An explication of the iudiciall lawes of Moses. Plainely discovering divers of their ancient rites and customes. As in their governours, government, synedrion, punishments, civill accompts, contracts, marriages, warres, and burialls. Also their oeconomicks, (vizt.) their dwellings, feasting, clothing, and husbandrie. Together with two treatises, the one shewing the different estate of the godly and wicked in this life, and in the life to come. The other, declaring how the wicked may be inlightned by the preaching of the gospel, and yet become worse after they be illuminated. All which are cleered out of the originall languages, and doe serue as a speciall helpe for the true understanding of divers difficult texts of scriptures. ... / By Iohn Weemse, of Lathocker in Scotland, preacher of Gods word.

CHAPTER XXIIII. Of their diverse sorts of Rulers and Commaunders.

EXOD. 18. 25. And Moses choose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, Rulers over thousands, &c.

THe people of the Iewes were divided into twelue* 1.1 Tribes, those Tribes were called Shibhte▪ because they had a rod carried before them.

Before the renting of the ten Tribes from Iuda they were called Israelites; but after the rent of the tenne Tribes, the two Tribes and the halfe were called Iuda, and the tenne Tribes were usually called Israel; and sometimes Ioseph, and Izreel, and sometimes Iacob. And in the Captivitie they are called Iewes, as Ester 2. 5. Mordecai of Benjamin is called a Iew, so Ester 3. Haman sought to destroy all the Iewes: and they are all called Isra∣el in the Captivitie, and thou shalt beare the iniquitie of Israel and Iuda, Ezek. 4. And once halevj, Mal. 2. 8.* 1.2 cum [he] demonstrativo, to signifie that levi is not put here for a proper name.

Those who ruled the twelue Tribes were divers, I••∣shua 23. 2. Ioshua called for all Israel, for their Elders, for their heads, for their Iudges and for their officers.

For the Elders, these are called zekenim, and the Se∣ventie* 1.3 translate them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, id est, majores; zekenim is sometimes taken for the great Synedrion, and sometimes for the Kings Councell, 2 King. 1. 10. And Iehu sent unto Samaria to the Rulers of Izreel, here the word El∣ders is taken for the Kings Councell, and not for the Sy∣nedrion,

for it sate in Ierusalem: and sometimes in the lesser Cities zekenim are called Senatores.

Secondly; He called for [roshim] their heads, which the Seventie translate 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Principes; This word [rosh]* 1.4 is taken sometimes for the Captaines of the Armies, 1 Sam. 11. 11. And Saul divided his Armie into three heads, that is three Companies. Iudg. 11. 7. eris nobis [lerosh] in caput, the Seventie translate it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So [rosh] is taken for the heads of the families, and they are called [roshe abhoth] here; Ioshua sent for the Cap∣taines of the Armie.

Thirdly; He sent for [Sh••phetim] the Iudges, that* 1.5 is the Rulers of the Cities, and these also were called [Omanim] 2 King. 10. 1.

These who ruled the people, were either the heads* 1.6 of the Tribes, and they were called share hashebhatim, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: these conveined the Tribes, and were Cap∣taines in their warres, for the Tribes had their owne proper warres, sometimes one against another; so the Danites made warre against them of Lachis, and they of Ephraim against Iepthe, Iudg. 12.

Or else they were Commanders in some part of the Tribe, for the Tribes were divided into families, and these who were cheife in the familie were called [Share* 1.7 mishpahhim] or Patriarchae, capita familiarum, the Patri∣archs or heads of the families.

These families againe were divided into thousands; Example. In Iuda there were fiue great families, or [alphe] thousands, and they had fiue Commanders who were called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Numb. 1. 16. these were the heads of thousands in Israel. And Micha alludeth to this chap. 5. 2. Bethleem Ephrata although thou be little amongst the thousands of Iuda. Secondly, some were Commanders over hundreds, and they were called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Thirdly, they were Commanders over fif∣ties,

Esay 3. 3. And lastly, Rulers over ten. This divi∣sion was instituted by Moses by the Councell of Iethro, and approved by Iehosaphat, 2 Chron. 19. These Com∣manders over thousands, hundreds, and fifties were [bagnale ribhoth] Lords to take away strife from the* 1.8 people, like our Iustices of peace; and they differed from the ordinary Iudges called Shophetim.* 1.9

Lastly, They had their [shoterim] which word is di∣versly translated by the Seventie: first they translate it* 1.10 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because by force they compelled men to obe∣dience, loro et baculo cogebant: and sometimes they trans∣late them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because they carried a rod: and some∣times 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Pro. 6 6. Goe to the Pismire, who hath not [Shoter] over seer or ruler. So Exod. 5. 15. they trans∣late Shoterim 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as yee would say, institu∣tores vel doctores, because they taught the people obedi∣ence to the Magistrates: and Act. 13. 35. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Syrus habet, caput vrbis. Iunius translates it moderatores, & Aqui∣la translateth it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, facinorum Vindices. Lastly, they translate shoterim, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, under-rowers; for as in a Gallie there are commanders, rowers, and under-ro∣wers; so in this well constituted Common-wealth of the Iewes, there were supreame Commanders, Commanders in the middle degree, and Commanders in the inferiour degree.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 virg••. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Trib••••.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 demon∣strativ••.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Seniores.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Capita, Prin∣pes.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I••dices.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Capita Familiarum.
• * 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉