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.

PSAL. CVII.

The Psalmist exhorteth the redeemed, in praising God to observe his manifold providence, 4 over tra∣vellers, 10 over captives, 17 over sicke men, 23 over sea men, 33 and in divers varieties of life.

COnfesse ye to Iehovah, for he is good; [unspec 1] [unspec 2] for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of Iehovah say it, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the di∣stresser. And gathered them out of the lands, [unspec 3] from East and from West, from North and from the sea. They wandred in the wilder∣nesse, [unspec 4] in the desart without way; they found not a dwelling Citie. Hungry and also thir∣stie, [unspec 5] their soule was overwhelmed in them. And they cried unto Iehovah in their di∣stresse; [unspec 6] he rid them free out of their anguishes.

And he led them in a right way, for to come [unspec 7] [unspec 8] unto a dwelling Citie. Let them confesse to Iehovah his mercie, and his marvellous works to the sonnes of Adam. For he hath satisfi∣ed [unspec 9] the thirsty soule, and filled the hungry soule with good.

They that sit in darknesse and the shadow [unspec 10] [unspec 11] of death, bound in affliction and iron. Be∣cause they turned rebellious against the Words of God, and despised the counsell of the most high. And hee humbled their [unspec 12] heart with molestation; they stumbled down, and there was no helper. And they cried [unspec 13] unto Iehovah in their distresse; he saved them out of their anguishes. Hee brought them [unspec 14] forth from darknesse and shadow of death, and brake their bands. Let them confesse to [unspec 15] Iehovah his mercy, and his marvellous works

to the sonnes of Adam. For he hath bro∣ken the doores of brasse, and hewed asunder [unspec 16] the barres of iron.

Fooles, for the way of their trespasse, and for their iniquities are afflicted. Their soule [unspec 17] [unspec 18] abhorreth all meat, and they approach to the gates of death. And they cry unto Ieho∣vah in their distresse; he saveth them out of [unspec 19] their anguishes. Hee sendeth his word and healeth them, and delivereth from their cor∣ruptions. [unspec 20] Let them confesse to Iehovah his mercy, and his marvellous workes to the sons [unspec 21] of Adam. And let them sacrifice the sacri∣fices of confession, and tell his works with [unspec 22] shouting.

They that goe downe to the sea in ships, that doe their labour in the many waters; [unspec 23] They doe see the workes of Iehovah, and his marvellous acts in the deepe. For hee [unspec 24] [unspec 25] saith, and raiseth up the stormy wind; and it lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the Heavens, they goe downe to the [unspec 26] deeps; their soule in evill melteth away. They reele and stagger like a drunken man; and all their wisdome is swallowed up. And [unspec 27] [unspec 28] they cry unto Iehovah in their distresse, and he bringeth them out from their anguishes. He setteth the storme to a silent calme, and the [unspec 29] [unspec 30] waves thereof are quiet. And they rejoyce because they are stilled, and hee leads them unto the haven of their desire. Let them confesse to Iehovah his mercy, and his mar∣vellous [unspec 31] workes to the sonnes of Adam. And let them exalt him in the Church of the peo∣ple, [unspec 32] and praise him in the sitting of the Elders.

He putteth rivers to a wildernesse, and issues of waters to a thirstinesse. A land of fruit to [unspec 33] [unspec 34] saltnesse, for the evill of them that dwell ther∣in. He putteth the wildernesse to a poole of waters, and the land of drought to issues of [unspec 35] waters. And seateth there the hungry, and they firmely prepare a dwelling Citie. And [unspec 36] [unspec 37] sow the fields, and plant Vineyards; and they yeeld fruitfull revenue. And hee blesseth [unspec 38] them, and they are multiplied greatly; and their cattle hee diminisheth not. And they are diminished and bowed down, by restraint, [unspec 39] evill and sorrow. He powreth contempt on bounteous Princes, and maketh them erre in [unspec 40] deformed wildernesse without way. And raiseth up the needy from afflicting poverty, [unspec 41] and putteth his families as a flocke. The righteous shall see and rejoyce, and all inju∣rious [unspec 42] evill stop her mouth. Who is wise and will observe these things; and they shall un∣derstand [unspec 43] the mercies of Iehovah.

Annotations.

THe fifth booke] see Psal. 42 1. [unspec 1] [unspec 2]

Vers. 2. whom he hath] or, that he hath re∣deemed them. of the distresser] or of distresse.

Vers. 3. the sea] that is, the south, where the red [unspec 3] sea was situate from Iudea (as the Chaldee ex∣plaineth it, the southerne sea,) for the maine sea was westward, Ios. 23. 4. and so is often used for the West.

Vers. 4. desart way] Heb. desart of way, mea∣ning [unspec 4] where no way was, as vers. 40. see also Esa. 43. 19. This estate figureth out mens dispersion among the peoples of the world, Ezek. 20. 35, 36. when men are without the law, Rom. 2. 14. dwelling citie] Heb. citie of habitation or seating; so verse 7 36. that is, no harbour or place of refreshing, for wilde and venomous beasts onely haunted there, Ier. 2. 6. Deut. 8. 15. Compare also Eccles. 10. 15. Gen. 21. 14, 15, 16.

Vers. 5. overwhelmed] fainted: see Psal. 61. 3. [unspec 5] [unspec 7]

Vers. 7. citie] this the Chaldee expoundeth of Ierusalem.

Vers. 9. with good] or good things, as the Greeke [unspec 9] explaineth it: see Psal. 65. 5. Luk. 1. 53.

Vers. 10. shadow of death] that is, terrible dark∣nesse, [unspec 10] meaning hereby sore afflictions in body and soule. See Psal. 23. 4. Esa. 49. 9. and 9. 2. Mat. 4. 15. Luk. 1. 79. affliction] as with cords and fetters: see Iob 36. 8, 9, &c.

Vers. 16. barres] that is, all the most strong [unspec 16] hinderances: so Isa. 45. 2.

Vers. 17. Fooles] evill disposed persons, so named [unspec 17] of their unadvised rashnesse: see Psal. 38. 6. are afflicted] or, bring affliction on themselves.

Vers. 18. soule] that is, appetite: see the like in [unspec 18] Iob 33. 20. and the contrary in Psal. 78. 18. gates] that is, imminent perill of death: see Psal. 9. 14. Iob 33. 22.

Vers. 20. healeth them] example in Hezekiah, [unspec 20] 2 King. 20. 1. 4, 5, 7. and the contrary in Asa, 2 Chron. 16. 12, 13. for God woundeth and healeth, Deut. 32. 39. Hos. 6. 1. Iob 33. 19, 24. corrupti∣ons] that is, corrupting diseases, or corrupting graves whereinto they are ready to come: see Psal. 7. 16. Iob 33. 28, 30.

Vers. 22. of confession] that is, thank-offerings: [unspec 22] see Psal. 50. 14.

Vers. 23. doe labour] that is, occupie or get their [unspec 23] living: so Rev. 18. 17.

Vers. 25. raiseth up] or maketh stand, which no∣teth [unspec 25] also the continuance of the storme. See an ex∣ample, Ion. 1. 4.

Vers. 29. he setteth] or restoreth firme. See Mat. [unspec 29] 8. 26. Ion. 1. 15.

Vers. 30. because they] or, when they, that is, the [unspec 30] waves.

Vers. 32. the sitting] or the Assise (session) of [unspec 32] the Elders or Senators, the governours of the peo∣ple, whom the Chaldee calleth Wise men. And from this Psalme, and this verse of it, the He∣brewes have this Canon: Foure must confesse (unto God;) The sicke when he is healed, the prisoner

when he is released out of bonds; they that goe downe to sea, when they are come up (to land;) and waifa∣ring men, when they are come to the inhabited land. And they must make confession before ten men, and two of them wise men, Psal. 107. 32. And the man∣ner of confessing and blessing is thus; He standeth a∣mong them, and blesseth the Lord, the King eternall, that bounteously rewardeth good things unto sinners, &c. Maimony in Misr. treat. of Blessings, chap. 10. sect. 8.

Vers. 33. He putteth rivers] that is, hee turneth watry fruitfull places to a dry barren desart. Ri∣vers [unspec 33] here (as waters in Isa. 32. 20. Eccles. 11. 1.) are put for most fertile grounds, as wildernesse for a dry barren ground, Deut. 8. 15. issues] that is, places where water-springs are. thirstinesse] that is, a thirsty dry land.

Vers. 34. saltnesse] that is, a salt barren land: so Ier. 17. 6. Iob 39. 6. for salt causeth barrennesse, Deu. [unspec 34] 29. 23. Iudg. 9. 45. The Chaldee paraphraseth, The fruitfull land of Israel he layeth waste like So∣dom, which was overthrowne for the evill of them that dwelt therein.

Vers. 35. land of drought] that is, a dry barren land: compare Isa. 41. 18. [unspec 35]

Vers. 37. yeeld fruitfull revenue] Heb. make fruit of revenue (or increase.) see Psal. 1. 3. [unspec 37]

Vers. 39. And they are] that is, And againe, when he curseth them, they are minished, &c. the [unspec 39] contrary to the former blesseth is to bee under∣stood, as in the Law, Deut. 28. 4, 18. Or, as the Chaldee expoundeth it, And when they sinne, they are diminished. restraint] either of liber∣tie by imprisonment, as Isa. 53. 8. or of any blessing.

Vers. 40. contempt] a base contemptible estate: so Iob 12. 21. deformed wildernesse] or wilde [unspec 40] ground, unordered: so Iob 12. 24.

Vers. 41. raiseth up] or setteth in a high place safe∣ly; so 1 Sam. 2. 8. Psal. 1▪ 13. 7, 8. [unspec 41]

Vers. 42. all injurious evill] that is, all evill per∣sons that deny Gods providence, or blame his ad∣ministration, [unspec 42] shall have their mouthes stopped: so Iob 5. 16. and so pride is for proud persons, Psal. 36. 12.

Vers. 43. Who is wise?] a complaint how few [unspec 43] there be that marke these things, and an intimati∣on that every wise man will observe them: so Hos. 14. 10. Ier. 9. 12. and they shall] or, as before, who will understand.