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. XIII.

1 The Prophet that inticeth to idolatry, though he give signes which come to passe, must not bee hear∣kened unto, but put to death. 6. The brother, childe, wife, or friend, that inticeth to idolatry, must not bee bearkened unto, spared, or concealed, but stoned to death. 12 The citie that revolteth to serve other gods, after due inquiry, must bee smitten with the sword, men and beasts utterly destroyed, the spoiles burned, the citie ruined for ever, and none of that exe∣crable thing reserved.

IF there arise in the middest of thee a [unspec 1] Prophet, or a dreamer of dreames, and hee give unto thee a signe or a wonder; And the signe commeth, or the wonder [unspec 2] which hee spake unto thee, saying; Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, & serve them: Thou shalt not hearken unto [unspec 3] the words of that Prophet, or unto that drea∣mer of a dreame; for Iehovah your God tempteth you, to know whether you be the lovers of Iehovah your God, with all your heart, and with all your soule. After Ieho∣vah [unspec 4] your God shall yee walke, and him yee shall feare, and his commandements shall ye keepe, and his voice yee shall obey, and him you shall serve, and unto him shall ye cleave.

And that Prophet, or that dreamer of a [unspec 5] dreame, shall be put to death, because hee hath spoken revolt against Iehovah your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants, to thrust thee out of the way, which Iehovah thy God comman∣ded thee to walke therein: and thou shalt put away the evill from the middest of thee.

If thy brother, the sonne of thy mother, [unspec 6] or thy sonne, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosome, or thy friend which is in thine owne soule, entise thee in secret, saying, Let us goe and serve other gods, which thou hast not knowne, thou nor thy fathers. Of the [unspec 7] gods of the peoples which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or farre off from thee, from the one end of the earth, even unto the other end of the earth. Thou shalt not con∣sent [unspec 8] unto him, nor hearken unto him, neither shall thine eye spare him; neither shalt thou pitty, neither shalt thou conceale him. But [unspec 9] killing thou shalt kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him, to put him to death; and afterwards the hand of all the people. And [unspec 10] thou shalt stone him with stones, and he shall die, because hee hath sought to thrust thee a∣way from Iehovah thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of servants. And all Israel shall [unspec 11] heare and feare, and shall doe no more as this evill thing, in the middest of thee.

If thou shalt heare (say) in one of thy ci∣ties, [unspec 12] which Iehovah thy God giveth to thee, to dwell there, saying, Certaine men, the sons [unspec 13] of Belial, are gone out from the middest of thee, and have thrust away the inhabitants of their citie, saying, Let us goe and serve other gods, which yee have not knowne: Then [unspec 14] shalt thou enquire, and shalt search, and shalt aske diligently; and behold (if it be) truth, the word certaine, this abomination is done in the middest of thee. Smiting thou shalt [unspec 15] smite the inhabitants of that citie with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it, and all that is therein, and the cattell thereof, with the edge of the sword. And all the spoile [unspec 16] of it thou shalt gather into the middest of the street thereof, and shalt burne with fire the citie and all the spoile thereof, everie whit, to Iehovah thy God: and it shall be an heape for ever, it shall not bee built againe.

And there shall not cleave to thy hand [unspec 17] ought of the cursed thing, that Iehovah may

turne from the burning of his anger, and may give unto thee tender mercies, and may have tender mercie on thee, and multi∣plie thee, as hee hath sworne unto thy fa∣thers. When thou shalt obey the voice of [unspec 18] Iehovah thy God, to keepe all his comman∣dements, which I command thee this day, to doe that which is right in the eies of Iehovah thy God.

Annotations.

IF there arise] or, when there shall stand up; by [unspec 1] which word is signified the open and bold cari∣age of deceivers. Moses having from the first com∣mandement, taught the doctrine of one only God, whom wee should in faith, love, and obedience have to bee ours, and give our selves to him; and from the second commandement, taught the right way of serving this God, according to his owne word, doth now from the third commandement, teach to beware of the abuse of Gods name and word unto vanity, heresie, or idolatry; and so ge∣nerally warneth Israel to take heed lest they trans∣gressed the first and second commandements by the breach of the third. in the middest of thee] speaking to Israel, amongst whom many false pro∣phets did arise, 2 Pet. 2. 1. Vnto which danger all Churches are subject, as it is said, Moreover of your owne selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, Act. 20. 30. a Prophet] a publike seducer, touching whom hee giveth warning first, as after∣wards of the private, in v. 6. &c. What a Prophet signifieth, is noted on Gen. 20. 7. and Exod. 7. 1. dreames] this was one of the waies, by which prophesie came of old unto men, Num. 12. 6. Ier. 23. 25. 28. By a Prophet he seemeth to denote the principall sort, such as saw visions: by a dreamer, the inferiour sort, that saw things more obscurely. he give] either by word and promise, or by action or gesture, as 1 King. 13. 3. and 22. 11. Mat. 12. 39, 40. wonder] any miraculous, or super∣naturall thing; as Iannes and Iambres in appea∣rance turned water into bloud, Exod. 7. 22.

Vers. 2. or the wonder] Hebr. and the wonder: [unspec 2] these are said to come, when they are effected or fulfilled: so Ier. 28. 9. Deut. 18. 22. saying] that is, and he say: as saying in 1 Chron. 13. 12. is ex∣pounded, and said in 2 Sam. 6. 9. so in 2 King. 22. 9. compared with 2 Chron. 34. 16. after other gods] the Greeke explaineth it, and serve other gods; which the Chaldee calleth, idols of the peoples. Thus the religion given of God by the hand of Moses, was established against all opposition that after might arise, upon what pretence soever: And so the saith taught by Christ and his Apostles, was confirmed against the future signes, and lying won∣ders of Antichrist, 2 Thess. 2. 9. 10. The Hebrews say, If there stand up a prophet, and hee doth great signes and wonders, and seeketh to denie (or make false) the prophesie of Moses, wee may not hearken unto him, but wee know certainly, that those signes are by enchantment and sorcery. For the prophesie of Mo∣ses was not by signes, &c. but with out eies we saw, and with our eares we heard as he did heare, &c. There∣fore the Law saith, If the signe or wonder come to passe, thou shalt not hearken to the words of that Pro∣phet, (Deut. 13.) for loe, hee commeth unto thee with signe and wonder, to make that false which thou hast seene with thine eies. And for as much as we be∣leeve not in a wonder, but because of the commande∣ment which Moses commanded us; how should wee receive this signe, which commeth to make the prophe∣sie of Moses false, which we saw and heard? Maimo∣ny tom. in Iesude hatorah, chap. 8. sect. 3. See also the annotations on Exod. 19. 9.

Vers. 3. that dreamer] or, the dreamer of that [unspec] dreame; and so the Greeke translateth it. God tempteth] or proveth: See the notes on Gen. 22. 1. But there God himselfe immediately tempted A∣braham; here mediatly, and that by evill meanes, which he of his grace and wisdome ordereth and disposeth for good to his people: as also the Apo∣stle saith, There must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may bee made manifest a∣mong you, 1 Cor. 11. 19.

Vers. 4. After Iehovah] the Chaldee saith, af∣ter [unspec 4] the feare of the Lord your God. Here the Lord and his commandements are opposed to all other: so that after Iehovah, meaneth after him onely; as our Saviour expoundeth a like speech, Mat. 4. 10. from Deut. 6.

Vers. 5. spoken revolt] or apostasie, that is, spoken [unspec 5] words to cause thee to revolt, or turne away; as the Greeke translateth, to make thee to erre from the Lord. This judgment of the false Prophet (as all other weighty matters) none but the high councell of 71 Elders might judge of, as the Hebrewes say, Talmud. Bab. in Sanhedrin, c. 1. and Maimony in Sanhedrin, c. 5. See the annotations on Num. 11. 30. the evill] both person and worke; as the Chaldee translateth, the evill doer: the Greeke, the evill thing: but in Deut. 17. 7. the Greeke transla∣teth, the evill one; which Paul approveth, using the same words, in 1 Cor. 5. 13.

Vers. 6. thy brother] by nature, or in the same [unspec 6] faith and Church: but the Greeke addeth, thy bro∣ther on thy fathers side, or on thy mothers. son of thy mother] such are dearest brethren, as the exam∣ple of Ioseph and Benjamin sheweth, Gen. 43. 34. and 45. 12, 14. daughter] Love and affection descendeth from parents to children, as it were by inheritance; and the daughter for in firmity of sex, is most spared and pittied; but may not so bee in this case. of thy bosome] the Greeke saith, which is in thy bosome, as thine owne soule] most de••re∣ly loved, put therefore in the last place; for a friend sticketh closer than a brother, Prov. 18. 24. And as man and wife are one flesh, Matt. 19. 6. so friends here are as one soule. intice] with motions, rea∣sons, exhortations; the Greeke translateth, exhort: the Chaldee, counsell. The Hebrewes write; Hee that entiseth any one of Israel, whether man or wo∣man, he is to be stoned; although neither the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nor the intised, hath worshipped the idoll, yet he d••••th

for teaching to worship it. Whether the intiser bee private man, or Prophet, bee the intised one singular person, man or woman, or a few persons, they are to die by stoning. Hee that intiseth the multitude of a citie, he is a thruster away, and is not called an inti∣ser. Maimony treat. of Idolatry, chap. 5. sect. 1, 2. See after in vers. 13. other gods] in Chaldee, I∣dols of the peoples: so in vers. 7.

Vers. 7. unto the other end] that is, all the world over. Hereby God condemneth all the feigned [unspec 7] religions thorowout the earth, as being gone astray from him: and having made himselfe and his word knowne unto Israel, would have them therein to rest their faith, without declining to no∣velties. Wee know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickednesse, 1 Ioh. 5. 19.

Vers. 8. not consent] or, not affect, have any liking [unspec 8] or will unto him. From which word, the Hebrews gather, that it is unlawfull for the intised to love the intiser. Maimony treat. of Idolatry, chap. 5. sect. 4. If he were drawne away by him, so that hee said, Goe we and let us serve them, although they had not as yet served, both of them were to be stoned, the in∣tiser and the intised. Ibidem sect. 5. eye spare] to wit, from vengeance. See this phrase in Gen. 45. 20. Deut. 7. 16. pitie] or use gentlenesse and indulgence, as Gen. 19. 16. conceale him] but bewray, and use all meanes to bring him to his pu∣nishment. Therefore the Hebrews thinke, that the intised person was to take witnesses, to see if he would intise before them: if hee would not, then (they say) it is commanded to lay privy wait for him, and they lay wait for none that are guilty of death by the Law, but for this man. And thus they doe it: The intised bringeth two men, and sets them in a darke place, so that they may see the intiser, and heare his words, but he may not see them. Then he saith to the intiser, Say what is it that you said, &c. When he hath spoken, the intised answereth; How shall wee leave our God which is in heaven, and goe and serve stockes and stones? If he convert hereby, or hold his peace, hee is free: But if hee say unto him, thus are we bound to doe, and thus it be seemeth us; then they that stood there aloofe, bring him to the judgment Hall, and they stone him. Maimony treat. of Idola∣try, chap. 5. sect. 3.

Vers. 9. shalt kill him] by shewing the thing to [unspec] the Magistrate, who hath power to kill him: ther∣fore the Greeke translateth, Shewing thou shalt shew concerning him. thine hand] this is spoken to the accuser, or first witnesse, who must cast the first stone at him, Deut. 17. 7. Of the manner of sto∣ning used in Israel, see the notes on Levit. 24. 23.

Vers. 10. to thrust thee away from Iehovah] in [unspec 10] Chaldee, to make thee to erre from the feare of the Lord, that is, to goe astray from his true worship ••••d service, as feare in Esay 29. 13. is expounded worship, in Matt. 15. 9. of servants] in Greeke and Chaldee, of servitude, or bondage.

Vers. 11. shall doe no more] Hebr. shall not adde to [unspec 11] doe as this evill word, that is, any such evill thing as this is. For punishment of transgressours, is a meane to restraine others from wickednesse, and to make them wise, Prov. 21. 11. On the con∣trary, Because sentence against an evill worke is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe evill, Eccles. 8. 11. See the like in Deut. 17. 13. The Hebrewes ga∣ther from the words, All Israel shall heare, &c. that a cryer was to proclaime before him unto all, the cause of his death; and they note foure sorts of evill doers, before whom such proclamation was made; The rebellious Elder, (Deut. 17. 13.) the presumptuous false witnesse, (Deut. 19. 19, 20.) the intiser to Idolatry, (here spoken of) and the stub∣borne rebellious sonne, (Deut. 21. 18, 21.) Maimo∣ny tom. 4. treat. of Rebels, c. 3. s. 8.

Vers. 12. If thou shalt heare say in one] or, When [unspec 12] thou shalt heare of one, that is, of any one of thy ci∣ties. This is one of the most severe lawes, where∣in God sheweth his jealousie and indignation a∣gainst idolaters, to the utter rooting out, not onely of their persons, but or their posterity, goods, and citie it selfe for ever. of thy cities] of the ci∣ties of Israel, which were Gods people, against whom onely this law is given, if they should bee drawne to idolatry, and not against those that were without. So of spirituall judgment it is said, Doe not yee judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth, 1 Cor. 5. 12, 13.

Vers. 13. sonnes of Belial] that is, wicked or [unspec 13] mischievous persons, which the Chaldee interpre∣teth, sonnes of wickednesse. Belial (in Hebrew Beli∣ijagnal) is by interpretation, without profit, or, without yoake, that is, lawlesse, rebellious and wic∣ked; and this name is given unto Satan or Anti∣christ, opposed unto Christ, in 2 Cor. 6. 15. and to bee sonnes of Belial, is to be addicted or given over unto wickednesse, as in 1 Sam. 2. 12. Iudg. 19. 22. 1. King. 21. 10. The like is of a daughter of Belial, 1 Sam. 1. 16. and man of Belial. 1 Sam. 25. 25. and sometime the wicked are simply called Belial, as in 2 Sam. 23. 6. Nahum 1. 15. and as it is here applyed to persons, so is it also to wicked things, words or thoughts, as in Deut. 15. 9. out from the middest of thee] or, from among you, speaking to Israel, from whom such wicked persons might in all ages goe forth, as they did also from the Christian Churches, as it is said, They went out from us, but they were not of us, 1 Ioh. 2. 19. And this their going out, argueth likewise their stubborne and presumptuous carriage in their evill, which they did not in secret, but as proclai∣ming warre against the Lord. have thrust away] or, have driven, have withdrawne, to wit, out of the way, as was expressed in vers. 5. the Chaldee expoundeth it, have caused to erre, (or goe astray:) and it noteth the force and efficacie or such seducers; as Ieroboam is said to have driven Israel from following the Lord, 2 King. 17. 21. See before on Deut. 4. 19. the inh••b••tants] This is spoken generally and indefinitely: if all the inhabitants were seduced, there is no doubt but the judgment following was to be executed: the Hebrews also thinke, if the greater part of the citie were drawn away, they all that were seduced, were to dye, and the citie to bee destroyed: but if

the lesser part onely were withdrawne, then they were killed, but the citie it selfe was to be let stand, as is further shewed in the annotations following. other gods] in Chaldee, the idols of the peo∣ples: so here were two evills, the forsaking of the true God, whom they had knowne, and the fol∣lowing of other gods whom they had not knowne. Of these the Lord saith by his Prophet, Bee astoni∣shed, O yee heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid: he yee very desolate, saith the LORD; for my people have committed two evills, they have forsaken me the foun∣taine of living waters; they have hewed them out cesternes, broken cesternes that can hold no water, Ier. 2. 12, 13.

Vers. 14. Then shalt thou enquire] hee speaketh [unspec 14] to Israel, and therein chiefly to the Rulers, whom it most concerned to try out this case: and by these three, enquire, search, aske, & that well or diligently, he teacheth them what care should be had for fin∣ding out the truth; that this severe judgment came not upon any without their due demerit. The He∣brewes say, They judge not a citie thrust away, but in the judgment hall of 71 (Magistrates:) it is said (in Deut. 17. 5.) Thou shalt bring forth that man or that woman unto thy gates, and shalt stone them, &c. Particular persons are killed by the Iudges that are in every citie; but the multitude are not killed save by the great Synedrion. The great Court doe send, and enquire, and search, till they know evident∣ly, that all the citie, or the most of it, is thrust away, and turned to idolatry. Afterward they send two learned men, to admonish and to convert them. If they convert and shew repentance, it is well: but if they persist in their folly, the Synedrion doe command all Israel to goe up against them to warre: and they doe besiege them, and wage warre against them, untill the citie be broken up. When it is broken up, forth∣with they set for them many courts of judgment, and doe judge them: whosoever hath two witnesses come against him, that hee served an Idoll, after they have dispatched him, they put him apart. If all the Idolaters be found the lesser number, they stone them to death, and the rest of the citie is delivered. If they be found the greater number, they carry them up to the high Court, and give sentence there against them. Maim. treat of Idolat. c. 4. s. 3. 6.

Vers. 15. smite the inhabitants] the Greeke saith, [unspec 15] kill all the inhabitants with the slaughter of the sword: which is to bee understood, if they bee all found guilty: as they say, They kill with the sword all that have served (the Idoll;) and smite every soule, men, women, and children, if all (the citie) bee thrust away. If the Idolaters be found the greater number, they smite all the little ones, and women of the Idola∣ters with the edge of the sword. And whether the whole, or the most part, be thrust away, they stone to death those that did thrust them away. Maim. ibid. s. 6. utterly destroying] with a curse or execrati∣on: after the Greeke version, anathematizing. Of such the Hebrews say, The men of the citie drawne away (to Idolatry) have no part in the world to come, (that is, in life eternall.) Thalmud. Bab. in San∣hedrin, c. Chelek. the cattell] and of the cattell that is killed, it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forbidden to make any profit (or use) of them, even as of the Oxe that is stoned. Maimony in Idolatry, c. 4 s. 13.

Vers. 16. all the spoile of it] This the Hebrews un∣derstand [unspec 16] largely, whether they be the goods of the idolaters, or of the other that fell not unto idolatry: for so they write; The goods of the just men that are within it, if they be the rest of the inhabitants of that citie, which are not drawne away with the multitude, they are burnt with the generall spoile: for as much as they dwell therein, their goods perish. A company of passengers from place to place, if they passe thorow a citie so drawne away, and be drawne away with it; if they have continued in it thirty daies, they are killed with the sword, and their goods perish; if not, they are stoned to death, and their goods are to their heires. The goods of the men of another citie reserved therein, are not burned, but returned to the owners; for it is said, The spoile of it, and not the spoile of their neighbours. The goods of the wicked men of that citie, which are reserved in another citie, if they be gathe∣red together with it, are burnt in the generall: if not, they perish not, but are given to their heires. The ho∣ly things within it, such as are sanctified for the Al∣tar, doe die; for the sacrifice of the wicked is an abo∣mination. Things sanctified to the maintenance of the Temple, are redeemed, and afterward burnt: for it is said, the spoile of it, not the spoile of heaven. The first-borne, and the tithe that are perfect, are as the holy things of the Altar, and dye: such as are ble∣mished, are as the common cattell, and are killed, &c. The second tithes, and the money of the second tithes, and the holy Scriptures that are within (the citie) are laid up in store. Maimon. in Idolat. chap. 4. sect. 7. 9, 10, 15. every whit] The Hebrew Calil here used is sometime an whole burnt offering, Levit. 6. 22. Deut. 33. 10. Hereupon the He∣brewes say, Who so executeth judgment upon the ci∣tie drawne away (to Idols) loe he offereth the burnt∣offering Calil; as it is written, every whit (Calil) to the LORD thy God: neither that onely, but tur∣neth away burning anger from Israel, (Deut. 13. 17.) and bringeth a blessing and mercies upon them. Maim. in Idolat. c. 4. s. 16. an heape] the Greek translateth, uninhabited; the Chaldee, a desolate heape. The Hebrewes say, Whosoever buildeth it, is to be beaten: but it is lawfull to turne it into Gar∣dens or Orchards; for it is said, it shall not be built a∣gaine; not built for a citie, as it was before. Maim. ibid. s. 8.

Vers. 17. not cleave to thy hand] that is, thou shalt [unspec 17] not make any profit or use to thy selfe of any of the goods of the citie. Compare the example of Ieri∣cho, Ios. 6. 17. &c. and see the annotations on Deut. 7. 26. from the burning] the Chaldee expoundeth it, from the strength; the Greeke, from the wrath of his anger, which oftentimes is kind∣led, not onely against the sinners themselves, but all Israel for their sakes, as Ios. 7. 1. 11, 12. and 22. 17. 18, 20.

Vers. 18. obey] or hearken to the voice; in Chal∣dee, [unspec 18] shalt receive the word of the Lord. that which is right in the eies] which the Greeke ex∣poundeth, That which is good and pleasing before the Lord.