Annotations upon the five bookes of Moses, the booke of the Psalmes, and the Song of Songs, or, Canticles VVherein the Hebrevv vvords and sentences, are compared with, and explained by the ancient Greeke and Chaldee versions, and other records and monuments of the Hebrewes: but chiefly by conference with the holy Scriptures, Moses his words, lawes and ordinances, the sacrifices, and other legall ceremonies heretofore commanded by God to the Church of Israel, are explained. With an advertisement touching some objections made against the sinceritie of the Hebrew text, and allegation of the Rabbines in these annotations. As also tables directing unto such principall things as are observed in the annotations upon each severall booke. By Henry Ainsworth.

1. IVDAH, Isachar, and Zabulon: in whose camps were 186400 warriours.

[illustration]

The Sanctuary and the Courtyard about it, were in a long square, twice so long as they were broad; as their description in Exod. 26. and 27. sheweth. But in what forme the campe of Israel was, the Scripture expresseth not, save that it was round a∣bout the Tabernacle, Num. 2. 2. It is likely there∣fore to be in a square; and so many thousand tents as Israel had, could not be pitched in a little roomth. Iosephus (in Antiq. Iud. l. 3. c. 11.) saith, that betweene every tribe, in the foure quar∣ters, there was a distant space, and like a mart or fayre, to buy and sell in their boothes, with artifi∣cers in their shops, as if it had beene a citie. Iona∣than in his Thargum on Num. 2. 3. saith, The campe of Israel was twelve miles long, and twelve miles broad. Vnto this forme of the Church in the wildernesse the Scriptures after have reference, both in the name, calling the beloved Citie, the Camp of the Saints, Rev. 20. 9. (as in 2 Chron. 31. 2. the Temple is called the Campes of the LORD:) also for the manner of situation, the heavenly Ieru∣salem is fouresquare, the length as large as the bredth, Revel. 21. 16. which forme was likewise shewed in vision to Ezekiel, Ezek. 48. 20. and is the most firme and setled, against all troubles. And as here, Gods sanctuarie is walled about with the twelve tribes of Israel: so the new Ierusalem hath a wall with twelve gates, and names written thereon, of the twelve tribes of the sonnes of Israel: and the wall hath twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lambe, Rev. 21. 12. 14. As here there were three tribes on every quar∣ter; so Ierusalem hath three gates on the East, three on the North, three on the South, and three on the West, Rev. 21. 13. Ezek. 48. 31.—34. As these twelve tribes, (the walls of Gods Tabernacle,) had their fathers names graven on twelve sundrie precious stones, Exod. 28. so the foundations of the wall of the heavenly citie, is of the like stones, Rev. 21. 19, 20. As here betweene the Sanctuary and the Tribes of Israel, were foure companies of Levites, to watch and ward the holy place: so betweene Gods Throne, and the foure and twentie Elders compassing it, there are foure Liuing creatures full of eyes, glorifying God night and day; after whom, the twentie foure Elders fall downe and worship God, Revel. a. 6.—10. Finally, as into this campe of the Lord in the wildernesse, no un∣cleane persons might enter, but were shut out, Num. 5. 2, 3, 4. so into the new Ierusalem, there may in no wise enter any thing that defileth &c. Rev. 21. 27. And the earthly Ierusalem (called the

holy Citie, Mat. 4. 5. Luke 4. 9.) was in the ages following (when Israel dwelt in Canaan) answe∣rable in holinesse to this campe of Israel, as the Hebrewes record, saying; As was the Campe in the wildernesse, such was the Campe in Ierusalem. From Ierusalem (gates) to the mountaine of the House (of the Lord:) the campe of Israel. From the Mountaine of the House, to the gate of Nicanor (which was the East gate of the Temple,) the campe of Levi. From thence and forward, the campe of the Diuine Majestie; answerable to the tapestrie-hang∣ings (of the Lords court) that were in the wilder∣nesse. Thalmud Bab. in Zebachim. ch. 14. in Gema∣ra. See also the annotations on Exod. 40. 33. In the second Temple, the East gate of the court was called the gate of Nicanor; as the comment on the foresaid place of the Thalmud sheweth. And Mai∣mony in Misn. tom. 3. in Beth habchirah, ch. 5. sect. 5. saith of it thus; Every of the gates was ten cubits broad, and twentie cubits high, and had doores cove∣red with gold, except the East gate, which was covered with brasse, like gold, and that gate was cal∣led the high gate [2 Chron. 27. 3.] and that was the gate of Nicanor.

V. 29. And the tribe] in Greeke, And they that campe next, shall be the tribe of Naphtali. See [unspec 29] vers. 7. Thus God adjoyned to every of the foure standards, two tribes; and those the next of bloud inferiour unto them, for to maintaine order, and nourish love, and to afford mutuall helpe. Our Sa∣viour also ordained among his Apostles a kinde of combination and fraternitie, as is to be seene by the rehearsall of their names, in Mat. 10. 2, 3, 4.

• 1. Simon Peter, and Andrew his brother.
• 2. Iames (or Iacob) sonne of Zebedee, and Iohn his brother.
• 3. Philip, and Bartholmew.
• 4. Thomas, and Matthew the Publican.
• 5. Iames sonne of Alpheus, and Lebbeus (or Iudas his brother, Luk. 6. 16. Iude v. 1.)
• 6. Simon Kananites (or the zealous,) and Iu∣das Iscariot.

And these did Christ send forth by two and two, Marke 6. 7. to warre the warfare of his Gospell; (as 1 Tim. 1. 18) And when Iscariot lost his of∣fice, Matthias was chosen in his place, Act. 1. 26. Afterward there were added Paul and Barnabas, Act. 13. 2.

Vers. 32. These are those mustered] in Greeke, [unspec 32] This is the muster (or visitation.) the house] that is, as the Greeke saith, the houses: so in vers. 34. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 600. thousand &c.] the summe that was mentioned before, in Num. 1. 46. See the notes there.

V. 34. so they camped] or, pitched their tents. [unspec 34] The holy Ghost commendeth unto us the obedi∣ence of Israel, as before in the making of the San∣ctuarie, Exod. 39. 42, 43. so here in their orderly camping about, and marching before and after it. That as Order in all things is beautifull, and dele∣ctable; so especially in the Church, and things per∣taining to the service of God: wherefore the Apo∣stle joyed to behold the order of the Church in Colosse, and the stedfastnesse of their faith in Christ, wherein he exhorted them still to walke in him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Coloss. 2. 5, 6. And Balaam when hee beheld this Campe of Israel, from the top of the Rockes, did not onely admire the multitude of them, and the pre∣sence of the Lord among them; but said, How goodly are thy Tents, ô Iakob; thy Tabernacles, ô Is∣rael! As the vallies are they spred forth, as gardens by the rivers side &c. Num. 23. 9. 10. 21. and 24. 5, 6. And Solomon describeth the church to be beau∣tifull, as Tirzah, (a pleasant place where the King of Israel dwelt, 1 King. 14. 17.) comely as Ierusalem, (which was also beautifull for situation, Psal. 48. 2. and compact together, Psal. 122. 3.) terrible as an armie with banners, Song. 6. 4.