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. III.

1. The sonnes of Aaron, the Priests. 5. The Le∣vites are given to the Priests, for the service of the Tabernacle, 11. Instead of the first-borne of Israel. 14. The Levites are numbred by their families. 21. The families, number and charge of the Gersho∣nites, 27. Of the Kohathites, 33. Of the Mera∣rites. 38. The place and charge of Moses and Aa∣ron. 40. The first-borne of Israel are freed by the Levites. 44. The overplus are redeemed.

ANd these are the generations of Aa∣ron, [unspec 1] and Moses, in the day that Ie∣hovah spake with Moses, in mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sonnes [unspec 2] of Aaron; Nadab the first-borne, and Abi∣hu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the [unspec 3] names of the sonnes of Aaron; the Priests, which were anointed: whose hand he filled, to minister in the Priests office. And Nadab [unspec 4] and Abihu died before Iehovah, when they offered strange fire before Iehovah, in the wildernesse of Sinai: and they had no sonnes: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministred in the Priests office; in the sight of Aaron their father.

And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; [unspec 5] [unspec 6] Bring neere the tribe of Levi, and present it before Aaron the Priest: and they shall minister unto him. And they shall keepe [unspec 7] his charge, and the charge of all the con∣gregation, before the Tent of the con∣gregation, to serve the service of the Taber∣nacle. And they shall keepe all the instru∣ments [unspec 8] of the Tent of the congregation, and the charge of the sonnes of Israel, to serve the service of the Tabernacle. And thou [unspec 9] shalt give the Levites to Aaron, and to his sonnes: they are given are given, unto him, out of the sonnes of Israel. And thou shalt [unspec 10] appoint Aaron and his sonnes; and they shall keepe their Priests office: and the stran∣ger

that commeth nigh shall bee put to death.

And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; [unspec 11] [unspec 12] And I, behold I have taken the Levites from among the sonnes of Israel, in stead of every first-borne, that openeth the wombe, of the sonnes of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. Because every first-borne is mine: in [unspec 13] the day that I smote every first-borne in the land of Egypt, I sanctified unto mee every first-borne in Israel, from man unto beast: mine they shall be, I am Iehovah.

And Iehovah spake unto Moses, in the wildernesse of Sinai, saying; Muster the sons [unspec 14] [unspec 15] of Levi, according to the house of their fa∣thers, according to their families; every male, from a moneth old and upward, shalt thou muster them. And Moses mustered them, [unspec 16] according to the mouth of Iehovah, as hee was commanded. And these were the sons of Levi, by their names: Gershon, and Ko∣hath, [unspec 17] and Merari. And these were the names of the sonnes of Gershon, according [unspec 18] to their families: Libni, and Shimei. And the sonnes of Kohath, according to their fami∣lies: [unspec 19] Amtam, and Izhar; Hebron, and Vzzi∣el. And the sonnes of Merari, according to their families, Mahli, and Mushi: these are [unspec 20] the families of the Levites, according to the house of their fathers. Of Gershon, was the familie of Libni, and the family of Shimei: [unspec 21] these are the families of the Gershonites. Those that were mustered of thē, by the num∣ber of every male, from a moneth old and up∣ward, [unspec 22] the mustered of them were seven thou∣sand, and five hundred. The families of the Gershonites shall encampe behinde the Ta∣bernacle, [unspec 23] Seaward. And the Prince of the house of the father of the Gershonites, shall be [unspec 24] Eliasaph, the son of Lael. And the charge of the sons of Gershon, in the Tent of the [unspec 25] congregation shall be the Tabernacle, and the Tent, the covering thereof, and the hang∣ing veile for the doore of the Tent of the congregation. And the tapestrie-hangings of the Court, and the hanging veile for the [unspec 26] doore of the Court, which is by the Taber∣nacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords thereof, for all the service thereof.

And of Kohath was the familie of the Amramites, and the familie of the Izharites, [unspec 27] and the familie of the Hebronites, and the familie of the Vzzielites: these are the fami∣lies of the Kohathites. By the number of every male, from a moneth old and upward, [unspec 28] eight thousand, and six hundred, keeping the charge of the Sanctuarie. The families [unspec] of the sonnes of Kohath shall encampe on the side of the Tabernacle, Southward. And the Prince of the house of the father [unspec 30] of the families of the Kohathites shall be Eli∣zaphan, the sonne of Vzziel. And their [unspec 31] charge shall be the Arke, and the Table, and the Candlesticke, and the Altars, and the vessels of the Sanctuary, with which they shall minister, and the hanging veile, and all the service thereof. And the Prince of [unspec 32] the Princes of the Levites shall be Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the Priest, having the oversight of them that keepe the charge of the Sanctuarie.

Of Merari was the familie of the Mah∣lites, [unspec 33] and the familie of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. And those that [unspec 34] were mustered of them by the number of eve∣ry male, from a moneth old and upward, were six thousand, and two hundred. And [unspec 35] the Prince of the house of the father of the families of Merari shall be Zuriel the sonne of Abihail: they shall pitch on the side of the Tabernacle, Northward. And the oversight of the charge of the sons [unspec] of Merari shall be the boards of the Taberna∣cle, and the barres thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, & all the service thereof; And [unspec 37] the pillars of the Court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords. And they that emcampe before the Taber∣nacle, [unspec 38] foremost before the Tent of the con∣gregation, Eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sonnes, keeping the charge of the Sanctuarie, for the charge of the sons of Israel: and the stranger that commeth nigh shall be put to death. All that were [unspec 39] mustered of the Levites, which Moses muste∣red and Aaron, at the mouth of Iehovah, according to their families, every male, from a moneth old and upward, were two and twentie thousand.

And Iehovah said unto Moses, Muster [unspec] every first-borne male of the sonnes of Isra∣el, from a moneth old and upward, and take the number of their names. And thou shalt [unspec 41] take the Levites for me, I am Iehovah; in stead of every first-borne of the sonnes of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites, in stead of every firstling among the cattle of the sonnes of Israel. And Moses mustered, as [unspec 42] Iehovah commanded him, every first-borne among the sonnes of Israel. And all the first-borne [unspec 43] males by the number of names, from

a moneth old and upward, of those that were mustered of them, were two and twen∣tie thousand, two hundred, and seventie and three.

And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; Take the Levites in stead of every first-borne [unspec 44] [unspec 45] among the sonnes of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites, in stead of their cattle: and the Levites shall be mine, I am Iehovah. And [unspec 46] for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred, and seventie and three, which are mo•• than the Levites, of the first-borne of the sonnes of Israel, Thou shalt even take five shekels a peace by the poll: after the [unspec 47] shekel of the sanctuarie, shalt thou take; the shekel is twentie gerahs. And thou shalt [unspec 48] give the money to Aaron and to his sons, of the redeemed that are moe, among them. And Moses tooke the redemption money, of those that were moe than the redeemed of [unspec 49] the Levites. Of the first-borne of the sonnes of Israel, tooke he the money: a thousand, [unspec 50] three hundred, and sixty and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuarie. And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed, [unspec 51] to Aaron and to his sonnes, according to the mouth of Iehovah, as Iehovah had com∣manded Moses.

Annotations.

THe generations] that is, the children of Aaron, [unspec 1] and genealogie of the Levites, and the things that befell unto them; for so the word generations is used for accidents that fall out unto any, as is noted on Gen. 5. 1. In this and the next chapter, he shew∣eth the numbring of the Levites, and their order in administration: who were numbred apart, and not with the other tribes, because they were to at∣tend the service of the Tabernacle, and encampe about it, not with the other twelve tribes, Num. 1. 49. 50. and 3. 8, 9, 10. 23. 38. And they were to be numbred after an other manner, not from twentie yeeres old, as the tribes were, Num. 1. 3. but from a moneth old, as touching their tale, Num. 3. 15. and from thirtie yeeres old to fifty, as touching their service, Num. 4. 3. And also, because there 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 inheritance given them, among the sonnes of Israel, Num. 26. 62. but the Lord was their inheri∣tance, Deut. 10. 8, 9. Now to be numbred apart, and not with others, signified some speciall favour towards such, and care over them; as Num. 23. 9.

Aaron Aaron] the elder brother of Moses; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Levites: therefore their names are mentioned here.

V. 3. he filled] that is, consecrated (or perfected) [unspec 3] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Greeke translateth. See the annotations on Ex••••. 29. 9. and Levit. 8.

V. 4. dyed] by a fire from the Lord, Levit. 10. [unspec 4] 1, 2. This is mentioned againe, in Num. 26. 61. 1 Chron. 24. 1, 2. had no sonnes] the He∣brewes (as Chazkuni upon this place,) say, if they had had sonnes, those sonnes had beene be¦fore Eleazar and Ithamar: for whosoever is fore-most in inheritance, is foremost for honour (or digni∣tie.) in the sight of Aaron] or, before the face, that is, whiles Aaron lived; as before the face of Tharah, Gen. 11. 38. is, while Tharah lived, be∣fore the Moone and Sunne, Psal. 72. 5. 17. is, whiles they continue to give light. The Greeke translateth With Aaron. Elsewhere it is said, by the hand of Aaron, 1 Chron. 24. 19. Of these two, there were so many Priests in Davids dayes, that he distributed them into 24. courses, sixteene of Eleazar, and eight of Ithamar, 1 Chron. 24. 3. 4. The Hebrew Doctors say, Moses divided the Priests into eight wards (or courses,) foure of Elea∣zar, and foure of Ithamar: and so they were untill the Prophet Samuels dayes. Then Samuel and David the King parted them into 24. courses. And over every course (or ward) there was one chiefe Provost. And they went up to Ierusalem to serve by course every weeke. And every sabbath day they changed, one course went out; and the next after them, came in, &c. Maimony tom. 3. treat. of the Instruments of the Sanctuarie, chapt. 4. sect. 3. Compare 1 Chron. 9. 22. 25. 2 King. 11. 5. 7.

V. 6. present it] or, cause it to stand; speaking [unspec 6] of the tribe. In Greeke, present them.

V. 7. his charge] Hebr. his custody (or obser∣uation;) [unspec 7] that is, that which he commandeth them to obserue. See this phrase in Lev. 18. 30. 〈…〉〈…〉 of all the congregation] the Greeke explaineth it, of the sonnes of Israel, as in v. 8. So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 2 Chron. 35. 3. serve the Lord your God, and his people Israel. It meaneth also such things, as they were charged to keepe: but the Levites now were taken in their stead. 〈…〉〈…〉 to serve the service] in Greeke, to worke (or doe) the workes of the Tabernacle: which in Num. 8. 11. is said, to serve the service of the Lord. After, in the 8. verse, the Greeke transla∣teth, according to all the workes of the Tabernacle. The Hebrewes write thus; The s••ed of Levi are all of them separated for the service of the Sanctuarie. And it is commanded that the Levites be prepared and readie for the service of the Sanctuarie, whether they be willing or not willing; (as in Num. 18. 23.) And the Levite, he shall serve the service of the Tent of the congregation. And the sonne of Levi which will take upon him all the Levites commandements sa∣ving one thing, they receive him not in, till he take all upon him. Maimony treat, of the Instruments of the Sanct. chap. 3. sect. 1.

V. 9. are given are given] that is, as the Greeke [unspec 9] here, and Moses himselfe in Num. 18. 6. explai∣neth it, are a gift given: o••, they are wholly given. So the Ministers of the Gospell are called gifts, Ephes. 4. 8. 11. 〈…〉〈…〉 unto him] for his helpe, in the charge and worke of the Sanctuarie: they mi∣nistring unto him, and he and his sonnes mini∣string before the Tabernacle, Num. 18. 2. 6.

V. 11. shalt appoint] or, constitute, set in office as [unspec 11] Bishops, or Overseers. The Greeke explaineth it,

thou shalt constitute over the Tabernacle of Testi∣monie. their Priests office] for every thing of the Altar, and within the veile, Num. 18. 7. the stranger] that is, whosoeuer is not of Aarons seed, as is explained in Num. 16. 40. for no man ta∣keth the honour unto himselfe, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron, Hebr. 5. 4. So Chazkuni here expoundeth stranger to be Israelite or Levite that commeth neere to minister. And Maimony in Biath hamikdash, chap. 9. sect. 1. saith, Who is the stran∣ger? Whosoever is not of the seed of Aaron, the males. And after, God himselfe forbiddeth the Levites to come night he vessels of the Sanctuarie and the Al∣tar, on paine of death, Numb. 18. 3. put to death] by the magistrate, or by the hand of God, as was Korah, for presuming to doe the Priests of∣fice, Numb. 16.

V. 12. every first-borne] which (before the Le∣vites were taken in their stead) did minister to [unspec 12] the Lord, as is noted on Exod. 24. 5. And upon what occasion God tooke the Levites instead of the first-borne, is to be seene in Exod. 32. 26. 29. Deut. 33. 9. shall be mine] to minister before me, as the Chaldee expoundeth it.

V. 13. I smote] in Chaldee, I killed: see Exod. 12. 29, 30. The Lord having slaine all the first-borne [unspec 13] of Egypt, and spared the Israelites, did there∣fore challenge for his owne, and sanctifie to him-selfe all Israels first-borne, Exod. 13. 2. but tooke the Levites and their cattle, in stead of Israels first-borne men and cattle, Num. 3. 45. and gave them as a gift to Aaron, to minister unto him. Who be∣ing in his Priesthood a type of Christ, all these rites are in him fulfilled: For unto Christ, God gave children, Hebr. 2. 13. and they are a congregation of first-borne written in heaven, Hebr. 12. 23. being of Gods owne will begotten by the word of truth, that they should be a kinde of first-fruits of his creatures, Iam. 1. 18. to whom he also giveth the first-fruits of his Spirit, Rom. 8. 23. These wait on, and follow the Lambe (Christ) being bought from among men, and first-fruits unto God and to the Lambe, Rev. 14. 4. These were brought for an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations; and of them the Lord hath taken for Priests and for Levites, Esai. 66. 20, 21. and Christ hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father, that we may serve him day and night; in his Temple, Rev. 1. 6. and 7. 15.

V. 15. Muster] or Number, Hebr. Visit. This was done by Moses and Aaron, v. 39. and by [unspec 15] the Princes of the congregation, Num. 4. 34. though here the commandement is directed unto Moses onely house] in Greeke, houses. old] Heb. sonne of a moneth. Tho cause why the Levites were numbred from this age, was for that they came in place of the first-borne of Israel, whose redemption is appointed from a moneth old, Num. 18. 15, 16. And they were counted after the houses of their fathers, not of their mothers; for if a woman of Levi were maried to a man of Iudah, or any other tribe, her sonne was not a Levite. The Hebrew canons say; Priests and Levites and Israe∣lites 〈…〉〈…〉fully goe in (that is, 〈◊〉〈◊〉) one to ano∣〈…〉〈…〉; 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 which is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 goeth 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, &••. as it is written, ACCORDING TO THE HOVSE OF THEIR FATHERS: the house of his father, that is, his familie, and not the house of his mother. Maimony in Issure biah, c. 19. sect. 15.

V. 16. the mouth] that is, as the Chaldee ex∣poundeth it, the word: and the Greeke saith, the [unspec] voice of the Lord.

V. 17. Gershon] in Greeke Gersom (but in [unspec 17] vers. 25. Gerson.) So Ezron, in Gen. 46. 12. is Es∣rom, Mat. 1. 3. Kohath] or as in Greeke, Kaath, See Gen. 46. 11. Exod. 6. 16.

V. 18. Libni] in Greeke, Lobnei and Semeei. [unspec 18] See Exod. 6. 17.

V. 19. Hebron] or, as the Greeke also wri∣teth [unspec 19] it, Chebron, and Oziel. See Exod. 6. 18. Here Kohath hath foure families: so many as both his brethren had together.

V. 20. Mahli] in Greeke Moolei and M••usi. [unspec 20] See Exod. 6. 19.

Vers. 21. Gershon] in Greeke Gedsom; mista∣king [unspec 21] D. for R. by reason of the likenesse of the let∣ters in Hebrew. See the notes on Gen. 4. 18.

V. 23. Seaward] that is, as the Chaldee explai∣neth [unspec 23] it, westward: See Num. 2. 18.

V. 24. house of the father] that is, principall [unspec 24] house: so in v. 30. and 35. Eliasaph] in Greeke, Elisaph; by interpretation, God hath added. La∣el] that is, For God.

V. 25. the charge] or the custodie; the Holy [unspec] things which they were to carrie, keepe and looke unto: whereof see more in Num. 4. Ta∣bernacle] the curtaines of the Tabernacle, Num. 4. 25. for the boords were under Meraries charge, Num. 3. 36. Tent] made of ten curtaines: see Exod. 26. 1. &c. covering] made of goats haire, Exod. 26. 7. And here is to bee understood the other coverings also made of rammes skinnes, and Tachash skinnes, Exod. 26. 14. for they belon∣ged to the Gershonites charge, Num. 4. 25. hang∣ing veile] whereof see Exod. 26. 36.

V. 26. tapestrie hangings] whereof see Exod. [unspec 26] 27. 9. &c. hanging veile] mentioned in Exod. 27. 16.

V. 28. of the Sanctuarie] Hebr. of the sanctifie, [unspec] or holinesse: meaning the holy things; as the Greeke saith, of the Holies: what they were, is expressed in v. 31. See Num. 4. 4. 15. and 10. 21. Here the families of the Levites may be viewed by their numbers;

• 1. Of the Gersonites 7500.
• 2. Of the Kohathites 8600.
• 3. Of the Merarites 6200.

By their situation when they camped about the Tabernacle;

• 1. Gersonites, behinde westward, v. 23.
• 2. Kohathites; Southward, v. 29.
• 3. Merarites, Northward, v. 35.

And to make up the square, Moses and Aaron with the Priests encamped formost Eastward, v. ••8.

By their charges, for there was committed un∣to the care and cariage of the

• 1. Gersonites, the Tent, coverings, veile, hang∣ing of the court, &c.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Koha〈…〉〈…〉, the Arke, Table, Altars, and In∣struments

• of the Sanctuary.
• 3. Merarites, the boords, barres, pillars, soc∣kers, &c.

Among these families of Levi, wee may observe the speciall prerogatives of Kohath the second sonne:

1. Hee excelleth in multitude of families, or chiefe fathers, having foure, when as each of his brethren had but two.

2. He excelleth in multitude of children, ha∣ving 8600. that is, 1100 moe than his el∣der brother Gerson, and 2400. moe than Merari.

3. Of him came Moses the king, Aaron the priest, and Marie the prophetesse; and so all the Priests were of this familie; Exod. 6. 18. 20. Num. 26. 58, 59.

4. His families have the chiefest place about the Sanctuary, the South quarter, next unto Moses, Aaron and the priests, Num. 3. 29.

5. They have the charge of the most holy things within the Sanctuarie, as the Arke, Table, Candlesticke, Altars, &c. Num. 3. 31.

6. Whereas the tribe of Levi had 48. cities al∣lowed them in Canaan, Kohaths posterity had 23. of them; for the Priests had 13. ci∣ties, and the other Kohathites ten; and so he had in a manner a double portion, as much as both his brethren, Ios. 21.

7. Of the Prince of these Kohathites Elizaphan (Num. 3. 30.) there were 200. Levites to helpe home with the Arke in Davids daies, (no such mention being made of the other two princes,) besides 312. Kohathites of other families: when of Gershon and Me∣rari, there were not so many: 1 Chron. 15. 5.—8, 9, 10.

V. 29. Southward] the south is in Psal. 89. 13. called the right side; and in this place it hath a [unspec] name in Hebrew derived also of the right hand; because so it is when men stand with their faces to the East: see the notes on Num. 2. 3.

V. 30. Elizapham. sonne of Vzziel] hee was of the fourth and youngest familie of the Kohathites, [unspec] yet preferred to be the prince over them. This (as the Hebrewes thinke) was offensiue to Korah who was of the second familie of Izhar; and occasioned him to rebell. See the notes on Num. 16. 1. Eli∣zaphan is by interpretation, My God hath stored ••p; and Uzziel, God is my strength.

V. 31. all the service thereof] in Greeke, all the [unspec] 〈…〉〈…〉ks of them.

V. 32. of the princes] the Greeke saith, over [unspec] the princes; and the Chaldee addeth, appointed over the princes. of the Levites] Hebr. of Levi, whose name is put for all his posteritie, as the Greeke and Chaldee translate Levites. So Aaron, is used for the Aaronites; 1 Chron. 12. 27. Elea∣zar] by interpretation The helpe of God. ha∣ving the oversight] or, the Bishop, having the Bi∣s〈…〉〈…〉 office; which hath the name in Hebrew, of Uisitation; in Greeke, of Overseeing: and so this word is translated by the holy Ghost, Episcopee, that is, a Bishops office or charge, in Act. 1. 20. from Psal. 109. 7. And in Num. 4. 16. the Greeke tran∣slateth it Episcopos, Bishop. So in Ezek. 44. 11. ha∣ving charges (that is, Bishops) at the gat: of the house; where the Greeke translateth it Porters. In Thargum Ionathan it is explained thus: Hee inquired by Urim and Thummim, under his hand were they appointed that keepe the custodie of the Sanctuarie. As Aaron the high Priest figured Christ, Heb. 5. 1. 4. 5. so Eleazar in this office being Prince of Princes, shadowed the office of our Lord Iesus, who is the Prince of the Kings of the earth, Rev. 1. 5. the Archpastor, 1 Pet. 5. 4. the great Pastor of the sheepe, Hebr. 13. 20. and Bishop of our soules, 1 Pet. 2. 25. And hence arose the distinction of the high Priest, and the second priest, as in 2 King. 25. 18. And when Aaron was dead, and Eleazar high priest in his place, Num. 20. 26. 28. then Phinehas Eleazars sonne, was Governour over the Levites, 1 Chron. 9. 20.

V. 35. Zuriel] in Greeke Souriel, which sig∣nifieth [unspec 35] God is my Rocke. Abihail] or Abichail, as the Greeke pronounceth it: by interpretation, The fathers strength.

V. 36. the oversight of the charge] that is, as [unspec 36] the Chaldee expoundeth it, that which shall be com∣mitted to the charge (or custodie) of the sonnes of Merari. the service thereof] in Greeke, the workes of them. And because these things were hea∣vy to beare, the Lord allowed them foure wagons, according unto their service, for to ease the cari∣age, Num. 7. 5.—8.

Vers. 38. foremost] or, as the Greeke transla∣teth [unspec 38] it, Eastward: see Num. 2. 3. Moses, and Aaron] The Hebrewes (as Baal hatturim vpon this place) doe observe, that here is a pause (or, distinction) betweene Moses and Aaron; to teach that Moses (pitched) in one place, by himselfe; and Aaron and his sonnes in another place by them∣selves. Thus Moses a Levite of Kohath, was King in Ieshurun, Deut. 33. 5. and Aaron his bro∣ther, Priest: as for Moses two sonnes, Gershon and Eliezer (Exod. 18. 3, 4.) here is no mention of them, neither in Num. 26. neither had they any prerogative, but were among the other Koha∣thites, and named of the tribe of Levi, that is, com∣mon Levites, 1 Chron. 24. 14. the charge] or, the custodie, the watch of the Sanctuarie: the Le∣vites being assistants under them, Num. 18. 2, 3. Of the watch which was wont to be kept in the San∣ctuary, see the annotations on Num. 15. 8. the stranger] that is, any saving Aaron and his sonnes; see verse 10.

Vers. 39. and Aaron] in the Hebrew, there are [unspec 39] many extraordinary pricks over the name of Aa∣ron, for speciall cause: R. Sol. Iarchi saith they were to signifie that Aaron himselfe was not a∣mong the number of the Levites, none of the 22000. here mentioned. Observe Aarons dignitie; Hee was the elder brother unto Moses the King. Exod. 7. 7. Hee was by mariage brother to Naasson Prince of Iudah, for hee had to wife Elisabeth his sister, Exod. 6. 23. Hee was joyned with Moses, in the government of Israel, Psal. 77. 20. He had

the prerogative to sacrifice for the whole Church, 1 Chron. 23. 13. But Christ our King and Priest after the order of Melchisedek, farre excelleth him, H••b. 7. and 8. chap. two and twentie thousand] This summe accordeth not with the former particulars; for there were of Gershon, 7500. of Kohath, 8600. of Merari, 6200. which make in all 22. thousand and three hundred. But Aaron and the Priests, as also the first-borne of the Levites, were the Lords after a peculiar manner, Exod. 13. 2. and therefore deducted from the rest, which were all taken in stead of the first-borne of Israel. So there were so many thousand Levites, as there are Hebrew letters: because they were a∣boue others, to apply the studie of Gods Law, Deut. 33. 10. which because they did not accor∣ding to their dutie, God so disposed that Iehozadak the Priest, in the 22. generation after Aaron, was caried captive with the people into Babylon, 1 Chron. 6. 3.—15. And here againe Gods provi∣dence appeareth, that the Levites increase should be by just thousands, and the Priests and first-borne of Levi, by hundreds: without any broken num∣ber, such as was among the first-borne of Israel, vers. 43. See the notes on Num. 1. 25. Againe, whereas the least of all the other tribes of Israel, from twenty yeeres old and upward, had 32000. and 200. (Num. 1. v. 34, 35.) and the greatest, 54000. and 600. (v. 27.) here the Levites which were counted from a moneth old and upward, were but 22000. so the Lords portion was the least. Yea of these 22. thousand, there were found but eight thousand five hundred and fourescore, that were fit for to doe service in the Sanctuary, Num. 4. 47, 48. so small was the number of those that served God in his ministerie, in comparison with the campes of Israel.

Vers. 40. Muster] or Number. moneth [unspec 40] old] Hebr. sonne of a moneth.

Vers. 41. for me] or, unto me, as the Chaldee expounds it, thou shalt bring neere the Levites be∣fore [unspec 41] me. every first-borne] or, all the first-borne, which being appointed unto the Lords ser∣vice, the Lord taketh the Levites to serve him in their stead. This was for the first-borne males of man and beast which the Israelites now had: all the first-borne that came after this, were to be re∣deemed, or given to the Priest, Num. 18. 15. See the notes on verse 12. and 13.

Vers. 43. and seventie and three] Gods speciall providence appeareth againe in this number of [unspec 43] the first-borne, that it should be so neere unto the number of the Levites taken in their stead: whom God destinated from the womb unto his service, and made the summes of them so neere. A like worke of God is observed by Moses in Deut. 32. 8. how he had appointed the borders of the peo∣ples, according to the number of the sonnes of Israel. And whereas six hundred thousand men and moe (Num. 1. 46.) had but 22. thousand and 273. first-borne males in all their families, it appeareth that the farre greater number of Israels first-borne were females, who by reason of their sex were not fit to serve God in his sanctuary. Which figured the small number of Gods elect, among the many that are called, Mat. 22. 14. Rom. 9. 6, 7, 8. For the elect are such as doe serve God day and night in his Temple, Revel. 7. 15. and are Priests unto God, Rev. 5. 10.

Vers. 45. shall be mine] which the Chaldee ex∣plaineth, [unspec 45] shall minister before me.

Vers. 46. those that are to be redeemed] Hebr. [unspec 46] And the redeemed; or, as the Greeke translateth it, And the redemptions (or ransomes.) So after in vers. 48, 49, 51. Here the overplus of the first-borne of man, is reckoned, and the summe of their ransome vers. 50. but the overplus of cattle is not reckoned.

Vers. 47. five shekels a peece] Heb. five five she∣kels: [unspec 47] which the Greeke translateth five shekels by the head. These five shekels (the price set here, and in Num. 18. 16.) was the value set in Lev. 27. 6. from a moneth old to five yeeres old; and it was the least of all the valuations: so that God burdened the Israelites with the ransomes as little as might be. twentie gera••s] or, twentie pence; the gerah was a peece of silver that weighed six∣teene barley graines: so the shekel weighed 320. graines; see the notes on Exod. 30. 13.

Vers. 48. the money] Hebr. the silver: so in [unspec 48] vers. 49, 50, 51. of the redeemed] un∣derstand, the money of those that are redeemed: or, as the Greeke translateth, the redemptions of those that are moe.

Vers. 50. Of the first-borne] in Hebrew, B••∣chor [unspec] the First-borne is singular, as spoken of one; but translated in Greeke plurally, as implying all. And this seemeth to be taken, not of particular persons (as, of them that were last numbred, or any other) for so the burden should have lien vn∣equally upon a few: but of the church in generall. Or, to cut off contention, it was done by lot, as R. Solomon Iarchi saith, he brought 22000. scrolles or papers (according to the number of the Le∣vites, vers. 39.) and on every of them was writ∣ten, A son of Levi: and 273. papers, (according to the number of the First-borne Israelites moe than the Levites, vers. 46.) and on every of them was written, Five shekels; they mingled them and put them in a basket; then said he unto them, come draw your papers according to your lot.

Vers. 51. of them that were redeemed] the [unspec 51] Greeke translateth, the silver, the ransomes of them that were overplus: this was given to Aaron, because the Levites were given to him, vers. 9. and when Levites failed, this money was in their stead, not the first-borne themselves, but their ransomes, for which the other Levites supplied their place and service. This redeeming of men by silver, fore-shadowed a better redemption by Christ; as it is written, Yee know that yee were not redeemed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 corruptible things, as silver and gold, &c. but with the pretious bloud of Christ, 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. ac∣cording to the mo••th] that is, the word, as the Chal∣dee translateth; and the Greeke, by the voice of the Lord.