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. XXVII.

1 The people are commanded to write the Law upon the stones, when they are come into the land of Canaan, 5 and to build an altar of whole stones. 11 The T〈…〉〈…〉s divided on Gerizzim and Ebal. 14 The curses pronounced on mount Ebal.

ANd Moses, and the Elders of Israel, [unspec 1] commanded the people, saying: Keep all the Commandement which I com∣mand you this day. And it shall be in the [unspec 2] day when you shall have passed over Iordan, unto the land which Iehovah thy God gi∣veth unto thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister.

And thou shalt write upon them all the [unspec 3] words of this Law, when thou art passed o∣ver, that thou maist goe in unto the land which Iehovah thy God giveth unto thee, a land that floweth with milke and honey, as Iehovah the God of thy fathers hath spo∣ken. And it shall be when yee are passed [unspec 4] over Iordan, yee shall set up these stones which I command you this day in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plai∣ster. And thou shalt build there an Altar [unspec 5] unto Iehovah thy God, an Altar of stones, thou shalt not lift up any iron upon them.

Of whole stones shalt thou build the Al∣tar [unspec 6] of Iehovah thy God, and thou shalt of∣fer thereon Burnt-offerings unto Iehovah thy God. And thou shalt sacrifice Peace-offerings, [unspec 7] and shalt eat there, and rejoyce before Iehovah thy God. And thou shalt [unspec 8] write upon the stones all the words of this Law very plainly. And Moses, and the [unspec 9] Priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, say∣ing: Take heed, and heare, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of Iehovah thy God. Therefore thou shalt obey the voice [unspec 10] of Iehovah thy God, and doe his Comman∣dements and his Statutes, which I command thee this day.

And Moses commanded the people in [unspec 11] [unspec 12] that day, saying: These shall stand to blesse the people upon mount Gerizzim, when yee are passed over Iordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Iudah, and Issachar, and Ioseph, and Ben∣jamin. And these shall stand for the curse [unspec 13] on mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, and Aser, & Zabulon, Dan and Naphtali. And the Le∣vites [unspec 14] shall answer, and say unto all the men of Israel with an high voyce.

Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or [unspec 15] a molten image, an abomination unto Ieho∣vah, the worke of the hand of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place: and all the peo∣ple shall answer and say, Amen.

Cursed be hee that setteth light by his fa∣ther, [unspec 16] or his mother: and all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be hee that removeth his neigh∣bours limit: and all the people shall say, A∣men. [unspec 17]

Cursed be hee that maketh the blinde to erre in way: and all the people shall say, A∣men. [unspec 18]

Cursed be hee that wresteth the judgement of the stranger, fatherlesse, and widow: and all [unspec 19] the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that lieth with his fathers wife, [unspec 20] because hee uncovereth his fathers skirt: and all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that lieth with any beast: and [unspec 21] all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be hee that lieth with his sister, the [unspec 22] daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother: and all the people shall say, A∣men.

Cursed be hee that lieth with his mo∣ther in law: and all the people shall say, A∣men. [unspec 23]

Cursed be hee that smiteth his neighbour in secret: and all the people shall say, A∣men. [unspec 24]

Cursed be he that taketh a reward to smite a soule the bloud of an innocent: and all the [unspec 25] people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this Law to doe them: and all the people [unspec 26] shall say, Amen.

Annotations.

THe Elders of Israel] in Greeke, the Senate of the sonnes of Israel: compare vers. 9. Here [unspec 1] Moses giveth order for the confirmation of all the Lawes before repeated, by outward signes once to be performed by Israel, when they should be come into Canaan. The end whereof was, to teach them salvation by Christ, & that they should not expect it by the workes of the Law, for that leaveth them under the curse, vers. 26. Gal. 3. 10. all the commandement] that is, commandements, as the Greeke translateth it; or, every commandement. See vers. 10.

Vers. 2. the day] that is, the time, the first op∣portunity. For this rite was fulfilled not the first [unspec 2] day that Israel went into Canaan, but after, as Ios. 8. 30, &c. So day is used for time, Luke 19. 42. set up] or erect, to wit, stones for pillars, as in Exod. 24. 4. to signifie the tribes of Israel; who being brought of God into his good land, were by this extraordinary ••ite to professe their ho∣mage and obedience unto him, otherwise to un∣dergoe the curses of his Law. Which their con∣sciences accusing them of, they might be led unto Christ, for redemption frō the curse. with plaister] or with lime, whiting, that the words of the Law might be written thereon; a memoriall of Gods benefits unto them. This word plaister is used to signifie hypocrisie, as Paul called Ananias a p〈…〉〈…〉∣red (or whited) wall, Acts 23. 3. and the Pharisees are likened to whited (or plaistered) s〈…〉〈…〉 which appeare beautiful outward, &c. Mat. 23. 27. And that seemeth also to be intended here; that all such as seeke life by the workes of the Law (which Israel after did, Rom. 9. 31, 32.) have their hearts with∣in hard and stony, (Ezek. 36. 26.) though out∣wardly they appeare of another nature and co∣lour, and have the profession of the Law upon them, wherein they glory, Rom. 2. 17, 23. There∣fore afterward blessings and cursings are mentio∣ned, vers. 12, 13. but Moses rehearseth none but curses, as being the due of all such hypocrites. And from the last verse of this Chapter, Paul pro∣veth, that as many as are of the workes of the Law, are under the curse, Gal. 3. 10.

Vers. 3. all the words] either the ten comman∣dements called the ten words, Exod. 34. 28. which [unspec 3] are the summe of all Law: or, all the words fol∣lowing in this chapter. See the notes on vers. 8. that thou maist goe in] and consequently pos∣sesse and enjoy the land, which figured heaven: for the Law promiseth life to them that doe it, Rom. 10. 5. though unto man it is unpossible. Or, it may be read, for that thou art come in: as being a reason of this seruice, and of their dutie to keepe the Law. And so the Greeke translateth, When as thou art come in.

Vers. 4. Ebal] or, Gebal; as the Greeke wri∣teth [unspec 4] it, Gaibal: and here the other mount Ger〈…〉〈…〉∣zim. (vers. 12.) is also understood; but because the Curses onely, are after expressed, and they were on mount Ebal, therefore it is named. Of this mount: see v. 12, 13. with plaister] or, with lime, as ver. 2.

Vers. 5. An Altar] to signifie God, the other [unspec 5] party in the covenant, as was at mount Sinai, Ex∣od. 24. 4. and to teach by it, and the sacrifices offe∣red thereon, that there could be no salvation but by Christ, and his sacrifice for remission of sinnes. yron] that is, any yron toole, to hew or polish them, but they should be as they were naturall; to signifie the perfection that should be in Christs humane Nature, whereby hee was acceptable to God, though before men hee seemed altogether deformed, Esay 52. 14. and 53. 2. he was the stone cut out without hands, Dan. 2. 34, 35. And no man might lift up an yron toole upon these stones, to teach that mans wisedome is foolishnesse with God: see the notes on Exod. 20. 25. where the axe of man, polluteth the Altar of God.

Vers. 6. of whole stones] and not of hewen, Exod. [unspec 6] 20. 25. Of such whole or entire stones did Iosua build it, Ios. 8. 31. Burnt-offerings] to obtaine of God by Christ forgivenesse of sins; and sancti∣fication of life: see the Annotations on Lev. 1.

Vers. 7. Peace-offerings] to shew their hope of [unspec 7] peace and prosperity by Christ; and their thanke∣fulnes for his graces: see Lev. 3. eat there] kee∣ping a holy banquet: for the flesh of the peace-offe∣rings were eaten by the owners and Priests, Levit. 7. 15, &c. This taught them the spirituall joy

which they should have in Christ, for his delive∣rance of them from the curse of the Law; and his flesh wee doe eat unto life eternall, Gal. 3. 13. Ioh. 6. 51.

Vers. 8. very plainly] or, plainly and well (or fairly) Heb. making them plaine, doing them well, [unspec 8] Hereby is meant a large and faire writing, easie to be read of all, as in Habak. 2. 2. That all sorts of people might have the knowledge of Gods Law, and learne to doe the same. And by this it appea∣reth, that all the words commanded to be written, (or the Copie of the Law, which Iesus wrote, Ios. 8. 32.) were not the whole booke of Deuterono∣mie, much lesse all Moses books, as some have thought; for what stones would suffice for such a worke? With these whited stones, on whose outside the Law was written, we may compare that white stone (in Rev. 2. 17.) which Christ giveth to all his, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it: those be∣ing to shew the worke of the Law outwardly; this, the worke of Christs grace and Spirit inwardly. Compare also 2 Cor. 3. 2, 3.

Vers. 9. Take heed and heare] or, Attend (hear∣ken) and heare, as the Chaldee expoundeth it; but [unspec 9] the Greeke saith, Be silent and heare. art become the people] or, art made for a people to Iehovah, by renewing of the covenant, declared so to be; and therefore bound to obey his commandements: as it is said, For all peoples will walke, every one in the name of his God: and we will walke in the name of Ie∣hovah our God, for ever and ever, Mic. 4. 5.

Vers. 10. therefore thou shalt] Hebr. And thou [unspec 10] shalt obey; the Chaldee saith, shalt receive the Word of the Lord. By obeying▪ (or hearkning unto,) is meant the due observing or keeping of the things spoken: as, our fathers have not hearkned unto the words of this booke, 2 King. 22. 13. is explained, our fathers have not kept, 2 Chron. 34. 21. Com∣mandements] or, Commandement, meaning every one in particular, and all in generall: for the offen∣ding in one point, maketh us guiltie of all, Iam. 2. 10. See the like in Deut. 5. 10.

Vers. 12. Gerizzim] called in Greeke Garizein; [unspec 12] of it, and the other mount Ebal, Moses said before, they were over against Gilgal, beside the Okes of Moreh, Deut. 11. 30. and Benjamin] these six here named were the worthiest tribes, all borne of Iakobs wives the free women, and none of the handmaids children: God shewing hereby the strength and noblenesse of the Blessings (above the Curses;) and that they belong to such children of the free women, as Paul teacheth us in an allegorie, Gal. 4. 22,—31. Howbeit, though Moses appointeth these to blesse, yet hee expresseth not the blessings: by such silence lea∣ding his prudent reader to looke for them by ano∣ther, which is Christ, Ioh. 1. 17. Act. 3. 26. For silence in the holy story often implieth great my∣steries, as the Apostle (in Heb. 7.) teacheth from the narration of Melchisedek, in Gen. 14.

Vers. 13. for the curse] that is, to pronounce it. In speaking of the blessings, hee nameth the [unspec 13] people, vers. 12. but now for the curse, hee men∣tioneth not the people, but implieth them onely, as if hee were Ioth to name them for such misery. Ebal] in Greeke, Gaibal: this is reported to be neare to mount Gerizzim, but northward; and Gerizzim towards the South, (which is the right side of the world, Psal. 89. 13.) if so they were, it foreshewed the blessings which should be pro∣nounced to those which at the last day shall stand on the right hand, and the curses upon those on the left, Mat. 25. 33, 34. 41. The manner of per∣forming this Law is recorded by the Hebrewes thus; Six tribes went up towards the top of mount Gerizzim, and six tribes went up towards the top of mount Ebal; and the Priests and Levites and the Arke stood beneath in the middest. The Priests were round about the Arke, and the Levites about the Priests, and all Israel on this side and on that, as it is written. And all Israel, and their Elders, and Officers, and their Iudges, stood on this side the Arke, and on that side, before the Priests the Levites, which bare the Arke of the Covenant of the Lord; as well the stranger, as hee that was borne among them; halfe of them over against mount Gerizzim, and halfe of them over against mount Ebal, (Ios. 8. 33.) They turned their faces towards mount Ge∣rizzim and pronounced the blessing, Blessed be the man that maketh no graven or molten (image;) and those (on the one side) and those (on the other) answered, Amen. They turned their faces towards mount Ebal, and pronounced the curse, Cursed bee the man that maketh a graven or a molten (Image) &c. and those (on the one side) & those (on the other) answered, Amen, till they had finished the blessings and the curses. And afterwards they brought stones and built an Altar, &c. Thalmud Bab. in Sotah, chap. 7. Reuben] he was the eldest of all Iakobs sonnes by Lea the free woman, Gen. 29. 32. yet as for defiling his fathers bed hee lost his dignitie, Gen. 49. 3, 4. so here hee is taken from his bre∣thren, to be among the handmaids sonnes, and set on the mount for the curses, one of which was this, CVRSED BE HE THAT LIETH WITH HIS FATHERS WIFE, &c. vers. 20. so the memory of his sinne remained to his posteritie in speciall manner. Gad and Aser] the sonnes of Zilpah, Leahs handmaid, Gen. 30. 10, 11, 12, 13. Zabulon] the sixt and youngest of all Leahs sonnes, Gen. 30. 20. and because there were to be six tribes on this mount, two must bee taken of the free womans sonnes: and God tooke none of Rachels, but the eldest and youngest of Leahs. Dan and Naphtali] the two sons of Bil∣hah Rachels handmaid, Gen. 30. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Vers. 14. the Levites] that is, some of the Priests [unspec 14] the Levites, Ios. 8. 33. their office was to teach Ia∣kob Gods judgements, and Israel his Law, Deut. 33. 10. and as the solemne blessing was by the Le∣vites usually, Deut. 10. 8. so here the curses were by them pronounced to the people. shall answer] that is, speake, or pronounce. Answering is often used for the beginning of a speech, as in Iob 3. 2. to all the men] or to every man: the Greeke saith, to all Israel.

Vers. 15. Cursed] It was commanded that the [unspec 15]

blessing should be put upon mount Gerizzim, De•••• 11. 29. and so in the fulfilling of this precept, Iosua read as well the blessings as the curses, Ios. 8. 34. But the chiefe end of this ordinance was to teach, that so many as are of the works of the Law, are under the curse, as is opened in Gal. 3. 10. The manner is rehearsed before out of the Thalmud, and the like is in the Ierusalemy Thargum upon this place, saying, They turned their faces towards mount Gerizzim, and opened their mouth with bles∣sing; Blessed be the man that maketh not any image, or figure, or any similitude which is hatefull and abo∣minable before the Lord, the worke of the hands of the sonne of man, and putteth it not in a secret place. They turned their faces towards mount Ebal, and said, Cursed be the man which maketh an image, or a figure, or any similitude, which is hatefull and abomi∣nable before the Lord, the worke of the hands of the sonne of man, and putteth it in a secret place: and all the people, these (on the one side) and these (on the other side) answered and said, Amen. Cursing is both in words and deeds, and implieth both the withholding of all good things, and the inflicting of all evill, especially of eternall damnation and torment, Mat. 25. 41. See the Annotations on Gen. 3. 14. and 4. 11. the man] that is, every one, as Paul expoundeth the last of these curses, Gal. 3. 10. teaching us to understand the like of all. gra∣ven] the Chaldee, and Thargum Ierusalemie, in∣terpret it Tselem, an image: under gravon and mol∣ten images, all other like humane inventions are implied, as is noted on Exod. 20. 4. And the like is to bee understood for the transgression of any other commandement of the first table. an abo∣mination to] or, the abomination of Iehovah, that is, which he greatly abhorreth. Hereupon Images and Idols are often called Abominations, 2 King. 23. 13. Esai. 44. 19. Ezek. 7. 20. the craftsman] or artificer, implying all devices of the most wise and prudent, which make Idolls according to their owne understanding, Hos. 13. 2. For Artificers were imployed in the worke of Gods sanctuarie, 1 Chron. 29. 5. but when they leave the word of God, and follow their owne inventions, their worke is cursed and condemned, Ier. 10. 3. 9. Esai. 40. 18. 20. Hos. 8. 6. a secret place] so that not open idolatrie onely, but the most secret is ex∣ecrable, though it be even in the heart: see Ezek. 8. 12. Psal. 44. 20, 21. Amen] or, So bee it, as the Greeke translateth it. A confirmation of the curse with their owne mouths, desiring that it might be, and beleeving that it should bee: see Num. 5. 22. The Hebrewes say of Blessing, Whoso∣ever answereth Amen after him that blesseth, he is as he that blesseth. Maim. in Misneh treat. of Bles∣sings, chap. 1. sect. 11. The same is to be thought of saying Amen after all these curses.

Vers. 16. setteth light by] or, as the Greeke hath, [unspec 16] dishonoureth: see the Annotations on Exod. 20. 12.

Vers. 17. limit] or, land-marke, border: against which the Law was before given, in Deut. 19. 14. [unspec 17]

Vers. 18. blinde to erre] or, to goe astray. They that see, ought to be eyes to the blinde, Iob 29. 15. [unspec 18] and are forbidden to put a stumbling blocke before them, Lev. 19. 14. much more to seduce them from the right way: for they that are proud, and erre from Gods commandements, are cursed; Psal. 119. 21. how much more if they cause others to err•••• He that causeth the righteous to go astray in an evill way, shall fall himselfe into his owne pit, Prov. 28. 10.

Vers. 19. wresteth] or, perverteth, turneth aside: [unspec 19] See the Law concerning this, in Deut. 24. 17.

Vers. 20. fathers wife] of this, and the rest that [unspec 20] follow, see Lev. 18. Because men give themselves over to divers noysome lusts of the flesh, God cau∣seth divers curses to be pronounced against this sin, the more to deterre men from following the same in any sort.

Vers. 24. smiteth] this word is used sometime [unspec 24] for slaying or killing, as Deut. 1. 4. and 13. 15. some∣time for wounding only, Zach. 13. 6. or chastising, Deut 28. 27, 28. sometime for smiting with the fist of wickednesse, Esai. 58. 4. or with the tongue, Ier. 18. 18. in secret] the Greeke expoundeth it, by guile.

Vers. 25. a reward] a bribe, or gift: as the Greeke [unspec 25] translateth it, gifts: and this is the Magistrates sin, Deut. 16. 19. and was found in Israel, as Mic. 3. 11. The heads thereof judge for bribes. to smite] in Chaldee, to kill a soule, that is, a person. the bloud of an innocent] or, as the Greeke expoundeth it, of innocent bloud; which is an effect of briberie, as in Ezek. 22. 12. In thee have they taken bribes, to shed bloud.

Vers. 26. Cursed be he] the Greeke translateth, [unspec 26] Cursed be every man: and so the Apostle alleageth it, Gal. 3. 10. where he giveth this doctrine, So ma∣ny as are of the works of the Law, are under the curse: that whiles men doe the Law outwardly, yet are they cursed by the Law, as being privie transgres∣sors: for the Law is spirituall, but men are carnall, sold under sinne, Rom. 7. 9,—14. confirmeth not] or, stablisheth not: which the Greeke, and our Apo∣stle in Gal. 3. 10. expound continueth not. For when the just man turneth away from his justices, and com∣mitteth iniquitie, &c. all his justice that he hath done shal not be mentioned; in his trespasse that he hath tres∣passed, and in his sinne that he hath sinned, in them shall he die, Ezek. 18. 24. See the Annotations on Lev. 26. 15. the words] in Greeke, all the words: see the like in Lev. 25. 18. Exod. 25. 40. Deut. 19. 15. And so the Apostle citeth this place in Gal. 3. 10. continueth not in all things written in the booke of the Law. to doe them] this is an exposition of the former word confirmeth; and sometime the one is put for the other; as, to confirme the words of this covenant, 2 King. 23. 3. for which another Pro∣phet saith, to doe the words, 2 Chron. 34. 31. For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified, Rom. 2. 13. And for asmuch as there is not a just man upon earth, that doth good and sinneth not, Eccles. 7. 20. therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, Rom. 3. 20. that the Apostle rightly ga∣thereth, as many as are of the works of the Law, are under the curse, Gal. 3. 10. Therefore the use of the Law was to be a Schoolemaster unto Christ, who hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us, Gal. 3. 24. 13.