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.

BUtler] or, cupbearer, who used to give the cup [unspec 1] into the kings hand, v. 13. So Nehe. 1. 11.

Verse 2. Eunuches] or officers, in Chaldee Princes, [unspec 2] see Gen. 37. 36. chiefe] or Prince. The Greek translateth Archioinochoos, the Chiefe wine powrer: and Archisi••opoi••s the Chiefe bread-maker. The Chaldee Rabshakei.

Vers. 3. Provost Marshall] see Gen. 37. 36. [unspec 3] tower] prison, Gen. 39. 20.

Verse 4. some dayes] or a yeare: for so the word [unspec 4] dayes often signifieth▪ see Gen. 24. 55. and 4. 3.

Verse 5. according to the interpretation] that is, no [unspec 5] vaine dreame, but significant, and shewing things to come, according to the interpretation that Io∣seph gave of them. Of dreaming, see the notes on Gen. 20. 3.

Vers. 6. sad] the Greeke translateth troubled, and [unspec 6] so the Hebrew importeth an angerly discontent, and fretfull trouble of mind, Prov. 19. 3. with a sad and lowring countenance, Dan. 1. 10. So dreames and visions sent of God, use much to affect men, Gen. 41. 8. Dan. 2. 1. 3. Matt. 27. 19.

Vers. 7. evill] that is, sad; as the Greeke transla∣teth [unspec 7] skuthropa, which word the Evangelists use in like sense, Luk. 24. 17. Matt. 6. 16. so good, is often used for merry or cheerfull, Esth. 1. 10. Esa. 65. 14.

Vers. 8. no interpreter] they being prisoners, [unspec 8] could not goe to the Soothsayers and wise men of Egypt, as that people was wont to doe, Gen. 41. 8. When Gods Oracles are not opened and under∣stood, it is a cause of heavinesse: Rev. 5. 4. tell me] Ioseph was in bonds, as an evill doer: but the word of God is not bound: and so Paul, 2 Tim. 2. 9. Here Iosephs faith shewed it selfe; before, hee himselfe was a dreamer, Gen. 37. 5. 9. now hee be∣commeth an interpreter, and maketh a way for the accomplishment of those promises: and calleth these idolaters from their superstitions, to the true God, as Deut. 18. 10. 11. 12. Esay 8. 19. And taxeth the vanity of such in our times, as write bookes of the art of interpreting dreames.

Ver. 9. behold] Hebrew, and behold: but the word and sometime is redundant in that tongue, as is ob∣served [unspec 9] on Gen. 36. 24.

Vers. 10. as though] or, when it budded. shot-up] Hebrew, ascended. [unspec 10]

Vers. 12. they are] that is, they signifie three dayes: [unspec 12] So in Gen. 41. 26.

Vers. 13. within three dayes] which is explained [unspec 13] vers. 20. to be in the third day: see a like phrase in Gen. 7. 4. and of the mysticall number three. See Gen. 22. 4. lift up] this phrase sometime sig∣nifieth to promote unto honour, as Ier. 52. 31. sometime head is used for summe, and it meaneth to take the summe, or to reckon, as Exod. 30. 12. which may also be intended here. The Greeke transla∣teth shal remember thy principality: the Chaldee, shal remember thee. place] or base, seat: meaning his office, of butlership, as the Greeke and Chaldee explaine it; and is confirmed by verse 21.

Vers. 14. this house] this prison; so the Greeke [unspec 14] saith, this hold. Ioseph though patient in adversi∣tie, yet useth all good means to procure his liberty.

Vers. 15. stollen by stealth] or indeed stollen: He∣brew [unspec 15] stealing stollen. The Hebrews] the land of Canaan, wherein the children of Abraham dwelt, who was called an Hebrue, Gen. 14. 13. Thus Io∣seph calleth it, by faith in Gods promises. In Zach. 2. 12. it is called the holy land. dungeon] or pit: in Chaldee, the house of prisoners. Thus Ioseph pleadeth his innocency; as Daniel also did, Dan. 6. 22. and Paul, Act. 24. 12. 13. 20. and 25. 10. 11.

Vers. 16. saw] this word the Greeke addeth, I [unspec 16] saw a dreame. white] or, with holes; for the He∣brew word signifieth both: and may meane bas∣kets made of white rods, with holes, as net-worke. But the Greeke, and Thargum Ierusalemy doe un∣derstand it of white bread, or meats in them.

Vers. 19. lift-up] or (as the Greeke translateth [unspec 19] it,) take away thine head; in a contrary meaning to the former, vers. 13. but it may be understood of reckoning, as before; and putting this man out of the number of his officers. a tree] the Chal∣dee translateth it, a Gallow tree, or gybbet, crosse: such as that whereon Christ was crucified, called sometime onely a tree, as Act. 5. 30. and 10. 39. 1 Pet. 2. 24. After by the law, such as dyed on tree, had the curse of God upon them; Deut. 21. 23

Vers. 20. a banquet] Hebrew a drinking. This cu∣stome [unspec 20] to keepe banquets on birth dayes, appeareth to be most ancient; and it continued till Christs time on earth, Mat. 14. 6. and so till this day. lifted up] the Chaldee translateth, he remembred the head, &c.

Vers. 22. hanged] As Ioseph was in prison with [unspec 22] these two malefactors, and according to his word, the one was restored to his former honour; the o∣ther put to death: so Christ was in the middest of two malefactors; who one of them was restored to eternall life, the other left to dye in his sinnes, Luk. 23. 33. 39.—43,

Vers. 23. forgat him] which was both great un∣thankfulnesse, [unspec 23]

and unto Ioseph, a further exercise of faith and patience from the hand of God, two yeares longer: untill the time his word came, Ps. 105. 19. So the scripture elsewhere taxeth forgetful∣nesse of benefits, and of the affliction of Ioseph. Ec∣cles. 9. 15. 16. Amos 6. 6.