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. I.

AFter the death of Moses the Servant of the Lord, it came to passe, that the Lord * 1.1 spake to Joshua the sun of Nun, &c.

Ioshuah was otherwise called Osheah, Numb. 13. 8. 16. Moses called him Ioshuah, he was of the Tribe of Ephraim, the Septuagint call him Iesus the son of Naue; and it is to be understood that Ioshuah and Iesus are all one, these two names come of the same Hebrew Radix, signifying to save, and Naue and Nun, saith Comestor, are one. It is noted by Lyra, that he was the first that ever was called * 1.2 by this name, and likewise by Ferus, the providence of God being singular here∣in, that a Jesus, a figure of our Jesus and Saviour should bring the people of Israel into the Land of promise. He was a figure of Jesus, saith Ferus, 1. In subduing the Amalekites. 2. In bringing the people into Canaan. 3. In di∣viding that Land amongst them. There was another Iesus afterwards the son of Sirach, a figure of Christ for his learning and wisdom; and Iesus the son of Iosedek the High Priest, a figure of his Priesthood: Of others also thus called, see 1 Chron. 24. 11. 2 Chron. 31. 15. and my notes upon Numb. 13. 16. This Io∣shuah was also a figure of Christs victorious rising and ruling over all his Ene∣mies; as his death and passion had been in the books of Moses figured out seven times. 1. In Cains killing Abel. 2. In the troubles of Noah. 3. In the sa∣crificing of Isaac. 4. In the afflictions of Ioseph. 5. In the killing of the Paschall Lamb. 6. In the striking of the rock to bring out waters. 7. In the brazen Serpent, so Ferus. And Origen noteth, that the name of Ioshua, or Iesus, is first mentioned, Exod. 17. when Moses sent him to fight against the A∣malekites whom he overcame, and not Moses; Iesus, and not the Law subduing spirituall enemies, being noted hereby. And he admireth the Divine Provi∣dence, in that none of the holy ones that lived before, was called by this name, but he first of all others, that brought the Israelites into Canaan, evidently shewing both him and his gests here related in this book to be mysticall, figu∣ring out our Jesus and his acts. At the beginning of this verse is a conjuncti∣on copulative, rendred [now] to shew this to be a continuation of the former Hi∣story of Moses by his successor Ioshuah. For the time when this was spoken, Ly∣ra * 1.3 will have it to be before the dayes of mourning were ended; but Hugo, the mourning for Moses being now ended, which seemeth the most probable, be∣cause

Deut. 34. 8. Before this it is said, the dayes of mourning for Moses were ended. And if we compare the time of Moses his death, which I have there shewed, according to the Hebrews, was the seventh day of the moneth Adar, which was their last moneth; with the time of the peoples comming over Jor∣dan, which was the tenth day of the fifth moneth, Iosh. 4. 19. we shall find that there were passed 30 dayes of mourning, and 3 dayes for their preparing and passing over Iordan, according to the time set, Chap. 1. 11. [The Lord spake to Ioshua] twice before this Ioshua was appointed to this Office of ruling and lea∣ding the people, Numb. 27. 18. and Deut. 31. 7. and to incourage him the more, the Lord speaketh to him again; and as Ferus hath it, that the people * 1.4 might the more readily obey him; and lastly, that hee might the more dili∣gently goe about this his office; and in that hee the Minister of Moses in thus preferred, he noteth mystically, that onely such as subject themselves to the law of God, are fit to rule: and therefore Jesus himself first served and washed his [Note.] Disciples fect. And herein Ioshuah figured Christ, who was the Minister of Moses, when he was made subject to the law, Gal. 4. 4. for the law is called Mo∣ses, Luke 16. 31. so Origen.

Moses my servant is dead: now therefore arise, &c. * 1.5

Here both Lyra and Hugo take occasion to confute those that say Moses was damned for his sin at the waters of Meribah, because we read not of his repen∣tance; for the contrary appeareth by this honorable testimony which the Lord giveth of him, calling him his Servant. And August. Qu. 1. gathereth here∣upon, that God punisheth with death his deare servants corporally, and yet ta∣keth them to himself as vessels of honour. Likewise Comestor confuteth both * 1.6 them, and those that held Moses not to be dead, but translated, as Enoch, and Elias; for the Lord saith, he is dead. And unto these Ferus addeth a third error, * 1.7 which is also here confuted, viz. that the law was not of God, but of the De∣vill; for the Lord himselfe testifieth, that Moses who gave it, was his servant. Mystically by Moses, understand the law of Moses, which is as an husband dead, Rom. 7. 1. under the Gospel, and now Jesus commeth in his place. [Arise, passe over this Jordan, thou and all the people.] Some thinke that Ioshuah was now humbled in prayer, and so God biddeth him [arise,] which is not improbable; but by this speech he quickneth him to a diligent care in executing the weighty Office whereunto he called him. By all the people, are not meant all without exception, for some had their possessions on this side Iordan, Numb. 32. but all the rest were now to go over, & al the men of War of those Tribes, that remain-as hereafter followeth, v. 12, 13, &c.

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, have I given unto you, &c. * 1.8

The very words of this verse, and the next are had before, Deut. 11. 24, 25. where Moses speaketh unto the people, as the Lord here to Joshuah. And he saith, I have given you, to note the certainty, as if they were already in possession there∣of. The Hebrews, (saith Lyra) by all places that they should tread upon, un∣derstand * 1.9 all Countreys of the world; and this was in part fulfilled in Solomon, when he reigned over all, and shall perfectly be fulfilled in the dayes of the King Christ, of whose earthly Kingdome they dreame; but how false this is, the next words declare, From Lebanon and the wildernesse to the great River, &c. of which * 1.10 bounds, see Deut. 11. 2.

Be strong and of a good courage, &c. * 1.11

The Lord knew that the people now to be led by Ioshuah, were very perverse, and the enemies to be subdued many and mighty; and therefore he confirmeth Ioshuah with many words, and most ample promises; and the rather, because Moses so holy a man, yet in the time of provocation by the people had shewed great weaknesse. The Lord saith, that none should be able to stand before him all the dayes of his life; for after his death, the people sinned, and then their enemies prevailed, as is shewed sundry times in the book of Judges.

That thou mayest observe to doe according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded thee, &c. * 1.12

That Ioshuah might not be pusillanimous, but courageous, he hath a speciall

charge given him to attend to the law of God, and to do it in all things with all care and diligence. And hereby obedience to God, and subjection to his law, is shewed to be the ground of all true fortitude, the adventures that are made without this, being nothing but temerity & rashnesse; which howsoever it may prevaile at the beginning, yet it shall never be able finally to bring any thing to good effect, as Calvin noteth. And to the end, that the law of God may bee * 1.13 observed by him, he is charged to read and to meditate thereupon day and night, and so it is promised that he should prosper in all his undertakings: See the like charge given to Kings, Deut. 17. 18, 19.

Bee strong and of a good courage, have not I commanded thee? * 1.14

When God is the Author of any expedition, men may be courageous indeed, and feare nothing, as being sure to prevaile. For the words and phrases here used; [that thou maist observe to doe:] some distinguish betwixt these two words expounding [observe] of abstaining from the evill forbidden, and to doe of performing things commanded; but Masius better understandeth the first * 1.15 word of that study and care, which maketh way to performance; and the se∣cond of the due execution thereof. Turne not from it to the right hand or to the left; By turning to [the right hand,] the Hebrews understand any adding to * 1.16 the Word of God; and by turning to the left, any taking away therefrom. Ser∣rarius by the first understandeth any going out of the way of Gods comman∣dements * 1.17 for gaine; by the second any going out for feare of danger or adversity suffered: So likewise Hugo, for prosperity or adversity, the first seemeth to be * 1.18 grounded upon Deut. 4. 2. and therefore is rather to be approved, [that thou maist prosper;] the Vulgar Latine for this hath, that thou maist understand all that thou dost, or doe wisely in all things; thus also the Septuagint, and the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here used, signifieth first and chiefly to understand, and it is used also for to prosper, as 1 Sam. 18. 14, 30. Calvin and Junius are rather for prospe∣ring, * 1.19 but because there is another word for prosperous, v. 8. then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 this is better expounded of understanding; and there, that thou maist make thy way prosperous, and be wise, or doe wisely; and to keep the law, and to cleave to it, is said to bee wisdome and understanding, Deut. 4. 6. thus also Masius and the Tygurine interpreters, and Pagnine, but the * 1.20 Chaldee is for prospering. This booke shall not depart from thy mouth; that is, thou shalt be frequent in reading and speaking thereof, and in instructing others therein. And this duty, as it is first and chiefly commended to Rulers, so it is to all people, Deut. 13. 9, 16. Exod. 6. 6. Deut. 11. 18, &c.

Then Ioshuah commanded the Officers of the people, saying, Passe through the Host, * 1.21 and command the people that they prepare Victualls, for within three dayes yee shall passe over this Jordan, &c.

The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here rendred Officers, is in the Vulgar Latine Princes, Augustine calleth them Scribes, and so doe the Septuagint, but of this enough before upon Exod. 18. they were some set to rule over the rest; and therefore are bidden to command them. St. Augustine understanding this to have been be∣fore the sending out of the Spyes to Iericho, moveth a question how they could * 1.22 within three dayes from hence goe over Jordan, when as the spyes must have some time to goe and search, and returne, and it is expresly said before their return, that they hid themselves three dayes in the mountaines, Chap. 2. 22. and three dayes after this, the people have direction to passe over, Chap. 3. 2. And he answereth, that Joshuah thought happily, that the spyes would have returned sooner; and presuming upon this, hee set three dayes, and not by direction from the Lord,, but it fell out that the dayes before their passing over, were many more. And Moses he saith, in like manner erred once, doing as a man, when he took the burthen of hearing all causes upon himselfe, untill that he had better direction,; and this is followed by Hugo and many others. But Lyra and Calvin more soundly weighing the premisses, how seriously the Lord * 1.23 promised to be with Joshuah in all things, hold that hee would not now suffer

him to erre in the beginning of his rule, lest his credit should hereby bee in∣fringed amongst the people, and therefore that this of his appointing the peo∣ple to be ready against the third day to passe over Jordan, is here set downe by anticipation, the spyes being sent out six or seven dayes before this, even whilst the dayes of mourning for Moses lasted, and at their returne, and not before, this preparation was commanded against the third day; and so all things done, Chap. 2. come in by a parenthesis, that which was done before, being set down after, and accordingly it may be read, Joshuah the son of Nun, had sent out of Shit∣tim two men, &c. Chap. 2. 1. and the number of three dayes spoken of againe, Chap. 3. 2. thus agreeth excellently with this, as a repetition hereof, and a more distinct declaration of his proceedings; and being thus understood, the former count of the time spoken of from the death of Moses till their com∣ming over Jordan will hold, which otherwise cannot. Moreover, it had been a point of temerity, and of no wisdome in Joshuah, to set a time of passing over into the land of Canaan, before the way prepared by sending out spyes; an error, that a man so full of the spirit of wisdome could not possibly fall into. [Prepare you victualls,] seeing they were fed with Manna from day to nay, even till the [Qu.] fifth day after that they had passed over Jordan, Chap. 5. 12. it may be doubted what victualls Joshuah would have them to prepare; for if Manna, that might not be kept all night; if any other sustenance, where should they have it, or what need had they of it, when as they were fed with Manna? Masius saith * 1.24 that they might buy some other victualls of the Edomites or Moabites. Bon∣frerius, * 1.25 that they had taken the spoiles of two Kings of the Amorites, amongst which doubtlesse they found good store of corne and cattell for food, and of these victualls he speaketh. The first is most improbable, because Edom and Moab were most insense against them: the next cannot be disliked, for by reason of their passage, they had no time that day to gather Manna, and therefore they must be otherwise supplyed. If it be said, seeing they had other victualls now, what needed Manna still? I answer, it is likely that they had not sufficient of the prey taken for so great a multitude, but onely for a short time, for so soone as they came where they might have enough, the Manna ceased, Chap. 5. 12, 13.

And to the Reubenites, Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, &c. * 1.26

Here is nothing but a commemoration of the condition set by Moses before to these Tribes, and by them yeelded to, viz. that they should goe armed over Jordan before their brethren, all the men of warre amongst them, their wives, children and cattell being left in the land already given them for an inheritance. But whereas Moses required that they should all goe to these Warres, Numb. 32. 20, 21. to which they yeelded, Joshuah here requireth onely all the mighty men of valour to goe, and Chap. 4. 13. there went but about 40000; whereas of the tribe of Gad alone there, were numbred of able men to beare Armes 40000, of Reuben 43000, and of halfe Manasseh 26000: so that the greater part went not, herein Joshuah did according to the meaning, which was, that a sufficient com∣pany of the most able should go, the rest staying at home to defend the Coun∣trey newly conquered against their enemies, who might otherwise soon have gathered together, and subdued those parts againe, and have made a prey of their wives, children, and cattel, as was touched before upon Numb. 26.

Ye shall passe before your brethren armed. * 1.27

He requireth them not to follow, but to goe before the rest to the warre to shew their alacrity, as Calvin hath it. The words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifie in the * 1.28 sight of your brethren, but the event Chap. 4. 12. sheweth, that it was meant in the forefront, and that they should bee the first to assault the ene∣my. And to this doe they assent, and to whatsoever Joshuah should command them, promising to obey him in all things as they obeyed Moses. If this shall * 1.29 seem, saith Calvin, to have been a point of vain-glory in them, and not true, for they had often rebelled against Moses; hee answereth well, that they were their Fathers who had been rebellious, and were consumed in the wildernesse; but

they their children being taught by their example were made more obedient: neither is this a vain-glorious ostentation of their obedience to Moses, but a declaration of their readinesse to subject themselves to Joshuah, whom they thus acknowledged to bee his successor appointed by the Lord; and therefore worthy of all praise. And they conclude most piously, praying the Lord to be with Joshuah, as he had been with Moses, and exhorting him to bee of a * 1.30 good courage, and menacing such amongst them as would not obey him, with death. Of all this an excellent Allegory is made thus by Lyra. Joshuah or Je∣sus was a figure of our Jesus, both in his name and gests, as hee must passe over * 1.31 Jordan; so Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan; and as all the people must passe over with him, so all the people of Jesus are baptized: the victualls which they must prepare, are the rudiments of faith, wherein all that are adulti, must be instructed before their baptisme; the third day setteth forth the time of grace, for the time of the Law of nature, and of the Mosaicall Law, were the two first dayes, upon this third all are baptized, and so passe into the heavenly Canaan, in hope here, and in soul, being delivered from all guilt and punish∣ment at the time of death, and the whole compositum of soule and body at the end of the world. By the Reubenites, signifying Seers, are set forth the Pro∣phets; by the Gadites, the Patriarchs; and by the Manassites, other saints un∣der the Old Testament, who all passed through Baptisme in a figure, 1 Cor. 10. Note here, that Lyra held no paines to bee suffered in Purgatory after death. Ferus will have the three times of instituting Joshuah to his Dukedome, to fi∣gure * 1.32 out, 1. The conception of Jesus by the holy Ghost. 2. His Baptisme with the holy Ghost. 3. His resurrection, when all things were put under his feet, and none were able to resist him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  V. 1.
• * 1.2

  Scholast. Hist. Lyra. Ferus.
• * 1.3

  Lyra. Hugo Cardin.
• * 1.4

  Ferus.
• * 1.5

  V. 2. Lyra. Hugo Card.
• * 1.6

  Schol. Hist.
• * 1.7

  Ferus.
• * 1.8

  V. 3.
• * 1.9

  Lyra.
• * 1.10

  V. 4.
• * 1.11

  V. 6.
• * 1.12

  V. 7.
• * 1.13

  Calvin. V. 8.
• * 1.14

  V. 9.
• * 1.15

  Masius.
• * 1.16

  Hebraei.
• * 1.17

  Serrarius.
• * 1.18

  Hugo. Carpin
• * 1.19

  Calvin, Iunius.
• * 1.20

  Masius, Pagnin. Chald.
• * 1.21

  V. 10, 11.
• * 1.22

  August. qu. 2. in Josh.
• * 1.23

  Lyra, Calvin.
• * 1.24

  And. Masius.
• * 1.25

  Bonfrerius.
• * 1.26

  V. 12.
• * 1.27

  V. 14.
• * 1.28

  Calvin.
• * 1.29

  V. 16. 17.
• * 1.30

  V. 18.
• * 1.31

  Nic. de Lyra. The mystery.
• * 1.32

  Ferus.