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.

HAD spoken] as is before mentioned, [unspec 1] Deut. 1. 40. which then the people were unwilling to doe, but would needs goe fight, till they had learned by their discomfiture, what it was to disobey, and were enforced to yeeld unto the word of God. mount Seir] the mountainy countrey of Seir, which was Edoms Land, Gen. 36. 8, 9, 20. but they went in the wildernesse, and were sore cumbred in the way: see Num. 21. 4.

Verse 3. Long enough] a like speech God used [unspec 3] before, Deut. 1. 6. so here is mentioned a second calling of Israel, from the desarts of Seir, to goe northward againe towards Canaan, after they had wandred almost thirty eight yeares in Kadesh wil∣dernesse, about mount Seir, vers. 14. by which tra∣vell, God taught them to mortifie their unruly af∣fections, and by the death of so many thousands there, ledde them to seeke life (by repentance and faith) in the heavenly Canaan, seeing they could not come into the earthly. In the meane while, the Amorites, Canaanites, &c. (unto whom God gave this long time of repentance) were hardened in their sinnes, and took occasion to insult over Gods people, beholding their afflictions: but the poste∣rity of Israel were humbled and prepared for to re∣ceive the land promised. Northward] towards Canaan; Not the way they went before by Ka∣desh Barnea, but betweene the coasts of Edom on the one hand, and of Moab and Ammon on the other; so to enter into Canaan, thorow Sihon the Amorites land. Thus Gods word was their director, unto all places, and in all actions: in which respect these histories of holy Scripture ex∣cell all humane histories in the world.

Verse 4. afraid] as was prophesied of them and [unspec 4] others, in Exod. 15. 15. &c. yet Edom was a migh∣tie people, setled in their mountaine, and fortified. See also Num. 22. 3. great] or vehement heed; meaning, that they offred Edom no wrong, nei∣ther suffred themselves to bee overcome by them: Walke wisely towards them that are without, Col. 4. 5.

Verse 5. Meddle not] or, contend not with them, [unspec 5]

to wit, in battell, as is explained in vers. 9. and so the Greeke here saith, Make not warre with them. As all warres should be made by wise counsels, Pro. 24. 6. so chiefly by the mouth of God, who teach∣eth mans hands to war, Psal. 144. 1. who hath wil∣led us, If it be possible, as much as lyeth in you, bee at peace with all men, Rom. 12. 18. In speciall it was commanded, Thou shalt not abhorre an Edomite, for hee is thy brother, Deut. 23. 7. to the treading, &c.] that is, not a foot bredth; the Greeke transla∣teth it, not the step (or bredth) of a foot: which phrase Luke useth, in Act. 7. 5. concerning Abra∣ham in Canaan. Though the Edomites were wic∣ked, yet God continued their state for a time; du∣ring which no man might lawfully disturbe them. By this God teacheth also the difference betweene Esaus portion and Iakobs: see Rom. 9. 11. 12. &c. Col. 1. 12. See the notes on Gen. 36. 43. a posses∣sion] or, an inheritance to Esau; that is (as the Greeke translateth) to the sonnes of Esau. The most high divided to the Nations their inheritance, Deut. 32. 8. and Esau had their portion and state long before Israel, Gen. 36. 8. 31. 43. Ios. 24. 4. with such wordly baits Gods people should not be al∣lured.

Vers. 6. buy] Hebr. breake: which both Greeke [unspec 6] and Chaldee translate, buy: see Gen. 41. 56. in the Annotations. In the strangers land nothing was to be had freely, but with money, figuring the estate of those under the Law: in Canaan they had all things freely; signifying the free grace in Christ, Deut. 11. 9, 10, &c. Esa. 55. 1. Rev. 21. 6. money] Hebr. silver. buy] Hebr. dig; which the Chaldee translateth, buy; the Greeke, receive by measure. It may be meant of buying wells digged out of Edoms ground; for so they were wont; see Gen. 26. 18. &c. Num. 21. 18. or, after the Ara∣bick manner, which useth this word for buying.

Vers. 7. he knoweth] this is meant of carefull re∣garding their estate, wants, &c. wherfore the Chal∣dee [unspec 7] paraphraseth, Hee hath sufficiently given thee things necessarie when thou walkest. Iehovah] in Chaldee, the word of the LORD.

Vers. 8. wee passed by] though the Edomites [unspec 8] shewed great unkindnesse, that would not suffer Israel to passe thorow their countrey quietly, Num. 20. 14. 18. &c. yet upon warning and charge gi∣ven from God, his people turned away from fight, and contented themselves in their tentations, with the promises of God. See Num. 20. 21. Iudg. 11. 17. Afterward this favour of Israel, and the ill re∣ward of Edom, Moab, and Ammon, is remembred in the prayer of King Iehosaphat, 2 Chron. 20. 10, 11, 12. Ezion-gaber] these were port towns, by the brink of the Red sea, in the land of Edom, 1 King. 9. 26.

Vers. 9. Moab] that is, the Moabites, as the next words manifest. So the Greeke, deale not ene∣miously [unspec 9] with the Moabites. They were the poste∣rity of Lot, Gen. 19. 37. which dealt unkindly with Israel, as Edom had done, Iudg. 11. 17. and were (for their neglect of duty) not to enter into the congregation of the Lord, Deut. 23. 3, 4. They were also become Idolaters, Num. 25. 1, 2. and 21. 29. yet God suffered not Israel to hurt them, for the reasons before alleaged. meddle] or, contend, as before in vers. 5. Ar] a chiefe mountaine, and citie thereon, Num. 21. 15. 28. put here for the whole countrey. The Greeke for Ar here hath Aroer, whereof see vers. 36. so in v. 18, 29.

Verse 10. Emims] in Greeke, Ommeins, by inter∣pretation, [unspec 10] terrible ones, and so the Chaldee trans∣lateth: see Gen. 14. 5. Anakims] in the Chal∣dee, Giants: see Num. 13. 29.

Vers. 11. Giants] in Hebrew, Rephaim, which [unspec 11] the Greeke keepeth as a proper name Raphaein, of one Rapha, who was a Giant; whereupon it is a name for all Giants: see the notes on Ger. 14. 5. so after in Deut. 3. 11.

Vers. 12. Horims] or, Chorites; in Greek, Chor∣raeans: [unspec 12] see Gen. 14. 6. and 36. 20. possessed] or, disinherited, and so succeeded in their inheritance: the Greeke translateth, destroyed them. as Israel did] to wit, afterward, in the daies of Iosua: thus it is spoken by way of prophesie; or, it may have reference to that part of Israels inheritance which they had now conquered on the out side of Iordan. By this and the like, in vers. 22, 23. God would teach Israel not to insult upon their outward con∣quests (such as he had given to other nations before them) but to seeke for an heavenly countrey. This he remembred to them by the Prophet, Amos 9. 7. Are ye not as the sonnes of Ethiopians unto me, O sons of Israel, &c.

Verse 13. brooke] or bourne: a valley and river [unspec 13] running therein. So the Greeke saith, the valley Za∣reth. Of it see Num. 21. 12.

Verse 14. from Kadesh barnea] to wit, from the [unspec 14] time that they came to Kadesh barnea (where they abode in the wildernesse of Kadesh many daies, Deut. 1. 46.) and after till they passed over Zared. sware] or, had sworne: see Numb. 14. 21, 22, 23.

Verse 15. the hand] the Chaldee expounds it, [unspec 15] A plague from before the Lord. This is after men∣tioned, how God consumed their daies in vanitie, and their yeares in hastie terrour, Psal. 78. 33. and upon occasion of this mortality, Moses made the 90. Psalme. to destroy] with trouble and tumult: for the word elsewhere signifieth, to trouble, Exod. 14. 24. so in Deut. 7. 23.

Verse 19. sonnes of Ammon] the Ammenites, [unspec 19] the posteritie of Ben-ammi the sonne of Lot, Gen. 19. 38. so in vers. 37.

Verse 20. Giants] or Rephaims, as vers. 11. [unspec 20] Zamzummims] that is, presumptuous wicked ones; in Greeke Zommein. These are thought to bee those that were of old called Zuzims, Gen. 14. 5. The Chaldee calleth them Chushbanin.

Verse 22. Horims] or Horites; Hebr. the Cho∣rite; [unspec 22] in Greeke, the Chorraean: see Gen. 14. 6.

Verse 23. Avims] or Avites; in Greeke, Evites: [unspec 23] these were the ancient inhabitants of the Philisti∣ans countrey, Ios. 13. 3. Caphthorims] the Phili∣stians: see Gen. 10. 14. Though Israel fought the battels of the Lord, and had their limits and terri∣tories in speciall manner appointed by his Word,

Num. 34. yet other nations also had by his secret providence, their times appointed, and the bounds of their habitation, Act. 17. 26. Hee increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; Hee enlargeth the na∣tions, and straitneth them, Iob. 12. 23. Wherefore he saith by the Prophet, Have not I brought up Is∣rael out of the land of Egypt? And the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? Amos 9. 7.

Vers. 24. brooke] or, as the Greeke translateth, the [unspec 24] valley Arnon: as vers. 13. see Num. 21. 13. Sihon] in Greeke, Seonking of Esebon. Hee had a∣fore time taken this Countrey from the Moabites, Num. 21. 26. which now God taketh againe from him, and giveth to the Israelites, who else might not have taken any of Moabs possession, vers. 9. meddle] or contend. Here after long travells in the wildernesse, God calleth his people unto warres (which their fathers before were afraid of:) and gave them his word to embolden them, as his truth was their shield and buckler.

Vers. 25. report] or fame; Hebr. hearing, which [unspec 25] the Greeke translateth, name. See this promise fulfilled among the Canaanites, Ios. 2. 9, 10, 11. be in anguish] have paines as a woman in travell. A similitude often used to shew the terrours of con∣science in the wicked, Psal. 48. 7. and the mighty power of God, who taketh away the heart of the chiefe of the people of the earth, Iob 12. 24.

Verse 26. Kedemoth] there was a City of that [unspec 26] name in Sihons Countrey, which after was given to the tribe of Ruben, Ios. 13. 18. and by them gi∣ven to the Levites, Ios. 21. 37. neare which there was a wildernesse where Israel now lay, when they sent this ambassage. of peace] according to the law alter given, Deut. 20. 10. which being refused, the war was now just before God and men.

Vers. 27. by the way by the way] that is, onely by [unspec 27] the way, and not turning aside into fields, or into vin∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 see Num. 21. 21, 22. where it is called, The 〈…〉〈…〉. So in Deut. 16. 20. Iustice justice, that is, onely justice, and all manner justice.

Verse 28. sell] Hebr. breake, as in vers. 6. [unspec 28] [unspec 29]

Vers. 29. of Esau] the Edomites, who though 〈…〉〈…〉 th••y denied Israel passage thorow their land, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 10. 18. &c. yet as they passed along their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they suffered them to buy necessaries. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c.] It appeareth by this, that if Sihon had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them to passe thorow his land, they would 〈…〉〈…〉 time have taken his countrey, but first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 conquered the Canaanites beyond Iordan: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon Sihons deniall they now set upon him. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God doth not impart all his counsell at once to the 〈…〉〈…〉ed; but they refusing to yeeld unto any thing, doe hasten their owne destruction. Com∣〈…〉〈…〉. 3. 18. So the Gospell, the word of peace, is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto all; which they that refuse, hasten 〈…〉〈…〉 judgment.

Vers. 30. thorow him] that is, thorow his coun∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 [unspec] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Num. 20. 18. hardened] as is spoken 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pharaoh also, and others; see Exod. 4. 21. in the 〈…〉〈…〉otations. The like is said of the Canaanites be∣••••nd the river, Ios. 11. 20.

Verse 32. to battell] or, unto war; refusing peace, [unspec 32] as they of whom David saith, When I speake (for peace) they are for war, Psal. 120. 7. Iahaz] in Greeke, Iassa: see Num. 21. 23.

Verse 33. smote him] with the edge of the sword, [unspec 33] Num. 21. 24. his sonnes] or, his sonne: the He∣brew hath both readings, the one in the conso∣nant letters, the other in the vowels: so in Deut. 33. 9. The Greeke and Chaldee translate, his sonnes: it may intend all and every of his sonnes, or all the sonnes hee had, which were but one. So Manasses caused his sonnes to passe thorow the fire, 2 Chron. 33. 6. which another Prophet writeth, his son, 2 King. 21. 6. See the notes on Gen. 46. 23.

Verse 34. of every citie] or, wee destroyed every [unspec 34] citie, (consisting) of men, and women, and little ones: or, citie full of men, and women, &c. This was ac∣cording to the law, Deut. 20. 14, 15, 16. and here is fulfilled upon the wicked, the judgment which is written, His roots shall bee dried up beneath, and above shall his branch bee cut off: his remembrance shall perish from the earth, Iob 18. 16, 17.

Verse 36. by the brooke] or, in the bourn (or val∣ley) [unspec 36] as the Greeke translateth it. This citie was Ar, Num. 21. 15. Gilead] the mount Galaad, as the Greeke saith. Of it see Gen. 31. 21. &c. ex∣alted it selfe] that is, was too strong for us; or, as the Greeke expounds it, escaped us. before us] as the Greeke saith, into our hands. Here the whole victory is ascribed unto God, which removeth the mountaines, and they know not; which overturneth them in his anger; which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble; Iob 9. 5, 6.

Verse 37. thou approachedst not] in Greeke, wee [unspec 37] came not, meaning, to war against the Ammonites, or invade their possessions. any place] or, all the place; Hebr. all the land; in Greeke, all (places) pertaining to the brooke Iabok; to wit, on the out side thereof; for Sihon ruled from Aroer &c. unto the river Iabok, which was the border of the sonnes of Ammon, Ios. 12. 2. and all that the Israelites pos∣sessed: but the land of the Ammonites, which al∣so reached unto Iabok, Num. 21. 24. they tooke not: so that Iephtah answered truly, Israel tooke not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the sonnes of Ammon, Iudg. 11. 15. of the mountaine] possessed also by the Ammonites, whose border was strong, Num. 21. 24. commanded us] or, charged us, namely, to abstaine from, that is, forbade us to meddle with. The word command is used also in things forbidden: see Deut. 4. 23. Now though the Moabites and Ammonites were thus spared by Israel, yet they ill rewarded them afterward, when they warred against Gods people, to cast them out of their possession, Iudg. 11. 4, 5, &c. 2 Chron. 20. 1, 10, 11. and ript up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border, Amos. 1. 13. and dwelt in the cities of Gad, Ier. 49. 1. For which the Lord God of Israel plagued them, as also for their unkindnesse already past, a law is enacted against them, in Deut. 23. 3.—6.