the Church of Israel here, fled from the dragon Pharaoh, (as he is called in Ezek. 29. 3.) so the Christian Church fled from the Serpent, (or Dra∣gon) into the wildernesse, with two wings of a great Eagle, Rev. 12. 14. The Greeke and Chaldee here translate, as upon Eagles wings. unto my selfe,] to serve me at this mount, (as was promised in Exod. 3. 12) and for ever: so the Chaldee ex∣plaineth it, to my service; and Thargum Ierusalemy saith, to the doctrine of my Law.
Vers. 5. my voice] the voice of my Word, saith Thargum Ierusalemy. a peculiar treasure] or [unspec 5] jewell. The Hebrew Segullah, signifieth ones own proper good, which he loveth and keepeth in store for himselfe, and for speciall use, 1 Chron. 29. 3. Eceles. 2. 8. Here it is applyed to Gods Church, and translated in Greeke a peculiar people, which phrase Paul followeth, in Tit. 2. 14. but Peter ex∣presseth it by another word, a people for peculiar possession, 1 Pet. 2. 9. as the Greek version is in Mal. 3. 17. The Chaldee translateth it, beloved: so doe other Hebrews, saying, Segullah, signifieth that they should be beloved before him, as a desirable treasure, which a king delivereth not into the hand of any of his officers, but keepeth it himselfe. And such is the case of Israel, of whom it is said, (in Deut. 32. 9.) For the Lords portion is his people &c. R. Menachem on Exo. 19. This grace (which the Apostles shew we have obtained by Christ) is sundry times mentioned to the praise of God, Deut. 7. 6. and 14. 2. and 26. 18. For Iah hath chosen Iakob unto himselfe: Israel for his peculiar treasure, Psal. 135 4. the earth] with the plenty thereof is mine, yet my de∣light is in you, to love you, and to chuse you and your seed above all peoples; So Moses openeth this speech, in Deut. 10. 14. 15. and other Pro∣phets; as, Thou Israel art my servant; Iakob, whom I have chosen; the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and cal∣led thee from the chiefe men thereof, and said unto thee; Thou art my servant, &c. Esay 41. 8. 9.
Vers. 6. a kingdome of priests,] which the Apostle [unspec 6] (following the Greeke version) calleth a kingly priesthood, 1 Pet. 2. 9. The Chaldee saith ye shall be before mee, kings, priests, and an holy people. Such Christ hath made us, unto God his father, Rev. 1. 6. Kings, to reigne on the earth, Rev. 5. 10. and priests Mosser up spirituall sacrifices, 1 Pet. 2. 5. Rom. 12. 1.
Vers. 7. Elders] by them to communicate these [unspec 7] thing, with the people: see Exod. 3. 16. laid] or proposed; Hebrew put.
Vers. 8. together] with one accord, as the Greeke [unspec 8] 〈…〉〈…〉laineth it; and elsewhere Moses saith, with one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Exod. 24. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The people not yet knowing the unpossibilitie of the law, which is weak through the flesh, Rom. 8. 3. make promise of more than they were able to performe. After, when the law 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉▪ they fea••e and flee away, Exod. [unspec] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1••. 1••▪ And it 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, but either men not understanding the 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 presume of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 strength, or understanding it, doe despaire, 〈…〉〈…〉e the grace of God in Christ doe sustaine 〈…〉〈…〉 Rom. 7, 9, 10, 24. 25. 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉. in the thicke cloud▪ Hebrew in the thick∣nesse [unspec 9] of the cloud: which the Greeke explaineth, the pillar of the cloud: the Ierusalemy Thargum expoundeth it, my Word shall bee revealed unto thee in the thicke cloud, in thee] see Exodus 14. 31. This confidence in Moses the Iewes alwaies retained, and said they were Moses disciples, they knew that God spake with Moses, Iohn 9. 28. 29. They write of him thus: Moses our Master, Israel beleevod not in him because of the signes which he did: for hee that beleeveth because of signes, there is in his heart a suspicion that the signe may possibly bee done by inchantment or sorcerie. But all the signes which Mo∣ses did in the wildernesse, hee did them upon necessity, &c. we needed food; hee brought us downe Manna. They were a thirst; hee clave the rocke for them. The congregation of Korah rebelled against him; the earth swallowed them: and so all other signes. But where∣fore beleeved we in him? For that standing at mount Sinai, which our owne eyes did see and not a stranger; and our eares did heare and not another; the fire, and the thunders, and the lightnings, and he went neere in∣to the thicke darknesse, and a voice spake unto him and we heard it; Moses, Moses, goe say unto them thus and thus. And so it is said, face to face the Lord spake with you, (Deut. 5. 4.) &c. This standing at mount Si∣nai, it selfe alone was an evident confirmation of his pro∣phesie, that it was truth, and without all suspicion in it; as it is written, Lo I come unto thee in the thicke cloud, that the people may heare when I speake with thee, and may beleeve in thee for ever, (Exodus 19. 9.) So that before this thing, they beleeved not in him, with such a beleefe as continueth for ever; but with a beleefe that had [doubtfull] conceits and thoughts after it. Maimo∣ny in Misn. in Iesudei hatorah, ch. 8. S. 1.
Vers. 10. sanctifie them] that is, bid them, and [unspec] looke that they doe sanctifie, and holily prepare themselves, that they may be humbled at my feet, to receive my words; as Deut. 33. 3. This was by cleansing themselves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit, 2 Cor. 7. 1. inwardly by faith, Act. 15. 9. outwardly by washing their garments, (whereof see Gen. 35. 2.) and their bodies, as ap∣peareth by other places that shew the sanctifying of the priests and people, Levit, 8. 6. and 15. 5. 6. 8. 13. 16. 18. 21. 22. &c. and abstaining from their wives, as after followeth here, verse. 15. Which things figured our sanctification and cleansing by Christ Iesus, with the washing of water, by the Word, even the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghost. Ephes. 5 26. Tit. 3. 5. From this pre∣cept the Hebrew Doctors gather their doctrine and practice, for baptizing all whom they admit unto their Church and covenant: as Maimony sheweth in Asurei Biah, ch. 13. and is more fully set downe in the annotations on Gen. 17. 12.
V. 11. the third day] which is thought to be the [unspec] day that after was called Pentecost, the 50. day after the Passeover; then was a yeerly feast, Exo. 23. 16. Lev. 23. 15. 16. &c. Act. 20. 16. On this day the fiery law was now given on mount Sina: on this day the fiery tongues were after given for preaching the Gospell in Ierusalem, Acts 2. 1. 2. &c. And many mysteries are of the third day, in the Scriptures: see the notes on Gen. 22. 4.