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. XXI.

HEre the children of Levi come and require Cities to be given unto them, as the Lord had appointed by Moses, and have 48 Cities with their Sub∣urbs out of all the Tribes, as was appointed, Numb. 35. six of which, were the Cities of Refuge before mentioned. So that the Levites had not Cities, as the other Tribes all together, but in every part of the Land, that there might bee * 1.1 some in every Tribe to teach the laws of God, and to judge righteously: and that it might not be thought, that the Worship of God, and the maintenance of his Ministers pertained to one place onely, but to them all. For no Kingdom or County can prosper and stand, unlesse the Worship of God be therein main∣tained.

Mystically, by the dispersing of these into all the Tribes, Jesus his sending out of his Apostles into all the world was set forth; so Ferus. In that 48 Cities

with their Suburbs were given to Levi alone, it appeareth that all the Cities of * 1.2 each tribe in the Catalogues before going were not mentioned, but many omit∣ted, because otherwise there had been no due proportion kept in taking out thus many for one small tribe, seeing Zebulun had but 12 Cities, Issachar but 16, and Nephtali but 19. Thus Calvin, who also thinketh that no due order is ob∣served in setting down this done to the Levites; but that it was before the Cities of Refuge set out, seeing they were some of the Levites Cities; and hee also taxeth it as a fault, that the tribe of Levi had no Cities given them, till they re∣quired them, and urged the commandement of God for it; but he saith it was a fault of neglect, not of wilfulnesse, for being put in mind of the Word of the Lord, they presently yeeld them Cities, as was appointed. I thinke rather, as Joshua had no possession given him till he required it, and Caleb before that, so it was by course expected that the Levites should require Cities, before that they were given to them, and this they could not doe, till the foregoing divisions finished; neither doe I see any reason why this relation should be thought to bee set downe out of order. For all the lots of tribes being set out the what was more necessary immediately to bee next done, then to provide for the preservation of the innocent, by appointing Cities of Refuge? which if it had been delayed till all the Cities of the Levites had been set out, happily some might, before this could have been done, have perished unjustly by the revenger of bloud, for want of a city of Refuge.

In distributing these 48 cities of the Levites, a fourfold distinction is made * 1.3 1 Of the sonnes of Aaron. 2 Of the rest of the sonnes of Kohath. 3 Of the sonnes of Gershom. 4 Of the sonnes of Merari. For of Levi came three families, of the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites; and the Kohathites were againe di∣vided into two, the sonnes of Aaron who were the Priests, and the rest of the sonnes of Kohath, who were Levites, see Numb. 3, and 4. Aarons sonnes had 13 cities in Judab, Simeon, and Benjamin, which fell to them by lot, by a singu∣lar providence, that they might be near to the place where they should do their service. If it bee demanded, why they had not Jerusalem, where the Temple [Qu.] was afterwards built? Answ. That was the chiefe city, and to be the seat of the Kingdom; and therefore must needs be reserved for other inhabitants, and God would have his Ministers content with meaner and smaller cities.

This verse setting forth the cities given out of Reuben is wanting in the Ma∣soreths Bible, and in some Latine copies, but it is in all other Hebrew copies; and * 1.4 if it be out, the number of 48 cities would not bee compleat. How great the Suburbs of the Levites cities were, see Numb. 35.

And the Lord gave to Israel all the Land which he sware to their Fathers and they possessed it, &c. This may seem not to have been so, because it is said before, Ch. * 1.5 13. 1. there remained very much Land yet to bee possessed; and of Epbraim, and Ma∣nasseh, and Judah, &c. that they could not expell the enemy out of their pos∣sessions, so likewise Judg. 4. 1. But it is to bee understood that although much was held still by the enemy, yet all was given to them, and divided amongst them, and they possessed so much as they yet needed, neither doe wee read that they attempted to take any more, but God was alwayes still assistant unto them, so as that they tooke it, and drave out their enemies so long as they per∣sisted in obedience. Some hee would not yet have them to take in possession, because they were not yet able to people it, as is expressed, Exod. 23. and some they tooke not through their owne default, because either they were slack and timerous to goe and fight for it, or led by covetousnesse to bee compounded with for Tribute, against the expresse charge divers times given unto them. And thus the 44 verse is also to bee understood, there stood not an enemy before * 1.6 them, but the Lord delivered them into their hands; that is, of all that they went a∣gainst, and they had rest round about: because the enemies still remaining durst not rise up to warre against them in that Land; and the Edomites, Ammonites, and Moabites about them were taken with such feare of them, that none inva∣ded them. Here was then a notable type indeed of the everlasting rest to come to all the people of God, to which Jesus shall bring them, all their ene∣mies

being subdued, and they being put in possession of the mansions provided for them in their Fathers house.

For the last words, there failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had * 1.7 spoken, &c. St. Augustine saith, it is to be understood, that although all was not now performed, yet it failed not, because in Solomons dayes, not onely se∣ven, but eleven Nations spoken of, Gen. 15. were all brought under, from the River of Egypt to the great River Euphrates. And againe, nothing failed of all that was spoken, because all the promises of good were conditionall, if they continued in obedience, which they not doing, although they could never ex∣tend their bounds so farre, yet nothing sailed. Moreover, in speaking upon that, There was not a man that could stand before them: hee saith, it may bee un∣derstood, whilst they made Warres jointly together, before the divisions were made to the severall Tribes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ferus.
• * 1.2

  Calvin.
• * 1.3

  V. 4, 5.
• * 1.4

  V. 36.
• * 1.5

  V. 43.
• * 1.6

  V. 44.
• * 1.7

  V. 45. Augustine.