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. III.

1. Moses keepeth Iethros flocke. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, God appeareth to him in a burning bush. 9, He sendeth him to deliver Israel. 14, The Name of God is declared. 15, His message to Israel, 18, and to the king of Egypt. 19, The kings resistance, Egypts plagues, and Israels departure with rich spoiles, are foretold.

AND Moses was feeding the flocke of Iethro his father in law, the Priest of [unspec 1] Midian: and he led the flocke behind the wildernesse; and came to the mountaine of God, to Horeb. And the Angell of Ieho∣vah [unspec 2] appeared unto him, in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a bramble-bush: and hee saw, and behold the bramble-bush burned with fire, and the bramble-bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will turne aside now, and see this great sight, why the bram∣ble-bush [unspec 3] is not burnt. And Iehovah saw that hee turned aside to see; and God called unto [unspec 4] him out of the midst of the bramble-bush, and said, Moses, Moses, and hee said, Loe here I am. And hee said, Draw not nigh hi∣ther; put thy shooes from off thy feet, for [unspec 5] the place the which thou standest upon is holy ground. And he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God [unspec 6] of Isaak, and the God of Iakob: and Moses hid his face, for he feared to look upon God. And Iehovah said, Seeing I have seene the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, [unspec 7] and have heard their out-cry because of their taske-masters, for I know their sorrowes. And I am come downe to deliver them out [unspec 8] of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land, unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milke & honey, unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Chethite, and the Amorite, and the Phe∣rizzite, and the Evite, and the Iebusite. And now, behold, the out-cry of the sonnes of [unspec 9] Israel is come unto me, & I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians op∣presse them. And now come, and I will send [unspec 10] thee unto Pharaoh; and bring thou forth my ••••••••le the sonnes of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should goe unto Pharaoh, and that I should [unspec 11] bring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sons of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee, [unspec] and this shall be unto thee a signe that I have sent thee; when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, yee shall serve God at this mountaine. And Moses said unto God; [unspec] Behold, when I come unto the sonnes of Is∣rael, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses; [unspec] I am, that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the sonnes of Israel; I am, hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto [unspec] Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the sonnes of Israel; Iehovah the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaak, and the God of Iakob, hath sent mee unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my me∣moriall to generation and generation. Goe [unspec] and gather together the Elders of Israel, and say unto them, Iehovah, the God of your fathers hath appeared unto mee, the God of Abraham, of Isaak and of Iakob, saying, Vi∣siting I have visited you, and that which is done to you in Egypt. And I have said, I will bring you up, out of the affliction of Egypt, unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Chethite, and the Amorite, and the Phe∣rizzite, and the Evite, and the Iebusite; unto a land flowing with milke and honey. And [unspec] they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the Elders of Israel, un∣to the King of Egypt; and you shall say unto him, Iehouah the God of the Hebrewes hath met with us, and now let us goe, wee beseech thee, three daies journey into the wildernesse, that wee may sacrifice to Ieho∣vah our God. And I doe know that the king [unspec] of Egypt will not grant you to goe, no not by a mighty hand. And I will send out my [unspec] hand, and smite Egypt, with all my marvels which I will doe in the midst thereof, and after that he will send you away. And I will [unspec] give this people grace in the eyes of the E∣gyptians, and it shall be when you goe, yee shall not goe empty. But every woman shall [unspec] aske of her neighbour, and of her that sojour∣neth in her house, jewels of silver, and jew∣els of gold, and garments; and yee shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daugh∣ters, and ye shall spoile the Egyptians.

Annotations.

IEthro] in Greeke Iothor: he was also named Ho∣bab, [unspec 1] and was the son of Ragouel 〈…〉〈…〉

Exod. 2. 18. Num. 10. 29. Iudg. 4. 11. He is called also ••••••••er, Exod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 18. Now God taketh Moses (as afterward hee did David) from the folds of sheepe, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iakob his people, and Israel his possessi∣on, Psal. 78. 70. 71. and 77. 21. priest] in the Chaldee, prince: See Exod. 2. 16. The sonne suc∣ceeded in his fathers office, for it is likely that Ra∣guel was now dead, this being 40. yeeres after Mo∣ses his comming thither, Exod. 2. 21. Act. 7. 30 behinde] to the backe side: the Greeke saith, under the wildernesse; the Chaldee, to a place of good pasture in the wildernesse. A wildernesse (so named of going wild, that is, astray therein) as is shewed on Gen. 21. 14. was a place where cattell used to bee fed, as here and Luk. 15. 4. 1 Sam. 17. 28. mount of God] so called, because it was great and high, as Psal. 36. 7. and was sanctified of God, by his appearing there now, vers. 5. and after when God came down upon it, to give his law, Ex. 18. 5. and 19. 3. 17. 18. So in 1 King. 19. 8. The Chal∣dee calleth it, the mount where the glory of the Lord was revealed. Horeb] or Choreb: which signi∣fieth Drinesse (for this wildernesse was waterlesse, Deut. 8. 15.) it was called also mount Sinai, Act. 7. 30. Exod. 19. 1. 18. of the Bramble-bushes there growing: or of this vision there appearing.

Vers. 2. Angell] This was Christ, who in vers. 6. calleth himselfe the God of Abraham; named an [unspec 2] Angell; as before in Gen. 48. 16. therefore Moses blessing Israel, mentioneth the good will of this dwel∣ler in the bush. Deut. 33. 16. where the Chaldee paraphrast addeth, him whose habitation is in heaven; meaning God. And other Rabbines acknowled∣ged as much; R. Menachem, upon Exod. 3. saith, his Angell, in the opinion of some of our Rabbines, was Michael; and therefore hee saith the Angell of the Lord, and saith not the Angell of God, signifying the condition of mercies. See also the notes on Gen. 32. 24. where Michael, is shewed to bee Christ. A∣gaine, R. Menachem there alledgeth; this Angell is that Angell the Redeemer, which said to Iakob, I am the God of Bethel: this is he (of whom it is said) and the Angell of his presence saved them: Gen. 48. 16. and 31. 11. 13. Esa. 63. 9. bramble-bush] In Hebrew Seneh, whereupon the mount, and wilder∣nesse is called Sinai, of the store of brambles that grew there: or of this bush and vision So in Pirkei R. Eliezer, c. 41. it is said, from the beginning of the world, this mount was called Horeb: and when God appeared unto Moses, out of the midst of the bramble-bush, of the name of the bramble (Seneh) it was called Sinai. consumed] Hebr. eaten up, in Greeke, burnt up: fire is usually said to eat, that is, to con∣sume, Lev. 6. 10. The flame is said to burne up the mountaines, trees, &c. Psal. 83. 15. Ioel 1. 19. and is therefore used to signifie great afflictions from the hand of God, Esa. 30. 30. Lam. 2. 3. But here God (who is called a consuming fire, Deut. 4. 24.) consumeth not the bush, (a figure of the Church of Israel, afflicted in Egypt) but dwelleth with good will therein, as Moses mentioneth the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, Deut, 33. 16. And so hath promised to Israel, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: Esa. 43. 2. This God himself openeth to Moses, in vers. 7. 8. and it agreeth with that visi∣on shewed to Abraham, in Gen. 15. 13. 17. And the Hebrew Doctors so understood this vision, saying, God dwelt in the bramble-bush: and the bramble-bush was affliction & anguish, & al thorns and briars. And why dwelt hee in the midst of affliction and anguish? but because he saw Israel in great affliction he also dwelt with them in the midst of affliction, to con∣firme that which is said (in Esa. 63. 9.) In all their af∣fliction, it was afflicted. Pirkei R. Eliezer, c. 40.

Verse 3. great sight] or, vision: whereat Moses [unspec 3] wondred, and drew neere to consider it, Act. 7. 34. not burnt:] the Ierusalemy Thargum addeth, is greene and not burnt.

Vers. 4. unto him] and what God said unto him, [unspec 4] the same he hath spoken to us; as our Lord himselfe explaineth it; Have ye not read, that which was spo∣ken unto you by God? Mat. 22. 31. 32. And although God spake thus to Moses, yet hee writing these things for the Church, it is said, that Moses shew∣ed them, and he called the Lord, the God of Abra∣ham: Luke 20. 37.

Vers. 5. thy shooes] the putting off of shooes, was [unspec 5] used for a signe of giving up ones right unto ano∣ther, Deut. 25. 9. Ruth 4. 7. also for a signe of mourning and humiliation, Ezek. 24. 17. 23. 2 Sam. 15. 30. Esa. 20. 2••4. and consequently of sanctification before God; putting off unclean∣nesse, as the change and washing of other gar∣ments also signified, Gen. 35. 2. Ex. 19. 10. Eccles. 4. 17. Psal. 119. 101. Ephes. 6. 15. All which may be implied in this precept, that Moses in all hu∣mility and holinesse, should now resigne up him-selfe unto God, and service of him. The like was commanded Iosua, Ios. 5. 15. By Stephens relati∣on, GOD had manifested himselfe by the words following in the next verse, before he commanded this thing: see Act. 7. 32. 33. From this precept unto Moses, the Iewes gathered a generall rule, that whosoever standeth in the holy place, must put off his shooes: Pirkei R. Eliezer. c. 40. So from that precept in Lev. 19. 30. yee shall reverence my sanctu∣ary, they conclude, that this belongeth to the re∣verence of it, that no man come in there, with his shooes on his feet. Maimony in Beith habchirah (or Temple) c. 7. S. 1. 2 is holy ground] Hebr. it is ground of holinesse: sanctified by the presence and apparition of God, who maketh the heavens, earth, and places where his glory is revealed, to be holy, and reverently to respected of his people, Psal. 20. 7. and 48. 2. Ios. 5. 15. Gen. 28. 16. 17. 2 Chron. 8. 11. So the mount whereon Christ was transfigured, is called the holy mount, 2 Pet. 1. 18. Therefore death was threatned to all that came into the holy place of the tabernacle, where God appeared; except such, and so sanctified, as the law did appoint, Lev. 16. 2. 3. &c.

Vers. 6. I am] The word am, is added by the [unspec 6] Holy Ghost, in Matth. 22. 32. though for brevity sake, it is omitted here in the Hebrew, and also in the Greeke, Mark. 11. 26. and often thorowout the Scriptures. thy father] the Holy Ghost expoundeth this, thy fathers: Act. 7. 32. and the

words following confirme it. See Gen. 3. 2. God of Abraham] to whom the land of Canaan was first promised, Gen. 12. 1. 7. the affliction of his seed in Egypt; prophesied; and the deliverance from the same, now to be performed: Gen. 15. 13. 16. Ex∣od. 3. 8. And because God is not the God of the dead but of the living, our Saviour from this speech pro∣veth, that Abraham and others dead to the world; yet lived unto God, and their bodies should bee raised againe from the dead, Matth. 22. 31. 32. Luk. 20. 37. 38. hid] in Greeke, turned away: this hiding was in conscience of his owne infirmi∣ty, and of Gods majestie, so that Moses trembled and durst not behold; Act. 7. 32. Elias covered his face with his mantle, 1 King. 19. 13. and the Seraphims covered theirs with their wings, Esa. 6. 2. See also Iob 13. 20. Luk. 5. 8. Esa. 6. 5. to looke] so the Greeke also translateth it, referring it to the last word feared. It may also be Englished, from looking, or, that he might not looke, referring it to the for∣mer, he hid his face. For God, the Chaldee transla∣teth, the glory of the Lord.

Vers. 7. seeing I have seene] that is, I have surely seene: the like phrase is in Gen. 2. 17. Gods seeing [unspec 7] and hearing, implied a mercifull regard and pitty∣ing of their miserie: Psal. 106. 44. 45. Gen. 29. 32. therefore the people, when they understood this, gave thanks to God, Exod. 4. 31. Some of the Hebrewes (as the Zohar upon this place) expoun∣ded it thus: Seeing for the good of Israel; I have seene, for vengeance upon those that oppresse them. In this sense Zacharie said at his death, The Lord see it, and require it: 2 Chron. 24. 22. their taskemasters] or, his taskmaster; speaking of the people as of one man: see the notes on Gen. 22. 17. Taskmasters, here properly are Exactors; and is generally used for such as require and exact, either money, as in 2 King. 23. 35. or any debt, Deut. 15. 2. or other∣wise doe oppresse any, Esa. 53. 7. Here the Greeke translateth it workmasters; the Chaldee, rulers. They figured spirituall tyrants also, from whom will deliver his people; Esa. 9. 4. and 14. 2. and 60. 17.

Vers. 8. am come downe] to wit, in this vision: as the Chaldee translateth, I doe appeare, (or, am re∣vealed.) [unspec 3] See Gen. 11. 5. them] Hebr. him: that is, the people. The Greeke translateth it them: so doth the Holy Ghost, in Act. 7. 34. the hand] that is, the power and dominion: as Gen. 16. 6. and 32. 11. So Christ came to deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, Luk. 1. 74. whereof this now was a type. milke and honey] under which, all other blessings are comprehended; there was no lacke of any thing, Deut. 8. 7. 8. 9. Of this country, see the notes on Gen. 12. 5. and as the land figured out a heavenly country; so milke and honey signified spi∣rituall blessings in Christ, Song 4. 11. Psal. 19. 11. Esa. 55. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 2. This praise of the land, is of∣ten mentioned by this phrase, as in Exod. 13. 5. and 33. 3. Lev. 20. 24. Deut. 6. 3. and 11. 9. Ios. 5. 6. Ier. 11. 5. Ezek. 20. 6. And the Israelites up∣on the first view, acknowledged it so to be, Num. 13. ••••. and yeerely professed the same, by Gods co〈…〉〈…〉nt, Deut. 26. 9. 15. Yet the rebellious despised it, and called Egypt, a land that floweth with milke and honey: Num. 16. 13. 14. Canaa∣nite] that is, as the Greeke and Chaldee translate, Canaanites, Chethites, &c. See Gen. 10. 16. and 15. 20. So after, verse 17.

Vers. 10. send thee] The secret inspiration which [unspec] Moses had before from God, (Exod. 2. 11. Acts 7. 25.) is here become an open calling and full com∣mission; and hee whom the Israelites had refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and deliverer, by the hand of the Angel, which appeared to him in the bramble-bush: Act. 7. 35. This sending of Moses, is also mentioned as a mercie of God, Psal. 105. 26. Mich. 6. 4. Hos. 12. 13. unto Pharaoh] the Greeke addeth, king of Egypt: in Act. 7. 34. it is, I will send thee into Egypt. bring thou] in Greeke, thou shalt bring. See the notes on Gen. 20. 7.

Vers. 12. Certainly] or, Because I will be: the [unspec] Chaldee saith, because my word shall be thine helpe. this] the present apparition of my glory in the bush, which thou seest: or, this, that followeth, ye shall serve God at this mount. The first was a signe to st engthen Moses in his businesse with Phara∣oh, Exod. 5. 22. 23. the latter, to confirme him a∣gainst the many rebellions of Israel, mentioned in Num. 11. 10. 11. 14. 15. Deut. 9. 22. 23. 24. at this] or, by this mount. This was fulfilled when at mount Sinai, the law being given, the tabernacle was made, and sacrifice and other service perfor∣med unto God, Exod. 19. and 25. &c. which be∣ing a mount in the wildernesse, in Arabia; the worshippers & children thereof were in bondage, as was Agar, and figured the old Testament and those under the same, by Moses law; Gal. 4. 24. 25. Now wee by Christ are not come thither, but un∣to mount Sion, where all the house of Israel, and all in the land are to serve the Lord: Heb. 12. 18. 22. Ezek. 20. 40. Rev. 14. 1.

Vers. 13. what is his name?] This may imply, after [unspec] what manner, and to what end, God had now ap∣peared; whether for mercie, or judgement. For God by names manifesteth his workes, as after ap∣peareth in Exod. 6. 3. So the Hebrews teach (in Elle shemoth rabba upon this place) that when God judgeth his creatures, hee is called Elohim (God;) when he warreth against the wicked, hee is called Sabaoth (Lord of hosts;) when he doth mercie unto the world, he is called Iehovah; as in Exod. 34. 6. Iehovah, Iehovah, God mercifull and gracious.

Vers. 14. I am that I am] The Hebrew, Ehjeh asher ehjeh, properly signifieth I will bee that I will be: the Greek translateth, I am he that Is. And God is called, He that Is, that was, and that will bee, Rev. 16. 5. where this name Ehjeh, is opened, as also the name Iehovah, whereof see Gen. 2. 4. Exod. 6. 3. It implieth Gods eternall and unchangeable Be∣ing in himselfe (before whom, all nations are as nothing, Esa. 40. 17.) and the constant performing of all his words, to be now and for ever that which he was before, to Abraham, Isaak and Iakob: verse 15. So, Iesus Christ yesterday and to day, the same, and for ever: Heb. 13. 8. The Rabbines doe thus also explaine this name, in Elle shemoth rabba, upon this

text. The blessed God said ••••to Moses. say 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have beene, and I the same now, and I the same 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time to come, &c. I 〈◊〉〈◊〉,] or, I will be, hath sent, &c. The Chaldee paraphrase called Iona∣thans, giveth both expositions: I ••e that was and hereafter will be, hath sent me unto you.

Vers. 15. my memoriall] or, the memoriall of mee that whereby I will be remembred and mentio∣ned [unspec 15] alwaies. To this the Prophets referre us, as in Hos. 12. 5. Iehovah God of hosts; Iehovah is his me∣moriall: and Iehovah thy name is for ever: Iehovah, thy memoriall, is to generation and generation, Ps. 135. 13. and 102. 13. and generation] or of generati∣on; that is, all generations (or ages.) The Chaldee supplieth the word and (as the Hebrew elsewhere doth in Psal. 135. 13.) saying, to every generation and generation.

Vers. 16. Elders:] or Senatours: in Greeke the se∣nate: [unspec 16] such were not onely aged men, but teachers and governours of the people, as among other na∣tions: See Gen. 50. 7. By the Elders, things were orderly communicated with the multitude, as Ex∣od. 12. 3. 21. and 19. 3. 7. visiting] the Greeke translateth, with visitation; that is, surely or carefully visited, and that in mercy; as Gen. 21. 1. Albeit from the word twise repeated, some of the He∣brewes gather a visitation in mercy concerning Israel; and a visitation in judgment, concerning the Egyptians, for their afflicting of Israel, (as was promised in Gen. 15. 14.) R. Menachem, on Exod. 3.

Vers. 17. Egypt] or, the Egyptians, as vers. 8. and [unspec 17] as the Greeke translateth here. Canaanite] that is, Canaanites, Chethites, &c. See verse 8.

Vers. 18. met with us] that is, appeared unto us, and so called and commanded us to offer him sacrifice. Men are said to meet with God, by praier, and hee to meet them, by appearing and speaking unto them; as in Num. 23. 3. 4. 15. 16. where the Greek translateth it appeare. Here the Greeke version is, he hath called us, three dates journey] Hebr. three daies way. This was, to mount Horeb, where they should serve God, verse 12. which it seemeth was b〈…〉〈…〉 three daies journey from Egypt, had they gone the direct way: but because of troubles and feares, they were led about, Exod. 13. 17. 18. so that they came not thither till the third moneth, Exod. 19. 1. Of the mysterie of this number, three, see the notes on Gen. 22. 4. wildernesse:] the globe of the earth is of three parts, inhabited land, sea, and wil∣dernesse; which is a place of wilde beasts, Mark. 1. 13. without inhabitant, without way to goe in, without water; even the shadow of death it selfe, Ier. 2. 6. Deut. 8. 15. Psal. 107. 4. 5. into such a place must Israel goe, because they might not sacrifice to God in Egypt, Exod. 8. 25. 26. Such was the place of Christs tentation 40 daies, Luk. 4. 1. 2. and of Israel•• 40 yeeres, Deut. 8. 2. where God fed and guided them, as he did also the woman that fled in∣to the wildernesse, from the presente of the serpent, Rev. 12. 14.

Vers. 1••. no not] Hebr. and not: meaning, though [unspec] he should be s〈…〉〈…〉tten with many plagues, yet hee would not let them goe willingly. Or and not, may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 here for If not, that is, but by strong hand, as the Greeke here translateth it: the Chaldee also saith, but for strong feare. For tenne plagues were sent on Pharaoh, before hee would let them goe; Exod. 11. 1 So and, is put for if, in Exod. 4. 23. Num. 12. 14.

Vers. 20. my hand] the Chaldee saith, the plague of [unspec 20] my strength; that is, my strong plague.

Vers. 21. grace] that is, favour▪ the Hebrew [unspec 21] phrase is, the grace of this people; which the Greeke translateth, will give grace to this people, that is, will cause them to be favoured. The Chaldee saith, I will give this people to mercies: (as in Psal. 106. 46.) See the like in Gen. 39. 21. Exod. 11. 2.

Vers. 22. jewels] or, instruments vessels. Thus the [unspec 22] promise made to Abraham in Gen. 15. 14. was now to be fulfilled. spoile] So Ezek. 39. 10. they shall spoile those that spoiled them.