Annotations.
PHysicians] in Greeke imbalmers. imbalm] which was, with myrrh, aloes, and other spices, [unspec 1] that the dead bodies might not stinke or putrifie, Ioh. 19. 39. 40. so laying them as in a bed of sweet odours, 2 Chron. 16. 14. and this with the solemnities of his buriall, was to doe Iakob honor at his death, as 2 Chron. 32. 33. and to keepe his body sweet, for buriall in Canaan: besides fur∣ther mysterie of the resurrection with incorrupti∣on in Christ, who was also imbalmed himselfe, Mark. 14. 8. Ioh. 12. 7. and 19. 40. Of the Egyp∣tian manner of imbalming and burying in ages following it is said by historiographers, that they tooke out the bowels of the dead, cleansed them, and washed them with wine of dates, and after that againe with odours: then filled they the bowels with pure myrrh beaten, and Cassia, and other odours (except frankincense;) and sowed them up. After this they seasoned the corps hidden in nitre, seventy daies, not lon∣ger. After seventie daies, they washed the corps, and wrapt it in fine linnen cloth gummed; which gumme the Egyptians often used in stead of glew, &c. The Nitre consumeth the flesh, and leaveth onely the skin and bones of the dead person. Herodot. in Euterpe.
Vers. 5. Idye] or, I, am dying: see Gen. 47. 29. 30. 31. digged] or, bought, as the word some∣time [unspec 5] signifieth, Deut. 2. 6.
Vers. 7. all the servants] that is, a great multitude of them: so Mat. 3. 5. all Iudea: that is, very ma∣ny [unspec 7] from all parts. elders] or Senators; that is, governours, officers, counsellors, as Ezek. 7. 26. joy∣ned therefore with Princes, Psal. 105. 22.
Vers. 9. very great] Hebrew, vehemently heavie, or weighty; which the Greeke translateth a great [unspec 9] campe, (or company.) So a weightie people, 1 Kings 3. 9. is by the Hebrew text elsewhere expounded, agreat people, 2 Chron. 1. 10.
Vers. 10. Atad] by interpretation a bramble, [unspec 10] Psal. 58. 10. It seemeth this floore was beset with brambles, and thereof had the name. beyond] in the inside of Iordan, for Moses when hee wrote these things, was on the outside, in the wilder∣nesse; Deut. 1. 1. and 3. 25. seven dayes] so long they were by the law of God uncleane by the dead, whosoever touched the same; Numb. 19. 11. so long also the Iewes custome after was to mourne, as Maimony sheweth in Misn. Tom. 4. treat. of Mourning, chap. 1. and Ben Syrach saith, Seven daies doe men mourne for him that is dead, Eccles. 22. 12. There was also a lesser degree of mourning, which dured thirty dayes, that the Hebrew doctors gathered from Deut. 21. 13. she shall bewaile her father and her mother a moneth of daies: those thirtie daies, they might not trim the haire of their head or beard; nor weare white new garments, nor marrie: and the like. Maimony ibidem, ch. 6.
Vers. 11. inhabitants] Hebrew, inhabitant: and [unspec 11] Canaanite. See Gen. 10. 16. heavy] in Greek great, as before in verse 9. was called] Hebrew he (that is, every one) called: see the notes on Gen. 16. 14. The mourning] Hebr. Abel Mizaim.
Vers. 15. peradventure] or, it may be. The [unspec 15] guilty conscience causeth feare, Levit. 26. 36. rewarded him] that is, done of our owne accord un∣to him.
Vers. 16. commanded] that is, sent some on their [unspec 16] message to Ioseph: and after, went themselves, verse 18. The word command, is effectually to procure a thing to be done: as God commandeth his blessings and mercies, by effectuall sending them; Psal. 42. 9. and Levit. 25. 21. Deut. 28. 8. where the Greeke translateth send. Here, the Greeke expoundeth it, they came unto Ioseph, and said.
Vers. 17. of the God] by this speech, they seem, [unspec 17] both to insinuate their repentance, and faith to obtaine mercy at Gods hand; and use a reason to obtaine the like at Iosephs. For if we forgive men their trespasses, our heavenly Father will also for∣give us, otherwise not. Mat. 6 12. 14. 15. Where∣fore it is said, forgive one another, even as God for Christs sake forgave you. Ephes. 4. 32. But the He∣brew Doctors observe a difference betweene dammage to our neighbour in his goods, and hurts, or injurie to his person, (which here was Io∣sephs cause.) They say: hee that doth his neighbour dammage in his goods, when hee hath paid that which hee ought to pay; atonement is made for him. But he that hurteth his neighbour, although hee gave unto him (for satisfaction) the five things. (namely, 1. dammage it selfe, as when eye must bee given for eye, tooth for tooth, 2. for the smart, 3. for his healing, 4. for his resting from his labour, 5. for his shame or dishonour; of which see the notes on Exod. 21. 19.) yet atonement is not made for him: yea though he should sacrifice (to God) all the Rams of Nebaioth, (Esay 60. 7.) yet atonement is not made for him, nor his iniquitie forgiven; unill he request it of him that was hurt, and he doe forgive him. Mai∣mony in Misneh, Tom. 4. treat. of Hurt and dammage, chap. 5. S. 9.
Vers. 21. unto their hart] that is, friendly, comfor∣tably, [unspec 21] and which pleased them: as, that which came into Solomons heart, 2 Chron. 7. 11. is ex∣pounded, that which he was pleased to do, 1 King. 9. 1. See also the notes on Gen. 34. 3. Here Io∣seph