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. III.

ANd when the seventh moneth was come, &c. In the end of the former Chap∣ter * 1.1 having shewed that after their offering made, the Priests and Levites went and dwelt in their Cities, and the rest of the people in theirs: Now the time of keeping the Feast of Tabernacles being come, in the seventh moneth they

came with one accord again to Jerusalem: Then Ieshuah with his kinred, the * 1.2 Priests and Zorobabel with his kinsmen, rose up and built the Altar, &c. And ha∣ving set this upon the old foundation in the Priests Court, where Solomon had set the Altar for Sacrifice up of old, they offered sacrifices pertaining to that solem∣nity from day to day, as was appointed, Numb. 29. 13. And this they did although the heathen dwelling round about them made them afraid, as envying at these their proceedings, for the enmity which they bare through the instigation of Satan, a∣gainst the true God and his worship. And▪ as they did at the feast of Tabernacles, so they did daily, as was appointed by the Law morning and evening, beginning the first day of the moneth, and so going on from day to day, and on the new Moons, when yet there was no foundation of the Temple laid; for order was not * 1.3 taken for this till five moneths after, but onely moneys were given to workmen * 1.4 for the providing of materials, and then in the second moneth of the second year after their comming, they set to the work, and laid the foundation, certain Le∣vites * 1.5 being set to play upon instruments, and to sing at the doing hereof to the praise of God. But even when some were singing and making musick, others that were ancient wept to see how much this Temple was like to come short of that which Solomon had built before, but was by Nebuchadnezar destroyed for their sins. For so indeed it must needs doe, seeing Solomon who built the former aboun∣ded both with riches and people, and they that sate now to the work, were a company of poor exiles, who wanted the means which he enjoyed: yet Hag. 2. 8. they are comforted with this, that the glory of the Temple by them now built, should be greater then the glory of that, which Lyra expoundeth as sayd, because the state that they were in being considered, it was more admirable, that such an * 1.6 house be built by them now, then one more magnificent by Solomon then. But for so much, as it is spoken not of the present but of the future times, The glory of this house shall be greater, he yeeldeth this other reason, viz. because the Law was taught in the Temple of Solomon, whereby none shall live, but in this the Gospel of life and peace by Christ and his Apostles. And this indeed is the truest, and most evidently proving, that Christ is not yet to come, but already come, seeing otherwise this can never be verified, for so much as the Temple built by Zorobabel and Jeshuah, was long agoe destroyed by the Romans.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.2

  Vers. 2.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 8. 9. Vers. 10. 11. Vers. 12.
• * 1.6

  Lyra.