Annotations.
IN the dayes] the Greeke saith, in the reigne. of Shinar] that is, Chaldea: or (as the Chaldee tur∣neth [unspec 1] it) Babylon: see Gen. 10. 10. Thargum Ieru∣salemy interpreteth it, Pontus. Ellasar] this is thought to be Syria. Chedor-laomer] written in Greeke, Chodollogomor. Elam] that is, the Ela∣mites or Persians, named of Elam sonne of Sem: Gen. 10. 22. Thidal] or Thidgnal; which the Greek writeth Thargal, d changed into r: see Gen. 10. 3. of nations] Hebr. Gojim, which may bee kept unchanged: but the Greeke and Chaldee translate it nations, or peoples. It seemeth they were of sundry families, or populous: as Galilee of the na∣tions, Es. 9. 1. Their country is thought to be after named Pamphilia.
Vers. 2. Zebojim] in Greeke Seboeim: it is writ∣ten [unspec 2] by the letters in the line Zebiim, of Zebi, which signifieth glory, pleasantnesse, and a Roe; by which name the pleasant and glorious land of Israel is cal∣led, in Ezek. 20. 6. but by the vowels, and in the margine noted to bee read Zebojim, as being un∣worthy the pleasant name. So in vers. 8. that is Zoar] or Zogar, so called after, upon Lots request, Gen. 19. 20. 22. These five Cities stood neere to∣gether in the land of Canaan, in the plaine of Ior∣dan, and were all (except Zoar) butned with fire and brimstone from heaven, Gen. 19. Deut. 29. 23. Here they are fore-chastned of God by warres. sea of salt] or salt sea: so Ios. 3. 16. meaning, that this goodly valley, after it was burnt from hea∣ven, became a salt sea; and so barren and fruitlesse, [unspec 2] that no living thing, fish or other, was found therein. For so all histories testifie of that salt and dead sea, as it was also called. And the holy Scrip∣ture useth saltnesse for barrennesse, Deut. 29. 23. Psal. 107. 34. This judgement of God brought upon one of the goodliest places in all Canaany; signifying, how that land and inhabitants should for their sinnes be deprived and made barren of all spirituall graces. But by the Gospell and spirit of Christ, graces are restored: as was figured in a vision of waters issuing out of Gods house, run∣ning into this sea, healing the waters of it, storing it with live fishes, &c. Ezek. 47. 1.—8. 9. 11.
Vers. 4. served Chedor. laomer] herein God shew∣ed [unspec 4] the truth of Noes prophesie, that Canaan should be Sems servant, Gen. 9. 26. Chedorlaomer of Sems progeny, was chiefe of all these Kings, and Lord of the Canaanites.
Vers. 5. smote] that is, killed: see vers. 17. [unspec 5] Rephaims] or Raphaeans, called of the Greeke and Chaldee paraphrast, Giants: and the Hebrew word is after used for such, Deut. 2. 11. and Rapha was the name of a Giant that had foure sonnes Giants, in Davids dayes, 2 Sam. 21. 16. 22. But these Re∣phaims were now a people in Canaan, Gen. 15. 20. Ashteroth] a City in Basan, where Og after reigned, Ios. 13. 31. Zuzims] these the Greeks call, strong nations; and the Chaldee, Mighties. Of them we reade not else-where: unlesse their name was after changed by the Ammonites into Zam∣zummims. Deut. 2. 20. Emims▪] or according to the Greeke Ommeans, these the Caldee calleth Ter∣rible ones: and so the Hebrue name signifieth. They were a people great and many, and tall as the Anakims, accounted Giants; and by the Moabites were called (Terrible) Emims, Deut. 2. 10. 11. Shaveh] or, the plaine (as the word signifieth) of Kirjathaim, which was a citie in the Land of Sihon, afterwards King of Hesbon; see Ios. 13. 19.
Vers. 6. Chorites] or Chorreans, or Chorims, a peo∣ple [unspec 6] that dwelt in Seir, till Esau and his sonns drove them thence, Deut. 2. 22. Gen. 36. 20. &c. El-pharan] by interpretation, the Oke (or plaine) of Pharan, (or Paran;) which was a City by the wil∣dernesse of that name; see Gen. 21. 21.
Vers. 7. En-mishpat] that is by interpretation the [unspec 7] Well of judgement; and so the Greeke here calleth it: the Chaldee nameth it, the plaine of the division of judgement. So called, as it seemeth, of Gods judgement or sentence given against Moses and Aaron, for sinning at that place; see Num. 20. 1. 10. 12. 13. the field] that is, the country or region: so the field of Edom, Gen. 32. 3. the field of Moab, Gen. 36. 35. the field of Soan, Psal. 78. 12. the field of Sy∣ria, Hos. 12. 12. wherby those countries are meant. the Amalekite] so called afterward, of Amalek son of Esau, Gen. 36. 12. Hazezon▪thamar] which the Chaldee calleth Engedi, as it is also na∣med in 2 Chron. 20. 2. a Citie in the Land of Ca∣naan, which fell to the tribe of Iudah, Ios. 15. 62. a fruitfull place of vines: Song 1. 13.
Vers. 10. had many pits] Hebr. pits pits, which [unspec 10] meaneth many, or diuers pits: so heapet heapes, is