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.

Annotations.

NOt sacrifice] in Greek, not offer, which is more generall: and so the Law also saith in Lev. 22. [unspec 1] 20. see the annotations there. Oxe or Lambe] these are the greatest and the least sacrifices, under which two, all other are comprehended. The Oxe is not to be understood of a gelded beast, (which wee usually call an Oxe,) for so it became blemi∣shed, and unfit for sacrifice; but of a Bull, as the o∣riginall properly signifieth. And the Lambe (in Hebrew Se••,) implyeth the Kid also, as Exod. 12. 3, 5. blemish] in Hebrew Mum; of which the Chaldee Muma, and Greeke Momos, are derived. Whereupon Christ is called the Lambe amomos, (that is, without blemish) 1 Pet. 1. 19. It meaneth any superfluity, want, or deformity in any part, as is more largely shewed on Lev. 22. 22.—24. And it is applyed to the worke of mens hands, Iob 31. 7. evill thing] Hebr. evill word; which the Chal∣dee explaineth, any evill whatsoever, For though there were no visible blemish, yet other corrupti∣on might disable it, as if it were sicke, Mal. 1. 8. or the hire of an where, or price of a dog, Deut. 23. 18. or any such like. See the notes on Lev. 22. 25. a•• abomination] and so farre off from being accep∣ted at mans hand, that God pronounceth a curse on those that sacrificed unto him such corrupt things, Mal. 1. 13, 14. Hereby God rejecteth all sacrifices save of his son Christ, (who is the Lumbe without blemish, and without spot, 1 Pet. 1. 19. who through the eternall Spirit, offered himselfe without spot unto God, Heb. 9. 14.) and the sacrifices which by him, and saith in his name, are offered to God continu∣ally, Heb. 13. 15. and 11. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 5, 6.

Vers. 2. If there be found] or, When there shall be [unspec 2] found. any of thy gates] or, one of thy gates, that is, 〈…〉〈…〉 as the Greeke and Chaldee translate it. in transgressing] or, to transgresse his covenant. Transgression is a passing over, or passing by the way which men should walke in: wherefore that which one Evangelist expresseth thus, they trans∣gresse the tradition of the Elders, Matth. 15. 2. ano∣ther expoundeth, they walke not according to the tradi〈…〉〈…〉 Mark. 7 5. The like phrase is of trans∣gressing the commandements, and the Law, Deu. 19; 13. Dan. 9. 11.

Vers. 3. other gods] which the Chaldee calleth [unspec 3] Idols of the peoples. ••••ther] Hebr. and to the Sunne. Besides other fictions of their owne, the nations worshipped these creatures also: and the Israelites ••ll into the same sin, Ezek. 8. 16. 2 King. 17. 26. and 21. 3. any of the host] or, all the host, that is, the starres, spheres, constellations, &c. as Esay. 34. 4. Rev. 6. 13. Ier. 8. 2. and 33. 22. But ••••der this name, the Angels also may be implied, Psal. 148. 2. for they are heavenly souldiers, Luk. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13, 15. and forbidden to be worshipped, Coloss. 2. 18. God onely is to be served, Matth. 4. 10. and the host of heaven worshippeth him, Neh. 9. 6. not commanded] religious worship and service may not be performed at the pleasure or precept of men, Esay 29. 1. 3. Matth. 15. 9. but as is com∣manded of God: and though all idolatries in the world are not expresly and by name forbidden, yet by the generall Law they are condemned, Exo. 20. 4, 5. and it is enough that God hath not comman∣ded them: see Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32.

Vers. 4. and hast inquired] or, then thou shalt in∣quire [unspec 4] diligently: Hebr. inquire well; both to finde out the sinne, if it be committed; and not to punish any man upon uncertaine reports.

Vers. 5. unto thy gates] in Greeke, unto the gate: [unspec 5] but the Chaldee saith, to thy citie. Of this the He∣brews write: they stone not. an Idola〈…〉〈…〉 but〈…〉〈…〉 the gate (of the citie) wherein he served (the Id〈…〉〈…〉.) and if it be a citie, where the most are heathans, they stone him at the doore of the Iudgement Hall. That (in Deut. 17. 5.) VNTO THY GATES, is meant the gate wherein he served (the Idoll) and not that wherein sentence (of death) was decreed against him. Maimony in Sanhedrin, c. 15. s. 2. stone them] This judgement of the particular person was greater than that of a whole citie which were killed with the sword, Deut. 13. 15. save that their goods were consumed also; this mans goods (as the Hebrewes say,) went to his heires. Of the man∣ner of stoning, see the annotations on Lev. 24. 23.

Vers. 6. At the mouth] which the Chaldee trans∣lateth, [unspec 6] the word, meaning the testimony of two or three. But from hence the Hebrewes gather; they must receive no testimony but from the mouth of the witnesses; it may not be from a writing of their hand. Maimony in treat. of Witnesses, ch. 3. s. 4. See the notes on Deut. 19. 15. he that is to die] or, he that dieth: the Chaldee expoundeth is; bee that is guilty (or deserveth) to be killed. of one] See this explained in Deut. 19. 15.

Vers. 7. and thou shalt put away the evill] If this [unspec 7] phrase, see Deut. 13. 5. the Greeke translateth, & put ye away (or, take away) from among your selves that wicked (person:) which very words Paul useth in 1 Cor. 5. 13. when he commandeth a wic∣ked man to be cast out of the Church.

Vers. 8. a matter] Hebr. a word. too hand▪ or, [unspec 8] marvellous, as being hidden from thy knowledge, that thou (O Iudge) canst not know, or determine it. The Greeke translateth, be impossible: the Ghal∣dee, separated from thee. It is spoken of things that are hidden, and so too hard and unpossible for one either to know, or to doe See Gen. 18. 14. Ier. 32. 17, 27. Zach. 8. 6. Deut. ••0. 11. bloud and bloud] Hebr. bloud to bloud: which phrase no∣teth a respect of one thing to another, when they are compared. By bloud may be understood mur∣der, of which the Iudges may be doubtfull and unable to finde out whether it were wilfull, which deserved death; or unwilling, for which exile into the cities of refuge was appointed, Num. 35. 16, 23, 24, &c. Bloud and bloud, is by

some referred to those lawes mentioned in Levit. 15. 19, and Deut. 22. 17. plea] or, judgement and judgement and judgement, cause, as in 1 King. 3. 16, 17.—28. stroke and stroke] or, plague and ••lague: which the Chaldee translateth, plague of leprosie, and plague of leprosie: wherein ••here might be difficulties, that the Priests could non easily judge: see Levig 13. and 14. chapters. But by plague or stroke may also be meant strokes and wounds that one man gave unto another. mat∣ters] or, words of strikes, that is, of disagreement a∣mong the Iudges, th•• they could not accord in the sentence of judgement, because of some doubts & difficulties. So the Chaldee translateth it, words (or mat〈…〉〈…〉) of division of judgement. Iehosaphat ex∣plaineth it thus, betweene bloud and betweene Law & Commandement, Statutes & Iudgements, 2 Chr. 19. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to implying all difficulties about any part of the Law whatsoever. thy gates] in the Greek and Childee, thyrities. then thou] Hebr. and thou shalt arise; speaking to the Iudge or Iudges, which found the causes too hard for them in judge∣ment: so it is written of the Iudges, the hard mat∣ter they brought unto Moses, and every small mat∣ter they judged themselves, Exod. 18. 26. shall chuse] to put his name, and to dwell there; see 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. 5. This place afterward was Ierusalem, as it is said, Moreover, in Ierusalem did Iehosaphat set of the Levites, and of the Priests, and of the chiefe of the fathers of Israel, for the judgement of the LORD, & for 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. 2 Chr. 19. 8, 9. 10. And there were se•• thrones of judgment; Ps. 122. 5.

Vers. 9. and unto the judge] by and is meant or, [unspec 9] as is opened in vers 〈◊〉〈◊〉. or unto the Iudge: by the iudge is understood the high conncell or Senate of Iudges, which were of the chiefe (or heads) of the fathers of Israel, 2 Chron. 19. 8. as they who here are called Priests, are in v. 12. called the Priest: and in 1 Chr. 4. 42. many captaines are in the Hebrew called an Head. And as among the Priests one was chiefe, so among the Iudges one was Prince or Ru∣ler, 2 Chro. 19. 11. The Hebrew records say, When any doubt arose in any case, to any one of Israel, he asked of the Iudgement hall (or Synedrion) that was in his citie; if they knew, they told it him: if not, then he that enquired, together with the Synedrion, or with the messengers thereof, went up to Ierusalem, & enquired of the Synedrion that was in the mountaine of the Temple; if they knew, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him; if not, then they all came to the Synedrion that was at the dvore of the Court-yard (of the Temple:) if they knew, they told it them, and if not, they all came to the Chamber of hewen (stone) to the great Synedri∣on, and enquired, &c. Maim. tom. 4. treat. of Rebells, c. 1. s. 4. Of the thre•• Synedrions in Ierusalem, see the Annotations on Num. 11. 16. that shall be in those dayes] From hence the Hebrewes gather, that if the high Synedrion had judged and deter∣mined of a matter, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 right in their eyes, & after them another Synedrom rose up, which upon reasons seeming good unto them, disanulled the former sentence; then it was disanulled, and judge∣ment passed according as seemed good unto these latter: Thou art not bound (say they) to walk save af∣ter the Synedrion (or Iudges) that are in: thy genera∣tion (the time wherin thou livest;) Maim. in Rebels, c. 2. s. 1. the word of judgement] that is, the mat∣ter or sentence of judgement: which was to be ac∣cording to the Law of God, vers. 11. as it is said of the Priests, And in controversie, they shall stand in judgement; and they shall judge it according to my judgements, Ezek. 44. 24. Whereupon it was also said unto the Iudges, Yee shall warne them that they trespasse not against the Lord, and so wrath come up∣on you, and upon your brethren, 2 Chron. 19. 10.

Vers. 10. according to the word] or, according [unspec 10] to the sentence of the word: Hebr. the mouth of the word: so in v. 11. all that they informe thee] or, all that they teach thee, to w••t, agreeable to Gods Law, as before is shewed, from Ezek. 44. 24. And in this sense, Christ said to the people of the Scribes and Pharisees sitting in Moses seat; All whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and doe, Matth. 23. 2, 3. which he meaneth not of their owne tra∣ditions, but of their doctrine according to Moses; for when they taught for doctrines the commande∣ments of men, hee both reproved them himselfe, and willed his Disciples to let them alone, as blinde leaders of the blinde, Matth. 15. 1, 2,—14, and charged them to beware of the leaven of the Phari∣sees and Sadduces, that is, their doctrine, Matt. 16. 6, 12. Here therefore the Hebrew Doctors have stumbled at the Law, whiles from this Scripture they would establish not onely the written Law of God, but the Law by word of mouth, (or, by traditi∣on) the foundation whereof they make the high Synedrion which was in Ierusalem: from whose judgement they held it not lawfull to decline. Mai∣mony in Rebels, c. 1.

Vers. 11. According to the Law] or, Accor∣ding [unspec 11] to the mouth (that is, the sentence, doctrine or commandement) of the Law. not decline from the word] or, not turne aside from. The commandement to doc, & the prohibition not to decline, joyned to∣gether in this Law, doe shew the weight thereof: the naming of the Law, Iudgement & Word, which the Priests and Iudges should teach, sheweth the rule of right judgement to be given of God in his Law, Ios. 1. 7. Deut. 5. 32, 33. Ezek. 44. 24. from which when the Priests departed, the Lord made them contemptible and base before all the people, Mal. 2. 7, 8, 9.

Vers. 12. the man that will doe presumptuously] [unspec 12] or, in presumption, proudly; as the Greeke transla∣teth, in pride; the Chaldee, in wickednesse. It is op∣posed unto ignorance and errour, Exod. 21. 13, 14. By the man here here to be meant either pri∣vate person, or inferiour Iudge, that proudly dis∣obeyed the sentence of the highest Councell; but the Hebrewes referre it chiefly to the Rebellious Elder, or Iudge: and whereas they brought their owne traditions (or law by word of mouth) with∣in the compasse of the Law to be taught, (as is no∣ted on vers. 10.) they except the Sadduces which had beene from their youth trained up in their fa∣thers opinions, and never received the traditions of the Pharisees; that such were not to dye by this Law, for not obeying the doctrine which

the high Court taught by tradition: as also from this word will doe, they teach that the rebellious Elder was not guilty of death, for holding in judg∣ment contrary to the decree of the high Synedri∣on, or for teaching others so to hold, unlesse hee teach them to do the thing, or doe it himselfe. Yet though he were free from death, the Magistrates might beat him, or otherwise punish him. Maim. in Rebel. c. 3. s. 1. &c. the Priest] that is, the Priests. as in v. 9. for, by their mouth every con∣troversie, and every stroke was to bee tried, Deut. 21. 5. standeth to minister] so in Ezek. 44. 24. in controversie they shall stand in judgment: see the notes on Deut. 10. 8. there before Iehovah] or, there unto Iehovah, as in Deut. 21. 5. the Greeke translateth, in the name of the Lord. or unto the Iudge] that is, the Iudges, as is noted on v. 9. And by this disjunctive or, the Iudges are distinguished from the Priests forementioned. shall die] the manner of his death, the Hebrewes say, was strang∣ling; and they that put him to death were the chiefe Iudges. When witnesses come (and testifie) that he hath done according to his teaching, or, that hee hath taught others to doe it, they determine his sentence of death, in the judgment hall that is in his Citie, and take him and carrie him up from thence to Ierusalem. And they put him not to death in the Iudgment hall that is in his citie, &c. but carrie him up to the high Synedrion in Ierusalem, and keepe him untill the feast, and strangle him at the feast, as it is said, and all the people shall heare and feare, &c. Mai∣mony in Rebels, o. 3. s. 8. See also the notes on Deut. 13. 11. the evill] the evill doer, as the Childee explaineth it, agreeable also to the Greeke: see Deut. 13. 5.

Vers. 14. and shalt say] that is, if thou shalt say, I [unspec 14] will set over mee a King: Thus God, who had set Iudges over his people, permitteth them also to have a king, if they saw it so meet, and would; and should doe this thing after an holy and orderly manner. But when they sought it amisse, it displea∣sed the Lord, 1 Sam. 8. 5, 6, 7. and 12. 12, 17, 19. Then God gave them a king in his anger, and took him away in his wrath, Hos. 13. 11.

Vers. 15. Setting thou shalt set] that is, thou shalt [unspec 15] in any wise set: thus bindeth hee them to doe this during, according to the rules here given, both for the good of their Common-wealth and Church, and for a figure of Christ, to whom the kingdome of Israel did belong, Esay 32. 1. Zach. 9. 9. Luk. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 32, 33. thy God shall chuse] either by the manistery of his Prophets, as by Samuel hee anoin∣ted Saul, 1 Sam. 10. 1. and David, 1 Sam. 16. 1. by Ahijah, he chose Ieroboam, 1 King. 11. 29, 31, 35. or by other meanes, as by Vrim and Thum∣〈◊〉〈◊〉, by Lot, or the like. thy brethren] in this Christ was figured, as also in his other functions of 〈…〉〈…〉phesie and Priesthood; for so it is written, Ie∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the middest of thee, of thy brethren, Deut. 18. 15. And, in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that be might bee a mercifull and faithfull high Priest, &c. Heb. 2. 17.

Vers. 16. not multiply horses] not get him many horses, lest hee should put confidence in worldly strength, whereof horses were the principall, as ap∣peareth by Psal. 20. 8. Deut. 20. 1. Prov. 21. 31. to Egypt] in which land were many horses, which they accounted the strength of their countrey, 2 Chron. 1. 16. and 9. 28. whereupon it is said, Woe to them that goe downe to Egypt for helpe, and stay on horses, &c. Esay 31. 1. not adde to re∣turne] that is, not againe returne, either for the cause aforesaid, or for to dwell there, because of their great idolatries, and other sinnes, whereby Gods people might be corrupted. So Ieremy from the Lord disswaded the Iewes from going into Egypt, Ier. 42. 10, 14, 16, 17, &c. The Hebrewes say, It is lawfull to dwell in all the world, save in the land of Egypt: but it is lawfull to returne to the land of Egypt for mer chandise, &c. Maim. treat. of Kings, ch. 5. s. 7, 8.

Vers. 17. multiply wives] take many wives; the [unspec 17] Hebrews, and some Christians understand this pro∣hibition of exceeding many, as Solomon had se∣ven hundred, 1 King. 11. 3. and not that moe wives than one are here forbidden. But howso∣ever God bare with the Kings, Patriarkes, and o∣ther men that had moe wives than one, and that this custome prevailed, yet from the beginning it was not so, when he made but two to be one flesh, Gen. 2. 24. Mat. 19. 5. Mal. 2. 14, 15. that his heart turne not away] or, neither shall his heart turne away, to wit, from the Lord, unto the plea∣sures of life, or unto other gods, by meanes of ma∣ny wives: as of Solomon it is said, His wives tur∣ned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, 1 King. 11. 4. Al∣though his mother taught him better, saying, Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy waies to that which destroyeth Kings, Prov. 31. 1, 3. greatly mul∣tiply] or, vehemently (exceedingly) multiply silver and gold: which is another meane whereby the heart may be withdrawne from God; for when men be rich and full, they are in danger to denie and say, Who is the Lord? Prov. 30. 8, 9. and they cannot serve God and Mammon, Matt. 6. 24. the care of this world, and the doceitfulnesse of riches choke the word of God, Matt. 13. 22. and they that will bee rich fall into tentation, and a snare, and into many foo∣lish and hurtfull lusts, which drowne men in destructi∣on and perdition, 1 Tim. 6. 9.

Vers. 18. when he sitteth upon the throne] that is, [unspec 18] when he is King: see the notes on Exod. 11. 5. the copie of this Law] the Greeke translateth it, this Deuteronomie. The Hebrewes have recorded thus; When the King sitteth upon the throne of his kingdome, hee is to write him the booke of the Law for himselfe, over and beside the booke which is left him of his fathers, &c. If his fathers have lest him none or, if that be lost, he is to write him two bookes of the Law; the one he is to reserve in his house, for so he is commanded, as every one of Israel; the other is not to depart from before him. If he goe out to war, it (goeth) with him; if he fit in iudgment, it is to be with him, &c. Maimony treat. of Kings, c. 3. s. 1. before the Priests] the originall booke of the Law was kept in the Sanctuary, as appeareth by

Deut. 31. 26. 2 King. 22. 8. out of that was the Kings copie to be written, that it might be perfect.

Vers. 19. it shall be with him] in all places whi∣ther [unspec 19] hee went, hee caried this copie of the Law with him, as before is noted: So God said unto Iosua, This booke of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, &c. Ios. 1. 8. Thus David did, as appeareth by Psal. 119. 16, 24, 97, 98, 99 &c. learne to feare] under this name feare, notonely the inward reverence, but the outward worship and service of God is also implied, even all true Religion: as that which is written, their feare towards ••••ee is taught by the precept of men, Esay 29. 13. is expounded by our Saviour, In vainè they worship mee, teaching doctrines the precepts of men, Matt. 15. 9.

Vers. 20. not lifted up above his brethren] be∣cause [unspec 20] the honour of the King was great, and all were to obey him in the Lord, Ios. 1. 16, 17, 18. Eccles. 8. 2, 3, 4. Rom. 13. 1. therefore hee is warned to shunne pride, and loftinesse of heart; whereupon David said, Lord, my heart is not haugh∣ty, nor mine eies lofty, &c. Psal. 131. 1, 2. The contrary was found in Nebuchadnezzar, to whom the most high God gave a kingdome, and majestie, and glory, and honour ••••but when his heart was lifted up, and his minde hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they tooke his glory from him, Dan. 5. 18, 20. The Hebrewes say, As the Scrip∣ture giveth great honour to the King, and every one is bound to honour him; so it commandeth him, that his heart be humble within him, and wounded, as it is said (in Psal. 109. 22.) My heart is wounded with∣in mee. And he may not carry himselfe with pride of heart in Israel, more than is meet, Deut. 17. 20. but must be gratious and pittifull, both to little and great; and goe out, and come in for their pleasure & for their good, and have regard of the honour of the smallest. And when he speaketh unto all the congregation in ge∣nerall words, hee should speake gently, as it is said (by David in 1 Chron. 28. 2.) Heare mee my bre∣thren, and my people. It is also said (in 1 King. 12. 7.) If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, &c. And hee must alwaies use exceeding meeke∣nesse: wee have had none greater than our master Moses, yet he said, And what are wee? your murmu∣rings are not against us (Exod. 16. 8.) And he bare their cumbrance, and their burden, and their murmu∣rings, and their indignation, as a nursing father bea∣reth the snoking child (Num. 11. 12.) The Scrip∣ture calleth him a Shepherd to feed Iacob his servant: and the manner of a shepherd is expressed (in Esay 40. 11.) Hee shall feed his flocke like a shepherd, bee shall gather the lambs with his arme, and carrie them in his bosome, &c. Maim. treat. of Kings, chap. 2. sect. 6.