"Hebrew" ("Joseph") unto us, to mock us, &c. Gen. xxxix. 14. Indeed (said Joseph to Pharaoh's butler) I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews. Gen. xl. 15. And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, ("Joseph") servant to the captain of the guard, and "we" (" Pharaoh's butler and baker") told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. Gen. xli. 12. The Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews. Gen. xliii. 32. And when "she" ("Pharaoh's daughter") had opened it (the ark of bulrushes) she saw the child (Moses), and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, this is one of the Hebrews' children. And when Moses was grown, he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens. And he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. Exod. ii. 6. 11. And "he" ("Jonah") said unto them (the mariners), I am an Hebrew, and I fear the Lord the God of heaven, which hath made the sea, and the dry land. Jonah i. 9. Are they Hebrews? (said St. Paul) So am I. 2 Cor. xi. 22. An Hebrew of the Hebrews. Phil. iii. 5. Dwelt in the plain of Mamre, &c.] Then Abram removed his tent and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron. Gen. xiii. 18. I will not take (said Abram to the king of Sodom) save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Gen. xiv. 24.

The Amorite.] See Gen. x. 16. and com. And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon, king of the Amorites. Numb. xxi. 21.

14 His brother, &c.] Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Terah took Abram, his son, and Lot, the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai, his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife, and they went forth with him from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. Gen. xi. 27. 31. And Abram said unto Lot, we be brethren. Gen. xiii. 8. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Prov. xvii. 17. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works? Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual

restore such an one in the spirit of meekness. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. vi. 1, 2. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John iii. 18.

Armed, &c.] Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies, whereby the people fall under thee. Ps. xlv. 3. 5. Kings of armies did flee apace; and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. Ps. lxviii. 12. Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He (the Lord) gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them and passed safely, even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. Who hath wrought and done it? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last: I am He. Isa. xli. 2, 3, 4.

Born in his own house, &c.] See chap. xii. 5. 16. And Abram said (Lord God), behold, to me thou hast given no seed, and lo, one born in my house is mine heir. Gen. xv. 3. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised. Gen. xvii. 12. 27. For I know "him" (“Abraham"), that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. Gen. xviii. 19. I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house, &c. Eccles. ii. 7.

Dan.] And the Lord shewed "him" ("Moses") all the land of Gilead, unto Dan. Deut. xxxiv. 1. And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan, their father, who was born unto Israel. Howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. Judges xviii. 29. Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the Lord in Mizpah. Judges xx. 1.

15 Divided, &c.] A good man sheweth favour and lendeth; he will guide his affairs with discretion. Ps. cxii. 5.

Smote them, &c.] See verse 14. and com. on "armed."

Damascus.] And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus ? Gen. xv. 2. And king Asa sent "them" ("the treasures of the king's house") to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus. 1 Kings xv. 18. And (Saul) desired of "him" ("the high priest") letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Acts ix. 2.

16 He brought back, &c.] See verse 11, 12. And I will make of thee a great nation, and make thy name great. Gen. xii. 2. And David enquired at the Lord, saying, shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he (Abiathar, the priest,) answered him, Pursue, for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away; and David recovered his two wives; and there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. 1 Sam. xxx. 8. 18, 19. Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am He. Isa. xli. 2, 3, 4.

17 Went out to meet him.] And Jephthah came to Mizpeh, unto his house, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him, with timbrels, and with dances (on his return from conquering the Ammonites), and she was his only child, beside her he had neither son nor daughter. Judges xi. 34. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing, and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. 1 Sam. xviii. 6. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour, but the rich hath many friends. Prov. xiv. 20. Wealth maketh many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbour. Prov. xix. 4.

After his return, &c.] This Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, &c. (consider how great this man was). Heb. vii. 1.

King's dale, &c.] Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken and reared up for himself a pillar which is in the king's dale. 2 Sam. xviii. 18.

18 King of Salem.] In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his (God's) dwelling-place in Zion. Ps. lxxvi. 2. For this Melchisedec, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being by interpretation, king of righteousness, and after that also, king of Salem, which is, king of peace (consider how great this man was). Heb. vii. 2. 4.

Bread and wine.] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, drink ye all of it. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day, when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. Matt. xxvi. 26, 27. 29. As we have, therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Gal. vi. 10.

The Lord

The priest of the most high, &c.] hath sworn, and will not repent. Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek. Ps. cx. 4. As he saith also in another place, thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedec. Called of God an high priest (alluding to Jesus), after the order of Melchizedec. Heb. v. 6. 10. "Whither" ("within the vail") the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus made an high priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedec. Heb. vi. 20. this Melchizedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, without father, without mother, without descent; having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually. Heb. vii. 1. 3. For he (Levi) was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedec met him. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. Heb. vii. 10. 22, &c.

For

The most high God.] See "Blessed be Abraham," verse 19. I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most High. Ps. vii. 17. Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows to the Most High. Ps. 1. 14. I will cry unto God most High, unto God that performeth all things for me. Ps. Ivii. 3. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Micak vi. 6. Howbeit, the Most High dwelleth not in

temples made with hands. Acts vii. 48. "The same" ("the soothsaying damsel") followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. Acts xvi. 17.

19 Blessed him, &c.] And make me (said Isaac to Esau, as if to Jacob) savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless thee before I die; and "he" ("Isaac") said, bring it near to me and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. Gen. xxvii. 4. 25. 29, &c. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Gen. xlvii. 7. 10. And Joseph said unto his father, they are my sons whom God hath given me in this place; and he said, bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them; the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the "lads" ("Ephraim and Manasseh") Gen. xlviii. 9. 16. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is it which their father spake unto them, and blessed them, every one according to his blessing, he blessed them. Gen. xlix. 28. On this wise "ye" ("Aaron and his sons") shall bless the children of Israel, saying, the Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace; and they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them. Numb. vi. 23-27. And he (Jesus) took them (the little children) up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark x. 16. But he whose descent is not counted from them (the sons of Levi), received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises; and, without all contradiction, the less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 6, 7.

Blessed be Abram, &c.] Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter (said Boaz to Ruth). Ruth iii. 10. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord. 2 Sam. ii. 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephes. i. 3. 6.

Possessor of heaven and earth.] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth. Gen. xiv. 22. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Ps. xxiv. 1. For every beast of the forest is

mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. Ps. 1. 10. The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth hath he given to the children of men. Ps. cxv. 16. At that time Jesus answered, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Matt. xi. 25. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, &c. &c. Luke x. 21.

20 Blessed be the most high God.] Blessed be the Lord God of Shem. Gen. ix. 26. And he (Abraham's servant) said, blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master, of his mercy and his truth. Gen. xxiv. 27. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Ps. lxviii. 19. His (the Messiah's) name shall endure for ever; his name shall be continued as long as the sun; and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things, and blessed be his glorious name for ever. Ps. lxxii. 18. 17. 19. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. Ps. cxliv. 1. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephes. i. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter i. 3, 4.

Which hath delivered, &c.] And all these kings, and their land, did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. Josh. x. 42. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. Ps. xliv. 3.

Tithes of all, &c.] And this stone which I (Jacob) have set for a pillar, shall be God's house, and of all that thou (God) shall give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee. Gen. xxviii. 22. And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's, it is holy unto the Lord; and concerning the tithe of the herd or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. Levit. xxvii. 30. 32. Also in the day of the

first fruits, when ye bring a new meat-offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation, ye shall do no servile work. Numb. xxviii. 26. Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds, or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy free-will offerings, nor heave offerings of thine hand. Deut. xii. 17. And thou shalt eat, before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds, and of thy flocks, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always; at the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithes of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates. Deut. xiv. 23. 28. And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the tithe of all things brought “they” (“the children of Israel") in abundantly; they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things; they brought in the offerings and the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully. 2 Chron. xxxi. 5, 6. 12. And we cast lots among the priests, that we should bring the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. Nehem. x. 37. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil, unto the treasuries. Nehem. xiii. 12. Come to Bethel and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgressions, and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years. Amos. iv. 4. Will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me! but ye say wherein have we robbed thee? in tithes and offerings: bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out (or empty out) a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal. iii. 8. 10. I fast twice in the week (said the Pharisee in the Gospel), I give tithes of all that I possess. Luke xviii. 12. I have written the more boldly unto you, putting you in mind that I (Paul) should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Rom. xv. 15, 16. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils; and as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. Heb. vii. 4. 9.

22 Lift up, &c.] And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did

swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord. Exod. vi. 8. For "I" ("the Lord") lift up my hand to heaven and say, I live for ever. Deut. xxxii. 40. And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, that it shall be for a time, times and an half. Dan. xii. 7. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven and the things that therein are, and the earth and the things that therein are, and the sea and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer. Rev. x. 5, 6.

Unto the Lord.] Now therefore swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son (said Abimelech to Abraham), but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, that thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned; wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba, because there they sware both of them. Gen. xxi. 23. 31. And it came to pass, when " "he" ("Jephthak") saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, alas! my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back. Judges xi. 35.

For

The most high God.] See verse 20. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be perfect. Gen. xvii. 1. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. Ps. xxiv. 1. (Let them (the enemies of Israel) be put to shame and perish), That men may know, that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the earth. Ps. lxxxiii, 18. thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isa. lvii. 15. And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. Daniel iv. 34. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. Hag. ii. 8. And

The possessor, &c.] See verse 19.

Abraham planted a grove at Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. Gen. xxi. 33.

23 I will not take, &c.] And the man of God (who came out of Judah) said unto the king (Jeroboam), if thou wilt give me half thine house I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread and drink water in this place. 1 Kings xiii. 8. But he (Elisha) said, as the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive "none" ("no blessing"); but he (Naaman) urged him to take it; but he refused; but Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, behold my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 2 Kings v. 16. 20. For the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan, but on the prey they laid not their hand; but the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand (but they laid not their hands on the prey). Esther ix. 15, 16. And when I was present with you and wanted, I was chargeable to no man; for that which was lacking to me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied; and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will I keep myself; wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth! 2 Cor. xi. 9. 11. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you, for I seek not yours, but you. 2 Cor. xii. 14.

Lest thou shouldest, &c.] But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion, that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 2 Cor. xi. 12. Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Heb. xiii. 5.

24 Aner.] See verse 13.

Save only, &c.] Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Prov. iii. 27. Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that VOL. I.

men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matt. vii. 12. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour; owe no man any thing, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Rom. xiii. 7, 8.

Let them take their portion, &c.] Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel; but I have used none of these things, that it should be so done unto me, for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 1 Cor. ix. 14, 15. The Scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn; and the labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Tim. v. 18.

CHAP. XV.-1 In a vision.] And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. Gen. xlvi. 2. And he (the Lord) said (unto Aaron and Miriam), hear now my words, if there be a prophet among you, I, the Lord, will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. Numb. xii. 6. Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer. 1 Sam. ix. 9. Now it came to pass, in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, as "I" ("Ezekiel') was among the captives, by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. Ezek. i. 1. And behold the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. Ezek. viii. 4. Afterwards the Spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. Ezek. xi. 24.

And he (Daniel) understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. Dan. x. 1. By the vision (said Daniel), my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. Dan. x. 16. And he (Peter) became very hungry, and would have eaten; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance: now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold the men which were sent from Cornelius had

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