Choice observations and explanations upon the Old Testament containing in them many remarkable matters, either not taken notice of, or mistaken by most, which are additionals to the large annotations made by some of the Assembly of Divines : to which are added some further and larger observations of his upon the whole book of Genesis perused and attested by the Reverend Bishop of Armagh, and Mr. Gataker Pastor of Rederith / by ... John Richardson ...

CHAP. XLIX.

Verse 1. GAther your selves] Repeated, v. 2. Some present were to call and gather the absent. By this joynt injunction he intimates the union that should be amongst them, Psal. 133. 2, 3. 33. 3.

that I may tell you] By the Spirit of prophecie. Men on their death-beds should give their last and best coun∣sels to their children, and family, and friends.

you] Altogether, what I have to say to every one particu∣larly, that so every one may reap benefit also of what shall be said concerning his brethren.

in the last dayes] In long time to come, 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 1. Acts 2. 17. with Joel 2. 28. Your last state in this land, your state in Canaan, & til Christs coming, v. 10. The time of the Gospel may be called the last time, because after that there will be no change of the Church from Christi∣anity, no change of doctrine or Sacraments to the worlds end, Heb. 1. 1. This foretelling things to come so long after, shewes that Jacob now was inspired and assisted with a di∣vine Spirit.

V. 3. Reuben, thou art my first-borne] And so many ho∣nourable priviledges belonged to him: headship of the family, a double portion to maintain the honour of the Headship. This practised among the Patriarchs, as many like other things were put into a Law afterwards, Deut. 21. 17. See, Gen, 35. 2. 48. 5.

my might] Deut. 21. 17. Psal. 105. 36. 78. 51. 127. 4, 5. They are the principal stay and pillar of the family also. Thus and thus thou shouldest have been but for thy sinne.

V. 4. Unstable as water] That is, easily moved with the windes, still ebbing or flowing, never standing still, nor easily contained in its own bounds & place, unconstant, light, treacherous, Zeph. 3. 4. Such were the divisions and grudgings of Reuben amongst themselves, Judg. 5. 15, 16. Such was he in his sin, such shall he be in his downfall from the dignity of his birth-right, as waters roll down from high places; or Reubens posterity shall be weak as water, (Ps. 22. 14. Josh. 7. 5.)

thou shalt not excel] We reade not that this tribe ever came to any excellency among the other tribes, excelled not in number, Deut. 33. 6. valour, or any excellent archieve∣ment.

because thou wentest up] For a pang of lawlesse lust he lost all, So doth sensuality besot and befoole men, Prov. 7. 7, 22. This fact, above fourty yeares ago done, soon af∣ter the birth of Benjamin, ch. 35. 22. is here doomed and punished in Reuben and his posterity. Forbearance is no ac∣quittance.

he went up] As out of an indignation of the fact, he turnes his speech from Reuben to his brethren, and shewes how just cause there was to pronounce this sentence a∣gainst him. Such changes are often in Scripture, Deut. 5. 10. love me, and keep his Commandments, Dan. 9. 4. that love him, for that love thee, Mar. 11. 32. If we shall say of men they feared the people, for we feare. Jacob would have this censure of him, to be a caution to his brethren. And now dying, without malice sure to Reuben, is yet thus zealous against sinne. So David, 1 Kings 2. 9.

V. 5. Simeon and Levi are brethren] In birth, in evil, Prov. 18. 9. It may haply be also in conspiracy against Jo∣seph. Thus impartially Moses sets by his relation, & a brand of infamy upon Levi, his great grand-father.

instruments of cruelty] Cruel weapons, Ch. 34. 25.

in their habitations] Or in their agreements and con∣ventions with the Sichemites, ch. 34. 13, 15.

V. 6. my sou••e] By this pathetical Apostrophe, he shewes his zealous detestation of their out-ragious fact, and cleares himselfe of suspicions and aspersions of his fa∣vouring it, which otherwise after his death might have been cast upon him for it.

come not thou into their secret] He protests against his least knowledge of, much lesse consent unto their secret (to him) and cursed plot, contrivance and execution of it. q. d. God forbid that ever my soule should joyne in such a villany.

secret] Psal. 64. 2, 4. Jer 15. 17.

my glory] My soul, which is mans glory. Or, my tongue, Ps. 16. 9. my glory is rendered by the Apostle, my tongue, Acts 2. 26. Jacob would not suffer in his honour and re∣putation for their sakes.

they slew a man] The singular is often put for the plu∣ral, 1 Chron 10. 1. They slew Hamor, Sichem, Citizens and subjects.

self-will] Not in sudden wrath, but upon a wilful setled resolution and deliberation, plotting and act∣ing.

they digged down a wall] We reade not of this, ch. 34. yet haply they might do so to the house of Hamor or Shechem, where their sister was. The words may well, yea,

best be rendred thus, they houghed an oxe; so relating to the prey of cattel they took, and houghing such as would not drive.

V. 7. Cursed be their anger] It was likely to be to the ruine and extirpation of him and his, ch. 34. 31. he curseth not their persons, but their sin; so David not against Ahito∣phels person, 2 Sam. 15. 31. Psal. 109. 17, 18, 19, 20. is a prediction rather then an imprecation, or imprecation conditional, not absolute. Or if absolute, then by the im∣mediate guidance of Gods Spirit, and so not lawful to those that want it. The rule for all is, Prov. 20. 22.

I will divide them] Jacob speaks as in the person of God: as Prophets usually do. Or he would do it by his prediction and prophesie, as it were passing his word, they should be divided. As Ezekiel is said to come to destroy the City, Ezech. 43. 3. Levi was thus divided and scat∣tered, yet God, after their zealous execution, Exod. 32. 26, 29. turned it to a blessing to his people and to them, Deut. 33. 9, 10. The Levites are first mentioned to be taken in, Numb. 1. 47. and 3. 12, 45. and ch. 4. and ch. 7. 5, 6, 7, 8. and ch. 8. for the first borne, which were by their birth the Priests before Moses time, and again due to the Lord, upon his sl••ying the first-borne when he brought Israel out of Egypt, Exod. 13. 2. Simeon likewise was not plant∣ed apart by himself, as the other tribes were, but had their inheritance intermingled with that of Judah, out of whose lot in several places here and there Simeonites had certain cities and villages, Josh. 19. 9. And that not so much for Simeons sake, as because Judah had too much. So Simeon was but an Inmate to Judah, and under him. Till afterwards upon their multiplying they were forced to seek further for new habitations in Mount Seir, and Mount Gedor, driving out the Amalekites, 1 Chron. 4. 39, 41, 43. And so they were scattered in their habita∣tions. And all this wrath of Jacob, and detestation of Si∣meon and Levies massacre of the Shechemites proves the book of Judith to be Apocryphal, which so highly com∣mends this fact of Simeon, ch. 9. 2, 3, 4. Moses omits the blessing of Simeon, Deut. 33. And thus their union in e∣vil was punished with this division and scattering among the tribes.

V. 8. Judah thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise] Judah signifieth praises, ch. 29. 35. as if Jacob should say, thou art so by name, and shalt be so indeed; praised for Regal Government, praised for that Christ shall come of thee, Heb. 7. 14. See, Hos. 11. 12. of Judah all the children of Israel were called Jewes; not Reubenites of Reuben, not Simeonites, nor of any other sonne. Judahs sin with Tamar is omitted; Judah therein only intended single for∣nication.

in the neck] This was fulfilled, Numb. 10. 14. 7. 11, 12. Judg. 1. 1, 2. 20. 18. 3. 9. in Othniel, David, Solo∣mon, and perfectly in Christ, 2 Sam. 22. 41. Psal. 78. 68. 89. 20.

thy fathers children] By all his wives, chap. 27. 29. thy mothers sonnes, because Isaac had but one wife.

shall bow down before thee] Thy Regal power. Every knee to Christ. Phil. 2. 10. the Lion of the tribe of Ju∣dah, Apoc. 5. 5.

V. 9. Lions whelp] True in Judahs Kings, most true in Christ. Lions are kingly beasts, stout, bold, strong, ter∣rible. Lions in Kings armes. Lions were stays for the steps of King Solomons throne.

he couched] Varies the person as the Prophetick Spirit moved him. After victories he shall lie down and rest se∣curely. So in Solomons dayes after Davids victories, 1 King. 4. 25. Numb. 23. 24.

V. 10. The Scepter] Or tribe, so the word signifieth, v. 16, 28. after once the regal dignity should be setled in this tribe, 1 Chron. 5. 2. (as in David) the Government should never be taken from him, at least so far, but that there should be a Law-giver from between his feet; nor his Kingdome and Common-wealth be utterly ruined, and the distinction of his tribe taken away and confound∣ed, till the coming of Shiloh. There were no more Kings of that tribe after Jechoniah and Zedekiah, Jer. 22. 30. E∣zech. 21. 27. After their returne from that captivity, the principality was in Zerubbabel, and likely in others of the tribe of Judah, And when some while after, the Maccabees of the tribe of Levi got the rule; yet then the Sanhedrin, or great counsel of LXX. Elders, consisted of the tribe of Judah And the Maccabees had th••ir supreme power by the choice and appointment of the people of Judah, and continued therein till a little before the birth of Christ, when Herod a meer stranger was King, and rooted them quite out, in the thirtieth yeare of his reigne. And if that Sanhedrin were not all chosen out of the tribe of Judah though most of them doubtlesse were: yet the Maccabees themselves of the tribe of Levi, were of the Kingdome of Judah, as distinct from the Kingdome of Israel, or of the ten tribes, the tribes of Benjamin and Levi, were amongst the tribe of Judah, and adhered to them; yet were but as incorporated into the tribe and Kingdome of Judah, which is therefore said, 1 Kings 11. 1••, 32, 36. three times to con∣sist but of one tribe, viz Judah only; so also, 1 Kings 12. 20. And when they returned out of captivity, the greatest part by far that returned were of that tribe, yea, and after their return out of captivity, they were all chief∣ly planted in the lot and territorie that appertained to the tribe of Judah, and the People, Kingdome and Common∣wealth were still called by the name of Judah; and there∣fore still the Government may be said to be in Judah. wher as those of the ten tribes once carried into Assyria, never returned to become a Kingdome or Common∣wealth, as before, and had also their tribes, confused and confounded.

Shebet] Signifies a rod, a rod of iron, a rod of autho∣rity, a Mace or Scepter of Kings, a Kingdome, Esay 14. 5 a tribe, Judges 18. 19.

shall not depart] When once come to it. It was long ere it came to it. Moses was of the tribe of Levi; Joshuah of the tribe of Ephraim; of the fifteen Judges only two, Othniel and Ibzan were of the tribe of Judah; Saul was of Benjamin, David the first King of this tribe Therefore Jacob saith not when Judah should begin to sway the Sce∣pter, but having begun, how long it should hold on.

from Judah] Not his person, v 1. in the last dayes, but the tribe of Judah, or the Nation of the Jews with rela∣tion to that tribe.

nor a Law-giver] Ps 60. 7. or Scribe, writing Laws for Rules.

from between his feet] Deut. 28. 57.

until] And then it should. The authority of the Syne∣drion in their Synagogues in our Saviour Christ•• time, was but preca••io under the Romanes, and restrained in capital crimes, Mat 23 34. Acts 5. 17. 9. 1, 2. 23. 5. John 18. 3••. 19. 7. Acts 7 59. Ananias was deposed from the High Priesthood, for stoning James the brother of Jesus, Joseph. antiq l. 20. c. 8. The Jewish Scepter was much weakened by Pompey, much shaken by Herods intrusion; finally broken and abolished at the distructi∣on of Jerusalem. After which they had no forme nor face of a Common-wealth. Therefore it is evident

against the Jewes, that the Messiah is come.

until Shiloh come] The Prosperer, Safe-maker, or his Sonne, viz, of a Virgin, i. e. Christ, Heb. 7. 14. secundae e∣jus, the tunicle or skin wherein the childe is wrapt in its mothers belly, and so taken for the childe it self, the con∣tinent for the thing contained in it. Then it shall depart. God appoints the periods of Kingdomes and States, and so the p••uses and stops by rebellions and insurrections; wherein Gods Providence is not asleep, but his Justice a∣wake.

shall the gathering] Jews and Gentiles shallobey him, Is. 11. 10. 42. 4. Mat. 12. 21. Rom. 15. 12. He is the de∣sire of all Nations, Hag. 2. 7. Esay 2. 1, 2.

V. 11. Binding his foale unto the vine] Wondrous fruit∣ful, for wine especially should Judahs lot in Canaan fall out to be, full of vines, and abounding in pastures▪ lying all in the South-part of Canaan.

V. 12. Red with wine] Prov. 23. 29, 30. No allowance to drunkennesse, no more then to theft in that saying, A∣poc 3. 3.

white with milke] Through plenty of pasturage and kine.

V. 13 Zebulun] Before Issachar, so his lot before him in the division of the land, Josh. 19. 10, 17. though Issachar the elder. So, Deut. 33. 18.

at the Haven of the sea] The Ocean westward, neare Mount Carmel, and the sea of Gal lee Eastward, Josh. 19. 10. Esay 9. 1. Thus the lot for Zebulun fell out, not by chance, but by Gods Providence according to Jacobs pre∣diction so many ages before. Nazareth was in this tribe, and Mount Tabor, and here Christ began to preach, Mat. 4. 15.

unto Zidon] Josh. 19. 10. to the 16. the coa••••s of it were over against Zidon, and fit for easie commerce with Zidon.

V. 14. Issachar is a strong Asse] Of strong force, but small courage, Deut. 33. 18. Judges 5. 16.

between two burdens] Or bounds, borders. In a fertile and fat soile, loving husbandry and a quiet life: and not trafficking abroad as Zebulun.

V. 15. And bowed his shoulder] Rather servilely sub∣ject themselves to toile and tribute, then forego their qui∣et peaceable kinde of life. Yet some of Issachar were of more noble and heroick spirits, Judg. 5. 15. 1 Chron. 12. 13, 32.

16. Dan shall judge] Ch. 30. 6. Alludes to his name of judging; as, v. 8. and ch. 9. 27. He shall enjoy the privi∣ledge of a tribe, as well as his free-born sonnes. And as o∣ther tribes had their Heads and Elders to judge and de∣cide causes amongst them, so should they, Numb. 1. 4, 16. And Sampson of Dan was an extraordinary Judge. And the like is implied concerning the rest of the sons of the handmaids.

V. 17. Dan shall be a serpent] More by cunning, then by force shall they prevaile, so did the Danites with Laish, Judges 18. 27. And Sampson used craft as well as strength, Judges 15. and 16. Moses compares him to a Lions whelp, Deut. 33. 22. haply for the suddennesse of his leap, when he seeth the advantage of his prey. Dan is omitted in the sealing of the tribes, Apoc. 7. And so is Simeon o∣mitted in Moses his benediction, Deut. 33. Likely Simeon for his cruelty against the Sichemites. And Dan for his no∣torious idolatry, Judg. 18. 20. 1 Kings 12. 29. Not because Antichrist should come of the tribe of Dan.

V. 18. I have waited] Psal, 130. 5. Esay 26. 8. Moti∣ons of the Spirit, and ejaculations of a dying man, are not tied to rules of method, and yet may have good coherence with silent and smothered thoughts, whence their expres∣sions burst out.

for thy salvation] Foreseeing the troubles of his poste∣rity, and of the tribe of Dan in special, Judg. 1. 34. he breakes out into this passionate expression, of longing af∣ter their deliverance and salvation by Shiloh specially, Luke 2. 30.

V. 19. Gad, a troop] Ch. 30. 11 An Allusion, as, v. 16. See the Annotations upon it. Gad was situate beyond Jordan Eastward, and so the more subject to incursions of the bordering enemies, Judg. 10. 7, 8. Jer, 49. 1. He comforts him against his dangers by sudden inroads of troopes, that at last he shall overcome them, Deut. 33. 20. Fulfilled, 1 Chron. 5. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Judg. ch. 10. and 11.

V. 20. Asher his bread shall be fat] Rich soile for corne and wheat specially, and for oile, Deut. 33. 24, 25. and royal dainties, and minerals, Josh. 19. 24, &c. Fat signifies the best of any thing, chapter 4. 4. 27. 28.

V. 21. Naphtali is an Hinde let loose] Deut. 33. 23. with scope and liberty in choice of pastures, in plenty and peace. And also of cunning and active nimblenesse in dealing with their enemies, and light-footed to pursue them, and to escape danger, Psal. 18. 34. Judg. 4. 10, 15, 16. Josh. 19. 32, to 39. Judah a Lion, Is∣sachar an Asse. Dan a Serpent, Naphtali an Hinde. All these were absurd in a literal sense. And so the words in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in a literal sense.

he giveth goodly words] Faire and courteous, prevail∣ing by that means, and words also of praises and blessings, Judg. 5.

V. 22. Joseph is a fruitful bough] In his two branches Ephraim and Manasseh, which multiplied exceedingly, and became two tribes.

by a well] Moisture is a meanes of fruitfulnesse, Psal. 1. 3. Ezech. 19. 10.

whose branches] Hebr. Whose daughters. As bough was called by the name of sonne, and whatsoever cometh of or from another, is called in Hebrew a sonne, as the young of birds, beasts, &c. arrowes are called the sons of the bowe, ch. 18. 7. Job 41. 28.

runne over the wall] Abundantly increase, Josh. 17. 17.

V. 23. The archers] His brethren that sold him, his Mystris that accused him, his Master that imprisoned him, and haply the Magistrates of Egypt, and the Courti∣ers of Pharaoh.

V. 24. But his bowe] His innocency, patience, faith, chastity, Psal. 18. 34.

by the hands of the mighty] Joseph ascribes his strength to God, Psal. 44. 6, 7, 8.

from thence] From the mighty God of Jacob, from his Power and Providence it was that Joseph became the shepherd, the stone of Israel, to feed them in famine, and to be a rock of refuge, stay and strength unto them. And herein Joseph may be as a type of Christ, the true shep∣herd and corner-stone, Act. 4. 11. Esay 28. 16.

V. 25. With blessings of Heaven] Influences of the startes, raine and dew, Deut. 33. 14. Ezechiel 34. 26.

blessings of the deep] Springs and rivers, if not minerals too, ch. 7. 11. Deut. 33. 13.

of the beasts] Ten thousands of Ephraim, and thou∣sands

of Manasseh, Deut. 33. 17. A contrary curse is that, Hos. 9. 14.

V. 26. The blessings of thy father] Wherewith I do blesse thee and thy brethren.

have prevailed] Or do prevaile, are stronger, of greater efficacy and excellency.

above the blessings of my Progenitors] Abraham and Isaac, I have blessed thee in thy two sonnes, more then my father or grand-father blessed their two sonnes. Abraham gave way that Ishmael should be cast out. And Isaac gave the blessing to me from my brother Esau. But I blesse thy two sonnes, and make them two tribes, and keep them within the Church. Or I have more expressely, and with more tendernesse of affection blessed thee, then my Progenitors blessed their children. I do strive to out-blesse my fore-fathers, in multiplication of bles∣sings upon thy head. Or referring the words to all Jacobs children, he preferres his blessing above that of his Progenitors, as being more particularly ex∣plained and applied; and should be more suddenly, clearly, fully and effectually accomplished in them; by their multiplication in Egypt, &c. And by including them all in the Covenant of grace, ma∣king them all heires of the Promise, not one of them being excluded.

unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hilles] Deut. 33. 13, 15. This sets forth the riches of that portion of land in Canaan, which should by lot fall to Ephraim and Manasseh. Or, the blessings on Joseph shall be eminent and excellent in extent, and in quality and quantity; and perpetual in duration, as the everlasting hills, intimating so spiritual blessings, Psal. 54. 10.

on the head of Joseph] Poured as oile (wherewith Princes are anointed) on his head.

separated] By his selling away from them, and be∣ing by God so advanced in Egypt.

V. 27. Benjamin shall ravine] Be strong, fierce, warlike, going forth mornings and evenings to take his prey, vanquishing and spoiling his enemies. So did Saul the King of this tribe, 1 Sam. 11. 6, 7, 11. 14. 13. 15. 47, 48. Paul was of Benjamin, Warlike they were, as appears in those bloody bat∣tels, Judges 20. 15, 16, 17. Ehud was of Benja∣min, Judg. 3. 15. Mordecai and Esther were of Ben∣jamin, Esther 8. 7. &c and ch. 9. 5.

devoure the prey] 2 Sam, 2. 26.

V. 28. Twelve tribes] Distinguished into twelve tribes afterward. And in them, rather then in the persons of his twelve sonnes, we are to look for the meaning and the accomplishing of these prophe∣tical blessings. They were thirteen counting in Le∣vi, and Ephraim and Manasseh in stead of Joseph. But Levi had no portion in dividing the land, Deut. 10. 9. And so they were still called the twelve tribes. For their order they are reckoned sometimes accordi••g to their birth, chap. 29. and 30. Exod. 28. 10. sometimes with reference to their mothers, as, chap. 35. sometimes with rela∣tion to their dignity; so is Judah first, Numb. 2. 3. Apoc. 7. 5. sometimes to their lot in di∣viding the land of Canaan. And so is Zebulun placed before Issachar here; sometimes withoot regard had of any order, as here, and Deut. 33. and Apoc. 7. 5. and Numb. 1. 5. 2. 5.

•• and blessed them] To Reuben, Simeon and Levi, it might seeme rather a curse then a blessing; yet the denomination may be from the greater and better part. And their fathers reprehension might prove a blessing to their further repentance. He concludes them within the number of the tribes, and so com∣prehendeth them within the Covenant, gives them a right to Canaan the type, and so by faith to the hea∣venly Canaan. And likely he dismissed them all with a general benediction, praying for them all. And as those three became tribes, and had their shares and portions in Canaan, so they had their names in Aa∣rons breast-plate on twelve stones, Exod. 28. 21. and on two Onix-stones upon the shoulders of the E∣phod, Exod. 28. 10, 11, 11. Levi likely, because they were the Priests and holy Ministers themselves, being left out in the precious stones. And as many of their tribes are sealed, Apoc. 7. 5, 7. as of the rest.

every one according] The blessings applied to eve∣ry tribe, according to the several references to his twelve sonnes; such blessings as were meet for every of them, as Gods Spirit did allot.

V. 29. Gathered into my people] His soule to the Saints, Heb. 12. 23. His body to the grave. See Annot. on ch. 25. 8. and on ch. 47. 9. to my holy fathers by death, v. 33.

bury me with my fathers] See Annotat, on chap. 47. 30.

•• in the cave] This a ground of Josephs request to Pharaoh, ch. 50. 5. And lest in seventeen yeares absence question might be made of his right to the place, evidences by writings being not then in use.

of Ephrou] Bought of him, v. 30. ch 23. 9, 10, &c. and ch. 47. 30.

V. 31. I buried Leah] Ch. 47, 30. 48. 7. Of the death and burial of Rebekah and Leah, we have no∣thing elsewhere set down in Scripture.

V. 33. He gathered up his feet] Which haply hung down before, as he sate on the beds side. And so composed himself to a quiet rest and sleep of death, en∣joying the use of memory and speech unto the last, Psal. 37. 37. The gesture, ch. 47. 31. was for reverence and thankfulnesse to God, and haply to Joseph 100.