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.

EGypt] in Hebrew, Mizraim, meaning the land [unspec 1] of Mizraim: see Gen. 12. 10. God sent Ioseph before his brethren, for their preservation, Gen. 45. 5. 7. Potiphar] in Greeke, Pentephres. Provost Marshall] or Prince of the slayers: see Gen. 37. 36. Ismaelites] the Chaldee calleth them Arabians. See Gen. 37. 25.

Vers. 2. with Ioseph] and delivered him out of all [unspec 2] his afflictions, Act. 7. 9. 10. The Chaldee saith, the word of the Lord was his helpe: So after in vers. 3. and 21. The like promise God maketh to every faithfull man, I will be with him in trouble: Psal. 91. 15. was in the house] that is, remained there, pa∣tiently bearing his servitude: and ranne not away, to his father againe. For in his masters house, and in prison, he continued thirteene yeeres, Gen. 37. 2. and 41 46. In the Iewish records it is said, that he served twelve moneths in Potiphars house, and was 12. yeeres in prison: Seder Olam, chap. 2.

Vers. 4. ministred] or served: in Greeke pleased. [unspec 4] Ministration is a free service differing from slavery. made him overseer] or visiter: in Greek constituted him; which word is used in this sense; in Luk. 12. 44.

Vers. 5. from the time] so the Chaldee expounds [unspec 5] the Hebrew phrase from then: the Greeke tran∣slateth it after.

Vers. 6. save the bread] this may be meant either [unspec 6] of his ease and security, who cared for nothing; but to eate and drinke, leaving all the trouble of his house upon Ioseph: or, it excepteth bread, that is, meat and drinke, for that the Egyptians would not eate with the Hebrewes; see Gen. 43. 32.

V. 7. lifted up] that is, cast her eyes, or looked with [unspec 7] impure affections and lust, which Christ condem∣neth for adulterie; Matt. 5. 28. So the Apostle speaketh of eyes full of adulterie, 2 Pet. 2. 14. The contrary was in Iob, Iob 31. 1. I made covenant with mine eyes; &c. Lye with mee] this sheweth the impudency of her face, such as Solomon warneth of, Proverb. 7. 13 18. And the dangerous assault of Ioseph, whom Satan tempteth now with pleasure; when he could not before overcome him with af∣flictions.

V. 9. not he] This may be meant of all the hous∣hold, [unspec 9] not any; or of his lord himselfe, in a respect, not he himselfe.

Vers. 10. day by day] or daily: Hebrew, day day; [unspec 10] which the Greeke explaineth day after day: the Hebrew sometime addeth day and day: Hest. 3. 4. so the Greeke, in 2 Cor. 4. 16. to bee with her] in her company, so avoyding the occasions of evil. according to Solomons counsell, Remove thy way far from her; and come not nigh the doore of her house, Prov. 5. 8. This chastity of Ioseph, is here opposed to the unchast cariage of Iudah, in Gen. 38.

Vers. 11. on a certaine like day] so the Greeke ex∣plaineth [unspec 11]

the Hebrew phrase as this day: mean∣ing, a day wherein his mistresse lusted after, or in∣tised him. Or day, being put for time, (as in 2 Cor. 6. 2) the meaning may be, About this time. his worke] in Greeke, workes; which the Chaldee ex∣plaineth to be the searching of the writings of his ac∣counts.

Vers. 12. got him out] or, went forth out: so in v. [unspec 12] 15. The woman, whose heart is snares and nets, her hands, bands, is more bitter then death: but, he that is good before God, escapeth from her: Eccles. 7. 26.

V. 14. Hebrew] so she nameth him in contempt: for the Hebrews were abhorred of the Egyptians, [unspec 14] Gen. 43. 32. but it was indeed a name of honour; see Gen. 14. 13. to mocke] to abuse us, where∣upon we shall be mocked and laughed to scorne, Or, to play with us. This word was used before, but in a better sense, Gen. 26. 8. And here the adulteresse hunteth for the pretious life, Prov. 6. 26.

Verse 20. tower-house] or round house, a prison [unspec 20] built after a round forme. The Greeke calleth it afort, (or skonce:) the Chaldee, a house of prisoners, prisoners] bound. men, or restrained of their li∣berty. Among them, Ioseph was layd in yrons, they hurt his feet with fetters; untill the time that his word came, the word of the Lord tried him: Ps. 105. 18. 19. He suffered trouble as an evill doer, even unto bonds: but the word of God is not bound: 2 Tim. 2. 9. And in his sufferings he was a figure of Christ, who was taken from prison and from judgement: Esa. 53. 8. and in his humiliation, his judgement was taken away, Act. 8. 33.

Vers. 21. gave him grace] so the Greeke explain∣eth the Hebrew phrase, gave his grace: that is, made [unspec 21] him to bee gracious, and favoured. For if when men doe well, they suffer for it, and take it patient∣ly; this is acceptable with God, 1. Pet. 2. 20. chief-keeper] Hebrew Prince, or master; the Greek translateth it, Chiefe gaolor.

Vers. 22. the doer] that is, by his word and ap∣pointment it was done. So the Chaldee paraphrase, [unspec 22] (in the Massorites Bible) explaineth it, adding, by his word. Thus Pilate is sayd to give the body of Christ unto Ioseph, Marke 15. 45. when he comman∣ded it to be given: Matt. 27. 58. See also Exod. 7. 17.

Verse 23. looked not &c] or saw not any thing: the [unspec 23] Greeke translateth, knew not any thing by him. The Chaldee saith, saw not any fault: understanding the Hebrew Meumah, as Meum in Dan. 1. 4. for a fault, or blemish. And thus, though many archers had shot at Ioseph, his bow abode in strength, and the armes of his hands were made firme, by the hands of the Mighty (God) of Iakob: Gen. 49. 23. 24.