Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
1, Moses doubting that he should not be beleeved, is confirmed by miracles; of his rod turned to a serpent; 6, and his hand leprous. 9, Waters should also be turned to blood. 10, Moses maketh excuses that he might not be sent. 14, God is angry; and appointeth Aaron to assist him. 18, Moses getteth leave of Iethro to depart into Egypt. 21, The Lord rehearseth his message to Pharaoh. 24, Hee meeteth Moses in the In…e, and seeketh to kill him. 25, Zipporah circumciseth her son, and he letteth him goe. 27, God sendeth Aaron to meet Moses. 29, Moses and Aaron doe their message unto Israel. 31, They beleeve, and are thankefull.
ANd Moses answered, and said; But behold, they will not beleeve mee, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Iehovah hath not appeared unto thee. And Iehovah said unto him, What is that in thy hand? and he said, a rod. And hee said; Cast it on the ground; and hee cast it on the ground, and it was (turned) to a serpent: and Moses fled from before it. And Iehouah said unto Moses; Put forth thy hand, & take it by the taile: and he put forth his hand & caught it, and it was (turned) to a ro… in his hand. That they may beleeve, that Iehovah the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaak, and the God of Iakob, hath appeared unto thee. And Iehovah said further more unto him▪ Put now thy hand into thy bosome; and hee put his hand into his bosome; and he tooke it out, and behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And hee said, Returne thy hand into thy bosome; and hee returned his hand into his bosome: and hee tooke it out of his bosome, and behold, it was turned as his flesh. And it shall bee, if they will not beleeve thee; nor heark… to the voice of the first signe, that they will beleeve the voice of the latter signe. And it shall be, if they will not beleeve also these two signes, not hearken to thy voice, that thou shalt take of the waters of the river, and powre upon the dry land, and the waters shall be, which thou shalt take out of the river, even they shall be (turned) to blood upon the drie land. And Moses said unto Iehovah; Oh my Lord, I am not a man of words, either from daies heretofore, or since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; but I am of an heauy mouth, and of an heavy tongue. And Iehovah said unto him; VVho hath made the mouth of man, or who maketh the dumbe, or the deafe, or the open-eyed, or the blind? have not I Iehovah? And now goe, and I will be with thy mouth, and will teach thee what thou shalt speake. And he said; Oh my Lord, send I pray thee, by the hand thou shouldest send. And the anger of Iehovah was kindled against Moses; and hee said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that speaking he can speake, and also behold he is comming forth to meet thee; and when he seeth thee, hee will bee glad in his heart. And thou shalt speake unto him, and shalt put the words in his mouth, and I will bee with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall doe. And hee shall speake for thee unto the people, and he shall be, even he shall be to thee for a mouth, and thou shalt be to him for a God. And this rod shalt thou take in thy hand, with the which thou shalt doe the signes. And Moses went, and returned to Iether his father in law, and said unto him; Let me goe I pray thee, and returne unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive: and Iethro said to Moses, Goe in peace. And Iehovah said unto Moses, in Midian; Goe, returnd into Egypt, for all the men are dead that sought thy soule. And Moses tooke his wife and his sonnes, and made them ride upon an asse; and hee returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses tooke the rod of God in his hand. And Iehovah said unto Moses; When thou goest to returne into Egypt see, all the wonders which I have put in thy hand, that thou doe them before Pharaoh, and I will make strong his heart, and he shall not send away the people. And thou shalt say unto Pha…oh; … saith Iehovah, Israel is my sonne my first-borne. And I say unto thee, Send away my sonne, that he may serve mee; and if thou refuse to send him away behold, I will stay thy sonne, thy first-borne: And it was in the way, in the Inne, that Iehovah met him, and sought to kill him. And Zipporah tooke a sharpe stone, and cut off the supernuous foreskinne of her sonne, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a husband of bloods art thou to me. And he let him goe: then shee said, a husband of bloods, for the circumcisions. And Iehovah said to Aaron; Goe to meet Moses, into the wildernesse: and hee went, and met him in the mountaine of God, and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of Iehovah, who had sent him, and all the signes which he had commanded him. And Moses went and Aaron, and they gathered together all the Elders of the sons of Israel. And Aaron spake all the words which Iehovah had spoken unto Moses: and he did the signes, in the eyes of the people. And the people beleeved; and they heard that Iehovah had visited the sonnes of Israel, and that hee had seene their affliction: and they bended downe the head, and bowed themselves.
Annotations.
BVt beheld] Hebr. and beheld: or, and if, as the Greeke translateth it, adding this question, what shall I say unto them? So (hên) behold, is used for (im) if, in Ier. 3. 1. Moses having experience of former refusall, Exod. 2. 14. feareth the like againe; and maketh exceptions.
Vers. 2. a rod] or, a staffe; as in Gen. 38. 18. A… instrument which shepherds used to guide their sheepe with: Lev. 27. 32. with it Moses now fed Iethroes flocke; but God sanctified it to work… miracles by, and to feed his people Israel. Therfore it is after called the rod of God, v. 20. and many great things were effected by it. To this the Prophets after, have reference; as, feed thy people … thy rod, &c. Mich. 7. 14.
Vers. 3. was (turned) to] or, became a serpent: … the word turned, is expressed in Exod. 7. 15. and the Greeke here addeth it in verse 17. As the shining of Moses face, and veile put upon it, (Exod. 34. 30. 33.) signified the glory of his ministerie, and the hiding of the end thereof, from unbeleeving Israelites, 2 Cor. 3. 7. 13. 16. so his rod turned to a serpent, was here for a signe to such as would not otherwise beleeve him, verse. 5. 8. 9. signifying that his ministery should become deadly, to all that by faith saw not the end of the same, to be theredemption of Abrahams seed, by Christ, Luk. 1. 68. 74. Rom. 10. 4. Gal. 3. The feeding of Gods people with his rod, was a signe of life and grace, and comfort. Mith. 7. 14. 15. Psal. 23. 4. the rod turned to a serpent, was a signe of death, Gen. 3. Num. 21. 6. Esa. 14. 29. Ierem. 8. 17. from before] or, from the face of it: for feare: because all serpents are odious to man; and this was terrible, called a dragon, in Exod. 7. 10. So the woman fled from the face of the serpent, Revel. 12. 14.
Vers. 4. by … taile] which was dangerous to d…n lest hee … be bitten thereby: howbeit Moses, obeying in faith, had no hurt; but the serpent was turned to a rod againe: so that ministration of Moses which turneth to the unbeleevers unto death, is to the obedient become an instrument of guiding them as a flocke, unto life and salvation by Christ, Mark. 16. 18. 2. Cor. 2. 15. 16. and 3. 6. 16. Gal. 3. 24. The Hebrew Doctors, barely apply it to the present case thus; as the serpent biteth and killeth the sonne of Adam, so Pharaoh and his people did bite and kill the Israelites: but hee was turned and made like a drie sticke. …inkei. R. Eliezer, c. 40.
Vers. 5. That they may] this sheweth the end of the former signe was to worke faith: and it is an unperfect speech; as if he should say, Doe this before them that they may beleeve. Such wants the holy Scripture of… supplieth, in the beginning or end of speeches: as in Mar. 14. 49. but that the scriptures might be fulled: which another explaineth thus, but all this is done that the scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled; Matth. 26. 56. So in 2 Sam 5. 8. these words are wanting, hee shall be chiefe and Captaine: which are afterwards supplied in 1 Chron. 11. 6. and sundry the like. See Exod. 13. 8. and 16. 8. and 18. 11. and 3…. 32.
Verse 6. leprous as snow] that is, white as snow, as the Chaldee translateth. The leprosie was a sore contagious disease, and by man incurable: and God laid it sometime suddenly upon persons, for their great sinnes, as upon Mary the sister of Moses, Num. 12. 10. upon Gehazi, 2 King. 5. 27. and lepers were shut out of other mens company. See the law hereof, Levit. 13. And they that were thus leprous as snow, were as dead, their flesh halfe consumed, Numb. 12. 10. 12.
Vers. 7. as his flesh] that is, ruddy and lively: the Greeke translateth, into the colour of his flesh: A thing done in the bosonte, signifieth secrecie, and effectualnesse, Prov. 21. 14. Psalme 29. 12. So by this plague of leprosie on Moses hand in his bosome, and healing it againe; God seemeth to threaten unto Moses himselfe if he refused, and to all that should disobey the word of the Lord by his ministories, sudden, secret, and terrible judgement, but upon their returne unto him; to cure them; for hee … undeth, and boaleth, Deut. 32. 39. Compare Ex… 25. 26. Deut. 28. 27. 35. 59. 60. 61. And Moses hand, signifieth his ministerie unto the sonnes of. If …, Psal. 77. 21. The Hebrew Doctors apply it thus; As the Lapet is uncleane, and maketh (others) … so were Pharaoh and his people unleane, and … Israel uncleane. And when hee made (his band) …, hee find unto him thus shall Israel bee (… the uncleannesse of the Egyptian, Pirk…i. …, c. 40.
Vers. 8. the …ice,] or at the voice: which is here given … signe, (as in Gen. 4. 10. it is unto blood;) because God by … signes speaketh unto men: and an … word with the signe, that it may be heard and understood, as … 30. Ezek. 1. …9. …. … 16. So … calleth them, the words of his sign…, Psal. 10…. …7.
Vers. 9. to blood This third signe, was for like end as the former; to signifie unto Israel, if they beleoved not, that God would bring upon them yet more bloody afflictions: and they beleeving hee would avenge them, on their enemies. Of the Egyptians waters turned to blood, see after in Exodus 7. 19. &c.
V. 10. Oh] in Gr. v I pray thee Lord: see this word in Gen. 43. 20. so after in v. 13. man of words] that is, eloquent: so a man of …; that is, talkative, Iob 11. 2. a man of arme, that is, mighty, Iob 22 8. a man of tongue, that is, a pratler, Ps. 140. 12. The Gr. here translateth, Iam not sufficient. So Paul saith, and who is sufficient for these things? 2 Cor. 2. 16. from daies heretofore] Heb. from yesterday or from the day before; used for al daies past: see Gen. 31. 2. of an heavy] or, heavy of mouth; that is slow, (or troubled) in speaking, & hard to be understood of the hearers; as the latter of these two signifieth, in Ezek. 3. 6. The Greek translateth, of a smal voice & of a slow tongue: the Chaldee, of a heavy speech and of a deep tongue. This (as other things in Moses) may have reference to the effect of the Law, which he administred: as on the contrary, the Psalmist prophesying of Christ, had his tongue, the penne of a speedy writer. Psal. 45. 2. and the Spirit, (which is received, not by the works of Moses law, but by the hearing of faith in Christ, Gal. 3. 2.) causeth prophesie, and other words of wisdome and knowledge, Act. 2. 18. 1. Gor. 12. 8. 10. & causeth the lips of those that are asleepe, to speake, Song 7. 9. By the Hebrew cannons, no Priest that stammered, lisped or was of an heavy mouth or tongue, might lift up his hands to blesse the people: Maimony in Misneh treat of Prayer, chap. 15. S… Soe the notes on Num. 6. 23.
Vers. 11 hath made] or as the Greek translateth, hath given Heb put, the mouth to … open eyed] or, open cared: for the Hebrew word signifieth both these, Esa. 42. 7. 20. and may have reference here to both. The Greeke tranflateth, the seeing. Compare Psal. 146. 8 Esa. 61. 1. and 33. 5. 6.
Vers. 12. I will be] The Chaldee, expounds it my word shall be: the Greeke, I will open thy mouth. will t…aoh] by my spirit, as Christ in like manner promiseth his Apostles, Matth. 10. 19. 20. Mark. 13. 11. Luke 12. 11. 12.
Vers. 13. by the hand thou shouldest] that is, by his hand (or ministery) whom thou shouldest send, as being fitterthand: (or) by the hand (of any other whom) thou wilt send. The Chaldee, and That gum Ierusalemy translate, by the hand of him whom it is meet to send: and the Greeke …, choose an… then able man whom thou wilt send. Moses … greatnesse of the worke, would with draw his shoulder, through infirmity: God hereby … wing the imperfection of Moses administration, and impossibility of the law to bring men to perfection; when Moses could not bring Israel into the promised land: …. 3. 24. 25. 27. 28. Romans 8. 3. Hebrewes 7. 19. The hand of one, is usually put for his ministerie: as Moses now was s…m of God by the hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush … 7. 35. See Exodus 9. 35. Psal. 97 2…. Hag. 1. 1. Mal. 1. 1.
Vers. 24. speaking speake] that is, speake well and eloquently. Thus God distributeth his gifts by measure; diversly; to one is given by the spirit, the word of wisedome; to …ther, the word of knowledge; to another, kindes of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues; &c. 1 Cor. 12. 8. 10. So among the Apostles, 2 Cor. 11. 6. and 10. 10. Mar. 3. 17. Of this Aaron, see after in Exod. 6. 20. 26.
Vers. 15. the words] which I have spoken to thee; as the Greeke saith, my words. God signifying hereby, that the Priests (which came of Aaron) should receive their doctrine from the Law, which was given by Moses: as Ezek. 44. 24. Mal. 4. 4 Levit. 6. 8. 9. I will be] the Chaldee faith, my word shall be: the Greeke, I will open thy mouth: as vers. 12.
Verse 16. hee shall bee] or, it shall bee that hee shall be: the word is doubled, for more vehemency and assurance. a mouth] that is, a spokes-man, or as the Chaldee saith, an interpreter. In Exod. 7. 1. he is callled his Prophet. a God] the Chaldee saith (Rab, that is,) a Master: and the Ierusalemy Thargum addeth, an inquirer of Doctrine from before the Lord. The Greeke translateth, in things pertaining to God: which very phrase Paul useth in Hebrewes 5. 1. The Hebrew Elohim, God, is after attributed to Iudges and Magistrates. Exod. 22. 8. 9. Psal. 82. 6. and the reason is rendred by Christ, because the word of God is given to them, Ioh. 10. 34. 35. Here Moses, though the yonger brother (Exodus 7. 7.) is preferred before Aaron his elder: so God oftentimes disposed: see Gene…. 25. 23. and 48. 19.
Vers. 17. this rod] which was turned into a serpent, as the Greeke addeth for explanation: In verse 20. it is called the rod of God; it was before Moses shepherds staffe.
Vers. 18. Iether] called after, Iethro: in Greeke Iethor: see Exod. 3. 1. in peace] or with peace: the Greeke translateth, with health or welfare.
Vers. 19. thy saule] that is, thy life; as Genesis 19. 17. So the Chaldee well explaineth it, that sought to …ill thee. Though sometime to seeke the soule, is taken in the good part, as, none seeketh for my soule, Psal. 142. 5. that is, careth for me or for my life: yet usually it signifieth, seeking to kill one; and is sometime explained, seeking the soule to take it away; as … Kings 19. 10. This phrase is often used. So Matth. 2. 20.
Vers. 20. sonnes] two, Gershom and Eliezer, Exodus 18. 3, 4. an asse] the Greeke translateth … as moe then one, and often the Hebrew putteth the singular, for many. See Genesis 3. 2. This may argue Moses poore estate, as Christs, Zichar. …. …. …od of God] that is, which God had appo… him to worke miracles with, as verse 3. 17. So the Chaldee explaineth it, the rod whereby miracles should be done, from before the Lord. So in Exod. 17. 9.
Vers. 21. have put] or, shall p…t in thy hand, that is, give thee power to doe. What wonders signifie, see on Exodus 7. 3▪ make strong:] or, make …, fast, …, and hard, that hee shall not re…ut or yeeld: therefore i… Exodus. 7. 3. God useth another word, I will den; and so the Greeke translateth this here. As before God … Pharaohs heart, to hate his people, (Psalme 105. 25.) so now hee is said to make-strong, and to harden his heart; and of King Sichon, the Lord hardened his spirit, and made his heart strong (or obstinate) Deuteronomie 2. 30. and hardned the hearts of the other Canaanites, Ioshua 11. 20. and made fatte, and hardened the hearts of the Israelites, Esay 6. 10. Iohn 12. 40. and gave them the spirit of slumber, Romans 11. 8. As hardnesse is sinne, so Pharaoh hardened his owne heart, Exodus 9. 34. and so all wicked men, Psalme 95. 8. but as it is a judgement and punishment for sinne, GOD hardneth; using hereunto sundry meanes; sometime withdrawing his outward word and workes, Psalme 147. 19. 20. Matthew 11. 21. 23. sometime the inward working of his spirit, Genesis 6. 3. and sending outward meanes to deceive them, 1 Kings 22. 20. 23. or strong delusions to blinde their mindes, 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. Romans 11. 8. 10. or making his word (which they abuse) to be the favour of death unto them, 2 Corinthians 2. 15. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 8. or, giving them over to a reprobate minde, Romans 1. 28. or to Satan to be blinded and deluded unto destruction, 2 Corinthians 4. 4. 1 Kings 22. 22, 2 Thessal. 2. 9. 12. So God is said to determine and to doe those things but justly; which the wicked of their owne accord, doe also rush into most unjustly; as Acts 4. 27. 28. 2 Samuel 12. 11. 12. And he hath merciemercy on whom he will; and whom he will bee hardeneth, Romans 9. 18. The Hebrew Doctors, though they erre about mans free-will, yet say, that it may be a man sinneth so great a sinne, or so many sinnes, as judgement is given from the Iudge of truth, that vengeance be taken on the sinner, for the sinnes th… he hath done willingly & wittingly; and that repentance be with-holden from him, and leave is not permitted him to … from his wickednesse; but that hee die and perish in the sinne that he hath done. This is that which the holy blessed (God) saith by the hand of Esaias; Make the heart of this people fat, &c. (Esa. 6. 10.) Likewise he… saith, But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his Prophets, untill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no healing, (2 Chro. 36. 16.) as if he should say, they sinned willingly, and multiplied their trespasses, till they were condemned to have repentance with-holden frō them, for that is the healing. Therefore it is written in the Law, And I will make strong the heart of Pharaoh; because Phara…h sinned of himselfe first, and did evill unto Israel which were strangers in his land, as it is said, Com… on, let … deale wisely with them, (Exodus 1. 10.) hee gave sentence, that repentance should bee with-holden from him, till vengeance were taken on him: Therefore GOD hardened his heart. And why then sent his unto him by the hand of Moses saying, let (my people) goe, and repent thou, when as GOD had said unto him; but thou and thy servants, I know that yee will not yet feare, &c. (Exodus 9. 30.) And indeed, for this have I raised thee up, &c. Exod. 9. 16. &c. To the end that he might make knowne to those that come into the world, that when God with-holdeth repentance from a sinner, hea… cannot repent; but shall die in his wickednesse which hee did at the first of his owne accord. Maimony treat. of Repentance, chap. 6. S. 3. Whereas the Rabbine saith of repentance, that that is the healing: we may better say, that the forgivenesse of sinnes upon their repentance and faith in God is the healing: for whereas it is written, lest they should be converted and I should heale them, Matth. 13. 15. another Evangelist expoundeth it, lest they should bee converted, and their sinnes should be forgiven them, Mar. 4. 12. With his other doctrine, of God with-holding repentance from some sinners, we may compare that of the Apostle, in Heb. 6. 4. 6. of those whom it is impossible to renew unto repentance.
Vers. 22. my first borne] This sheweth both the right which God had in them, and the love which he bare unto them: Gen. 22. 2. Psal. 89. 28. 1 Ioh. 3. 1. This grace Israel obtained by adoption in Christ, Ioh. 1. 12. Rom. 8. 14. 15. Heb. 12. 23. Hos. 11. 1. And by Israel here is meant the people, the sonnes or Church of Israel; as all Israel, 1 King. 8. 62. is in verse 63. all the sonnes of Israel, and in 2 Ch…on. 7. 4. 5. called all the people. So, all Israel, 2 Chron. 10. 3. is expounded, all the Church (or congregation) of Israel, 1 Kings 12. 3. Howbeit as the like speech in Hos. 11. 1. is applied unto Christ himselfe, Matth. 2. 15. so is this place by the Hebrew Doctors in their Midras (or Comment) on Psalme 2. 7.
Vers. 23. And I] or Therefore I: see Gen. 31. 44. say unto thee] This manner of speech is with authority, as commanding: so the Greeke translateth the word, in Ios. 11. 9. and say, in Luke 9. 54. and 4. 3. is for command: and a thing spoken in Gods name, 1 Chron. 21. 19. is said to bee commanded, 2 Sam. 24. 19. and that which in Mark. 7. 13. is called the word of God, is in Matth. 15. 6. called his commandement. send away] that is, by thy word, let my sonne goe, or suffer him to goe; to wit, willingly: as that which in Mark. 5. 12. is written, Send us unto the swine; is in Matthew 8. 31. and Luke 8. 32. Suffer us to goe. And it is meant here, of letting them goe free out of their servitude, (as after, this word is used in like cases, Exodus 21. 26. 27.) for Egypt was the house of servants, Exodus 20. 1. and 1. 13. thy first borne] not onelyonly of Pharaoh, but of all the Egyptians, as was fulfilled Exodus 12. 29. and upon all the hoast of Pharaoh, Exod. 14. 28.
Vers. 24. the way] towards Egypt. Iehovah] the Greeke and Chaldee translate, the Angell of the Lord. to kill him:] that is, Moses; who for neglect of circumcising his sonne, was guilty of cutting off by the law of God, Genes. 17. 14. This severity God used toward Moses, who was going to take charge of the Church of God, and yet had such corruption in his owne family, as that the seale of the righteousnesse of faith in Christ, was therein omitted; an evill example to all Israel. So the Hebrew Doctors (as the Zohar upon this place) frame a speech from hence, that God should say unto Moses, Thou art going to deliver Israel, and to bring downe a mighty king: and thou thy selfe hast cast away my covenant from thee. Others of them write, that except the tribe of Levi… of whom it is said, they kept thy covenant, Deuteronomie 33. 9. all Israel besides, omitted the covenant of circumcision in Egypt, and were circumcised there by Moses; that they might eat the passeover according to the law, Exodus 12. 48. Maimony in Misneh; tom. 2. in Asure biah; chapter 13. S. 2.
Vers. 25. sharpe stone] or, sharpe knife: but both Greeke and Chaldee versions, call it a stone: the Hebrew hath the name of edge, or sharpenesse, Psal. 89. 44. and a stone-rocke is so called for the sharpenesse of it. So in Ios. 5. 2. mak thee knives of edges, (that is, sharpe knives,) or of stones. cast it] Hebrew, made it touch his feet: the Chaldee saith, brought it neere before him. Hereby, Moses feet seeme to be meant: howbeit the Ierusalemy Thargum expoundeth it, the feet of the Destroyer, meaning of the Angell that came to kill Moses. The Greeke translateth, shee fell at his feet. a husband] or, a bridegroome of bloods; that is, a bloody bridegroome or husband: as a man of bloods, 2 Sam. 16. 7. is a cruell bloody man: so here Zipporah seemeth in indignation against her husband, thus to call him. Some thinke the childe is thus called, because in the day of the circumcision, it is as espoused unto GOD by the seale of the covenant. The Chaldee translateth it, for the blood of the circumcision, let my husband be given me.
Vers. 26. hee let him goe] or, left off (slaked) from him: by hee, meaning GOD, who sought before to kill Moses, verse 24. So the Thargum Ierusalemy saith, the Destroyer let him goe. a husband, &c.] here the Chaldee paraphraseth thus, had it not beene for the blood of this circumcision, my husband must needes have beene killed. And it is like that upon this occasion and trouble, Zipporah with her children was sent backe againe from hence, to her fathers house, as appeareth by Exod. 18. 2. 3.
Vers. 27. of God] that is, mount Horeb; where the glory of the Lord had beene revealed, saith the Chaldee paraphrast. See Exod. 3. 1. And now God shewed that mercy to Aaron, which after hee rehearsed to Ely, one of his posterity, 1 Sam. 2. 27. 28. Did not I plainely appeare unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, &c.
Vers. 30. Aaron spake] as God ordained, verse 16. hee] that is, Moses did, as was appointed, verse 17. and the signes were those three forementioned, vers. 3. &c.
Vers. 31. heard] that is, hearkened gladly to this joyfull tidings, as God foretold, Exod. 3. 18. therefore the Greeke translateth it, and they rejoyced that the Lord had visited. And the Holy Ghost sheweth such force to be in the Hebrew word; for when one Prophet saith, Ezekias heard, (or hearkened) 2 King. 20. 13. another saith, Ezekias was glad. Esa. 39. 2. visited] to wit, in mercy: the Chaldee saith, remembred. See Gen. 21. 1. Luk. 1. 68. seene] to wit, with commiseration, as Ex. 3. 7. bended downe the head] this was a gesture of humiliation, with the face toward the ground, as is expressed in 2 Chronicles 20. 18. Exodus 34. 8. bowed themselves] or, worshipped; fell downe prostrate. This was another humble gesture, used in reverence and thanksgiving; as Gen. 24. 26. Exod. 12. 27. 1 Chron. 29. 20. 2 Chron. 29. 30. Nehem. 8. 6. There were also two other gestures of honour, kneeling, 2 Chron. 6. 13. and bending (or bowing) of the body, 2 Chron. 29. 29. and these three are all mentioned in Psal. 95. 6. They differed one from another: the bending of the head was the least, and it was the bowing downe of the face onelyonly. The bending of the body, was when the whole body was bent downeward, the face towards the knees. Kneeling, was upon the knees, a gesture commonly knowne. Bowing of themselves (or worship) was with falling downe upon their face on the ground, their hands and feet displaied. Wherefore that which one Evangelist calleth worshipping, Matth. 8. 2. another calleth falling on the face, Luk. 5. 12. So the Hebrew cannons also distinguish them, saying, The bending of the body, spoken of in any place, is towards the knees, (the bowing of all the joynts of the backe-bone, so that he maketh his body as a bow:) the bending of the head, is with the face (or countenance) downeward: the bowing of ones selfe (or worshipping) is the displaying of hands and feet, till hee bee prostrate with his face on the earth; Maimony in Misn. treat of Prayer, c. 5. S. 12. 13. Here the Israelites shewed by these gestures, their reverence to Gods word, and thankfulnesse: the Hebrew Doctors (as in the Zohar upon this place) say, that the bending of the head with the face toward the ground, was for to escape judgment: and the bowing of themselves (or worshipping) was for to obtaine mercy: and that the bending of the head, was before the worshipping; according to the mysterie of the Sin-offring before the Burnt-offring. The order of which sacrifices may be seene in Exod. 29. 14. 18. Lev. 8. 14. 18. and 14. 19. 20. and 15. 15. and 61. 11. 15. 24.