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. XXXVII.

IN this Chap. the Lord biddeth the Prophet to teach by similitudes the gra∣cious acts promised to be done in the former Chap. 1. of dry bones to which he is bidden to prophesie, and say Live yee, which he doing they lived and became men and women, whereby a demonstration was made of the li∣ving of the children of Israel againe in their own land, whereas now they lay dead, as it were, in Babylon, and so should do many yeers, till that ac∣cording to man there was no more hope of this, then of their rising againe, who have lyen so long dead, that the flesh is all rotted off their bones. 2. By the similitude of two sticks, upon one of which he must write the * 1.1 name of Judah, upon the other the name of Ephraim, which being done, he must joyn them together, and then prophesie of the joyning together of the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel divided to Rehoboam and Jeroboam under David againe, that is Christ, by this name also set forth, ch. 34. 24. and after this he saith; that they shall be divided no more for ever, but continue as one people in a prosperous and happy estate, having the Lords Sanctuary in the midst of them. Here the name of Ephraim is put for the kingdom of Israel, because Jeroboam was of Ephraim. That this prophesie was not touching their estate under Zorobabel, or the Princes succeeding him after their return appears, because he was no King like David, neither were they of the ten tribes united to Judah under him, or any other succeeding him any more, but they still re∣maine in an exiled estate in expectation of the time, when the Lord by con∣verting them to Christ will make them thus blessed and happy, according to Rom. 11. 25. and as hath been formerly said upon other like places in the * 1.2 prophets. The two Kingdoms, saith Jerom, are not precisely to be understood of the children of Israel according to the flesh, but according to the spirit, and so it is meant, whereas the division was before into Jews and Gentiles, now here should no more be any such division, but all should be one in * 1.3 Christ, the old partition wall being broaken down. Whereas he speaketh of their dwelling in their own land againe after this, it is to be understood only by way of allusion to that which was done in the dayes of David: for as then their happiness lay in part in this, that they dwelt not in a strange land, but their own, which God in mercy had given them, so now the happiness of Christians should likewise lye in this, that in what land so ever they dwelt, it should be unto them no more as prophane but holy, and sanctified by their faith, whereby they should become as Gods Sanctuary in the midst of it, as the Land of Canaan of old was, in which peculiarly the Lord had then his Sanctuary and Temple.

Notes

• * 1.1

  V. 16. 17, 18, &c.
• * 1.2

  Hieron.
• * 1.3

  Gal. 3. 2.