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.

MY Law] or doctrine, for of it the Law hath the [unspec 1] name in Hebrew; see Psal. 19. 8. Christ spea∣keth in this Psalme to his people, as the next verse sheweth. So Isa. ••1. 4.

Vers. 2. in a parable] that is, in (or with) para∣bles, [unspec 2] as the holy Ghost expoundeth it, Mat. 13. 34, 35. All these things spake Jesus to the multitude in parables, &c. that it might be fulfilled which was spo∣ken by the Prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in pa∣rables &c. Here the narration and applying of an∣cient histories are called Parables, because all these

things came unto our fathers as types, and were writ∣ten to admonish us, 1 Cor. 10. 11. What a Parable meaneth, see Psal. 49. 5. will utter] or well out, as from a spring or fountaine. hid things] so the holy Ghost expoundeth it in Greeke, Mat. 13. 35. the Hebrew word signifying sharpe or ob∣scure speeches, or riddles: see Psal. 49. 5. of antiquitie] understand, which are of antiquitie, that is, ancient things since the foundation of the world, Mat. 13. 35.

Vers. 5. stablished] or reared up. testimo∣nie] or witnesse, meaning the Covenant: see Psalm. [unspec 5] 19. 8. in Iakob] among the Israelites, the chil∣dren of Iakob. to their sonnes] all their poste∣ritie, as Deut. 4. 9. teach them thy sons, and thy sons sons. So Deut. 6. 6, 7, 21.

Vers. 8. perverse] or froward, stubborne. So Is∣rael is noted to be, Exod. 32. 9. Deut. 31. 27. [unspec 8]

Vers. 9. Aephraim] The ten tribes of Israel, of which Ephraim was chiefe, though they were vali∣ant [unspec 9] warriours, yet for their sinnes fell before their enemies, 1 King. 17. Hos. 10. 11, 14. Some under∣stand it of that slaughter of Ephraims sonnes men∣tioned, 1 Chron. 7. 21, 22, 23. which was while their father lived in Aegypt.

Vers. 10. refused to walke] as 2 King. 17. 14, 15. they would not obey, but hardned their neckes, [unspec 10] &c. and refused his statutes and his covenant, which he made with their fathers &c.

Vers. 12. a miracle] that is, miracles, marvels, as in vers. 2. parable is for parables. of Tsoan] or [unspec 12] of Tanis, as the Greeke and Chaldee calleth it. It was a chiefe citie in Aegypt, and the Kings Court or palace, and a place of great antiquitie, Isa. 30. 3, 4. Num. 13. 23. And the field of Tsoan, is the countrie or territories of that citie, as the field of E∣dom, Gen. 32. 3. the field of Moab, Gen. 36. 35. Num. 21. 20. So after, vers. 43.

Vers. 13. cl••••t the sea] the red sea, where the Is∣raelites [unspec 13] were baptised, Exod. 14. 1 Cor. 10. 2.

Vers. 14. a cloud] to shadow them from the Sunne; and to guide them in their journeyes: a [unspec 14] figure of Gods protection over his Church, and guidance of the same, Exod. 13. 21. and 40. 38. Num. 9. 17,—22. Nehem. 9. 19. Isa 4. 5.

Vers. 15. the Rockes] once at Horeb, Exod. 17. [unspec 15] 6. and againe at Cadesh, Num. 20. 1. 11. The Rocke was spiritually Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 4. great deep's] that is, the great deepe, as the Greeke turneth it: the phrase is taken from Gen. 7. 11. though here deepes is put for deepe, for the more vehemencie, or, for every of the great deepes. Or we may turne it, as in deepes very much, to wit, drinke.

Vers. 17. to provoke bitterly] by rebellion, ex∣asperating [unspec 17] and causing wrath and bitternesse, as both the Hebrew and Greeke words signifie, Psal. 5. 11. Hebr. 3. 16.

Vers. 18. for their soule] that is, their lust, their [unspec 18] appetite: See Psal. 27. 12.

Vers. 20. bread] that is generally, food, Psalm. [unspec 20] 136. 25. and in speciall flesh, as after is explained, and the Hebrew lechem sometime signifieth, Eev. 3. 11. Numb. 28. 2. Of this their lufting, see Num. 11. 4, &c. can he prepare] The word can is againe to be repeated from the former sentence. See also the note on Psal. 77. 5.

Vers. 21. ascended] that is, burned: for fire moun∣teth [unspec 21] upward: so vers. 31.

Vers. 24. Manna] or as in Hebrew, Man, a [unspec 24] small round thing like Coriander seed, coloured like Bdelium, (that is, like wax, & clear, but white,) hard, to be ground in milles, or pounded; of it cakes were made, whose taste was like the best fresh oile, and like wafers made with honey. When the dew fell on the host by night, the Manna fell with it; when the dew was ascended, the Manna ap∣peared like the hoare frost on the earth; then the people gathered it, for when the heat of the Sun came, it was melted. It was a meat which they knew not, nor their fathers: when they saw it, they said, It is Manna (that is, a ready meat, or What is this?) for they wist not what it was: and Moses said, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat, Numb. 11. 7, 8, 9. Exod. 16. 14, 15. 31. Deut. 8. 3. Of this they had to eat forty yeeres in the wilder∣nesse, till they came into Canaan, Exod. 16. 35. Ios. 5. 12: It was a figure of Christ, and his spirituall graces, Joh. 6. 31, 32, 33. Revel. 2. 17.

Vers. 25. man did eat] or Every one did eat. [unspec 25] bread of the Mighties] that is, of the Angels, (as the Chaldee and Greeke explaineth it,) which are mightie in strength, Psal. 103. 20. and Manna is called their bread, either because by their ministery God sent it, or because it came from heaven, the habitation of Angels, as the Chaldee paraphraseth; or because it was excellent, so as the Angels (if they needed any food) might eat it. So the tongue of Angels, 1 Cor. 13. 1. is the most sweet and ex∣cellent tongue: Or by mighties, we may under∣stand the mightie heavens. meat] The He∣brew tsedah properly signifieth venison, that is, meat caught with hunting; but generally is used for all food. So Psal. 132. 15. to satietie] or enough: for every man had an Omer full (that is, the tenth part of an Ephah or Bushell) of Manna for a day, Exod. 16. 16, 36. and of flesh they had store, till it came out at their nosthrills, and was loath some un∣to them, Numb. 11. 19, 20.

Vers. 26. brought on] led or drove forward; as [unspec 26] Numb. 11. 31. Then there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quailes from the sea &c.

Vers. 27. flesh as dust] that is, quailes in great [unspec 27] abundance; so that he that gathered least, gathe∣red ten Homers full, (that is, an hundred Ephahs or Bishels:) for one Homer contained ten Ephahs, Numb. 11. 32. Ezek. 45. 11.

Vers. 28. made it fall] the flesh, the quailes; be∣ing [unspec 28] fat and heavie fowle, and by the moist south-east wind made more heavie, fell upon the campe a daies journey on each side, round about the host, and they were about two cubits above the earth, Numb. 11. 31. his campe] the Lords, because he dwelt among them, Num. 5. 3. called elsewhere the hosts of the Lord, Exod. 12. 41. or his, that is, Israels: so vers. 63, 64.

Vers. 30. They were not estranged] that is, (as the [unspec 30] Greeke explaineth it) they were not deprived, their desired meat was not taken away from them; as it is

written, the flesh was yet betweene their teeth, it was not yet cut off: (that is, taken from them, as Ioel 1. 5.) and the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, Numb. 11. 33. Or it may be understood of their affections and lust not yet changed.

Vers. 31. ascended] that is, burned, as vers. 21. [unspec 31] This is meant of the plague wherewith God smote the people, Numb. 11. 33, 34. fat] that is, the chiefe and strongest, as Iudg. 3. 29. So weake, poore, or base men, are called leane or thin, Psal. 41. 2. Fat, (or fatnesses,) is here figuratively put for fat per∣sons. See the notes on Psal. 36. 12. and 106. 15. choise young men] young men are called cho∣sen, because they are selected for warres, and other serviceable affaires, when ancient men are let rest, Numb. 1. 3. and 8. 24, 25, 26. Exod. 24. 5.

Vers. 33. hastie terrour] or, a sudden plague; as was threatned, Levit. 26. 16. [unspec 33]

Vers. 36. flatteringly allured] or deceived, that is, went about to deceive, by perswading flattering [unspec 36] words.

Vers. 37. firmely prepared] aright setled ready and stable, as is the heart of the godly, Psal. 112. 7 [unspec 37] and 57. 8.

Vers. 38. mercifully covered] made expiation, and forgave: So Psal. 65. 4. and 79. 9. corrup∣ted] [unspec 38] that is, destroyed utterly: so Deut. 4. 31. multiplied to turne] that is, much and often turned away his anger.

Vers. 39. flesh] that is, weake, and corrupt. See Psal. 56. 5. a wind] mans life is a vapour that [unspec 39] appeareth for a little time, and afterward vanisheth away, I am. 4. 14.

Vers. 40. How oft] ten times (as the Lord said, Numb. 14. 22.) this people tempted him, and obeyed [unspec 40] not his voice. 1. At the red sea, for feare of the Aegyptians, Exod. 14. 11, 12. 2. At Marah, where they wanted drinke, Exod. 15. 23, 24. 3. In the wildernesse of Sin, where they wanted meat, Exod. 16. 2. 4. In keeping Manna till the morrow, which God had forbidden, Exod. 16. 20. 5. In going out for Manna on the Sabbath day, Exod. 16. 27, 28. 6. At Rephidim, murmuring for lack of water, Exod. 17. 1, 2, 3. 7. At Horeb, where they make the golden calfe, Exod. 32. 8. In Ta∣berah, murmuring for tediousnesse of their way, Numb. 11. 1. 9. At Kibroth hattaavah, where they lusted for flesh, Numb. 11. 4. 10. In Paran, where they refuse the land of Canaan, being discouraged by their spies, Num. 14. 1, 2, &c. And after this they sinned seven times; as 1. In pressing to goe fight, when God forbade them, Num. 14. 44, 45. 2. In the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Numb. 16. 1, &c. 3. In the murmuring for the death of Korah and his company, Numb. 16. 41, &c. 4. At Meribah, murmuring for lack of wa∣ter, Numb. 20. 2, 3, &c. 5. For griefe of their way, murmuring and loathing Manna, Numb. 21. 4, 5, &c. 6. At Shittim, committing whoredome with the daughters of Moab; 7. And in the same place, coupling themselves to Baal-peor, and eating the sacrifices of the dead, Numb. 25. 1, 2, 3, &c.

Vers. 41. returned and tempted] that is, efi∣soones, againe and againe tempted; contrary to the [unspec 41] law, Deut. 6. 16. limited] prescribed limits, bounds, or markes; as before, vers. 20.

Vers. 44. to bloud] The first of the ten plagues, [unspec 44] wherewith God smote the Aegyptians, which had drowned his children in their rivers, Exod. 7. 19. 20, 21. and 1. 22. whereto agreeth the third viall of wrath powred out on Antichrists kingdom, spi∣ritually called Aegypt, Rev. 16. 4. 6. and 11. 8.

Vers. 45. a mixed swarme] a mixture, sundry sorts [unspec 45] of flyes, vermine, or hurtfull beasts: by the Greeke they were flyes; by the Chaldee, mixtures of wilde beasts. It was the fourth plague of Aegypt: See Exod. 8. 24. the frog] that is, frogs, (as after∣ward caterpillar, locust, for locusts, &c.) The second plague of Aegypt, Exod. 8. 6. figures of uncleane spirits, which gather the Kings of the world to the battell of the great day of God, Rev. 16. 13, 14. corrupted] that is, marred and destroyed.

Vers. 46. their fruit] all that growes out of the [unspec 46] earth. caterpillar] a worme that consumeth and spoileth grasse & fruits, Ioel 1. 4. Locust] or gras∣hopper, (which have their name of their multitude, for they flie many together, Prov. 30. 27. Nahum. 3. 15. Iudg. 6. 5.) Locusts in those countries flie in the aire multitudes together; and whersoever they fall, they devoure every greene thing. This was the eighth plague of Egypt, wherby all herbs and fruits were consumed, Exod. 10. 14, 15. Figures of Anti∣christs ministers, Rev. 9. 3, 4, &c.

Vers. 47. blasting hailestone] a word no where [unspec 47] found but in this place. The seventh plague of Ae∣gypt was grievous haile mixed with fire, that killed men, beasts, herbs and trees, Exod. 9. 24, 25. So in Revel. 16. 21. baile of talent weight falleth on blas∣phemers.

Vers. 48. he shut up] that is, gave: See Psal. 31. [unspec 48] 6. so vers. 50. lightnings] or, the flying fire∣coles, thunderbolts: see this word, Psal. 76. 4. The Greeke here turneth it, fire.

Vers. 49. messengers] or Angels of evils, or as the [unspec 49] Greeke saith, evill Angels: such indeed God useth to punish men by, Job 1. 12, 16, &c. The Chaldee also translateth, sent by the hand of them that doe evill. But hereby may be meant Moses and Aaron, whom the Lord sent to denounce these plagues be∣fore they came, & by their hand brought them on Egypt, Exod. 7. 1, 2, 19. and 8. 1, 2, 5, 16, 21. and 9. 14, 15, &c.

Vers. 50. He weighed] to wit, making his punish∣ments [unspec 50] proportionable to their sins and obstinacie: for as men increase sinne, so doth God judgement, Levit. 26. 21, 23, 24, 27, 28. Wilde beast] that is, beasts, which have their name of livelinesse (as is noted, Psal. 68. 11.) therefore some turne it here, life; but the Greeke plainly saith cattell. The fifth plague of Aegypt, was the pest or murraine of all beasts and cattell, Exod. 9. 3.

Vers. 51. the first-borne] the tenth and last plague [unspec 51] was the death of all the firstlings of Aegypt, in the night that Israel kept the Passeover, and departed the land, Exod. 12. 27, 29, 30. The first-borne usu∣ally ministred to God: but God smote all such idolatrous ministers in Egypt, and upon their gods also he did execution, Numb. 33. 4. but, spared

the first borne of Israel, by the bloud of the Lamb; and after chose the tribe of Levi to minister in their stead, Num. 3. 40, 41, 45. and 8. 16,—19. be∣ginning of strengths] or chiefest of painfull mights: so the eldest childe is named, Gen. 49. 3. Deut. 21. 17. Therefore were they to be given to the Lord. tents of Cham] the dwellings of the Egypti∣ans, which were the posteritie of Cham, the sonne of Noah, Gen. 10. 6. See the Note on Psalme 68. 32.

Vers. 52. his people passe forth] the Israelites [unspec 52] tooke their journies from Rameses, Exod. 12. 37. See Psal. 77. 21.

Vers. 54. border of his holinesse] his holy border; [unspec 54] meaning the land of Canaan, sanctified to be the possession of his people, and limited in all the borders of it, as Num. 34. 2, 3,—12. or, border of his Sanctuary. this mountaine] that is, moun∣tainy countrey Canaan, called a land of mountaines and valleyes, Deut. 11. 11. So Exod. 15. 17. Or in speciall he may meane mount Sion: whereof after in verse 68.

Vers. 55. the Heathens] the seven mighty Na∣tions of Canaan, where Ioshua and Israel killed [unspec 55] one and thirtie kings, Deut. 7. 1. Iosh. 12. 7,—24. made them fall in the line] that is, made their countrey fall out by line and measure, to be the in∣heritance of Israel, Iosh. 15 and 16 and 17 chap∣ters. tribes] the posteritie of the 12 sonnes of Israel, called tribes, after the Romane name, where at first the whole multitude was divided into three parts, called thereof tribes: but the Hebrew name signifieth Staves or roddes, as growing out of one stocke or tree, and these were twelve, Num. 13. 3, 5,—16.

Vers. 56. And they tempted] The Israelites not∣withstanding all former mercies, tempted God and [unspec 56] sinned in Canaan their possession, as is manifested in the booke of Iudges.

Vers. 57. like their fathers] whose carkasses fell in the wildernesse. For of six hundred thousand [unspec 57] men that came out of Egypt, not any one came in∣to Canaan, save Caleb and Ioshua, Exod. 38. 26. Num. 14. 29, 30. and 26. 64, 65. a warping bow] or, bow of deceit, that shooteth awry, and so decei∣veth. So Hos. 7. 16.

Vers. 58. high places] Temples, Chapels, & conse∣crated [unspec 58] places on mountaines, where the nations used to sacrifice, and Israel imitated them, Num. 33. 52. Deut. 12. 2. 1 Kings 11. 7. and 12. 31, 32. and 14. 23. to jealousie] to jealous anger, for which a man will not spare in the day of vengeance, nor can beare the sight of any ransome, Prov. 6. 34, 35. unto this, God is moved by idolatry, which is spirituall fornication, Exod. 20. 4, 5. Deut. 31. 16, 17. and 32. 21.

Vers. 59. abhorred] or refused, with loathsom∣nesse [unspec 59] and contempt. So after, vers. 67.

Vers. 60. the dwelling place] the tabernacle set in [unspec 60] Shilo, 1 Sam. 1. 3. There God dwelt among men, Exod. 29. 44. 45, 46.

Vers. 61. his strength] the Arke of his covenant, [unspec 61] (called the Arke of his strength, Psal. 132. 8.) this was captived by the Philistims, 1 Sam. 4. 11. The Chaldee translateth it, his Law. beauteous glory or fatrenesse, magnificence; meaning the Arke fore-mentioned, as Phineas wife said, the glory is depar∣ted from Israel, for the Arke of God is taken, 1 Sam. 4. 20, 22.

Vers. 62. shut up] that is, delivered his people to [unspec 62] the sword of the Philistims, who killed thirty thousand Israelites, 1 Sam. 4. 10.

Vers. 63. The fire] that is, Gods wrath, by the [unspec 63] sword of the Philistims, as verse 21. So in Ezek. 30. 8. a fire in Egypt, signifieth (as the Chaldee there expoundeth it) a people strong like fire. were not praised] by hymnes, and songs, as was the wont at their espousals and marriages; that is, they were not married.

Vers. 64. Their Priests] Hophni and Phineas, [unspec 64] 1 Sam. 4. 11. The Hebrew is singularly, His Priests, and so before and after, his choise young men, &c. meaning Israels, who is spoken of, as of one man. But the Scripture useth these phrases indifferently; as, All Aedom was servants, 2 Sam. 8. 14. for which in 1 Chron. 18. 13. is written, All Aedom were ser∣vants. Of this name Priests, see Psal. 99. 6. wept not] that is, lamented not at their funerall; for Phi∣neas wife her selfe died in travell, 1 Sam. 4. 19, 20.

Vers. 65. awaked] stirred up himselfe to punish the [unspec 65] Philistims, where as before he seemed to sleepe, as Psal. 44: 24. after wine] or, by reason of wine, that is, when hee hath drunke wine, which cheareth and encourageth the heart; so did God behave him-selfe.

Vers. 66. behinde] that is, in the hinder secret [unspec 66] parts; (as the Chaldee addeth, with emerods in their hinder parts:) for so God smote the Philistims with pilos or hemoroids for abusing his Arke, 1 Sam. 5. 1, 6. 9, 12. eternall reproach] by this punishment, and the monuments thereof; for the Philistims were forced to make similitudes of their hemoroids and secret parts, of gold, and send with the Arke home to Israel, as an oblation for their sinne, 1 Sam. 6. 4, 5, 11, 15, 17.

Vers. 67. herefused] or, abhorred, despised, as [unspec 67] verse 59. the tent of Joseph] that is, the tribe of Ephraim the sonne of Ioseph, where the Taber∣nacle and Arke had remained many yeares in Shi∣loh: God returned not the Arke thither, but to Bethshemesh and Kirjathjearim, cities of Iudah, 1 Sam. 6. 12. and 7. 1, 2. Wherefore Shiloh is used after for an example of judgement, Ier. 7. 12, 14. and 26. 6, 9. Or this may be meant of the ten tribes of Israel, (of whom Ephraim of Ioseph was chiefe) which were cast off for idolatrie, and cap∣tived by the Assyrians, 2 Kings 17.

Vers. 69. builded his Sanctuary] the glorious [unspec 69] temple by Solomon sonne of David, 1 King. 6. 1, 2, 3, &c. like high places] Kings palaces or towers. The Greeke and Chaldee turne it, Unicornes, whose hornes are high, Psal. 92. 11. For Ramim, high places, they read Remim, Unicornes.

Vers. 70. from the fold of sheepe] that is, from base [unspec 70] estate. For David keeping his fathers sheepe, was by Samuel anointed King over Israel, 1 Sam. 16. 11. 13. 2 Sam. 7. 8. So Amos 7. 14, 15.

Vers. 71. to feed Iakob] so the Greeke well explai∣neth [unspec 71] the Hebrew phrase, to feed in Iakob; where in is to be omitted in English, as the like phrase shew∣eth, 1 Sam. 16. 11. & 17. 34. & the Hebrew it selfe often omitteth it, as 2 Sam. 5. 2. and 7. 7. So here in the former verse, he chose in David, that is, he chose David. Kings are said to feed their people, because their office is like to the good shepherds, in gui∣ding and governing. See Psal. 23. 1. And Pastors are Princes, Ier. 6. 3. and 12. 10.

Vers. 72. discretion of his hands] or Pruden∣cies [unspec 72] of his palmes, that is, with most prudent and dis∣creet administration menaged he them; figuring Christ herein, who is called David, and the great and good Pastor of his flocke, Ezek. 34. 23. Ioh. 10. 11. Heb. 13. 20.