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.

CHAP. XLIII.

1, The famine continuing, Iakob would send againe into Egypt; but his sonnes durst not goe without their yongest brother. 8, Iudas offereth to be surety for Ben∣jamin. 11, Israel at length yeeldeth, and sendeth them with a present, double money, and a blessing. 15, Ioseph entertaineth his brethren. 18, They are afraid; and offer the steward the money which had beene restored them. 23, The steward comforteth them, and bringeth out Simeon. 26, Ioseph receiveth their present, 29, blesseth Benjamin, 31, and maketh all his brethren a feast, 34, but sheweth speciall favour to Benjamin.

ANd the famine, was heavie in the land. [unspec 1] And it was, when they had made-an-end of eating the corne which they had [unspec 2] brought, out of Egypt: that their father said unto them; Goe-againe, buy for us a little food. And Iudah said unto him, saying; The [unspec 3] man did protesting protest unto us, saying, ye shall not see my face; except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother, [unspec 4] with us, wee will goe-downe, and buy food for thee. And if thou wilt not send him, we [unspec 5] will not goe-downe: for the man sayd unto us, ye shall not see my face; except your bro∣ther be with you. And Israel said; wherfore [unspec 6] did you me the evill; to tell the man, whe∣ther ye had yet a brother? And they sayd, [unspec 7] the man asking asked of us and of our kin∣dred, saying; Is your father yet alive? have ye a brother? and wee told him, accor∣ding to the tenour of these words: Did wee knowing know, that hee would say, bring your brother downe? And Iudah sayd un∣to [unspec 8] Israel his father; send the yong man with me, and we will arise and goe: that we may live and not dye, both we and thou, and also our little ones. I, will be surety for him; of [unspec 9] my hand, shalt thou require him: if I doe not bring him unto thee, and set him before thee, then will I bee a sinner unto thee, all dayes. For, except wee had lingred: surely [unspec 10] [unspec 11] now we had returned these two-times. And Israel their father, said unto them; if (it must be) so now, doe this, take of the prais-wor∣thy fruit of the land, in your vessels; and cary downe to the man, a present: a little baulm, and a little honey, spices and myrrh, tere∣binth-nuts, and almonds. And take in your [unspec 12] hand, double money: and the money that was restored, into the mouth of your baggs, ye shall cary againe in your hand: peradven∣ture it was an over-sight. And take your [unspec 13] brother: and arise, goe-againe unto the man. And God Almighty, give you mer∣cies, [unspec 14] before the man; that he may send-away with you, your other brother, and Benja∣min: and I, if I be bereaved of-my-children, I am bereaved. And the men tooke this [unspec 15] present; and tooke double money in their hand, and Benjamin: and arose, and went∣down-to Egypt; and stood, before Ioseph. And Ioseph saw Benjamin, with them, & he [unspec 16]

sayd to him that was over his house, bring the men to house: and slay a slaughter (of beasts,) and make-ready; for the men shal eat with me at noone. And the man did as Io∣seph had said: and the man brought the men [unspec 17] into Iosephs house. And the men feared, [unspec 18] because they were brought into Iosephs house: and they sayd, for the matter of the money, that was returned in our bagges at the first; are we brought-in: to roll himselfe upon us: and to fall upon us; and to take us for servants, and our asses. And they came [unspec 19] neer unto the man, which was over Iosephs house: and they spake unto him at the doore of the house. And sayd, Oh my lord: com∣ming-downe [unspec 20] we came-down at first, to buy food. And it was, when we came to the Inn, [unspec 21] and opened our baggs; that behold every-mans money was in the mouth of his bagge; our money in the weight thereof: and wee have brought it againe, in our hand. And [unspec 22] other money, have wee brought-downe in our hand, to buy food: we know not, who put our money, in our baggs. And he said, [unspec 23] peace be to you, feare not; your God, and the God of your father, hath given to you the treasure, in your bags; your mony, came unto me: and he brought out Simeon, unto them. And the man brought the men, into [unspec 24] Iosephs house: and gave them water, and they washed their feet, and he gave proven∣der to their asses: And they made ready, the [unspec 25] present; against Ioseph came, at noone: for they heard, that they should eate bread, there. And Ioseph came to house; and they [unspec 26] brought unto him, the present which was in their hand, into the house: and they bowed-downe-themselves unto him, to the earth. And he asked them, of their peace; and said is there peace to your father the old-man, of [unspec 27] whom you spake? is hee yet alive? And [unspec 28] they said; there is peace to thy servant, to our father, he is yet alive: and they bended∣downe-the-head, and bowed-themselves∣downe. And hee lifted-up his eyes; and [unspec 29] saw Benjamin his brother, his mothers-son; and sayd, is this your younger brother, of whom you spake unto me? and he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Ioseph made-hast; for his bowels did yern, towards [unspec 30] his brother; and he sought, (where) to weep; and entred into a chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went-out: and [unspec 31] refreyned himselfe; and sayd, set-on bread. And they set-on for him, by himselfe alone, and for them by themselves alone; and for [unspec 32] the Egyptians that did eat with him, by thē∣selves alone: because the Egyptians, might not eat bread with the Hebrewes; for that is an abhomination, unto the Egyptians. And they sate before him; the first-borne, [unspec 33] according to his first birthright; and the yongest, according to his youth: & the men marvelled, each man at his neighbour. And [unspec 34] he tooke-up measses from before him, unto them; and Benjamins measse, was five times more, then the measses of any of them: and they dranke and largely-dranke, with him.

Annotations.

BUy] Hebrew, breake: so after, vers. 4. 20. &c. [unspec 1] See Gen. 41. 56.

Vers. 3. protesting] that is, did solemnly and ear∣nestly [unspec 3] protest, even with oath, Gen. 42. 15. Of this phrase, see Gen. 2. 17. be] or, as the Greeke translateth, unlesse your yonger brother come with you.

Verse 7. asking] that is, straitly asked: see ver. 3. [unspec 7] They excuse themselves, as having not done it purposely, but of necessitie; which they could not honestly avoyd. tenour] Hebrew mouth of these words; that is, as the Greeke translateth, ac∣cording to this asking, of his. did we knowing know] that is, did (or could) we any way know; or cer∣tainly know?

Ver. 8. yong-man] meaning Benjamin: who was [unspec 8] now above 30. yeeres of age; being but seven yeers yonger then Ioseph.

Vers. 9. will I be a sinner] or sin; that is, be guilty, [unspec 9] as a violator of my faith; and subject to punish∣ment according. So the word sinners, is used in 1 King. 1. 21. all dayes] of my life: or, for ever:

Vers. 11. praise-worthy-fruit] Hebrew of the mu∣sicke [unspec 11] (or melodie) of the land; meaning the best fruits most commendable, and for which songs of praise are given to God. So the Greeke translateth it, fruits; and the Chaldee, that which is laudable. So a blessing is sayd to bee in the cluster of grapes, Esay 65. 8. baulm] or rosen: see Gen. 37. 25. Therebint nuts] or, nuts of the turpentins tree. So the Greeke translateth it, Terebinth. The word is not found elsewhere in holy scripture. By this present, Iakob thought to procure favour, as hee did before, Gen. 32. 20 &c. for, a mans gift maketh roome for him, & bringeth him before great men. Prov. 18. 16. So Kings, bring presents to Christ; Psal. 72. 10.

Verse 12. double money] because the famine con∣tinuing, [unspec 12] it was like, corne was dearer. an over-sight] or errour, Greeke, an ignorant act. Hereup∣on justice required, that the money should bee restored.

Verse 14. if I be] or, when I be bereaved: a like [unspec 14] phrase is in Esth. 4. 16. if I perish, I perish. Both of them, seeme to bee a committing of themselves, and of the event of their actions unto God in faith: which if it fell out otherwise then they wi∣shed, they would patiently beare.

Vers. 16. him that was over] that is, his steward: so verse 19. and 44. 1. see Gen. 41. 40. a [unspec 16] slaughter.] as is wonnto be killed for a feast. So in Prov. 9. 2. 1 Sam. 25. 11. Gen. 31. 54.

Vers. 18. for the matter] or, because of the money, [unspec 18] as the Greeke translateth. So gnal debar, signifieth because, or concerning, Exod. 8. 12. to roll] that he may roll; namely, the Lord of the land; by rol∣ling, meaning violent oppression, as the Chaldee ex∣poundeth it domintering, and the Greeke false accu∣sing, or, calumniation. See the like phrase in Iob 30. 14. to fall] or to fell, that is, cast downe himselfe; which the Chaldee translateth, seeke an occasion a∣gainst us. A guilty conscience made them fearfull and suspicious. So Gods workes of grace, through our sinne and ignorance, doe occasion our feare; Iudg. 13. 32. 23. Mat. 14. 25. 26. 27.

Vers. 20. Oh] or Vnto me; understand, looke, or let [unspec 20] thine eyes be; as the phrase is more fully expressed, in Iob 6. 28. and 7. 8. The Greeke and Chaldee translations make it here a word of intreating, Wee pray. So Gen. 44. 18. Exod. 4. 10. Iudg. 6. 15. Ios. 7. 8.

Vers. 23. peace to you] that is, bee of good comfort: [unspec 23] or, ye are in safety. Peace is here opposed to seare: so in Iob 21. 9.

Vers. 25. against] or, untill Ioseph come. eate bread] the Greeke explaineth it, dine there. [unspec 25]

Vers. 26. the present] Gr. the gifts which they had [unspec 26] in their hands, which being also from their father; now the sunne, and eleven starres, doe obeysance to Ioseph; as he dreamed. Gen. 37. 10.

Vers. 27. of their peace] that is, of their welfare, [unspec 27] how they did, as the Greeke translateth, how doe yee? So after, is your father in health? See Gen. 37. 14. and 41. 16.

Vers. 30. made-hast] Gr. was troubled. did [unspec 30] yerne] or did burne, were kindled with naturall affe∣ction. The Greeke and Chaldee expresse it, by be∣ing turned. The like is in 1 King. 3. 26.

Vers. 32. an abhomination] The Greeke explai∣neth [unspec 32] the cause, for that every feeder of sheepe was an abhomination to the Egyptians: and Moses telleth the same, Gen. 46. 34. The Chaldee more plainely saith, because the Hebrewes eat the cattell which the Egyptians worship. Compare this exposition with Exod. 8. 26.

Vers. 33. yongest] Hebr. least according to his lit∣tlenesse: [unspec 33] meaning of age, not of stature. at] or, looking upon his neighbour.

Vers. 34. unto them] understand, and sent unto [unspec 34] them. five times] or five parts: Hebr. five hands: which the Greeke expoundeth five fold; the Chal∣dee five parts, (or portions.) so Gen. 47. 24. largely-dranke] or drunke themselves-merry: were drunken, which word is used for large drinking, unto mirth, but with sobriety. Hag. 1. 6. Ioh. 2. 10.