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. XX.

1 Israel must net feare the forces of their ene∣mies. 2 The Priests exhortation to encourage the people to battell. 5 The officers proclamation who are to be dismissed from the warre. 10 How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace. 16 What cities must be devoted and destroyed. 19 Trees of mans meat must not be destroyed in the siege.

WHen thou goest out to battell against thine enemies, and seest [unspec 1] horses and chariots, a people more than thou, be not afraid of them, for Iehovah thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it shal [unspec 2] be when yee are come nigh unto the battell, that the Priest shall approach, and speake unto the people. And hee shall say unto them, [unspec 3] Heare O Israel, you approach this day unto battell against your enemies: Let not your heart be soft, feare not, and hasten not away, 〈…〉〈…〉ther be ye terrified because of them. For [unspec 4] Iehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you with your enemies, to save you. And the Officers shall speake unto the [unspec 5] people, saying; What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? Let him goe and returne to his house, lest hee die in the battell, and another man dedicate it. And what man is there that hath planted [unspec 6] a vineyard, and hath not made it common? Let him goe, and returne unto his house, lest he die in the battell, and another man make it common. And what man is there that hath [unspec 7] betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? Let him goe, and returne unto his house, lest he die in the battell, and another man take her. And the Officers shall speake further un∣to [unspec 8] the people, and say; What man is there that is fearefull, and soft-hearted? Let him goe, and returne unto his house, that his bre∣threns heart melt not, as his heart. And it [unspec 9] shall be when the Officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall constitute Captaines of the armies for an head of the people.

When thou commest nigh unto a Citie, to [unspec 10] fight against it, then thou shalt proclaime peace unto it. And it shall be, if it answer [unspec 11] thee peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be that all the people that is found therein shal be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. And if it will not make peace with [unspec 12] thee, but will make warre with thee, then thou shalt lay siege against it. And Iehovah thy [unspec 13] God shall give it into thine hand, and thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword. But the women, and the little [unspec 14] ones, and the cattell, and all that is in the Ci∣tie, all the spoile thereof thou shalt make a prey unto thy selfe; and thou shalt eat the spoile of thine enemies, which Iehovah thy God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou doe [unspec 15] unto all the Cities which are very farre off from thee, which are not of the Cities of these nations. But of the Cities of these peoples, [unspec 16] which Iehovah thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt not save alive any breath. But utterly destroying thou shalt ut∣terly [unspec 17] destroy them; the Chethite, & the Amo∣rite, and the Canaanite, and the Pherizzite, the Evite, and the Iebusite, as Iehovah thy God hath commanded thee. To the end that [unspec 18] they teach not you to doe after all their abo∣minations, which they have done unto their gods, and yee sinne against Iehovah your God.

When thou shalt lay siege unto a Citie [unspec 19] many dayes, in making warre against it, to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees there∣of, by forcing an axe against them; for thou maist eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them downe: for is the tree of the field a man, to goe in from before thee into the bulwarke? Onely the tree which thou knowest, that it is [unspec 20] not a tree for meat, that thou maist destroy

and cut downe, and build a bulwarke against the Citie that maketh warre with thee, untill it be subdued.

Annotations.

WHen thou goest out] This is meant of all [unspec 1] lawfull warres, offensive or defensive, that is, begun by Israel, or by other nations against Is∣rael. And the Hebrewes hold, that Israel might never begin first to warre, but the warres comman∣ded of God; and those were the warres with the se∣ven nations in Canaan, (Deut. 2. 24. and 7. 1.) and the warre against Amalek. (Deut. 25. 17, 19.) and to helpe Israel out of the hand of the adversary which is come upon them, (as Iudg. 3. 12.—28. &c.) Warres permitted, were with other peoples that oppugned Israel, as Iudg. 11. 4. 12.—27. 2 Sam. 10. 2, 6, 7, &c. For warres commanded, it is not ne∣cessary to have leave of the high Councell (or Syne∣drion;) but the King may goe out of himselfe at any time, and compell the people to goe out: but in warre permitted, he leadeth not the people out, but at the mouth of the Senate of 71. Magistrates. Maimony in Misneh, tom. 4. treat. of Kings, chap. 5. sect. 1. 2. chariots] Hebr. horse and chariot, one put for many: so the Chaldee translateth it plurally; see the notes on Gen. 3. 2. be not afraid] or, thou shalt not feare for them, that is, not be dismaied or discouraged. See the notes on Exod. 20. 20. is with thee] or, will be with thee, to wit, as a Cap∣taine, 2 Chron. 13. 12. And with this the faithfull encouraged themselves in their battels; as Ezekias said, there be moe with us than with (our adversary) with him is an arme of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to helpe us, and to fight our battels, 2 Chro. 32. 7 8. See also Psal. 118. 6.

Vers. 2. the Priest] one that was appointed and [unspec 2] anointed for this purpose. Whether it be in warre commanded, or in warre permitted, they appoint a Priest to speake unto the people at the time of the bat∣tell, and they anoint him with the anointing oile [mentioned in Exod. 30. 25. &c.] and he is called the Anointed for the warre. When they are set in aray, and doe come neere to the battell, he that is anointed for the warre standeth on an high place, and all the companies before him, & he saith unto them in the ho∣ly tongue, Heare O Israel, you approach this day, &c. (Deut. 20. 3. 4.) And another Priest under him proclaimeth it to all the people with a loud voice. And afterward, the anointed Priest saith, What man is there that hath built a new house, &c. What man is there that hath planted a vineyard, &c. And what man is there that hath betrethed a wife, &c. Thus much the anointed Priest speaketh, and the Officer proclaimeth it to all the people with a loud voice. And afterward the Officer speaketh of himselfe, and saith, What man is there that is fearefull, &c. (Deu. 20. 8.) and another Officer proclaimeth it unto all the people. And after that all which are to returne, be returned from the armie, they order the armie, and appoint Captaines, (Deut. 20. 9.) And after every company they set officers couragious & strong, with halberts of iron in their hands; & who so would turne backe from the warre, they have power in their hand to cut off his leg, &c. Maimony treat. of Kings, c. 7. s. 1.—4. Thus Israel had the word of God, and his Mini∣sters to encourage them, that they might fight the battels of the Lord in faith; they had also the ho∣ly Trumpets blown by the Priests, that they might be remembred before the Lord, and saved from their enemies, Numb. 10. 8, 9. 2 Chron. 13. 12. And touching this Priest anointed for the war, the He∣brewes teach it is a peculiar dignity to his owne person only, not to his posterity, and in the warre, not in the Sanctuary. He that is anointed for the warre, his sonne is never ordained in his stead, but hee is as other Priests; if hee be anointed for the warre, he is anointed; and if he be not anointed, he is not anointed. And when the Priest anointed for the warre, ministreth in the Sanctuary, he ministreth in foure garments, as the other Priests. Maimony in Cle hamikdash, ch. 4. sect. 21.

Vers. 3. soft] tender, that is, faint and fearefull; [unspec 3] as the Greeke translateth it, dissolved (or faint,) the Chaldee, moved. This softnesse or faintnesse of heart, God threatneth as a plague, Levit. 26. 36. and Iob acknowledged it so, saying, God hath soft∣ned my heart, Iob 24. 16. and Rehoboam being soft-hearted, could not withstand his enemies, 2 Chron. 13. 7. Although therefore a soft heart in respect of God and his word, is commendable, 2 Kings 22. 19. yet in respect of our enemies, it is here forbidden; so in vers. 8. and Esay 7. 4. ha∣sten not away] through feare & troubled thoughts, and want of faith. David blameth this infirmity in himselfe, Psal. 31. 22. and 116. 11. terrified] or broken, discouraged, daunted with terrour: the Greeke translateth, decline not from their fac••••. See the Annotations on vers. 8.

Vers. 5. the Officers] in Greeke, the Scribes: of [unspec 5] them see the notes on Deut. 16. 18. and before on vers. 2. What man is there] that is, If any man, or whosoever hath: as in Psal. 34. 13. What man is he? is expounded by the Apostle, He that will, 1 Pet. 3. 10. built a new house] By the Hebrews this Law taketh place, whether he hath built it, or re∣ceiued it (by purchase) or it be given unto him for a gift, or it fall unto him by inheritance. But who so buildeth an house, or planteth a vineyard, out of the land (of Israel) he returneth not home for them. Maimony in treat. of Kings, ch. 7. sect. 5. 14. not dedicated] or, not initiated, that is, begun to take possession of, and to use it: which was wont to be done with solemnity, feasting, and singing praise to God, as the title of the 30. Psalme sheweth, concerning Davids house. lest he die] this man∣ner of speech sheweth danger, (as is noted on Ge∣nes. 3. 3.) and teacheth men to be resolute, and to goe with their lives in their hands, ready to ex∣pend them in Gods quarrell; as Iudg. 9. 17. Act. 20. 22, 23. 24. and 21. 13. For the sword devou∣reth one as well as another, 2 Sam. 11. 25. Act. 12. 2. and another man] Three reasons there seeme to be of this, and the rest that follow. Because the thoughts and cares of their houses, lands, wives, &c. might easily trouble men, and hinder them

from fighting the Lords battels with courage, as the like things hindred those that were called to the great Supper, Luke 14. 18, 19. and no man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier, 2 Tim. 2. 4. Againe, God here∣by sheweth compassion unto the weake, whom he spareth for a time, from hard service, till they be growne strong, and fit for to fight the good fight of faith, 1 Tim. 6. 12. and 1. 18. Rom. 14. 1, 4. Thirdly, as his mercies towards Israel were many of them externall, and concerned their com∣forts in this life; so he would have them in speci∣all manner to enjoy the outward blessings bestow∣ed on them.

Vers. 6. planted a vineyard] This also the He∣brewes [unspec 6] understand not of a vineyard onely, but by proportion of an orchard, oliveyard, or the like. Whether he have planted a vineyard, or planted five trees for meat, of any kinde, or transplanted (that is, removed it from another place,) or grafted it; so that it be bound to that law of uncircumcised fruit, (in Levit. 19. 23.) or that he hath purchased it, or ta∣beth it by inheritance, or by free gift: (he returneth home.) But if hee hath planted but foure trees for food, or five trees (or moe) that are barren, or hath gotten a vineyard by rapine, hee returneth not home therefore. And so, if a vineyard belong to two part∣ners, they returne not for it. Maimony treat. of Kings, chap. 7. sect. 6. not made it common] or, not profaned it; that is, not used the fruit there∣of for common food, which he could not doe by the Law, till the fift yeere from the planting there∣of, Levit. 19. 23, 24, 25. The Greeke transla∣teth, hath not made merry, (or rejoyced with the fruit) thereof.

Vers. 7. betrothed a wife] whether maid, or wi∣dow; [unspec 7] or if his brothers wife fall to him, (according to the law in Deut. 25. 5.) though they be five bre∣thren, and one of them die, all the rest doe returne home. All these that are to returne from the battell, are to returne when they heare the words of the Priest, and to provide water and victuals for their brethren which are in the armie, and to prepare the wayes for them. Maim. treat. of Kings, chap. 7. sect. 79.

Vers. 8. shall speake further] Hebr. shall adde to [unspec 8] speake. See the notes on vers. 2. soft] or tender, that is, faint-hearted: see vers. 3. When Gedeon warred against the Madianites, and made this pro∣damation, of the two and thirty thousand men that were with him, there returned two and twenty thousand, and but ten thousand remained, Iudg. 7. 3. melt not] that is, faint not, or be discouraged; in Greeke, be not made fearefull. An usuall phrase, whereof see Deut. 1. 28. By this, God taught his people to have faith in him, and every man to en∣courage himselfe, and one another, in Gods assi∣stance: which they that did, prospered; as in the Reubenites warre against the Hagarites, 1 Chron. 5. 20. the Iewes war against the Israelites, 2 Chron. 12. 12,—18. Iehosaphats warre against the Am∣monites, 2 Chron. 20. and many the like. Of this point the Hebrewes say, that after a man is entered into the warre, hee should stay himselfe upon him that is the Hope of Israel, and his Saviour in time of distresse; and know that for the name of God he maketh warre; and should put his life in his hand, and not be afraid or adread, nor thinke either of his wife, or of his children, but wipe the remembrance of them out of his heart, and turne from every thing, unto the battell. And whosoever beginneth to thinke, and cast doubts in the battell, and maketh himselfe afraid, transgresseth against this prohibition, LET NOT YOVR HEART BE SOFT, &c. And not onely so, but that all the bloud of Israel hangeth on his necke: and if he prevaile not, and make not warre with all his heart and with all his soule, loe he is as he that sheddeth the bloud of all; as it is written, That his brethrens heart melt not, as well as his heart. And behold it is plainly said, (in Ier. 48. 10.) Cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lord deceitfully; and cursed be he that keepeth backe his sword from bloud. But who so sighteth with all his heart, without dread, and his intent is to sanctifie the name (of God) only, trusteth in him that hee shall finde no hurt, and no evill shall come unto him. And he will build him a sure house in Israel, and ho∣nour him and his children for ever, and count him worthy of life in the world that is to come; as it is written, (in 1 Sam. 25. 28.) For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battels of the LORD, and evill hath not beene found in thee from thy dayes; and the soule of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of life, with the LORD thy God. Maimony treat. of Kings, chap. 7. sect. 15.

Vers. 9. Captaines] or Princes, Rulers. That as [unspec 9] their trust should first be in God alone, so secondly they should use the lawfull outward meanes for safetie and victorie, and not tempt the Lord. for an head] or, in the forefront of the people; Heb. in the head; which may be understood both these wayes, as here, so in 2 Chron. 13. 12. and 20. 27. The Greeke translateth, foreleaders of the people.

Vers. 10. shalt proclaime peace unto it] Hebr. shalt call unto it for peace; whereby may be meant, thou shalt invite (or perswade) it unto peace. The Greeke translateth, shalt call them out with peace; the Chaldee, shalt proclaime thereto words of peace. The Hebrewes say, They must make no warre with any man in the world, untill they proclaime peace un∣to him, whether it be warre permitted, or warre com∣manded, Deut. 20. 10. If they make peace, and re∣ceive upon them the seven commandements which were given to the sonnes of Noe, [whereof see the notes on Gen. 9. 4.] they must kill none of them, but they shall be tributaries, (Deut. 20. 11.) Maimony treat. of Kings, chap. 6. sect. 1.

Vers. 11. if it answer] that is, accept of the con∣ditions [unspec 10] of peace by thee proposed. The Greeke translateth, And if they answer thee peaceable words. tributaries unto thee] Hebr. shall be un∣to thee to tribute; which the Chaldee expoundeth, for offerers of tributes, that is, tributaries, as the Greeke also explaineth it. And tribute is not one∣ly of mens goods, but of their persons, to be paid with the labour of their bodies; as the Egyptians

set over Israel taske (or tribute) Masters, to afflict them with their burdens, Ex. 1. 11. And Solomon raised a tribute (or levie) of 30. thousand men, 1 King. 5. 13. Accordingly it is here meant of both, and the Hebrewes explaine it thus; The tri∣bute which they must take upon them, is that they shall be ready for the Kings service, with their bodies, and with their goods: as to build the walls, to fortifie the munitions, to build the Kings Palace, & the like; as it is written, (in 1 Kings 9. 15, &c.) And this is the reason of the tribute [the levie] which King So∣lomon raised, for to build the house of the LORD, and his owne house, and Millo, and the wall of Ieru∣salent, &c. and all the cities of store that Solomon had, &c. And the King may condition with them, to take halfe their goods, or their lands, and leave them the moveables; or the moveables, and leave them the lands, as he shall make the conditions. Mai∣mony treat. of Kings, chap. 6. sect. 1, 2. shall serve] to wit, as bond-servants; which it was not lawfull to put any Israelite unto, Levit. 25. 42, 44. And so Solomon laid upon the heathens a tribute of bond-service, but of the sonnes of Israel Solomon made no servants (or bondmen,) but they were men of warre, and his servants, and his Princes, &c. 1 King, 9. 21, 22. The Hebrewes say, If they would take upon them the tribute, and not the servi∣tude; or the servitude, but not the tribute; they may not hearken unto them, untill they take upon them both. And the servitude which they must take upon them, is to be contemptible and very base, that they lift not up the head in Israel, but be sub dued under their hand, and be not reckoned with Israel, for any matter in the world. Maimony in Kings, chap. 6. sect. 1.

Vers. 12. not make peace] upon the former con∣ditions, as the Greeke saith, if they will not obey [unspec 12] thee.

Vers. 13. shall give it] This may be taken as a promise; or, when hee shall give it, &c. then thou [unspec 13] shalt smi••e.

Vers. 14. eat the spoile] that is, enjoy that which thou hast spoiled. And this is a blessing and com∣fort [unspec 14] after victory, which God gave unto Israel up∣on their warres in Canaan, Ios. 22. 8. and figured the fruit of the labours which Christ and his peo∣ple should enjoy from their enemies, Esay 53. 12. Luke 11. 22.

Vers. 16. these peoples] the seven nations in the land of Canaan, Deut. 7. 1, 2. unto which the [unspec 16] Hebrewes adde (from Deut. 25. 19.) the Amale∣kites; saying, The seven nations & Amalek, which make not peace, they leave not of them any soule, Deut. 20. 16. and 25. 19. And it is holden, that he speaketh not but of such as make not peace, as it is written (in Ios. 11. 19, 20.) There was not a citie that made peace with the sonnes of Israel, save the Evites, the inhabitants of Gibeon; all (other) they tooke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 battell; for it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battell, that hee might destroy them utterly, even because they sent unto them for peace, but they received it not. Iosua sent three writings before he came into the land. First he sent unto them thus, He that will flee let him flee. Againe be sent, Who so will make peace, let him make peace. And againe he sent, Who so will make war, let him make it. If it be so, wherefore did the Gi∣beonites deale by craft? Ios. 9. Because hee had sent unto them in the generall, and they received it not, neither knew they the judgement (or manner) of Is∣rael, &c. Maimony treat. of Kings, c. 6. s. 4, 5. any breath] or, any soule, man, woman, or childe.

Vers. 17. utterly destroy] or, destroy as cursed: [unspec 17] See Numb. 21. 2. hath commanded thee] in Ex∣od. 34. 11, 12. Deut. 7. 1, 2, 3.

Vers. 19. not destroy the trees] Hebr. not corrupt [unspec 19] (or marre) a tree: meaning any tree that bare mans meat. The Greeke translateth trees; and the sin∣gular is oft used for the plurall, as is noted on Ge∣nes. 3. 2. And under the name of trees, all other things also, needfull for mans life, seeme here to be reserved from destruction. The Hebrewes explaine it thus; They may not cut downe the Trees for meat, that are without the citie; nor with-hold from them the water-courses, that they may wither: as it is writ∣ten, THOV SHALT NOT CORRVPT THE TREES: and who so cutteth any downe, is to be beaten. And not in the siege onely, but in a∣ny place, whosoever cutteth downe a tree that is for meat, by way of corrupting, is to be beaten. But they may cut them downe, if they hurt other trees, or hurt the field, &c. the Law forbiddeth not, but by way of corruption. Every tree that beares not fruit, it is law∣full to cut it downe, although a man have no need of it: and likewise a fruit-tree that doth hurt, or yeeldeth but a little, and is not worth the labour about it, it is lawfull to cut it downe. And what quantity may that be? An olive tree, if it yeeld the fourth part of a Kab of olives, [that is, a Log, wherof see the notes on Exod. 30. 24.] they may not cut it downe: and a Date tree which yeeldeth a Kab of dates, they cut not downe. And not trees onely, but who so breaketh vessels, or rendeth garments, or pulleth downe buil∣dings, or stoppeth wells, or destroyeth meats, by way of corrupting, transgresseth this law, THOV SHALT NOT CORRVPT: yet is he not to be beaten therefore, but by the doctrine of the Scribes he is to be chastised. Maimony treat. of Kings, chap. 6. sect. 8, 9. By this prohibition, God restraineth the waste and spoile which Souldiers usually make in warres; and teacheth mercy towards his good creatures, and that which serveth for mans life: therefore Christ would have nothing lost of the bro∣ken meats that were le••t, Ioh. 6. 12. And as in figure men are likened to trees, so such onely as bring forth no good fruit, are cut downe, Matth. 3. 10. See also Luke 13. 6, 7, &c. Rev. 9. 4. for thou maist] or, as the Greeke translateth, but thou shalt eat thereof. for is the tree &c.] or, for are the trees &c? that is, the trees of the field are not as men, either to come out against thee, or to flee from thee into the bulwarke. This interpreta∣tion agreeth with the Greeke, Is the tree that is in the wood a man, to goe in from thy face into the bul∣warke? The Chaldee in like sense explaineth it by a deniall; For the tree of the field is not as a man, to goe, &c. Otherwise it may also be translated, Though the trees of the field are mans, that is, serve

for mans use, yet spare such as beare fruit. Or, ac∣cording to that which went before, For the tree of the field is mans, to wit, his food, or life of man: as in 2 Kings 18. 31. eat ye every man his owne vine, that is, the fruit of his vine. into the bulwarke] or, in the siege.

Vers. 20. sub dued] or, come downe: which the Greeke translateth, untill it be delivered. [unspec 20]