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.

FIrst famine] whereof see Gen. 12. 10. Abi∣melech] [unspec 1] of whom see Gen. 20. 1. 2. &c. which history is to be compared with this.

Vers. 2. Aegypt] as Abraham did, Gen. 12. 10. [unspec 2] and whither it seemeth Isaak was purposing to go.

Vers. 3. this land] of Canaan, the land of promise, and figure of the place of heavenly rest; see the [unspec 3] notes on Gen. 12. 5. So by David hee exhorteth, Dwell in the land, and feed on faith, Psalm. 37. 3. See Gen. 37. 1. I will be] the Chaldee expoundeth it, my word shall be an helpe unto thee: so in vers. 24. and 28. these lands] or countries, possessed by so many nations, Gen. 15. 19. 20. 21. so Psalm. 105. 44. The Greeke translateth singularly, land; and so was the promise made to Abraham, Gen. 13. 15. and 15. 18. and 17. 8. see the notes there. stablish the oath] that is, performe the promises: sworne, Gen. 22. 16. 17.

Vers. 4. starres] that is, innumerable: see Genes. [unspec 4] 15. 5. seed] meaning Christ: Gal. 3. 16. 8. blesse themselves] or as the Greeke translateth, shall be blessed, see Gen. 22. 18.

Vers. 5. charge] Hebr. keeping, or observation: that is, ordinances to be kept. So in Lev. 8. 35. and 22. 9. [unspec 5] Deut. 11. 1. lawes] for this word, elsewhere the Scripture saith, judgements, Deut. 11. 1. and 5. 1. 31. and 6. 1. 20. and 7. 11. and 8. 11. &c. and un∣der these three particulars, the whole charge or custody forespoken of, is comprehended; as after∣ward by Moses God gave the ten commandements, or morall precepts, Exod. 20. Iudgements, or judici∣all lawes for punishing transgressors, Exod. 21. &c. and Statutes, or rules, ordinances and decrees for the service of God, Lev. 3. 17. and 6. 18. 22. Exod. 12. 24. & 27. 31. & 29. 9. & 30. 21. Al which Abraham observed, and is commended of God therefore.

Vers. 7. my sister] He imitateth his father Abra∣hams practice, Gen. 12. 11. 12. 13. and 20. 2. [unspec 7] kill me] Moses expresseth this as Isaaks owne words of himselfe. The Greeke translateth it, should kill him: so elsewhere that version changeth the per∣son, for more easie order of speech, and understan∣ding to the reader. See Psal. 144. 12. good countenance] elsewhere it is faire of countenance, (or visage) Gen. 12. 11. so the Greek turneth it here: and before, good is used for faire, or goodly, Gen. 24. 16.

V. 8. by him] or to him: that is, when he had beene, [unspec 8] a long time there. sporting] or laughing, playing, re∣joycing: it is the word whereof Isaak himselfe had his name, Gen. 17. 17. 19. and 21. 6. Solomon saith, Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth, &c. Prov. 5. 18. 19

Vers. 10. might lightly] or, had almost lyen. [unspec 10] guiltinesse] a sinne making us guiltie of punishment, a shamefull crime: named in Hebrew Asham: the Greeke translateth it Ignorance: and so Paul calleth the sinnes of the people Ignorances, or ignorant tres∣passes, Heb. 9. 7. rightly so gathered from Levit. 4. 22. See the further explication of this word, there. Abimelech by this word Asham, meaneth both the sin and the punishment for the same; as in the law, Asham, is both the Guilty-sin, and the Sacrifice for the same, Lev. 5. 5. 6.

Vers. 11. toucheth] that is, hurteth, or injureth: [unspec 11] so in vers. 29. and in Ios. 9. 19. Ruth 2. 9. Iob 1. 11. Psal. 105. 15. Zach. 2. 8. or] Hebr. and: which is often used for or, as is observed on Gen. 13. 8. dying] that is, he shall surely be put to death: as Gē. 2. 17

Vers. 12. 100 measures] that is, as the Chaldee [unspec 12] explaineth it, a hundred for one when he measured it: or an hundred, may meane many: as an hundred fold, Matth. 19. 29. is elsewhere called manifold more, Luke 18. 23. The word Shegnarim, signifieth pub∣licke measures, such as were used at the gates of ci∣ties, which were full and large. And this increase, (which is the most that our Saviour speaketh of in Matth. 13. 23.) sheweth the fruitfulnesse of the land of Canaan when God blessed it; and figured the bountifull reward which the godly sha l find of their labours, in the heavenly country, which we seeke, Gal. 6. 7. 8. 9. Heb. 11. 14. 16. The fruit∣fulnesse of Canaan, signified also the graces of the Gospel, Ezek. 34. 27. Zac. 8. 12. Ps. 67. 7. blessed him] & his blessing maketh rich, Pro. 10. 22. Iob 42. 12. This the next words of Isaak do also confirm.

Vers. 14. possession] or cattell: so Gen. 47. 17. [unspec 14] husbandry] so also the Greeke turneth it georgia. It implieth all manner worke and service belonging to a family; and so servants, and tillage of all sorts. The like is said of Iob, Iob 1. 3. envied] had an envious zeale and emulation. So Solomon saw how all labour and rightnesse of worke, brought envy to a man from his neighbour, Eccles. 4. 4.

Vers. 15. with dust] or earth, as the Greeke trans∣lateth. [unspec 15] This also they enviously did against their oath before, Gen. 21. 30. 31. And this injury was great, because of scarcity of waters there, Gen. 21. 25. It figured out the corrupting of the cleare doc∣trines of the gospell, by earthly glosses and tradi∣tions of Antichristians. Psal. 65. 10. and 84. 7. Song 4. 15. Num. 21. 16. 18. Iohn 4. 10. 14.

Vers. 17. pitched] to weer, his tents: or, encam∣ped. [unspec 16] A word used for pitching of camps or armies, Exod. 14. 9. and 15. 27. &c. applyed first here to Isaaks family, afterwards to Iakobs, Gen. 33. 18. and so to his posterity. And betokeneth a residing, or quiet sitting: opposed to removing, or journy∣ing, Num. 1. 50. 51. 52. and 9. 17. 18. The Chaldee translateth it dwelled.

Vers. 18. returned and digged] that is, as the Greek [unspec 18] explaineth it, againe digged. Figuring the resto∣ring of the ancient truth, out of corruption: as

v. 15. their names] so renewing the ancient good names (that caried, as seemeth, the memo∣riall of Gods graces) which the wicked had defa∣ced: as on the contrary, the idolatrous names of places, on which the heathens had set the memo∣riall of false gods and superstition, were by the Is∣raelites changed, when they came into their pos∣session, Num. 32. 38. for the very names of idols, are not to be heard out of our mouthes, Exod. 23. 13. Psal. 16. 4.

Vers. 19. the valley] of Gerar, as the Greeke yer∣sion [unspec 19] doth expresse. living] that is, as the Chal∣dee here translateth, springing waters. Waters that spring or runne, are for their continuall motion, called living, Levit. 14. 5. 50. and 15. 13. Num. 19. 17. Song 4. 15. For life consisteth in continuall motion. The Greeke keepeth the Hebrew phrase: and so in the New Testament, where living waters, signifie heavenly graces, Iohn 4. 10. 11. 14. and 7. 38. Rev. 21. 6. and 22 1.

Vers. 20. ours] or (belonging) to us: the Greeke [unspec 20] changeth the person, saying that the water was theirs. So ver. 7. Ezek] that is, Contention, or wrong∣full strife: Wrangling, the Greeke translateth, Inju∣rie, because they injuried him.

Vers. 21. Sitnah] that is, Hatred, or Spitefulnesse. [unspec 21] Of this the devill hath his name, Satan.

Vers. 22. Rechoboth] that is, Roomths; or large spa∣ces. [unspec 22] Compare Psalm. 4. 2. in distresse thou hast made roomth for me.

Vers. 24. feare not] for the opposition of the Phi∣listims, [unspec 24] and other afflictions that are incident unto thee. So God comforted Abraham, Gen. 15 1.

Vers. 25. called on] the Chaldee saith, prayed: so did Abraham his father, Gen. 12. 7. 8. and 13. 4. 18. [unspec 25] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stretched out] that is, set up, or pitched his tent, as the Greeke explaineth it, which was with sprea∣ding and stretching out the curtaines and cords unto stakes, Esa. 33. 20.

Vers. 26. Achuzzath his friend] or, aretinue of his [unspec 26] friends: and so the Chaldee translateth it, a compa∣ny of his friends: but the Greeke takes it for a pro∣per name, Ochozath; and his friend, the Greek cal∣leth nymphagogos, which is the companion (or leader) of the bridegroome; like that in Iudg. 14. 20. which the Greek there translateth as this here. Prince] that is, Chiefe captaine: in Greeke, the Chiefe lea∣der of the army, as in Gen. 21. 22. with which this history is to bee compared. Isaaks wayes pleasing the Lord; he made his enemies to be at peace with him: as Prov. 16. 7.

Vers. 28. Seeing &c.] that is, wee have evidently [unspec 28] seene. Iehovah] the Chaldee expounds it, the word of the Lord is thine helpe. an oath-of-execra∣tion] in Greeke, a curse? that is, an oath wishing a curse to the breaker of it: as Gen. 24. 41. The Chal∣dee paraphraseth thus, Let the oath now be confirmed, which was betweene our fathers; and betweene us and thee. strike] Hebr. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 foe Gen. 15. 18.

Vers. 29. If thou shalt] understand, Taking a curse [unspec 29] [unspec 21] upon thee, if thou shalt: meaning, that thou shalt not (or wi〈…〉〈…〉) doe evill, as the Greeke explaineth it. See Gen 21. 23. touched] that is, hurt, as v. 11. blessed] see Gen. 24. 31. An imperfect speech, as if he should say, O thou blessed of the Lord, doe thou likewise deale with us: or, as thou art now blessed of the Lord, so sweare unto us by him. The Greeke trans∣lateth, and now thou art the blessed of the Lord.

Vers. 30. a banquet] used when men made cove∣nants [unspec 30] together, Gen. 31. 54.

Vers. 31. man to his brother] that is, one to another: [unspec 31] the Greeke saith, man to his neighbour.

Vers. 33. Shibeah] in Greeke Horkos; in English, [unspec 33] Oath. Beersheba] that is, the well of the oath: as the Greeke also interprets it. This name was given before, Gen. 21. 31. It seemeth in tract of time the name was forgotten, the rather because the well then digged by Abraham, (vers. 30.) was by the Philistims stopped, Gen. 26. 15. and they would therefore have no such monument: but Isaak now reneweth the name. Or here the citie is named Beersheba; there the place, Gen. 21. 3. that is, the whole region.

Vers. 34. old] Hebr. sonne. This also was the age [unspec 34] of his father Isaak when he maried, Gen. 25. 20. Iudith] one of the daughters of the Canaanites, called by another name, Gen. 36. 2. see the anno∣tations there. This fact was contrary to Abrahams charge, Gen. 24. 3. and his father Isaaks, as is like∣ly by vers. 35. and Gen. 28. 2. 6. 8. a Chethite] in Greeke, an Evite: see Gen. 36. 2. These were of the worst sort of people in the land, Ezek. 16. 3.

Vers. 35. a bitternesse of spirit] that is, a griefe of [unspec 35] mind, through their bitter provocation and rebel∣lious cariage: so that they were yrked of their life by reason of them, Gen. 27. 46. Or, of a rebellious spirit, resisting their parents. This latter the Greeke fol∣loweth, calling them Contentious with Isaak and Re∣bekah: and the Chaldee saith, they were rebellious and stubborne against the word of Isaak and Rebekah: unto which the Ierusalemy Thargum addeth, that they served (God) with strange service (that is, idola∣try) and received not the instruction either of Isaak or of Rebekah. See Gen. 27. 46.