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.

CHAP. XXXI.

1 The Israelites are commanded to take venge∣ance on the Midianites. 5 Twelve thousand of the tribes of Israel, with Phinehas the Priest, are sent to warre. 7 They slay all the males, and the five kings of Midian, and Balaam the sonne of Beor. 9 They take the women and children captives, and the spoile of their goods and cartell, and burne their cities. 13 Moses is wroth with the Officers for saving the women alive. 19 How the souldiers with their cap∣tives and spoile are to be purified. 25 The proporti∣on whereby the prey is to be divided. 28 The tri∣bute levied unto the Lord of the divided prey, and gi∣ven to the Priests and Levites. 48 The captaines of Israel numbring their souldiers, misse not a man, and therefore giue a voluntary oblation unto the Treasury of the Lord.

ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses, say∣ing; [unspec 1] [unspec 2] Avenge the vengeance of the sons of Israel upon the Midianites: af∣terward shalt thou be gathered unto thy peo∣ples. And Moses spake unto the people, say∣ing; [unspec 3] Arme yee some men of your selves unto the warre, and let them be against Midian, to render the vengeance of Iehovah, upon Mi∣dian. A thousand of a tribe, a thousand of [unspec 4] a tribe, of all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the warre. So there were delivered of the [unspec 5] thousands of Israel, a thousand of a tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. And Mo∣ses [unspec 6] sent them, a thousand of a tribe, to the warre: them and Phinehas the sonne of Elea∣zar the Priest, to the warre; and the holy in∣struments, and the trumpets of alarme in his hand. And they warred against Midian,

as Iehovah commanded Moses, and they kil∣led every male. And they killed the Kings [unspec 8] of Midian, beside those that were slaine of them; Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five Kings of Midian: Balaam also the sonne of Beor they killed with the sword.

And the sonnes of Israel tooke the wo∣men [unspec 9] of Midian captives, and their little ones, and tooke the prey of all their cattell, and all their flockes, and all their goods. And they burnt all their cities in their habita∣tions, [unspec 10] [unspec 11] and all their castles with fire. And they tooke all the spoile, and all the booty, of men, and of beasts. And they brought the [unspec 12] captivity, and the booty, and the spoile, unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the Priest, and un∣to the congregation of the sonnes of Israel, unto the campe, unto the plaines of Moab, which are by Iordan, neere Iericho.

And Moses, and Eleazar the Priest, and all [unspec 13] the Princes of the Congregation went forth to meet them without the camp. And Mo∣ses [unspec 14] was wroth with the Officers of the host, the captaines of thousands, and the cap∣taines of hundreds, which came from the battell of the warre. And Moses said un∣to [unspec 15] them, Have yee saved alive all the females?

Behold, these were to the sonnes of Israel [unspec 16] through the word of Balaam (a cause) to commit trespasse against Iehovah in the matter of Peor: and there was a plague a∣mong the Congregation of Iehovah. Now [unspec 17] therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath knowne man, by lying with a male. But all the lit∣tle [unspec 18] ones among the women, that have not knowne the lying with a male, keepe alive for your selves. And you, encamp ye with∣out [unspec 19] the campe, seven dayes, whosoever hath killed any soule, and whosoever hath touched any slaine; purifie your selves and your capti∣vitie, in the third day, and in the seventh day. And purifie every garment, and eve∣ry [unspec 20] instrument of skinne, and every worke of goats (haire,) and every instrument of wood.

And Eleazar the Priest said unto the men [unspec 21] of the Armie, which went to the warre, This is the ordinance of the Law, which Ieho∣vah commanded Moses. Onely the gold, [unspec 22] and the silver, the brasse, the iron, the tinne, and the lead; Every thing that goeth tho∣row [unspec 23] the fire, ye shall make it passe thorow the fire, and it shall be cleane; neverthelesse, it shall be purified with the water of separati∣on: and every thing that goeth not thorow the fire, yee shall make passe thorow the wa∣ter. And yee shall wash your clothes in the [unspec 24] seventh day, and ye shall be cleane; and after∣ward ye shall come into the campe.

And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; [unspec 25] [unspec 26]

Take thou the summe of the bootie of the captivitie, of man, and of beast; thou, and Eleazar the Priest, and the heads of the Fathers of the Congregation. And divide [unspec 27] the bootie into two parts between them that tooke upon them the warre, who went out to battell, and betweene all the Congregati∣on. And levie a tribute unto Iehovah, of [unspec 28] the men of warre which went out to battell, one soule of five hundred; of the men, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep.

Of their halfe shall yee take it, and thou [unspec 29] shalt give it unto Eleazar the Priest, for an heave-offering of Iehovah. And of the sons [unspec 30] of Israels halfe, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the men, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the sheepe, of all beasts: and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the Tabernacle of Iehovah.

And Moses and Eleazar the Priest did as Ie∣hovah [unspec 31] [unspec 32] commanded Moses. And the booty, the residue of the prey, which the people of the armie had made prey of, was six hundred thousand, and seventy thousand, and five thousand sheepe. And seventie and two [unspec 33] [unspec 34] [unspec 35] thousand beeves. And sixtie and one thou∣sand asses. And soules of mankinde, of the women which had not knowne the lying with male, all the soules were two and thirtie thousand. And the halfe, which was the [unspec 36] portion of them that went out to warre, was, the number of sheepe, three hundred thou∣sand, & thirty thousand, and seven thousand, and five hundred. And Iehovahs tribute [unspec 37] of the sheepe was six hundred seventie and five. And the beeves were six and thirtie [unspec 38] thousand; and Iehovahs tribute of them was seventy and two. And the asses were thir∣tie [unspec 39] thousand and five hundred: and Ieho∣vahs tribute of them was sixtie and one.

And the soules of mankinde were sixteene [unspec 40] thousand: and Iehovahs tribute of them was two and thirty soules. And Moses gave the [unspec 41] tribute, the heave-offering of Iehovah, unto Eleazar the Priest, as Iehovah commanded Moses. And of the sonnes of Israels halfe, [unspec 42] which Moses divided from the men that war∣red. (Now the Congregations halfe was, [unspec 43] of the sheepe, three hundred thousand, and thirtie thousand, seven thousand, & five hun∣dred. And beeves, six and thirty thousand. [unspec 44]

And Asses, thirtie thousand and five hun∣dred. [unspec 45] [unspec 46] [unspec 47] And soules of mankinde, sixteene thousand.) And Moses tooke of the sonnes of Israel halfe, one portion of fifty, of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the Tabernacle of Iehovah, as Iehovah commanded Moses.

And the officers which were over the thou∣sands [unspec 48] of the host, the captaines of thousands, and captaines of hundreds, came neere unto Moses. And they said unto Moses, Thy ser∣vants have taken the summe of the men of [unspec 49] warre which were in our hand, and there lac∣keth not a man of us. Therefore we have [unspec 50] brought an oblation for Iehovah, what every man hath found of jewels of gold, chaines, and bracelets, rings, eare-rings, & tablets, to make atonement for our soules before Ieho∣vah. And Moses and Eleazar the Priest [unspec 51] tooke the gold of them, every wrought jewel.

And all the gold of the heave-offering, that [unspec 52] they offered up to Iehovah, was sixteen thou∣sand, seven hundred, and fiftie shekels, of the captaines of thousands, and of the captaines of hundreds. The men of the armie had ta∣ken [unspec 53] [unspec 54] spoile, every man for himselfe. And Moses and Eleazar the Priest tooke the gold of the captaines of thousands, and of hun∣dreds, and brought it into the Tent of the congregation, for a memoriall for the sonnes of Israel, before Iehovah.

Annotations.

AVenge the vengeance] or, Revenge the revenge∣ment [unspec 2] of the sons of Israel, that is, take venge∣ance for the Israelites wrong and injurie upon the Midianites, who vexed Israel with their wiles, and beguiled them in the matter of Peor, Numb. 25. 17, 18. The Lord, to whom vengeance and recom∣pence belongeth, Dent. 32. 35. (and would not therefore have men avenge themselves, Rom. 12. 19) commandeth this vengeance for his peoples sake, many of whom he had formerly slaine for sin∣ning with the Midianites, Numb. 25. 9. and now turneth his hand against their enemies, because he is the avenger of all such, 1 Thess. 4. 6. Therefore he calleth it here, the vengeance of the sonnes of Israel; but Moses calleth it the vengeance of Iehovah, vers. 3. And the commandement is given to Moses the Magistrate, the Minister of God, a revenger to exe∣cute wrath upon evill doers, Rom. 13. 4. Mi∣dianites] in Greeke, Madianites, the posterity of Midian the son of Abraham by his wife Keturah, Gen. 25. 1, 2. Why these were now punished rather than the Moabites (their partners in sinne,) is tou∣ched on Numb. 25. 17. gathered unto thy peo∣ples] that is, die and be buried: See the Annotati∣ons on Numb. 20. 24. and Gen. 25. 8.

Vers. 3. to render] or, to give the vengeance of [unspec 3] Iehovah, which phrase the Apostle useth in 2 Thess. 1. 8. giving (or rendring) vengeance on them that know not God. That which in vers. 2. was called the vengeance of the sonnes of Israel, is here named the vengeance of the Lord, as being executed by his word, and for the injury done unto him; for he that toucheth his people, toucheth the apple of his eye, Zach. 2. 8. The Chaldee here expoundeth it, the vengeance of the people of the LORD.

Vers. 4. A thousand of a tribe a thousand] that [unspec 4] is, of every tribe a thousand; in all, twelve thousand, vers. 5. which was but a small company in respect both of the six hundred thousands of Israel, Numb. 26. 51. and of the nation of the Midianites, gover∣ned by five Kings, vers. 8. But there is no restrain: to the Lord, to save by many, or by few, 1 Sam. 14. 6. And this small number was chosen, that the victo∣rie might be acknowledged the Lords; as after this he said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine owne hand hath saved me, Iudg. 7. 2.

Vers. 5. there were delivered] in Chaldee, there [unspec 5] were chosen; in Greeke, they numbred.

Vers. 6. Phinehas] the zealous Priest, who had [unspec 6] formerly slaine Cozbi the Princes daughter of Mi∣dian, Num. 25. 7.—15. holy instruments] Hebr. instruments (or vessels) of holinesse: hereby the Arke and things belonging thereto may be meant, as appeareth by Numb. 14. 44. Or, because the Arke was but one, and he speaketh here of moe instru∣ments, the trumpets may be understood: and so to reade it, the holy instruments, that is, the trumpets, &c. for and is sometime used by way of explicati∣on for that is, or to wit, as is noted on Gen. 13. 15. But to understand hereby the Vrim and Thummim, or Golden plate (as some do) is unprobable, because they were not in the hand of Phinehas, but of Elea∣zar, who was the high Priest, Numb. 27. 21. and 20. 26. trumpets of alarme] to blow an alarme, that they might be remembred before the Lord their God, and saved from their enemies, according to the law and promise in Num. 10. 9. and practise in ages following, 2 Chron. 13. 12, 14, 15. Thus had they both Gods commandement, and the signes of his presence and aid, to sanctifie their ex∣pedition.

Vers. 8. beside those] or, with those that were [unspec 8] slaine; for the Hebrew gnal often signifieth with, as in Exod. 35. 22. Levit. 14. 31. Deut. 22. 6. and o∣ther-where. five kings] called else-where Princes and Dukes of Sibon, Ios. 13. 21. But Sihon the Amorite being slaine before (Num. 21. 23, 24.) these Dukes of his now reigned as Kings, & fought against Israel, and were overcome by faith which subdueth kingdomes, Hebr. 11. 33. The Antichri∣stian Amorite (the Beast) hath twice five, that is, ten Kings, as hornes on his head, which make warre with the Lambe (Christ,) and the Lambe overcom∣meth them, Rev. 17. 12, 14. and 19. 19.—21. Balaam also] they killed among (or with) those that were slaine of them, as is expressed in Numb. 13. 22. which also is added in the Greeke version

here. So that either he stayed with the Midianites, when he departed from Balak, or returned from his place unto them, as is noted on Num. 24. 25. And hee died not the death of the righteous, (as he seemed to desire, Num. 23. 10.) but his iniquitie was upon his bones, though hee was the terrour of the mightie in the land of the living; yet was he broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and lay with them that were slaine with the sword, as the Prophet speaketh of others, in Ezek. 32. 27, 28.

Vers. 10. castles] or, goodly buildings, or, vil∣lages: [unspec 10] see this word in Gen. 25. 16. The Chaldee here expoundeth it, their houses of worship or adoration, their Temples.

Vers. 12. the captivitie] that is, the captives, [unspec 12] women and children: see Num. 21. 1. So after in vers. 19. the bootie] or, the thing taken; which being here distinguished from the captives, mea∣neth the beasts and cattell, as appeareth by vers. 32. and 26. the spoile] a generall word for things taken in warre, Ios. 22. 8. implying sometime beasts and cattell also, as in 2 Chron. 15. 11. and all other things, as garments, gold, silver, &c. vers. 20. 22. Ios. 7. 21. 2 Chron. 28. 15. victuals, 1 Sam. 14. 30. and the like. These all they brought unto the Governours and Congregation, to be dispo∣sed of according to the will of God, whose the vi∣ctory was.

Vers. 13. to meet them] As Melchisedek King [unspec 13] and Priest, went forth to meet A bram returning from the slaughter of the Kings, Gen. 14. so Moses the King, Eleazar the Priest, and the Princes goe forth here to meet Abrahams children returning from the slaughter of the Kings of Midian. Where∣in the worke of Christ (our King and Priest) was figured: who after our spirituall warfare with the enemies of our salvation, meeteth us with his gra∣cious Spirit, to sanctifie and blesse us, Hebr. 7. Also they went out to meet them, to provide for the cleansing of the Souldiers, w^ch were polluted by the dead, and might not therefore come into the campe before they were purified, Num. 5. 2, 3. and 19. 11, 12, 13.

Vers. 14. the officers] or, the Bishops of the host, [unspec 14] as both the Hebrew and Greeke words signifie: these were the captains, as after is explained. Moses who was the meekest man on earth in his owne matters, is yet observed to have beene often angry for the Lords cause, as is noted on Num. 12. 3. And he was wroth with the officers, because upon them lay the charge to direct and governe the peo∣ple in the wayes of God. Compare Acts 20. 28. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pet. 5. 2, 3. Rev. 2. 1,—5. &c. the battell of the warre] the battell-ray (or host) of the warre: the first word signifieth warfare, as it is orderly set in array; the second meaneth the warre, fight or com∣bat with the enemie.

Vers. 16. the word of Balaam] the doctrine of [unspec 16] Balaam, as Rev. 2. 14. or, (as the Chaldee expoun∣deth it) the counsell of Balaam; having reference to that counsell intimated, Num. 24. 14. a cause to commit] or, an occasion to commit (Heb. to give) atrespasse by fornication and idolatrie, Num. 25. 1, 2, 3. The Greeke translateth, to revolt and to despise the word of the Lord. the matter] Heb. the word; in Greeke, because of Phogor: see Num. 25. 3. 18.

Vers. 17. knowne man by lying with a male] the [unspec 17] latter explaineth the former, which sometime is used alone in the same meaning, as in Gen. 4. 1. Luke 1. 34. After it is said, knowne the lying with a male: the like phrases are in Iudg. 21. 11, 12.

Vers. 19. seven dayes] for so long did the pol∣lution [unspec 19] by the dead continue, Num. 19. 11. any soule] that is, any person. purifie] with the water of separation, vers. 23. the law whereof was given in Num. 19. your captivitie] that is, your captives, or prisoners; as in vers. 12. The Iewes hold, that the heathens are not polluted by the dead, or with other like legall uncleannesse, as is noted on Num. 19. 14. But in this case, when hea∣thens are captived by Israelites, and so become their lawfull possession, they are uncleane, and to be purified, by proportion from the law in Gen. 17. 12, 13. Wherupon Iarchi here saith, Your selves and your captivity, not that heathens doe receive un∣cleannesse, and need to be sprinkled; but as you the children of the covenant, so your captives also which come into the covenant, and are uncleane, have need to be sprinkled. and in the seventh day] according to the law in Num. 19. 19. the signification where∣of is shewed there.

Vers. 20. every garment] or, every cloth: the [unspec 20] word implieth not onely garments for mans bo∣dy, but cloathes for other use; as in Num. 4. 6 7, 8. instrument] or, vessell of skin; whatsoever is made of the skin of any beast: so after, every instru∣ment (or vessell) of wood. worke of goats haire] that is, thing made of goats haire: the word haire may here be understood, as in Exod. 25. 4. some adde, of goats skins, it may also meane any other part, as Sol. Iarchi here saith, it implieth any in∣strument of the hornes, and of the hoofes, and of the bones.

Vers. 21. which went] that is, which had gone: [unspec 21] Hebr. which came; wherefore it may also bee Englished, which came from the battell: so the Greeke here translateth it; and so the Hebrew word which usually signifieth to, is by the holy Ghost in Greeke translated from, or out of, as in Rom. 11. 26. from Esay 59. 20. See the like noted on Gen. 36. 6. the ordinance] or the statute of the law; which the Greeke calleth Dicaioma, that is, the just ordinance, or righteous statute of the law. The same word Paul useth in Rom. 2. 26. if the un∣circumcision (that is, the uncircumcised Gentile) keepe the ordinances (or righteous statutes) of the Law: and in Rom. 8. 4. that the ordinance (the righteous statute) of the Law might be fulfilled in us. So in Hebr. 9. 1. ordinances of divine service. Here Eleazar the Priest declareth to the people the Law which God had commanded Moses; as it was generally the dutie of Priests and Levites to teach Iakob Gods judgements, and Israel his Law, Deut. 33. 8. 10. Hag. 2. 11, 12. Mal. 2. 7. Moreover the heiffer, with whose ashes the purifying water was prepared, was expresly given to Eleazar, Num. 19. 3. &c.

Vers. 23. that goeth thorow the fire] that is, [unspec 23] will, or may abide the fire, and not be consumed therewith. Or, that commeth in the fire. and it shall be] or, that it may be cleane. water of se∣paration] in Greeke, water of purification: the wa∣ter mentioned in Num. 19. 9. which was to bee sprinkled upon the vessels with hyssop, Num. 19. 18. after they had passed thorow the fire. goeth not thorow the fire] that will not abide the fire, or commeth not in the fire. This latter, some of the Hebrew Expositors (as Iarchi and Targum Ionathan) doe follow, and understand by things that come in the fire, such vessels and instruments as are used at the fire, kettles, spits, and the like: and by things that come not in the fire, they un∣derstand cups, platters, and such like. But the for∣mer seemeth best. thorow the water] to bee washed therewith, and not sprinkled onely with that water of separation, Num. 19. By this passing thorow fire and water, the vessels had a legall pu∣rification from their ceremoniall uncleannesse; to signifie that the creatures are sanctified unto our use by the word of God and prayer, 1 Tim. 4. 4, 5. And sometime by vessels the Scripture signifieth men; and by their passing thorow fire and water, their cleansing from corruption by afflictions, and through the grace and spirit of Christ: as, I will ga∣ther you into the middest of Ierusalem, as they gather silver, and brasse, and iron, and lead, and tinne, into the middest of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it, so will I gather you in mine anger, &c. Ezek. 22. 19▪—••2. And, in a great house there are not onely vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himselfe from these, he shall be a ves∣sell unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the masters use; &c. 2 Tim. 2. 20, 21. Againe▪ Thou hast tried us as silver is txied, &c. wee went thorow fire, and thorow water, Psal. 66. 10, 12. See also Zach. 13. 9. Mal. 3. 3.

Vers. 26. the summe] Hebr. the head, that is, [unspec 26] the summe, or count, as the Greeke and Chaldee expound it: see Num. 1. 2. So after in vers. 49.

Vers. 27. into two parts] or into halfes: Hebr. divide (or halfe) the bootie. The warre and victo∣ry [unspec 27] being the Lords, hee divideth the prey at his pleasure, halfe to the 12 thousand souldiers, and halfe to the congregation who went not out to warre. So David made it an ordinance in Israel, As his part is that goeth downe to the battell, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuffe: they shall part alike, 1. Sam. 30. 24, 25. And to the warriers of the two tribes and the halfe that fought against the Canaanites, Iosua said, Divide the spoile of your ene∣mies with your brethren, Ios. 22. 8.

Vers. 28. And levie] or, And heave up; which [unspec 28] the Greeke and Chaldee translate, And separate a tribute to the Lord: by this homage and tribute, they were to acknowledge the victory to be of God, and to shew their thankfulnesse for his salva∣tion. So David dedicated unto the Lord, silver and gold, of all nations which hee had subdued, 2▪ Sam. 8. 11. 12. And Esaias prophesieth, In that time shall a present be brought unto the LORD of hosts, of a people scattered and peeled, &c. Esay 18. 7. one soule of 500] by soule is here meant person of mankinde, and living body of beasts, as after is explained. And as the 12000 souldiers had much more of the spoile, considering their small number, than the other many thousands of the congregati∣on; so their tribute to the Lord was much lesse by proportion, they giving but the five hundreth part, when the congregation gave the fiftieth, ver. 30. God requireth lesse of them, as their la∣bour, service, and jeoparding of their lives, had beene greater than their brethrens.

Vers. 29. unto Eleazar] The Lord, who was the [unspec 29] inheritance of the Priests and Levites, Dent. 18. 1, 2. and had given them the ordinary heave-offe∣rings which the Israelites offered unto him, Num. 18. 19. giveth them also this extraordinary tribute which was levied for him. So Abram gave to Melchisedek the Priest the tithe of the spoiles which he had gotten in warre, Gen. 14. 20. And as the Levites had the tithes in Israel, and the Priests had but a tenth of those tithes, Num. 18. 21. 24. 26. 28. so is there here a like proportion allot∣ted, whiles the Levites had the fiftieth part, vers. 30. and the Priests but the five hundreth.

Vers. 30. one portion of fiftie] or, one taken (or [unspec 30] detained) of fiftie: so in vers. 47. of the sheepe] or, of the flocke-beasts, that is, of sheepe and of goats; for both these are implied under the name flocke; as in Lev. 1. 10. of all beasts] that is, of all man∣ner of beasts: but this seemeth to be meant of the beasts fore-named onely, and not of Camels, or other uncleane beasts; because in the particular summes after rehearsed, vers. 32.—39. there are no uncleane but Asses onely spoken of. Chazkuni here saith, If thou aske why God commanded not to take a tribute of the Camels, seeing there were man) camels there, as it is written in the warre of Gideon (against the Midianites) Their Camels were with∣out number, Iudg. 6. 5. and 7. 12. the answer is, The Scripture mentioneth those onely whereof they tooke the tribute; and they tooke no tribute of uncleane beasts, save of Asses, because they are sanctified by the firstling of the Asse, Exod. 13. 13. and 34. 19, 20. which keepe the charge] or, observe the observation, keepe watch and doe the service: see the notes on Num. 18. 5.

Vers. 32. the residue of the prey] the cattell (whose [unspec 32] numbers follow) are called the residue or remain∣der, either because some had beene slaine for the souldiers to eat, or in respect of the gold and silver, and other such spoiles, whereof there was no tri∣bute levied.

Vers. 33. seventie and two thousand] that is, se∣ventie [unspec 33] thousand and two thousand, as was explained in the former verse. So after.

Vers. 35. soules of mankind] Heb. soule of Adam, [unspec 35] meaning by soule, the persons; and by Adam or mankinde, the women, as after is explained. For as at the first; both man and woman were called Adam, Gen. 5. 2. so the same name is often used for both sexes, as here and in vers. 40. 46, 47.

Vers. 40. two and thirtie] So the whole number [unspec 40] of beasts and girles (which were the Lords tribute

out of the Souldiers halfe,) was eight hundred and fortie, which were given to Eleazar the Priest, vers. 41.

Vers. 47. one portion of fiftie] or, one taken of fif∣tie,; [unspec 47] as in vers. 30. The particular summes (as may be gathered by the former computation) were six thousand seven hundred and fiftie sheep, seven hundred and twentie oxen, six hundred and ten Asses, three hundred and twentie soules of young women: the whole summe of them altoge∣ther, was eight thousand and foure hundred, which were taken out of the Congregations halfe, and gi∣ven to the Levites. So the whole prize brought home from the Midianites, and kept for the use of Israel, was of beasts and women-kinde, eight hun∣dred thousand, and fortie thousand: out of which the Lord tooke for his Priests and Levites, nine thousand two hundred and fortie. Thus he enri∣ched his people with the spoiles of their enemies; and they in homage & thankfulnesse to the Lord, gave him one of five hundred out of the one halfe, and one of fiftie, out of the other halfe; as Abram gave one of ten, to Melchisedek the Priest of God, of all the spoiles that he had taken from his ene∣mies, Gen. 14. 20.

Vers. 48. the Officers] or Bishops, as in vers. 14. [unspec 48] [unspec 49]

Vers. 49. in our hand] that is, in our power, under our leading and charge: w^ch the Greeke and Chaldee translate, with us. there lacketh not Heb. there is not numbred, or mustered, to wit, as wanting or missing: for in such musters the number is obser∣ved, of those that are absent, as of those presēt. This was a rare and wonderfull mercie, that twelve thou∣sand men of Israel should vanquish so great a nati∣on of Midian without losse of any mans life, where∣as commonly the sword devoureth one as well as ano∣ther, 2 Sam. 11. 25. But hereby appeareth, that precious in the eyes of the LORD, is the death of his Saints, Psal. 116. 15. and a much like speech was uttered by our Saviour; Of them which thou gavest me, have I lost none, Ioh. 18. 9. Moreover, by this victory, God encouraged his people to fight the residue of his battels against the Canaanites.

Vers. 50. an oblation for Iehovah] or, as the [unspec 50] Chaldee explaineth it, the oblation of the Lord: in Greeke▪ a gift to the Lord. This was a voluntary gift, whereas the former levie was commanded, v. 25▪ &c. hath found] that is, hath gotten in this war. jewels] or instruments, vessels. atonement for our soules] that is, for our lives which God hath spared; and that there be no plague amongst us, as Exod. 30. 12. Herein also they might have re∣spect unto their sinne in sparing the women alive, for which Moses reproved them, vers. 14. 17. Thus though they found all alive, yet were they not proud, neither boasted of their valour, but gave the glory unto God, and in themselves they were humbled in conscience of their unworthinesse.

Vers. 51. every wrought jewell] Hebr. jewell (or [unspec 51] instrument) of worke; that is, cunningly wrought. So as the matter was the best of gold; the forme also was the best. Chazkuni here saith; The Scrip∣ture sheweth that they brought no broken instru∣ment.

Vers. 52. shekels] what the shekell waighed, [unspec 52] see on Gen. 20. 16. of the captaines] or, from the captaines; that is, Moses tooke the gold of them; as in vers. 51. and 54.

Vers. 54. the Tent] the Lords Tabernacle, [unspec 54] where it was a memoriall for them: as the like is spoken of the halfe shekels w^ch the Israelites gave when they were numbred, to make atonement for their soules, Exod. 30. 15, 16.