A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

CHAP. XVII.

IN this Chapter by a parable or similitude taken from two Eagles, and a branch of an high Cedar and seed put into a fruitful soile and well water∣ed the same is further declared, that was threatned before, viz. the destructi∣on of Jerusalem and the King thereof, the original and cause hereof being so laid open, and the manner of proceeding, as that it being applyed any one might easily conceive, that it could not be expected, that it should fall out o∣therwise, but this destruction must needs come, as was before threatned for sin, in respect of their evil dealings with Nebuchadnezzar after oath made un∣to him, and so great a favour received to set up one of their own of the royal blood to reign there permitting them to continue a Kingdom still in their own fruitful land, only being put to the paying of tribute.

To come to the words of the similitude, or riddle, he saith, A great Eagle long winged, full of feathers of divers colours came to Lebanon and took the highest branch * 1.1 of the Cedar. By this Eagle Nebuchad. the King of Babylon was meant, he is said to be an Eagle, because as an Eagle is the King of all flying fowles, so was he of all countreys and nations; and to be ful of feathers, and long winged, because his dominion extended far, and his strength was great; and these feathers were of divers colours, to set forth the divers sorts of people of divers fashions and manners in subjection to him.

Lebanon to which he came, was Jerusalem, so called also in this riddle for the multitude of the high and stately buildings, of which it consisted, as Le∣banon abounded with tall Cedars, or for the many high and great men thereof; and I see no reason why Calvin should reject this exposition as he doth, under∣standing by Lebanon, as the most eminent part of the land of Judea, the whole * 1.2 kingdom, because in was Jerusalem, and against it that Nebuchad. came, when he took Jehoiakin and carryed him away captive into Babylon. The highest branch of the Cedar or Cedars here, for the singular number is put for the plural, was King Jehoiakin, whom he carryed away, as is before said. For although there were many great men high branches of this Cedar-like City, yet he was the highest. v. 4. He cropt off the top of his young twigges, and carryed * 1.3 and set it in the land of Merchants or City. that is, he took not only the highest branch, the King, but many of the nobility, who were as the tops of the boughs next unto it, and this branch with them he carryed into Babylon, which is called a land of traffick and City of Merchants, because the City of

Babylon was the metropolis of the whole empire, whereunto they repaired from all parts, as Merchants to a place of greatest traffick, and here this branch was set, that is, kept in some good fashion, the more favour being shewed to him, because he voluntarily yeilded himself. v. 5. He took also of the seed of the land and planted it in a fruitful field, &c. that is, having carryed away Jehoiakin, he * 1.4 made Zedekiah, his uncle, and so one of the royal seed king in his stead, for which he is called the seed of the land planted therein, and because that land was most fruitful, he saith, that he planted it in a fruitful field by great waters, as a willow, for that land was watered with the early, and the latter raine, and so the seed here committed to the ground might well grow and prosper greatly, and so might Zedekiah being thus advanced by the favour of that King, if he had had the grace to make use of it, have lived in great worldly pompe over that he could have done before being but a private man.

And it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature, and the branches turned to∣wards * 1.5 him and the roots thereof were under him. That is, Zedekiah being thus set up flourished at the first, yet as a tributary King, and so low in comparison of one that is absolute, being under the Eagle before said, that is, Nebuchadnezzar both branches and rootes, that is, from his favour receiving all his glory, and not to continue longer then he held in this his subordinacy to him, but whilst he did, he brought forth branches, that is, he had children, as royal branches who might have succeeded him.

Behold there was another great Eagle with great wings and many feathers, and this * 1.6 vine did bend her roots toward him that he might water it by the furrows of her planta∣tion. This was the King of Egypt, to whom Zedekiah trusting rebelled against King Nebuchad. that had planted him, and the furrows of its plantation are now spoken of, and v. 8. A fruitful soile and great waters, because Egypt to which he now trusted, had a great vine, and was fruitful, supposing, that * 1.7 by a new confederacy with the King thereof he should flourish more then be had yet done, living no more, as a tributary King, but as an absolute Monarch.

But what saith the Lord v. 9. Shall it prosper? shall be not pull up the roots thereof, &c. even without great power or many people to pluck it up, that is, whatsoever Zedekiah * 1.8 thinketh by this his revolting against his faith given to Nebuchad. he shall not prosper, but having begun to remove himself from the place, where he was planted by turning his roots now another way, his leaves shall soon wither he being pluckt quite up by the roots, as he was when he was taken, and his chil∣dren being slaine his eyes were put out, and he carryed into Babylon and dy∣ed there. But what is that he saith, This was without great power? Sol. He meaneth not, that the King of Babylon should come with no great forces, but if he had come but with a few, they would have sufficed to pluck up this vine Ze∣dekiah standing so loose in the ground by his own doings, his roots being pluckt from the place, where they first stood, and were fixed and turned ano∣ther way. And this is according to that of Jeremy, If the Caldeans were but a * 1.9 few, and they all wounded men, they should yet rise up and burn this City, v. 10. Shallit * 1.10 prosper where it was planted? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew, That is, ha∣ving turned the roots to Egypt, as was before said, and so having, as it might be though a new and better plantation, even in furrows, which are moist, and wherein plants grow commonly fastest, yet he saith it should wither and decay, and in speaking of furrows he alludeth to the land of Egypt Where it rains not, but was all watred by furrows drawing from the river Nilus to run into all their fields.

And all this exposition is confirmed by the interpretation made, v. 11. 12, &c. to v. 22. wherein the sin of Zedekiah his breaking his oath is greatly * 1.11 aggravated and above all threatened, and hereby is shewed what an abomina∣tion it is not to keep oathes made to Kings, and for confirmation of cove∣nants, [Note.] and therefore with what a great sin we are intangled in this land, where neither oath of Allegance, nor of Supremacy, or that voluntarily made to preserve his person, &c. is regarded to be kept, but is so palpably

broken. v. 22. And thenceforth to the end of the Chapter, according to * 1.12 the prophetical manner, matter of comfort is added after he threatnings before going, especially in respect of Christ the most high branch to come and to be planted upon an high and elevated mountaine, and he is aptly set forth here, as the head of his branches, or the principal of the stock of David, of which line he came. I will take from the top of the high Cedar, and set of the head of his branches a tender one, and I will plant in upon an high mountaine and eminent. Her in speaking of Christ he calleth him the top of the high Cedar and yet a tender one, and Esa. 11. he is set forth, as a branch comming out of the stubble of that tree, that is, Jesse the father of David, which is the lowest branch, and not a branch pluckt of the top. But hereby is meant first his divinity, in regard of which he was the top and head of all that linage, the crown and greatest glory thereof. 2. His humanity, in regard of which he was but a tender one and weak and low, as he is also called, v. 24. He was planted upon an high mountaine, when upon mount Zion, where the Tem∣ple stood, he sat preaching the Gospel, as is further expressed in the next words, v. 23. In the mountaine of the height of Israel I will plant it, for although mount Zion were not the highest mountaine, yet for the excellency in regard of the Temples standing there and Christs preaching there it was the highest in esteem of all other mountaines of the earth, and so it is likewise set forth, Esa. 2. And this branch here planted, brancheth and fructifieth, and here all fowles of every wing dwell and are shadowed, as in the branches of a goodly Cedar, That is, people of all countreys and nations, to whom the fruit of Christs preaching extendeth hence, shall dwell in him by faith, when his Apostles sent out by him going into all countreys shall preach him, and repentance, and faith, and salvation in his name.

And all the trees in the field shall know, that I the Lord have brought down the high * 1.13 tree and exalted the low, have dryed up the green tree, and made the dry to flourish, That is, all men (for so they are often set forth by trees) shall know, what my power and justice is, when they shall see Zedekiah an high King, as he seemeth to himself, and green, because growing in wealth and strength by his confederacy with Egypt, brought downby Nebuchadnezzar, and withering away to a most poor and decayed estate, and againe after this the low stubble of Davids house in the branch Christ springing up, and waxing so green and flourishing by the accession of so many Kingdoms unto him, which was be∣fore dry, and so in humane reason suh as from which no such rise could have been expected.

Notes

• * 1.1

  V. 3.
• * 1.2

  Calvin.
• * 1.3

  V. 4.
• * 1.4

  V. 5.
• * 1.5

  V. 6.
• * 1.6

  V. 7.
• * 1.7

  V. 8.
• * 1.8

  V. 9.
• * 1.9

  Jer. 37. 10.
• * 1.10

  V. 10.
• * 1.11

  V. 11. 12. 13.
• * 1.12

  V. 22.
• * 1.13

  V. 24.