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. IX.

THe Lord appeared to Solomon the second time. 2 Chron. 7. 12. He appeared * 1.1 unto him in the night, so he did also the first time in Gibeon in a dream. And now he told him that he had heard his prayer, and had sanctified this house to put his name there for ever, and if he and his posterity did walk in his wayes, he pro∣mised that his kingdome should be perpetuall; but otherwise, if they degenerated, he threatned to cast of Israel and this house, &c. 2 Chron. 7. 13, 14, 15. I have cho∣sen this house for sacrifice, and if the heavens be shut, or the locust devoureth, &c. and then followeth, I will put my name here for ever, &c. His sanctifying of that house, was his setting it apart for divine worship, as is further expressed by saying, I will put my name here, that is, to be called upon, and thus my benefits may be distributed amongst such, as worship me in this place. Whereas it is added, for ever, this is to be understood, as the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is often used, to a long period of time, which is unto men unknown, for the ever of legall rites and ceremonies, till the comming of the Messiah, who was figured out by this temple, for then the use of that temple was at an end, although the children of Israel had not by their sinnes provoked God to destroy it.

At the end of 20. yeares, when Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own * 1.2 house] Here, by his own house, all other his buildings before commemorated, which he made in 13. years are meant, for every one was the Kings house and built to shew his magnificence, for unto the time of building of these, 7. yeares, which he spent in building the Lords house being added, they together make 20.

Then Solomon gave to King Hiram for all the cedars and firre-trees and gold re∣ceived * 1.3 of him towards his buildings, 20. towns in the land of Galilee. But when he saw them, he not being pleased with them, called them the land of C••bul, which as Pellican hath it, signifieth, sandy and barren; according to Martyr, displeasing; so likewise Iunius, alledging Iosephus, who saith that it is a Phoenician word, signi∣fying that, which pleaseth not: whereas some expound it dirty, that is not so pro∣bable, because those grounds were all generally dry, and such as lay lowest and were wettest, were most fruitfull. These 20. towns or cities were given to Hiram in way of recompence for all his bounty towards Solomon, in not onely supplying him with timber, but also aboundance of gold towards his buildings, viz. 120. talents, as is more expressely set down v. 14. Hiram had sent unto the King 120. talents of gold] which amounted, according to Budeus to 92400. crowns, reckoning to every talent 770. Touching the timber given by Hiram to Solomon, it is said be∣fore to have been cut down in Lebanon, which lay within the Land of Canaan, that is, within Solomons kingdom; his giving of this therefore is to be expounded of his cutting it down by his Tyrians, and transporting it for his use, but the gold, where∣with he abounded, as being brought from Ophir by his ships, it is to be thought, that he gave out of his piety towards the building of the Lords house. Although Martyr seemeth sometime to hold, that his giving is to be understood of his gi∣ving for a price; of which there is no probability, for then it had not been thank∣worthy. But Solomon to recompence it, gave him these 20. townes, as to recom∣pence the labour of his servants about the timber, he had before given him aboun∣dance of corn and oyl.

But was it justifyable in Solomon to give away to a heathen King any part of the Lords inheritance appropriated to the children of Israel? for although the present King were godly, yet his successors might be idolaters again, as he at the first was by the testimony of Iosephus, before his acquaintance with David, and then there would be danger by this meanes of corrupting the people of Israel that dwelt there. Some answer, that he did not give them so as that the children of Israel lost * 1.4 any land hereby, for Hiram gave him as many cities in his countrey, 2 Chron. 8. ••. but the text there ••aith not, either that he gave him so many, or in his country, but onely, that Solomon built the cities, which Hiram gave unto him, and eaused the

children of Israel to dwell in them. Others, that Hiram disliking the cities given * 1.5 him by Solomon, gave him them again, and so by the providence of God it fell out, that none of the holy land was alienated: but against this maketh that circum∣stance, he caused the children of Israel to dwell in them, for in those townes of Gali∣lee they dwelt before. Some say that Solomon cannot be justified herein no more * 1.6 then other holy men of old, in all their actions. Others justifie this fact, by saying that it was done in a figure of the coversion of the Gentiles, and making one peo∣ple of Iewes and Gentiles, not doubting but that he was by the instinct of the spi∣rit moved, thus to doe. And some, that Solomon gave not these townes to Hiram * 1.7 for ever, but for certain yeares the profits arising out of them to require him for the gold that he sent him, but seeing it is said that he gave him them, this is but a light conjecture. It seemeth to me that he gave him these towns for his life-time, but not to his heyrs after him, which he might well do out of his love unto him so good a friend, & so great a wel-willer to the children of Israel; & I exclude not the mystical signification before spoken of, but do think, that it may be taken in also. Now for the cities which Hiram gave unto Solomon, it is uncertain how many they were, or where they stood, onely it is said, that when they were given unto Solomon, he built them, and put Israelites into them, happily they were cities decayed for want of inhabitants, the countrey of the King of Tyre not being so full of people, and upon Solomons giving the benefit of certain cities to Hiram, most probably he gave him them, as one striving with Solomon in courtesies.

Iosephus writing of Hiram bringeth in Menander and Dinus, who wrot the * 1.8 Tyrian Chronicles, commending Hiram for building the temple of Iupiter Olympi∣••i••, Hercules, and Astarte••, but that is to be conceived to have been done in former times, now it seemeth that he was turned a worshipper of the true God onely. And he saith, that Galilee, the Province in which these cities stood, lay North∣ward * 1.9 near unto Hirams country, for which it is called Galilee of the Gentiles, Esa. 9. Mat. 4. and because before Davids time inhabited by the Gentiles, and now given by Solomon to the Gentiles.

And this was the cause why King Solomon exacted tribute, namely to build the * 1.10 house of the Lord and his own house, &c.] Having spoken of Solomons sumptuous buildings, and being to speak of more, it is is here intimated that he took tribute of his subjects for this cause, all the treasure that David left him, and Hiram sent him not being sufficient. Martyr will have not only mony, but also men to come * 1.11 under the name of tribute here, and supposeth that both Israelites and strangers yeelded him both the one tribute and the other, but with this difference; the stran∣gers under his dominion were imployed in the works that were servile, but the Israelites in a better service joyned with dignity, as is further expressed, v. 20, 21, 22.

Pellican thinketh that the Israelites paid no tribute of mony, but onely were * 1.12 made overseers of his works, and appointed to other higher offices, but of this see before ch. 5. 13. The Vulg. lat. hath it, this is the summe of the expences, as if the 120 talents of gold before spoken of were meant, & that a distribution hereof were made amongst the workmen, So Lyra; but Hebr. it is tribute as he acknowledg∣eth, * 1.13 and hath reference to the words following, v. 20. and includeth happily a tri∣bute of mony also, as hath been said. And here besides the Temple and the Kings house, which he is said to have built, is added Millo, and the wall of Ierusalem and Hazor and Megiddo and Gezer. Millo is added, because it was a part of the Kings house built before by David, but now made more beautifull by Solomon, and likewise the building of the wall of Ierusalem is to be understood, as Iosephus saith; and of the adding of towers to it for defence, seeing it was not without a wall be∣fore in Davids time; and it is to be thought, because Ierusalem was afterwards compassed with 3 walls, that Solomon made one wall new to increase the strength of that city. The towers upon all the walls saith Josephus, were 164. and there was * 1.14 a space of 200 cubits between tower and tower, but Vilalpandus numbreth onely 90. and makes the whole compasse of the wall 49 furlongs, tha•• ••is, 6 miles and a furlong. Hazor was a city in the tribe of Naphtali, Iosh. 19. 36. and it was a head

city of divers kingdomes, and therefore of great consequence to fortifie it. Iosh. 11. 1. Megiddo in Manasseh, Iosh. 17. 11. it was a frontier town next the Philistines, and Gezer in Ephraim, Iosh. 11. 11. What the strength of Gezer was we may gather, because Iosh. 16. 10. it is said that the Ephraimites could not expell the Cananites thence, and the like is said of Megiddo, Iosh. 17. 11.

And here v. 16. it is further added, that this Gezer was taken by Pharoah and * 1.15 given to his daughter, Solomons wife; and it is said that he built and streng∣thened Bethoron and many other places, even all that he would, see also, 2 Chron. 8. 2, 3.

But the daughter of Pharoah went up from the city of David to her own house, &c.] * 1.16 2 Chron. 8. 11. it is said Solomon removed her, for he said, my wife shall not dwell in my house, which is sanctified, since the comming of the Ark into it.

This saith Martyr, is spoken according to the lawes in force then, whereby * 1.17 women were unclean by their monthly courses, and by puerpery; and so unfit to be in the house, where the Arke was: whereas shee had been in this house hi∣therto, it was saith Lyra, but for a time, whilst her house was in preparing. * 1.18

And Solomon offered whole burnt offerings and peace-offerings, 3 times in the year, &c.] That is, as is commonly held, at the Passeover, Pentecost, and feast of Taber∣nacles; and this is expressed, 2 Chron. 8. 13. and not only was his piety exercised at those times, when all males were required to appeare before the Lord, and went empty; but he provided, that upon the Sabbaths and new Moones also, sacrifices * 1.19 should be offered according to the law of Moses, and confirmed the distribution of Priests and Levites into their courses made by David.

And Solomon made ships in Eziongeber, near Eloth, &c.] 2 Chron. 8. 19. It is * 1.20 said, that he went to Eziongeber in Edom. Which is expounded by some, as if by his going, his going by his Messengers were meant, but by others of his going and subduing this place; but neither rightly; not the first, for the writer of the Chro∣nicles alwayes supplieth things missing in the Kings and maketh them plainer, but if his going by his Messengers had been meant, it had been more obscure: nor the second, because Solomon was alwayes peaceable and made no warre, and Edom was before subdued by David. Of Eloth and Eziongeber, see before Deut. 2. 7. For his going to Eziongeber, it was most probably to see his ships before their go∣ing out, and to give some instructions, according to his wisedome, about the pre∣paring and directing of them. And it is not to be thought, that he set forth these ships out of covetousnesse, but that he might the better provide to defray his great charges, and so be the lesse burthensome to his subjects. Eziongeber was 176. miles * 1.21 from Ierusalem, and from thence his ships went to Ophir, that is, to India to fetch gold, from whence were brought unto him 420. talents. 2 Chron. 8. 18. it is said 450. talents: so that it is true which is here said, but all not spoken of. Iunius think∣eth, that 420. talents came in clearly, and that 30. were spent upon the Navie. This journey was finisht in 3. yeares, and was 4800. miles; neither did he send out thus once only, but once in 3. years from time to time, 2 Chron. 9. 21. It is thought * 1.22 by some, that this countrey had the name of India and Ophir from two brethren▪ by others, India from the river Indus. And Pomponius saith, it hath in it 5000. ci∣ties. Ophir saith Rabanus, is a province in India, taking the name from one of the * 1.23 posterity of Heber, there be mountains of gold, and it is inhabited by most fierce lions and other wilde beasts, so that none dare go into it, but near unto their ships there gathering up the gold, which they finde digged out of the earth, by the wilde beasts, they carry it to their ships. Solomons ships figure out Christ has mi∣nisters, * 1.24 who gather together the treasures of wisedome and knowledge and other vertues, and in this work are employed the servants of Hiram with the servants of Solomon, when they that are learned in secular wisedome are joyned in the unity of faith with those, that are skilfull in the law of Moses; and the gold is brought to Solomon, when all the glory is given to Cnrist onely. And Solomons building of divers cities and fortifying them, figured out Christs building of his Church in di∣vers places, and compassing them about by his providence as with strong wals.

Notes

• * 1.1

  V. 2.
• * 1.2

  V. 10.
• * 1.3

  V. 11. V. 12, 13. Pellican. P. Martyr.
• * 1.4

  Rabbini.
• * 1.5

  Martyr. Junius.
• * 1.6

  Cajetan. P. Martyr.
• * 1.7

  Tostatus. Sallianus.
• * 1.8

  Iosephus.
• * 1.9

  De bello Jud. lio. 2. c. 3.
• * 1.10

  V. 15.
• * 1.11

  P. Martyr.
• * 1.12

  Pellican.
• * 1.13

  Lyra.
• * 1.14

  Josephus.
• * 1.15

  V. 16.
• * 1.16

  V. 24.
• * 1.17

  P. Martyr.
• * 1.18

  Lyra. V. 25.
• * 1.19

  2 Chr. 8. 13, 14.
• * 1.20

  V. 26.
• * 1.21

  Patriarks tra∣vels. V. 28.
• * 1.22

  J••seph. lib. 8. Antiq. c. 7.
• * 1.23

  Rabanus Maurus.
• * 1.24

  The Mystery.