A view of the threats and punishments recorded in the Scriptures, alphabetically composed with some briefe observations upon severall texts / by Zachary Bogan ...

Incest.

Incest punished.

1. With Losse of Birth-right. For thus Jacob (as he was dying) cursed Reuben, for lying with (his Concubine onely) Bildad. Ʋnstable as water,* 1.1 thou shalt not excell, be∣cause thou wentest up to thy fathers bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. Gen. 49. 4. Ʋnstable as * water] or (according to Onkelos, and the Ʋulgar) thou art powred out as water. i. e. thou hast quite lost thy selfe by do∣ing this thing, thou hast cast thy selfe away without recovery, and art become like water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be taken up againe. Thou shalt not excell.] &c. Else thou shouldest; but now thou shalt have no more then thy brethren,* 1.2 any way, either in Princehood, or Priesthood, or having a dou∣ble portion, (for these three things belonged to the eldest Sonne) which was accordingly fulfilled: for the first went to Judah; the se∣cond to Levi, and the last to Joseph. This last part of the first borne's priviledge, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; or more especially called the Birthright; and therefore it is said in the 1. Chr. 5. 1. (speaking of Reuben) his Birthright was given to the sonnes of Joseph. So the

Chaldee paraphrast (at those words in this Chapter v. 3. the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power) saies, thou shouldst have had three parts, the Birthright, Priesthood, and Kingdome. And perhaps, after this fact of Reuben's, the birthright reached no farther then this part (for thus farre it did, Deut. 21 17) Because thou wentest up to thy fathers bed, then defiledst thou it. I went up to my couch] in which words is plainly seen, how exceedingly Jacob was grieved at this fact, (even though it were done forty yeares be∣fore) 1. By mentioning it often, and using seve∣rall expressions. 2. By changing the person; as if he had fallen back upon his bed; or turned aside, and spoken it to some other body He went up to my couch.* 1.3 Therefore in the verse next before, that which we translate the be∣ginning of my strength, is in the vulgar, and some Greeke* 1.4 translations, the beginning of my greife.

2 Under the old Testament, Cutting off, and Bearing iniquity, and dying childlesse. Lev, 20. 17. 20. All which expressions some interpret by Death, and not suffering the parties to live after the fact committed, till their children were borne. And although Austin, and Cajetan, and others (I hope not out of a slight opinion of the sinne) interpret as if it were meant, that their issue should

not be counted Children, but bastards; and others, that they should be childlesse, and have no issue (as it is v. 21.) and that this was their punishment (as being a thing which the Jewes much bewailed, Gen. 15. 2.) And though I believe, that Cutting off, does no more of necessitie imply death, then taken a∣way from among you does, in 1. Cor. 5. 2. (be∣ing many times meant of the least excommu∣nication, which was a cutting off indeed, but like the cutting off of a branch; which is not presently dead, but may be grafted in againe:) yet in this place, (viz. v. 17.) I chuse to agree with the first Interpreters, at least in the interpretation of the first expressions; and the rather because cutting off, is not at∣tended with the usuall expression viz: from among their people: but with such an expres∣sion, (as to my remembrance) it is no where else viz.* 1.5 in the sight of their people; which cannot be so properly spoken of excommu∣nication, or any other punishment, as of death.

3 Under the New Testament, Excommuni∣cation: according to the practise of Paul, up∣on him, that committed Incest, with his Fa∣thers Wife, 1 Cor: 5. 15.

4 Being murdered. As in Amnon the Son of David; who lay with his Sister Tamar 2 Sam: 13. 14, & was murdered by his Brother

Absalom verse 29. Ʋnnaturall lust, was pu∣nished with unnaturall cruelty.

5 Monstrous Births: For the Twins, which Tamar had by her Father in law Judah; at the delivery, one of them put forth his hand, and drew it back againe: so that the other was first borne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Greeke translati∣ons are va∣rious. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sept. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Aq.
• * 1.2

  Reuben's tribe, was likewise one of the lest tribes.
• * 1.3

  I have elsewhere observed this change of the per∣son, in the threats of the Pro∣phets.
• * 1.4

  Aquila 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Symmach. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  They shall bee cut off in the sight of the peo∣ple.