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. IX.

1 NOW in the twenty and fourth day of this month a 1.1, the children of Israel were assemb∣led with fasting, and with sackcloths, and with earth up∣on them.

2 And * 1.2 the seed of Israel separated themselves from all † 1.3 strangers b 1.4, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers c 1.5.

3 And they stood up in their places, and read in the book of the law d 1.6 of the LORD their God, one fourth part of the day e 1.7, and another fourth part they confes∣sed f 1.8, and worshipped the LORD their God g 1.9.

4 Then stood up upon the ‖ 1.10 stairs of the Levites h 1.11, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebi∣ah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice i 1.12 unto the LORD their God.

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah▪ Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pe∣thahiah, said k 1.13, stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever l 1.14; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 Thou, even thou art LORD alone, * 1.15 thou hast made heaven, the * 1.16 heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all, and * 1.17 the host of heaven m 1.18 worshippeth thee.

7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose * 1.19 Abram n 1.20, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of * 1.21 Abraham.

8 And foundest his heart * 1.22 faithful before thee o 1.23▪ and madest a * 1.24 covenant with him, to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Periz∣zite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words, for thou art righteous.

9 * 1.25 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Ae∣gypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea:

10 And * 1.26 shewedst signs and wonders upon Phara∣oh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them p 1.27: so didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.

11 * 1.28 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the * 1.29 mighty waters q 1.30.

12 Moreover, thou * 1.31 leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar, and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

13 * 1.32 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and † 1.33 true laws r 1.34: good s 1.35 statutes and com∣mandments.

14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath t 1.36▪ and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

15 And * 1.37 gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and * 1.38 broughtest forth water for them out of the rock, for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should * 1.39 go in to possess the land, * 1.40 which thou hadst •…•…worn to give them.

16 But u 1.41 they and our fathers dealt proudly x 1.42, and hardned their neck, and hearkned not to thy command∣ments.

17 And refused to obey y 1.43, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them: but harde∣ned their necks, and in their rebellion † 1.44 appointed * 1.45 a captain z 1.46, to return to their bondage: but thou art † 1.47 a God ready to pardon, * 1.48 gracious and merciful, flow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not▪

18 Yea, * 1.49 when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Aegypt, and had wrought great provocations▪

19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies, forsookest them not in the wilderness a 1.50: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the * 1.51 pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

20 Thou gavest also thy * 1.52 good spirit b 1.53, to instruct them, and with-heldest not thy * 1.54 manna from their mouth, and gavest them * 1.55 water for their thirst.

21 Yea, * 1.56 forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their * 1.57 cloths waxed not old, and their feet swelled not c 1.58.

22 Moreover, thou gavest them kingdoms, and na∣tions, and didst divide them into corners d 1.59: so they possessed the land of Sihon * 1.60 and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concer∣ning which, thou hadst promised to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.

24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hand, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them † 1.61 as they would.

25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, ‖ 1.62 wells digged, vine∣yards, and olive-yards, and † 1.63 fruit-trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and * 1.64 became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness e 1.65.

26 Nevertheless, they were disobedient, and rebel∣led against thee, & * 1.66 cast thy law behind their backs f 1.67, and slew thy * 1.68 prophets, which testified against them, to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provoca∣tions.

27 * 1.69 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them, and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven: and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

28 But after they had rest, † 1.70 they did evil again be∣fore thee! therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned and cried unto thee, thou hear∣dest them from heaven, and many times didst thou de∣liver them, according to thy mercies.

29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proud∣ly, and hearkned not unto thy commandments, but sin∣ned against thy judgments (which if a man do, he shall live in them f 1.71) and † 1.72 withdrew the shoulder, and har∣dened their neck g 1.73, and would not hear.

30 Yet many years didst thou † 1.74 forbear them h 1.75, and testifiedst * 1.76 against them by thy spirit † 1.77 in thy pro∣phets i 1.78: yet would they not give ear k 1.79: therefore ga∣vest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.* 1.80

31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them, for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

32. Now there ore our God, the great, * 1.81 the migh∣ty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy l 1.82: let not all the † 1.83 trouble seem little before thee m 1.84 † 1.85 that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests▪ and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people since the time of the kings of Assyria n 1.86, unto this day.

33 Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought up∣on us: for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.

34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fa▪thers kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments, and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testifie against them.

35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them o 1.87, neither turned they from their wicked works.

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it p 1.88.

37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us q 1.89, because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cat∣tel r 1.90, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

38 And because of all this s 1.91, we make a sure cove∣nant t 1.92▪ and write it, and our princes, Levites, and priests † 1.93 seal unto it.

Notes

• a 1.1

  The next day but one after the feast of Tabernacles, which begun on the 14th day, and ended on the 22 day, Levit. 23. for their consciences having then been fully awakened by the law read to them, and their hearts being full of grief for their great sins, which they were not allowed to express in that time of publick joy and triumph, now when that was past, they resume their former thoughts and passions, and recalling their sins to mind, set apart a day for solemn fasting and humiliation.
• * 1.2

  Ezra 1•…•…. 11. Chap. 13. •…•…0.
• † 1.3

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• b 1.4

  From all familiar, and unnecessary society with the heathens, and particularly from those strange Women whom some of them had married. For though Ezra had done this formerly, Ezra 10. as far as he had knowledge of the persons faulty, and power to re∣dress their faults, yet, it seems, there were some criminals, who were either without his knowledge, or out of his power: or, these were some new delinquents that since that time had fallen into the same errour, and shewed the truth of their repentance, by the forsaking of their beloved sins, and dearest relations. See again, Nehe. 13. 3.
• c 1.5

  Which they confess partly as one cause of their pre∣sent sufferings: and partly because they by their practises had justi∣fied their fathers sins, and made them their own.
• d 1.6

  So as they did before, giving them the sense of what they read, of which, see on ch. 8. 7, 8.
• e 1.7

  To wit, for three hours; for there were accounted 12 hours in their day, Iohn 11. 9. Probably they began after the morning sacrifice, at which, divers religious people used to be present, but now they were all assembled toge∣ther upon this great occasion: and they continued their work from that time till the evening sacrifice, with which they closed the work of the day.
• f 1.8

  Both Gods mercies, as appears from the mat∣ter of the following prayer, and their own sins, as is expressed, v. 2. this day being chiefly set apart for that work.
• g 1.9

  Partly by the acknowledgment and adoration of his wonderful mercy in for∣giving their sins, and saving them from the deserved judgments which they either felt or feared, and giving them his law, and the knowledge thereof: and partly by imploring his further grace and mercy to them.
• ‖ 1.10

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• h 1.11

  Or, upon the scaffold, &c. i. e. Upon such stairs, or rather scaf∣folds, or pulpits, as the Levites used to stand upon, when they taught the people. But you must not think that all the persons here named stood in one place, and uttered the following words toge∣ther; which would have caused great confusion in their speeches, by which means but few of the people could have distinctly heard, or understood them, but that they stood upon several pulpits, each of them either teaching of that part of the Congregation which was allotted to him, or praying, or blessing God with them.
• i 1.12

  There∣by testifying their deep sense of their sins and miseries, and their servent, and importunate desire of Gods mercy.
• k 1.13

  All the following words. Either therefore they all used the same words, being composed, and agreed upon by Ezra and them∣selves; or they all prayed in the same manner, and to the same pur∣pose having agreed among themselves concerning the matter of their confessions and prayers. And these are the words which one of them used; and it is implied that the rest of their prayers were of the same nature.
• l 1.14

  From day to day, as long as you live, and to all eternity.
• * 1.15

  Gen. 1. 1.
• * 1.16

  Deut. 10. 14.
• * 1.17

  Gen. 2. 1.
• m 1.18

  Either 1. The stars, which after their manner worship and praise God, as all the creatures do after their manner, of which, see Psal. 148. or rather 2. The Angels who are so called, as 1 King. 22. 19. Luke 2. 13. who do worship God truly and properly. And it is most usual, and reasonable to understand all words pro∣perly, where there is no need of a figurative interpretation. And if this were understood of metaphorical, and objective worship∣ping of God, there seems to be no reason to appropriate that to the host of Heaven, to wit, the stars, seeing the hosts of sea and earth do in that sense worship God no less than the stars do, name∣ly, in giving Angels and men matter and occasion of worshipping and praising of God.
• * 1.19

  Gen. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. & 12. 1.
• n 1.20

  Out of the midst of all his nation and family. When thou didst pass by, and neglect the rest of them, suffering them to walk on in their idolatrous and destructive courses; thou didst chuse, and single out him to serve and glorify thee, to be Father of all the faithful, the progenitor of the Messias, and the person in whom, not we only, but all nations should be blessed, and to enjoy thee to all eternity.
• * 1.21

  Gen. 17. •…•….
• * 1.22

  Gen. 15. •…•….
• o 1.23

  When thou madest that admirable trial of his faith and obe∣dience in requiring him to offer up his onely son Isaac, thou didst find out, and discover his faithfulness, which was well known to thee before, and also was wrought in him by thy grace.
• * 1.24

  Gen. 12. 7▪ & 15. 18. 17. 7, 8.
• * 1.25

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. 25. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.26

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14.
• p 1.27

  Treating thy people with great scorn and contempt, like slaves and beasts.
• * 1.28

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…. 8. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12. & •…•… chapter. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.29

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…5.
• q 1.30

  i. e. The deep waters, such as these were, into which, when a stone is thrown, there is no hopes of seeing it again.
• * 1.31

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.32

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 19. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1.
• † 1.33

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• r 1.34

  Not such laws as some of the heathen laws were, which taught them fallhood, superstition, Idolatry, and other errours, but such as discover the truth, and the true mind and will of God, and the true and onely way to life.
• s 1.35

  Both in themselves, and to us also, being useful to reach, and comfort, and save us.
• t 1.36

  That holy and blessed Sabbath-day which thou didst bless and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…n paradise Gen. 2. 3. commanding him, and in him, all his posterity to observe it, which yet almost all people and Nations have quite forgotten, yea so far as to mock at them, Lam. 1. 7. thou didst graciously reveal unto thy people, reviving that ancient law by another particular law about it given to us in the wilderness.
• * 1.37

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1•…•….
• * 1.38

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…. 9▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.39

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. •…•….
• * 1.40

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• u 1.41

  Notwithstanding all these singular and wonderful mercies: which he hither to recounted to aggravate their sins, which he now comes to confess; and to lead them to a sincere and ingenuous grief and repeutance for their sins, not onely for the mischief which they brought upon themselves, but for the injury and indignity which they offered to God.
• x 1.42

  i. e. Sinned presumptuously, and with contempt of God, as scorning to submit their wills to Gods.
• y 1.43

  Persisted in their disobedience after many admonitions, and invitations to repentance.
• † 1.44

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.45

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• z 1.46

  i. e. designed, proposed, and resol∣ved to do so, Numb. 14. 4. and therefore they are said to do so as Abraham is said to have offered up Isaac, Heb. 11. 17. because he intended, and attempted to do it.
• † 1.47

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.48

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 34. 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1•…•…. 18.
• * 1.49

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 32. 4.
• a 1.50

  Where if thou hadst left them without thy conduct and com∣fort, they had been utterly lost and undone.
• * 1.51

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1•…•….
• * 1.52

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11.
• b 1.53

  Which thou didst graciously and plentifully impart unto Moses, and then unto the seventy Elders, Numb. 11. 17, 25, 26. to the end that they might be able to direct and govern thy people wisely, and in thy fear.
• * 1.54

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 16.
• * 1.55

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 17. 6.
• * 1.56

  Deut. 2. 7.
• * 1.57

  Deut. 8. 4.
• c 1.58

  Of which, see the notes on Deut. 8. 4.
• d 1.59

  Or, into a corner. But the singular number is very commonly put for the plural. This is understood, either, 1. Of the Israelites, to whom God divided by lot the Kingdoms and Nations last mentio∣ned, and gave them all the corners, or sides or quarters (for all these the word signifies) of their land. Or, rather 2. Of the heathen Nations, whom God in a great measure destroyed and the remain∣ders of them he dispersed into corners; that whereas before the Israe∣lites came, they had large habitations and dominions, now they were cooped up into corners, some of them into one Town or city, and some into another, in the several corners of their land, as indeed we find them afterward, whilest the Israelites dwelt in a large place, and had the possession of their whole land, some few and small parcels excepted. Compare Deut. 31. 26. where the like phrase is used in the same sense.
• * 1.60

  Numb. 21. 21. &c.
• † 1.61

  Heb. accor∣ding to their will.
• ‖ 1.62

  Or, cisterns.
• † 1.63

  Heb. trees of food.
• * 1.64

  Deut. 32. 15.
• e 1.65

  i. e. In all these comforts and blessings which by thy great goodness they obtained and enjoyed. f i. e. Neglected and despised them, would not regard nor observe them, whereas they should have had them continually before their eyes, to direct and govern them. Compare Psal. 50. 17. Ezek. 23. 35.
• * 1.66

  1 Kin. 14. 9.
• f 1.67

  Of which see on Levit. 18. 5. Ezek. 20. 11. Rom. 10. 5. Gal. 3. 12.
• * 1.68

  1 Kin. 19. 10.
• * 1.69

  Judg. 2. 14. & 3. 8. &c.
• † 1.70

  Heb. they returned to d•…•… evil.
• f 1.71

  Of which see on Levit. 18. 5. Ezek. 20. 11. Rom. 10. 5. Gal. 3. 1•…•….
• † 1.72

  Heb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gave a with∣drawing •…•…oul∣der.
• g 1.73

  i. e. Would not submit to thy yoke, like stub∣born oxen.
• † 1.74

  Heb. protract over them.
• h 1.75

  i. e. Thou didst delay to bring upon them these judgments which thou hadst threatned and they had deser∣ved, and didst wait for their repentance.
• * 1.76

  2 Kin. 17. 13.
• † 1.77

  Heb. in the hand of thy prophets.
• i 1.78

  By thy prophets who spake to them by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit, whom therefore they should have obeyed.
• k 1.79

  i. e. Would not obey, them nor would they vouchsafe so much as to hear them.
• * 1.80

  2 Chr. 36. 15.
• * 1.81

  Exod. 3•…•…. 6, 7.
• l 1.82

  i. e. Covenanted mercy or thy covenant of mercy and peace▪ Or he adds mercy, because the covenant in its self was not a sufficient ground of hope, because they having so basely broken it, God was discharged from keeping it, and therefore they fly to Gods free and rich mercy for relief.
• † 1.83

  Heb. weari∣ness.
• m 1.84

  Do not thou account it small and insufficient for our punishment, and that it is fit to continue and encrease it.
• † 1.85

  Heb. that hath found us.
• n 1.86

  Strictly and properly so called; for from them was the beginning of all the calamities both of Iudah and of Israel, as appears, from 2. Kings 15. 19. and 18. 13. Or, the kings of Ba∣bylon, so called, a Chron. 33. 11.
• o 1.87

  i. e. Which thou didst lay open to their view and posses∣sion removing their enemies and all impediments out of the way.
• p 1.88

  In that land wherein heretofore under thee and by thy favour we were rightful lords and owners.
• q 1.89

  We plow and sow and labour, and thou givest thy blessing to our indeavors; and yet in a great measure this is not for our selves, as formerly it was, but for our kings, to whom we pay great & hea∣vy tributes for these things: of which see Ezra 6. 8. and 7. 24.
• r 1.90

  Pressing or foreing both us and our beasts to go and do what they please.
• s 1.91

  Because all this misery lies upon us for our sins, we do heartily repent of them & resolve to forsake them.
• t 1.92

  Or, we faithfully promise and engage our selves to future obedience.
• † 1.93

  Heb. are at the sealing, or, sealed.