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. VIII.

HEre they are named, who were the chiefe that ascended with Ezra to Ieru∣salem, * 1.1 and their Families numbred, viz. 1514. in 12 Companies, and then in three Companies more 258, being altogether, 1772. The place, in which they met was by the River of Ahava, otherwise called Euphrates, as most hold, or Perath, as the Hebrews. At this place Ezra numbring the people found that there * 1.2 were no Levits come: Wherefore hee sent certain teachers to Iddo the chief in Cespia. This sayth Lyra, is commonly held to have been the place of the Caspian * 1.3 Mountains, beyond which the ten Tribes were carryed captive by Salmanasar * 1.4

King of Assyria, being in Media. But he rejecteth this, both because there were no Levits amongst them, seeing they left the Kingdome of Israel, and came all of them into the Kingdome of Iudah in Ierohoams time, and there continued, till the * 1.5 ten Tribes were carryed away, whence it followeh, that they were carryed with Iudah and Benjamin, and lived amongst the men of those Tribes in their Captivi∣ty: and also because those parts were so far off, that Levits could not have beene fetcht from thence in so short a time, as was taken for this journey, viz. seven or eight days. For to the River they came the first day of the moneth, and these were not sent for till three days after, and when they were brought a stay was still made there to keep a Fast, after which the vessels dedicated unto the house of the Lord were weighted to certain Priests to deliver at Ierusalem, and yet upon the 12 day of the same moneh they began their journey towards Ierusalem, wherefore he subscribeth rather to R. Solomon, who sayth, that Caspia was a plate in Baby∣len, not far off, where many Levits remayned, of whom Iddo was the chiefe, and because these came not to go up to minister in the house of the Lord, but only some Priests were there ready take their journy with Ezra he sent for a certain number of them, who were accordingly sent unto him together with many Ne∣thinims, viz. 18. Levits of one Family, and 20 of another, and of Nethinims 120. * 1.6 And so there remayned still in Babylon many of them, who never returned, and millions of the ten Tribes about the Caspian mountains. Thus Lyra, but Iunius following the more common received opinion, sayth, that the place, from whence they came was situated in the upper part of Media, between Armenia and Her∣cania, and that having the Kings Letters they might well be furnisht to travaile this great journey with swift beasts in so short a time, which yet I cannot see, how, because they were so many, and to provide to bring them all with such speed must needs aske time, besides the time of the messengers going and their comming. But to the other Caspia, which was but 680 miles from Ierusalem, and so not full 80 miles from the place in which they were, they might, if they made hast, goe and come in the compasse of the time before spoken of. For that it was not 80 miles from them may be gathered, because it was no further from thence to Ierusa∣lem, then from Babylon, as hath been already shewed upon Chap. 2.

Then Ezra proclaimed a Fast; that God might be moved to keep them in their travail, for he was ashamed to ask a Guard of the King, because he had used spee∣ches * 1.7 employing security under Gods protection, and so they came all safely to the first day of the fifth moneth, chap. 7. 9. that is in 12 days lesse, then four moneths. But before he set forward on this journey, hee weyed the Gold and Silver and vessels given for the Lords house by the King and his Counsellours, * 1.8 and Princes, and by the Israelites to certain Priests, both of the chief and others in number 22, and then they took and carryed and delivered all at the Lords house * 1.9 in Ierusalem, after which they that returned offered many whole burnt offerings, and shewed the Kings Letters to the Princes beyond the River, that they might not molest, but deliver unto them necessaries for the Works, that they should set upon.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ver. 1, 2, &c.
• * 1.2

  Vers. 16, 17.
• * 1.3

  Lyra.
• * 1.4

  2 Kings. 17.
• * 1.5

  2 Chron. 11.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 18, 19. Vers. 20. Iunius.
• * 1.7

  Vers. 21.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 24, 25.
• * 1.9

  Vers. 33, 34. Vers. 35, 36.