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.

BEzaleel] in Greeke, Beseleel; by interpretation, [unspec 1] In the shadow of God: he was the sonne of Vri, the sonne of Hur, the sonne of Caleb, or Chelubai, the sonne of Esron, the sonne of Pharez, the sonne of Iudah; from whom he was the seventh generati∣on, (as Enoch was the seventh from Adam,) and is here designed the master workman of the Lords Tabernacle. See his genealogie, in 1 Chron. 2. 5. 9. 18. 19. 20.

Vers. 3. Spirit] that is, gifts of the Spirit, such as [unspec 3] are after mentioned. So Paul openeth it, in 1 Cor. 12. 4. 8. 11. see also Act. 2. 4. The Greeke expoun∣deth it, a divine Spirit; the Chaldee, a Spirit from before the Lord. workmanship] or, Art: He∣brew, worke. So verse 4.

Vers. 4. devise cunning-workes] such as were men∣tioned [unspec 4] in Exodus 26. 1. &c. see the notes there. The Hebrew phrase, is figurative; to thinke thoughts: which the Greek explaineth, to thinke (or minde) and to make-artificially: the Chaldee saith, to teach artificers: as it is in Exodus 35. 34. These three things in Bezaleel; a calling, a furnishing with gifts, and a working or operation accordingly, are neces∣sarie in all the publike ministers of the Church. So Paul mentioneth diversities (or distributions) 1 of gifts, by the Spirit; 2 of administrations (or ministeries) by the Lord [Iesus;] and 3 of operations, by God [the Father,] 1 Cor. 12. 4. 5. 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to worke] or, to doe, to make: but doing is often used for wor∣king (as is noted on Exod. 5. 9.) and so the Greek translateth it here; also in verse 5.

Vers. 5. ingraving] or cutting. The Hebrew word [unspec 5] generally signifieth a studious and artificiall

ingraving or cutting in stone, in wood, in yron, in earth, (and then it is Englished ploughing,) or any other like handicraft. to fill] that is, to set in the golden ouches, as Exod. 28. 21. to worke] or, to make in all worke: meaning cunning worke; as is expressed in Exod. 35. 33.

Vers. 6. Aholiab] in Greeke, Eliab; by interpre∣tation, [unspec 6] The Tabernacle of the Father. Hee is the se∣cond master-workman, and of the tribe of Dan the handmaids sonne, joyned with Beseleel, as God usually joyneth two together in al weighty affairs: See Exod. 4. 14. 15. and 6. 26. Matth. 10. 2. 3. Luk. 10. 1. Acts 13. 2. Hag. 1. 14.

Vers. 7. vessels] or instruments, furniture, imple∣ments. [unspec 7] So after.

Vers. 10. of ministerie] veiles, clothes, coverings, [unspec 10] which served to wrap up the holy things in, when the host removed; as Num. 4. 5. 9. 11. 12. &c. Of the Priests garments, see Exod. 28.

Vers. 13. Uerily] or Notwithstanding: the Greeke [unspec 13] translateth it See. Though the worke of the Taber∣nacle, were studiously and speedily to be done, yet God would not have any of it done on the Sab∣bath daies. The Law of the Sabbath is very often repeated, see Gen. 2. 2. Exod. 16. 23. &c. and 20. 8. &c. and 23. 12. and 35. 2. 3. to know] that is, that ye may know, as the Greeke translateth. The principall signification of the Sabbath, was for grace and sanctitie; which therefore the Lord of∣ten urgeth, and blameth the breach of this day, as the violating of his covenant. See Neh. 9. 14. Ezek. 20. 12. 13. 16. 20. 21. Esay 58. 13. The true obser∣vation hereof, is by faith in Christ, Heb. 4. 3. 9. 10. 11. The Hebrew Doctors say, The Sabbath, and the precept against idolatrie, each of these two, is as weighty as all the other Commandements of the Law: and the Sabbath is a signe betweene God and us for ever. Therefore who so transgresseth the other Commande∣ments, he is generally a wicked Israelite: but hee that openly profaneth the Sabbath, is as an Idolater, both of them as infidels in all their affaires. Therefore the Pro∣phet laudeth and saith (Esay. 56. 2.) Blessed is the man that doth this, and the sonne of man that layeth hold on it: that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, Mai∣mony, treat of the Sabbath, chap. 30. Sect. 15.

Vers. 14. that soule] the Chaldee translateth, that [unspec 14] man shall be destroied. This cutting off, the Iewes un∣derstand to be untimely death by the hand of God; when a man so violateth Gods Law, as there are no witnesses whereby men should punish him: See Gen. 17. 14. And of the Sabbath thus they write; that for doing worke therein, if a man doe it willingly and presumptuously, he is guilty of cutting-off, (to pe∣rish by the hand of God:) and if there bee witnesses that see him, he is to be stoned to death; [as was perfor∣med in Num. 15. 35. 36.] and if he doe it of ignorance, (or errour,) he is bound to bring the sin offring appoin∣ted for the same: (according to the Law in Numb. ••5. 27. 30.) Maimony, in treat. of the Sabbath, chap. 1. Among the heathen Romanes, their Fla∣mins (or Priests) might see no work done on their holy daies, but by a cryer gave men warning to the contrary; and who so obeyed not, was 〈…〉〈…〉ul∣cted, and gave a beast for a sacrifice. Albeit they might doe things whereof dammage would fol∣low, if they were omitted, as to pull an oxe out of a ditch, to underset an house ready to fall, &c. Ma∣crob. Saturn, booke 1. chap. 16.

Vers. 15. of Sabbathisme] that is, of cessation and [unspec] rest. See Exod. 16. 23. The Greeke translateth it, a rest holy to the Lord.

Vers. 16. to observe] Hebrew to doe, see the notes [unspec] on Exod. 34. 22.

Vers. 17. me] the Chaldee translateth, Betweene [unspec] my Word and the sonnes of Israel: that Word is Christ, by whom the Sabbath is truely sanctified to his Church, Hebrewes 4. From this Scripture the He∣brewes gather, that onely Israel was charged with the sabbath day, and not the nations of the world: Talmud. in Betsah, chap. Iom tob. So from Exod. 16. 29. Yet thus also they say; It is unlawfull to speake to an Infidel to doe any worke for us on the Sabbath day, al∣though he be not charged to keepe the Sabbath, and al∣though he be spoken to before the Sabbath. Maimony, treat. of the Sabbath, chap. 6. Sect. 1. Howbeit this opinion of theirs seemeth not agreeable to Gods will; for the Sabbath was to be kept before the Law was given at mount Sinai, Exod. 16. 23. even from the Creation, Gen. 2. 2. 3. therefore it was given to all the world. was refreshed] the Greeke and Chaldee doe translate, hee ceased and rested. This is spoken of God, after the manner of men, who are refreshed by rest from their workes. Of such manner speeches, see what is noted on Genesis 6. 6.

Vers. 18. of stone] that so the record of them [unspec] might remaine for ever, Iob 19. 24. These Tables were the worke of God, even as the writing was the writing of God, Exod. 32. 16. and these being bro∣ken in peeces, (Exod. 32. 19) two other tables of stone, like them, were hewed out by Moses, but written againe by the Lord, Exod. 34. 1. 4. After this, Christ by the Spirit of God writeth his Law, not in Tables of stone, but in fleshly Tables of the hear••, 2 Cor. 3. 3. and these fleshly tables, are also the work of God, as he saith, I will take the stonie heart out of their bodies, and I will give them an heart of flesh, Ezek. 11. 19. The Minde and the Heart, are the spirituall tables, Heb. 8. 10. in the one, such things are writ∣ten as men should know and beleeve, in the other, such as should be done or omitted. The first Tables which God made, signified the stonic hearts, which all men have by nature now corrupted, in which notwithstanding God hath left his Law written, so that they doe by nature the things of the Law, and shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts, Rom. 2. 14. 15. though still they continue hard and stonie, and their sinfull nature is not chan∣ged. The second tables of stone, signified the heart of the Iewes, hewed and polished by Moses and his legall ministerie, in whose heart God also wrote his Law, wherein they rested, and made their boast of God, and knew his will, and had the informati∣on of knowledge, and of the truth in the Law, Rom. 1. 17. 18. 20. Howbeit their heart continued stonie and unchanged, so that they which taught others, taught not themselves; neither could they stedfastly looke on Moses face, nor see the end of that which i••

abolished, but their mindes were blinded; and even to this day, a veile is laid upon their heart, Rom. 2. 21. 2 Cor. 3. 7. 13. 14. 15. The third, which are tables of flesh, is the worke of Christ by his Spirit, giving us new hearts, and writing his Lawes in them, 2 Cor. 3. 3. Ezek. 36. 26. Heb. 8. 10. These things, both of the weakenesse of Moses ministerie, and of the grace of Christ, the ancient Hebrew Doctors ac∣knowledged, as in their glosse upon Song 1. 1. Let him kisse me, &c. there, mentioning that request of the people in Exod. 20. 19. Speake thou with us, &c. they say, Moses taught them the Law, and whatsoever they learned, they forgat againe. Then they came un∣to Moses, and said, O that God would shew him-selfe againe; and kisse us with the kisses of his mouth, that his doctrine might be fastened in our hearts. Moses said unto them, This cannot be done now, but it shall be in the dayes of Christ; as it is written, (Ier. 31. 33.) I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. Midrash. Cant. 1. 1. finger] which signifieth Gods Spirit, as, I with the finger of God, cast our divels, Luk. 11. 20. which is expounded, the Spirit of God, in Matth. 12. 28. That which was written, was according unto all the words, which the Lord spake with Israel in the mount, out of the midst of fire, Exod. 20. Deut. 9. 10.