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. VI.

VVOe to them that are at ease in Zion, that trust to the Mountain of Samaria: Here the Prophet denounceth Judgments against Judah and Israel both, especially the great ones in both Kingdoms, lest Israel should bear her self upon Judah, and say, there be as great sins amongst the best and greatest in Judah, as amongst our great ones, why then are we so greatly threatned, * 1.1 but they not? To prevent this they are now both threatned together under the name of Zion and Samaria, the head cities of either Kingdom. For where∣as he may seem to speak only to the Princes of Zion, threatning them for tru∣sting to the Kingdom of Israel, as Lyra takes it, he indeed threatneth them both, and therefore these words are to be supplyed between Zion, and that trust, and to you, as if he had said, Woe to you secure ones in Zion, and to you that trust in the Mountainous situation of Samaria; for of the men of Judah this cannot be understood, because the strength of Samaria, was nothing to * 1.2 them, and we seldom read of Israels helping Judah, but of joining with other forces against them often: which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came, Vulg. Optimates, capita populi ingredientes pompatice domus Israel: Cald. which were famous in the beginning of the Nations, and the house of Israel went into them: Hebr. expresly named the head or beginning of Nations, to whom the house

of Israel came: hereby setting forth the honourable esteem in which Zion and Sa∣maria were most anciently, and since they became the principall habitations of the children of Israel, they were of greatest note in all the Kingdome for the peoples resorting thither as to their Metropoliticall cities. And there∣fore there being many great ones dwelling in both these places, who aboun∣ded in wealth, and yet tasted not of miseries by warre or famine, and therefore went on in living in pleasure, nothing moved at those things which the mea∣ner sort suffered, and such as dwelt about in more remote places, he denoun∣ceth a woe against them, to awaken them if it were possible, from their securi∣ty unto repentance.

Passe yee to Calneh and see, then goe to Hamath the great, then goe down to Gath, be * 1.3 they better then these Kingdoms, or their border greater then your border? Vulg. and to their best Kingdoms also, if their border be larger then yours: but the first is most agreeable to the Hebrew, a comparison is here made between two Kingdoms * 1.4 of the Israelites, and other famous places, that it being made hereby to ap∣pear, that Israel was more bound to God for his speciall favour in placing them in so fruitfull and ample countries, sometimes being above 30 King∣doms, the old inhabitants being cast out, that they might be planted in, their ingratitude might the more appear, and the Justice of God in proceeding against them, as is threatned ver. 7, 8, 9, &c.

For the places here named: Calneh was famous of old in Nimrods * 1.5 time, it being the head of his Kingdome. Hamath the great is so called, to distinguish it from Hamath at the entrance of the Land of Israel, of which see v. 14. 16. It was also a city of great note, and therefore when Rabshakeh would terrifie the Jews by his Master Senacheribs puissance, he telleth what places he had already subdued, and beginneth with Hamath * 1.6 as the chief, Gath of the Philistims is well enough known. Calvin will have the meaning to be, that they should consider the greatnesse and fruitfulnesse of these places, and yet they were unable to desend themselves against the enemie, and therefore much lesse should they whose Kingdoms were not so fruitfull and large as those. But then the words must be read thus, Are ye better then these Kingdoms? whether or no are their borders larger then yours? it must be confessed that they are not: for although the land of Israel were very fruit∣full and large, yet all confesse that these countries were some of them more fruitfull and large. And being thus understood no force shall be done to the words, and the exposition will be most sensible, their destruction being laid before their eyes, who were of greater power, well might they fear destruction also. Whether of these expositions to follow therefore, I leave to the judici∣ous reader to choose. But for the first make the words before going, vers 1. which are named the chief of the Nations.

Having spoken of their sin in generall, here he sets it forth more particu∣larly and at large, shewing in what pleasure and excess they lived and were not * 1.7 affected at the miseries of their brethren, the meaner sort of the ten tribes, called Joseph, because the tribes coming of him, Ephraim and Manasseh, were the greatest part of them.

But what affliction of theirs is meant? It is generally answered, the sufferings in the dayes of Jehoahaz 2 King. 13. in whose time Israel was brought very low, although in Jeroboams time that state flourished again, but the meaner sort most probably were pulled so down, that they could not recover again, but lived still in misery, although the greater ones about the King, by many victories obtained, came to wallow in wealth, and consequently in all manner of sensuall pleasure. But I rather think that the Prophet speaks this against the men of Zion with whom he began, taxing them for want of all sympathy with their brethren of the ten tribes when they were in that low ebbe of misery before spoken of, yet the next words shew that he speaks thus against Zion, so that as he began with Zion and Sa∣maria together, v. 1. so he taxeth and threatneth them both together, or after the invective drawn out, he in the next words singleth out Samaria, to which

he was more specially sent, saying, Therefore they shall goe into captivity with them * 1.8 that goe first into captivity, and the banqu••t of them that stretched themselves shall be removed, according to that which was before said, they stretch themselves upon their couches, v 4. And as it is here said, they went first into captivity, being taken by Salmanasar King of Assyria. * 1.9

The Lord God hath sworn by himself, I hate the excellency of Jacob, and abhorre his palaces, therefore will I deliver up the city, &c Hebr. the Lord hath sworn by his soul, or life: whereupon Hilary gathereth against the Arrians, that the Son of God * 1.10 is equall with God the Father, understanding him by his life, but as Calvin saith, this is frivolous, because in saying, by his life, he meaneth himself, as in other places: For excellency here, the Vulg. hath the pride of Jacob, which is both by Lyra and Gualter expounded of their pomp and pride in their buil∣dings, * 1.11 houshold stuffe, excesse in feasting, and apparell, and elate carriage, to expresse which he addeth, their palaces, that by this one part of their ostenta∣tion we might understand the rest. Calvin confessing that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sig∣nifieth * 1.12 either pride or excellency and glory, according to the use of the word, Esay 2. & Psal. 46. expounds it yet of that wherein Jacob excelled other Nati∣ons, as namely, that they were Gods peculiar people, and were graced with his Ordinances and miraculous works wrought for them above other Nati∣o••s, wherein they prided themselves and disdained all reproofs and threat∣nings, as thinking that they were by reason hereof sartitecti from the danger of their enemies: this the Lord saith he abhorreth in Jacob, because they up∣on whom such excellency is conferred, being unanswerable to it in their do∣ings, are to God the more abominable. Let the Reader judge, and take it ei∣ther this or the former way he shall not erre, but I preferre the first as most consonant to the words before-going, v. 3, 4, 5, 6. and following after in this and v. 9, 10, 11. For Gods swearing by himself, by his sould, it is spoken after the manner of men, because to men hard of beleef, that they might beleeve it and tremble, seeing if a King swears by his soul to punish his wicked rebels, he will certainly do it, much more will the Lord.

If there remain ten men in one house they shall dye: Here the Prophet goeth on to shew that the Lords hating of Jacob for his sins, is not to be sleighted, but * 1.13 by all men to be trembled at: for where he abhors, death follows, and that so universally, that in a populous family not one is left alive. The plague of God is great, when in a family consisting of 40 or 50 persons, all are taken away to ten, but if these ten be not suffered to remain, no nor one of them, the destruction is farre greater and more to be trembled at. But this he sheweth should be their case, for he saith, if there remain or be left ten, intimating the death of many in that house before.

And v. 10. serveth yet further to set forth their extraordinary mortality. * 1.14 And a mans uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring the bones out of the house, and shall say to him that is by the sides of the house, Is there any yet with thee? and he shall say, Nay, hold thy tongue, for we may not make mention of the name of the Lord: Hebr. the last words are, because, not to remember the name of the Lord, so that they may be supplyed either thus, we may not remember, or there is not one left to remember; and for nay, it is nothing, there is none, Vulg. finis, an end, and for the sides of the house, hath in penetralibus domus. The meaning of all the words is, that the mortality shall be so great, that whereas the office of taking and carrying out the dead to the buriall is commonly committed to poor merce∣nary men, now mankind should be so wasted in Israel, that there should be none to be hired to doe this, but a kinsman whose love is most to their decea∣sed kindred, must do this office himself, or else the dead must lye unburied, and because the corps is too heavy for him alone to bring out, he is inforced to burn it in the house and then to carry out the bones and bury them only.

And he shall say to him in the sides of the house, that is, in some outer house not formerly used for men to lodge in, but to avoid the contagion for the present made his refuge, is there any in the house yet living? and he shall say, none: appro∣ving

hereby further that which was said before of the dying of all ten in the house remaining, when others had dyed before. For the last words al Expositors generally read it, we may not make mention, some understanding it, as Calvin saith, * 1.15 of such as were ready to dy to express their desperate rejecting of prayer in this extremity, as thinking it of no force herein to mention the Lord: some of men averse from hearing of God in this case, as being one that they can have no comfort in, because he had alwayes been reproving them, and now it was by his hand, that they suffered. And this indeed is Gualters, saying that some are * 1.16 most averse from hearing God named, of which he giveth an example of one in Germany, who lying upon his death bed desired his friends, that came to see him, not to mention the name of God unto him, for this was so great a ter∣rour to him, that he could not bear it: and another example of a Jew brought by a friend of his to hear him, and having heard him, his friend asked, how he liked, he answered, he liked all well, but onely when he mentioned Jesus hee was troubled and terrified at the hearing of that name. But Calvin is for a∣nother sense, viz. that this is spoken in opposition to that which was said be fore of hypocrites desiring the day of the Lord, when they see the hand of God against them indeed, they are whist and say no more so, for now they have too much of it, finding him clean contrary to their expectation of a Patron and de••ender a most severe Judge. All which is good, but I prefer rather the reading which I have mentioned before, because not one is left to remember the name of the Lord, for whilest one is alive of Gods people, although not in sincerity, yet in extremity he will call upon God, but now every one in the house was past this, they being all dead and gone into the land of silence and forgetful∣nesse. Against all other Expositions maketh, that the Lord is not before spoken of, but onely one being asked is there any in the house, he answers, None, hold thy peace, but of the Lord nothing is said by the inquirer; whereupon the answerer should use these words. Yet Gualter to make his sense good, saith, it is an eclipticall speech, something in the inquirers words being lest to be understood, as thus, Hath the Lord left no man in the house alive with thee? unto which the answer will so be apt, Be silent, make no mention of the Lord. But reading it as hath been said, we shall not need to understand any o∣ther words and yet the sense is perfect.

He will smite the greater house with breaches and the little with clefts, that is, the * 1.17 house of Israel shall be smitten so, as that it shall come to utter ruine, but the house of Judah is smitten with clefts, which may be mended up, to intimate their return out of captivity again, to become a common-wealth, so Lyra; some * 1.18 under both Israel & Judah and richer and meaner sort of people called the lit∣tle house, and the Caldee, the kingdom, and the Kingdome, great and little. Calvin. * 1.19 the Nobles and great ones of the land and the meaner sort, for wickednesse generally overspread all sorts. With Lyra agreeth Jerom and most Expositours, I prefer Gualter here, for both kingdoms may be understood so, as not to ex∣clude these two sorts in them both, of one of which it is said, that it shall be smitten with breaches, by Calvin rendred mixtionibus, and of the other with clefts, after which a poor cottage crumbleth all down alone, but great houses by greater force must be ruined altogether being brought to mingled heaps, and the words going before, ver. 8. require this exposition, and chap. 3. 15.

Shall horses run upon the rock? can one plow there with oxen? for yee have turned * 1.20 judgement into gall, as chap. 5. 7. the meaning is, horses and Oxen will not doe contrary to their nature, but ye doe contrary, when as in stead of judgement for the comfort of the poore being wronged, yee turn it through covetous∣nesse to their damage, if not undoing to the imbittering of their soules; the interlinear glosse, ye by your sins turn Gods sweetnesse and goodnesse into bitternesse to your selves and others, hereby forcing him to give you the bitter cup of misery to drink.

Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? Here he reproveth them for * 1.21 their boasting and confidence in the dignity to which they had attained, set forth by horns wherewith they pushed, as it were, their adversaries in Jero∣boams

time getting so many victories over them, through the pity, that God took upon them, though wicked, when they were very low, but they proud∣ly and ungratefully ascribed it to their own strength, as wherein they tru∣sted, but it was as nothing. And for this God threatneth to stir up enemies a∣gainst them from the entering in of Hemath to the river of the Wildernesse, * 1.22 that is, throughout all the land from the North where Hemath was, to the south where this Wildernesse was.

Notes

• * 1.1

  V. 1.
• * 1.2

  Lyra.
• * 1.3

  V. 2.
• * 1.4

  Gualter. Lyra.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 10. 10.
• * 1.6

  2 King. 18. 34. Calvin.
• * 1.7

  V. 3, 4.
• * 1.8

  V. 7.
• * 1.9

  2 King 17. V. 8.
• * 1.10

  Hilary. Calvin
• * 1.11

  Lyra. Gualter.
• * 1.12

  Calvin.
• * 1.13

  V. 9.
• * 1.14

  V. 10.
• * 1.15

  Calvin.
• * 1.16

  Gualter.
• * 1.17

  V. 11.
• * 1.18

  Lyra.
• * 1.19

  Gualter. Caldee Par. Calvin.
• * 1.20

  V. 12.
• * 1.21

  V. 13.
• * 1.22

  V. 14.