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.

ABihu] in Greeke Abioud: he and Nadab, were Aarons eldest sonnes, Exod. 28. 1 who were afterward, devoured with a fire from the Lord, Le∣vit. 10. 1. 2. seventie] This number was answe∣rable to the 70. soules of Israel that came into E∣gypt, Deut. 10. 22. and to the 70. that afterward were made the Senate of the commonwealth of Israel, Numb. 11. 16. 17. bow downe] the Gt, translateth, they shall bow downe to (or worship) the Lord afarre off. This though it were a speciall fa∣vour to the Elders, and served for confirmation of the things spoken by Moses; yet signified it the im∣potency of the Law, which kept men afar off, and could not bring them neere unto the Lord, nor u∣nite them unto him, as the Gospell of Christ doth by faith, Heb. 10. 19. 22. and 12. 18.—22. &c.

Vers. 2. with him] with Moses: not with the El∣ders; [unspec] therefore the Greeke translateth, with them. For the people abode beneath, at the foot of the mount: the Elders went up as it were halfe way: and saw part of Gods glory, vers. 9. 10. but Moses himselfe went up to the top of the mount, into the darke cloud, v. 18. For the Law was to bee given by the hand (or ministerie) of a mediatour, Gal. 3. 19.

Ver. 3. will doe] the Greeke addeth, and heare, (or obey) as is expressed in v. 7. Thus the covenant between God and Israel, was established by mutu∣all and willing consent: albeit they yet knew not the impossibilitie of the Law, which is weak through the flesh, Rom. 8. 3. So in Exod. 19. 8.

Vers. 4. wrote] in a booke, Heb. 9. 19. for the sto∣nie [unspec 4] tables were written by the finger of God him-selfe, Exod. 31. 18. an altar] which represen∣ted God, the first and chiefe party in the covenant. pillars] or, statues; the Gr. translateth them stones: and pillars were wont to be of stones erected, Gen. 28. 18. 22. and 31. 45. and 35. 14. accor∣ding to] or, for the twelve tribes; that is, to represent them, (the other party in the Covenant) and their hard stony nature: as the tables of stone, signified their stony hearts, 2 Cor. 3. 3. 14. See Exod. 31. 1••.

Vers. 5. the yong men] that is, the first borne (as the Chaldee translateth) which were priests or sacrifi∣cers, untill the Levites (taken in stead of the first-borne of Israel, Numb. 3. 41.) had the priesthood in their tribe. And the Hebrew word doth not al∣waies signifie men yong in yeers, but fit for service or ministerie to their elders: so Iesus the servant of Moses, and other such servants, are often called yong men, Exod. 33. 11. Gen. 14. 24. & 22. 3. 2 Sam. 18. 15. 1 King. 20. 14. of peace-offerings] Gr. of salvation. By these two sorts of sacrifices, (where∣of see Lev. 1. and 3. chap.) the sanctification of the people was testified, who by the death of Christ (whom these sacrifices did figure out) presented themselves wholly to God, as obedient servants; and shewed thankfulnesse for the peace and salva∣tion, which through him they had obtained, Rom. 12. 1. 2. Heb. 13. 15. See also the notes on Exod. 19. 10. bullocks] and other beasts; as the A∣postle testifieth, of bullocks, and of goats, Heb. 9. 19.

but the one is here named as principall.

Vers. 6. on the altar] and so on the booke, Heb. 9. 19 [unspec 6] which as it seemeth, was laid on the altar, to bee sanctified thereby.

Vers. 7. and obey] or, heare hearken unto: that is, [unspec 7] g〈…〉〈…〉y learne and obey: See the notes on Exo∣dus 4. 31.

Vers. 8. on the people] which may be meant of the twelve pillars set up to represent the people, vers. 4. [unspec] Howbeit the Chaldee paraphrase saith, he sprinkled it on the Altar, to make propitiation for the people. Thus the first covenant (or testament) was not dedicated without blood, (as the Apostle observeth in Heb. 9. 18.—23.) and the patternes of heavenly things were purified by the blood of these sacrifices: sig∣nifying that Christ by his death should sanctifie himselfe for his people, and them unto himselfe, by the blood of a better testament, Iohn 17. 19. Heb. 9. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 2. And whereas the sprink∣ling and purifying in the Law, was usually done with water, scarlet, wooll, and hyssope, Levit. 14. 6. 7. the Apostle telleth us, that this here was so done, though Moses nameth them not, Heb. 9. 19. behold, &c.] the Apostle explaineth it thus, This is the blood of the Covenant (or of the Testament,) which God hath commanded unto you, Heb. 9. 20. Thus the Sacrament of the old Testament, confirmed by the blood of beasts, had a resemblance unto the New Testament established upon better promises, and confirmed by the blood of Christ. But that was for workes of the Law: this is for remission of sins, Mat. 26. 28. Heb. 9. 15.

Vers. 10. the God] that is, signes of the glory and [unspec] presence of the God of Israel. For, never man saw God, neither can see him, 1 Tim. 6. 16. Therefore the Chaldee expounds it, The glory of the God of Is∣rael; and the Greeke translateth, they saw the place where the God of Israel stood. of Saphire bricke] Hebrew, bricke of Saphire: whereby is meant, Sa∣phire stone, hewed like bricke, wherewith the place under him was paved. So also the Greeke translateth it. Or, it may be Englished of whitenesse of Saphire, that is, of white Saphire stone: for bricke ••ath the name in Heb. of whitenesse. The Chal∣dee translateth, under the throne of his glory, was, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were a worke of precious stone. The Saphire is also mentioned in Ezekiels vision of Gods Throne and glorie, Ezekiel 1. 26. It is a very precious trans∣••atent stone, of the colour of the skie: see Ex∣〈…〉〈…〉s 28. 19. The worke of bricke, might call them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 remember their bricke worke in Egypt, Exo∣dus 1. 14. and 5. 16. 19. from which bondage, God now had brought them, to labour in the heavenly worke of his Law, and the mysteries of ••he same, whereby the throne of his glory should be erected among them, and his Church (which ••s as the footstoole of the Lord, Lam. 2. 1.) should have the foundations laid with Saphires, Esay. 54. ••1. and such should be the polishing of the Saints, Lamentations 4. 7. the body] the Greeke ••nd Chaldee translate, the sight (or semblance) of heaven. And this cleere heavenly appearance ••id see forth the favour of God towards them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 keepe his Covenant: as on the contrary, a darke or cloudy Heaven, is a signe of Gods dis∣pleasure, Ieremy 4. 23. 28. Zeph. 1. 15. It sig∣nified also the cleannesse & puritie, that should be in the people of God. for clearnesse] or, in pu∣ritie.

Vers. 11. the Nobles] or the select; or chosen men, [unspec 11] as the Greeke translateth; meaning those Elders spoken of in verse 9. laid not his hand] that is, hurt or affrighted them not: because they went up by the leave and Word of God, not of their owne temeritie, which was before forbidden, Exodus 19. 21. So the laying of the hand often sig∣nifieth, Nehemiah 13. 21. Psal. 55. 21. so the Chal∣dee translateth, they had not hurt; and the Greeke, not one of them was dismayed (or killed.) did eate, &c.] The Chaldee paraphraseth, they saw the glory of God, and rejoyced in their sacrifices which were accepted; as if they had eaten and drunke. So other of the Hebrewes (as in Elle shemoth rabbah) say, they fed their eyes with the brightnesse of the Maje∣stie (of God.) Christ promising felicitie to his Disciples, sayth they should eate and drinke at his table in his kingdome, Luk. 22. 30.

Verse 12. bee there] that is, continue there. So [unspec 12] 1 Tim. 4. 15 in these things be thou: that is, continue and give thy selfe unto them. So in Ruth 1. 2. Esay 66. 2. Psalme 64. 8. commandement] in Greeke commandements. But Moses often useth this word sigularly, though he speaketh of the Law in ge∣nerall. So the Apostle also, 2 Peter 2. 21. and 3. 2. to teach] to instruct, or confirme in the Law. To this word the Apostle (following the Gr. version) hath reference, when he saith, the Israelites had the giving of the Law, Rom. 9. 4. and the people received (or were taught) the Law, Heb. 7. 11. and the cove∣nant established (or taught) upon better promises, Heb. 8. 6. So that the word implieth a full information and constitution of them & their common wealth by the Law. Herein the Iewes did glorie, Rom. 2. 17. 18.

Vers. 13. Ioshua] in Greek, Iesus: see Exod. 17. 9. [unspec 13] of God] that is, as the Chaldee translateth, on which the glorie of God was revealed. See v. 16.

Vers. 14. Sit] that is, Abide, or Tary, as the [unspec 14] Chaldee translateth: the Greeke saith, be quiet. Hur] of him see Exod. 17. 10. hath matters to doe] or, hath words to speake: that is, hath any questi∣on or controversie. So the Gr. and Chaldee trans∣late it Iudgment or controversie. The Hebr. phrase is, who so is a master of words, (or of matters.)

Vers. 15. a cloud] the signe of Gods presence; [unspec 15] though with terror and obscuritie, 2 Chron. 6. 1. Heb. 12. 18. See also Exod. 19. 9.

Verse 16. dwelt] the Greeke expoundeth it, came [unspec 16] downe upon the mount. six daies] to prepare Mo∣ses for to receive the Lawes; as before he had done the people three daies, Ex. 19. 10. 11. In six daies God made the world, and the seventh he rested, Gen. 2. the same number is here at the giving of the Law; wherein God shewed as great wisdome, as in the making of the world, Psal. 19.

Vers. 17. devouring] or, consuming fire, in Greek, [unspec 17] flaming fire: this was for a terror to the transgres∣sors of his Law, Deut. 4. 24. and hee is no lesse

fearfull under the Gospell, Heb, 12. 28. 29.

Vers. 18. fortie dayes] during which time he did n••ther eat bread, nor drinke water, Deuter. 9. 9. The like number of daies Elias fasted, 1 King. 19. 8. and Christ when hee was to enter upon the mi∣nistery of the Gospell, Matt. 4. 2.