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.

IVstice] that is, my justice, as the Greeke explaineth it, my just cause and complaint. The Chaldee saith, [unspec 1] accept Lord my prayer in justice. shrill crie] or showting, that is, loud complaint: See Psalm. 5. 12. without lips] or, not with lips of deceit, that is, which prayer is unfained, not uttered with guile.

Vers. 2. come forth] or proceed, that is, let my judgement be clearly pronounced and executed. Ther∣fore [unspec 2] in Hos. 6. 5. he addeth the similitude of the light or Sunne. righteousnesses] or equities: this is all righteous causes and persons, or my most righteous cause.

Vers. 3. hast tried] or, examined me, to wit, as metall in the fire: So Psal. 66. 10. hast not found] [unspec 3] or shalt not at all finde, to wit, any drosse, or deceit, or, as the Chaldee addeth, corruption. The Greeke translateth, iniquitie was not found in me. shall not transgresse] or, transgresseth not, that is, I purpo∣sed not to transgresse with my mouth, by murmuring a∣gainst thy fiery triall of me; or, that which I purposed, my mouth transgresseth not, but my thoughts and words agree. The Chaldee thus, I have thought evill, it hath not passed my mouth.

Vers. 4. For the workes] or concerning the workes of men: Adam is here used for all earthly men. [unspec 4] have observed] or taken heed of, to wit, lest they should hart me, or, that I should not walke in them, as the next verse sheweth: otherwise, sometime to observe waies, is to walke in them, Psalm. 18. 22. the breaker thorow] that is, the robber or theefe, as this word is expounded in Greeke, Mat. 21. 13. from Ier. 7. 11. one that breaketh bounds or limits, houses, hedges, lawes, &c. So Ezek. 18. 10.

Vers. 5. Sustaine] Hold up, or containe; this is spoken prayer wise to God, as the next verse mani∣festeth: [unspec 5] The Greeke turneth it, Make perfect. It may also be read, Sustaining, or To sustaine; and so have reference to the former verse, I observed the robbers paths, not to walke in them, but to sustain (or sustaining, holding fast) my steps in thy paths. The Hebrew Tamoch may be Englished Sustaine thou; as Zachor is remember thou, Exod. 20. 8. Shamor, observe thou, Deut. 5. 12. Haloc, is Goe thou, 2 Sam. 24. 12. for which in 1 Chron. 21. 10. is written Lec, Goe thou. my steps] or, my step∣pings forward, my right-forth steps. So Psal. 37. 31. and 40. 3. beaten paths] or round paths; properly the word signifieth paths beaten with wagon wheeles; here used generally for strait, direct, and beaten waies. So Psal. 23. 3. and 65. 12. and 140. 6.

Vers. 7. marvellously separate] or make marvel∣lous, [unspec 7] that is, in wondrous and excellent sort shew mee thy mercies, which are common unto all, let them now peculiarly be bestowed on mee. See Psal. 4. 4. The Greeke saith, Make marvellous. When Christ com∣meth, hee will be made marvellous in them that be∣leeve, 2 Thess. 1. 10. hope for safety] or, trust, to wit, in thee, as the Greeke explaineth it, or in thy right hand, as is after expressed. God is Saviour of all men, specially of them that beleeve, 1 Tim. 4. 10. with thy right hand] this seemeth to have re∣ference to the first, O Saviour (or thou which savest) with thy right hand; as Psal. 138. 7. and 60. 7. It may also be referred to the second, them that hope in thy right hand; or to the last, them that raise up them∣selves against thy right hand: And thus the Greeke turneth it. But the Chaldee otherwise, Avenge them on those which rise up against them, with thy right hand.

Vers. 8. the blacke] that is, the sight in the mid∣dest [unspec 8] of the eye, wherein appeareth the resemblance of a little man; and thereupon seemeth to be called in Hebrew, Ishon, of Ish, which is a man. And as that part is blackish; so this word is also used for other blacke things, as the blacknesse of the night, Prov. 7. 9. and blacknesse of darknesse, Prov. 20. 20. of the apple] so we call that which the Hebrew here calleth bath; and in Zach. 2. 8. babath, that is, the little image appearing in the eye, as before is noted. The word bath also signifieth a daughter, whereto the Greeke coree doth agree. By this is meant the tender care of God for his people: and David here useth both words for more vehemencie; whereas else-where one of them only is used, Isho••, the black, in Deut. 32. 10. Prov. 7. 2. babath and bath, the ap∣ple, in Zach. 2. 8. Lam. 2. 18. hide thou me] Heb. thou shalt hide, or, keepe me secret. It is the property of the Hebrew tongue, often to set downe a prayer in this forme, especially in the end of a sentence, as noting some assurance to have the request fulfilled. So in Psal. 54. 3. and 59. 2. and 64. 2. Iob 6. 23. and 21. 3. and 40. 5. See also the note on Psal. 10. 17.

Vers. 9. from faces] or because of the wicked. See [unspec 9] Psal. 3. 1. enemies in soule] or, for the soule; mea∣ning deadly enemies, that seeke the soule or life. See Psal. 35 4. The Chaldee expoundeth it, in the will (or desire) of their soule.

Vers. 10. They have closed up] to wit, their face [unspec 10] or body; (much like that speech in Iob 15. 27. hee hath covered his face with his fatnesse,) or their fat they close up, meaning that they pamper and harden themselves. in pride] that is, proudly or haughtily.

Vers. 11. In our steps] or in our going, that is, [unspec 11]

wheresoever we goe, they trace our footing, they com∣posse me and us: the Hebrew hath both these rea∣dings, meaning David, with his company. they set] to wit, upon us. bending downe] to wit, them∣selves, that they be not espied: as Psal. 10. 10. or to bend downe, to wit, us, to overshrow us, or to set downe their nets and snares.

Vers. 12. His likenesse] that is, the likenesse (or [unspec 12] ••iew) of every one of them; or he may meane some one principall, as Saul.

Vers. 13. prevent his face] that is, first come to helpe me, and suddenly and unlookt for come upon him, [unspec 13] and disappoint him. with thy sword] that is, thy judgement and vengeance, for all means of destructi∣on are the Lords sword, Isa. 66. 16. and 27. 1. Ier. 47. 6. Zeph. 2. 12. The Chaldee expoundeth it, the wicked which deserveth to be killed with thy sword; or understand, which wicked man is thy sword, as Asshur is called the rod of his wrath, Esay 10. 5. and so in the verse following, from mortall men, which are thy hand; or with thy hand, that is, thy judgement or plagne, for so Gods hand often signifieth, Exod. 7. 4. Act. 13. 11.

Vers. 14. of the transitory world] that is, world∣lings, [unspec 14] as they of the citie are citizens, Psalm. 72. 16. The word Cheled is used also for the short time of mans age and durance, Psal. 39. 6. and 89. 48. Here and in Psal. 49. 2. it is the world, named of the tran∣sitorinesse, for the fashion of this world passeth away, 1 Cor. 7. 31. in this life] according to Abra∣hams speech, Sonne remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things, Luke 16. 25. Of the wickeds prosperitie here, see Iob 21. 78. &c. the sonnes] to wit, of those worldlings, meaning that both they and their children have their fill. Or, satisfied are they with sonnes, as in Iob 21. 11. they send forth their children like a flocke. their over∣plus,] the residue of their store, or their excellencie. For this word Iether is used sometime for overplus in quantity, Exod. 23. 11. 1 King. 11. 41. some∣time it noteth also the excellencie or dignitie, Gen. 49. 3.

Vers. 15. in justice] meaning in the justice (or [unspec 15] righteousnesse) which is of God by faith in Christ, as Phil. 3. 9. View thy face] that is, enjoy thy com∣fortable favour, as Psal. 4. 7. and 16. 11. or shall see and know thee plainly and perfectly, as 1 Cor. 13. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 1 Ioh. 3. 2. when I awake] to wit, out of the dust of the earth, from the sleepe of death; as Esay 26. 19. with thy image] to wit, I shall be satisfied with it; so meaning by image, Gods glorie, or, with thy image; that is, having it upon me: for, as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we beare the image of the heavenly, 1 Cor. 15. 49. Compare herewith Psal. 73. 20. The Hebrew Do∣ctors expound this in justice, to be meant of the gar∣den of Eden (the heavenly Paradise,) called justice, and that in the world to come, which is after the rai∣sing of the dead to life: it is in the light stored up, cal∣led the Image; and this is that (in Psal. 17.) I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thine Image, saith R. Menachem on Deut. 4. But the same Rabbine on Levit. 10. giveth a better exposition of this word justice, saying, For there is no comming before the most high and blessed King, without the Shecinah, (that is, the divine Majestie of God in Christ,) to signifie which thing (it is said) I in justice shall view thy face.