An handfull of gleanings out of the Book of Exodus probable solution of some of the mainest scruples, and explanation of the hardest places of that Booke ... / by John Lightfoot ...

SECT. II. The 88. & 89. Psalmes, penned in the time of this affliction. (Book 2)

THese two Psalmes, are the oldest peeces of writing that the World hath to shew, for they were penned many yeeres before the birth of Moses, by two men that felt and groaned under this bondage and affliction of Aegypt, Heman and Ethan, two Sonnes of Zerah, 1 Chron. 2. 6. In Psalme 88. Heman deplo∣reth the distresse and misery of Israel in Egypt in most passionate measures; and therefore titles his Elegie, Gnal Mahalath Lean∣noth, concerning sicknesse by affliction, and accordingly he and his brethren are called the Sonnes of Mahol, 1 King. 4. 31. In Psal. 89. Ethan from the promise, Gen. 15. sings joyfully their deli∣verance, that the raging of the Red Sea should be ruled, vers. 9. and Rahab or Aegypt should be broken in pieces, vers. 10. and that the people should heare the joyfull sound of the Law, vers. 15.

Object. But David is named frequently in the Psalme, who was not borne of many hundreds of yeeres after Ethan was dead.

Answ. 1. This might be done Proplietically, as Samuel is thought to be named by Mosos, Psal. 99. 6. for thae Psalme accor∣ding to a rule of the Hebrews, is h••ld to have beene made by him.

2. It will be found in Scripture, that when some holy men indued with the Spirit of God, have left pieces of writings be∣hind them, indited by the Spirit, others that have lived in af∣ter times, indued with the same gift of Prophecy, have taken those ancient pieces in hand, and have flourished upon them, ••s present, past, or future occasions did require. To this purpose, compare Psal. 18. & 1 Sam. 22. Obadiah, & Jer. 49. 14. & 1 Chron. 16. & Psal. 96. & 105. & 2 Pet. 2. and the Epistle of Saint Jude. So this piece of Ethan being of incomparable antiquity, and singing of the delivery from Aegypt, in after times, that it might be made fit to be sung in the Temple, it is taken in hand by some divine Pen-man, and that ground worke of his, is wrought up∣on, and his Song set to an higher key; namely, that whereas he treated onely of the bodily deliverance from Aegypt, it is wound up so high as to reach the Spirituall delivery by Christ, and therefore David is so often named from whence he should come.