Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. X.

1 NOW † 1.1 those that sealed a 1.2 were, Nehemiah ‖ 1.3 the Tirshatha b 1.4, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah.

2 Serajah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,

4 Hattush▪ Shebaniah, Malluch,

5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemajah•…•…: these were the priests.

9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kell∣ta, Pelajah, Hanan,

11 Micah, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah;

13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.

14 The chief of the people c 1.5, Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,

18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anajah,

23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,

24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,

25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maasejah,

26 And Ahijah Hanan, Anan,

27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28 * 1.6 And the rest d 1.7 of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding.

29 They clave to their brethren e 1.8, their nobles, and entred into a curse, and into an oath f 1.9, to walk in Gods law, which was given † 1.10 by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments, and his statutes.

30 And that we would not give g 1.11 * 1.12 our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons.

31 * 1.13 And if the people of the land bring ware, or any victuals on the sabbath day, to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day, and that we would leave * 1.14 the seventh year h 1.15, and the * 1.16 exaction of † 1.17 every debt i 1.18.

32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge our selves k 1.19 yearly with the third part of a shekel, for the service of the house of our God;

33 For the shew-bread, and for the continual meat∣offering, and for the continual burnt-offering l 1.20 * 1.21 of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things m 1.22, and for the sin-offerings n 1.23▪ to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

34 And we cast the lots amongst the priests, the Levites, and the people o 1.24, for the wood-offering p 1.25, to bring it into the house of our God q 1.26, after the houses of our fathers r 1.27, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, * 1.28 as it is written in the law.

35 And * 1.29 to bring the first-fruits of our ground s 1.30, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD.

36 Also the first born of our sons, and of our cattle, (as it is written * 1.31 in the law) and the firstlings of our herds, and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:

37 * 1.32 And that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all man∣ner of trees, of wine, and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and * 1.33 the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage t 1.34.

38 And the priest the son of Aaron u 1.35, shall be with the Levites, * 1.36 when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up x 1.37 the tithes of the tithes un∣to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the trea∣sure-house y 1.38.

39 For the children of Israel, and the children of Levi, * 1.39 shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers where are the vessels of the Sanctuary z 1.40, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers ‖ 1.41, and we will not forsake the house of our God † 1.42.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Heb. at the sealings, or over the sealers.
• a 1.2

  Both in their own names, and in the name of all the rest. It may seem strange that Ezra doth not appear among them. But that might be because he was prevented either by death or by some sickness or other extraordinary impediment for which we have this presumption, that whereas Ezra appears and preacheth and prayeth with Ieshua and Bani &c. before the feast of Tabernacles, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8. v. 4, &c. We have no mention of him, ch. 9. but the whole work of that solemn fast day was managed by them alone without any mention of Ezra, whose name would not have been omitted, if he had been then present. It is true we meet with Ezra after this at the dedication of the wall of Ierusalem, ch. 12, 36. and therefore he was then freed from this impediment whatsoever it was; but thence it appears that he was not dead.
• ‖ 1.3

  Or, the Gover∣nor.
• b 1.4

  This is added to distin∣guish him from others of that name, whereof we have one Ne. 3. 16.
• c 1.5

  i. e. Their elders or representatives acting in the stead and by the appointment of all the rest: for it had been troubelsome and unnecessary for every one of the people to seal.
• * 1.6

  Ezr. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• d 1.7

  Those who did not write and seal with their own hands, but onely by their deputies above mentioned.
• e 1.8

  They owned and ratified what the others had done in their names, declaring their assent to it by their words, or by the lifting up of their hands, as the manner was.
• f 1.9

  i. e. An outh bound with a curse or imprecation upon themselves in case they violated it.
• † 1.10

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• g 1.11

  To wit, in marriage, having sworn obedience to Gods Laws in the general, they now do so to some particulars, wherein they had lately transgressed, or were most prone to transgress.
• * 1.12

  Exod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.13

  Exod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Deut. 5. 12. Chap. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.14

  Lev. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• h 1.15

  i. e. Leave the land at rest from plowing or tilling it in that year, according to Gods command, Exod. 23. 10, 11. Levit. 25. 4.
• * 1.16

  Deut. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• † 1.17

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• i 1.18

  Heb. hand, debts are called hands because they are commonly contracted or confirmed by a bill under the hand of the debtour.
• k 1.19

  i. e. Every particular head or person among us. Which they had warrant to do both from the nature of the thing, because this was necessary to be done for the upholding of Gods Worship, and from the warrant of former examples in the like case, 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 24. 5.
• l 1.20

  Formerly these things were provided out of the treasures of the Temple, 1 Chron. 26. 20. And when those failed, out of the Kings treasure, 2 Chron. 31. 3. But how both these failing, provision is here made for them another way▪
• * 1.21

  See 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 28. & 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• m 1.22

  i. e. For the Sacrifices▪ all which were holy.
• n 1.23

  Which are particularly mentioned, as most necessary and suitable to their present state, which was exceeding sinful, and therefore miserable, and calling aloud for atoning Sacri∣fices.
• o 1.24

  To determine the time and order in which each of them should take the care of the business.
• p 1.25

  For the wood which was to be spent in great quantity being used in every Sacrifice, and for∣merly had been supplied out of the Temples, treasures or by the King; which could not now be done.
• q 1.26

  i. e. Into the place appoin∣ted to receive it in the buildings adjoyning or belonging to the Temple.
• r 1.27

  i. e. According to our several families which were to take the charge of it by course.
• * 1.28

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 16. 12.
• * 1.29

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 19. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2•…•….
• s 1.30

  i. e. Of the fruits of our ground. All the particulars of the first∣fruits are exactly and distinctly mentioned, that none might pre∣tend ignorance when they withheld any part of the Priests dues; which at that time especially the people were very prone to do through poverty or covetousness or profaneness, and that the Priests fights might be firmly assured to them.
• * 1.31

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13. 2, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 26. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.32

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1•…•…. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12. &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1•…•…. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2.
• * 1.33

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3•…•…. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• t 1.34

  i. e. The tithes of all the fruits of the ground belonging to our several Cities.
• u 1.35

  i. e. Some Priest or Priests appointed to this work, that so neither the people might wrong the Levites, nor the Levites defraud the Priests, of their dues.
• * 1.36

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1•…•…. •…•…6.
• x 1.37

  At their own charges,
• y 1.38

  To wit, of the Temple; where it was laid up for the use of the Priests.
• * 1.39

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1•…•…. 6, •…•…1.
• z 1.40

  Where other things belonging to the Temple are laid up, and therefore these things also shall be put there.
• ‖ 1.41

  i. e. Where also are the Priests and others that Minister in their courses, for whose use these provisions are made.
• † 1.42

  i. e. We do here solemnly de∣clare and engage our selves that we will take care from time to time that the house and service of God be not neglected or forsaken for want of necessary provisions to support it.