the
1 1 reft on the other ftone, according to their birth. With
the work of an engraver in ftone, [like] the engravings of
a fignet, ftialt thou engrave the two ftones with the names
of the children of Ifrael : thou fhalt make them to be
fct in ouches of gold, hollow places in which thejlones were
Jet
4i6 EXODUS. XXVIII.
12 fet fall. And thou fhalt put the two flones upon the
fhoulders of the ephod [for] ftones of memorial unto
the children of Ifrael : and Aaron fhall bear their
names before the Lord upon his two fhoulders for a
memorial ^ that God^ fi^^^^g their ?iames prefented before
him by the high friefty might gracioufly remember them., and
13 /how mercy unto them. And thou fhalt make ouches or
\\ fockets^ [of] gold; And two chains [of] pure gold at
the ends-, [of] wreathen work fhalt thou make them,
and faflen the wreathen chains to the ouches.
15 And thou fhalt make the breaftplate of judgment,
whereby anfwers of judgment in all weighty matters were
given to the 'people ^ when they confulled God for dire^ion^
with cunning work -, after the work of the ephod thou
ihalt make it •, [of ] gold, [of] blue, and [of ] purple,
and [of] fcarlet, and [of] fine twined linen, thou fhalt
16 make it. Fourfquare it fhall be [being] doubled; a
fpan [fhall be] the length thereof, and a fpan [fhall be]
17 the breadth thereof. And thou fhalt fet in it fettings
offlones, [even] four rows of flones : [the firflj row
[fhall be] a fardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: [this
18 fhall be] the firft row. And the fecond row [fhall be]
19 an emerald, a fapphire, and a diamond. And the third
20 row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyft. And the
fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jafper : they
21 fhall be fet in gold in their inclofuigs. And the flones
ihall be with the names of the children of Ifrael, twelve,
according to their names, [like] the engravings of a
fignet; every one with his name fhall they be according
22 to the twelve tribes. And thou fhalt make upon the
breaftplate chains at the ends [of] wreathen work;
23 [of] pure gold. And thou fhalt make upon the breaft-
plate two rings of gold, and ihalt put the two rings on
24 the two ends of the breaftplatc. And thou fhalt put
the two wreathen [chains] of gold in the two rings
25 [which are] on the ends of the breaftplate. And [the
other] two ends of the tv/o wreathen [chains] thou
fhalt faflen in the two ouches, and put [them] on the
26 fhoulder-pieces of the ephod before it. And thou fhalt
make two rings of gold, and thou fhalt put them upon
the
EXODUS. XXVIII. 4i7
the two ends of the breaftplate In the border thereof,
27 which [is] in the fide of the epliod inward. And two
[other] rings of goJd thou fhalt make, and (halt put
them on the two fides of the ephod underneath, to-
ward the forepart thereof, over againd the [other]
coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the
28 ephod. And they IhaJl bind the breaftplate by the
rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of
blue, that [it] may be above the curious girdle of the
ephod, and that the breaftplate be not loofed from the
29 ephod. And Aaron fhall bear the names of the child-
ren of Ifrael in the breaftplate of judgment upon his
heart, when he goeth in unto the holy [place,] for a
memorial before the Lord continually.
30 And thou fhalt put in the breaftplate of judgment
the Urim and the Thummim*,'' and they ihall be up-
on Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord:
and Aaron ftiall bear the judgment of the children of
Ifrael upon his heart before the Lord continually.
3 1 And thou fhalt make the robe of the ephod all [of]
32 blue. And there ihall be an hole in the top of it, in the
rnidft thereof: It Ihall have a binding of woven work
round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an ha-
33 bergeon, or breaftplate^ that it be not rent. And [be-
neath] upon the hem of it thou fhalt make the figure of
pomegranates [of] blue, and [of] purple, and [of J
fcarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold
between them round about, by the found of which the people
might be reminded of the work the high prieft was engaged in^
34 and excited to join their affe5fions and devotions with his: A
golden
" What the Urim and Thummlm were, is uncertain. Witsius
fuppofes it was fome fingular piece of workman (hip made im-
mediately by God himfsif, becaufe there is no mention of the
making of it, as there is of every thing elfe. Others think that
the ftones themfelves were called fo. as being a pledge of thofe
oracular anfwers which God would give, of which, the integrity
and luftre of the jewels, might feem a kind of emblem. Thofe
who wifh to fee more on this fubjedl, and various other par-
ticulars relating to the priefts, the tabernacle, &c. may confult
Ashworth's and Jennings's Jewilh Antiquities^ Spencer,
Witsius, Prideaux, &c.
41 8 EXODUS. XXVIII.
golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a
pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
2S And it fhall be upon Aaron to minlfter : and his found
fhall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy [place]
before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die
not, for his difobedience or carelejfnefs.
^6 And thou fhalt make a plate [of] pure gold, like an
half coronet^ and grave upon it^ [like] the engraving
ofafignet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
^y And thou ihalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be
upon the mitre -, upon the forefront of the mitre it
38 {hall be. And it fhall be upon Aaron's forehead, that
Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, obtain
pardon of God for the imperfe5fions of their befi duties and
fervices^ and which the children of Ifrael fhall hallow in
all their holy gifts, fJiall feparate or confecrate to God in all
their offerings or gifts •, and it fball be always upon his
forehead, at all times of his folemn appearance before God,
that they may be accepted before the Lord.
39 And thou fhalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and
thou fhalt make the mitre [of] fine linen, and thou
fhalt make the girdle [of ] needle work.
40 And for Aaron's fons thou fhalt make coats, and
thou fhalt make for them girdles, and bonnets fhalt
41 thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. And
thou fhalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his
fons with him -, and (halt anoint them, and confecrate
them, and fandify them, that they may minifler unto
42 me in the priefl's office. And thou fhalt make them
linen' breeches to cover their nakednefs j from the loins
43 even unto the thighs they fhall reach : And they fhall
be upon Aaron, and upon his fons, when they come in
unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they
come near unto the altar to minifler in the holy [place-,]
that they bear not iniquity, and die, as a punifliment for
if. [it fhall be] a flatute for ever unto him and his feed
after him.
CHAP.
EXODUS. XXIX.
CHAP. XXIX
419
^e have here an account of the facrifics and ceremonies of confe^
crating the priejls^ and the continual burnt offering*
1 /^ ND this [is] the thing that thou fhalt do unto
jt\^ them to hallow them, to minifter unto me the ia
prieft's ofHce : Take one young bulloclc, and two rams
2 without blemifh, And unleavened bread, and cakes
unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened
anointed with oil : [of] wheaten flour fhalt thou make
3 them. And thou fliait put them into one bafket, and
bring them in the bafket, with the bullock and the two
4 rams. And Aaron and his Tons thou fhalt bring unto
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and
fhalt wafh them with water.
5 And thou fhalt take the garments, and put upon
Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod,. and the
ephod, and the breaftplate, and gird him with the
6 curious girdle of the ephod : and thou fhalt put the
mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the
7 mitre. Then fhalt thou take the anointing oil, and
8 pour [it] upon his head, and anoint him. And thou
9 fhalt bring his fons, and put coats upon them. And
thou fhalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his fons,
and put the bonnets on them: and the prieft's office
fhall be theirs for a perpetual flatute, during the contiym^
anceofthejewijhdifpenfation: and thou fhalt confecrate
10 Aaron and his fons. And thou fhalt caufe a bullock
to be brought before the tabernacle of the congrega-
tion : and Aaron and his fons (hall put their hands up-
11 on the head of the bullock. And thou fhalt kill the
bullock before the Lord, [by] the door of the taber-
12 nacle of the congregation. And thou fhalt take of the
blood of the bullock, and put [it] upon the horns of
the altar with thy finger, that is^ the brazen altar of burnt
offerings^ to fanSlify the altar itfelf^ that it might befit af-
terwards to fan^tfy the facrifices of the people^ and pour
all the reft of the blood befide the bottom of the altar.
13 And thou fhalt take all the fat that covereth the in-
wards
19
420 EXODUS. XXIX.
wards, and the caul [that is] above the liver, probably
the midriff^^ and the two kidneys, and the fat that [Is]
14 upon them, and burn [them] upon the altar. But the
flefh of the bullock, and his fkin, and his dung, (halt
thou burn with fire without the camp: it [is] a fin
15 offering. Thou fhalt alfo take one ram-, and Aaron
and his Tons fliall put their hands upon the head of the^
16 ram. And thou fhalt flay the ram, and thou fhalt take
his blood, and fprinkle [it] round about upon the altar.
17 And thou fhalt cut the ram in pieces, and wafh the in-
wards of him, and his legs, and put [them] unto his
18 pieces, and unto his head. And thou fhalt burn the
whole ram upon the altar : it [is] a burnt offering unto
the Lord : it [is] a fweet favour, an offering made by
fire unto the Lord. And thou fhalt take the other
ram for a peace offerings both by way of thankfulnefs for
calling him to his office^ and to beg of God to profper him in
the execution of it -, and Aaron and his fons fhali put
20 their hands upon the head of the ram. Then fhalt thou
kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put [it] upon
the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of
the right ear of his fons, and upon the thumb of their
right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot,
and fprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
21 And they fhall take of the blood that [is] upon the
altar, and of the anointing oil, and fprinkle [it] upon
Aaron and upon his garments, and upon his fons, and
upon the garments of his fons with him: and he fhall
be hallowed, and his garments, and his fons, and his
22 fons' garments with him, Alfo thou fhalt take of the
ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth
the inwards, and the caul [above] the liver, and th.Q
two kidneys, and the fat that [is] upon them, and the
right fhoulder-, for it [is] a ram of confecratlon, of
23 the priefi in his office: And one loaf of bread, and one
cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the baflcet of
24 the unleavened bread that [is] before the Lord : And
thou fhalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the
hands
^ A membrane or fkin, which feparates the heart and lungs
from the lower inteilines.
EXODUS. XXIX. 421
hands of his Tons ; and fhalt wave them [for] a wave
2^ oifering before the Lord. And thou fhalt receive
them of their hands, and burn [them] upon the altar
for a burnt offering, for a fweet favour before the
Lord : it [is] an oR-'ering made by fire unto the Lord.
26 And thou Ihalt take the breatl of the ram of Aa-
ron's confecration, and wave it [for] a wave offering
before the Lord : and it fhall be thy part. Thai which
was afterwards given to the priefts {v, 28. Lev. vii. 3 4, J
is here aligned to Mofes^ becaufe he now executed the priefts s
27 office. And thou fhalt fan6lify the breaft of the wave
offering, and the fhoulder of the heave offering, which
is waved, and which is heaved up of the ram of the
confecration, [even] of [that] which [is] for Aaron,
and of [that] which is for his fons : this was done by
throwing the parts up^ and catching them agai?t, to denote^
their giving thefe things to God^ and then receiving them
28 again from him as their portion: And it fhall be Aaron's
and his fons' - by a flatute for ever from the children
of Ifrael : for it [is] an heave offering : and it fhall be
an heave offering from the children of Ifrael of the fa-
orifice of their peace offering, [even] their heave offer-
29 ing unto the Lord, And the holy garments of Aaron
fliaJl be his fon's after him, to be anointed therein, and
30 to be confecrated in them. [And] thatfon that is prieft
in his flead fb.all put them on kvtx\ days, when he
Cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to
minifler in the holy [place.]
3 1 And thou fhalt take the ram of the confecration, and
32 feethe his fiefh in the holy place. And Aaron and his
fons fhall eat the flefh of the ram, and the bread that
[is] in the bafket, [by] the door of the tabernacle of the
'^'^ congregation. And they fhall eat thofe things where-
with the atonement was made, to confecrate [and] to .
fandlify them : but a flranger fhall not eat [thereof,]
34 becaufe they [are] holy. And if aught of the flefh of
the confecrations, or of the bread, remain unto the
morning, then thou fhalt burn the remainder with fire :
35 It fhall not be eaten, becaufe it [is] holy. And thus
fhalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his fonSy according
Vol. I, D d to
422 EXODUS. XXIX.
to all [things] which I have commanded thee : feven
36 days flialt thou confecrate them. And thou flialt offer
every day a bullock [for] a fm offering for atonement:
and thou {halt cleanfe the altar, when thou haft made
an atonement for it, and thou Ihalt anoint it, to fandlify
37 it. Seven days thou Ihalt make an atonement for the
altar, and fancflify it -, and it ihall be an altar moft holy :
whalToever toucheth the altar fhall be holy.
38 Now this [is that] which thou flialt offer upon the
altar ; two lambs of the firft year day by day continu-
39 ally. The one lamb thou (halt offer in the morning;
ind the other lamb thou fhalt offer at even, about three
40 o'clock in the afternoon : And with the one lamb a tenth
deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of
beaten oil -, and the fourth part of an hin of wine [for]
4 1 a drink offering. And the other lamb thou flialt offer
at even, and fhalt do thereto according to the meat
offering of the morning, and according to the drink
offering thereof, for a fweet favour, an offering made
42 by fire unto the Lord. [This fhall be] a continual
burnt offering throughout your generations [at] the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the
Lord : where I will meet you, and to fpeak there unto
thee.
43 And there 1 will meet with the children of Ifrael, and
44 [the tabernacle] fhall be fandtified by my glory. And
I will fandify the tabernacle of the congregation, and
the altar : I will fanftify alfo both Aaron and his fons,
45 to minifter to me in the prieft's office. And I will
dwell among the children of Ifrael, and will be their
God, hy fpecial covenant^ and the manifold evidences of my
46 favour toward them above all others. And they ihall
know that I [am] the Lord their God, that brought
them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell
among them : I [am] the Lord their God,
CHAP.
EXODUS. XXX,
423
CHAP. XXX.
Contains ah account of the altar ofincenfe ; the ranjom of fouls ;
the holy anointing oil ; and the compofition of the perfume.
1 ^ N D thou fhalt make an altar to burn Incenfe up-
2 jlJL ^^^ ' [of] fliittim wood fhalt thou make it. A
cubit [fhall be] the length thereof, and a cubit the
breadth thereof ; fourfquare fhall it be : and two cubits
[fhall be] the height thereof: the horns thereof [fhall
3 be] of the fame. And thou fhalt overlay it with pure
gold, the top thereof, and the fides thereof round a-
bout, and the horns thereof; and thou fhalt make unto
it a crown or rim of gold round about, which ferved to
4 keep the coals and incenfe from falling off , And two golden
rings fhalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the
two corners thereof, upon the two fides of it fhalt thou
make [it ;] and they fhall be for places for the flaves to
5 bear it withaL And thou fhalt make the flaves [of]
6 fhittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou
fhalt put it before the vail that [is] by the ark of the
teflimony, before the mercy feat that [is] over the
teflimony, where I will meet with thee.
7 And Aaron fhall burn thereon fweet incenfe every
morning : when he drefTeth the lamps, he fhall burn
incenfe upon it : he was to do this the firfl time, but after-
8 wards any priefl might do it. And when Aaron lighteth
the lamps at even, he fhall burn incenfe upon it, a
perpetual incenfe before the Lord throughout your
9 generations. Ye fhall offer no flrange incenfe thereon,
nor burnt facrifice, nor meat offering ♦, neither fhall ye
10 pour drink offering thereon. And Aaron fhall make an
atonement upon the horns of it once in a year, on the
day of reconciliation, (Lev, xvi. 18, 29, 30, Numb, xxix.
7.) with the blood of the {\n offering of atonements:
once in the year fhall he make atonement upon it,
throughout your generations : it [is] moft holy unto
the Lord.
1 1 12 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, When
thou takefl the fum of the children of Ifrael after their
D d 2 xiumber,
^24 EXODUS. XXX.
number, then fliall they, give every man a ranfom for
his foul unto the Lord, when thou numbered them, a
certain pries for the redemption of their lives \ zvherehy they
acknozvkdged God's right over their lives j that they had for-
feited them by their fins ^ and that it was his mercy to continue
them \ that there be no plague among them, when [thou]
.13 numbereil: them. This they fhall give, every one that
pafleth among them that are numbered, half a fhekel
after the fhekel of the fanduary, ahont fourteen -pence : (a
Ihekel [is] twenty gerahs :) an half fhekel [fhall bej the
14 offering of the Lord. Every one that pafTeth among
them that are numbered, from twenty years old and
15 above, fhall give an offering unto the Lord. The
rich fhall not give more, and the poor fhall not givelefs
than half a fhekel, when [they] give an offering unto
the Lord, to make an atonement for your fouls \ to
denote that all are redeewM by the fame price^ and that
1 6 there is no refpe5i of perfons with God. And thou fhalt
take the atonement money of the children of Ifrael, and
fhalt appoint it for the fervice of the tabernacle of the
" congregation, for the building andfurftiture of it^ and for
■maintaining Gcd^s worfliip there \ that it may be a me-
morial unto the children of Ifrael before the Lord, to
make an atonement for your fouls,
17 18 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Thou
fhalt alfo make a laver [of] brafs, and his foot [alfo
of] brafs, to wafh [withal:] and thou fhalt put it be-,
tween the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar,
19 and thou fhalt put water therein. For Aaron and his
fo.ns fhall v/afh their hands and their feet thereat :
20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation,
. they fhall wafh with water, that they die not ; or when
they come near to the altar to minifter, to burn offer-
21 ing made by fire unto the Lord: So they fhall wafh
their hands and their feet, that they die not : and it
fhall be a flatute for ever to them, [even] to him and
to his feed throughout their generations.
22 Moreover the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying,
23 Take thou alfo unto thee principal fpices, of pure,
myrrh five hundred [fhekels>] and of fweet cinnamon
half
EXODUS. XXX. 425
half fo much, [even] two hundred and fifty [fhekels,]
and of fweet calamus two hundred and fifty [fhekels,]
24 And of cafTia five hundred [fhekels,] after the fhekel
of the fandluary, and of oil olive an hin, about three
"25 quarts : And thou fhalt make it an oil of holy ointment,
an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary :
26 it fhall be an holy anointing oil. And thou fhalt anoint
the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the
27 ark of the teflimony. And the table and all his vefTels,
and the candleftick and his vefTels, and the altar of in-
28 cenfe, And the altar of burnt offering with all his vef-
29 fels, and the laver and his foot. And thou fnalt fanc^clfy
them, that they may be mofl holy : whatfoever touch-
2P eth them fhall be holy. And thou fhalt anoint Aaron
and his fons, and confecrate them, that [they] may
31 minifter unto me in the prtefl's ofBce. And thou fhalt
fpeak unto the children of Ifrael, faying. This fliall be
an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your genera -
32 tions, ' Upon man's flefh fhall it not be poured, neither
fhali ye make [any other] like it, after the compofition
of it: It [is] holy, [and] it fhall be holy unto you.
33 Whofoever compoundeth [any] like it, or whofoever
putteth [any] of it upon a flranger, fhall even be cut
off from his people.
34 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Take unto thee
fweet fpices, flade, and onycha, and galbanum i [thefe]
fweet fpices with pure frankincenfc' : of each there fhall
35 be a like [weight:] And thou fhalt make it a perfume,
a confe6lIon after the art of the apothecary, tempered
^6 together, pure [and] holy : And thou fhalt beat [fome]
of it very fmall, and put of it before the teflimony in
the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet
37 with thee: it fhall be unto you moft holy. And [as
for] the perfume which thou fhalt make, ye fhall not
make to yourfelves according to the compofition there-
38 of: It fhall be unto thee holy for the Lord. Who-
foever fhall make like unto that, to fmell thereto, fhall
even be cut off from his people.
D d 3 CHAP.
426 E X O P U S. XXXI.
CHAP. XXXI.
We have here an account of Bezakel and AholiaJ? being called
for the work of the tabernacle ♦, of the fabbath \ and of Mofes*
receiving the two tables*
1 ^ N D the Lore* fpake unto Mofes, faying, See, I
2 jtJL ^^v^ called by name, Bezaleel the fon of Uri,
3 the fon of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have
filled him with the fpirit of God, in wifdom, and in
underftanding, and in knowledge, and in all mann«^r of
4 workmanfliip. To devife cunning works, to work in
5 gold, and in filver, and in brafs. And in cutting of
ftones, to fet [them,] and in carving of timber to work
6 in all manner of workmanfhip. And I, behold, 1 have
given with him Aholiab, the fon of Ahifamach, of the
tribe of pan : ^nd in the hearts of all that are wife
hearted I have put wifdom, endued them with peculiar
ability for this worky that they may make all that I have
7 commanded thee \ The tabernacle of the congregation,
and the ark of the teftimpny, and the mercy feat that
[is] thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,
8 And the table and his furniture, and the pure candle-
9 flick with all his furniture, and the altar of incenfe. And
the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and
10 tht laver and his foot. And the cloths of fervice, and
iht holy garments for Aaron the prieft, and the gar-
11 ments of his fons, to minifterin the priefl's ofEce, And
the anointing oil, and fweet incenfe of the holy [place: ]
according to all that I have commauded thee fhall they
dp.
12 i^ And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak
thou alfp unto the children of Ifrael, faying. Verily my
fabbaths ye fhall keep ^ iho^ the work of the tabernacle be
holy^ and be diligently and fpeedily to be done^ yet I will not
have any of it done on the fabbath days: for it [is] a fign
between me and you throughout your generations, that
you own me for your God, who am the creator of heaven
and earth, who redeemed you out of Egypt, and that I own
you for my people \ that [ye] may know that I [am] the
LORO
EXODUS. XXXII. 427
14 Lord that doth faiKflify you. Ye fhali keep the fabbath
therefore •, for It [is] holy unto you : every one that
deiileth it fhall furely be put to death : for whofoever
doeth [any] work therein, that foul fhall be cut off from
l^ among his people. Six days may work be done ; but
in the feventh [is] the fabbath of reft, holy to the
Lord : whofoever doeth [any] work in the fabbath
16 day, he fhall furely be put to death. Wherefore the
children of Ifrael fliall keep the fabbath, to obferve the
fabbath throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual
17 covenant. It [is] a fign between me and the child-
ren of Ifrael for ever: for [in] fix days the Lord made
heaven and earth, and on the feventh day he refled, and
was refrefhed.
18 And he gave unto Mofes, when he had made an end
of communing with him upon mount Sinai, when forty
days were expired^ two tables of teftimony, tables of
ftone, written with the finger of God, his immediate worky
to denote^ that it was the work of God alone to write
$his law upon men's hearts.
CHAP. XXXII. 1-.20.
We now proceed with the hiflorical part of this hook^ and have
here a very memorable and fur prizing fi or y^ the making of the
golden calf and its awful confequences,
I AND when the generality of the people faw that
£f\^ Mofes delayed to come down out of the mount,
where he was forty days^ receiving the law^ the people ga-
thered themfelves together unto Aaron in a tumultuous
fnanner^ and faid unto him, Up, make us gods, an
image or reprefentation of God, as a vifiblefign of his pre»
fence among us^ which fhall go before us, as in other
nations ; for [as for] this Mofes, the man that brought
us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is be-
come of him ; we expe^ed to receive dire^ions about God's
fervice at this mountain^ but we are weary of waitings and
D d 4 therefore
428 E X O D U S. XXXIL
2 therefore will ferve God in our own way J" And Aaron
faid unto them, Break ofF the golden earrings which you
brought from Egypt ^ and which [are] in the ears of your
wives, of your fons, and of your daughters, and bring
3 [them] unto me/ And all the people brake oif? the
golden earrings which [were] in their ears, and brought
4 [them] unto Aaron. And he received [them] at their
hand, and fafhioned it with a graving tool, after he
had made it a molten calf: "" and they faid, Th<^fe [be]
thy gods, or^ this is thy God, O Ifraei, which brought
thee up out of the land of Egypt, or, this is a reprefen-
5 tation of him. And when Aaron faw with what applaufe
they received [it,] and with what refohuions they crowded
about it, he was concerned a little to palliate what he had
4one, and dire 51 their views fii II to Jehovah^ and he built
an altar before it \ and Aaron made proclamation, and
6 faid. To morrow [is] a feafl to the Lord. And they
rofe up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings,
and brought peace offerings \ thus, as the Pfilmifi oh-
ferves, they made a calf in Horeb, and worfJiipped the molten
image ; and the people fat down to eat and to drink, to
feafl upon the facrifice, and rofe up to play, to dance and
rejoice in a carnal manner,^
7 And the Lord laid unto Mpfes, Go, get thee down ;
for thy people, which thou broughtefl out of the land-
ofFgyp<,-' have corrupted [themfelves -,] defiled them-
felves
* Strange infatuation ! after all they had feen, and notwithftand-
ing all that was liiU before their eyes on the mount.
y When he faw no difluafions would prevail, probably he pro-
pofed this, conceiving they would never yield to it ; but fuper-
itition and idolatry got the better of their covetoufnefs.
* He melted them down into the (hape of a calf or an ox ;
under which likenefs the Egyptians worfhipped their god Apis,
whom probably the Ifraelites followed. See Jds vii. 39.
* it does not appear that they thought this calf was a real
god ; but thi^ir idolatry confifled in making an image or lepre-
ien tation of the true God ; and this, by the way, is a fufiicient
and unanfvv'erable reafon why the papifts are chargeable with
idolatry; what would vindicate them, woyld vindicate the "Ifrael-
ites. 1 Cor. X. 7,
^ God difdains to call them his people any more, Ifa, \\x. i, 2,
and entitles A^ofes to them, t!,at he might be the more felicitous
fo reduce them again into the right way.
EXODUS. XXXII. 429
felves by idolatry^ and fo expo fed themfehes to judgment^
8- (Gen, vi. 1 1 — 13.) They have turned afide quickly out
of the way which I commanded them, after entering into
covenant with me, and projnijing obedience, (ch. xix. 8.
xxiv. 7.) they have made them a molten calf, and have
worihipped it, and facrificed thereunto, and faid, Thefe
[be] thy gods, O Ifrael, which have brought thee up
9 out of the land of Egypt. And the Lord faid unto
Mofes, I have {t^n this people, and, behold, it [is] a
ftifr- necked people, jiubborn and difobedient^ like unruly
20 heifers that will not fubmit their necks to the yoke : Now
therefore let me alone, do not thou intercede for them, for
I know not how to refolve upon their defiruElion, if thou be
inter ceffor — (infinite condefcenjion I) let me alone, that my
wrath may wax hot againft them, and that I may con-
fume them : and I will make of thee a great nation.
^hus, in the midft of judgment, there was an intimation of
11 r/iercy. And Mofes immediately took the hint, and be-
fought the Lord his God, and faid, Lord, why doth
thy wrath wax hot againft thy people, which thou haft
brought forth out of the land of Egypt with g^-eat
power, and with a mighty hand ? Here he pleaded what
God had done for them, and then urges what the Egyptians
would fay, and how God's name would be refle5ied upon,
J 2 Wherefore ihould the Egyptians fpeak, and fay. For
mifchief did he bring them out, to flay them in the
mountains, and to confume them from the face of the
earth ? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this
evil againft thy people. Be then pleads thepromife made
1 2 to their fathers, and God's holy covenant. Remember
Abraham, Ifaac, and Ifrael, thy fervants, to whom thou
fwareft by thine own felf, and faidft unto them, I will
multiply your feed as the ftars of heaven, and all this
land that I have fpoken of will I give unto your feed,
14 and they ftiall inherit [it] for ever. And the Lord
repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his
people \ he refohed not to defiroy them utterly, but only to
pumfh them for this great fin,
1 5 And Mofes turned, and went down from the mount,
which was burning, and the tv/o tables of the teftimony
[were]
430 EXODUS. XXXII.
[were] in his hand : the tables [were] written on bothi
their-fides ; on the one fide and on the other [were] they
written, that is^ on the infide of each^ on the right hand and I
1 6 on the left. And the tables [were] the work of God, and
t^Q writing [was] the writing of God, graven upon the
17 tables.*" And v/hen Jofhua, who waited for Mofes at the
bottom of the mounts heard the noife of the people as they
fhouted, he faid unto Mofes, [There is] a noife of war
iS in the camp. And he, that is^ Mofes., faid, [It is] not
the voice of [them that] fiiout for maftery, neither [is
it] the voice of [them that] cry for being overcome :
[but] the noife of [them that] (xng do I hear.*^
19 And it came to pafs, as foon as he came nigh unto the
camp, that he faw the calf, and the dancing: and Mofes'
anger waxed hot, and he caft the tables out of his hands,
%o and brake them beneath the mount.^ And he took the |j
calf which they had made, and burnt [it] in the fire, |
melted it down^ and ground [it,] or filed it., to powder, |
and having mixed fome other ingredients with it to make ii j
fwim., he ftrawed [it] upon the water of the brook which \
came from the mountain., and made the children of Ifrael jj
^rink [of it,] to fJiow them the vanity offuchgods. \
I
REFLECTIONS. \
!|
I. TT 7 E may here obferve the treachery of the human \
VV heart, and the unfiieadinefs of men's refolu- \
tions. When we read fuch a fi:ory as this, we may jufl:ly j
fay, with furprize, Lord.^ what is man I what a poor, feeble, j
unfteady creature ! It was but a few weeks before, that |
they received the law, heard the voice of God, faying, j
Thoufbalt make no graven images -, and they folemnly promif- |
ed, All that the Lord hath commanded will we do., and be ohe- j
dient.
*= No doubt a mod curious produdion, as being the immediate j
work of God. ^ ^ |
^ He knew the true reafon, but for a while concealed it, and faid, )
// is a noife of them that fjng. This was ufual among the heathen,
at feftivals in honour of their deities.
« Mofes might juftly be angry, but it is probable, that the
breaking of the tables was done with deliberation and defign, to
<liow that the covenant between them and God was broken by their
idolatry.
EXODUS. XXXII. 431
dient. They entered into a covenant with blood-, they were
fupported, that very day, with manna ; they faw the pillar
of cloud and fire •, and yet they fell into idolatry. ' If they
had faid, Choofe us another governor,' (as Bp. Hall ob-
ferves) it would have been a wicked, unthankful motion,
and would have fhowed no refped to Mofes' memory •, but
to fay, Make us gods, was foolilh and impious. How
many gods would they have had ! What fort of gods mud
thofe be, that could be made P A god to go before them,
that could not ftand alone 1 In fuch a ftupid and fenfelefs
manner do men reafon and talk, when they leave the wor-
fliip of Jehovah. It was ftrange that Aaron fhould comply
with their requeft -, that he, who could ftand before Pha-
raoh, and defy his threats, fhould fo eafily be drawn in.
He fhould have refifted, ftrove, and prayed, yea, died,
rather than have yielded. Who can promife himfelf freedom
from fin and infirmity, when he fees Aaron, the faint of
the Lord, fo tnmely yield to a wicked folicitation ? Let us
learn to ceafefrom man ; to ceafe from ourfelves, and not be
confident in our own refolutions; let him that thinketh lie
Jiandeth^ take heed left he fall.
2. See the danger of partaking in other men's fins, and
of a temper eafily perfuaded to do things contrary to the
diftates of confclence : this was the cafe wath Aaron. Let
no importunity prevail upon us to forfeit our innocence, or
to join in wickednefs. the fear of man is often a fnare to
good men, and perhaps it was the cafe here \ it often leads
men to do that, which would otherwife have appeared
deteflable. Let us therefore refifl every temptation, keep
ourfelves pure, be no ways acceffary to the guilt of others,
thro' complaifance, timoroufnefs, or any other caufe. It
will give but little eafe, under prefent or future torments,
to refledt that we have finned to oblige others, or even for
fear of fuiFering ourfelves.
3. We may hence learn the efiicacy of prayer : it cannot
be more effedually exprefTed, and intimated, than here.
Mofes earneftly prayed -, God, knowing that he would do
fo, fays, ^'. 10. Let me alone : but he was determined not
to keep filence, nor give God any reft; and God fuiFered
himfelf to be prevailed upon. See how proper it is to make
inter-
432 EXODUS. XXXIL
interceflion for all men; what fignal fervlces we may do
them •, of what advantage it may be, to ftand in the breach^
as Mofes did, for a finful land. This is an encourage--
ment to pray always^ and not to faint. 'The effe£Iual^ fervent
prayer of a righteous man avaikth much. Let us rejoice in
the interceffion which Chrifl continually makes for us ; he
is the mediator of a better covenant, and him the father heareth :
ah: ays.
CHAP. XXXIL 21, to the end.
The Jlory of the golden calf continued, \
21 A ^^ Mofes {aid unto Aaron, What did this peo- \
JTa. P^^ \:inx.o thee, what great violence did they ufe-, \
that thou haft brought fo great fin upon them ? this I
great offence againft the God of Ifrael? - /
22 And Aaron made a poor excufcy and faid. Let not the
anger of my lord wax hot : thou knoweft the people,
that they [are fet] on mifchief •, they are an ohftinate^ un-
23 tra5lahle people^ and there is no reclaiming them. For they :
faid unto me. Make us gods, which fhall go before us:
for [as for] this Mofes, the man that brought us up
out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become \
of him •, they injifled on my doing it^ andfpoke very difre" •.;
l\ fpeEl fully of thee. And I faid unto them, Whofbever \
hath any gold, let them break [it] off: I thought to \
make it very expenfive to them, in hopes that they zvould not '
comply. But fo it was that they gave [it] me : then I \
caft it into the fire, and there came out this calf.*^ ;
25 And when Mofes faw that the people [were] naked, '
unarmed, intent upon their diver/ton, fet at liberty from all i
reftraiyit -, (for Aaron had made them naked unto [their] ,
fhame among their enemies, by appoiyiting them to keep
fuck a feaft.) Thus they were at once deprived of their in- \
nocenccy \
f A flrange, fenfelefs ftory. If Aaron meant by this, that others \
made it, it was not true, nor much to the purpofe; for as a ;
magiflrate, he ought to have prevented it, and not encouraged I
them in it. ' \
EXODUS. XXXII. 43 j
nocence^ and of the favour and prote5fion of God, and fo
t6 mis^ht eafily he furprixed by their enemies. Then Mofes
ftood in the gate of the camp, and there fet up hisftanda-rd
in oppofition to the golden calf^ and faid, Who [is] on the
Lord's (ide ? who will take God's tart againfl idolatry and
idolaters? [let him come] unto me. And ail the fons of
Levi, that is, the greateft part of them, gathered them-
27 felves together unto him. And he faid unto them,
Thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael, Put every man his
f^vord by his fide, fill your hand with your fword, as the
original is, and execute the divine commiJTwn with impartiality
and holy zeal for God, [and] go in and out from gate to
gate throughout the camp, and flay every man his bro-
ther, and every man his companion, and every man his
neighbour •, fiay the ringleaders, tho' they be your nearefi
28 relations, (Deut, xxxiii. 9.) And the children of Levi
who came to Mofes did according to the word of Mofes:
accordingly the judgment was executed, and there fell of the
people that day about three thoufand men, in the midfi
29 of idolatry and mirths For Mofes had faid, Confecrate
yourfelves to day to the Lord, even every man upon
his fon, and upon his brother; that he may beftow
upon you a blefllng this day.
30 And it came to pafs on the morrow, that Mofes faid
unto the people. Ye have finned a great fin : and now
I will go up unto the Lord o.gain, to pray, and plead for
you ; peradventure I fbiall make an atonement for your
fin. He fpeaks doubtfully, to roufe their fears and awaken
3 1 their repentance. And Mofes returned unto the Lord,
and faid, with great concern and horror, quite overwhelmed
with grief and fhame. Oh, this people have finned a great
32 fin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou
wilt, / pray thee forgive their fin ; — and if not, blot
me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou haft writ-
ten ', if thou art determined to deflroy Ifrael, lei me die with
them, blot my name out of thy book with theirs •■, for I cannot
bear to furvive them. This was a noble and heroic difpofition,
33 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Whofoever hath
finned agamft me, him will I blot out of my book -, /
will punTfli none but the tranfgrejjirs -, I will f pare the righ^
teous
434 EXODUS. XXXIL
3 4. teous^ the innocent ^ and the penitent. Therefore now go^
lead the people unto [the place] of which I have fpoken
unto thee : behold, mine Angel ihali go before thee, as
I promifed^ ch. xxiii. 20. notwithjlanding this their rebellion
againft me: neverthelefs in the day when I vifit and
punijh them for other crimes^ I will vifit this their fin up-
on them, and they (ball fuffer more feverely on account of it,
^^ And the Lord plagued the people with pejlilence, or
fome other awful judgment ^ becaufe they made the calf,
which Aaron made.^
REFLECTIONS.
I. T T O W mean does guilt make a man appear, tho*
Xi otherwife he may be wife and good ! What ^
poor figure does Aaron make! It was a forry excufe that
he offered ; better he had faid nothing ; indeed he could
fcarce fay any thing, even to palliate the crime. Let us
avoid fin, and every appearance of evil ; this will give
us courage and joy. The greateft enmity which can be
done to perfons, is to lead them to fin, as Aaron did.
2. We may learn from the condudb of the Levites, to
a6t impartially, when engaged in the caufeof God. Mofes
fpeaks of it to their praife, in his final blefling, that they
did not knotv their brethren, nor acknowledge their children,
when they were commanded to execute divine vengeance*
They did not make this a fcene of private afFedion and
partiality. Thus muft we adl in God's caufe ; do nothing
from partiality •, be ready, as they were, to appear on the:
Lord's fide *, and not be neuter, when the caufe of truth
and righteoufnefs demands our regard. Let us efpoufe the
Lord's interefl: againft all who oppofe it, be they ever {o
numerous ; join on the Lord's fide, tho', as here, there
may be very few that do fo. Let us ad an upright, honeft
part ; confecrate ourfelves to the fervice of God •, then, what-
ever men fay, and howxver they treat us, he will beftow a
blefling upon us, as he did upon Levi. If we confecrate
ourfelves
5 Moft of the antient verfions render it, becaufe they receinjed
the calf nuhich Aaron made 'y and this is probably the genuine
meaning of the paiTage.
EXODUS. XXXIIL 435
ourfelves to God's fervice, he will confecrate us to fpecial
dignity •, and make us kings and priefts unto himfelf. His
fide will be vidorious, and he will bountifully reward all
thofe who efpoufe it.
3, We muft not conclude that guilt is forgiven, becaufe
the punifhment of it is delayed, v, 34. Neverthekfs^ in the
day when I vifit^ I will njifit their fin ii-pon them, I fhall be
more ready to punifli future tranfgrelTions, for it will be a
great aggravation of their guilt, if, in any future inftance,
they offend againft me. This is a neceffary caution j for
men are ready to think God forgets, becaufe they do; and
becaufe fentence againft an evil work is not fpeedily executed^ there-
fore the heart of the fons of men is fully fet in them to do evil.
They think it will never be remembered, and they ihall
never be called to an account ; but this is a dangerous
miilake -, Ifrael knew it to be fo to their coft, They were
fo fenlible of the malignity of this crime, that it was a com-
mon faying among them, in after ages, 'There was no
judgment came upon them, but was mixed with an ounce of
the golden calf.' The modern jews keep a yearly faft on that
day, to intreat the divine favour. In a word, the great
leiibn to be learnt from the whole is, that we fhouid watck
and pray^ that we enter not into temptation^ for God is jealous
of his honour, of his name, of the purity of his worfhip,
and the obfervance of his commands : none ever hardened
themf elves againft him^ and profpered.
CHAP. XXXIIL
The divine difpleafure being flill manifefted againft Ifrael^ Mofes
fiiccefsfiilly intercedes for them^ and for himfelf
1 AND the Lord faid unto Mofes, Depart, [and]
XjL go up hence, thou, and the people which thou
haft brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the
land which I fware unto Abraham, to Ifaac, and to
2 Jacob, faying. Unto thy feed will I give it : And I will
fend an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Ca-
naanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Periz-
zite.
436 EXODUS. XXXIIf.
3 zite, the Plivite, and the Jebufite: Unto a land flow^
ing with milk and honey : for tho" I will fend my angel^
as I promifed^ ch. xxiii. yet 1 will not go up in the midft
of thee, in favour^ and with a vifible fign of my prefence^
{yet afterwards he was intreated^ v, la.) for thou [art] a
ftiff necked people : left I confume thee in the way, if
thou flioiildfl trefpafs again fo abominably as in the matter of
the golden calf: fo that in the midft of judgment God remem-
bered mercy,
4 And when the people heard thefe evil tidings, they
mourned : and no man did put on him his ornaments,
5 hut ufedftgns of mourning and lamentation. For the Lord
had faid unto Mofes, Say unto the children of Ifrael,
Ye [are] a ftiff-necked people : I will come up into the
midft of thee in a moment,, and confume thee, if thou
repent not : therefore now put off thy ornaments from
thee, humble thyfelf and fhow fruits of repentance^ that I
m.ay know what to do unto thee, whether thou wilt re-
6 pejit^ or perfift in thy fin^ and fo do accordingly. And the
children of Ifrael ftripped themfelves of their ornaments
by the mount Floreb.
7 And Mofes took the tabernacle, (probably the tent in
which he enquired ofGod^ a-nd fat in judgment) and pitched
it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called
it the Tabernacle of the congregation, or meetings hecaufe
here God met Mofes ^ and here the people came to feek direc-
tion in difficult cafes. And it came to pafs, [that] every
one v/hich fought the Lord went out unto the taber-
nacle of the congregation, which [was] without the
camp ; which^ tho' it was a mark of God's difpleafure^ yet
gave them hope that he would be found of them that fought
8 htm^ thd* he did not dwell in the midfi of them. And it came
to pafs, when Mofes went out unto the tabernacle, to
intercede with God for the people^ [^bat] all the people rofe-
up, and ftood every man [at] his tent door, and looked
after Mofes, until he was gone into the tabernacle,
acknowledgiyig themfelves unworthy to approach nearer,
9 And it came to pafs, as- Mofes entered into the ta-
bernacle, the cloudy pillar defcended, and ftood [at] the
door of the tabernacle, and [the Lord] talked with
Mofes,
EXODUS. XXXIII. 457
Mofes out of the cloudy pillar^ which was aftgn of favour^
I o (Pfa, xcix. 7 J And all the people faw the cloudy piJlar
ftand [at] the tabernacle door : and all the people rofe
up and worlhipped, every man [in] his tent door,
adoring the divine majefiy^ and adding their earneft inter cef-
I I fions to thofe of Mofes. And the Lord fpalce unto Mofes
out of thefhining cloud., face to face, as a man fpeaketh unto
his friend, audibly., difiin5ily^ with great kindmfs and con-
defcenfton : which fhowed his approbation of Mofes. And he
turned again into the camp-, but his fervant Jofhua,
the fon of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the
tabernacle, hut waited there before the Lord.
12 And Mofes faid unto the Lord, See, thou fayeft un-
to me, Bring up this people : and thou hail not let me
know whom thou wilt fend with me, who this angel is
that I am to expe5l ; and thou hafi withdrawn thy fpecial
prefence. Yet thou haft faid, I know thee by name, and
thou haft alfo found grace in my fight, / have a fpecial
1 3 and particular regard for thee. Now therefore, I pray
thee, if 1 have found grace in thy fight, fhow me now
thy way, what courfe thou meaneft to take with us, that I
may know thee, how good thou art^ that I may find grace
in thy fight : and confider that this nation [is] thy
14 people, thine by covenant^ and under thy fpecial care. And
he, that is^ God, gracioufly heard and anfwered him, and
faid. My prefence fliall go [with thee,] and I will give
thee reft from thy prefent perplexity, and will in due time
15 bring thy people to their refli7ig place. ^ And he faid unto
him, If thy prefence go not [with me,] if thou dofi not
grant us this favour, carry us not up hence, here let us
16 remain. For wherein fliall it be known here that I and
thy people have found grace in thy fight ? [Is it] not in
that thou goeft. with us ? fo fliall we be feparated, I
and thy people, from all the people that [are] upon the
face of the earth -, we fhall be difiinguifhed by thy pectdiar
17 kindnefs, and the privileges vouchfafed to us. And the
Lord faid unto Mofes, I will do this thing alfo that
thou haft fpoken : for thou haft found grace in my
Vol. I. E e fight,
^ This is a revocation of the fentence, v. 3*
438 E X O D US. XXXIII.
fight, and I know thee by name, know thee above all
men ; thou art my particulm' favourite and friend.
1 8 And he faid, If it he fo^ and I have found fuch favour
19 171 thy fight ^ I befeech thee, fhow me thy glory.^ And
he faid, I will make all my goodnefs, which is my pecu-
liar glory ^ to pafs before thee, and I will proclaim the
name of the Lord before thee •, and will be gracious to
whom I will be gracious, and will fhow mercy on whom
I will fhow mercy : 1 will manifejl my fovereign love and
mercy to t kef e people^ notwithfianding their provocations and
20 idolatry. And he faid. Thou canfl not fee my face, the
nmjefly and glory attending that external fbape I have now
2 1 affumed : for there fhall no man fee me, and live. And
the Lord faid, Behold, [there is] a place by me, and
22 thou fhalt ftand upon a rock: And it fhall come to pafs,
while my glory pafTeth by, that I will put thee in a clift
of the rock, which will limit thy view of my glory •, and I
will cover thee with my hand while I pafs by, that
23 thou may eft not be overwhelmed by it. And I will take
away mine hand, and thou fhalt fee my back- parts, aS'
much as thou canft bear : but my face fhall not be feen*
REFLECTIONS.
t ^T^ H E deepeft humility becomes us, when we have-
JL loft the fenfe of God's prefence, and the hopes
of his favour ; when we have fallen into fm, and are grown
carelcfs and negligent •, this is a time for lamentation ; it
becomes us to bewail this deeply, and to repent moft
heartily, for woe unto us, if God depart from us.
2. We learn hence, that God maintains a certain de-
corum in dealing with his creatures, which he will not, and,
as a wife and holy being, he cannot violate; v. 3. Iwillnot
go up in the midft of thee^ for thou art a ftiffnecked people \ left
I confume thee in the way. He is obliged to animadvert on
the tranfgrefTions of his people, and not pardon fin by a
mere
* Perhaps there was fome glorious appearance within the cloud,
that Mofes wifhed to fee, Hill farther to increafe his veneration,
devotion, and JQve.
EXODUS. XXXIII. 4S9
mere arbitrary adt, but in a manner that fhall exprefs his
difpleafure, and thro' Mofes the mediator. Thus he re-
moved his tabernacle, and the like. The atonement of
Chrift ftands on the fame foundation as this : the fame view
is carried on, thro' all the divine dirpenfations. God does
things in fuch an honourable way, as may give his creatures
the higheft opinion of his purity and hoHnefs, that they
may not think light of fm, or of pardoning mercy.
5. It is defirable, wherever we go, to carry along with
us the tokens of the divine prefence, efpeclally when enter-
ing on new fettlements in life : our language fhould be that
of Mofes, V, 15. If thy prefence go not with us^ carry us not
up hence. The wildernefs was an uncomfortable fituation ;
and to have ftayed there would have been very unpleafant;
yet he had rather ftay there, with God's prefence, than
remove without it. God does not manifeil himfelf fo now ;
but ftill he has ways of manifefting himfelf to his church
and people. There is a fpeclal prefence of God with good
men; and that may be known, as his prefence formerly
was, by its figns and operations, in preparing and afTifting
men to holy adions, conforming them to holy habits, and
affording them ftrong confolations. It is, in one word, a
lively fenfe of religion upon the foul, promoted and main-
tained by the fpirit of God. Let us earneftly feek this •,
take pains to fecure it, by attending on religious ordinances,
praying for the fpirit, and the like. Let us begin every
day, and every adion, with thefe words of Mofes, Let the
beauty of the Lord our God he upon us -, and ejlabhfh thou the
work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands eflablifh
thou it.
4. The more we know of God the greater will be our
defire to know more of him : fo Mofes fays, 'z;. 18. I befeech
thee, fhow me thy glory. We fhall fee fuch excellencies and
beauties in him, and find fuch comfort and advantage to
ourfelves, that our defires will be fervent to know more of
God, and feel more of his love. Let us labour after this,
for then fhall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord,
5. The goodnefs of God is the moft illuftrious part of
the glory of the divine majefty : it renders all his other
attributes amiable, lovely, and defirable. Let us confider
E e 2 it
440 EXODUS. XXXIV.
it in this view, as a foundation of hope, as a ground of
admiration and cheerful confidence. We are taught what
is the glory of his rational creatures •, to be good, and to
do good. Benevolence renders us like God •, generofity,
kindtiefs, and charity, are the greateft glory of a moral agent,
better than wealth, honour, or any other accomplifhment.
Let us then be merciful^ as our father in heaven is merciful,
6. When we have the brighteft difcoveries of God's
prefence and glory here below, let us long for thofe more
perfed views of it, which are to be expeded when mortality
fliall be laid afide. ^'. 20. ^hou canft not fee my face j for there
fjjall no man fee me ^ and live. We cannot reft fatisfied with
what we fee and tafte here below •, we fhould indeed be
thankful for it, but be defirous of fomething better. God
could eafily overpower us with his glory •, but we are
earthen velTels, and he proportions his communications to
our capacities. But when mortality fhall be fwallowed up
of life, the people of God fhall be fo flrengthened, as to
take in the brighteft beams of his prefence •, and that,
which would now overwhelm them, fhall be an immortal
fource of life and vigour. We fhall fee Chrift, not thro'
the cloud, as Mofes did, but as he is. With God is the
fountain. of life \ in his light we fhall fee eternal light. Let us
long for that glorious day-, and fo improve our prefent
difcoveries, that we may be made meet for an inherit anct
aynong the faints in lights to behold Go d^ s face in right eoufnefsy
and to be fatisfiedzvith his likenefs.
CHAP. XXXIV.
Contains further proof of God's kindnefs to IfraeL Mofes returns
to the mount •, beholds the glory of God-, intercedes for the peo-
ple \ the covenant is renewed ; dire^ions are given about the
nature and manner of worfhip •, and Mofes returns to the
people with afplendid countenance,
1 A N D the Lord faid unto Mofes, Hew thee two
£\ tables of ftone like unto the firft : (God did this
before^ hut now Mofes is commanded to do it :) and I will
write
EXODUS. XXXIV. 441
write upon [thefe] tables the words that were in the firft
2 tables, which thou brakeft. And be ready in the morn-
ing, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai,
and prefent thyfelf there to me in the top of the, mount.
3 And no man fhall come up with thee, neither let any
man be feen throughout all the mount •, neither let the
4 flocks nor herds feed before that mount. And he hewed
two tables of ftone like unto the firft ^ and Mofes rofe
up early in the morning, and went up unto mount
Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in
his hand the two tables of ftone.
5 And the Lord defcended in the cloud ; that is, the
cloud which flood over the mountain co/me down and covered
it^ and Mofes entered into it •, and the Lord ftood with him
6 there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And
the Lord pafled by before him, and proclaimed his
name with an audible^ diftin£l voice ^ The Lord, The
Lord God, the felf-exiftent^ almighty Jehovah^ merciful
in pitying his people's afflictions and miferies, and gracious
in Jhowing favour to the miworthy^ long-fuffering, bearing
long with their provocations^ and abundant in goodnefs
and truth, whofe bounty is large, extenjive, and confiant^
7 and fo is his truth and fidelity to all his promifes\ Keeping
mercy for thoufands of generations, forgiving iniquity
and tranfgreftion and fin, all kinds and degrees of fin, and
that will by no means clear [the guilty,] but awfully and
feverely punifh them •, vifiting the iniquity of the fathers
upon the children, and upon the children's children,
unto the third and to the fourth [generation-,] particu-
larly the fin of idolatry, as forbidden in the fecond command--
ment, the fatal effeofs of which will extend to their children,
if they continue to walk in their fathers' fieps,
% And Mofes made hafte, and bowed his head toward
the earth and worfhipped^ being greatly affe^ed, he
proflrated himfelf before God, with humble reverence and
holy joy \ andfeized this happy, favourable moment, to in-
9 ter cede for thisfinful people. And he faid. If now 1 have
found grace in thy fight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray
thee, go among us-, for it [is] a ftifFnecked people, and
need thine awful prefence to rule them-, or, tho^ they be afiiff-
E e J necked
442 EXODUS. XXXIV.
necked -people^ yet fioow them compajfion -, and pardon our
iniquity and our fin, and take us for thine inheritance.
10 And he faid, Behold, I make a covenant : before all
thy people I will do marvels, terrible things in thy fight ^
and efpecially in the fight of thine enemies^ fuch as have not
been done in all the earth, nor in any nation : and all
the people among which thou [art] fhall fee the work
of the Lord ; for it [is] a terrible thing that I will do
J I with thee, that is, hy thy hand. Obferve thou that which
I command thee this day : behold, I drive out before
thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite,
and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebulite.
12 Take heed to thyfelf, left thou make a covenant with
the inhabitants of the land whither thou goeft, left it
13 be for a fnare in the midft of thee : But ye fhall deftroy
their altars, break their images, and cut down their
groves, where they zvcrfloip their images, which were often
14 impure and polluted places: For thou fhalt worftiip no
other god: for the Lord, whofe name [is] Jealous,
[is] a jealous God, and will endure no rival or competitor:
J5 Left thou m.ake a covenant with the inhabitants of the
Jand, and they go a whoring after their gods, forfake
the Lord, and cleave unto idols, and do facrifice unto their
gods, and [one] call thee, and thou eat of his facrifice;
end fo partake with him in idolatrous worjhip, hecaufe fuch
feafts were a part of the worjhip offered to the idol-, ( t Cor.
16 X. 20.) And thou take of their daughters unto thy fons,
in marriage, and their daughters go a whoring after
their gods, and make thy fons go a v/horing after their
17 gods. Thou fhalt make thee no molten gods, 7wr
any other kind of idol.
iS The feaft of unleavened bread ihalt thou keep.
Szv^n days thou fhalt eat unleavened bread, as I com-
manded thee, in the time of the month Abib : for in
19 the month Abib thou cameft out from Egypt. All that
openeth the matrix [is] mine, that is, every firfi born ;
and every firftling among thy cattle, [whether] ox or
20 fheep, [that is male.] But the firftling of an afs thou
fhalt redeem Vv'ith a lamb : and if thou redeem [him J
not, then fhalt thou break his neck. All the firfl born
of
EXODUS. XXXIV. 41;;
of thy Tons thou fhalt redeem. And none fliall appear
before me empty. See chap, xxiii. i§]
tl Six days thou fhalt work, but on the feventh day
thou Ihalt reft : in earing time and in harvcft, i/i the
mofi hufy times of the year^ thou fhalt reft •, nnhing JJjall
excufe you from this,
22 And thou ftialt obferve the feaft of weeks, of the
firft fruits of wheat harveft, and the feaft of ingather-
ing at the year's end, that is, the feaft of Pentecofl an i
'Tabernacles,
23 Thrice in the year ftiall all your men children appear
before the Lord God, the God of Ifrael. And at that
24 time fear none of thine enemies^ For I will caft out the
nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders : neither
fhall any man defire thy land, when thou ihalt go up to
appear before the Lord thy God thrice In the year/
25 Thou fhalt not offer the blood of my facrifice with
leaven J neither fhall the facrifice of the feaft of the
26 pafTover be left unto the morning. The firft of the firft
fruits of thy land thou fhalt bring unto the houfe of
the Lord thy God. Thou fhalt not feethe a kid in his
mother's milk. See chap, xxiii. 19. Tieut. xiv. 21.
27 And the Lord faid unto Mofes, Write thou thefe
words in the hook of the law : for after the tenor of thefe
words I have made a covenant with thee and with
28 Ifrael. And he was there with the Lord forty days
and forty nights, (befides thofe^ chap, xxiv. 18.) he did
neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he, that is,
God^ wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant,
the ten commandments.
29 And it came to pafs, when Mofes cam.e down from
mount Sinai with the two tables of teftimony in Mofes'
hand, when he came down from the mount, that
Mofes wift not that the fkin of his face (hone while he
30 talked with him.^ And when Aaron and all the child-
E e 4 reu
^ This was exadly fulfilled ; it was a remarkable circumftance,
and a glorious atteftation of the truth of the Mofaic religion.
* This was an evident token of his converfing with God ; he
had feen a brighter glory than before, and his face flill reflefled
fome
444 EXODUS. XXXIV.
ren of Ifrael faw Mofes, behold, the fkin of his face
3 1 fhone ; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And
Mofes called unto them •, and Aaron and all the rulers
of the congregation returned unto him : and Mofes
32 talked with them. And afterward all the children of
Ifrael came nigh : aha he gave them in commandment
all that the Lop d had fpoken with him in mount Sinai,
33 And [till] Mofes had done fpeaking with them, he put
34 a vail on his face. But when Mofes went in before the
Lord to fpeak with him, he took the vail off, until he
came out. And he came out, and fpake unto the child-
35 ren of Ifrael [that] which he was commanded. And
the children of ifrael faw the face of Mofes, that the.
fkin of Mofes' face fhone : and Mofes put the vail up-
on^his face again, until he went in to fpeak with him.
• REFLECTIONS.
I. T ET us remember and meditate upon this awful,
I J this delightful name of God •, confider it at large;
he is pitiful, compafTionate as a father, kind and generous,
univerfally benevolent, abundant in goodnefs and truth. How
proper an objed for cur love, and truft, and confidence !
Let us fear the Lord and his goodnefs •, and endeavour in all
things to be like him, to be ferfe^l^ as our Father in heaven
is perfe5f,
2. Thofe who are favoured with views of the divine
glory, fhould improve thofe precious moments : fo Mofes
fell down, and interceded for ifrael. When we have clear
and raifed conceptions of God, when we find his attributes
pofieiiing and influencing our minds, and tafte and fee that
he is good ; then let us exercife humility, joy, and truft,
and plead for mercy for ourfelves and others. The more
we fee of God's goodnefs, the more humble, ferious, and
devout it fhould make us -, and the more folicitous to ex-
prefs our good wifhes for all our fellow-creatures.
3- Let us attend to the demands of God's covenant, if
we
fome of the rays of the Shekinah which had fallen upon himo
This was defigned to do honour to Mofes, and fecure a greater
regard to the law, which was now renewed.
EXODUS. XXXIV. 445
we defire to enjoy the blefTings of it. Behold^ I make a
covenant •, Ohferve thou that which I command thee. We fhould
always remember what God requires of us •, how reafonable
his demands are, and cheerfully comply with them. To
exped: the bleffing without fuch a com.pliance, is aiFront-
ing to God, and deceiving ourfeives,
4. Let us refled on the obfcurity of the Mofaic difpen-
fation, as intimated by the vail on Mofes' face. See 2 Cor.
iii. 13, &c. where Paul fo explains this by way of allufion.
The Jews did not then underftand the Spiritual meanincr
and defign of the law ; and there is ftill a vail on their hearts ;
but when they are converted it fhall be taken away. But
we all^ with unvailed faces, behold^ by refledion, the glory of
the Lord., and are changed into his image ^ by the fpirit of the
Lord, The vail is now taken away -, life and immortality are
brought to light by the gofpel. Let us be thankful that we
are not under the law^ but under grace j and rightly employ
and improve our religious privileges.
5. Let us be careful that, in a fpiritual fenfe, our faces
fliine by converfe with God. Wifdorn^ fays Solomon, makes
a man's face to Jhine^ gives him an amiable, engaging
luilre j it commands efteem and regard. We fhould fhow
to the world that we have communion with God, by the
luftre of our piety and holinefs. Converfe with him fhould
quicken us to a temper and conducl ornamental to religion.
Let your light then fo fhine before rnen^ that they^ feeing your
good works^ may glorify your Father which is in heaven.
CHAP. XXXV.
From this chapter to the tenth of Leviticus^ contains an account
of erecting the tabernacle., and confecrating Aaron and his fons
to the priefihood. Little is faid upon thefe things^ for the
reafons given at the beginning of the twenty fifth chapter,
1 AND Mofes gathered all the congregation of the
±\^ children of Ifrael together, and faid unto them,
Thefe [are] the words which the Lord hath command-
2 ed, that [ye] fhould do them. Six days fhall work be
done.
44^ EXODUS. XXXV.
done, but on the feventh day there ihall be to you an
holy day, a Tabbath of reft to the Lord : whofoever
3 doeth work therein fhall be put to death. Ye fhall
kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the
fabbath day, either to drefs food^ or for a?iy ixjorldly em^
floyynent.
4 And Mofes fpake unto all the congregation of the
children of Ifrael, faying. This [is] the thing which the
5 Lord commanded, faying, Take ye from among you
an offering unto the Lord : whofoever [is] of a willing
heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord \ gold,
6 and iilver, and brafs. And blue, and purple, and fcar-
7 let, and fine linen, and goats' [hair,] And rams' fkins
8 dyed red, and badgers' ikins, and {hittim wood. And oil
for the light, and fpices for anointing oil, and for the
9 fweet incenfe, And onyx ftones, and ftones to be fet for
10 the ephod, and for the breaftplate. And every wife heart-
ed among you, ihall come and make all that the Lord
1 1 hath commanded ; The tabernacle, his tent, and his
covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his
1 2 pillars, and his fockets. The ark and the ftaves there-
of, [with] the mercy feat, and the vail of the covering,
13 The table, and his ftaves, and all his veffels, and the
14 fhew bread, The candleftick alfo for the light, and his
furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,
15 And the incenfe altar, and his ftaves, and the anointing
oil, and the fweet incenfe, and the hanging for the door
16 at the entering in of the tabernacle. The altar of burnt
offering, with his brazen grate, his ftaves, and all his
17 veffels, the laver and his foot. The hangings of the
court, his pillars, and their fockets, and the hanging
1 8 for the door of the court. The pins of the tabernacle,
19 and the pins of the court, and their cords. The cloths
of fervice, to do fervice in the holy [place,] the holy
garments for Aaron the prieft, and the garments of
his fons, to minifter in the prieft's oftice.
20 And all the congregation of the children of Ifrael de-
2 I parted from the prefence of Mofes. And they came,
every one whofe heart ftirred him up, and every one
whom his fpirit made v^'illing, whofe judgment and under^
flanding
EXODUS. XXXV. 447
fianding in fuch kind of work inclined him to a willingnefs to
undertake it^ [and] they brought the Lord's offering to
the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for
22 all his fervice, and for the holy garments. And they
came, both men and women, as many as were willing
hearted, [and] brought bracelets, and ear rings, and
rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold : and every maa
that offered [offered] an offering of gold unto the Lord,
contributing thefe things now as willingly for the fervice of
the tabernacle^ as before toward making the golden calf,
23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple,
and fcarlet, and fine linen, and goats' [hair,] and red
fkins of rams, and badgers' fkins, brought [them.]
24 Every one that did offer an offering of filver and brafs
brought the Lord's offering: and every man, with
whom was found fhittim wood for any work of the fer-
25 vice, brought [it.] And all the women that were wife
hearted did fpin with their hands, and brought that
which they had fpun, [both] of blue, and of purple,
26 [and] of fcarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women
whofe heart ftirred them up in wifdom fpun goats' [hair.]
27 And the rulers brought onyx ftones, and ftones to be
28 fet, for the ephod, and for the breaftplate ; And fpice,
and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for
29 the fweet incenfe. The children of Ifrael brought a
willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman,
whofe heart made them willing to bring for all manner
of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made
by the hand of Mofes.
30 And Mofes faid unto the children of Ifrael, See, the
Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the fon of Uri,
3 1 the fon of Hur, of the tribe of Judah *, And he hath
filled him with the Spirit of God, in wifdom, in under-
ftanding and in knowledge, and in all manner of work-
32 manfhip ♦, And to devife curious works, to work in gold,
33 and in filver, and in brafs. And in the cutting of ftones,
to fet [them,] and in carving of wood, to make any
34 manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart
that he may teach, [both] he, and Aholiab, the fon of
^^ Ahifamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled
with
448 EXODUS. XXXV L
with wifdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of
the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the
embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in fcarlet, and in
£ne linen, and of the weaver, [even] of them that do
any work, and of thofe that devife cunning work.
G H A P. XXXVI.
Contains an account of the offerings being delivered to the work-
men^ and the hberality of the people refirained.
1 ^"T^ HEN wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every
Jl^ wife hearted man, in whom the Lord put wif-
dom and underfianding to know how to work all man-
ner of work for the fervice of the fanduary, according
2 to all that the Lord had commanded. And Mofes
called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wife hearted
man, in whofe heart the Lord had put wifdom, [even]
every one whofe heart ftirred him up to come unto the
3 W'ork to do it : And they received of Mofes all the
offering, which the children of Ifrael had brought for
the work of the fervice of the fanduary, to make it
[withal.] And they brought yet unto him free offer-
ings every morning,
4 And all the wife men, that wrought all the work of
the fancluary, came every man from his v/ork which
5 they made •, And they fpake unto Mofes, faying. The
people bring much more than enough for the fervice of
6 the work, which the Lord commanded to make. And
Mofes gave commandment, and they caufed it to be
proclaimed throughout the camp, faying, Let neither
man nor woman make any more work for the offering
of the fandtuary. So the people were refirained from
7 bringing. P'or the fluff they had was fuflicient for all
the work to make it, and too much.
8 And every wife hearted man among them that
wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains
[of J fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and fcar-
let : [with] cherubims of cunning work made he them.
9 The
EXODUS. XXXVI. 449
9 The length of one curtain [was] twenty and eight cu-
bits, feventeen yards and fwo inches^ and the breadth of
one curtain four cubits : the curtains [were] all of one
10 fize. And he coupled the five curtains one unto an-
other: and [the other] five curtains he coupled one un-
1 1 to another. And he made loops of blue on the edge
of one curtain from the felvedge in the coupling: like-
wife he made in the uttermofl fide of [another] curtain,
12 in the coupling of the fecond. Fifty loops made he in
one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the
curtain which [was] in the coupling of the fecond : the
13 loops held one [curtain] to another. And he made fifty
taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto an-
other with the taches : fo it became one tabernacle.
14 And he made curtains [of] goats' [hair] for the
tent over the tabernacle : eleven curtains he made them.
15 The length of one curtain [was] tliirty cubits, eighteen
yards and a quarter^ and four cubits [was] the breadth
of one curtain ; the eleven curtains [were] of one fize.
16 And he coupled five curtains by themfelves, and fix
17 curtains by themfelves. And he made fifty loops upon
the uttermofl edge of the curtain in the coupling, and
fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which
18 coupleth the fecond. And he made fifty taches [of]
brafs to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
19 And he made a covering for the tent [of] rams*
fklns dyed red, and a covering [of] badgers' fkins
above [that.]
20 And he made boards for the tabernacle [of] fiilttim
21 wood, flanding up on their ends. The length of a
board [was] ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one
22 cubit and a half. One board had two tenons, equally
diflant one from another : thus did he make for all the
23 boards of the tabernacle. And he made boards for the
tabernacle ; twenty boards for the fouth fide, fouthward :
24 And forty fockets of filver he made under the twenty
boards •, two fockets under one board for his two tenons,
and two fockets under another board for his two tenons.
25 And for the other fide of the tabernacle, [which is] to-
, 26 ward the north corner, he made twenty boards, And
their
450 EXODUS. XXXVII.
their forty fockets of filver •, two fockets under one
27 board, and two fockets under another board. And for
the fides of the tabernacle weftward he made fix boards,
28 And two boards made he for the corners of the taber-
29 nacle in the two fides. And they were coupled be-
neath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to
one ring : thus he did to both of them in both the corr
30 ners. And there were eight boards-, and their fockets
[were] fixteen fockets of filver, under every board two
fockets.
31 And he made bars of fhittim wood-, five for the
32 boards of the one fide of the tabernacle, And five bars
for the boards of the other fide of the tabernacle, and
five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the fides
33 weft ward. And he made the middle bar to fiioot
through the boards from the one end to the other.
34 And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their
rings [of] gold [to be] places for the bars, and over-
laid the bars with gold.
2S And he made a vail/^r the moft holy place ^ [of] blue,
and purple, and fcarlet, and fine twined linen : [with]
36 cherubims made he it of cunning work. And he made
therei nto four pillars [of] fiiittini [wood,] and overlaid
them with gold : their hooks [were of] gold; and he
caft for them four fockets of filver.
3^^ And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door,
which divided the holy place from the courts [of] blue, and
purple, and fcarlet, and fine twined linen, of needle
^^ work-, And the five pillars of it with their hooks : and
he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold :
but their five fockets [were of] brafs.
CHAP. XXX VII.
Contains a defcription of the ark i of the mercy feat and the cheru-
bims -, the table ; the candlefiick \ and the altar of incenfe.
I AND Bezaleel made the ark [of] ihittim wood:
±\^ two cubits and a half [was] the length of it, and
a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a
half
EXODUS. XXXVII. 4^1
2 half the height of it : And he overlaid It with pure gold
within and without, and made a crowa of gold to it
3 roundabout. And he caft for it four rings of gold, [to
be fet] by the four corners of It; even two rings upon
the one fide of it, and two rings upon the other fide of
4 it. And he made ftaves [of] fhittim wood, andover-
5 laid them with gold. And he put the ftaves into the
rings by the fides of the ark, to bear the ark.
6 And he made the mercy feat [of] pure gold : two
cubits and a half [was] the length thereof, and one cu-
7 bit and a half the breadth thereof. And he made two
cherubims [of] gold, beaten out of one piece made he
S them, on the two ends of the mercy feat -, One cherub
on the end on this fide, and another cherub on the
[other] end on that fide : out of the mercy feat made
9 he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the
cherubims fpread out [their] wings on high, [and] co-
vered with their wings over the mercy feat, with their
faces one to another -, [even] to the mercy feat- ward
were the faces of the cherubims.
10 And he made the table [of] fhittim wood ; two cu-
bits [was] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth
1 1 thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof: And
he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a
1 2 crown of gold round about. AKo he made thereunto a
border of an hand breadth round about ; and made a
13 crown of gold for the border thereof round about. And
he caft for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon
the four corners that [were] in the four feet thereof.
14 Overagainft the border were the rings, the places for
15 the ftaves to bear the table. And he made the ftaves
[of] fhittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to
16 bear the table. And he made the vefTels which [were]
upon the table, his difhes, and his fpoons, and his
bowls, and his covers to cover withal, [of] pure gold.
17 And he made the candleftick [of] pure gold : of
beaten work made he the candleftick ; his fhaft, and his
branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of
18 the fame : And fix branches going out of the fides
thereof J three branches of the candleftick out of the
one
45ft EXODUS. XXXVIII.
one fide thereof, and three branches of the candleftrck
19 out of the other fide thereof: Three bowls made after
the fafhion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a
flower ; and three bowls made like almonds in another
branch, a knop and a flower : fo throughout the fix
20 branches going out of the candleftick. And in the can-
dleftick [were] four bows made like almonds, his knops,
2 r and his flowers : And a knop under two branches of the
fame, and a knop under two branches of the fame, and a
knop under two branches of the fame, according to the
22 fix branches going out of it. Their knops and their
branches were of the fame : all of it [was] one beaten
23 work [of] pure gold. And he made his feven lamps,
and his fnuffers, and his fnuif difhes, [of] pure gold.
24 [Of] a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the
vefTels thereof.
25 And he made the incenfe altar [of] fhittim wood;
the length of it [vv^as] a cubit, and the breadth of it a
cubit; [it was] fourfquare ; and two cubits [was] the
46 height of it; the horns thereof were of the fame. And
he overlaid it with pure gold, [both] the top of it, and
the fides thereof round about, and the horns of it : alfo
27 he made unto it a crown of gold round about. And
he made two rings of gold for it under the crown there-
of, by the two corners of it, upon the two fides there-
28 of, to be places for the flaves to bear it withal. And
he made the {laves [of] fhittim wood, and overlaid
them with gold.
29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure
incenfe of fweet fpices, according to the work of the
apothecary.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Contains an account of the altar of burnt offering ; the laver of
brafs', the court -^ and the fum of the offering,
I yi ND he made the altar of burnt offering [of] ihit-
jf\^ tim wood : five cubits [was] the length thereof,
and five cubits the breadth thereof-, [it was] fourfquare ;
and
EXODUS. XXXVIII. 455
2 and three cubits the height thereof. And he made the
horns thereof on the four corners of it •, the horns there-
3 of were of the fame : and he overlaid it with brafs. And
he made all the vefTels of the altar, the pots, and the
ihovels, and the bafons, [and] the flefh hooks, and
the fire pans : all the veffels thereof made he [of] brafs.
4 And he made for the altar a brazen grate of net work
under the compafs thereof beneath unto the midft of
5 it. And he caft four rings for the four ends of the grate
6 of brafs, [to be] places for the ftaves. And he made
. the flaves [of] fhittim wood, and overlaid them with
7 brafs. And he put the flaves into the rings on the fides
of the altar, to bear it withal ; he made the altar hol-
ow with boards.
8 And he made the laver [of] brafs, and the foot of
it [of] brafs, of the looking glafTes of [the women]
{which were all made of polijhed brafs) afiembll ng, which
afTembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congre-
gation.
9 And he made the court : on the fouth fide fouthward
the hangings of the court [were of] fine twined linen,
10 an hundred cubits, about ftxty one yards : Their pillars
[were] twenty, and their brazen fockets twenty, the
hooks of the pillars and their fillets [were of] filver.
1 1 And for the north fide [the hangings were] an hundred
cubits, their pillars [were] -twenty, and their fockets of
brafs twenty -, the hooks of the pillars and their fillets
12 [of J filver. And for the weft fide [were] hangings of
fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their fockets ten ; the
13 hooks of the pillars and their fillets [of] filver. And
14 for the eaft fide eaftward fifty cubits. The hangings of
the one fide [of the gate were] fifteen cubits; their-pil-
15 lars three, and their fockets three. And for the other
fide of the court gate, on this hand and that hand,
[were] hangings of fifteen cubits -, their pillars three,
t6 and their fockets three. All the hangings of the court
17 rojind about [were] of fine twined linen. And the
fockets for the pillars [were of] brafs-, the hooks of the
pillars and their fillets [of] filver ; and the overlay-
VoL. L F f inff
454 EXODUS. XXXVIII.
ing of their chapiters [of] filver •, and all the pillars of
the court [were] filleted with filver.
i8 And the hanging for the gate of the court [was]
needle work, [of] blue, and purple, and fcarlet, and
ftne twined linen : and twenty cubits [was] the length,
and the height in the breadth [was] five cubits, anfwer-
19 able to the hangings of the court. And their pillars
[were] four, and their fockets [of] brafs four •, their
hooks [of] filver, and the overlaying of their chapi-
20 ters and their fillets [of] filver. And all the pins of
the tabernacle, and of thee ourt round about, [were
of] brafs.
'2 1 This is the funi of the tabernacle," [even] of the
tabernacle of teftimony, as it was counted, according
to the commandment of Mofes, [for] the ferviceof the
Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, fon to Aaron the
22 prieft. And Bezaleel the fon of Uri, the fon of Hur,
of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord com-
23 manded Mofes. And with him [was] Aholiab, fon of
Ahifamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a
cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in
24 purple, and in fcarlet, and in fine linen. All the gold
that was occupied for the work in all the work of the
holy [place,] even the gold of the offering, was twenty
and nine talents, and feven hundred and thirty fhekels,
25 after the fhekel of the fanduary." And the filver of
them that were numbered of the congregation [was]
an hundred talents, and a thoufand feven hundred and
threefcore and fifteen fhekels, after the fhekel of the
26 fancftuary : '' A bekah for every man, [that is,] half a
fhekel, after the fhekel of the fandluary, for every one
that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and
upward, for fix hundred thoufand and three thoufand
and
" The particulars of the tabernacle and the holy things belong-
ing to it ; which were taken, as it were in an inventory, by
Ithamar at the commandment of Mofes, and delivered into the
cuftody of the Levites, that nothing might be loft.
® Which amounted to one hundred fifty nine thoufand one
hundred and feven pounds, five (hillings of our money.
P That is, thirty four thoufand four hundred twenty one pounds,
four (hillings, and two pence halfpenny.
EXODUS. XXXIX. 455
27 and five hundred and fifty [men.] And of the hundred
talents of filver, were caft the fockets of the fancftuary,
and the fockets of the vail ; an hundred fockets of the
28 hundred talents, a talent for a focket. And of the
thoufand {Qven hundred feventy and five [fhekels] he
made hooks for the pillars and overlaid their chapiters,
29 and filleted them. And the brafs of the offering [was]
feventy talents, and two thoufand and four hundred
30 ihekels.'^ And therewith he made the fockets to the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the
brazen altar, and the brazen grate for it, and all the
3 1 veflels of the altar, And the fockets of the court round
about, and the fockets of the court gate, and all the
pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court
round about.
CHAP. XXXIX.
Contains an account of the cloths of fervice ; the holy garments ;
the ep/iod ', the breafiplate \ and the robe of the ephod,
1 A N D of the blue, and purple, and fcarlet, they
j[\^ made cloths of fervice, to do fervice in the holy
[place,] and made the holy garments for Aaron; as
the Lord commanded Mofes.
2 And he made the ephod [of] gold, blue, and pur-
3 pie, and fcarlet, and fine twined linen. And they did
beat the gold into thin plates, and cut [it into] wires,
to work [it] in the blue, and in the purple, and in the
fcarlet, and in the fine linen, [with] cunning work.
4 They made Ihoulder pieces for it, to couple [it]
together : by the two edges was it coupled together.
5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that [was] upon
it, [was] of the fame, according to the work thereof;
[of] gold, blue, and purple, and fcarlet, and fine
6 twined linen *, as the Lord commanded Mofes, And
they wrought onyx ftones inclofed in ouches of gold,
F f 2 graven
* Which is in weight fix thoufand fix hundred thirty feven
pounds and a half, avoirdupois.
456 EXODUS. XXXDt. ';
graven, as fignets are graven, with the names of the i
7 children of Ifrael. And he put them on the fhoulders
of the ephod, [that they fhould be] ftones for a •
memorial to the children of Ifrael ; as the Lord com- ^
manded iVIofes, )
8 And he made the brsaftpiate [of] cunning work, 1
like the v/ork of the ephod ; [of] gold, blue, and pur- -;^
9 pie, and fcarlet, and line twined linen. It was four- i
ft|uare •, they made the breauplate double : a fpan [was] 'J
the length thereof, and a fpan the breadth thereof, \
10 [being] doubled. And they fet in it four rows of'
ftones : [the firft] row [was] a fardius, a topaz, and a j
1 1 carbuncle : this [was] the firft row. And the fecond ';
12 row, an emerald, a fapphire, and a diamond. And the \
13 third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyft. And J
the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jafper : [they j
14 were] inclofed in ouches of gold in their inclofings. And ]
the ftones [were] according to the names of the child- '
ren of Ifrael, twelve, according to their names, [like] :
the engravings of a fignet, every one with his name, i
1 5 according to the twelve tribes. And they made upon ]
the breaftplate chains at the ends, [of] wreathen work :
16 [of] pure gold. And they made two ouches [of]|
gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings in
17 the two ends of the breaftplate. And they put the two i
wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of]
18 the breaftplate. And the two ends of the two wreathen |
chains they faftened in the two ouches, and put them "
19 on the Ihoulder pieces of the ephod, before it. And j
they made two rings of gold, and put [them] on the|
two ends of the breaftplate, upon the border of it, which \
20 [was] on the fide of the ephod inward. And they madei
' two [other] golden rings, and put them on the two fides i
of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it,!
overagainft the [other] coupling thereof, above the,
21 curious girdle of the ephod. And they did bind the^
breaftplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephodj
with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious J
girdle of the ephod, and that the breaftplate might not i
be;
EXODUS. XXXIX. 457
be loofed from the ephod , as the Lord commanded
Moles.
zi And he made the robe of the ephod [of] woven
23 work, all [of] blue. And [there was] an ho!e in the
midrt of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, [with]
a band round about the hole, that it fhouid not rend,
24 And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates
[of] blue, and purple, andfcariet, [and] twined [linen.]
25 And they made bells [of] pure gold, and put the bells
between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe,
26 round about between the pomegranates •, A bell and a
pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about
the hem of the robe to miniller [in,] as the Lord
commanded Mofes.
27 And they made coats [of] fine linen [of] v/oven
28 work for Aaron and for his fons, And a mitre [of]
fine linen, and goodly bonnets [of] fine linen, and
29 linen breeches [of] fine twined linen. And a girdle
[of] fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and fear-
let, [of] needle work ; as the Lord commanded Mofes.'
30 And they made the plate of the holy crown [of] pure
gold, and wrote upon it a writing, [like to] the en-
gravings of a fignet, HOLINESS TO THE
31 LORD. And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to
faften [it] on high upon the mitre ^ as the Lord com-
manded Mofes.
32 Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of
the congregation finifhed : and the children of Ifraei did
according to all that the Lord commanded Mofes, fo
Q^^ did they. And they brought the tabernacle unto Mofes,
the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards,
34. his bars, and his pillars, and his fockets, And the
covering of rams' fkins dyed red, and the covering of
2S badgers' fkins, and the vail of the covering. The ark
of the teftimony, and the ftaves thereof, and the mercy
36 feat. The table, [and] all the vefiels thereof, and the
'^y (hew bread, The pure candleitick, [with] the lamps
thereof, [even v/ith] the lamps to be fet in order, and
38 all the vefiels thereof, and the oil for light. And th^
golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the fweet in-
F f 3 cenfe.
458 EXODUS. XL.
39 cenfe, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, The;
brazen altar, and his grate of brafs, his iiaves, and all
40 his vefTels, the laver and his foot. The hangings of the;
court, his pillars, and his fockets, and the hanging ;
for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all thel
ve/Iels of the fervice of the tabernacle, for the tenr oif
41 the congregation. The cloths of fervice to do fervice in
the holy [place,] and the holy garments for Aaron the
priefl, and his fbns' garments, to minifter in the prielt's
42 office. According to all that the Lord commanded
Mofes, fo the children of Ifrael made all the work,
43 And Mofes did look upon all the work, and, behold,
they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even iq
had they done it : and Mofes bleffed tliem : as God^s.
minijter^ he pronounced a hkjjing in his name^ bath ci: ihe
people^ for their liberal contributions^ and on the workmen^
for their care and indujlry.
CHAP. XL.
Contains (in account of the tabernacle being commanded to be
reared^ and anointed^ and Aaron and his fons to be fan5lified,
1 AND the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. On
2 ±\^ the firft day of the firft month fhalt thoufet up
3 the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And
thou {halt put therein the ark of the teftimony, and ;
cover the ark with the vail, hang the vail before the ark,
4 And thou fhalt bring in the table, and fet in order the
things that are to be' fet in order upon it, thejhew breads ■
and thou fhalt bring in the candleflick, and light the ,
5 lamps thereof And thou fhalt fet the altar of gold for j
theincenfe before the ark of the teflimony, and put the \
i> hanging of the door to the tabernacle. And thou fhalt \
fet the altar of the burnt offering before the door of 1
7 the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And 1
thou fhalt fet the laver between the tent of the congre- ;
8 gation and the altar, and fhalt put water therein. And ;
thou fhalt fet up the court round about, and hang up ']
the hanging at the court gate. 1
Q And !
E X O D U S. XL. 459
9 And thou fhalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the
tabernacle, and all that [is] therein, and fhalt hallow it,
10 and all the veflels thereof: and it fhall be holy. And
thou fhalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all
his veflels, and fandify the altar-, and it Ihall be an
1 1 altar moft holy. And thou fhalt anoint the laver and
his foot, and fandlify it.
12 And thou fhalt bring Aaron and his fons unto the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wafh
13 them with water. And thou fhalt put upon Aaron the
holy garments, and anoint him, and fandify him •, that
14 he may minifter unto me in the prieft's office. And
thou fhalt bring his fons, and clothe them with coats :
15 And thou fhalt anoint them, as thou didft anoint their
father, that they may minifter unto me in the priefl's
o-fhce : for their anointing fhall furely be an everlafling
priefthood throughout their generations/
16 Thus did Mofes : according to all that the Lord
17 commanded him, fo did he. And it came to pafs in
the firfl month in the fecond year, on the firil [day]
18 of the month, [that] the tabernacle was reared up. And
Mofes reared up the tabernacle, and fafbened his fock-
ets, and fet up the boards thereof, and put in the bars
19 thereof, and reared up his pillars. And he fpread
abroad the tent over the tabernacle, the cw tains of goats*
hair^ and put the covering of the tent above upon it,
both that of rams' Jkins^ and badgers^ Jkins -, as the Lord
20 commanded Mofes. And he took and put the teilimony
into the ark, and fet the flaves on the ark, and puf the
2 1 mercy feat above upon the ark : And he brought the
ark into the tabernacle, and fet up the vail of the co-
vering, and covered the ark of the teflimony \ as the
22 Lord commanded Mofes. And he put the table in
the tent of the congregation, upon the fide of thetaber-
23 nacle northward, without the vail. And he fet the
bread in order upon it before the Lord •, as the Lord
F f 4 had
*■ A fign or feal that their priefthood (hould continue as long as
their polity lliould lalt; and this undion fliould be fufficient for
all fucceeding priefts, that they fhould not need to be anointed
again, except the high prieit.
46o EXODUS. XL.
24 had commanded Mofes. And he put the candleftick in
the tent of the congregation, overagainft the table, on
25 the fide of the tabernacle fouthward. And he lighted
the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded
26 Mofes. And he put the golden altar in the tent of the
27 congregation, before the vail : And he burnt fweet in-
28 cenfe thereon •, as the Lord commanded Mofes. And he
29 fet up the hanging [at] the door of the tabernacle. And
he put the altar of burnt offering [by] the door of the
tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered
upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering -, as
30 the Lord commanded Mofes. And he fet the laver
between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and
3 1 put v/ater there, to wafli [withal.] And Mofes and Aaron
and his fons waflied their hands and their feet thereat :
32 When they went into the tent of the congregatiow, and
when they came near unto the altar, they wafned -, as
33 the Lord commanded Mofes. And he reared up the
court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and
fet up the hanging of the court gate. So Mofes hnifhed
the work.
34 Then a cloud covered the tent bf the congregation ;
that cloud mentioned in ch. xiii. 21, 22. miracidoufiy removed
kither^ as a teflhnony of God's prefence arid approbation ;
and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, whereby
God took pGjJ'eJjion of tt^ .{fee ch. x:cv, H^ i Jiings viii. 10,
'^^ 12. Ez.ek. xliii. 4, 5, 7. and Rev. xxi. xi.^ And Mofes
was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation,
becaufe the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the
36 Lord filled taQ tabernacle. And when the cloud was
taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of If-
37 rael went onward in all their journeys : But if the cloud
were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day
38 that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord [was J
upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night,
in the light of all the houfe of Ifr^iel, throughout all
their journeys.
The
The Third Book of MOSES, called,
LEVITICUS.
INTRODUCTION.
. ^T^HIS Book being chiefly employed in defcribing the facrifices
-^ midfervices of the tabernacle^ to be performed by Aaron
//^^Levite, as he is called^ Exod. iv. 14, and by his fons^ wh9
cdone had the office of priefthood^ in the tribe of Levi, it is
therefore termed^ both by the . Greek and Latin translators^
Leviticus : and that part of the Jewifh religion which is
ceremonial^ i^ fitly denominated the Levitical Law.-f-
CHAPTER L
Contains an account of the burnt offerings of the herd^ of tht
flocks^ and of the fowls,
I A ND the Lord called unto Mofes, and fpake
/\ unto him out of the tabernacle of the congre-
z J^ %. gation, faying, Speak unto the children of
Ifrael, and fay unto them, [{ any man of you bring an
offering unto the Lord, ye fhall bring your offering
of the cattle, [even] of the herd, and of the flock
3 If
f Tliefe ceremonial fervices are reducible to the following heads;
I. Sacrifices of feveral kinds. Thefe, tho' but external ordinan-
ces of Dofitive inftitution, yet had a relation to fpiritual worfliip,
and pointed out feveral moral duties ; while the whole was a
typical fcheme, and a fit introduction to the more perfed dif-
penfation of the Meffiah, by whom both they and we were ta
receive our full atonement and acceptance with God.
2 Purifications from various kinds of legal uncleannefs. Which
tho' they cannot be denied to have been a troublefome branch of
the Jewilh religion, and one of thofe circumftances which de-
nominated it an elementary piety, and a yoke which neither they
nor their fathers were ^veli able to bear, they were not how-
ever intended to terminate in mere ritual pbfervance, they were
moft
462 L E V I T I C U S. I.
3 If his offering [be] a burnt facrifice of the herd/ let
him offer a male without blemifh : he ihall offer it of
his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of
4 the congregation before the Lord. And he fhall put
his hand upon the head of the burnt offering ; and it
ihall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5 And he fhall kiil the bullock before the Lord, by the
hands
moft apt fignifrcations of inward and fubi^antial holinefs; fuch as
reverence towards God, and purity of hearc and life,
3. The folemn feltivals. The obfervance whereof was fo far
from being a needlefs inilitution, that they appear to have beeu
exceeding proper for preferving the whole nation in the praftice
of trugy and from the corruptions of faljs^ religion. They were
thankful commemorations of fignal national mercies, and by their
conftant attendance on thefe joyful foJemnities, at fo many ftated
times of the year, and at the one fixed place of national worlhip,
they went through thofe courfes of divine fervice, and fuch ads
of kindnefs, generofity, and charity to each other, as tended to
confirm them in the true religion, and in the love of that happy
conftitution.
As to the civil and judicial laws here prefcribed, they cannot
but feem, to any realonabJe man, to be far the bell body of
rules that are to be found on the records of any nation : as
making the furell: provifion for the honour of magiftracy and
government, and for fecuring the rights and properties of the
people, and not only fo, but for advancing that benevolence and
mutual love, as well as common juitice to each other, which are
the ftrongell cements of fociety.
The hiftorical parts of this Book are few, but very inftrudlive;
chiefly for creating in men a juft veneration for all perfons and
things confecrated to the fervice of God.
^ This introdudion, which is continued in the above note,
is taken from a Critical and Fradical Expofition of the Penta-
teuch, by Jameson; a work but little known, tho' exceeding
valuable. The Editor could eafily have enriched this volume with
a variety of ufeful and curious notes from this excellent writer,
but was fearful of fwelling the publication, and defeating the end
defigned, which was a Short and Plain E^^pofitipn for the ufe of
Families.
* There were five forts of facrifices ; burnt offerings, ch, i. meat
offerings, ch. 2. peace offerings, ch 3. fm offerings, ch. 4. and
trefpafs offerings, ch. v. 15. &c. The burnt offering was the firfl
and principal, wherewith God was ferved every day by the child-
ren of Ifrael, (Num. xxviii. 3.) fo called, becaufe it \yas all
burnt, 'V, 8, 9, 13. except the ikin, (ch, vii. y.) whereas of all
other facrifices only part was burnt.
LEVITICUS. I. 463
hands of the priejis or Levites ; and the priefts, Aaron's
fons, ihall bring the blood, and fprinkle the blood round
about upon the altar that [is by] the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation.
6 And he fhail flay the burnt offering, and cut it into
7 his pieces. And the fons of Aaron the prieft fhall put
iire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the
8 fire. And the priefts, Aaron's fons, fhall lay the parts,
the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that [is]
9 on the fire which [is] upon the altar. But his inwards
and his legs fhall he wafh in water : and the prieft fhall
burn all on the altar, [to be] a burnt facrifice, an offer-
ing made by fire, of a fweet favour unto the Lord.
10 And if his offering [be] of the flocks, [namely,] of
thg fheep, or of the goats, for a burnt facrifice ; he
11 fhall bring it a male without blemlfh. And he fhall
kill it on the fide of the altar northward before the
Lord: and the priefls, Aaron's fons, fhall fprinkle his
i 2 blood round about upon the altar : And he ihall cut it
into his pieces, with his head and his fat : and the prieft
fhall lay them in order on the wood that [is] on the fire
13 which [is] upon the altar: But he fhall waih the in-
wards and the legs with water : and the prieft fhall
bring [it] all, and burn [it] upon the altar : it [is] a
burnt facrifice, an offering made by fire, of a fweet
favour unto the Lord.
14 And if the burnt facrifice for his offering to the
Lord [be] of fowls, then he fhall bring his offering of
15 turtledoves, or of young pigeons. And the prieft fhall
bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and
burn [it] on the altar •, and the blood thereof ihall be
16 wrung out at the fide of the altar : And he fhall pluck
away his crop with his feathers, and caft it befide the
17 altar on the eaft part, by the place of the afhes : And
he fhall cleave it with the wings thereof, [but] fhall
not divide [it] afunder : and the prieft fhall burn it up-
on the altar, upon the wood that [is] upon the fire : it
[is] a burnt facrifice, an offering made by fire, of a
fweet favour unto the Lord.
CHAP*
464 LEVITICUS. II.
CHAP. II.
Contains an account of the meat o^ering of flour with oil and
incenfe -, of the firfi fruits in the ear -, and the fait of the
■meat o^ering,
1 AND when any will offer a meat offering unto the
Jf\, Lord, a difiin^ offering of it f elf ^ and not joined
with others^ as fome meat offerings were^ (Num. xv. 4.)
his offering fhall be [of] fnie ilour •, and he fhall pour
2 oil upon it, and put frankincenfe thereon : And he
ihall bring it to Aaron's ions, the priefts : and he, the
priefl to whom he brings //, iliall take thereout his hand-
ful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all
the frankincenfe thereof-, and the prieft fhall burn the
memorial of it upon the altar, [to be] an offering made
3 by fire, of a fweet favour unto the Lord : And the
. remnant of the meat offering [ihall be] Aaron's and his
fons, for their maintenance^ (Num. xviii. 9, 10.) to be
eaten in the fanUuary^ (ch, vi, 16.) [it is] a thing moft
holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire.
4 And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering
baken in the oven, [it fhall be] unleavened eakes of
fine fiour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anoint-
ed with oil.
5 And if thy oblation [be] a meatoffering [baken] in
a pan, it fhall be [of] fine flour unleavened, mingled
6 with oil. Thou (halt part it in pieces, and pour oil
thereon : it [is] a meat offering.
7 And if thy oblation [be] a meat offering [baken] in
the frying pan, it fiiall be made [of] fine fiour with oil.
8 And thou fhalt bring the meat offering that is made of
thefe things unto the Lord : and when it is prefented
^ unto the prieil, he fhall bring it unto the altar. And
the prieft ihall take from the meat offering a memorial
thereof, and iliall burn [it] upon the altar: [it is] an
offering made by fire, of a fweet favour unto the Lord.
10 And that which is left of the meat offering [fhall be]
Aaron's and his fons' : [it is] a thing moft holy of the
offerings of the Lord made by fire.
II No
LEVITICUS. III. 4%
11 No meat offering, which ye fhall bring unto the
Lord, "jjIucH is offered of free wilU fhall be made with
leaven-, (in other offerings it might be ufedy ch, vii. 13.
xxiii. 17.) for ye fhall burn no leaven, nor any honey,
in any offering of the Lord made by fire.
12 As for the oblation of the firu fruits, ye fhall offer
them unto the Lord : but they ihail not be burnt on
the altar for a fweet favour.
13 And every oblation of thy meat offering flialt thou
feafoa with fait; neither flialt thou fuifer the flilt of the
covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat
offering : with all thine offerings thou fnalt offer fcilt.
14 And if thou offer a meat ottering of thy firft fruits
unto the Lord, a free will offermg^ befides ivhat zvas en-
joined^ ch xxii. 29. thou ilialt offer for the meat offering
of thy fir ft fruits, green ears of corn dried by the fire>
1 5 [even] corn beaten out of full ears. And thou fhalt put
oil upon it, and lay frankincenfe thereon : it [is] a meat
16 offering. And the prieft lliall burn the memorial o{ it,
[part] of the beaten corn thereof, and [part] of the oil
thereof, with all the frankincenfe thereof: [it is] an
offering made by fire uiito the Lord,
CHAP. III.
Cent aim an account oj the peace offering of the herd^ and of the
flocL
1 /^ N D if his oblation [be] a facrifice of peace offer-
±\^ ing,^ if he offer [it] of the herd; whether [it be]
a male or female, he fhall offer it without blemifh before
2 the Lord. And he fhall lay his hand upon the head of
his offering, and kill it [at] the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation : the burnt offering was killed near the
dtar^ (ch. i. 11.) but this was not fo holy^ part of itbiing
eaten
^ Thefe were offered either to obtain Tome biefiing which they
wanted, or by way of thankfgiving for fome mercy received; and
fometimes when men in their troubles prayed to God for peace
and deliverance, fudges xx. 26. xxi. 4. i Ckron, xxi. 26.
466 LEVITICUS. IIL
eaten hy the offerer^ whereas the other was eaten by the priejls
only : and Aaron's fons, the priefls, Aiall fprinkle the
3 blood upon the altar round about. And he fhall offer
of the facrifice of the peace offering an offering made
by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the
inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards,
4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] on them,
which [is] by the flanks, and the caul above the
5 liver, with the kidneys, it fhall he take away. And
Aaron's fons fhall burn it on the altar upon the burnt
facrifice, which [is] upon the wood that [is] on the fire :
[it is] an offering made by fire, of a fweet favour unto
the Lord.
6 And if his offering for a facrifice of peace offering
unto the Lord [be] of the flock •, male or female, he
7 fliall offer it without blemifh. If he offer a lamb for
his offering, then fhall he offer it before the Lord.
8 And he fhall lay his hand upon the head of his offer-
ing, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congrega-
tion : and Aaron's fons fhall fprinkle the blood thereof
9 round about upon the altar. And he fhall offer of the
facrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire
unto the Lord •, the fat thereof, [and] the whole rump,
it fliall he take off' hard by the back bone ; and the fat
that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon
10 the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that
[is] upon them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul
above the liver, with the kidneys, it fhall he take away,
1 1 And the priefl: fhall burn it upon the altar : [it is] the
food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord, that
which the fire was to eat up and con fume,
12 And if his offering [be] a goat, then he fliall offer it
13 before the Lord. And he fliall lay his hand upon the
head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the con-
gregation : and the fons of Aaron fhall fprinkle the
14 blood thereof upon the altar round about. And he
fhall offer thereof his offering, [even] an offering made
by fire unto the Lord ; the fat that covereth the in-
15 wards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards. And
the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] upon them, which
[is]
LEVITICUS. IV. 467
[is] by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with
16 the kidneys, it Ihall he take away. And the prieft
fhall burn them upon the altar : [it is] the food of the
offering made by fire for a fweet favour : all the fat
[is] the Lord's, referved as God's portion to be burnt upon
the altar^ (ch. iv. . 8 — 10. xvii. 6. Beut. xxxii. 38. and
I Sam. ii. 15, 16.)
17 [It fhall be] a perpetual ftatute for your generations
throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat
nor blood.
CHAP. IV.
Contains an account of the fin offering of -ignorance^ for the
priejl^ the congregation^ the ruler ^ or for the people,
1 AND the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
2 Jf\^ unto the children of Ifrael, faying, If a foul fhall
fm through ignorance againft any of the commandments
of the Lord [concerning things] which ought not to
be done, and fhall do againft any of them :
3 If the prieft that is anointed do fm according to
the iin of the people -, then let him bring for his fin,
which he hath finned, a young bullock without blemifh
4 unto the Lord for a fin offering. And he fhall bring
the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the con-
gregation before the Lord \ and fhall lay his hand up-
on the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the
5 Lord. And the prieft that is anointed fhall take of
the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of
6 the congregation. And the prieft fhall dip his finger
in the blood, and fprinkle of the blood (zvtw times
before the Lord, before the vail of the fanduary,
7 And the prieft fiiall put [fome] of the blood upon the
horns of the altar of fweet incenfe before the Lord,
which [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation •, and
fhall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of
the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door
$ of the tabernacle of the cono-re^ation. And he fhall
take
468 LEVITICUS. IV.
take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the fm
offering ; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the
9 fat that [is] upon the inv/ards, And the two kidneys,
and the fat that [is] upon them, which [is] by the
flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys,
10 it fhall he take away, As it was taken off from the
bullock of the facrifice of peace offerings : and the pried
iliall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.
1 1 And the fkin of the bullock, and all his flefh, with his
head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his
12 dung, Even the whole bullock jfhall he carry forth
without the camp unto a clean place, where the afhes
are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire :
where the afhes are poured out fhall he be burnt.
13 And if the whole congregation of Ifrael lin through
ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the
affembly, (as in chap, v. 2, 3, 4.) and they have done
[fomewhat againft] any of the commandments of the
Lord [concerning things] which fhould not be done,
14 and are guilty : When the fin, which they have finned
againfl: it, is known, then the congregation fhall offer
a young bullock for the fin, and bring him before the
15 tabernacle of the congregation. And the elders of the
congregation fhall lay their hands upon the head of the
bullock before the Lord : and the bullock lliall be
16 killed before the Lord. And the priefc that is anoint-
ed fhall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle
17 of the congregation : And the priefc fhall dip his finger
[in fome] of the blood, and fprinkle [it] (tv^n times be-
18 fore the Lord, [even] before the vail. And he fhall put
[fome] of the blood upon the horns of the altar which
[is] before the Lord, that [is] in the tabernacle of the
congregation, and fhall pour out all the blood at the bot-
tom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the
io door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Andhefnall
take all his fat from him, and burn [it] upon the altar.
20 And he fliall do with the bullock as he did with the
bullock for a fin offering, fo (liali he do with this : and the
priefl fhall make an atonement for them, and it fhall be
2 1 forgiven them. And he fhall carry forth the bullock
without
L E V I T I C U S, IV; 469
without the camp, and bum him as he burned the firil
bullock : it [is] a iin oiFering for the congregation.
22 When a ruler hath finned, and done [fomewhat]
through ignorance [againft] any of the commandments
of the Lord his God [concerning things] which
23 fhould not be done, and is guilty ; Or if his fin, where-
in he hath (Inned, come to his knowledge ; he fhall
bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without
2 4. blemilh : And he fhall lay his hand upon the head of
the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the
burnt offering before the Lord : it [is] a lin offering.
25 And the prieft fhall take of the blood of the fin offering
with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the
altar of burnt offering, and fhall pour out his blood
26 at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. And he
fhall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the
facrifice of peace offerings : and the prieft fhall make
an atonement for him as concerning his fin, and it fhall
be forgiven him, as to all ecclejiajlkal cenfures^ or civil
punijbments,
27 And if any one of the common people fin through
ignorance, while he doeth [fomewhat againft] any of
the commandments of the Lord [concerning things]
28 which ought not to be done, and be guilty ; Or if his
fin, which he hath finned, come to his knowledge :
then he fhall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a
female without blemifh, for his fin which he hath fin-
29 ned. And he fhall lay his hand upon the head of the
fin offering, and flay the fin offering in the place of the
30 burnt offering. And the prieft fhall take of the blood
thereof with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of
the altar of burnt offering, and fhall pour out all the
3 £ blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. And he fhall
take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away
from off the facrifice of peace offerings ; and the prieft
fhall burn [it] upon the altar for a fweet favour unto
the Lord •, and the prieft fhall make an atonement for
32 him, and it fhall be forgiven him. And if he bring a
lamb for a fin offering, he fhall bring it a female with-
33 out blemifh. And he fhall lay his hand upon the head
Vol. L G g of
470 LEVITICUS. V.
the fin offering, and flay it for a fin offering in the
34 place where they kill the burnt offering. And the prieft
fhall take of the blood of the fin offering with his finger,
and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt of-
fering, and fhall pour out all the blood thereof at the
^^ bottom of the altar: And he fhall take away all the
fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from
the facrifice of the peace offerings -, and the priefl: fhall
burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings
made by fire unto the Lord : and the priefi: fhall make
an atonement for his fin that he hath committed, and
it fhall be forgiven him.
CHAP. V.
Of the trefpafs offering of one that finneth in concealing his know-
ledge i in touching an unclean thing •, or in making an oath \ of
the trefpafs offering in facrilege^ and in fins of ignorance,
1 A N D if a foul fin, and hear the voice of fwearing,
±\^ and [is] a witnefs, whether he hath feen or
known [of it ;] if he do not utter [it,] then he fhall
2 bear his iniquity. Or if a foul touch any unclean thing,
whether [it be] a carcafe of an unclean beafl:, or a car-
cafe of unclean cattle, or the carcafe of unclean creep-
ing things, and [if] it be hidden from him-, he alfo
3 , fhall be efleemed unclean, and ceremonially guilty. Or if
he touch the uncleannefs of man, whatfoever unclean-
nefs [it be] that a man fhall be defiled withal, and it be
hid from him *, when he knoweth [of it,] then he fhall
4 be guilty. Or if a foul fwear rafhly and unadvifedly^
pronouncing with [his] lips to do evil, or to do good,
whatfoever [it be] that a man fhall pronounce with an
oath, and it be hid from him, that what he fwear s to do
was or would he impoffihle or unlawful \ when he knoweth
[of it,] then he fhall be guilty in one of thefe, in fwear -
5 ing rafhly to do either good or evil And it fhall be, when
he fhall be guilty in one of thefe [things,] that he fhall
confefs before the Lord^ in the 'place of publick worfhip^
that
L E V I T I C U S. ¥• 471
6 that he hath finned in that [thing :] And he ihall bring
his trefpafs offering unto the Lord for his fin which
he hath finned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a
kid of the goats, for a fin offering ♦, and the priefl fhall
make an atonement for him concerning his fin.
7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he /hall
bring for his trefpafs, which he hath committed, two
turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord ;
one for a fin offering, and the other for a burnt offer-
8 ing. And he fhall bring them unto the priefl, who
fhall offer [that] which [is] for the fm offering firfl,
and wring off his head from his neck, but fhall not
9 divide [it] afunder : And he fhall fprinkle of the blood
of the fin offering upon the fide of the altar ; and the
refl of the blood fhall be wrung out at the bottom of the
10 altar : it [is] a fin offering. And he fhall offer the fe-
cond [for] a burnt offering, according to the manner :
and the prieft fhall make an atonement for him for his
fin which he hath finned, and it fhall be forgiven him.
1 1 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or
two young pigeons ; then he that finned fhall bring
for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour
for a fin offering ; he fhall put no oil upon it, neither
fhall he put [any] frankincenfe thereon : for it [is] a
1 2 lin offering. Then fhall he bring it to the priefl, and
the prieft fhall take his handful of it, [even] a me-
morial thereof, and burn [it] on the altar, according
to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord : it [is] a
13 fin offering. And the pried fhall make an atonement
for him as touching his fin that he hath finned* in one
of thefe, and it fhall be forgiven him : and [the rem-
nant] fhall be the priefl's, as a meat offering.
14^15 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. If a
foul commit a trefpafs, and fin through ignorance, in
the holy things of the Lord ^ then he fliall bring for
his trefpafs unto the Lord a ram without blemifh out
of the flocks, with thy eflimation by fhekels of filver,
after the fhekel of the fanduary, for a trefpafs offering;
16 And he fhall make amends for the harm that he hath
done in the holy thing, and fliall add the fifth part
G g 2 thereto,
472 L E V I T I C U S. VI.
thereto, and give it unto the prieft : and the prieft ihall
make an atonement for him with the ram of the trefpiifs
offering, and it fhall be forgiven him-.
17 And if a foul fin, and commit any of thefe things
which are forbidden to be done by the commandments
of the Lord y though he wift [it] not, yet is he guilty,
18 and fhall bear his iniquity. And he fhall bring a ram
without blemifh out of the flock, with thy eflimation,
for a trefpafs offering, unto the priefl : and the priefl
fhall make an atonement for him concerning his igno-
rance wherein he erred and wift [it] not, and it fhall be
19 forgiven him. It [is] a trefpafs offering : he hath cer-
tainly trefpaffed againft the Lord.
C H A P. VI. I
Of the trefpafs cfferhig for fins done knowhigly\ and the \
ofering at the confecration of a priefl. ]
1 A N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. If a \
2 jfx ^0"^ ^"5 ^"d commit a trefpafs againfl the Lord, \
and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered
him to keep, or in fellowfhip, or in a thing taken ;
3 away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour •, Or I
have found that which was lofl:, and lieth concerning it, ]
and fweareth falfely ; in any of all thefe that a man doeth, ;
4 finning therein ; Then fhall it be, becaufe he hath fin-
ned, and is guilty, that he fhall reftore that which he ;
took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceit- '{
fully gotten, or that which was delivered to him to keep, 1
5 or the loft thing which he found. Or all that about \
which he hath fworn falfely ; he fhall even reflore it in \
the principal, and fhall add the fifth part more thereto, :
[and] give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the \
day of his trefpafs offering, ^r, in the day of his being found ■
6 guilty. And he fhall bring his trefpafs offering unto \
the Lord, a ram without blemifh out of the flock, !
with thy eflimation, for a trefpafs offering, unto the ;
7 priefb: And the priefl fhall make an atonement for
him
LEVITICUS. VI. 473
him before the Lord: and It fhall be forgivqi him
for any thing of all that he hath done in trefpafling
therein.
8 9 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Com-
mand Aaron and his fons, faying, This [is] the law of
the burnt offering : It [is] the burnt offering, becaufe
of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morn-
ing, and the fire of the altar fhall be burning in it.
10 And the priefl fhall put on his linen garment, and his
linen breeches fhall he put upon his flefh, and take up
the afhes which the fire hath confumed with the burnt
offering on the altar, and he fhall put them befide the
11 altar. And he fhall put off his garments, and put on
other garments, and carry forth the afhes without the
12 camp unto a clean place. And the fire upon the altar
fhall be burning in it ♦, it fhall not be put out : and the
prieft fhall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the
burnt offering in order upon it -, and he fhall burn there-
13 on the fat of the peace offerings. The fire fhall ever
be burning upon the altar ; it fhall never go out.
14 And this [is] the law of the meat offering: the fons
of Aaron fhall offer it before the Lord, before the altar.
15 And he fhall take of It his handful, of the flour of the
meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frank-
incenfe which [is] upon the meat offering, and fhall
burn [it] upon the altar [for] a fweet favour, [even]
16 the memorial of it, unto the Lord. And the remainder
thereof fhall Aaron and his fons eat : with unleavened
bread fhall it be eaten in the holy place ; in the court
of the tabernacle of the congregation they fhall eat it,
17 It fhall not be baken with leaven. I have given it [unto
them for] their portion of my offerings made by fire ;
It [is] mofl holy, as [is] the fin offering, and as the
18 trefpafs offering. All the males among the children
of Aaron fhall eat of it. [It fhall be] a flatute for ever
In your generations concerning the offerings of the
Lord made by fire : every one that toucheth them fhall
be holy-y rather^ every things (v, 27, 28.) as knife ^ fpoo'n^
i^c, that touches them^ Jhall not he em-ployed in common
ufes.
G g 3 12 And
474 LEVITICUS. VII.
19 20 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, This
[is] the offering of Aaron and of his fons, which they
fhall offer unto the Lord in the day when he is anoint-
ed, as they come to be con fe crated high priefis fuccejfively -,
the tenth part of an ephah of fine ftour for a meat of-
fering perpetual, whenfoever any of them fmll be fo anoint-
ed^ half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
21 In a pan it fhall be made with oil-, [and when it is]
baken, thou fhalt bring it in : [and] the baken pieces of
the rneat offering fhalt thou offer [for] a fweet favour
22 unto the Lord. And the pried of his fons that is
anointed in his (lead fhall offer it : [it is] a f^atute for
23 ever unto the Lord •, it fhall be wholly burnt. For
every meat offering for the prieft fhall be wholly burnt :
it fhall not be eaten.
24 25 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak
unto Aaron and to his fons, faying. This [is] the law
of the fin offering : In the place where the burnt offer-
ing is killed fhall the fin offering be killed before the
26 Lord : it [is] moft holy. The prieft that offereth it
for fin fhall eat it: in the holy place fhall it be eaten, in
27 the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. What-
foever fhall touch the flefh thereof fhall be holy : and
when there is fprinkled of the blood thereof upon any
garment, thou fhalt wafh that v^hereon it was fprinkled
28 in the holy place. But the earthen veffel wherein it is
fodden fhall be broken : and if it be fodden in a brazen
29 pot, it Ihall be both fcoured, and rinfed in water. All
the males among the prieds fhall eat thereof: it [is]
30 mod holy. And no fin offering, whereof [any] of the
blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congrega«
tion to reconcile [withal] in the holy [place,] fhall be
eaten : it fhall be burnt in the fir^.
CHAP. VII.
Of the lavj of the trefpafs offerings and of the peace offerings \
th^ fat and the blood are forbidden to be eaten.
I LIKE-
LEVITICUS. VII. 475
1 T IKE WISE this [Is] the law of the trefpafs
2 JL^ offering : it [Is] moft holy. In the place where
they kill the burnt offering fhall they kill the trefpafs
offering : and the blood thereof fhall he fprinkle round
3 about upon the altar. And he fhall offer of it all the
fat thereof i the rump, and the fat that covereth the
4 inwards. And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is]
on them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul [that
is] above the liver, with the kidneys, it fhall he take
5 away : And the priell fhall burn them upon the altar
[for] an offering made by fire unto the Lord : it [is]
6 a trefpafs offering. Every male among the priefls
fliall eat thereof ^ it fhall be eaten in the holy place : it
7 [is] mofl holy. As the fin offering [Is,] fo [Is] the
trefpafs offering : [there is] one law for them : the prieft
8 that maketh atonement therewith fhall have [it.] And
the priefl that offereth any man's burnt off'ering, [even]
the priefl fhall have to himfelf the fkin of the burnt
9 offering which he hath offered. And all the meat
offering that is baken in the oven, (except that part re-
^ ferved by God, chap. ii. 2, 9.) and all that is dreffed^in
the frying pan, and In the pan, fhall be the prieiVs
10 that offereth it. And every meat offering, mingled
with oil, and dry, fhall all the fons of Aaron have, one
[as much] as another, it Jhall be equally divided among all
the prieft s,
1 1 And this [is] the law of the facrlfice of peace offer-
12 ings, which he fhall offer unto the Lord. If he offer
it for a thankfgiving, then he fhall offer with the facrl-
fice of thanklgiving unleavened cakes mingled with
oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes
13 mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. Befides the
cakes, he fhall offer [for] his offering leavened bread
with the facrlfice of thankfgiving of his peace offerings.
14 And of it he ihall offer one out of the whole oblation
[for] an heave offering unto the Lord, [and] it fhall
be the prieil's that fprinkleth the blood of the peace
15 offerings. And the fiefh of the facrlfice of his peace
offerings for thankfgiving fliall be eaten the fame
day that it is offered \ he fhall not leave any of it until
G g 4 the
476 LEVITICUS. VII.
16 the morning. But if the facrifice of his offering [be] a
vow, ofered in performance of a vow^ or a voluntary
offering, by way of thankfulnefs for fome mercy received^ it
fhall be eaten the fame day that he offereth his facrifice :
and on the morrow alfo the remainder of it fhall be
17 eaten: But the remainder of the fiefh of the facrifice
on the third day fhall be burnt with fire, kfi it Jhotild
18 futrify. And if [any] of the flefh of the facrifice of his
peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it fhall
not be accepted, neither fhall it be imputed unto him
that offereth it, as an acceptable ferince to God^ but account^
€d as if it had not been offered at all-, it fhall be an
abomination, and the foul that eateth of it, fhall bear
19 ike punifhment ofKis iniquity. And the flefh of the peace
offerings that toucheth any unclean [thing] fhall not
be eaten ; it fhall be burnt with fire : and as for the
£cfh which abides clean., and is jit to be eaten^ all that be
clean fhall cat thereof.
20 But the foul that eateth [of] the flefh of the facrifice
of peace offerings, that [pertain] unto the Lord, hav-
ing his uncleannefs upon him, even that foul fhall be
21 cut off from his people. (See Gen. xiii. 14 J Moreover
the foul that fhall touch any unclean [thing, as] the
uncleannefs of man, or [any] unclean beafl, or any
abominable unclean [thing,] and eat of the fiefli of the
facrifice of peace offerings, which [pertain] unto the
Lord, even that foul fhall be cut off from his people.
22 23 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
unto the children of Ifrael, faying. Ye fhall eat no man-
24 ner of fat, of ox, or of fheep, or of goat. And the fat
of the beafl; that dieth of itfelf, and the fat of that which
is torn with beafts, may be ufed in any other ufe : but
25 ye fhall in no wife eat of it. For whofoever eateth the
fat of the beaff , of which men offer an offering made by
fire unto the Lord, even the foul that eateth [it] fhall
26 be cut off from his people. Moreover ye fhall eat no
mamier of blood, [whether it be] of fowd or of beaft, in
27 any of your dwellings. Whatfoever foul [it be] that
eaieth any manner of blood, even that foul fhall be cut
off from his people.
28 And
LEVITICUS. VII. 477
28 29 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
unto the children of Ifrael, faying. He that ofFereth the
facrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord, that -por-
tion which was given out of his pace offerings^ fhall bring
his oblation to the tabernacle unto the Lord of the fa-
30 crifice of his peace offerings. His own hands fhall bring
the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the
breaft, it Ihall he bring, that the breaft may be waved
3 1 [for] a wave offering before the Lord. And the prieft
fhall burn the fat upon the altar : but the breaft fhall
32 be Aaron's and his fons'. And the right fhoulder fhall
ye give unto the priefl [for] an heave offering of the
'^'^ facrifices of your peace offerings. He among the fons of
Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings,
and the fat, fhall have the right fhoulder for [his]
34 part. For the wave breafl and the heave fhoulder nave
1 taken of the children of Ifrael from off the facrifices
of their peace offerings, and have given them unto
Aaron the priefl: and unto his fons by a flatute for
35 ever from among the children of Ifrael. This [is the
portion] of the anointing of Aaron, or^ which he had by
reafon of his anointings and of the anointing of his fons,
out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the
day [when] he prefented them to minifter unto the
Lord in the priefi's office, from that day forward for
26 ever ; Which the Lord commanded to be given them
of the children of Ifrael, in the day that he anointed
them, [by] a flatute for ever throughout their gene-
rations.
37 This [is] the law of the burnt offering, of the meat
offering, and of the fm offering, and of the trefpafs
offering, and of the confecrations, and of the facrifice
38 of the peace offerings; Which the Lord commanded
Mofes in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded
the children of Ifrael to offer their oblations unto the
Lord, in the wildernefs of Sinai.
CHAP.
478 LEVITICUS. VIII.
CHAP. VIII.
We have here an account of Mofes confecratlng Aaron and his
Jons \ their fin offering -, their burnt offering \ the ram of
confecrations \ and the -place and time of their confecration,
I A ND the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Take
. 2 XjL Aaron and his Tons with him, and the garments,
ard the anointing oil, and a bullock for the fin offer-
ing, and two rams, and a bafket of unleavened bread ;
3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto
4 the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And
Mofes did as the Lord commanded him ; and the
affembly was gathered together unto the door of the
^ tal^eri-acle of the congregation. And Mofes faid unto
the congregation, This [is] the thing which the Lord
6 commanded to be done. And Mofes brought Aaron
7 and his fons, and wafned them with water. And he
put on him the coatj and girded him with the gir-
dle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod
upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle
of the ephod, and bound [it] unto him therewith,
8 And he put the breaftplate upon him : alfo he put in the
9 breaflplate the Urim and the Thummim. And he put
the mitre upon his head ; alfo upon the mitre, [even]
upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy
10 crown*, as the Lord commanded Mofes. And Mofps
took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle
11 and all that [was] therein, and fandified them. And
he fprinkled thereof upon the altar feven times, and
anointed the altar and all his vefTels, both the laver
J 2 and his foot, to fandlify them. And he poured of the
anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to
13 fandify him. And Mofes brought Aaron's fons, and
put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles,
and put bonnets upon them •, as the Lord commanded
Mofes.
14 And he brought the bullock for the fin offering : and
Aaron and his fons laid their hands upon the head of
15 the bullock for the tin offering. And he flew [it •,] and
Mofes
LEVITICUS. VIII. 479
Mofes took the blood, and put [it] upon the horns of
the altar round about with his finger, and purified the
altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar,
16 and iimdified it, to make reconciliation upon it. And
he took all the fat that [was] upon the inwards, and
the caul [above] the Hver, and the two kidneys, and
17 their fat, and Mofes burned [it] upon the altar. But
the bullock, and his hide, his flefh, and his dung, he
burnt with fire v/ithout the camp-, as the Lord com-
manded Mofes.
18 And he brought the ram for the'burnt offering : and
Aaron and his fons laid their hands upon the head of
19 the ram. And he killed [it*,] and Mofes fprinkled the
20 blood upon the altar round about. And he cut the
ram into pieces ; and Mofes burnt the head, and the
21 pieces, and the fat. And he wafhed the inwards and
the legs in water •, and Mofes burnt the whole ram up-
on the altar : it [was] a burnt facrifice for a fweet favour,
[and] an offering made by fire unto the Lord j as the
Lord commanded Mofes.
22 And he brought the other ram, the ram of confecra-
tion : and Aaron and his fons laid their hands upon the
23 head of the ram. And he flew [it;] and Mofes took
of the blood of it, and put [it] upon the tip of Aaron's
right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand,
24 and upon the great toe of his right foot. And he
brought Aaron's fons, and Mofes put of the blood
upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs
of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their
right feet: and Mofes fprinkled the blood upon the
25 altar round about. And he took the fat, and the rump,
and ail the fat that [was] upon the inwards, and the
caul [above] the liver, and the tv/o kidneys, and their
26 fat, and the right ihoulder : And out of the bafket of
unleavened bread, that [was] before the Lord, he took
one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and
one wafer, and put [them] on the fat, and upon the
27 right fhoulder : And he put all upon Aaron's hands,
and upon his fons' hands, and waved them -[for] a
. 28 wave offering before the Lord. And Mofes took them
from
4So LEVITICUS. IX.
from off their hands, and burnt [them] on the altar
upon the burnt offering : they [were] conlecrations for
a fweet favour : it [is] an offering made by fire unto
29 the Lord. And Mofes took the breaft, and v;aved it
[for] a wave offering before the Lord: [for] of the
ram of confecration it was Mofes' part , as the Lord
commanded Mofes.
50 And Mofes took of the anointing oil, and of the
blood which [was] upon the altar, and fprinkled [it]
upon Aaron, [and] upon his garments, and upon his
fons, and upon his fons' garments, with him •, and fanc-
tified Aaron, [and] his garments, and his fons, and his
fons' garments with him.
31 And Mofes faid unto Aaron and to his fons. Boil
the flefh [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congre-
gation : and there eat it with the bread that [is] in the
bafket of confecrations, as I commanded, faying, Aaron
32 and his fons ihall eat it. And that which remaineth of
the flefh and of the bread, fhall ye burn with fire.
2^ And ye fhall not go out of the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation [in] feven days, until the days of
your confecration be at an end : for feven days fhall he
34 confecrate you. As he hath done this day, [fo] the
Lord hath commanded to do, to make an atonement
^^ for you. Therefore fhall ye abide [at] the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation day and night {evQn
days, and keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die
not : for fo I am commanded.
^6 So Aaron and his fons did all things which the
Lord commanded by the hand of Mofes.
CHAP. IX.
Contains an account of Aaron's fin offering and burnt offering
for himf elf and the people \ the people bleffed \ and of the fire
from heaven confuming the burnt offering,
1 AND it came to pafs on the eighth day, [that]
x\. Mofes called Aaron and his fons, and the elders
2 of lirael j And he faid unto Aaron, Take thee a young
calf
LEVITICUS. IX. 48X
calf for a fin offering, and a ram for a burnt oiFering,
without blemifh, and offer [them] before the Lord, to
3 make atonement for thy [elf and the peofle^ (v, 7.) And unto
the children of Ifrael thou fhalt fpeak, faying, Take ye
a kid of the goats for a (m offering ; and a calf and
a lamb, [both] of the fir ft year, without blemifh, far
4 a burnt offering /^r the people -, (v, 15.) Alfo a bullock
and a ram for peace offerings, to facrifice before the
Lord : and a meat offering mingled with oil : for to
day the Lord will appear unto you, in a glorious manner^
5 (v, 6, 24.) And they brought [that] which Mofes
commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation :
and all the congregation drew near and ftood before the
Lord, at the door of the tabernacle^ where the glory of the
6 Lord appeared. And Mofes faid, This [is] the thing
which the Lord commanded that ye fhould do : and
the glory of the Lord, the glorious mamfefiation of God^s
powerful and gracious prefencey (v, 24 J fhall appear unto
7 you. And Mofes faid unto Aaron, Go unto the altar,
and offer thy fin offering, and thy burnt offering, and
make an atonement for thyfelf, and for the people : and
offer the offering of the people, and make an atone-
ment for them ; as the Lord commanded.
8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and flew the
9 calf of the fin offering, which [was] f ~r himfelf. And
the fons of Aaron brought the blood unto him : and
he dipped his finger in the blood, and put [it] upon the
horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bot-
10 tom of the altar: But the fat, and the kidneys, and
the caul above the liver of the fin offering, he burnt
1 1 upon the altar ; as the Lord commanded Mofes. And
the flefh and the hide he burnt with fire without the
1 2 camp. And he flew the burnt offering •, and Aaron's
fons prefented unto him the blood, which he fprinkled
13 round about upon the altar. And they prefented the
burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and
14 the head: and he burnt [them] upon the altar. And
he did wafh the inwards and the legs, and burnt [them]
15 upon the burnt offering on the altar. And he brought
the people's offering, and took the goat, which [was]
the
482 LEVITICUS. IX.
the fin offering for the people, and flew It, and offered
16 it for fin, as the firft. And he brought the burnt offer-
ing, and offered it according to the manner, or ordinance,
1 7 And he brought the meat offering, and took an hand-
ful thereof and burnt [it] upon the altar, befides the
18 burnt facrifice of the morning. He flew alfo the bullock
and the ram [for] a facrifice of peace offerings, which
[was] for the people : and Aaron's fons prefented unto
him the blood, which he fprinkled upon the altar round
19 about. And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the
rump, and that which covereth [the inwards,] and the
20 kidneys, and the caul [above] the liver: And they put
the fat upon the breafts, and he burnt the fat upon the
21 altar: And the breads and the right flioulder Aaron
waved [for] a wave offering before the Lord -, as Mofes
22 commanded. And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the
people, and bleffed them ; he frayed to God for his hlejfing
upon them^ and particularly for his gracious acceptance of
thefe and all fucceeding facrifices •, and came down from
offering of the fin offering, and the burnt offering, and
23 peace offerings. And Mofes and Aaron Vv^ent into the
tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and
bleffed the people a fecond time : and the glory of the
Lord, an extraordinary fpkndour^ or hrightnefs^ appear-
ing out of the cloudy pillar^ (as Exodus xvi. 10.) appeared
unto all the people, which was a token of God^s gracious
24 acceptance of them and their fervices. And there came a
fire, which was to be carefully kept^ and not fuffered to be
extinguifJjed^ out frbm before the Lord, from the holy of
holies^ and confumed upon the altar the burnt offering
and the fat, /;/ token of Ivs approbation of the priejthood
no-iv inflituted^ and the facrifices now offered-^ [which] when
all the people faw, they fliouted and fell on their faces,
wondering at ^ rejoicing in^ and bleffing God for this extraor-
dinary and gracious difcovery of himfcU\ and his favour
therein. See Gen. xvii. 3.
CHAR
LEVITICUS. X. 4S3
C H A P. X.
This is the next hijlorical chapter to Exodus xxxlv. After the
tabernacle was raifed^ and Aaron and his fins conficrated^ he
offered a f.n offering and a burnt offering for himfelf and the
people: when this wasfinifhed^ he hleffed the people in the name
of God^ and fire came down in token of God's acceptance of the
prieflhood and the facrifices. Upon this^ the people fJiouted with
aftonifJment and joy^ and fell on their faces to worfhip God.
Then follows the melancholy pry before us.
1 >\ N D Nadab and Abihu, the two eldeft fons of
Jf\^ Aaron, who had been with him in the momit^ and
feen the glory of the Lord^ took either of them his cenfer,
or chafing difh^ and put fire therein, and put incenfe
thereon, and offered ftrange fire before the Lord, other
than what was on the altar ^ which was fent from heavefi^
2 (ch. ix. 24.) which he commanded them not."" And
there went out fire from the Lord, fro?n the fan^uaryy
or altar of burnt offerings and devoured them, ftruck them
with fudden deaths for neither their bodies nor clothes were
confumed^ and they died before the Lord ; an awful
3 provideficCy dejigned as a warning to others. Then Mofes
faid unto Aaron, This [is it] that the Lord fpake,
faying, I will be fandified in them that come nigh me,
be reverenced^ and not mocked^ or trifled with^ (fee Exodus
xix. 22.) and before all the people I will be glorified,
have the glory of my fiver eignty acknowledged^ by an exaSt
conformity to my laws. And Aaron held his peace, 171
4 humble fubmiffion to this awful providence. And MoTes
called Mifhael and Elzaphan, the fons of Uzziel the
uncle of Aaron, and faid unto them, Come near, carry
your brethren from before the fan6luary out of the camp»
5 to the ufual place of burying. So they went near, and
carried them in their coats out of the camp •, as Mofes
had
«= There might be Tome particular prohibition of this, the' it
is not come down to us. But probably this was not all, for it
is generally fuppofed that the young men '^-^rt. intoxicated with
pride or liquor, or both, and ventured into the holy place at a
time not appointed, and both together; whereas one prieit aloriC
was to burn incenfe on the golden altar.
4S4 L E V I T I C U S. X. |
had faid •, /";; their consecrated garments^ hut which^ being \
now polluted by touching a dead body^ muft be worn no more, \
A fad^ inftruulive^ and affe5iing fight to the whole camp! \
6 And Mofes faid unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and j
unto Ithamar, his Tons, Uncover not your heads, neither '
rend your clothes ; put not off your prieftly drefs^ nor put \
on the habit of mourning •, let not the publick fervice be in- . |
terrupted by your private afflioiions ; left ye die, and left \
wrath come upon all the people : but let your brethren i
the whole houfe of Ifrael, bewail the burning which the \
Lord hath kindled; let them lament the dijhonour done to \
God, and be convinced^ that with him is terrible majefty, \
7 And ye fhall not go out from the door of the tabernacle ■
of the congregation, left ye die ; for the anointing oil \
of the Lord [is] upon you ; you are perfons peculiarly \
confecrated to Code's fervice •, which therefore you mufi prefer
before all funeral folemni ties. And they did according to ;\
the word of Mofes ; which was an eminent a^ of obedience, \
in thefe mournful circumfiances,
8 9 And the Lord fpake unto Aaron, faying. Do not ,
drink wine nor ftrong drink, thou nor thy fons with I
thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congrega- -
tion, left ye die: [it fhall be] a ftatute for ever through- '\
10 out your generations:'' And that ye may put difference
between holy and unholy, and between unclean and \
1 1 clean, which they did not ; And that ye may teach the \
children of Ifrael all the ftatutes which the Lord hath \
fpoken unto them by the hand of Mofes, zvhich perfons i
enflamed with ftrong drink are unfit to do. - ■;
1 1 And Mofes fpake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar |
and unto Ithamar, his fons that were left, Take the j
meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the i
Lord made by iire, and eat it without leaven befide \
13 the akar : for it [is] moft holy: And ye ftiall eat
it in the holy place, becaufe it [is] thy due, and thy /
fons' due, of the facrifices of the Lord made by lire : '
14 for {o I am commanded/ And the wave breaft and '\
heave j
* Thii, Teems to intimate that Nadab and Abiha had done fo, *y. i.
* Mofes reminds them of their duty, left this affair fhouid have put |
it out of their thoughts : this judgment was not fo to affedl them, as to \
make them forget their meat, or neglcd their duty, :
L E V I T I C U S. X. 485
heave fhoulder fhall ye eat in a clean place, /;/ anyplace
within the camp^ fo that it be free from ceremonial pollution ;
thou, and thy Tons, and thy daughters with thee : for
[they be] thy due, and thy Tons' due, [which] are
given out of the facrifices of peace offerings of the child-
15 ren of Ifrael. The heave fhoulder and the wave breafl
fhall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the
fat, to wave [it for] a wave offering before the Lord ;
and it fhall be thine, and thy fons' with thee, by a
ftatute for ever ; as the Lord hath commanded.
1 6 And Mofes, notwithfianding his grief on this occafion^ ayid
his fympathy with Aaron and his fons ^ was very em5l in the
obfervance of every pojitive precept^ and diligently fought
the goat of the fin offering, and, behold, it was burnt ;
thofe parts of the goat were burnt upon the altar which they
Jliould have eaten themf elves ^ {fee ch. vi. 26.) and he was
angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the fons of Aaron
1 7 [which were] left [alive,] faying. Wherefore have ye
not eaten the fin offering in the holy place, feeing it [is]
mofl holy, and [God J hath given it to you to bear the ini-
quity of the congregation, to make atonement for them
before the Lord ; as a reward for your fervices in bearings
1 8 that is, expiating, the fin of the people ? ^ Behold, the blood
of it was not brought in within the holy [place :] ye
fhould indeed have eaten it in the holy [place:] as I
commanded. T'hus Mofes reproved the fin of Aaron gently^
knowing how much he was already affii^ed, and not being will-
1 9 ing to increafe it. And Aaron faid unto Mofes, as an excufe
for his conduol. Behold, this day have they offered their
. fin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord \
they have done the fubftance of the command, tho" one circiim'
fiance has been omitted : and fuch things have befallen me,
fuch a dreadful calamity, that my mind is overwhelmed with
grief: and [if] i had eaten the fin offering to day, fhould
it have been accepted in the fight of the YjO'^Ti, when I
could net rejoice before him, as I am commanded in this cafe to
do ? 1 chofe therefore to 7tve it -wholly to God, rather than eat
Vol. I. " H h //
^ The prieft's eating the fm ofFering of the people, fignified,
that their fin was in Tome fort laid upon him j hence we may
fee in what {tnio. Chrift is faid to bear our fins.
4^6 L E V I T I C U S. X.
20 it in thefe mehwcholy drcu?nftanccs. And when Mofes heard
[that,] he was content-, becaufe it was Jiot a wilful con-
tempt of God, and left he fliould add affli5lion to the affii^ied,
REFLECTIONS,
1. T'STE here learn with what reverence we fhould
y Y worfhip God. This is what the Lord teaches
us. in this chapter, I will he fanoi'ified in them that come nigh
me, and before all the people I will be glorified, v, 3. It. is
a lefTon to ifrael, to all its tribes, and to the church in all
ages and generations. We fee here that God is greatly to be
feared, and to be had in reverence by all that draw nigh unto him.
God is a fpirit, and they that worjhip him, muft worfliip him in
fpirit and in truth. Let us fandify him in our hearts ; con-
fidering him as the moil: holy being, who is of purer eyes than
to behold ifiiquity. Let us glorify him before all the people, by
making a publick profelTion of our faith, and encouraging
others to do fo. God requires this of us ; and if not done,
he may juftly puniili us. Let us be careful that our wor-
fhip be fuch as he requires of us ; and not add to it any
of our own inventions. It is a juft and important re-
mark of Bifhop Hall, that ' It is a dangerous thing in
the worfhip of God, to decline from his own inftitutions :
we have to do with a Being who is wife to prefcribe his own
worfhip, juft to require what he hath prefcribed, and power-
ful to revenge what he hath not required.' Let us keep
clofe therefore to what the Lord hath faid; and learn from
this inftrudlive ftory, as the apoftle exhorts, Heb, xii. 29.
(where he feems to allude to it) to ferve God acceptably, with
reverence and godly fear, for our God is a confumingfire,
2. How cautious fhould chriftian minifters be in the
whole of their conduct ! They are peculiarly obliged, by
their relation to God, to glorify him •, to difplay his glory
before men ; to be defenders of the divine honour ; to be
careful not to err thro' rafhnefs or fancy, if they do, they
are very unlit to feparate between the precious and the vile,
and to teach men God's ftatutes. May they all be fober and
temperate, ferious and confiderate, in every thing ; have
always
L E V I T I C U S. X. 487
always clear heads and clean hearts ; for hoHncfs becomes
God's houfe and miniflers, and his v/orfnippers, for ever.
3. Let us adore the patience of God, which bears vAth
the many imperfedlions of our fervices. We are too ready
to offer ftrange fire. The heart is often far from him, and
we are too frequently rafh in entering into his prefence,
without due thought and attention. Yet he mercifully
overlooks our unallowed im.perfedlions, and pardons what
is amifs. Let us adore his long fuifering and compafTion
toward us, but not take encouragement from thence to fin.
4. Let us humbly refign ourfelves to the will of God,
maintain a refpedful filence before him, and profecute his
fervice amidft the heavieft afHidion : fo Aaron did. Let
us be ftill^ and know that he is God. He hath wife ends in
thofe difpenfations that feem moft fevere. We ihould he
dumb and not open our mouths before him^ when he hath bereav-
ed us of our children, or our friends, or when he removes
his minifters and fervants. We have ftill reafon to fay, //
is the Lord, let him do what feemeth him good \, efpecially as
his glory will be promoted thereby, as Mofes here fuggefts.
And let the fame principles of faith in God's providences
and promifes, which promote fubmifTion, excite us to the
vigorous difcharge of our duty : Mofes direds Aaron and
his fons to go on with their work. Let us not fink under
our lofTes, for this is no proper token of regard to our de-
parted friends \ it is ungrateful to God, and unfits us for
duty. Let us therefore guard againfl excefs of forrow.
Weeping muft not hinder fowing.*
5. Let us learn to be content with reafonable excufes
from our inferiors, and be glad to find them lefs to blame
than we imagined. Mofes was willing to make favourable
allowances ; as he knew God would. I^et us not bear hard
on thofe who we think have done ill. Perhaps they may
have fomething to fay that will fatisfy us, or lefTen their
guilt. We fhould be willing to believe and hope the befl
of every one.
6. Let us rejoice in the perfe(5t prieflhood of the Lord
Jefus Chrift. This unhappy circumftance at the opening
of the jewifh prieflhood, fhowed its imperfedion. The law
H h 2 made
* See Henry on Pfalm cxxvi. 6.
4S8 LEVITICUS. XI.
made men priefts, that had infirmities •, but the word of the
oath, which was fince the law, maketh the Son who is con-
lecrated for evermore, Heb, vii. 28. In him we may re-
joice \ and cheerfully prefent our facrifices thro' his pure
hands, and in humble reliance on his prevailing atone-
ment •, knowing that he always appears before the prefence
of God, and ever lives to make inter cejfwn for us.
C H A P. XL
'This^ and the four following chapters^ relate only to' ceremonial
obfervances,
1 AND the Lord fpake unto Mofes, and to Aaron,
jfj^ (becaufe it belonged both to the magiflrates and priefts
2 to fee thefe laws executed^) faying unto them. Speak unto
the children of Ifrael, faying, Thefe [are] the beafts
which ye fhall eat among all the beads which [are] on
3 the earth.^ Whatfoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven
footed, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beafts, that
4 fhall ye eat. Neverthelefs thefe fhall ye not eat of
them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the
hoof: [as] the camel, becaufe he cheweth the cud, but
5 divideth not the hoof-, he [is] unclean unto you.^ And
the coney,* becaufe he cheweth the cud, but divideth
6 not the hoof, he [is] unclean unto you. And the hare,
becaufe he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof;
7 he [is] unclean unto you. And the fwine, though he
divide the hoof and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth
8 not the cud ; he [is] unclean to you.^ Of their flefh
fhall
t Coniidering that all beafts were given for food to Noah, it
may be afked. How came there to be thefe reftridions after-
wards? Perhaps it was to difcourage luxury, but principally to
keep them a diflinift people; becaufe thofe beafts were forbidden,
which were in the highell elleem among the heathen, and were
offered in facrifices to their gods.
*» The camel divides the hoof at the top, but not at the bottom.
* Or, mountain moufe, for common rabbits do not chew the
cud, nor make their houfe in the rock, as Pro'u. xxx. 26.
^ This beaft, tho' mofi: refpefted among the heathen, was held
in the higheft detellation by the jews.
LEVITICUS. XI. 489
fliall ye not eat, and their carcafe fhall ye not touch ;
they [are] unclean to you.
9 Thefe fhall ye eat of all that [are] in the waters :
whatfoever hath fins and fcales in the waters, in the pofids
and lakes^ in the feas, and in the rivers, them fhall ye
10 eat. And all that have not fins and fcales in the feas,
and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of
any living thing which [is] in the waters, they [fhall
11 be] an abomination unto you : They fhall be even an
abomination unto you \ ye fhall not eat of their flefh,
i 2 but ye fhall have their carcafes in abomination. What-
foever hath no fins nor fcales in the waters, that [fhall
be] an abomination unto you. 'This is repeated^ as being
the only rule they had to judge by in this cafe,
13 And thefe [are they which] ye fhall have in abomi-
* nation among the fowls ; they fhall not be eaten, they
[are] an abomination : the eagle, and the ofTifrage,
the bone-breaker^ a /pedes of the eagle with a Jlrong hill^
14 and the ofpray, or fea eagle^ And the vulture, and the
1^ kite, after his kind; Every raven after his kind;
16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow,
17 and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and
18 the cormorant, and the great owl. And the fwan, and
19 the pelican, and the ger eagle. And the ftork, the
heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
20 All fowls, itfhould be tranflated infeSls^ that creep, going
upon [all] four, [fhall be] an abomination unto you.
2 1 Yet thefe may ye eat of every flying creeping thing
that goeth upon [all] four, which have legs above their
22 feet, to leap withal upon the earth ; [Even] thefe of
them ye may eat ; the locufl after his kind^ and the
bald locufl after his kind, and the beetle after his kind,
23 and the grafshopper after his kind. But all [other]
flying creeping things, which have four feet, [fhall
be] an abomination unto you.
24 And for thefe ye fhall be unclean : whofoever touch-
eth the carcafe of them fhall be unclean until the even.
25 And whofever beareth [aught] of the Carcafe of them
fhall wafh his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
26 [The carcafes] of every beafl which divideth the hoof,
H h 3 and
490 L E V I T I C U S. XL
and [is] not cloven footed, nor cheweth the cud, [are]
unclean unto you : every one that toucheth them fhall
27 be unclean. And whatfoever goeth upon his paws, on
his two hands ^ which has forefeet divided into fingers^ as
monkies^ cats^ dogs^ bears^ among all manner of beafts
that go on [all] four, thofe [are] unclean unto you :
whofo toucheth their carcafe fliall be unclean until the
28 even. And he that beareth the carcafe of them fhall
wafn his clothes, and be unclean until the even : they
[are] Unclean unto you.
29 Thefe alfo [lliall be] unclean unto you among
the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the
weafel, and the moufe, and the tortoife after his
30 kind. And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the
31 lizard, and the fnail, and the mole. Thefe [are]
unclean to you among all that creep : whofoever doth
touch them, when they be dead, fhall be unclean
32 until the even. And upon whatfoever [any] of
them, when they are dead, doth fall, it fhall be un^
clean; whether [it be] any velTel of wood, or raiment,
or fkin, or fack, whatfoever veflei [it be,] wherein
[any] work is done, it muft be put into water, and it
fhall be unclean until the even -, {o it fhall be cleanfed.
33 And every earthen veffel, whereiato [any] of them fall-
eth, whatfoever [is] in it fhall be unclean •, and ye fhall
34 break it. Of all meat which may be eaten, [that] on
which [fuch] water cometh fball be unclean : and all
drink that may be drunk in every [fuch] veffel fhall be
^s^ unclean. And every [thing] whereupon [any part] of
their carcafe falleth fhall be unclean -, [whether it be]
oven, or ranges for pots, they fiiali be broken dewn :
[for] they [are] unclean, and fliall be unclean unto you.
36 Neverthelefs a fountain or pit, [wherein there is] plenty
of water, fliall be clean: but that which toucheth their
carcafe, the man who draws them out^ or the injlrument which
2)T he ufes^ fhall be unclean. And if [any part] of their
carcafe fall upon any fowing feed which is to be fown,
it [fhall be] clean, becaufe^ bejore it was ufedit was to pafs
thro* fo many changes^ that all the contamination would be
38 gone off. But if [any] water be put upon the feed, or
the
LEVITICUS. XL 491
the corn intended for p'cfent iife^ and [any part] of their
carcafe fall thereon, it [ihall be] unclean unto you.
39 And if any bead, of which ye may eat, die of it f elf ^ or he
firangled^ or torn ; he that toucheth the carcafe thereof
40 fliall be unclean until the even. And he that eateth of
the carcafe of it unknowingly^ {for if he did it prefumptuoujly
he ivas to be cut off^ ISIum. xv. and xxx.) fhall wafli his
clothes, and be unclean until the even : he alfo that
beareth the carcafe of it ihall wafh his clothes, and be
unclean until the even.
41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the
earth, except thofe mentioned before^ v. 22, [fhall be]
42 an abomination; it ihall not be eaten. Whatfoever
goeth upon the belly, and whatfoever goeth upon
[all] four, or whatfoever hath more feet among all
creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye
43 ihall not eat; for they [are] an abomination. Ye ihall
not make yourfelves abominable with any creepino-
thing that creepeth, neither ihall ye make yourfelves
unclean with them, that ye ihould be deiiled thereby.
44 For I [am] the Lord your God : ye iliall therefore
fandlify yourfelves, and ye ihall be holy -, for I [am]
holy : neither ihall ye defile yourfelves with any man-
ner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth : as
I am feparated^ by the excellency of my nature^ fro?n all
other Beings^ fo fhall you, by your purity^ from all other
45 people. For I [am] the Lord that bringeth you up
out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye ihall
therefore be holy, for I [am] holy.
46 This is the law of the beafls, and of the fov/1, and
of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and
47 of every creature that creepeth upon the earth : To
make a difference between the unclean and the clean,
and between the beail that may be eaten and the beafl
that may not be eaten.
H h 4 C II A P.
492 LEVITICUS. XIL
CHAP. XII.
Of women's purifications^ and offerings,
1 A N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
2 Jl\. ""^o the children of Ifrael, faying, If a woman
have conceived feed, and born a man child : then fhe
ihall be unclean feven days •, according to the days of
the feparatlon for her infirmity fhall ihe be unclean.
3 And in the eighth day the flelh of his forefkin fhall
4 be circumcifed. And fhe fhall then continue in the
blood of her purifying three and thirty days, hefides the
feven mentioned, v. 2. fhe fhall touch no hallowed thing,
nor come into the fandluary, until the days of her
purifying be fulfilled-, hut for common things, and all
5 civil affairs, fhe was clean after the firfi feven days. But
if fhe bear a maid child, then fhe fhall be unclean two
weeks, double to that for a male, v. 7. as in her fepara-
tion : and fhe fhall continue in the blood of her purify-
ing threefcore and fix days,
6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for
a fon, or for a daughter, flie fhall bring a lamb of the
firfi: year for a burnt offering, to exprefs her gratitude to
God, and implore his blefjing on her child, and a young
pigeon, or a turtledove for a fin ofixring, (or rather, to.
cleanfe her from her ceremonial pollution, ch, xv, 30.) unto
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto
7 the priefi:: Who fhall offer it before the Lord, and
make an atonement for her -, and fne fhall be cleanfed
from the ifiiie of her blood. This [is] the law for her
S that hath born a male or a female. And if fhe be not
able to bring a lamb, then fiie fiiall bring two turtles, or
two young pigeons ; the one for the burnt offering, and
the other for a fin offering : and the priefi: fiiall make
^n atonement for her, and fhe fhall be clean.
CHAP.
LEVITICUS. XIIL 493
CHAP. XIIL
Of the tokens to difcern the leprofy,
1 A ND the Lord fpake unto Mofes and Aaron,
2 jt\ %ing. When a man fhall have in the flcin of his
fiefh a rifing, a fcab, or bright fpot, and it be in the
fkin of his flelli [like] the plague of leprofy •, then he
fhall be brought unto Aaron the prieft, or unto one of
3 his fons the priefts : And the prieft fhall look on the
plague in the fkin of the flefh : and [when] the hair in
the plague is turned white, and the plague in fight [be]
deeper than the fkin of his flefh, it [is] a plague of
leprofy : and the prieft fhall look on him, and pro-
4 nounce him unclean. If the bright fpot [be] white in
the fkin of his flefh, and in fight [be] not deeper than
the fkin, and the hair thereof be not turned white;
then the prieft fhall fhut up [him that hath] the plague
5 {Q,vtn days : And the prieft fhall look on him the
feventh day : and, behold, [if] the plague in his fight
be at a ftay, both in refpe5i to colour andfpreading^ [and]
the plague fpread not in the fkin -, then the prieft fhall
6 fhut him up feven days more : And the prieft fhall look
on him again the feventh day : and, behold, [if] the
plague be fomewhat dark, and the plague fpread not in
the fkin, the prieft fhall pronounce him clean : it [is
but] a fcab : and he fhall wafh his clothes, and be
7 clean. But if the fcab fpread much abroad in the fkin,
after that he hath been feen of the prieft for his cleanfing,
8 he fhall be {^tn of the prieft again : and [if] the prieft
fee that, behold, the fcab fpreadeth in the fkin, then
the prieft fhall pronounce him unclean : it [is] a leprofy.
9 When the plague of leprofy is in a man, then he fhall
10 be brought unto the prieft ; And the prieft fhall fee
[him:] and, behold, [if] the rifmg [be] white in the
fkin, and it have turned the hair white, and [there be]
11 quick raw flefh in the rifing j It [is] an old leprofy in
the flcin of his flefti, and the prieft fhall pronounce him
unclean, and fhall not fhut him up : for he is unclean.
12 And if a leprofy break out abroad in the Ikin, and the
leprofy
494 LEVITICUS. XIII.
leprofy cover all the fkin of [him that hath] the plague
from his head even to his foot, vvherefoever the prieft
13 looketh; Then the prieft fhall confider : and, behold,
[ifj the leprofy have covered all his fleih, he fhall pro-
nounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: it is all
turned white: he [is J clean-, it is only a fait humour of
14 hody^ thrown out by the firength of his corjlitution. But
when raw iielh appeareth in him, he fhall be unclean,
This was afign that the poifon of the difeafe was not wholly
driven oiit^ but did fill lurk within the fief h^ andfo rendered
the difeafe more dangerous to him that had it^ and more in-
15 fe5lious to others. And the prieft fhall fee the raw flefh
and pronounce him to be unclean : [for] the raw flefh
16 [is] unclean: it [is] a leprofy. Or if the raw flefh turn
again, and be changed unto white, he fliall come unto
1 7 the prieft ; and the prieft fhall fee him : and, behold,
[if] the plague be turned into whit^; then the prieft
fhall pronounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: he
[is] clean, tho'' he may have thefcurvy all over his body.
18 The flefh alfo, in which, [even] in the fl<:in thereof,
19 was a boil, and is healed, And in the place of the boil
there be a white rifmg, or a bright fpot, white, and
20 fomewbat reddifli, and it be fhov/ed to, the prieft •, And
if, when the prieft feeth it, behold, it [be] in fight
lower than the fkin, and the hair thereof be turned
white : the prieft fhall pronounce him unclean : it [is]
21 a plague of leprofy broken out of the boil. But if the
prieft look on it, and, behold, [there be] no white hairs
therein, and [if] it [be] not lower than the fkin, but
[be] fomewhat dark •, then the prieft fhall fhut him up
22 feven days: And if it fpread much abroad in the fkin,
then the prieft fhall pronounce him unclean : it [is] a
23 plague. But if the bright fpot ftay in his place, [and]
fpread not, it [is] a burning boil ; and the prieft fhall
pronounce him clean.
24 Or if there be [any] flefh, in the fl:in whereof [there
is] a hot burning, and the quick, [flefh] that burneth
have a white bright fpot, fomewhat reddifh, or white ^
25 Then the prieft fl:i all look upon it: and, behold, if the
hair in the bright fpot be turned white, and it [be in]
fipht
LEVITICUS. XIII. 495
^ght deeper than the fkin ; it [is] a leprofy broken out
of the burning : wherefore the prieft fhall pronounce
26 him unclean : it [is] the plague of leprofy. But if the
prieft look on it, and, behold, [there be] no white hair
in the bright fpot, and it [be] no lower than the [other]
fkin, but [be] fomewhat dark -, then the prieil fliall
27 fhut him up {Qven days : And the prieft fhall look up-
on him the feventh day : [and] if it be fpread much
abroad in the jfkin, then the prieft fhall pronounce him
28 unclean : it [is] the plague of lepi*ofy. And if the
bright fpot ftay in his place, [and] fpread not in the
ikin, but it [be] fomewhat dark; it [is] a rifmgof the
burning, and the prieft fhall pronounce him clean : for
it [is] an inflammation of the burning.
29 If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or
30 the beard i^ Then the priefi: fhall fee the plague: and,
behold, if it [be] in fight deeper than the fkin ; [and
there be] in it a yellow thin hair •, then the prieft Ihall
pronounce him unclean : it [is] a dry fcall, [even] a
31 leprofy upon the head or beard. And if the priefl
look on the plague of the fcall, and, behold, it [be] not
in fight deeper than the fkin, and [that there is] no
black hair in it; then the prieil fhall fhut up [him that
32 hath] the plague of the fcall (even days: And in the
feventh day the priefl fhall look on the plague : and,
behold, [if] the fcall fpread not, and there be in it no
yellow hair, and the fcall [be] not in fight deeper than
2^ the fkin -, He fhall be fhaven, but the fcall fhall he not
fhave ; and the prieft fhall fhut up [him that hath] the
34 fcall feven days more: And in the feventh day the
prieft fhall look on the fcall : and, behold, [if] the fcall
be not fpread in thef]s:in, nor [be] in fight deeper than
the fkin ; then the pried fhall pronounce him clean : and
35 he fhall wafh his clothes, and be clean. But if the fcall
36 fpread much in the fkin after his cleanfing; Then the
prieft fhall look on him : and, behold, if the fcall be
fpread in the fl-iin, the prieft fhall not feek for yellow
37 hair; he [is] unclean. But if the fcall be in his fight
at
^ This, among the Romans, was looked upon as a molt dread-
ful dillemper, even worfe than death.
496 LEVITICUS. XIII.
at a flay, and [that] there is black hair grown up there-
in •, the fcall is healed, he [is] clean: and the prieft
fhall pronounce him clean.
38 If a man alfo or a woman have in the ikin of their
39 fiefh bright fpots, [even] white bright fpots •, Then the
prieft lliall look: and, behold, [if] the bright fpots in
the fkin of their flelh [be] darkifh white •, it [is] a
freckled fpot [that] groweth in the ikin •, he [is] clean.
40 And the man whofe hair is fallen off his head, he
41 [is] bald 5 [yet is] he clean. And he that hath his
hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his
42 face, he [is] forehead bald : [yet is] he clean. And if
there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white
reddilTi fore , it [is] a leprofy fprung up in his bald
43 head or his bald forehead. Then the prieft fhall look
upon it : and, behold, [if] the rifmg of the fore [be]
white reddil'b in his bald head, or in his bald forehead,
44 as the leprofy appeareth in the fkin of the flefh •, He
[is] a leprous man, he [is] unclean : the prieft fhall
pronounce him utterly unclean ^ his plague [is] in his
head.
45 And the leper in whom the plague [is,] his clothes
fhall be rent, and his head bare, and he fhall put a
covering upon his upper lip, cover it with his hand or
garment^ in token offorrow andfiiame^ (Ezek. xxiv.17 , 22.
46 M'^-. iii. 7.) and fhall cry. Unclean, unclean. AH the
days wherein the plague [fhall be] in him, he fhall be
defiled -, he [is] unclean : he fhall dw^ell alone ^ without
the camp [fhall] his habitation [be.]
47 The garment alfo that the plague of leprofy [is] in,
[whether it be] a woollen garment, or a linen garment-,
4B Whether [it be] in the warp, or woof, infide or outfide -,
of linen, or of woollen -, whether in a fkin, or in any
49 thing made of fkin \ And if the plague be greenifh or
reddifh in the garment, or in the fkin, either in the
warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of Ikin; it [is] a
plague of leprofy, and fliall be fhowed.unto the priefl :
50 And the priefr ihali look upon the plague, and fhut up
5 i [it that hath] the plague, {t'^izn days : And he fhall
look on the plague on the feventh day : if the plague
be
LEVITICUS. XIV. 497
be fpread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the
woof, or in a fkin, [or] in any work that is made of
fkin ; the plague [is] a fretting leprofy •, it [is] unclean,
52 He /hall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or
woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of fkin, wherein
the plague is: for it [is] a fretting leprofy, it fliall be
53 burnt in the fire. And if the prietl: fhall look, and, be-
hold, the plague be not fpread in the garment, either in
54 the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of ikin ; Then
the prieft fhall command that they wafh [the thing] where-
in the plague [is,] and he fhall fhutit up feven days more:
^^ And the prieft fhall look on the plague, after that it is
w^afhed : and, behold, [if] the plague have not changed
his colour, and, or tho\ the plague be not fpread •, it
[is] unclean •, thou fhalt burn it in the fire \ it [is] fret
c^^ inward, [whether] it [be] bare within or without. And
if the priefl look, and, behold, the plague [be] fome-
what dark after the wafning of it •, then he fhall rend it
out of the garment, or our of the fkin, or out of the
57 warp, or out of the woof: And if it appear ftill in the
garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any
thing of fkin-, it [is] a fpreading [plague:] thou fhalt
58 burn that wherein the plague [is] with fire. And the
garment, either warp, or v.oof, or whatfoever thino- of
fkin [it be,] which thou fhalt wafh, if the plague be
departed from them, then it fhall be walhed the fecond
time, and fhall be clean. '
59 This [is] the law of the plague of leprofy in a gar-
ment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof,
or any thing of fkins, to pronounce it clean, or to pro-
nounce it unclean. The leprofy of garments and houfeSj
we J thro* divine merc)\ kno^jo nothi'ng Gf\ it was perhaps a
plague peculiar to Canaan.
CHAP. XIV.
T!he rites and facrifices in cleanfing of the leper \ the ftgns of
leprofy in a}i houfe ; and the cleanfing of that houfe,
I AND
49^ LEVITICUS. XIV.
1 A N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, This
2 ±\_ fliall be the law of the leper in the day of his
3 cleanfing : He fhall be brought unto the prieft : And
the pried: fhall go forth out of the camp •, and the priell:
fhall look, and, behold, [if] the plague of leprofy be
4 healed in the leper •, Then fhall the priell command
to take for him that is to be cleanfed two birds alive
[and] clean, to denote that his fle/h was now reft or ed to the
fame foundnefs as other living creatures^ whereas before it
might be looked upon as dead, and cedar wood, which was
incorruptible^ to denote that the corruption of the humours of
his body were removed^ and fcarlet, to denote that the colour
of his blood was chaMged from a livid to a fcarlet colour^ and
hyffop, to denote that the difagreeable fnell proceeding from
5 his leprofy was removed : And the priefl fhail command
that one of the birds be killed in an earthen veflel, over
6 running water : As for tlie living bird, he fliall take it,
and the cedar wood, and the fcarlet, and the hyffop, and
fhall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the
7 bird [that was] killed over the running water: And he
fhall fprinkle upon him that is to be cleanfed from the
leprofy feven times, and fnall pronounce him clean,
and fhall let the living bird loofe into the open field, to
denote that the perfon cleanfed was now at liberty to return to
8 his former habitation^ and converfe with other men. And he
that is to be cleanfed fhall wafli his clothes, and fhave
off all his hair, and wafh himfelf in water, that he may
be clean : and after that he fnall come into the camp,
9 and fhall tarry abroad out of his tent {^v^n days. But it
fhall be en the feventh day, that he fhall fhave all his
hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even
all his hair he fhall fhave off: and he fhall wafli his
clothes, alfo he fhall wafh his flefh in water, and he
ID fliall be clean. And on the eighth day he fhall take two
he lambs without blemifh, and one ewe lamb of the
firfc year without blemifh, and three tenth deals of
fine flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil, and
1 1 one log of oil, which held a pint. And the priefl that
maketh [him] clean fhall prefent the man that is to
be made clean, and thofe things, before the Lord, [at]
the
LEVITICUS, XIV. 499
12 the door of the tabernacle of the congregation : And the
prieft (hall take one he lamb, and offer him for a tref-
pafs ofiering, and the log of oil, and wave them [for]
13 a wave offering before the Lord : And he fhall flay
the lamb in the place where he fhall kill the fin offering
and the burnt offering, in the holy place : for as the
fin offering [isl the prieil*s, [fo is] the trefpafs offering:
14 it [is] mofl: holy : And the prieit fhall take [fome] of
the blood of the trefpafs offering, and the priefl fhall
put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to
be cleanfed, and upon tlie thumb of his right hand, and
upon the great toe of his right foot, to denote that he was
now free to hear God^s ii'ordy to touch any perfon or thin^^ and
15 to go where he would: And the prieft fhall take [fome]
of the log of oil, and pour [it] into the palm of his
16 own left hand : And the prieft fnall dip his right finger
in the oil that [is] in his left hand, and fnall fprinkle
of the oil with his finger itw^w times before the Lord :
17 And of the reft of the oil that [is] in his hand fhall the
prieft put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to
be cleanfed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and
upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of
18 the trefpafs offering: And the remnant of the oil that
[is] in the priefi's hand he fhall pour upon the head
of him that is to be cleanfed : and the pried: fhall make
\^ an atonement for him before the Lord. And the prieft
fhall offer the fin offering, and m.ake an atonement for
him that is to be cleanfed from his uncleannefs •, and af-
terward he fhall kill the burnt offering. I'his burnt offer-
20 ing is the gift mentioned^ Mat, viii. 4, And the prieil
fhall offer the burnt offering and the meat ofl-ering
upon the altar : and the prieft fhall make an atonement
for him, and he fhall be clean.
21 And if he [be] poor, and cannot get fo much; then
he fhall take one lamb [for] a trefpafs offering to be
waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth
deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering,
22 and a log of oil; And two turtledoves, or two young
pigeons, fuch as he is able to get ; and the one fhall be
1'^ a fin offering, and the other a burnt offering. And he
fhall
500 LEVITICUS. XIV.
fhall bring them on the eighth day for his cleanfing
unto the prieft, unto the door of the tabernacle of the
24 congregation, before the Lord. And the prieft ihall
take the lamb of the trefpafs offering, and the log of
oil, and the prieft ftiall wave them [for] a wave ofFer-
25 ing before the Lord : And he ftiall kill the lamb of
the trefpafs offering, and the prieft ftiall take [fome] of
the blood of the trefpafs off^ering, and put [it] upon
the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleanfed,
and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the
26 great toe of his right foot : And the prieft ftiall pour
27 of the oil into the palm of his own left hand : And the
prieft ftiall fprinkle with his right finger [fome] of the
oil that [is] in his left hand feven times before the
28 Lord: And the prieft ftiall put of the oil that [is] in
his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to
be cleanfed, and upon the thumb of his right hand,
and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place
29 of the blood of the trefpafs offering : And the reft of
the oil that [is] in the prieft's hand he ftiall put upon
the head of him that is to be cleanfed, to make an
30 atonement for him before the Lord. And he ftiall
offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young
3 1 pigeons, fuch as he can get-, [Even] fuch as he is able
to get, the one [for] a fin offering, and the other for
a burnt offering, with the meat offering : and the prieft
ftiall make an atonement for him that is to be cleanfed
before the Lord.
32 This [is] the law [of him] in whom [is] the plague
of leprofy, whofe hand is not able to get [that which
pertaineth] to his cleanfing.
33 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes and unto Aaron,
34 faying. When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which
I give to you for a poffefiion, and I put the plague of
leprofy in a houfe of the land of your poffefiion •, (this
plainly intimates^ that it was a judgment infixed by the im-
35 mediate hand of God-,) And he that owneth the houfe
ftiall come and tell the prieft, faying. It feemeth to me
36 [there is] as it were a plague in the houfe: Then the
prieft ftiall command that they empty the houfe, before
the
LEVITICUS. XIV. 501
prieft go [into it] to fee the plague, that all that [is]
in the houle be not made unclean : and afterward the
37 prleil rhail go in to fee J:he houle: And he fhall look
on the plague, and, behold, [if] the plague [be] in
the walls of the houfe with hollow ft rakes, greenilli
or reddiih, which in light [are] lower than the wall •,
38 Then the prieft ftiail go out of the houfe to the door
39 of the houfe, and ftiut up the houfe icvcn days: And
the prieft ftiall come again the fev^enth day, and fhall
look: and, behold, [if] the plague be fpread in the
40 walls of the houfe. Then the prieft ftiall command that
they take away the ftones in which the plague [is,]
and they ftiall caft them into an unclean place without
^i the city: And he. ftiall caufe the houfe to be fcraped
within round about, and they ftiall pour out the duft
that they fcrape off^ without the city into an unclean
«.2 place : And they ftiall take other ftones, and put [them]
in the place of thofe ftones •, and he ftiall take other
43 morter, and ftiall plaifter the houfe. And if the plague
come again, and break out in the houfe, after that he
hath taken away the ftones, and after he hath fcraped
44 die houfe, and after it is plaiftercd -, Then the prieft
ftiall come and look, and, behold, [if] the plague be
fpread in the houfe, it [is] a fretting leprofy in the
45 houfe : it [is] unclean. And he ftiall break down the
houle, the ftones of it, and the timber thereof, and all
the morter of the houfe; and he ftiall carry [them]
46 forth out of the city into an unclean place. Moreover
he that goeth into the houfe all the while that it is ftiut
47 up ftiall be unclean until the even. And he that lieth
in the houie ftiall walli his clothes •, and he that eateth
in the houfe ftiall wafti his clothes.
4S And if the prieft ftiali come in, and look [upon it,]
and, behold, the plague hath not fpresd in the houfe,
alter the houfe was plaiftered : then the prieft ihall pro-
nounce the houfe dean, becaufe the plague is healed.
49 And he ftiall take to cleanfe the houfe two birds, and
5 0 cedar wood, and fcarlet, and hyftbp : And he ftiall
kill the one of the birds in an earthen vefl*ei over run-
51 ning water: And he ftiall take the cedar wood, and
Vol. I, I i the
502 LEVITICUS. XV.
the hyfTop, and the fcarlet, and the living bird, and
dip them in the blood of the flain bird, and in the run-
52 ning water, and fprinkle the houfe feven times: And
he fhall cleanfe the houfe with the blood of the bird,
and with the running water, and with the living bird,
and with the cedar wood, and with the hyfTop, and with
53 the fcarlet: But he fhall let go the living bird out of
the city into the open fields, and make an atonement
for the houfe : and it fhall be clean.
54 This [is] the law for all manner of plague of leprofy,
ij^ and fcali, And for the leprofy of a garment, and of a
^6 houfe. And for a rifing, and for a fcab, and for a
c,y bright fpot : To teach when [it is] unclean, and when
[it is] clean : this [is] the law of the leprofy.
CHAP. XV.
Of itncleannefs by ijjues^ and their ckanfing.
1 A N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes and to Aaron,
2 XjL ^^yi^g? Speak unto the children of Ifrael, and
fay unto them. When any man hath a running iflue out
3 ofhisflefh, [becaufeof] his ifTue he [is] unclean. And
this fhall be his uncleannefs in his iflue : whether his
flefh run with his iflue, or his flefh be fl:opped from his
4 ifliie, it [is] his uncleannefs. Every bed, whereon he lieth
that hath the iffue, is unclean : and every thing, where-
5 on he fitteth, fliall be unclean. And whofoever toucheth
his bed fliall wafli his clothes, and bathe [himfelf ] in
6 water, and be unclean until the even. And he that
fltteth on [any] thing whereon he fat that hath the iflue
fhall wafh his clothes, and bathe [himfelf] in water and
7 be unclean until the even. And he that toucheth the
flefh of him that hath the ifTue fhall wafh his clothes,
and bathe [himfelf] in water, and be unclean until the
8 even.-'" And if he that hath the ifTue fpit upon him that
is clean-, then he fhall vvafli his clothes, and bathe [him-
fdfj
^ It is very probable that they had publick baths in every
town or city, as bathing was {0 frequently neceflary.
L E V I T I C U S. XV. 503
9 felf ] In water, and be unclean until the even. And
what faddle foever he rideth upon that hath the iflue
10 fhall be unclean. And whofoever toucheth any thing
that was under him fhall be unclean until the even :
and he that beareth [any of ] thofe things fhall wafh
his clothes, and bathe [himfelf ] in water, and be un-
1 1 clean until the even. And whomfoever he toucheth that
hath the ifTue, and hath not rinfed his hands in water,
he fhall wafh his clothes, and bathe [himfelf] in water,
12 and be unclean until the even. And the vefTel of earth,
that he toucheth which hath the ifiue, fhall be broken :
13 and every vefTel of wood fhall be rinfed in water. And
when he that hath an ifTue is cleanfed of his ifTue •, then
he fhall number to himfelf feven days for his cleanfing,
and wafh his clothes, and bathe his flefh in running
water, and fhall be clean.
14 And on the eighth day he fhall take to him two tur-
tledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the
Lord unto the door of the tabernacle of the congre-
15 gation, and give them unto the priefl : And the priefl
fhall ofFer them, the one [for] a fin offering, and the
other [for] a burnt offering ^ and the prieft fhall make
an atonement for him before the Lord for his IfTue.
16 And if any man's feed of copulation go out from him,
then he fhall wafh all his flefh in water, and be unclean
ly until the even. And every garment, and every fkin,
whereon is the feed of copulation, fhall be wafhed with
1 8 water, and be unclean until the even. The woman alfo
with whom man fhall lie [with] feed of copulation, they
fhall [both] bathe [themfelves] in water, and be un-
clean until the even,
19 And if a woman have an IfTue, [and] her IfTue in her
flefh be blood, fhe fhall be put apart feven days: and
whofoever toucheth her fhall be unclean until the
20 even. And every thing that fhe lieth upon in her
feparation fhall be unclean : every thing alfo that fhe
21 fitteth upon fhall be unclean. And whofoever toucheth
her bed fhall wafh his clothes, and bathe [himfelf] in
2 2 water, and be unclean until the even. And whofoever
toucheth any thing that fhe fat upon fhall wafh his
I i 2 clothes,
504 L E V I T I C U S. XV.
clothes, and bathe [himfelf ] in water, and be unclean
23 until the even. And if it [be] on [her] bed, or on any
thing whereon fhe fitteth, when he toucheth it, he fhall
24 be unclean until the even. And if any man lie with
her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he (hall be un-
clean feven days •, and all the bed whereon he lieth fliali'
25 be unclean. And if a woman have an ifTue of her blood
many days out of the time of her feparation, or if it
run beyond the time of her feparation -, all the days of
the ifiue of her uncleannefs fhall be as the days of her
26 feparation : fhe [fhall be] unclean. Every bed whereon
fhe lieth all the days of her ifTue fliall be unto her as the
bed of her feparation : and whatfoever flie fitteth upon
fhall be unclean, as the uncleannefs of her feparation.
27 And whofoever toucheth thofe things fhall be unclean,
and fhall wafh his clothes, and bathe [himfelf] in water,
28 and be unclean until the even. But if fhe be cleanfed
of her ifTue, then fhe fhall number to herfelf feven days,
29 and after that fhe fhall be clean. And on the eighth
day fhe fhall take unto her two turtles, or two young
pigeons, and bring them unto the prieft, to the door of
30 the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priefl fhall
offer the one [for] a fin offering, and the other [for] a
burnt offering •, and the prieft fhall make an atonement
for her before the Lord for the ifTue of her unclean-
nefs.
3 1 Thus fhall ye feparate the children of Ifrael from their
uncleannefs •, that they die not in their uncleannefs,
when they defile my tabernacle that [is] among them.
32 This [is] the law of him that hath an ifTue, and [of
him] whofe feed goeth from him, and is defiled there-
33 with-, And of her that is fick of her flowers, and of
him that hath an ifTue, of the man, and of the woman,
and of him that lieth with her which is unclean.
CHAP.
LEVITICUS. XVL 50^
CHAP. XVI.
'The great day of atonement*
1 AND the Lord fpake unto Mofes after the death
ji\^ of the two fons of Aaron, when they offered
2 before the Lord, and died-, And the Lord faid unto
Mofes, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come
not at all times into the holy [place] within the vail
before the mercy feat, which [is] upon the ark •, that
he die not: for 1 will appear in the cloud upon the
mercy feat ; or^ I will be approached in a cloud of incenfe ;
for it ivas a bright flaming appearance that was on the mercy
3 feat^ called the Glory of the Lord, Thus fhall Aaron come
into the holy [place:] with a young bullock for a Rn
offering, and a ram for a burnt offering /(?r himfelf and
4 his houfe-, that is, the whole Levitical family -^ v. 6. He
fhall put on the holy linen coat, and he fhall have the
linen breeches upon his flefh, and fhall be girded with
a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre fhall he be
attired : thefe [are] holy garments ; therefore fhall he
5 wafh his flefh in water, and [fo] put them on." And
he fhall take of the congregation of the children of
Ifrael two kids of the goats for a fin offering, and one
ram for a burnt offering /d/r the whole congregation^ beftdes
that which he offered for himfelf ^ 1^-3*
6 And Aaron fhall offer his bullock of the fm offering,
which [is] for himfelf, and make an atonement for him-
felf, and for his houih^ for all the priefis and Leuites,
7 And he fhall take the two goats, and prefent them
before the Lord [at] the door of the tabernacle of the
8' congregation. And Aaron fhall caft lots upon the two
goats •, one lot for the Lord, for his ufe and fervice^ by
way of facrifice^ and the other lot for the fcape goat.
9 And Aaron fhall bring the goat upon which the Lord's
I i 3 lot
° It feems that the whole work, which was peculiar to this day,
was performed by the high pried. The jewilh writers tell us,
that he took fome extraordinary care, for fome preceding days, to
■purify himfelf from all kinds of pollution, and that he fat up
the night before, and was watched by inferior priefts, that nothing
of that kind might accidentally befall him.
5o6 LEVITICUS. XVI.
lot fell, and offer him [for] a (in offering /(?r all thepeo-
10 pie. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the
fcape goat, fhall be prefented alive before the Lord, to
make an atonement with him, in the ynanner mentioned^
V, 21, 22, [and] to let him go for a fcape goat into
the wildernefs.
1 1 And Aaron iball bring the bullock of the fin offering,
which [is] for himfelf, and fhall make an atonement for
himfelf, and for his houfe, and fhall kill the bullock of
12 the fin offering which [is] for himfelf: And he fhall
take a cenfer full of burning coals of fire from off the
altar before the Lord, and his hands full of fweet in-
cenfe beaten fmail, and bring [it] v/ithin the vail : °
13 And he fhall put the incenfe upon the fire before the
Lord, that the cloud of the incenfe may cover the
mercy feat that [is] upon the teflimony, that he die
not.
14 And he fhall take of the blood of the bullock, whkk
he was to go out again andfetch^ for both his hands wtrefull
before^ and fprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy
feat eaftward ; and before the mercy feat fhall he fprinkle
15 of the blood with his finger {^y^n times. Then fhall he
kill the goat of the fin offering, that [is] for the people,
and bring his blood within the vail,P and do with that
blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and
fprinkle it upon the mercy feat, and before the mercy
1 6 feat : And, left Godjkould befrovoked by thejins of the people
to withdraiv himfelf from among them, he fhall make an
atonement for the holy [place,] becaufe of the unclean-
nefs of the children of Ifrael, and becaufe of their tranf-
greffions in all their fins, the imperfections and mifcarri ages
of their holy fervices^ which would have hindered the efficacy
of the high prieft's mediation on their behalf, if God had not
been reconciled to them : and fo fhall he do for the taber-
nacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them
in
• This was the firft time of his entrance inro the moH holy
place. He never entered there without incenfe, the cioud of
which, rifing between him and the Shekinah, prevented his pry-
ing too minutely into the divine appearance, or glory,
P This was the third time of his entrance.
LEVITICUS. XVI. 507
in the midfi: of their uncleannefs ; in the midfi of afinful
-people^ who defile not only themfelveSy but God's fan^unry
17 alfo^ Ezek. xxiii. 38, 39.^ And there fhall be no man
in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in
to make an atonement in the holy [place,] until he
come out, and have made an atonement for himfelf,
and for his houfehold, and for all the congregation of If-
18 rael. And he fhall go out of the holy place unto the altar
that [is] before the Lord, to the brazen altar in the court
of the tabernacle^ and make an atonement for it ; and
fhall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood
of the goat, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar
19 round about. And he fhall fprinkle of the blood upon
it with his finger {tv^n times, and cleanfe it, and hallow
it from the uncleannefs of the children of Ifrael.
20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy
[place,] and the tabernacle of the congregation, and
21 the altar, he fhall bring the live goat : And Aaron fhall
lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and
confefs over him all the iniquities of the children of If-
rael, and all their tranfgrefTions in all their fins, that is,
fins of all forts, both of the priefis and people, putting them
upon the head of the goat, charging thenu ^nd thepunifk-
ment due to them, on the goat, which, tho' only a ceremony,
yet being done according to God^s appointment, was available
to this end: and the priejl fhall fend [him] away by the
hand of a fit man into the wildernefs, to denote the removal
22 of their Jins far away : And the goat fhall bear upon him
all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited : and he
23 fhall let go the goat in the wildernefs/ And Aaron
fhall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and
fhall put off the linen garments, which he put on when
he went into the holy [place,] and fhall leave them there;
I i 4 the
* Accordingly in 1;. 20. it is called, A reconciliation for the
fandluary. In allafion to this, the apoflle argues, Heb, ix. 23.
that heaven itfelf would be polluted by the entrance of fuch fin-
ful creatures as we, were it not for the blood of Chrift, that
better facrifice, by which we are purified.
' Herein he was a type of Chrift, on whom the Lord laid our
iniquities, I/a. liii. 6. and who bore our fins in his own body on
the tree, 1 Peur ii. 24.
5oS LEVITICUS. XVI.
24 the Jeivs fa)\ never to be worn any more. And he fhall
wafh his flefh with water in the holy place, and put on
his golden garments, and come forth, and offer his
burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people,
and make, or rather^ having made^ an atonement for him-
25 {t\{^ and for the people, bv the foregoing facrijices. And
the fat of the fm offering fhali he burn upon the altar.
26 And he that let go the goat for the fcape goat, being
-polluted by touching the beafi charged with the fins of all the
people ^ {hall wafh his clothes, and bathe his flefli in
27 water, and afterward he Jliall come into the camp. And
the bullock [for J the (in offering, and the goat [for]
the fin offering, whofe blood was brought in to make
atonement in the holy [place,] fliall [one] carry forth
without the camp ; and they fhall burn m the fire their
28 fkins, and their flefh, and their dung. And he that
burneth them fhall wafh his clothes, and bathe his flefh
in water, and afterward he fhali come into the camp.
29 And [this] fhall be a flatute for ever unto you :
[that] in the feventh month, on the tenth [day] of the
month, ye fhall aftiicfl; your fouls, and do no work at
all, [whether it be] one of your a\vn country, or a
30 ftranger that fojourneth among you: For on that day
fhall [the priefl] make an atonement for you, to cleanfe
you, [that] ye may be clean fi-om ail your flns before
31 the Lord,' It [fhall be] a fabbath of refl unto you, and
ye fhall afflidl your fouls by a flatute for ever.*
32 And the priefl, whom he fhall anoint, and whom he
fhall confecrate to miniiler in the priefl's office in his
father's flead, fhall make the atonement, and fhall put
33 on the linen clothes, [even] the holy garments: And
he fhall make an atonement for the holy fandluary, and
he fhali make an atonement for the tabernacle c^i the
con-
' It is obfervable, that this was the univerfal atonement, and
the only facrifice that was offered for all the lins of the priefts and
the people, and for all the accidental errors in the fervice of the
fandluary, and that degree of polliuion which even the moil facred
things were expofed 10 in confequence of their being among a
llnful people,
* Accordingly, the jews always obferved this day in the midft
fcf their greatell depravity.
LEVITICUS. XVI. 509
congregation, and for the altar, and he fhall make an
atonement for the priefts, and for all the people of the
34 congregation. And this fhall be an everlafting ilatute
unto you, to make an atonement for the children of
Ifrael for all their fins once a year."* And he did as
the Lord commanded Mofes.""'
REFLECTION.
THE apoftle, Heh, ix. 7 — 12. hath fo plainly traced
an analogy between the inftitutlons of this day, and
the atonernent of Chrift, and his intercefiion founded on the
efficacy of his facrifice, that none can reafonably deny the for-
mer to have been a type of the latter. Let us learn then, to be
thankful for the atonement and intercefTion of Jefus Chrift j
and confider the nature and meaning of it by the light of
this important chapter : He is our great high prieft, who is
perfe<5lly pure ard holy, ijoho did no fin^ neither was guile
found in his mouth. He needed not to offer facrifices for
himfelf, but he offered one for all the people-, not the blood
of bulls and goats, which could not take away fin, but his
own 'precious blood, ^he Lord was f leafed to lay on him the
iniquities of us all. He bore away our tranfgreffions, as the
fcape goat did the fins of the people, never to be remem«
bered any more. In all fin offerings, which v^ere prefented
with a proper difpofition of mind, the guilt of the offender
was confidered as transferred to the beaft, and the beafi: was
put to death in his itead. Thus Chrifl bore our fins in his own
body on the tree.
Let us be deeply fenfible of the evil of our fins, confefs
them with humble, penitent hearts, while we lay our hands
on the head of this great facrifice. Let us adore the mercy
of God in appointing and accepting It, and by faith lay hold
on it •, rejoicing in thefe tokens of pardon . and acceptance
in this new and living way. Efpecially Ihould we rejoice,
that Chriit, by his own bloody is entered within the vail^ where
he
« This is expreiTed fo frequently to ihow the great Importance
of it.
^ That this chapter may be better underllood, compare it with
the eighth and ninth chapters pf the Hebrews,
5XO LEVITICUS. XVII.
hs ever lives to make intercejfwn for us. Now we may corns
boldly to the throne of grace ^ to feek mercy, and grace to help
in every time of need, fi^i^^g Jefus Chrifi, the Son of God,
is pajjed into the heavens for us. By the efficacy of his
blood are thofe heavenly places fandified for us, and our
way into them is opened. Let us be daily looking to the
Lord Jefus Chriil, ^Lsgone to appear in theprefence of God for
us, and as entered there with his own blood : and may that blood
be as efficacious to fubdue the power of fin in our hearts, as
it is to expiate our guilt in the prefence of God ! Amen,
C H A P. XVII.
God having inflituted the great facrifice, fome dire5Iions are here
given relating to the flaying of be aft s^ and what fhould be done
with their blood,
1 yi N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
2 J[\, unto Aaron, and unto his fons, and unto all the
children of Ifrael, and fiy unto them-. This [is] the
3 thing which the Lord hath commanded, faying. What
man foever [there be] of the houfe of Ifrael, that kill-
eth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp for facrifce,
4 or that killeth [it] out of the camp, And bringeth it
not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
to offer an offering unto the Lord before the taber-
nacle of the Lord j blood fhall be imputed unto that
man, he hath fhed blood -, and that man ffiall be cut off
5 from among his people •/ To the end that the children
of Ifrael may bring their facrifices, which they offer, or
were ufed to offer, in the open field, even that they may
bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the taber-
nacle of the congregation, unto the prieft, and offer
6 them [for] peace offerings unto the Lord. And the
priell fhall fprinkle the blood upon the altar of the
Lord,
» This was probably intended to prevent any idolatrous cuftorns
which ihey might have feen in Egypt or learned from their neigh.
bcurs.
LEVITICUS. XVII. 511
Lord, [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congrega-
tion, and burn the fat for a fweet favour unto the Lord.
7 And they fhall no more offer their facrifices unto devils,
demons or evil fpir its ^^ after whom they have gone a
whoring. This fhall be a flatute for ever unto them
8 throughout their generations. And thou fhalt fay
unto them, Whatfoever man [there be] of the houfe of
Ifrael, or of the flrangers which fojourn among you,
that ofFereth a burnt offering or facrifice of peace offerings
9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord •, even that
man fhall be cut off from among his people.
10 And whatfoever man [there be] of the houfe of If-
rael, or of the flrangers that fojourn among you, that
eateth any manner of blood at his own tahle^ which many
idolaters did in a very fuperftitious manner ; I will even fet
my face againfl that foul that eateth blood, and will cut
1 1 him off from among his people. For the life of the
flefh [is] in the blood, the life of all living creatures de^
fends upon the bloody is preferved and nourijlied by it^ and
extinguiflied when that is gone: and I have given it to you
upon the altar to make an atonement for your fouls :
for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for
the foul ; I have fet it apart for a better ufe^ and therefore
12 it mufi not be eaten. Therefore I faid unto the children
of Ifrael, No foul of you fhall eat blood, neither fhall
any flranger that fojourneth among you eat blood, as
idolaters were ufed to do after they hadfacrificed their beafis \
hoping thereby to have familiarity with their deities^ and
13 revelations from them. And whatfoever man [there be]
of the children of Ifrael, or of the flrangers that fo-
journ among you, which hunteth and catcheth any
beafl or fowl that may be eaten ; he fhall even pour out
the
y The original word is Goats \ either they imagined that they
appeared in that fhape, or they were worfhipped thro' that medi-
um, efpecially in £gypt. Some think all the fieih for common
food was to be killed before the tabernacle, to prevent their of
fering any of it or its blood to fidols. If this be the fenfe, it could
only relate to their condition in the wildernefs, and would not be
a Hatute for ever.
512 L^E V I T I C U S. XVII.
the blood thereof, and cover it with duft, left other heafts
Jlionld lick it iip^ or mm JJwuld convert it to idolatrous pur-
i^.pofes. For [it is] the life of all flelli •, the blood of k
[is] for the life thereof: therefore I faidunto the child-
ren of Ifrael, Ye iball eat the blood of no manner of
£efh : for the life of all flefh [is] the blood thereof:
whofoever eateth it fhall be cut off.
15 And every foul that ignorantly eateth that which died
[of itfelf,] or that which was torn [with~beafts, and was
not fiifficiently bled^ v/hether it be] one of your own coun-
try, or a ftranger, he fhall both Vv^afh his clothes, and
bathe [himfelf] in water, and be unclean until the
16 even : then flAall he be clean. But if he wafh [them]
not, nor bathe his flefli -, then fhall he bear his iniquity,
the piniJJiment of his difobedience,
REFLECTIONS,
!• Tli r E hence learn, that whether we eat^ or drink^ or
|r V whatever we doy all JhovM he done to the glory of
God, He required that the Ifraelites iliould pay fome peculiar
acknowledgment to him in their daily food; offer him the
bleod, and perhaps kill the animals intended for food, at
his tabernacle •, this was defigned to fiiow them that the
earth is the Lord's and the fulnefs thereof \ the heafts of the
foreft are his^ and the cattle upon a thoufand hills. May this
teach us to glorify God in the ufe of his creatures-, to fanc-
tify them with the word and prayer. Let our acknowledg-
ment of God's goodnefs at our meals be a foiemn thing ;
let the heart be impreiled with reverence and gratitude to
him, who fpreadeth our table andfillethour cup^ and give th us
all things richly to enjoy,
2. Let the regard fhown to the blood, or hfe, of a bead,
as ah expiation, remind us of the blood of fprinkling, that
precious blood of Chrift, by which atonement was made for
fin : in this antient conftitution there is a reference to this
great facrifice and propitiation. This fhould be thankfully
remembered by us ; and while we rejoice in our freedom
from thefe ordinances, let us pay a believing regard to that
blood
LEVITICUS. XVIIL 5 [3
blood which ckanfes from all fin ^ and by which we obtain
eternal redemption.
3. Let us learn to be npon our guard againft any viola-
tion of the divine laws, efpecially a prefumptuous one. Sins
of inadvertency are here taken' notice of, as by them fome
degree of pollution was contraAed, and forms of puritica-
tion were appointed far them. Let us be very reo-ular In
obferving all divine Inilitutions •, keep clofe to divine pre-
cepts •, and efpecially be careful that we do not fin "doith a
high hand^ not wilfully violate the laws of the gofpel, which
are all reafonable, juft, and good. Let It be our daily
prayer, Lord, keep thy ferv ants from prefumptuous fi.ns I
CHAP. XVIII.
In this chapter ceremonial precepts are particularly explained and
enforced,
1 AND the Lord fpake unto Moft^s, faying, Speak
2 jt\, unto the children of Ifrael, and fay unto them,
1 [am] the Lord your God, who therefore have authority
to command what I pleafe^ and zvhom you are hound abfo"
3 lutely to obey. After the doings of the land of L8:ypt,
wherein ye dwelt, fhall ye not do : and after the doings
of the land of Canaan, Vv^hither I bring you, fhall ye not
4 do: neither fhall ye walk In their ordinances. Ye fhall
do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk
5 therein : I [am] the Lord your God. Ye fhall there-
fore keep my ftatutes, and my judgments: which if a
man dofincerely^ he fhall live In thzm^ fhall have life and
profperity : I [am] the Lord.
6 None of you fhall approach to any that Is near of kin
to him, to uncover [their] nakednefs ; that is^ fhall not
7 contra^ marriage with fuch: I [am] the Lord. The
nakednefs of thy father, or the nakednefs of thy mo-
ther, (halt thou not uncover: fhe [is] thy mother;
thou flialt not uncover her nakednefs -, that isy thoufJialt
8 not marry thy own mother. The nakednefs of thy fa-
ther's
514 LEVITICUS. XVIII.
ther's wife fhalt thou not uncover; that is^ thouJJiall not
marry thy mother m law^ orftep mother: it [is] thy father's
9 nakednefs. The nakednefs of thy filler, the daughter
of thy father by another wife^ or daughter of thy mother
by another hujband^ [whether fhe be] born at home, or
born abroad, [even] their nakednefs thou fhalt not
io uncover. The nakednefs of thy fon's daughter, or of
thy daughter's daughter, [even] their nakednefs thou
fhalt not uncover : for their's [is] thine own nakednefs,
1 1 The nakednefs of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten
of thy father, fhe [is] thy fifter, thou fhalt not uncover
1 2 her nakednefs. Thou fhalt not uncover the nakednefs
of thy father's fifler : (he [is] thy father's near kinf-
13 woman. Thou fhalt not uncover the nakednefs of
thy mother's fifter: fhe [is] thy mother's near kinf-
14 woman. Thou fhalt not uncover the nakednefs of thy
father's brother, thou fhalt not approach to his wife :
15 fhe [is] thine aunt. Thou fhall not uncover the na-
kednefs of thy daughter in law : fhe [is] thy fon's wife ;
16 thou fhalt not uncover her nakednefs. Thou (halt not
uncover the nakednefs of thy brother*s wife : it [is] thy
17 brother's nakednefs. Thou fhalt not uncover the na-
kednefs of a woman and her daughter, neither fhalt thou
take her fon's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to
uncover her nakednefs •, [for] they [are] her near kinf-
women : it [is] wickednefs.
18 Neither fhalt thou take a wife to her fifler, one
wife to another^ to vex [her,] to uncover her naked-
nefs, befides the other in her life [time.]
19 Alfo thou fhalt not approach unto a woman to un-
cover her nakednefs, as long as fhe is put apart for her
uncleannefs, which was to be /even days, This was to be
funifijed with death when wilfully done (ch. xx. 1 8.) — God
having forbidden thofe crimes to which the Egyptians were
addi^ied^ now proceeds to thofe that were moft common
20 among the Canaanites, Moreover thou fhalt not lie
carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyfelf
with her-, ^vhich was punifhed with death (ch. xx. 10.)
2 1 And thou fhalt not let any of thy feed pafs through
[the
LEVITICUS. XVIII. 515
[the fire] to Molech,'' neither fhalt thou profane the
name of thy God, not dijhonour it by departing from God
to ferve fuch an idol^ in fuch an abominable manner : I
22 [am] the Lord. Thou fhalt not lie with mankind,
23 as with womankind : it [Is] abomination. Neither fiialt
thou lie with any beaft to defile thyfeif therewith:
neither fhall any woman ftand before a bead to lie
down thereto : it [is] confufion.
24 Defile not ye yourfelves in any of thefe things: for
in all thefe the nations are defiled which I caft out be-
25 fore you : And the land is defiled : therefore I do vifit
the iniquity thereof upon it, I am now about to puni/li it
for thefe iniquities \ and the land itfelf vomiteth out her
26 inhabitants. Ye fhall therefore keep my ftatutes and
my judgments, and iball not commit [any] of thefe
abominations i [neither] any of your own nation, nor
27 any ftranger that fojourneth among you : (For all thefe
abominations have the men of the land done, which
28 [were] before you, and the land is defiled;) That the
land fpue not you out alfo, when ye defile it, as it fpued
29 out the nations that [were] before you. For whofoever
fhall commit any of thefe abominations, even the fouls
that commit [them] fhall be cut off from among their
30 people. Therefore fhall ye keep mine ordinance, that
[ye] commit not [any one] of thefe abominable cuf-
toms, which were committed before you, and that ye
defile not yourfelves therein: I [am] the Lord your
God.
CHAP.
" This Molech was the fame as Baal, fee Jer. xix. 5, In the
vvorfhip of this idol, children were fometimes burned to death ;
fometimes they paffed only between two fires, for a fign of confe-
rration or purgation ; and it was reckoned a piece of witchcraft
to preferve them from a violent death. This was fpirituai whore-
dom, ch. XX. 5 and therefore here forbidden among the forts of
whoredom and incelt.
5i6 LEVITICUS. XIX.
CHAP. XIX.
A repetition of fundry laws^ partly ceremonial, and partly moral,
1 A N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak
2 ji\ unto all the congregation of the children of K-
rael, /peak to the elders^ and let them f peak to the people ^
and fay unto them, Ye (hall be holy, jeparated from all
the aforementioned defilements, and entirely confecrated to
my fervice \ be pure in heart, and active in obeying all my
3 commands: for I the Lord your God [am ] holy. Ye
fhall fear every man his mother, {fm is firfi mentioned,
becaufe mofl apt to be defpifed,) and his father, and keep
my fabbaths: I [am] the Lord your God.
4 Turn ye not unto idols, neither to worfhip them, nor to
look at them, nor make to yourfelves molten gods : I,
the felfexiflent and eternal Jehovah, [am] the Lord your
God.
5 And if ye offer a facrifice of peace offerings unto the
Lord, ye fhall offer it at your own will, what you think
proper, but in the vjay which God hath prefcribed, andobferv-
6 ing his diretiions. It fhall be eaten the fame day ye offer
it, and on the morrow : and if aught remain ^until the
7 third day, it fhall be burnt in the fire. And if it be eaten
at all on the third day, it [is] abominable : it fhall not
8 be accepted. Therefore [every one] that eateth it fhall
bear his iniquity, becaufe he hath profaned the hallowed
thing of the Lord: and that foul fhall be cut off from
among his people.
9 And when ye reap the harved of your land, thou (halt
not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither fhalt
thou gather the gleanings of thy harveft, what drops
10 down by chance. And thou fhalt not glean thy vine-
yard, neither flialt thou gather [every] grape of thy
vineyard. Jingle grapes that do not grow in cluflers •, thou
flialt leave them for the poor and ftranger: I [am] the
Lord your God, who gave you this land, and re((uire
this charity, and that you be ready to pity and do good,
11 Ye fliall not fteal, neither deal falfely, neither lie one
to Tixiothtv upon any occafion whatever^ and particularly, not
thereby
LEVITICUS. XIX. 517
12 thenhy to defraud another. And ye fhall not fwear by my
name falfely, neither ihalt thou profane the name of thy
God, by rafli^ vain^ unadvifed^ needlefs^ or falfe oaths ^ or
any other ahufe of my name^ by uftng it in common difcourfe^
whereby it might come into contempt ; for I [arri] the Lord,
I am J EHO VAH^ and expe^ you to reverence my dwful
and venerable name*
13 Thou fhalt not defraud thy neighbour by crafty nei-
ther rob [him] by violence: the wages of him that is
hired fhall not abide with thee all night until the morn-
14 ing, becaufe he is poor^ and wants it for fupportj" Thou
fhalt not curfe the deaf, who cannot hear^ nor put a
flumbling block before the blind to make them f ally but
fhalt fear thy God: I [am] the Lord, who fee and hear
what injury is done to thefe unhappy perfons^ tho" they do
noty and I will reckon for them^ and plead their caufe.
15 Ye fhall do no unrighteoufnefs in judgment: thou
flialt not refped the perfon of the poor, nor honour the
perfon of the mighty : [but] in righteoufnefs fhalt thou
judge thy neighbour; you are not to regard the quali^
fications or conditions of men^ but the merits of the caufe,
16 Thou fhalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among
thy people, to pick upflories here and there ^ and carry them
about the country ^ to thy neighbour'' s hurt\^ neither fhalt
thou ftand againffc the blood of thy neighbour, \not do
any thing againji his life^ particularly ^ not appear as a falfe
accufer or witnefs in courts of jufiice \ I [am] the Lord.
17 Thou fnalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou
fhalt in any wife rebuke thy neighbour, whatever fcortiy
wrathy or lofs it may expofe thee to ; therefore reprove him
when he doeth wrongs and do not TufFer fin upon him,
l^ be not accejfory to his Jin and ruin. Thou fhalt not
avenge, nor bear any grudge againfl the children of
thy people, but thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf :
I [am] the I..ord. This advice and comma^id was given by
Vol. L K k our
^ Plato ordered fach to pay double, and Job efteemed it his
honour that he had never broken this law,
^ This is a very vile, but too common pra^^ice. One evil
tongue hurts three perfons, fay the jews, the fpeaker, the hearer,
and the perfon fpoken of.
5i8 LEVITICUS. XIX.
our Lord hiny elf ^ Matt. v. 43. and he tells us who is meant
hy our neighbour^ Matt, xxli. 39.
19 Ye fhall keep my ftatutes. Thou ilialt not let thy'
cattle gender with a diverfe kind : thou {halt not fow
thy field with mingled feed: neither fhall a garment
minfyled of linen and woollen come upon thee, nefe
things are mentioned^ to teach them to abominate the mixtures
forbidden in the foregoing chapter^ and to deter them from the
idolatry of thofe who ufed to propagate heterogeneous cattle
in honour of their gods.
20 And whofoever lieth carnally with a woman, that [is]
a bondmaid, betrothed to an hufoand, and not at all
redeemed, nor freedom given her •, fhe fliall be fcourg-
ed ; (the Hebrew fignifies^ there Jhall be a fcourging^ pro^
bably of both of them\) they fhall not be put to death,
becaufe Hie was not 'iv^Q^for then the puni/hment was death.
21 And he fhall bring his trefpafs offering unto the Lord,
, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
22 [even] a ram for a trefpafs offering. And the prieil fhall
make an atonement for him with the ram of the trefpafs
offering ■ before the Lord for his fin which he hath
done : and the fin which he hath done fhall be forgiven
him.
23 And when ye fhall come into the land, and fhall
have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye (hall
count the fruit thereof as uncircumcifed, as unclean:
three years fhall it be as uncircumcifed unto you : it
fhall not be eaten of-, in oppofilion to the cujiom of the
24 heathen^ who confecrated the fruit to their gods. But in
the fourth year all the fruit thereof fhall be holy, given
to the priefts as firjl fruits^ (and part of them was given to
the poor widows^ father kfs^ and ftr angers^ Deut. xiv. 28,
29.) to praife the LoRi; [withal,] by whofe goodnefs and
25 power the trees bring forth fruit to perfections And in ,
the fifth year fhall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that
it may yield unto you tlie increafe thereof abundantly ^
as a reward of your obedience : I [am] the Lord your
God.
26 Ye fhall not eat [any thing] with the blood : neither
fhall ye ufe enchantment, whereby perfons pretend to dif-
cover
LEVITICUS. XIX. 519
covs'r hidden things by the fuperftitious life of words and cere-
monies^ or by obfervation of the flight of birds ^ or other con^
singencies', nor obferve times, not count one day lucky ^
^y^ another unlucky^ in which to begin any work. Ye fhall not
round the corners of your heads, neither {halt thou
mar the corners of thy beard, not fhave off the hair, in
2 B token of exceffive ?nourning, as the heathen did. Ye fhall
not make any cuttings in your flefh for the dead, nor
print any marks upon you, as tokens of idolatry , or fuper^
' ftition: I [am] the Lord.
29 Do not proftitute thy daughter, to caufe her to be a
whore, as the gentiles frequently did, in token of honour to
forne of their idols \ all thofe things were pra^ifed by the
heathen^ and therefore wifely forbidden to the Ifraelites ; left
the land fall to whoredom, and the llnd become full of
wicked nefs.
30 Ye fhall keep my fabbaths/r^^/r^;;;?? ceremonial pollu-
tionSy and reverence my fandluary, attend there with
feriouSy humble difpojtti on s of mind: i [am] the LoRb, who
inhabit it, and expect all my worfhippers to be devout and
.5 1 holy. Regard not them that 'pretend to have familiar
fpirits, neither feek after wizards, thofe who pretend to
tell fortunes, or foretell future events, to be defiled by
them : I [am] the Lord your God^ nothing can hap-^en
without me, and none fliall be applied to hut me.
32 Thou {halt rife up before the hoary head, and
honour the face of the old man, or elder, perfcns eminent
for wifdor/i, learning, and piety, and fear thy God : T
[fim.] the Lord, ^who require this at thy hand."
^3 And if a ftranger fojourn with thee in your land, ye
54 fhall not vex or opprefs him. [But] the ftranger that
dwelleth with you fhall be- unto you as oiie born a-
mong ydu, and thou fhalt love him as thyfelf ♦, for ye
were ftrangers in the land of Egypt: I [am] the Lord
your God.
K k 2 35 Ye
Religion is a friend to good manners j the fear of God
te.ches all fecial duty; and Juvenal, an heathen, fays, the ne-
glect of this reverence to age and wifdom is a great; wickednefs,
and punifhable with death.
520 LEVITICUS. XX.
^^ Ye ftiall do no unrighteoufnefs in judgment, in
^6 meteyard, in weight, or in meafure. Juft balances,
juft weights, a juft ephah, and a juft hin, ihall ye have:
• I [am] the Lord your God, which brought you out of
the land of Egypt.
37 Therefore fhall ye obferve all my ftatutes, and all
my judgments, and do them : I [am] the Lord, your
fovereign^ who /iave a right to your obedience^ and am able
to make you happy •, and richly reward your conjtancy and
fidelity,
REFLECTION.
WE learn hence to be thankful that we are delivered
from the burden of ceremonial precepts, and to
be more careful in pra6liling the moral ones. Let us ever
remember what a great ftrefs is laid upon them in the New
Teilament; and earneftly pray, that God would write
them upon our hearts, and make us willing and obedient^
to his giory, and our everlafting joy.
CHAP. XX.
Of giving feed to Molech % of wizards j vf curfing parents^ 6f r.
1 A N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Again,
2 XjL <^^o^ ^^^^t % to the children of Ifrael, Whofo-
ever [he be] of the children of Ifrael, or of the ftrangers
that fojourn in Ifrael, that giveth [any] of his feed untO|
Molech (fee ch, xviii. 2i.)-, he ihall furely be put toj
death : the people of the land fhall ftone him wit*
ftones. And 1 will fet my face againft that man, an
will cut him off from among his people -, becaufe he hat
given of his feed unto Molech, to defile my fanduary,]
and to profane my holy name. And if the people of th
land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, whe
he giveth of his feed unto Molech, and kill him not i
Then I will fet my face againft that man, and againft
his family, and will cut him oS by fome awfuljudgmenul
LEVITICUS- XX. 521
and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whore-
dom with Molech, from among their people.
6 And the foul that turneth after fuch as have familiar
fpirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them,
{fee ch. xix. 31.) I will even fet my face againft that
foul, and will cut him off from among his people.
7 Sandify yourfelves therefore, and be ye holy : for
S I [am] the Lord your God. And ye fhall keep my
ftatutes, and do them : I [am] the Lord which fandify
you, feparate you from the refl of the worlds and give you
my fpirit and grace t0 7)mke you holy*
9 For every one that curfeth his father or his mother
fliall be furely put to death : he hath cur fed his father
or his mother •, his blood [fhall be] upon him.
10 And the man that committeth adultery with [an-
other] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery
with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adul-
terefs fhall furely be put to death.
1 1 And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath
uncovered his father's nakednefs : both of them fhall
furely be put to death ; their blood [fhall be] upon
1 2 them. And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both
of them fhall furely be put to death : they have wrought
confufion ; their blood [fhall be] upon them.
13 If a man alfo lie with mankind, as he lieth with a
woman, both of them have committed an abomina-
tion : they fhall furely be put to death \ their blood
[fhall be] upon them.
14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it [is]
wickednefs : they fhall be burnt with fire, both he and
they ; that there be no wickednefs among you.
15 And if a man lie with a beafl, he fhall furely be put
i6 to death : and ye fhall flay the beafl. And if a woman
approach unto any beafl, and lie down thereto, thou
fhalt kill the woman and the bead: : they fhall furely
be put to death \ their blood [fhall be] upon them.
17 And if a man fhall take his fifter, his father's daugh*
ter, or his mother's daughter, and fee her nakednefs,
and fhe fee his nakednefs j it [is] a wicked thing ; and
they fhall be cut off in the fight of their people : h^.-
K k 3 hath
522 LEVITICUS. XX. |
hath uncovered his fifter's nakednefs •, he fhall bear his I
18 iniquity. And if a man Ihall lie with ^ woman having 'y
her ficknefs, and fhall uncover her nakednefs ; he hath 5'
difcovered her fountain, and fhe hath uncovered the |
fountain of her blood : and both of them fhall be cut i|
off from among their people. . I
19 And thou fhalt not uncover the nal^ednefs of thy' |
mother's fifter, nor of thy father's fifler : for he uncov- |
20 ereth his near kin; they fhall bear their iniquity. And {]
if a man fhall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncover- |
ed his uncle's nakednefs : they fhall bear their fin ; they |
2 1 fhall die childlefs. And if a man fhall take his bro- ^^
ther's wife, it [is] an unclean thing: he hath uncovered |
his brother's nakednefs •, they fhall be childlefs. |
22 Ye fhall therefore keep all my ftatutes, and all my |
judgments, and do thern : that the land, whither I j
23 bring you to dwell therein, fpue you not out. And ye ]
fhall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cafh |
out before you : for they committed all thefe things, ^
24 and therefore I abhorred them. But I have faid unto I
you, Ye fhall inherit their land, and I will give it unto '\
you to poffefs it, a land that fioweth with milk and '
honey: I [am] the Lord your God, which have '
25 feparated you from [other]' people. Ye fliall therefore |
put difference between clean beafts and unclean, and I
between unclean fowls nnd clean: and ye Ihall not make j
your fouls abominable by beaft, or by fowl, or by any !
manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, \
26 which 1 have feparated from you as unclean. And ye ^
fhall be holy unto me : for I the Lord [am] holy, and ;i
have fevered you from [other] people, that ye fhould [
be mine. \
27 A man alfo or woman that hath a familiar fpirit, or *
that is a wizard, fhall furely be put to death: they fhall j
flone them with flones : their blood [fhall be] upon ^
them. ' ]
C H A P.
LEVITICUS. XXI. 523
CHAP. XXI.
Of the priejls^ mournings and 7narriages.
1 ^ N D the Lord faid unto Mofes, Speak unto the
JL\, priefts the fons of Aaron, to the inferior priejls,
and fay unto them, There fhall none be defiled for the
dead among his people, l?y attending a funeral^ or affifiing
at it : {hereby people contracted a defilement of f even days^
2 Numb. xix. 14, t6.) But for his kin, that is near unto
him, [that is,] for his mother, and for his father, and
for his fon, and for his daughter, and for his brother,
3 And for his fifter a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which
hath had no hufband •, for her may he be defiled -, // is
4 his duty to bury and mourn for fuch near kindred. [But]
he fhall not defile himfelf, [being] a chief man among
his people, f.nce he is one in a more eminent flation than
any of the people^ to profane himfelf, make himfelf as a
common per fon ajid unclean^ and fo unfit to execute his office.
5 They fhall not make baldnefs upon their head, neither
fhall they fhave ofFthe corner of their beard, nor make
6 any cuttings in their flefli. They fhall be holy unto
their God, always ready for his fervice^ and not profane
the name of their God, not difparage his fervice by making
it give way to fuch fight occqfions : for the offerings of
the Lord made by fire, [and] the bread of their God,
they do offer : therefore they fhall be holy.
7 They fhall not take a wife [that is] a whore, or
profane •, neither fhall they take a woman put away
from her hufband : for he [is] holy unto his God,
8 Thou fhalt fandify him therefore : for he ofFereth the
bread of thy God : he fhall be holy unto thee : for I
the Lord, which fandify you [am] holy.
9 And the daughter of any prieft, if fhe profane her-
felf by playing the whore, fhe profaneth her father,
expofes his per fon and office to contempt : fhe fhall be burnt
with fire.
O And [he that is] the high prieil: among his brethren,
upon whofe head the anointing oil was poured, and that
is confecrated to put on the garments, fhall not uncover
K k 4 hi
524 LEVITICUS. XXL
his head, nor rend his clothes, Jhallnot put off his mitre.,
to put on a mourning habit ^ but continue in the exercife of his
1 1 office 'y Neither fhall he go in to any dead body, nor defile
1 2 himfelf for his father, or for his rnother ; Neither fhall
be go out of the fanduary, nor profane the fanduary of
his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God
[is] upon him: I [am] the Lord.
13 14 And he fhall take a wife in her virginity. A
widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, [or] an har-
lot, thefe fhall he not take : but he fhall take a virgin
of his own people, offpme of the tribes of Ifrael^ (Ezek,
15 xliv. 22.) to wife. Neither fhall he profane his feed
among his people, Jhall not render his fons unfit for the
priejlly office^ by marrying any here forbidden : for I the
Lord do fan<5lify him.
x6 17 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
unto Aaron, faying, Whofoever [he be] of thy {ttd
in their generations that hath [any] blemifh, let him
J 8 not approach to offer the bread of his God.*^ For \
whatfoever man [he be] that hath a blemifh, he fhall ;
not approach*, a blind man, or a lame, or he that j
19 hath a flat nofe, or any thing fuperfluous. Or a man \
20 that is broken footed, or broken handed, Or crook ^
backed, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemifh in his eye, or ;
21 be fcurvy, or fcabbed, or hath his flones broken; No i
man that hath a blemifh of the feed of Aaron the prieft "\
fhall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made '■
by fire : he hath a blemifh ; he fhall not come nigh to j
22 offer the bread of his God. He fhall e^.t the bread of i
his God, [both] of the moll holy, and of the holy : in- \
^voluntary weakneffes debar not front benefit by ordinances. \
23 Only he fhall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh \
unto the altar, becaufe he hath a blemifh ; that he pro- ]
fane not my fanfluaries : for I the Lord do fandlify '
24 them. And Mofes told [it] unto Aaron, and to hi^ \
fons, ^nd unto all the children of Ifrael, \
CHAR!
- /■ \
' This may teach all chrilHans, efpccially miniflers, what purity !
• atid pcrfeftion of heart and life they fhould labour after; and that: •
notorious blemiilies, either in the mind or convcrfation, render a '
jnan unfit for the niinilterial officco \
LEVITICUS, XXIL 525
CHAR XXII.
fVhen the priefts are to ahjlain from holy things,
I /\ N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak
% jtJL ""^o Aaron and to his fons, that they feparatc
themfelves from the holy things of the children of If-
rael, when they are under any defilement^ and that they
profane not my holy name [in thofe things] which they
3 hallow unto me: I [am] the Lord. Say unto them,
WhofoeVer [he be] of all your feed among your gene-
rations, that goeth unto the holy things, to eat of or
touch the facrifices^ which the children of Ifrael hallow
unto the Lord, having his uncleannefs upon him, that
foul ihall be cut off from my prefence: I [am] the
4 Lord. What man foever of the feed of Aaron [is] a
leper, or hath a running iflue ; he fhall not eat of the
holy things, until he be clean. And whofo toucheth
any thing [that is] unclean [by] the dead, or a man
5 whofe feed goeth from him; Or whofoever toucheth
any creeping thing that is dead^ whereby he may be
made unclean, or a man of whom he may take unclean-
6 nefs, whatfoever uncleannefs he hath ; The foul which
hath touched any fuch (hall be unclean until even, and
(hall not eat of the holy things, unlefs he wafh his flefh
7 with water. And when the fun is down, he fhall be
clean, and Ihall afterward eat of the holy things ; becaufe
8 it [is] his food. That which dieth of itfelf, or is torn
[with beafts,] he fhall not eat to defile himfelf there mth :
^ I [am] the Lord. They fhall therefore keep mine
ordinance, left they bear fin for it, and die therefore,
if they profane it : I the Lord do fanftify them.
|0 There fhall no ftranger eat [of] the holy thing; a
fojourner of the prieft, or an hired fervant, fhall not
I I eat [of J the holy thing. But if the prieft buy [any]
foul with his money, he fhall eat of it, and he that is
1 2 born in his houfe : they fhall eat of his meat. If the
prieft's daughter alfo be [married] unto a ftranger, fhe
13 may not eat of an offering of the holy things. But if
the prieft's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have
no
526 LEVITICUS. XXII.
no child, and is returned unto her father's houfe, as in
her youth, fhe (hall eat of her father's meat : but there
fhall no flranger eat thereof.
14 And if a man eat [of] the holy thing unwittingly,
then he fhall put the fifth [part] thereof unto it, and
fhall give [it] unto the prieft with the holy thing, thatisy
15 with the value of it. And they, whether priefis or people^
fhall not profane the holy things of the children of If-
16 rael, which they offer unto the Lord ; Or fufter them to
bear the iniquity of trefpafs, when they eat their holy
things; that is, the priefts fhall not fuffer the people to incur
any guilt in thefe refpe^h : for 1 the Lord do fandify
them.
17 18 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
unto Aaron, and to his fons, and unto all the children
of Ifrael, and fay unto them, Whatfoever [he be] of
the houfe of Ifrael, or of the Grangers in Ifrael, pro-
Jelytes, or converted gentiles, that will offer his oblation
for all his vov/s, and for all his freewill offerings, which
they will offer unto the Lord for a burnt offering ;
19 [Ye fhall off^er] at your own will, zvhat and when you
pleafe, a male without blemiih, of the beeves, of the
20 fheep, or of the goats. [But] whatfoever hath a ble-
mifh, [that] fhall ye not offer : for it fhall not be ac-
21 ceptable for you. And whofoever offereth a facrifice
of peace offerings unto the Lord to accomplifli [his]
vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or fheep, it fhall
be perfedl to be accepted ; there fliall be no blemifh
22 therein. Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a
wen, or fcurvy, or fcabbed, ye fhall not offer thefe unto
the Lord, nor make an offering by fire of them upon
23 the altar unto the Lord. Either a bullock or a lamb
that hath any thing fuperfiuous or lacking in his parts,
that mayefl thou offer [for] a freewill offering \ but for
24 a vow it fhall not be accepted. Ye fliall not offer
unto the Lord that which is bruifed, or crufhed, or
broken, or cut-, neither fliall ye make [any offering-
25 thereof] in your land. Neither from a flranger's hand
fhall ye offer the bread of your God of any of thefe ;
becaufe their corrupti9n [is] in them, they are vicious and
unlawful
LEVITICUS, XXIII. 527
unlaivfulfacrifices^ [and] blemifhes [be] in them : they
ihall not be accepted for you.
26 27 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, When
a bullock, or a fheep, or a goat, is brought forth,
then it fhall be {^v^n days under the dam •, and from
the eighth day and thenceforth it fhall be accepted for
28 an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And [whether
it be] cow or ewe, ye fhall not kill it and her young
both in one day.
29 And when ye will oiFer a facrifice of thankfgivin^
30 unto the Lord, offer [it] at your own will. On the fame
day it fhall be eaten up •, ye fhall leave none of it until
the morrow : I [-am] the Lord.
3 I Therefore fhall ye keep my commandments, and do
^2 them : I [am] the Lord. Neither fhall ye profane my
holy name •, but I will be hallowed among the children
33 of Ifrael: I [am] the Lord which hallow you. That
brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your
God : I [am] the Lord.
CHAP. XXIII.
Of fever al feafis^ and the day of atonement. Some account has
been given of thefe in various places before^ but here they are
all related together,
1 AND the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
2 ±\, unto the children of Ifrael, and fay unto them,
[Concerning] the feafts of the Lord, which ye fhall
proclaim [to be] holy convoca:tions, times to meet to-
gether for niyworfhip^ [even] thefe [are] my feafts.®
3 Six days fhall work be done : but the feventh day
[is] the fabbath of refl, an holy convocation ; ye fhall
do
* There were many feafts among their neighbours, kept in
honour of their gods j therefore thefe were ellablilhed. The peo-
ple came to thefe feafts, not merely to attend facrifices, but to
do publick honour to God 5 to (how reverence for his adminif-
tration ; to promote brotherly love; keep up acquaintance with
each other^ and to prevent any from running into idolatry.
52^ LEVITICUS. XXIII.
do no work [therein :] it [is] the fabbath of the Lord
in all your dwellings.
4 Thefe [are] the feafls of the Lord, [even] holy con-
5 vocations, which ye fhall proclaim in their fcafons. In
the fourteenth [day] of the firft month at even [is] the
Lord's pafTover.
6 And on the hfteenth day of the fame month [is]
the feaft of unleavened bread unto the Lord : (QV&n
7 days ye muft eat unleavened bread. In the firft day ye
ihall have an holy convocation: ye fhall do no fervile
8 work therein. But ye fhall offer an offering made by
fire unto the Lord feven days : in the feventhday [is]
an holy convocation : ye fhall do no fervile work
[therein/]
9 lo And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak
unto the children of Ifrael, and fay unto them, When
ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and
/ fhall reap the harvefl thereof, then ye fhall bring a
fheaf, 0/- handful, of the firfl fruits of your harvefl un-
1 1 to the prieft : ^ And he fhall wave the fheaf before the
Lord, to be accepted for you, that God may accept af
you, and hlefsym in the reft of your harveft: on the mor-
1 2 row after the fabbath the prieft fhall wave it. And ye
fhall offer that day when ye wave the fheaf an he lamb
without blemifh of the firfl year for a burnt offering un-
13 to the Lord. And the meatoffering thereof [fhall. be]
two tenth deals of fine flour mingled v/ith oil, an offer-
ing made by fire unto the Lord [for] a fweet favour :
and the drink offering thereof [(hall be] of wine, the
14 fourth [part] of an hin. And ye fnall eat neither
bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the felf-
fame day that ye have brought an offering unto your
God : [it fhall be] a flatute for ever throughout your
generations in all your dwellings.
15 And ye fhall count unto you from the morrow after
the fabbath, from the day that ye brought the fheaf of
the
^ Dreffing food and journeying were allovyed on other days of
relt, but were forbidden on the fabbath.
? They were to eat none of their new corn till {^:>mc part of it
had been offered to God.
LEVITICUS. XXIII. 529
the wave offering ; feven fabbaths fhall be complete *
16 Even unto the morrow after the feventh fabbath fhall
ye number fifty daysj^ and ye fhall offer a new meat
17 offering unto the Lord. Ye fhall bring out of your
habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals : they
fhall be of fine flour ; they fhall be baken with leaven ;
[they are] the firfl fruits of the wheat harveft unto the
J 8 Lord. And ye fliall offer with the bread {tvcn lambs
without blemifh of the firfl: year, and one young bullock,
and two rams : they fhall be [for] a burnt offering un-
to the Lord, with their meat offering, and their drink
offerings, [even] an offering made by fire, of fweet
19 favour unto the Lord. Then ye fhall facrifice one kid
of the goats for a fin oflTering, and two iambs of the firft
20 year for a facrifice of peace offerings. And the priefl
fhall wave them with the bread of the firfl fruits [for] a
wave offering before the Lord, v/ith the two lambs :
2 1 they fhall be holy to the Lord for the priefl. And ye
fliall proclaim on the felf-fame day, [that] it may be an
holy convocation unto you : ye fhall do no fervile work
[therein : it fhall be] a flatute for ever in all your
dwellings throughout your generations.*
22 And when ye reap the harveft of your land, thou
fhalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy
field when thou reapeft, neither fhalt thou gather any
gleaning of thy harveil : thou fhalt leave them unto the
poor, and to the flranger: I [am] the Lord your
God.
2^ And
^ Hence called Pentecoll, J^s ii. i. i Ccr. xvi. 8. or, the Feall
of Weeks, Dent, xvi. 10. It was about the middle of May.
* This feaft was only obferved one day ; probably becaufe it
was a bufy time, at the beginning of their wheat harveil. It
was kept in remembrance of their coming out of Egypt, and
the giving of the law at this feafon. Dedicating their liril fruits
to God, was a natural acknowledgment of his univerfal provi-
dence; the heathen had fuch a cuftom among them. It was
wifely appointed, that at this feafl the Spirit Ihould be poured
out on the apoftles, becaufe multitudes of jewj were then at
Jerufalem; the days were at the longeil; the roads beli, and
great numbers attended befides the men. The promulgation of
the gofpel anfwered to that of the law; and as the fir!t fruits
were then prefented, (o the firll fruits of the chriftian church
were then gathered in and prefented to God.
530 LEVITICUS. XXIil. '
23 24 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak
unto the children of Ifrael, faying, In the feventH
month, in the firft [day] of the month, fhall ye have
a fabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy
25 convocation.'' Ye fhall do no fervile work [therein •, j
but ye fhall offer an offering made by fire unto the
Lord.
26 27 And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Alfb
on the tenth [day] of this feventh month [there fhall
be] a day of atonement: (ch, xvi. '2^0, Num.yixiy:. y,) it
fhall be an holy convocation unto you ^ and ye fhali
afHIdl your fouls with fafting^ and bitter repentance for all
your fins, but efpecially national fins ^ and offer an offering
28 made by fire unto the Lord. And ye fhall do no work
in that fame day : for it [is] a day of atonement, to
make an atonement for you before. the Lord your
29 God. For whatfoever foul [it be] that fhall not be
afHidled in that fame day, he fhall be cut off from
30 among his people. And whatfoever foul [it be] that
doeth any work in that fame day, tW it efcape the eye
and judgment of man ^ itfJiallnot efcape my judgment, for
the fame foul will I deilroy from among his people.
31 Ye fhall do no manner of work: [it fhall be] a flatute
for ever throughout your generations in all your dwell-
32 ings. It [fhall be] unto you a fabbath of reft, and ye
fhall afHid: your fouls : in the ninth [day] of the month
at even, beginning to do it then, and ending on the tenth
day at even, v, 2']. from even unto even, fhall ye cele-
brate your fabbath
33 34 And fhe Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Speak
unto the children of Ifrael, fiying. The fifteenth day
of this feventh month [fhall be] the feafl of tabernacles
35 [^*^^] ^^ven days unto the Lord.^ On the firft day [fhall
be] an holy convocation : ye fhall do no ft r vile work
36 [therein.] Seven days ye fhall offer an offering made
by
^ This was the firH: day of their new civil year, and it was
introduced with a peculiar folemnit'y, called the Feaft of Trumpets,
* At this feafl: they were to make booths, ot arbours; in re.
membrance of God's protection of them in the wildernefs, wheri
they dwelt in booths or tabernacles, 'v. 43. and to Ihow thei/
thankfulnefs for the fruits now reaped, Deut, xvi. 13, 14.
LEVITICUS. XXIII. 5JI
by fire unto the Lord : on the eighth day fhall be an
holy, convocation unto you •, and ye fhall ofFer an offer-
ing made by fire unto the Lord : it [is] alblemn afTeni-
bly ; [and] ye fhall do no fervile work [therein."^]
37 Thefe [are] the feafts of the Lord, which ye fhall pro-
claim [to be] holy convocations, to offer an offering
made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering and a
meat offering, a facrifice, and drink offerings, every
38 thing upon his day : Befides the fabbaths of txhe Lord,
and befides your gifts, and befides all your vows, and
befides all your free-will offerings, which ye give unto
39 the Lord. Alfo in the fifteenth day of the feventh
month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land,"
ye fhall keep a feaPc unto the Lord {qvcvl days : on the
firfl: day [fiiall be] a fabbath, and on the eighth day
40 [fiiall be] a fabbath. And ye fhall take you on the firit
day the boughs of goodly trees, brandies of palm trees
and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the
brook. ; and ye fhall rejoice before the Lord your God
{QVQn days, in remembrance of former deliverances ^ (v, 43. j
for your prefent hkjfings^ (Beat, xvi. 15 J and in ex-
41 fetation of future good things. And ye fiiall keep it a
feafi: unto the Lord {^ytx\ days in \!a^ year. [It fiiall
be] a ftatute for ever in your generations : ye fiiaii
42 celebrate it in the feventh month. Ye fiiall dwell in
booths {t\'^x\ days \ all that are Ifraeiites born fiiaii
dwell
^' On this day they removed out of the booths into their
houTes again, and fo it denoted their fettlement in the land of
Canaan, after their forty years' abode in the wildernefs. In the
la:ter years of the jewifti ftate there were fome circii alliances ad-
ded, which were not of divine inltitution; particularly, a cuftom
of pouring water, drawn from the pool of Siloam, on the altar ;
fome fay, as an acknowledgment of God's goodnefs in giving
them rain ; others fay, of their drinking water in the wildernefs ;
but rather, in token of their defire and expectation of the effufioa.
or pouring out of the Spirit in the days of the MelTiah, On that
great day of the feajiy jefus Jlood and cried ^ f^y^^^g* ^f ^"J ^^»
thirji, let him come unto me and drinks 'John vii, 37.
" Not corn, which was gathered long before, but of vines,
olives, &c. hence called the Feall of Ingathering, Exod. xxiii. 16.
" Thefe in Jerufaiem were made on the tops of houfes, in
court yards, in gardens, jn the iireets, &c, ^,
532 LEVITICUS. XXIIt.
43 dwell in booths : That your generations may know th^t
I made the children of Ifrael to dwell in booths, when I
brought them out of the land of Egypt: I [am] the
44 Lord your God. And Mofes declared unto the child-
ren of Ifrael the feafts of the Lord.
REFLECTIONS,
I . TT^ ROM hence we learn, that it is our duty to dc-
Jt/ vpte a confiderable part of our time to God's
fervice i he is the author of our life, and of all our com-
forts ^ and therefore fhould be ferved with the beft. Let
us not grudge him that time which fhould be appropriated
to his worfhip ; but redeem fome part of every day for
religious purpofes. We are under peculiar obligations to
keep the fabbath holy, becaufe no other time is made facred
under the gofpel. The Jews obferved it from evening till
evening, that is, the whole day •, and it is reafonable that
we fhould devote the whole of it to God. Let us remem-
ber, as it is obferved v, 3a. that whatfoever foul it be that
doeth any work in that day^ the fame foul will I dejlroy from
among his people. God obferves if we do any unneceflary
work, and, tho' it may not be taken notice of by human
laws, he will call us to an account for it. Te fhall keep the
fabbath in all your dwellings j not only in God's houfe, but
alfo in your own. This is a moil important law •, publick
ordinances do little good, without the fear and worfhip of
the Lord in our own dwellings.
2. Let us commemorate the greater and more important
mercies which God hath granted to us. The Ifraelites had
deliverance from Egypt, but we have deliverance from fin
and Satan. They had the paflbver, butC//r//?, our paffover^ is
facrificed for us-, therefore let us keep the feaft with the unleaven-
ed bread of fincerity and truth. They had their pentecoft •, let
us remember the eifufion of the fpirit. They had their feaft
of tabernacles •, let us acknowledge the goodnefs of God to
us, while paffing thro' this world-, in feeding and clothing
us, guiding us by his providence, and giving us views of
the heavenly Canaan. They had their day of atonement %
let us remember the great atonement, the facrifice of Chrift,
to
LEVITICUS. XXIV. 533
to which the facrifices under the law had regard, and were
defigned to typify.
3. Let us honour the Lord with our fubftance, as we
defire his blefTing. They offered their firft fruits to God ;
let us acknowledge his goodnefs and mercy In the bleffings
of harveft, and our plentiful provifions -, nor let us forget to
do good and to communicate^ for with fuch facrifices God is well
pleafed,. It was attended with great expenfe to come to thefe
feafts at Jerufalem, where lodgings and provifions were
fcarce and dear, as a confiderable part of their cattle were
taken with them to be ufed for facrifices. Since we are
delivered from all thefe expenlive rites, let us grudge no-
thing that we can do for God, his caufe, or people, and
for his minifters too. This is the way to obtain his blefling,
which maketh rich, and addeth no forrow with it.
CHAP. XXIV.
In this chapter we have direBions about the lamps and thefhew
bread for the fan^tuary ; and the convi^ion and execution of a
blafphemer^ 6jC.
1 AND the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying. Com-
2 jfjL ina^d the children of Ifrael, that they bring unto
thee, at the puhlick charge^ pure- oil olive beaten, run
from the olive , jufl bntifed^ and not fqueezed or preffed in a
milU for the light, to caufe the lamps to burn continu«
3 ally, every night. Without the vail of the teftimony,
in the tabernacle o^ the congregation, fhall Aaron and
his family^ all the priefts^ order it from the evening unto
the morning before the Lord continually : [it fhall
4 be] a ftatute for ever in your generations. He jfhall
order the lamps upon the pure candleftick, the candle-
flick of pure gold^ before the Lord continually.^
5 And thou fhalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes
thereof, anfwerahle to the number of the twelve tribes re^
Vol. I. LI prefented
P Some think the lamps burned all day, as well as all nigln,
bccaufe there were no windows in the taberRacle.
534 LEVITICUS. XXIV.
prefented by them : two tenth deals fhall be In one cake.
6 And thou ihalt fet them in two rows, fix on a row, upon
the pure table before the Lop^d, on the table covered
7 with pure gold. And thou fhalt put pure frankincenfe
upon [each] row, that it may be on the bread for a
memorial, [even] an offering made by fire unto the
8 LoRD.;^ Every fabbath he (hall fet it in order before
the Lord continually, it jhall be renewed every fabbath
by the priefts who miriijler in their courfes^ [being taken]
from the children of Ifrael, at the common expenfe^ by
an everlafling covenant between God and them^ in which
they engaged to obferve theje laws^ (i Chron, ix. 32.)
9 And it fhall be Aaron's and his fons' \ and they (hall
eat it in the holy place, after it hath food a week upon
the table before the Lord: for it [Is] mofl holy unto him
of the offerings of the Lord made by fire by a per-
petual flatute/
10 And the fon of an Ifraelitlfh woman, whofe father
[was] an Egyptian, went out among the children of
Ifrael, came with them out of Egypt •, and this fon of the
Ifraehtifh [woman] and a man of Ifrael flrove together
in the camp ; we are not told the ground of their quarrel^
1 1 but the contention grezv warm •, And the Ifraelitifh wo-
man's fon blafphemed the name [of the Lord,] and
curfed, uttered fome reproachful fpeeches in his fury againfi
Godi (v, 15, 16. j And they brought him unto Mofes :
(and his mother's name [was] Shelomlth, the daughter
12 of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan-,) And they put him in
ward, that the mind of the Lord might be fhowed
them •, there being then no particular law againfi blafphemy^
13 Mofes fought direction from God. And the Lord fpakc
14 unto Mofes, faying, Bring forth him that hath curfed
without the camp, as an unclean thing \ and let all that
heard [him] lay their hands upon his head, to mark out
the
. *i When the bread was eaten this was to be burned, probably
•n the altar of incenfe.
* God being King of the Jews, the tabernacle was his palace,
the priefts his fervants; the lamps were to light his palace, the
incenfe to perfume it; the facriiices and ftievv bread were the
provifions of hia houfe and table, and the priefts, as God*s houfe«
Sold and fervants* were to paitake of what came from his table.
LEVITICUS. XXIV. S25
the man^ and give evidence againji him ; to denote that having
witnejfed nothing but the truths they were free from his bloody
which therefore mufi be on his own head ; and to imply that
he was to he a facrifice to the jujiice of God \ and let all
15 the congregation ftone him. And thou fhalt fpeak unto
the children of Ifrael, faying, Henceforth this fh all be the
law in all fuch cafeSy whofoever curfeth his God ihall bear
16 his fin. And he that blafphemeth the name of the
Lord, he fhall furely be put to death, [and] all the
congregation fhall certainly ftone him : as well the
ftranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blaf-
phemeth the name [of the Lord,] fhall be put to
death.'
17 And he that killeth any man fhall furely be put to
death.
18 And he that killeth a beaft fhall make it good; beafl
19 for beaft. And if a man caufe a blemifh in his neigh-
bour ; as he hath done, fo fhall it be done to him ;
20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth : as he
hath caufed a blemilh in a man, fo fhall it be done to
21 him [again.] And he that killeth a beaft, he fhall re-
ftore it: and he that killeth a man, he fhall be put to
22 death. Ye fhall have one manner of law, as well for
the ftranger, as for one of your own country : for I
[am] the Lord your God. See Exodus xxi.
23 And Mofes fpake to the children of Ifrael, that they
fhould bring forth him that had curfed out of the camp,
and ftone him with ftones. And the children of Ifrael
did as the Lord commanded Mofes.
REFLECTIONS.
I. ^^ RE AT honour is done to chriftian minifters,
VJT when they are called to prepare light and food
for God's people. The priefts were appointed to ferve in
God's temple. The chriftian miniftry is an excellent and
important office, defigned to enlighten men's minds, and
L 1 2 fsed
« The ftranger was not obliged to worlhip God in their way;
in this he was left to his own choice; but if he blafpheraed tJif
God of Ifrael, he was to be put to death.
536 LEVITICUS. XXIV.
feed them with the word of God. In order to this, they
fhould fhine with knowledge and burn with zeal; they
fhould be the light of God's fanduary ♦, illuminate the
mind, warm the heart, and endeavour to turn men from
darknefs to light. They are ftewards of God's houfe ;
fhould provide bread for his people, and fhould take care
to feed them with pure wheat, not v/ith chaff ^ fpeaking
the word of God faithfully ; warning every man^ and prov-
ing themfelves to be workmen that need not to be ajhamed.
2, Let us learn to ad with caution in every important
affair, and earneftly defire to know the mind of God in it :
thus Mofes did. We have no warrant to exped extra,
ordinary revelation, have no oracle to confult, but the
law and the teflimony. Let us then attend to the voice of
providence, and compare it with his v\ord It is efpecially
the duty of judges and magiflrates to deliberate in the af-
fairs of blood, and obferve what the law of God requires,
and what v;ill be for the welfare of fociety. We have great
encouragement to acknowledge God in all our ways^ and to
hope that he will diretl our paths. But the princip alufe of
this pafTage of fcripture is,
^ 3. That we learn to treat the name of God and religion
with the greatefl reverence. Profane fwearing, and taking
the name of God in vain, are moft fcandalous abomina-
tions, fuch as fhould grieve every pious heart. Thofc
bold tranfgrefTors we fhould courageoufly reprove, and en-
deavour to bring them to that punifhment which our laws
have appointed ; and not hear the facred name of God
blafphemed with filence. Let us guard againfl every thing
that borders on this enormous crime. In order to avoid
it,^ let us guard againfl pride and pafTion. It is not a fuf-
ficient excufe for fwearing or curfing, that it was done in a
pafTion, or to fay, ' I was provoked.' Paflion leads men to
forget religion and reafon too •, but God abhors, and will
punifh fuch tranfgrefTors. Let us never allow ourfelves to
jefl with the word or worfhip of God, or any thing ferious
and facred. It is the light, irreverent ufe of his facred name,
that leads men into a negled and contempt of him. It is
trifling with thofe folemn words, falvation and damnation,
that makes men negled the former, and run headlong into
the
LEVITICUS. XXV. 537
the latter. Thefe fins of the tongue, threaten the ruhiof our
country. Jerufalem is ruined andjudah is fallen •, becaufe their
tongue and their doings are againft the Lord^ to provoke the eyes
of his glory. Ifa. iii. 8. Let us refolve to take heed unto our
ways, that we Jin not with our tongues ♦, for as the apofl-le ex-
prefTeth it, fames i. 26. Lf any man among you feem to be re-
ligious, and hridleth not his tongue, that man's religion is vain.
CHAP. XXV. 1—34.
Of the fabbaticalyear, and the year ofjubile,
1 A ND the Lord fpake unto Mofes in mount Sinai,
/\^ in the plain about it, where Ifrael ftill encamped,
2 faying. Speak unto the children of Ifrael, and fay unto
them. When ye come into the land which I give you,
then fhall the land keep a fabbath unto the Lord ; not
the firfi year, but probably the feventh year after their fettling
3 in it. Six years thou fhalt fow thy field, and fix years
thou fhalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit
4 thereof-. But in the feventh year fhall be a fabbath of
reft unto the land, a fabbath for the Lord : thou fhalt
neither fow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard, not do
5 any work of husbandry » That which groweth of its own
accord of thy harveft thou fhalt not reap for thy own
private ufe, but in common with others, neither gather the
grapes of thy vine undreffed, but fhare them in common
with thy neighbours: [for] it is a year of reft unto the
6 land. And the fabbath of the land, the fruits of this
fabbatical year, fhall be meat for you ; for thee, and for
thy fervant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired fer-
vant, and for thy ftranger that fojourneth with thee,
7 And for thy cattle, and for the beaft that [arcj in thy
land, fhall the increafe thereof be meat.*
L 1 3 ^ 8 And
» It was a proof of the extaordinary fruitfulnefs of the land,
that it fhould be fufficient to lie fallow once in feven years ;
whereas prudence would certainly have dictated that diiferent
parts fhould lie fallow in ditferent years. The appomtmeiu, that
the whole fhould lie untilled every feventh year, leems alio to have
been intended as an cxercife of their faith, a.ni a con.laut pledge
of the divine care.
538 LEVITICUS. XXV.
8 And thou fhalt number feven fabbaths of years unto
thee, feven times feven years •, and the fpace of the kven
fabbaths of years fhall be unto thee forty and nine years.
9 Then fhalt thou caufe the trumpet of the jubile to found,"
on the tenth [day] of the feventh month, in the day of
atonement fhall ye make the trumpet found throughout
all your land, thai is^ the juhile fa all begin from the day of
10 atonement. And ye fhall hallow the fiftieth year, not the
forty ninths (as fome learned men thinks) but precifely the
fiftieth year^ and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the
land unto all the inhabitants thereof, Ifraelites^ chiefly fer^
vants and the poor ^ who were now acquitted from all their
debts^ and ri^ored to their pojjejfions j it fhall be a jubile
unto you •, and ye Ihall return every man unto his pof-
fefTion, and ye fball return every man unto his family.'^
1 1 A jubile fhall that fiftieth year be unto you : ye fhall
not fow, neither reap that which groweth of itfelf in it,
nor gather [the grapes] in it of the vine undrefTed.
12 For it [is] the jubile •, it fhall be holy unto you, dedi^
cated to God^ a?id to the exercife of holy joy and thankfulnefs :
ye fhall eat the increafe thereof out of the field, that iSy
13 what it produces of itfelf In the year of this jubile ye
fhall return every man unto his poffeflion.
14 And if thou fell aught unto thy neighbour, or buyefl
[aught] o^ thy neighbour's hand, ye fhall not opprefs
one another, neither by felling too dear^ nor buying too
15 cheap: According to the number of years after the jubile
thou fhalt buy of thy neighbour, [and] according unto
the number of years of the fruits he fhall fell unto thee :
16 According to the multitude of years thou fhalt increafe
the price thereof, and according to the fewnefs of years
thou fhalt diminifh the price of it : for [according] to
^he number [of the years] of the fruits doth he fell
unto
^ It was probably called the jubile, becaufe it was introduced
by the found of a trumpet, and other expreffions of joy.
y This \vas defigned to keep the tribes dilliud ; to preferve
their genealogies clear, that the Mefliah might be known; to
prevent the ill confequences of avarice and prodigality; that
iarnilies might not be impoverifhed by loftng their ellates ; and
:o keep them on a nearer equality with one another.
LEVITICUS. XXV. ^39
17 unto thee. Ye fhall not therefore opprefs one another ;
but thou fhalt fear thy God -, for I [am] the Lord
your God.
18 Wherefore ye fhall do my ftatutes, and keep my
judgments, and do them -, and ye fhall dwell in the
19 land in fafety. And the land fhall yield her fruit, and
20 ye fhall eat your fill, and dwell therein in fafety. And
if ye fhall fay. What fhall we eat the feventh year ?
behold, we fhall not fow, nor gather in our increafe :
2 1 Then I will command my blefTmg upon you in the fixth
year, and it fhall bring forth fruit for three years/
22 And ye fhall fow the eighth year, and eat [yet] of old
fruit imtil the ninth year ; until her fruits come in ye
fhall eat [of] the old [flore.]
23 The land fhall not be fold for ever : for the land [Is]
mine ; for ye [are] flrangers and fojourners with me.
24 And In all the land of your poflefTion ye fhall grant a
redemption for the land, fufer it to he redeemed at the
year ofjubile,
25 If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath fold away
[fome] of his pofTefTion, and if any of his kin come to
redeem it, then fhall he redeem that which his brother'
26 fold. And If a man have none to redeem it, and him-
27 felf be able to redeem it -, Then let him count the years
of the fale thereof, /r(?;« the time of the fale to the jubiky
and reftore the overplus unto the man to whom he fold
28 it; that he may return unto his poffefTion. But if he
be not able to reflore [it] to him, then that which is
fold fhall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it
until the year ofjubile : and in the jubile it fhall go out
of the buyer* s hand without any redemption money ^ and he
ihall return unto his pofTefTion.
L 1 4 29 And
* Enough to fuffice for the remainder of the fivth year, the
whole of the feventh, and the beginning of the eighth, till the
harvell of that year (hould come; this might be called three
years, as the time which Chriil lay in his grave is called three
days. It was a ftanding miracle ; for in the courfe of things the
fmalleft crop might be expe<5ted in the lall: year of tillage; and it
is a llrong proof that Moles knew his law to be divine, or he
would not have prefumed to make a promife, which muil in all
probability have brought a difgrace upon the whole fyilern, before
ih« people had been lettled feven years in the land.
540 LEVITICUS. XXV.
29 And if a man fell a dwelling houfe in a walled city,
then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is
30 fold ; [within] a full year may he redeem it. And if it
be not redeemed within the fpace of a full year, then
the houfe that [is] in the walled city fhall be eftablifhed
for ever to him that bought it throughout his genera-
31 tions: it /hall not go out in the jubile. But the
houfes of the villages, the farm houfes^ which have
no wall round about them fhall be counted as the fields
of the country : they may be redeemed, and they fhall
go out in the jubile.
32 Nptwithflanding the cities of the Levites, [and]
the houfes of the cities of their pofTelTion, may the
^^ Levites redeem at any time. And if a man purchafe of
the Levites, then the houfe that was fold, and the city
of his pofTefTion, fhall go out in [the year of] jubile :
for the houfes of the cities of the Levites [are] their
34 pofTefTion among the children of Ifrael. But the field
of the fuburbs of their cities may not be fold j for it
[is] their perpetual pofTefTion,
REFLECTIONS.
I. T E T us be thankful for the joyful found of the gof-
I J pel. Jewifh writers inform us, that when the
jubile was proclaimed by the found of trumpets, there was
a folemn cavalcade, efpecially pf fervants and thofe who
had recovered their inheritance, crov/ned with flowers, &c.
and this being the moft joyful found that ever was heard
in ordinary among the Jews, it is ufed for the gofpel, Pfa,
Ixxxix. 15. 2ir\d Luke iv. 19. which intimates to us, that the
gofpel provides for the remifTion of debts, redemption from
fervitude, and reftoration to forfeited inheritances. The
beginning of this year was fixed to the day of atonement ;
which has a beautiful analogy to the connedion there is be-
tween thofe great gofpel privileges typified by it, and the
atonement oi Chrift, as the foundation of our receiving
them. Thanks be to God, that we hear this joyful found,
that the acceptable year of the Lord is preached to us !
Ble£ed are the people that knew this joyful found ^ that believe
thefc
LEVITICUS. XXV. 541
thefe glad tidings -, that joyfully embrace the gofpel, and
obey it from their heart : they fhall be blefled in their pre-
fent privileges •, they Jhall walk^ O Lord^ in the light of thy
countenance ; enjoy God's favour and prefence in this world,
and then be removed to another and better ; to an inheri-
tance incorruptible^ undefikd^ and that fadeth not away^ referved
in heaven for them,
2. Let us live up to the dignity of God's Ifrael. Once
we were flaves, but now we are free ; once we had forfeited
all by fin, but now our inheritance is reftored, and our
debts are forgiven. Chrlft hath made us free, and given us
the inheritance of children •, and if children^ then are we heirsy
heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chrift, Being thus made free,
let us not become the fervants of fin any more •, let us not
ferve the world and the flefh again. Having been forgiven
much, let us love much •, and efpecially learn to forgive
others, even as God, for Chrifi^s fake, hath forgiven us. Let
us live like God's children, and as the heirs of an eternal
inheritance : ever remembering, that we are not redeemed with
corruptible things, fuch as filver and gold, but with the precious
hlood of Chrift, as of a lamb without blemifh •, and therefore
glorify God with our bodies andfpirits, which are his.
CHAP. XXV. 35, to the end.
Of compajfton to fervants and the poor, '
35 A N D if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in
Jl\_ decay with thee •, then thou fhalt relieve him :
[yea, though he be] a ftranger, a profelyte^. or afojourn-
j6 erj that he may live with thee. Take thou no ufury
of him, or increafe, any confideration or advantage for the
loan of any thing : but fear thy God ; that thy brother
37 may live with thee. Thou (halt not give him thy money-
^8 upon ufury, nor lend him thy victuals for increafe. I
[am] the Lord your God, which brought you forth
out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of
Canaan, [and] to be your God.
J9 And if thy brother [that dwelleth] by thee be waxen
poor, and be fold unto thee -, thou (halt not compel him
to
542 LEVITICUS. XXV.
40 to fcrve as a bond fervant : [But] as an hired fervant,
[and] as a fojourner, to he ufed kindly^ and as a brother,
(v, 43, 46.) he fhall be with thee, [and] ihall ferve thee
41 unto the year of jubile: And [then] ihall he depart
from thee, [both] he and his children with him, and
fhall return unto his own family, and unto the pofTeffion
42 of his fathers fhall he return. For they [are] my fer-
vants, which 1 brought forth out of the land of Egypt,
members cf my churchy as well as yourfdves^ and therefore
not to be treated like fiaves : they fhall not be fold as
43 bondmen j {Heb, with the fale of a bondman.) Thou
ihalt not rule over him with rigour j but fhalt fear thy
God.
44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou
fhalt have, [fhall be] of the heathen that are round
about you ♦, of them fhall ye buy bondmen and bond-
45 maids. Moreover of the children of the flrangers that
do fojourn among you, of them fhall ye buy^, aild of
their families that [are] with you, which they begat in
46 your land : and they fhall be your pofTefTion. And ye
fhall take them as an inheritance for your children after
you, to inherit [them for] a pofTeflion; they fhall be
your bondmen for ever : but over your brethren the
children of Ifrael, ye fhall not rule one over another
with rigour.
47 And if a fojourner or flranger wax rich by thee, and
thy brother [that dwelleth] by him wax poor, and fell
himfelf unto the flranger [or] fojourner by thee, or to
48 the flock of the {^ranger's family : After that he is fold
he may be redeemed again •, one of his brethren may
49 redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle's fon, may
redeem him, or [any] that is nigh of kin unto him of
his family may redeem him ; or if he be able, he may
50 redeem himfelf. And he fhall reckon with him that
bought him from the year that he was fold to him unto
the year of jubile: and the price of his fale fhall be ac-
cording unto the number of years, according to the
time of an hired fervant fhall it be with him : allowance
fhall be made for the time wherein he hasferved, proportion^
ably to that which is given to an hired fervant for fo long
fervice.
LEVITICUS. XXVI. 543
51 fervke. If [there be] yet many years [behind,] ac-
cording unto them he fhall give again the price of his
redemption out of the money that he was bought for.
52 And if there remain but few years unto the year of
jubile, then he fhall count with hitr [and] according
unco his years fhall he give him agam the price of his
53 redemption. [And] as a yearly hired fervant fhall he
be with him : [and the other] fhall not rule with rigour
54 over him in thy fight. And if he be not redeemed in
thefe [years,] then he fhall go out in the year of jubile,
^^ [both] he, and his children with him.. For unto "me
the children of Ifrael [are] fervants; they [are] my
fervants whom I brought forth out of the land of
Egypt : I [am] the Lord your God.
REFLECTION.
FROM this part of the chapter we may learn tendernefs
and humanity to our fervants ; not requiring more work
than their health and ftrength will bear ; not making their
lives a burden -, but fo ordering our affairs and commands,
that their work may be pleafant, and cheerfully performed.
We fhould provide for them the things that are convenient ;
give them fufRcIent wages, food, reft, liberty, and, above
all, taking care of their bell interefts, remembering they
are our brethren, and have fouls to be faved. We fhould
therefore give them time to ferve God, and worfhip him ;
furnifh them with good books, and exhort them to mind
f^e ont thing needful •, ever remembering there is a mafler in
heaven, to whom both they and we are accountable.
CHAP. XXVl.
^his chapter principally conjtfts ofpromifes to Ifrael^ if ohedienty
and threat enings^ if dif obedient -, except the two firfl verfes^
which are a repetition of fome important precepts that were
delivered before,
I XT' E (hall make you no idols nor graven image,
X neither rear you up a flanding image, or pillar^
neither fhall ye fet up [any] image of flone, or figured
Jloncy
544 LEVITICUS. XXVL
ftone^ in your land, to bow down unto it : for I [am] the
Lord your God -, as if he had faid^ he fure to remember
2 this. Ye fhall keep my fabbaths, and reverence my
fanduary : I [am] the Lord/
3 If ye walk in my (latutes, and keep my command -
4 ments, and do them •, Then I will give you rain in due
feafon, and the land fhall yield her increafe, and the trees
5 of the field fhall yield their fruit. And your threfhing
fhall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage fhall
reach unto the fowing time : and ye fhall eat your bread
to the full, and dwell in your landfafely -, you Jhall have
fuch a plentiful harvefl^ that before you can have threfhed out
your corn the vintage fhall come •, and fuch a rich inntdge^
that before that he ended it fhall be time to fow your feed.
6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye fhall lie down,
and none fhall make [you] afraid : and I vvill rid evil
beafl:s out of the land, neither fhall thefword go through
your land •, ye fhall have no fedition^ no robbers^ no wild
7 beafls. And ye fhall chafe your enemies, and they fhall
8 fall before you by the fword. And five of you fhall chafe
an hundred, and an hundred of you fhall put ten thou-
fand to flight : and your enemies fhall fall before you by
the fword, they may invade you ^ but fhall be difappointed ;
and a very few fhall chafe and put to flight great multitudes,
9 For I will have refpedt unto you, and make you fruit-
ful, and multiply you, and eflablifh my covenant with
10 you. And ye fhall eat old flore, and bring forth the
old becaufe of the new \ ye fhall have many inhabitants^
and enough for them all \ and fhall bring out the old corn for
want of room to put in the new., and give the old to the poor
1 1 and needy. And I will fet my tabernacle among you :
and my foul fhall not abhor you •, / will caufe my grace
and favour^ my word and worfliip^ to abide continually among
11 you. And I will walk among you, and will be your
God, to prote^., condu5l^ inftru5i^ and comfort you., and
ye fhall be m^^ peculiar people, whom 1 will delight to
13 hlefs and honour. I [am] the Lord your God, which
brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that
ye
y This is the great principle and fupport both of natural and
revealed religion.
LEVITICUS. XXVL 545
ye fliould not be their bondmen ; and I have broken
the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright ;
have brought you into a fiat e of liberty and fecurity^ am able
to fulfil all my promifes^ and therefore have a right to expect
your trufi and obedience.
14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do
15 all thefe commandments ^ And if ye fhall defplfe my
ftatutes, or if your foul abhor my judgments, fo that
ye will not do all my commandments, [but] that ye
16 break my covenant: I alfo will do this unto you; I
will even appoint over you terror, perpetual hurry and
horror of fpirit^ the worfi difeafe imaginable^ conlumption,
and the burning ague, that fhall confume the eyes, and
caufe forrow of heart, make you look thin andghafily : and
ye fhall fow your feed in vain, for your enemies fhall
eat it, they fhall break in upon you^ and carry off your pro-
vifions\ 'uchile you have neither fir ength to rejifi them^ nor to
1 7 labour for more. And I will fet my face againft you, and
ye fhall be flain before your enemies : they that hate
you fhall reign over you •, and ye fhall flee when none
purfueth you.
18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me,
then I will punifh you feven, that is^ many times more
19 for your fins. And I will break the pride of your
power, your exceeding great firength^ in which you pride
yourfelves •, and I will make your heaven as iron, and
your earth as brafs, defiroy both your force and the fruitful-
20 nefs of your ground : And your flrength fhall be fpent in
vain : for your land fhall not yield her increafe, neither
21 fhall the trees of the land yield their fruits. And if ye
walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me -,
I will bring (qv^vi times more plagues upon you accord-
22 ing to your fins. I will alfo fend wild beads among you
which fhall rob you of your children, and defiroy your
cattle, and make you few in number -, and your [high]
ways fhall be defolate, there fijall be no people to walk in
23 them^ or it fhall be dangerous to go there. And if ye will
not be reformed by me by thefe things, but will walk
24 contrary unto me ; Then will I alfo walk contrary unto
you, and will punifh you yet {tvtn times for your fins.
25 And
546 LEVITICUS. XXVI.
25 And I will bring a fword upon you, that fhall avenge the
quarrel of [rny] covenant, my quarrel againjt you for break-
ing my covenant: and when ye are gathered together with-
in your cities, orjlrong holds^ whidiye thought impregnable^
I will fend the peftilence among you j and ye ihall be
26 delivered into the hand of the enemy. [And] when I
have broken the ftafF of your bread, deprived you of that
which is the fupport of life., ten women fhall bake your
bread in one oven, an oven which ufed to be filled for one
family fhall ferve ten^ and they fhall deliver [you] your
bread again by weight : and ye fhall eat, and not be
27 fatished. And if ye will not for all this hearken unto
28 me, but walk contrary unto me-. Then I will walk con-
trary unto you alfo in fury •, / will atl like a man that
meets an enemy in fury and in battle: and I, even 1, will
29 chaftife you feven times for your fins. And ye fhall
eat the flefh of your fons, and the fleih of your daugh-
ters fhall ye eat/
30 And I will deflroy your high places, and cut down
your images, and caft your carcafes upon the carcafes
3 1 of your idols, and my foul fhall abhor you.* And I
will make your cities wafte, and bring your fanduaries,
your fynagogues^ or the tabernacle^ the temple^ and the fever al
buildings about them^ unto defolation, and I will not fmell
the favour of your fweet odours, will not accept your fer-
32 vices. And 1 will bring the land into defolation: and
your enemies which dwell therein fhall be aftonifhed at
it, at the calamities that befalyou \ fo grievous^ fo various^
andfo uncommon fmll they be.
33 And I will fcatter you among the heathen, and will
draw out a fword after you : and your land fhall be
34 defolate, and your cities wafte. Then fhall the land
enjoy her fabbaths, as long as it lieth defolate, and ye
[be] in your enemies' land •, [even] then fhall the land
refl, and enjoy her fabbaths, thofe fabbatical years of reft
from tillage^ which you^ thro" covctoufnefs^ oftentir/ies would
7Wt
» This wag fulfilled in the fiege of Jerufdlem by the Babylo-
nians and by the Rorrians.
a This is the mcft terrible threatening of all the reft; for
when God abhors a people, the way is open to all evil.
L E V I T I C-U S. XXVI. 547
35 noi give it. As long as it lieth defolate it fhall reic -,'■'
becaufe it did not reft in your fabbaths, when ye dwelt
upon it.
36 And upon them that are left [alive] of you I will
fend a faintnefs into their hearts in the lands of their
enemies •, and the found of a (haken leaf fhall chafe
them; and they fhall flee, as fleeing from a fword;
37 and they fhall fall when none purfueth. And they
fhall fall one upon another, as it were before a fword,
when none purfueth : and ye fhall have no power to
38 ftand before your enemies. And ye fliail perifh among
the heathen, a;id the land of your enemies fhall eat you
39 up.*= And they that are left of you fhall pine away in
their iniquity in your enemies' lands, thro^ griefs hunger^
and oppreffion ; and alfo in the iniquities of their fathers
fhall they pine away with them, if they walk in their
fathers* fieps,
40 If they fnail confefs their iniquity, and the iniquity
of their fathers, with their trefpafs which they trefpafTed
againft me, and that alfo they have walked contrary
41 unto me; And [that] I alfo have walked contrary unto
them, and have brought them into the land of their
enem.ies, and that all thofe things fhall have come upon
them by my juft judgment^ and not by chance ; if then their
uncircumcifed hearts be humbled, tojufiify God and coyi-
demn themfelves^ and they then accept of the punifhment
of their iniquity, patiently and humbly fubmit to their cor-
42 re5lion : Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob,,
and alfo my covenant with Ifaac, and alfo my covenant
with Abraham, the moft anlient of all^ v/ill I remember;
and I will remember the land, which feemed to be forgotten.
43 The land alfo fhall be left of them, and fhall enjoy her
fabbaths, while fhe lieth defol- te without them: and
they fhall accept of the punifhr ;jnt of their iniquity :
becaufe, even becaufe they defpiied my judgments, and
44 becaufe their foul abhorred my flatutes. And yet for
all
^ Which was feventy years during their captivity, and was a
jufi punifhment for their negledt of the fabbath and the fabbaticai
year.
« This was the cafe with the tea tribes.
54^ LEVITICUS. XXVI.
all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I
will not caft them away, neither will I abhor them, to
deftroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with
45 them : for I [am] the Lord their God. But I will for
their fakes remember the covenant of their anceftors,
whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the
fight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I
[am] the Lord.*^
46 Thefe [are] the flatutes and judgments and laws,
which the Lord made between him and the children of
Ifrael in mount Sinai by the hand of Mofes.
REFLECTIONS.
I . T T 7 H A T an awful and majeftic Being is the blefled
\y God ! who hath all our comforts in his hand.
All creatures are at his difpofal •, he has the command of
all difeafes •, they are his fervants. All nature, heaven,
earth, air, rain, andbeafts, and the hearts of men, areutider
his controul. He can ftir up enemies when he will. Men
are his fword •, their fpirits are under his influence 5 who
would not therefore fear him !
2. How great is the wifdom of thofe who pradlife re-
ligion, which makes this God our friend. He will have
refped to thofe that keep his ilatutes and commandments ;
he will favour and blefs them -, no good thing will he withhold
from them that walk uprightly, Godlinefs hath thefromife of the
life that now is^ as zvell as of that which is to come,
3. We learn from hence, that good men, thofe who
endeavour to promote religion in their country by their
prayers, admonitions, and examples, are the bed friends to
it. We are not under an equal providence now, as the Jews
w«re j there is therefore no arguing in our favour from their
circum-
•* From thefe laft verfes we may obferve, that fuch a reformation
as there is at prefent among the Jews from idolatry, would have
rertored them to favour, according to the Mofaic covenant : but
they are ftill under national guilt, as having crucified Chriil.
Yet from this they (hall at length be delivered; and the Jews
themfelves, we are told by fome of their rabbies, expeil it, and
ground their expedation upon this promife, as chriitians alfa do,
bee Rom, xi.
LEVITICUS. XXVL 549
circumftances. But ftill the Lord loveth righteoufnefs ; and
righteoufnefs emlteth a nation. We have reafon to expedt
peculiar bleflings from heaven, efpecialJy when we obferve
his fahhaths^ and reverence his fan^uary.
4. We are here taught the great value of fpirltual ble/T-
ings above all others, and how happy thofe are who pofTefs
them : God will be their God, and they Jhallbe his people. His
foul will not abhor them. Let us ever defire God's word and
ordinances ; remembering that his blefling is beftowed on
a regular, orderly attendance on them. Let us efteem them
more than all the bleflings of the corn floor and the wine
prefs, and be thankful that we have them in fuch abun-
dance. God hath not dealt fo with many other nations, Praife
ye the Lord,
5. Let us be thankful that our nation is free from thofe
defolating judgments which are here threatened. Our's is a
fruitful land, wherein we dwell fafely -, here are no wild beafts
to break in and deftroy. Yet God could foon break our ftafF
of bread, turn our fertile foil into barrennefs, and caufe
defpifed enemies to go thro' the land. But thro' divine
goodnefs and patience our bleflings are continued, tho' we
are unworthy of them. Let us then adore his goodnefs,
that our land yields its increafe, that he ftrengthens the bars of
our gates, feeds us with the fineft of the wheat, and fuffers
none to make us afraid. He giveth us all things richly to enjoy.
Let us therefore love and ferve God, who dealeth fo bounti^
fully with us,
6. We learn, that in our private condud we muft
not walk contrary to God. All finners walk contrary to
his nature, will and law; efpecially thofe who fin pre-
fumptuoufly, or, after manifeft rebukes of providence. If,
when vifited with afflidion, we defpife God's chaftifements,
and are not awakened and reformed, but trefpafs yet more
and more, he will puniili us yet feven times more. God
grant that all who have been, or ftill are, under his rod,
may confider this, left his ftrokes the next time fhould be
heavier; left he fend greater judgments, for he both can
and will do it.
7. Let us pray that Ifrael may be taught, by the fulfil-
ment of thefe threatenings, the evil of fin, which brought
Vol. I. Mm all
550 LEVITICUS. XXVII. '
all their calamities upon them; and that they may be •
brought to true repentance and converfion. Their fins were ,
many and great •, but it was their crucifying Chrift which j
filled up the meafiire of their iniquities : in confequence of i
which, they have remained longer in their prefent difperfed I
fiate than Tiny former captivity ; yea, than all the time they |
continued in their own land. But when their uncircumcifed J
hearts jhall he humbled to confefs their iniquity^ their own ob- '
flinacy and unbelief, as well as the iniquity of their fathers^ \
then, and not till then, can they reaibnably exped the full \
accom.plilhment of the promifes of their reftoration, with 1
which the chapter clofes. May God haften it in his own ■
time ! And let our conftant prayer for Ifrael be, that they \
may befaved.
CHAP. XXVII.
j
This chapter relates to vows^ and to devoted things which were \
not to be redeemed,
1 /L N D the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speafc ]
2 Xjl iinto the children of Ifrael, and fay unto them, \
When a man fhall make a fingular vow, that is^ an ex-
traordinary vow that he would devote himfelf to the fervice \
of God's fan^uary^ theperfons [fhall be] for the Lord,
Jet apart for his fervice^ or clfe redeemed^ by thy eftima- i
tion, according to that value which thepriefi^ by the direc-
tion here given, fhall fet upon them, \
3 And thy eftimation fhall be of the male from twenty !
years old even unto fixty years old, even thy eflimation :
fhall be fifty fhekels of filver, after the fhekel of the ;
fanduary, or about five pounds fourteen fhillings of our \
4 money. And if [it be] a female, then thy eftimation \
fhall be thirty fhekels, about three pounds eight fhillings ;
it was lefs than for a man^ becaufe the labour and fervice of \
5 a man is ufually worth more than of a woman. And if [it ;
be] from five years old even unto twenty years old, i
then thy eftimation fhall be of the male twenty fhekels, ;
or about two pounds five fhillings^ and for the female ten ■
fhekels.
LEVITICUS. XXVII; 551
6 fhekels, about twenty two /hillings. And if [it bej from
a month old even unto five years old, then thy eftima*
tion fhall be of the male five fhekels of filvcr, or tweLe
Jhillings and fixpence^ and for the female thy eftimaticn
[fhall be] three iKekels of filver, or f even /hillings andftx^
7 pnce. And if [it be] from fixty years old and above ;
if [it be] a male, then thy eftimation fhall be fifteen
fhekels, or one pound fourteen /hilliyigs^ and for the fe-
% male ten fhekels, or one pound five /hillings. But if he
be poorer than thy eftimation, then he fhall prefent
himfelf before the prieft, and the prieft fhall value him :
according to his ability that vowed fhall the prieft
value him.^
9 And if [it be] a beaft, whereof men bring an offering
unto the Lord, all that [any man] giveth of fuchunto
the Lord fhall be holy, confecrated to God^ either to be
10 /acrtficed^ or given to theprie/i. He fhall not alter it, nor
change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and
if he fhall at all change beaft for beaft, then it and the
1 1 exchange thereof fhall be holy. And if [it be] any un-
clean beaft, of which they do not offer a facrifice unto
the Lord, then he fhall prefent the beaft before the
12 prieft: And the prieft fhall value it, whether it be good
or bad : as thou valueft it, [who art] the prieft, fg fhall
13 it be/ But if he will at all redeem it, then he fhall add
a fifth [part] thereof unto thy eftimation.^
14 And when a man fhall fan61:ify his houfe [to be] holy
unto the Lord, /hall appropriate the income of that houfe
to the fervice of the fan^uary^ then the priefl fhall cfti-
M m 2 mate
« Thefe perfons were probably the fame as the Nethinims
afterwards; the young men were hewers of wood and carriers of
water; the old men were employed in fweeping the floor, and
carrying out afbes ; the women in making the priefts* garments
and repairing the covering of the tabernacle: but left too many
Ihould offer for this work, the price of their redemption was
lixed, that no more might be retained than were neceffary.
^ That is, he was to leave it with the prieft, or pay the value
according to the prieft's eftimation.
s If he did this, it is plain that he thought ic worth more
than the prieft put upon it; and therefore a iilth part more might
be thought to be the real value.
552: LEVITICUS. XXVIL
mate it, whether it be good or bad : as the prieft fhall
15 eftimate it, fo fhall it (land. And if he that fandified
it will redeem his houfe, then he fhall add the fifth
[part] of the money of thy eftimation unto it, and it
fhall be his.
16 And if a man fhall fandify unto the Lord [fome
part] of a field of his pofTeflion, then thy eflimation
fhall be according to the feed thereof, according to the
quantity of feed it will take to fow it : an homer of barley
17 feed [fhall be valued] at fifty fhekels of filver. If he
fandify his field from the year of jubile, according tp
18 thy eflimation it fhall fland. But if he fandify his field
after the jubile, then the priefl fhall reckon unto hin^
the money according to the years that remain, even un-
to the year of the jubile, and it fhall be abated from thy
19 eflimation. And if he that fandified the field, will in
any wife redeem it, then he fhall add the fifth [part]
of the money of thy eflimation unto it, and it fhall be
20 afTured to him. And if he will not redeem the field, or
if he have fold the field to another man, it fhall not be
%i redeemed any more. But the field, when it goeth out
in the jubile, fhall be holy unto the Lord, as a field
devoted ; the pofTefTion thereof fhall be the priefl-s,
22 And if [a man] fandify unto the Lord a field which he
hath bought, which [is] not of the fields of his pofTef-
23 fion, hut farmed by him till the juhile ; Then the priefl
fhall reckon unto him the worth of thy eflimation,
[even] unto the year of the jubile: and he fhall give
thine eftimation in that day, [as] a holy thing untq
24 the Lord. In the year of the jubile the field fhall re-
turn unto him of whom it was bought, [even] to hirr^
to whom the pofTefTion of the land [did belong] by
25 original ri^ht,^ And ajl thy eflimations fhalj be accord-
' ' ' ■■ . . . ^ ^ j^g
^ There is a confiderable difRculty in this pafTage; it feems to
jne that if a man devoted a field, and did not redeem it at the
year of jubiie, he was at liberty to redeem it afterwards^ but if
this was a field that was mortgaged, it went to the original
proprietor; the former pofTefror, who gave it, being only a tenant
till the year of jubile, I apprehend the prieft could not have
LEVITICUS. XXVII. 553
ing to the fhekel of the fan(5luary : twenty gerahs fhall
be the fhekel.
26 Only the firftling of the beafts, which ihould be the
Lord's firftling, no man fhall fandlify it •, whether [it
be] ox, or fheep: it [is] the Lord's IpeforCy and there-
27 fore would he trifling with him. And if [it be] of an
unclean beaft, not fit for facrifice^ *.hen he fhall redeem
[it] according to thine eftimation^ and fhall add a fifth
[part] of it thereto : or if it be not redeemed, then it
Ihall be fold according to thy eftimation.
98 Notwithftan ling no devoted thing, that a man fhall
devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, [both] of
man and bcaft, and of the field of his pofTeffion, fhall
be fold or redeemed : every devoted thing [is] moft
^9 holy unto the Lord.' None devoted, which fhall be
devoted of men, ly the -particular direction of God^ or
agreeable to his law^ fhall be redeemed ; [but] fhall
furely be put to death.''
20 And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the feed
of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the
Lord's: [it is] holy unto the Lord, confecrated to
the fervice of God's fanEluary and the maintenance of the
31 priefts. And if a man will at all redeem [aught] of his
tithes, he fhall add thereto the fifth [part] thereof.
^2 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock,
[even]
any other lands but what were fettled by the law of God, but
they might keep a devoted field, after the year of jubile, till the
price of redemption was paid,
» Every thing thus folemnly given to God, fhall be perpetually
employed in the fervice to which they are devoted. If land wa«
thus devoted, it was abfolutely given to the fervice of the fanc-
^uary; if a man, or flave, he was to be perpetually employed in
the fervice of the fanftuary ; fuch were the Nethinims ; if a beaft.
It was to be facrificed or put to death.
^ This does not relate to what was devoted to a facred ufe, but
to perfons devoted to deiiruftion by a fplemn cherum or curfe, as
the Canaanites by God's appointment; Jericho, and the idolatrous
Ifraelires, Exodus xxii. 20. alfo the idolatrous cities, Deut. xnu 15.
thofe ftiall not be redeemed ; no ranfom ihall be accepted ; they
ihail furely be put to death, not on the altar, as a facrifice, but
|3y the fwordj or the magiHrate,
554 LEVITICUS. XXVIL
[even] of whatfoever pafTeth under the rod : ' the tenth
33 fhall be holy unto the Lord. He ihall not fearch whe-
ther it be good or bad, neither jfhall he change it : and
if he change it at all, tnen both it and the change
thereof ihall be holy ; it ihall not be redeemed.
34 Thefe [are] the commandments, which the Lord
commanded Mofes for the children of Ifrael in mount
Sinai."
REFLECTIONS.
I, T T 7E learn hence the folemn nature of vows, and that
W we are not to trifle with God. Vows are folemn
engagements to be the Lord's, or to do fomething for his
caufe. This chapter teaches us to be cautious not to make
them rafhly, lell we fhould repent. After vows are made,
let us enquire. Have we been conftant in keeping them,
tho* fometimes to our hurt in temporal things ? Let us
renew our refolutions for ftri<fler fidelity to God-, be ready
to do all the good we can, for his houl o ^ad the offices
thereof. It is proper to lay ouriclves under folemn en-
gagements to do fo. This fnould often be done; and
having fworn, let us perform it. If we have hitherto ne-
gleded it, let us renew our refolutions with greater feriouf-
nefs and care. PFben thou voweft a 'vow unto God^ def^r not
to fay it : for he hath no pkafure infooh : pay that whiw thou
haft vowed » Better is it that thou JJoculdd not vow-, than that
thoujhouldft- vow and not pay, Eccles, v. 4, 5.
2. We are taught from this chapter, and the whole
book, to be thankful that we are not under the law^ hut under
graces that we are not come to mount Sinai,^ but are under an
eafier, milder, and more fpiritual difpenfation ; that the
yoke of ceremonies is removed, which neither we nor our
fathers
1 As the beafts of their own accord went out of the fold or cot,
the tithing man. Handing at the door, marked every tenth Jamb or
kid with a rod coloured with ochre.
«" This feems to refer to the whole book : many of the pre-
cepts are very important in their own nature, and neceflary to
be underllood, in order to explain feveral particulars in the
goipel.
LEVITICUS. XXVII. S5^
fathers could bear. We may now, and we ought, to con-
fecrate ourfelves, our families, our fields, and all we have,
to God. Ourfelves, by prefenting body and foul, a living
facrifice to God. Our families, by a folemn dedication of
our children, and engaging our houfe to ferve the Lord,
Our fields and pofieflions, by honouring the Lord with our
fubftance^ cheerfully contributing to the fupport of his houfe,
his minifters, and members. Every man fhould give as
God hath profpered him. ^o do good and to communicate^ let
us not forget^ for with fuch facrijices God is ^wellpleafed.
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