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.

VPon Muth labben] This, if it be referred to the [unspec 1] musicke, seemeth to be a kinde of tune like that we call the Counter-tenour. Otherwise it may be read, For the death of Labben; but who he was, is uncertaine: some thinke it was Goliath; the Chal∣dee saith, for the death of the Sonne. It seemeth to me, as the former Psalme was of the propagation

of Christs kingdome, so this is of the destruction of Antichrists.

Vers. 2. marvellous works] or wonderfull things, [unspec 2] miracles. The originall word signifieth high and hidden, such as mans power cannot performe, nor reason reach unto, and therefore are admired.

Vers. 3. in thee] the Chaldee saith, in thy word. [unspec 3]

Vers. 4. when my enemies turned] This may be taken for a summe of his praise for deliverances past, [unspec 4] or, in faith for like to come, and may be read, when my foes turne backe, they shall stumble and perish. from thy face] from before thee, because of thy presence, that is, for feare of thee, and shut out from thy face or presence. So after, Psal. 68. 2, 3, 9. So the Apostle speaketh of the wickeds perdition from the face of the Lord, 2 Thess. 1. 9.

Vers. 5. done my judgement] that is, given sen∣tence, [unspec 5] and executed according to the right of my cause: See Psal. 7. 9. The Chaldee expoundeth it, my vengeance. sitten on the throne] or set thee downe on the throne, the seat of judgement or tribu∣nall. This noteth both kingly authority, Psal. 132. 11, 12. and the acting or executing of the same, 2 Chron. 18. 18. Isay 6. 1. Dan. 7. 9. Rev. 20. 11.

Vers. 6. hast rebuked] with rough and severe words: but this, when God doth it, commonly im∣porteth [unspec 6] confusion, as being to his enemies, and ther∣fore joyned with the curse, Psalm. 119. 21. and 68. 31. and 76. 7. and 18. 16. Zach. 3. 2. So else-where he saith, at the rebuke of thy face they perish, Psalm. 80. 17. wiped out] or, wiped away, as with the hand. And this wiping out the name, noteth an ut∣ter abolishing with great wrath, Deut. 9. 14. and 29. 20. Psal. 109. 13. for ever and aye] or, for ever and yet; or, to eternitie and perpetuity. The He∣brew Ghned, yet, is added to eternity or ever, to in∣crease the durance of it, and to note all eternities, Psal. 10. 16. and 21. 5. and 104. 5. and 145. 1, 2. ta∣ken from Moses, Exod. 15. 18.

Vers. 7. The desolations] which the enemie made in spoiling our land; or the desolate places which [unspec 7] the enemie builded for himselfe, as in Iob 3. 14. great men are said to build themselves desolate pla∣ces. of the enemie] So the Greeke turned it. We may also reade it, O enemie, the desolations are quite ended (which thou madest;) or, are they en∣ded? to perpetuitie] or, to victory, that is, so as it continueth for ever. Ever or Eternity hath the name Ghnolam in Hebrew, of being hid, and so un∣knowne: perpetuitie, Net sach, is so named of pre∣vailing and getting victory by perpetuall durance. Hereupon that speech of the Prophet, he hath swal∣lowed up death to perpetuity, or victorious aye, I say 25. 8. is translated by the Apostle, Death is swal∣lowed up to victory, that is, for ever, as the same word in Amos 8. 7. and Lam. 5. 20. is also turned into Greeke by the LXXij. Interpreters. Pul∣led up] a similitude taken from trees, applied here to the pulling downe of cities: so planting and pul∣ling up of a people, are set one against another, Ier. 24. 6. and 42. 10. and 45. 4. of them] twise re∣peated, for more vehemencie; meaning, all and eve∣ry of them: or, with themselves, their memory is gone: the Greeke translateth, their memoriall is pe∣rished with a sound.

Vers. 9. will judge] or give doome unto. Two [unspec 9] severall words for judging are here used, as before, Psal. 7. 9. with righteousnesses] that is, all man∣ner righteousnesse and equity, or, most righteously, most equally. See the like speech after, Psalm. 98. 9. and 96. 13. and often other where.

Vers. 10. an high refuge] in Hebrew Misgab, [unspec 10] which is, an exaltation, that is, an high place, tower, or fort to resist the enemie, Jer. 48. 1. wherein men are protected, and escape their foes invasion, Deut. 2. 36. for the oppressed] or, to the beaten downe; the poore is so called, as being pownded or s••amped by the adversary. So Psal. 10. 18. and 74. 21. at times] or in seasons, that is, seasonably at all times when they be in distresse. So Psal. 10. 1.

Vers. 11. that know] or that acknowledge thy [unspec 11] name: such are Gods people, Esay 52. 6. and shall by him be delivered and advanced, Psal. 91. 14.

Vers. 12. dwelleth in Sion] or sitteth in Sion. [unspec 12] The Chaldee saith, hath placed his divine habitati∣on (or majestie) in Sion. Sitting is often used for dwelling, as is noted, Psal. 1. 1. The word in is ma∣ny times omitted in Hebrew, but necessarily to be understood, as the text it selfe sheweth, as beth, house, for bebeth, in the house, 2 King. 14. 14. com∣pared with 2 Chron. 25. 24. and 2 Chron. 26. 21. with 2 King. 15. 5. and 2 Chron. 34. 30. with 2 King. 23. 2. his doings] his practises, or won∣ted workes. The originall word signifieth actions done naturally, or purposely and studiously; de∣signes, gests, or exercises enterprised advisedly, and prosecuted studiously, of naturall disposition and inclination, as Prov. 20. 11. 1 Sam. 25. 3.

Vers. 13. seeketh out] or requireth blouds, that is, [unspec 13] God, who followeth, findeth out, punisheth and avengeth bloudshed or murder, according to the law, Gen. 9. 5, 6. See the Annotations there. The Chaldee expoundeth it, he that requireth the bloud of the innocent, remembreth his just ones. meeke afflicted] The originall here hath a double reading, Ghnanaj••m, that is, afflicted, poore; and Ghnanavim, meeke, modest, lowly: for affliction often causeth meeknesse. Therefore also Ghnani, that is, afflicted, is translated. Praus, Meeke, Matth. 21. 5. from Zach. 9. 9.

Vers. 14. from my haters] that is, which com∣meth [unspec 14] upon me from them. lifting up] or, ô lif∣ter up (exalter) of me. gates of death] This noteth present perill and feare of death, as being now neare at the very doore or gate thereof, Gen. 4. 7. Iudg. 5. 8. It noteth also power, strength, and ju∣risdiction which death hath; (even reigning, as the Apostle saith, Rom. 5. 14.) because Magistrates sate, and judgements were executed at the gates of ci∣ties, Deut. 22 15. Iob 31. 21. Amos 5. 10, 15. So in other Scriptures the gates of death and of hell denote their perill, strength and horrour, Psal. 107. 18. Isay 38. 10. Matth. 16. 18. Iob 38. 17.

Vers. 15. gates of the daughter of Sion] these [unspec 15] are opposed to the former gates of death, and mean the publike places where Gods people came toge∣ther at Sion gates, where God sate, vers. 12. and

which he loved most, Psal. 87. 2. The daughter of Sion signifieth the Church or Congregation there gathered; as also the Chaldee Paraphrase here shew∣eth, translating it the congregation of Sion, for eve∣ry chiefe citie was counted as a mother, 2 Sam. 20. 19. (whereupon the Apostle calleth Ierusalem, the mother of us all, Gal. 4. 26.) the villages that were neere and pertained unto such cities, are called daughters, Ios. 15. 45. 2 Chron. 13. 19. Psal. 48. 12. and the inhabitants there seated, or assemblies of people resorting thither, are likewise named daugh∣ters; as being bred, borne, nourished there, and subiect therto. Such speeches are often in the Scrip∣ture, as, daughter of Ierusalem, Lam. 2. 19. daughter of Sion, Mat. 21. 5. from Zach. 9. 9. daughter of my people, Ier. 4. 11. daughter of Tirus, Psalm. 45. 13. daughter of Babel, Psal. 137. 8. and the like.

Vers. 17. Iudgement hee hath done] or, by the [unspec 17] judgement that he hath executed. his hands] or his palmes, the wickeds owne hands, called the palmes or hollowes, for the secret manner of working. So Psal. 7. 4. Meditation Selah] meaning that this is a matter of deepe meditation, worthy to be well minded, and spoken or sung with earnest consi∣deration alwaies. Some retaine the Hebrew word, Higgajon Selah, for that it may import a kinde of Song or tune, (as the Greeke turneth it,) being found in this forme, onely here, and in Psal. 92. 4. The Chaldee interpreteth it, the just shall joyfully shout for ever.

Vers. 18. into hell] into hell it selfe: for the word [unspec 18] into is in effect twice put in the Hebrew for more vehemencie. forget God] the Chaldee addeth, that forget the feare of God.

Vers. 19. needy one] two names are here given [unspec 19] to the poore, Aebjon, needy and desirous, which im∣porteth want of things needfull, to be supplied by liberalitie, Psal. 132. 15. and 112. 9. Ghnani, poore afflicted, which need helpe and deliverance from vexation, as before, vers. 13. yet this precise diffe∣rence is not alwaies observed in Scripture. pe∣rish for aye] that is, shall never perish. Here the word not, set in the beginning, serveth for a deniall of all that followeth, shall not be forgotten, shall not perish, or be lost; So in Job 30. 20, 25. and 31. 20. And the Chaldee here repeateth the word not, for more plainnesse. Contrary to this is the wickeds hope and expectation, which shall perish, Prov. 10. 28. Job 8. 13. and 11. 20. be strong] or, streng∣then, confirme and harden himselfe, and so prevaile. This is fitly opposed both to the name and nature of man, which is infirme, sorrowfull, and mortall.

Vers. 21. Put a feare in them] The originall [unspec 21] morah (used in this place onely) seemeth to be put for Mora, which is Feare or Terrour, Psal. 76. 12. these two Hebrew letters being often put one for another, as Amon, Ier. 52. 15. for Hamon, 2 King. 25. 11. Shinna, 2 King. 25. 29. for Shinnab, Ier. 52. 33. Or according to the Letters it may come of Ho∣rah, to teach, and signifie a law or doctrine, and this the Greeke favoureth, translating set a lawgiver (or teacher) over them. sory men] in Hebrew Ae∣nosh, the proper name of Adams nephew, Gen. 4. 26. signifying Sorowfull; and is after commonly gi∣ven to every man for his dolefull state and mortali∣tie, Psal. 8. 5. and here collectively is the name of mankinde.