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.

ABundantly bring] This word is used in the [unspec] creation, Gen. 1. 20. that which then was a blessing, is here turned to a curse. And this se∣cond plague, even as the former, God raiseth from the waters: the next is from the earth, verse 16. this is threatned before it was inflicted; the next is not so. house] The Greeke Interpre∣ters understood one for many, translating houses, chambers &c. which the Hebrew also may imply: see Gen. 3. 2. and upon] or, and into (the houses of) thy people: in this sense the Greeke translateth it. ••roughes of dough] or (as the Greeke ex∣pounds it) lumpes of dough: which the word seem∣eth properly to meane, in Exodus 12. 34. This was one of the particulars in which God threat∣neth the transgressours of his law, to curse them, Deut. 28. 17.

Vers. 4. upon thee] or, against thee: This signifieth [unspec] the greatnesse of this plague, invading not onely their houses, beds, pantries, &c. but the Egypti∣ans themselves: whom neither doores, gates, walles, nor weapons, could defend from those sil∣ly creatures. By expressing these persons, the ex∣empting of Israel seemeth to be implyed▪ as after in plaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉, verse 22. And in Psal. 78. 12. 43. these wonders are said to be done in Tsoan (or T••∣nis) a region in Egypt, which was distinct from Goshen, where Israel dwelt.

Vers. 6. the frog] put generally for frogs; with [unspec] multitudes whereof God plagued he Egyptians, and as it is said in Psal, 78. 45. corrupted (or de∣stroyed) them. Frogs are loathsome and trouble∣some creatures, and by Gods law uncleane, and abominable, Levit. 11. 12. 23. and by frogs, else-where the Holy Ghost signifieth, the uncleane spi∣rits

of devills, which comming out of the mouth of the Dragon, Beast, and False Prophet, (as here they came out of streames, rivers, and Ponds,) goe to the kings of the earth, (as these did into kings chambers, Psal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 30.) to gather them to the battle of the grean day of God almighty, Rev. 16. 13. 14. Plime (in his ••at. Historie, booke. 8. c. 29.) speaking of no∣table documents of destruction by contemptible creatures, mentioneth a citie in France, that was (of old) driven away by frogs.

V. 7. did so] or, did likewise: see Exod. 7 11. 22.

V. 8. that he may take away] or, and let him remove: [unspec 7] [unspec 8] by this Pharaoh acknowledgeth both the grie∣vousnesse of this plague, (for he requested not the like for the first of the blood, Exod. 7. 23.) and that his Magicians could adde unto his plagues, but were not able to deliver him from any. Wherfore he is now forced to seeke helpe of that God, whom before he would not know, Exod. 5. 2. And when the Philistines land was plagued with mice, (as E∣gypt was now with frogges) they by counsell of their soothsayers, sent a sin-offring to the God of Israel, that they might be healed: and shunned hardnesse of hart, taking warning by this Pharaoh and the Egyptians, 1 Sam. 6. 2. 3. 6.

V. 9. Glorie over me.] in appointing me the time [unspec 9] when I shall intreat for thee: so the Greeke transla∣teth it, Appoint unto mee when I shall pray; and the Chaldee paraphraseth, Aske for thee a powerfull worke, and give thou the time, &c. The Hebr. pro∣perly signifieth to glorie over, or, to vaunt ones selfe against another: as Iudg. 7. 2. Esay 10. 15. In this speech Moses shewed both great faith in God, and humilitie towards the king. cut off] that is, de∣stroy, or kill. vers. 13. onely] or, as the Greeke translateth, but in the river. So Moses limiteth the measure of the release, the time he leaveth to Pharaohs choise, who by seeing the remainders of both plagues, (that frogs were in the river where fish had been before, Exod. 7. 21.) might be the more moved to keepe his promise, in letting Israel go. Therefore this deliverance is called but a brea∣thing, v. 15.

V. 12. because of] or, concerning the word (or busines, as the Chaldee translateth it) of the frogs: which the Gr. interpreteth, for the limited ending of the frogs, as he had appointed to Pharaoh. he had put] that is, God had laid as a plague: or, w^ch Moses had put un∣to Pharaoh, for choise of the time, v. 9. The Gr. fa∣voreth this latter sense; so do the words following.

V. 14. upon heaps] or, many heaps: Hebr. heapes, [unspec 14] heaps: of which phrase, see Gen. 14. 10. stanke] with dead frogs, as the river did before with dead fish, Exod. 7. 21. The Chaldee translateth, they stank upon the land. Hereby God recompensed the Egyp∣tians sin, in whose eies the savour of Israel did stink before, Exod. 5. 21. and there remained as yet a memoriall of their plague, the stinke wherof came up into their nostrils: and the ill favour of such un∣cleane spirits as were figured by these frogs, (Rev. 16. 13. 14.) is signified. The like is prophesied con∣cerning the Locusts, in Ioel. 2. 20. and the armie of Gog, Ezck. 39. 11. and all other enemies of the Church, Esay 34. 3.

V. 15. a breathing] or respiration, in Gr. a refre∣shing: [unspec 15] that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, some inlargement & respit from the plague, whe〈…〉〈…〉 with he was before so straitly afflic∣ted. The like word is used in Esth. 4. 14. heavy] unfit to understand, o••••y 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the word of God: see Exodus 7. 14. Thus neither the laying on of the plague, nor taking it off, could worke any good in Pharao〈…〉〈…〉 let favour bee shewed to the wicked, yet will hee not lea••••e righteousnesse, Esay 26. 10.

V. 16. thy rod:] the Gr. addeth, with thy hand, w^ch [unspec 16] the Heb. also expresseth in v. 17. And so in Exod. 10. 21. where Moses is bidden stretch, out his hand, seemeth to be meant his rod withall. Of this third plague, God gave Pharaoh no warning aforehand, as he did of the other two: but hastened his punish∣ment, as his sins increased; & bringeth this plague from the earth, which was neerer unto them than the waters. So of the fourth and fifth plagues, God gave thē warning beforehand; but not of the sixt, Exod. 9. 8. againe, of the sevēth & eighth plagues, he warned them, but not of the ninth, Exo. 10. 21. & at the tenth plague, the Israelites are sent away, Exod. 12. Moreover, these three first plagues, w^ch were from the waters and earth, cameby Aarons hand stretching out the rod, Exod. 7. 19. & 8. 5. 16. three which were from the heavens and aire, came by Moses stretching out his hand and rod, as the Haile, Exod. 9. 22. 23. the Locusts, Exod. 10. 12. 13. and the Darknesse, Exod. 10. 21. 22. Three came without the hand, either of Moses or Aaron, as the Mixed swarme, Exo. 8. 21. 24. the Murraine, Exod. 9. 3. ••and the death of the First borne, Exodus 12. 29. and one was by Moses hand, but not with the rod; as the plague of Boiles, Exodus 9. 8. 10.

V. 17. there were lice] Hebr. there was the lowse; [unspec 17] put generally for the multitude of this vermine; which being of the least sort of Gods creatures, did greatly plague the proud nation. This David re∣hearseth, among other Gods wonders in Egypt, Psal. 105. 31. Humane writers doe record, that the Priests of Egypt did shave their whole bodies, every third day, lest any lowse, or other filth, should breed up∣on them that served their gods, Herodot in Euterpe. So, with things which they superstitiously loath∣ed, did God plague them. The Greeke calleth this plague Sknipes, which are a kinde of small sting∣ing gnats: but by the Chaldee and others, they were lice.

V. 18. did so] that is, endevored to doe so, but could [unspec 18] not: and when men are said to doe things above their ability, it meaneth their labour and ende∣vour thereto: as Matt. 7. 13. enter in at the strait gate: that is, strive to enter, Luk. 13. 24.

V. 19. the finger:] that is, the worke, Spirit and po∣wer [unspec 19] of God; who is said, after the manner of men, to doe things by his hand and finger, Psam. 102. 26. and 8. 4. & 109. 27. 1 Sā 6. 9. To this speech Christ hath reference, when he refuted those that with∣stood his miracles, as these Magicians did Moses; If I with the finger of God cast out devils, Luk. 11. 20. which another Evangelist explaines to bee the spi∣rit of God, Matt. 12. 28. Here the cōfession of Iannes

and Iambres (of whom see before in Exodus 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.) condemned Pharaoh and themselves: that in further resistance, they manifested their folly unto all men; as 2 Tim. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 9. The Chaldee expoundeth their speech thus; it is a plague from before the Lord.

Vers. 20 stand] or present thy selfe. [unspec 20] [unspec 21]

V. 21 a mixed swarme] of flies, wasps, hornets; or as somethinke, of wilde beasts, serpents, mice, and the like. The Hebrew and Chaldee words, signifie onely a mixed multitude; but shew not of what creatures. The Greeke now extant, hath Kunomnia, that is, the Dog flye: Hierom saith, of old the Lxxij. Interpreters called it Koinomuia, and Aquila translated it Pammuia; that is, the com∣mon, or, all sorts of flies. The Chaldee paraphrase on Psalme 78. 45. expoundeth it a mixed swarme of wilde beasts of the field; so the latter Hebrewes, as Aben Ezra, and Sol. Iarchi (on Exodus 8.) name them, Lyons, Wolves, Beares, Leopards; and all kindes of evill beasts, Serpents, and Scorpions. With whom accordeth Philo, (or the author of the booke of Wisdome) who saith, that as the Egyp∣tians worshipped Serpents void of reason, and vile beasts; so God sent a multitude of unreasonable beasts upon them for vengeance, for the Lord wanted not meanes (as he saith) to send among them a multi∣tude of Beares, or fierce Lions, or unknowne wilde beasts full of rage, newly created, breathing out either a fiery vapour, or filthy sents of scattered smoake, &c. Wisd. 11. 15. 17. 18. As in Exodus 12. 38. gne∣reb is used for a mixed multitude of people of sun∣dry nations: so gnarob here seemeth to intend, not one, but many sorts of creatures, flying, or run∣ning: and such they were as did eate (or devoure) the Egyptians, Psalme 78. 45. and corrupted (or destroyed) the land, Exodus 8. 24. and because hee saith, their houses should bee full of them, I thinke rather they were small creatures, than Lyons, Beares, or the like.

Vers. 22. will marvellously sever,] will separate and exempt in a marvellous and glorious manner: [unspec 22] wherefore the Greeke expoundeth it, paradoxaso, that is, I will marvellously glorifie, or miraculously honour. See Exodus 33. 16. Goshen] in Greek Gesem: a province in Egypt, where Israel dwelt: see Gen. 45. 10. standeth] that is, staieth or ta∣rieth, from being sent away to serve me: as Exodus 9. 28. or, standeth, that is, dwelleth. in the midst] The Greeke translateth, ruling all the earth, (or land.)

Vers. 23. a redemption:] that is, as the Greeke translateth, a division (or distinction:) whereby it [unspec 23] shall appeare that I doe redeeme and save them from this plague. The Chaldee explaineth it thus, I will put a redemption to my people, and upon thy peo∣ple I will bring a plague. So in Psalme 111. 9. he sent a redemption to his people: and herein Gods grace in Christ was figured; for by him, God hath made a redemption for his people, Luk. 1. 68.

Vers. 24. did so,] he said, and there came a mixed swarme, Psal. 105. 31. which here Moses calleth [unspec 24] heavy or grievous: both for the multitude of these noysome creatures, (as the Greeke interpieth the word;) and for the hurt which they did to the people and) and which was corrupted, or, (as the Greeke saith) destroyed by them.

Vers. 26. not meet:] or, not right, as being not so [unspec] appointed of God, who called into the wildernes, Exod. 3. 18. The Greeke translateth, it cannot so be done. the abomination:] that is, the beasts which the Egyptians doe worship, and doe ab∣horre to kill, or to see killed for sacrifice. And the sentence twice repeated, may imply two senses; 1. Shall we sacrifice to our God such things as the Egyptians sacrifice? that would bee abomination to the Lord. 2. Or shall we sacrifice such things as God requireth? that would be an abomination to the Egyptians. The Greeke translateth plurally, abominations; & the Chaldee explaineth it thus; for the beasts which the Egyptian worshippeth, we shall of∣fer for sacrifice: loe, shall we sacrifice the beasts which the Egyptians worship, &c. The Scripture often calleth the Gods, and services of the heathens, abo∣minations; as Deut. 7. 25. and 12. 30. 31. 2 King. 23. 13. Ezra 9. 1. Esay 44. 19. Now the principall sacrifices of the Hebrewes, were Oxen and Sheep, Gen. 15. 9. and all sheepe-keepers were an abomi∣nation to the Egyptians, Gen. 46. 34 for (as humane writers doe record) they that kept in the Temple of Iupiter Thebanus, or dwelt in that province (in the land of Egypt) they all abstained from sheepe, and sacrificed goats: and those Thebane Egyptians killed no rammes, but counted them holy; and they had an image of Iupiter with a rammes face. Like∣wise the Egyptians might sacrifice no cowes because they were consecrated unto Isis; whose image also they had, like a woman with cowes hornes; and all the Egyptians reverenced cowes above all of other cattle; as witnesseth Herodotus in his historie, booke 2. and and other writers testifie the like things of them: as Plutarch in his booke of Isis and Osiris. will they not stone us?] meaning, doubtlesse they will Therefore the Greeke translateth, we shall be stoned and the Scripture it selfe often resolveth such que∣stions, by affirmations: as is shewed on Gen. 4. 7. and 13. 9.

Vers. 27. shall say:] for they knew not how [unspec] they should serve the Lord, till they came thither, Exod. 10. 26. The Greeke translateth, hath said, re∣ferring it to that generall precept, in Exod. 5. 1. 3.

Verse 28. not remove very farre:] or, not in any [unspec] ease remove farre: Hebrew, removing farre, not re∣move farre: of which phrase, see Gen. 2. 17. intreat ye:] Greeke, pray ye therefore for me unto the Lord: meaning that the plague might bee taken away, as verse 8. and 29. So Simon Magus reque∣sted the prayer of Peter, Act. 8. 24.

Vers. 29. that the mixed swarme may] or as the Greeke translateth, and the mixed swarme shall de∣part: [unspec] for these two phrases are used indifferently, as one Evangelist writeth, and the inheritance shall be ours, Mark. 12. 7. another saith, that the inheri∣tance may be ours, Luk. 20. 14. See also the notes on Gen. 27. 4. and 12. 12. Herein Moses sheweth great faith, that his praier shold be granted. any more deceive] Heb. adde to deceive; or, to mock, as the word signifieth, 1 Kin. 18. 27. this he said, because he had

promised the like before, verse 8. but, God will not be mocked, Gal. 6 7. Iob 13 9.

V. 32. made heavy by hardning his heart against the Lord: see verse 15. and chap. 7. 14. [unspec 32] sent not] is the Greek are; he would not send. And often when things are denied to be done, it implieth an unwillingnesse: which the Holy Ghost sometime explaineth; as David removed not the Arke, 1 Chro. 13. 13. that is, he would not remove it, 2 Sam. 6. 10.