Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 3 · Chapter 25

Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs · Biblical commentary 3 · Chapter 25

p. 151CHAP. XXV.

1, God commandeth that every seventh year should be a Sabbath and a yeere of rest to the Land of Canaan, 4. in which it might neither be tilled nor reaped, 6, and the fruits that grew of their owne accord that yeere, were to be common for all. 8, The law for the Iubilee in the fiftieth yeere; for libertie to the inhabitants of the land, returning to their families and possessions, and rest unto the land. 14. Oppression may not be in selling of Possessions. 18, A blessing of obedience. 23, The manner of selling and redeeming lands. 29, of houses in p. 152walled cities, 31, and of houses in villages. 32, Of the houses and suburbs of the Levites, and the redemption of them. 35, Compassion of the poore. 39, The poore Hebrewes might not be sold for bondmen: 43, nor ruled ever with rigour. 44, Bondmen were to bee of the heathen. 47, The redemption of Hebrew servants out of strangers hands. 54, Their freedome at the Iubilee.

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ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses, in 12mount Sinai, saying. Speake unto the sonnes of Israel, and say unto them: When yee come into the land, which I give unto you: then shall the land rest, a sabbath, unto Iehovah. Six yeers, thou 3shalt sow thy field; and six yeeres, thou shalt prune thy vineyard: and shalt gather, the revenue thereof. And in the seventh yeere, 4shall bee a Sabbath of sabbatisme, unto the land; a Sabbath, for Iehovah: thou shalt not sow, thy field; nor prune, thy vineyard. That 5which groweth-of-it-owne-accord of thy harvest, thou shalt not reape; and the grapes of thy separation, thou shalt not gather: it shall be unto the land, a yeere of sabbatisme. And the Sabbath of the land, shall bee unto you for meat, unto thee, and unto thy man servant, 6and unto thy woman servant: and unto thy hired servant, and unto thy sojourner; the strangers, that are with thee. And unto thy cattell; and unto the beast, that are 7in thy land: shall all the revenue therof bee, for to eat.

And thou shalt number unto thee seven 8Sabbaths of yeeres; seven yeers, seven times: and the daies of the seven Sabbaths of yeers, shall be unto thee, nine and forty yeers. And thou shalt cause-to-sound, the trumpet ofloud 9sound, in the seventh monethmonth; in the tenth day of the monethmonth: in the day of Atonements, shall yee cause the trumpet to sound, throughout all your land. And yee 10shall sanctifie, the yeere of fiftie yeeres; and proclaime liberty, throughout the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof: a Iubile it shall be unto you; and ye shall returne, every-man unto his possession; and every-man unto his family, shall returne. A Iubile shall it be, a yeere of fifty yeeres, shall it be unto you: ye 11shall not sow; neither shall yee reape, that which groweth-of-it-selfe in it, neither shall ye gather the grapes, of the separations therof. For, it is the Iubile; holinesse, shall it bee unto you: out of the field, yee shall eate the 12revenue thereof. In this yeere of Iubile; ye shall returne, every-man unto his possession. 13And if ye sell a sale, unto thy neighbour; or buy, of thy neighbours hand: doe not ye oppresse, 14any man his brother. According to the number of yeeres, after the Iubile; thou shalt buy, of thy neighbour: according to the number of the yeeres of the revenues, he shall sell unto thee. According to the 16multitude of yeeres, thou shalt multiply the price thereof; and according to the diminution of yeeres, thou shalt diminsh the price thereof: for, (according to) the number of the revenues, doth he sell unto thee. And ye 17shall not oppresse, any man his neighbor; but thou shalt feare thy God: for, I am Iehovah, your God. And yee shall doe my statutes, and keepe my judgements, and do them: & ye shall dwell on the land, in confident-safety. And the land, shall give her fruit; and ye shall eate, to the full: and dwell thereon, in confident-safetie. And if ye shall say, what shall we eat, in the seventh yeere? behold, we shall not sow; neither shall we gather our revenue. Then I will command my blessing upon you, in the sixt yeer: and it shall bring forth revenue, for three yeeres. And ye shall sow, the eight yeere: and shall eat, of the old revenue: untill the ninth yeere, untill her revenue come in, ye shall eate of the old. And the land, shall not be sold for ever; for the land is mine: for ye are strangers and sojourners, with me. And in all the land of your 24possession; yee shall grant a redemption, for the land.

If thy brother be waxen poore; and hath 25sold, some of his possession: then the redeemer thereof, he that is neere unto him, shall come; and shall redeeme, the sale of his brother. And a man, if he have not a redeemer: 26and his hand hath attained, and found sufficiencie for the redemption thereof. Then he 27shall count, the yeeres of the sale thereof; and restore the overplus, unto the man to whom he sold it: and hee shall returne, unto his possession. And if his hand finde not 28sufficiencie to restore unto him; then his sale shall be, in the hand of the buyer therof, untill the yeere of Iubile: and it shall goe-out, in the Iubile: and he shall returne, unto his possession.

And a man, if he sell a dwelling house, in 29a walled citie; then the redemption thereof shall be, until the end of the yeere of the sale there of: a yeere of daies, shal be the redemption thereof. And if it be not redeemed, untill a whole yeere be fulfilled thereto; then the house, which is in the citie that hath **…not a wall, shall bee confirmed for ever, to …him that bought it, throughout his generations: it shall not goe-out, in the Iubile. But p. 153the houses of the villages which have no wall, round-about; shall be every-one counted, as a field of the countrie: redemption shall be for it; in the Iubile it shall goe-out. And the cities of the Levites; the houses of the cities of their possession: a redemption 32ever, shall be to the Levites. And he which shall redeeme, (shall be) of the Levites; and 33the sale of the house, and the citie of his possession, shall goe-out in the Iubile: for the houses of the cities of the Levites, that is their possession; among the sonnes of Israel. And the field, of the suburbs of their cities, shall not be sold: for it is to them, a possession 34for ever.

And if thy brother be waxen poore; and his hand fayleth, with thee: then thou shalt 35strengthen him; even the stranger and the sojourner, that he may live with thee. Take 36not thou of him, biting-usury or increase; but feare thy God: and let thy brother live with thee. Thy mony, thou shalt not give 37unto him, upon biting-usurie: not give him thy meat, upon increase. I, am Iehovah your 38God; which brought you forth, out of the land of Egypt: to give unto you, the land of Canaan; to be unto you, a God.

And if thy brothr be waxen-poore, with 39thee, and be sold unto thee: thou shalt not serve thy selfe with him, with the service of a servant. As an hired servant as a sojourner, he 40shall be with thee: unto the yeere of Iubile, he shall serve with thee. And hee shall goe-out 41from with thee; he, and his sonnes with him: and shall returne, unto his family; and unto the possession of his fathers, shall he returne. For they are my servants; whom I 42brought, out of the land of Egypt: they shal not be sold, with the sale of a servant. Thou 43shalt not rule over him, with rigour: but shalt feare thy God. Both thy man-servant and 44thy woman-servant, which thou shalt have: (shall be) of the heathens, that are round-about you; of them shall ye buy, man-servant and woman-servant. And also, of the sons of the sojourners, that doe sojourne with 45you, of them ye shall buy; and of their familie, which are with you; which they beget, in your land: and they shall be to you, for a possession. And ye shall take them as an-inheritance 46for your sons after you, to inherit for a possession; for ever, with them ye shall serve your selves: but over your brethren, the sons of Israel, any-man over his brother; thou shalt not rule over him, with rigour.

And if the hand of the stranger and sojourner 47with thee, doe attaine; and thy brother be waxen-poore, by him: and be sold, unto the strāger the sojourner, with thee; or to the stocke, of the strangers familie. After 48that he is sold, a redemption shall bee for him: one of his brethren, shall redeeme him. Either his uncle, or his uncles sonne, 49shall redeeme him; or any of the neere-kin of his flesh, of his family, shall redeeme him: or if his hand hath attained, then he shall redeeme himselfe. And he shall count, with 50him that bought him; from the yeere, that he was sold to him; unto the yeere of Iubile: and the money of his sale, shall be according to the number of yeeres; as the daies of an hired servant, shall he be with him. If there 51be yet many, of the yeeres: according unto them, shall he restore his redemption; out of the money that he was bought for. And 52if there remaine but a few, of the yeeres, unto the yeere of Iubile, when hee hath counted with him: according to his yeeres, hee shall restore his redemption. As an hired-servant 53of the yeere, by the yeere, shall he be with him: he shall not rule over him with rigour, before thine eyes. And if he bee not 54redeemed, by these: then he shall goe-out, in the yeere of Iubile, hee, and his sonnes with him. For unto mee, the sons of Israel are 55servants; they are my servants; whom I brought-forth, out of the land of Egypt: I am Iehovah your God.

Annotations.

foreign These letters signifie the beginning of the two and thirtieth section, or lecture of the Law: see Gen. 6. 9.

IN mount Sinai] or, by the mount; that is, in 1the plaine about it, where Israel camped still, Numb. 10. 11. 12. So Manasses is sayd to bee buried in his house, 2 Chro. 33. 20. when it was but in the garden of his house, 2 King. 21. 18. And here God beginneth to teach his people the profession and practise of their obedience unto him, in their land and possessions, sanctified by the Sabbaths & Iubilees. Which were a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ, Coloss. 2. 17. 12. Therefore these were the ordinances of mount Sinai, which brought forth children unto bondage: but wee are come unto mount Sion, where the Lambe (Christ) standeth with his 144. thousand, that have his Fathers name written in their foreheads; and by faith doe enter into his rest. Gal. 4. 25. Rev. 14. 1. Heb. 12. 22. and 4. 3.

Vers. 2. rest] or keepe sabbath. a Sabbath] or, 2a rest: the Chaldee calleth it a release or remission; which word Moses useth in Deut. 15. 1. This p. 154Law tooke place when they had possession of the land, which was conquered by Iosua in 7. yeeres; so the eight yeere after Moses death, was the first to be reckned towards the Sabbath yeere, and yeere of Iubile; as appeareth by Ios. 14. 1. 2. 7. 10. &c. For Caleb was 40. yeeres old when hee was sent to veiw the land, in the second yeere after their comming out of Egypt, Numb 13. Deut. 1. and they were 38. yeers under Moses in the wildernes, Deut. 2. 14. and when Caleb was 85. yeeres old, the land was given them for inheritance, Ios. 14. 7. 10. that in the 8. yeere of Iosua, they beganne the count; and the seventh yeere after was the first Sabbath yeere, and the fiftieth yeere after, the first Iubile.

V. 3. the revenue] or, income, that is, the fruit, as the Greeke translateth. And under these principalls, 3all other worke belonging to husbandry, is implied.

V. 4. Sabbath of sabbatisme] that is, of rest: which two words signifie an exact rest, as is noted on Exodus 416. 23. unto the land] which should have rest every seventh yeere, from being ploughed, digged, dounged, or manured; from being reaped, or mo…en, or the like. As the Sabbath day (wherein men rested) was to teach Israel that they themselves were the Lords: so the Sabbath yeere was to teach that the land was the Lords; therefore he addeth a Sabbath unto Iehovah, meaning unto his honour, and in signe of homage unto him; which the Chaldee translateth a release before the Lord. The Sabbath day was a rest from their labours, laid upon man for sinne, Gen. 3. 19. the Sabbath yeere was a rest for the ground, which for mans sin, God had cursed, Gen. 3. 17. In this yeer, at the feast of boothes, there was a solemn reading of Gods Law, before all Israel, Deut 31. 10.—13. and at the end of this yeer, a release of debts, Deut. 15. 1. 2. &c. It was a figure of the Sabbath or rest, which Christ was to give unto his Church; of the understanding, which they should have in his Law; and the remission of their sins, (which were their debts, Mat. 6. 12. Luk. 11. 4.) when the time of grace, the acceptable yeere of the Lord should be proclaimed, Esay 61. 1. 2. Luke 4. 18. 19. &c. 1 Cor. 6. 2. Thus every seventh yeere, was for them to meditate of, and in faith to expect Christ; who is the true Noe, that giveth us comfort and rest from our worke, and from the sorrow of our hands; because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed, Genesis 5. 29. prune] or, cut thy vineyard, meaning the superfluous branches of the vines, which the husbandman cutteth off, to make the trees more fruitfull. Therefore to signifie that God would leave the vine of his Church wast, he saith, it shal not be pruned, Esa. 5. 6. And under these, all other worke of husbandry is forbidden. The Hebrew canons shew it thus. It is commanded to rest from tilling of the land, and dressing of trees, in the seventh yeere, Lev. 25. And who so doth worke of tillage of land or trees, in that yeere, be frus…ateth a commandement, and transgresseth against a prohibition, Lev. 25. 4. They may not plant in the seventh (yeere) though they bee trees that beare no fruit; nor cut off k…bs from the trees, nor brush off withered lea… boughes, nor binde up the branches, nor make a sm… under them to kill the wormes, nor cover the pla…, with any thing whrein dung is, that the fowles might not eat them when they are tendor, nor cover the … fruits, &c: and so all other culture (or husbanaing) o… trees. For sowing or pruning, or reaping, or gatharing fruits this yeere, a man was to be beaten; whether they were the fruits of the vineyard, or of other trees; for other works not expressed in the Law, he was not beaten but chastised (or scourged.) He that pla… in the seventh yeere, either of ignorance, or presum… ously; (that which he planted) was plucked-up-by the roots. He that ploughed or dounged his ground in the seventh yeere; that it might be the fitter to sow whe… the seventh yeere was out, they amearsed him, & he might not sow it, at the going out of the seventh yeere. If he removed thorns, or gathered out stones, to fit it against the seventh yeere went out; for asmuch, as he … that which was not lawfull; he was amearsed: but …ee might sow it, at the going out of the yeere, &c. Maimony tom. 3. in Iobel (or treat. of the Intermission … Iubile,) chap. 1. The outward rest of Israel from these laborious works, figured a better rest which all the people of God should have by Christ, ceasing from their owne works, and doing the worke of God, beleving in his Sonne, by whom they shall find rest unto their soules. Heb. 4. 9. 10. Iohn. 6. 29. Mat. 11. 28. 20. Vnlesse they did thus, the land injoyed not her Sabbathes, Lev. 26. 34. 35.

Ver. 5. That which groweth of it owne accord] called 5in Hebrew, by one word, Saphiach: which is said to be All that the earth bringeth forth in the seve… yeer, either of the seed which fell into it before the sev… yeere, or of the roots which were reaped, and did grow and beare againe. Maimony in Iobel ch. 4. sect. 1. shall not reape] to weet, after the manner that they reaped every other yeere; he that so reaped it, was to be beaten, but he reaped a little at once, and did … out, and eate it. Maimony ibidem ch. 4. sect. 1. of thy separation] which were separated and exempted from the owners, from salt and merchandise and by the word of God made free and common for all. The Greeke translateth of thy sanctifi…, the Chaldee of thy leaving, that is, which thou art to leave in common. Or they may be so called, because the land and trees were to bee left un… red and undressed, and so after a sort sepa…ō the owners care & husbandry. The Hebrewes say, The seventh yeere is of more weight then the holy thing: for he that redeemeth an holy thing, it goeth out am…g the common things, and they take the price for … the seventh yeere, not so: for if one sell the fruits of the seventh yeere, they take the price, and make it as the fruits of the seventh yeere: and the fruits thems… (which were sold) are not profaned, or made as … fruits of other yeeres. Mat. in Iebel ch. 6. sect. 6.

Vers. 6. the Sabbath] that is, the fruits of the S… bath, 6to weet of the seventh yeere. for … and for drinke, and for anointing, and for suc… ther uses as the creatures naturally served, … men and beasts. But that which was for … meat, the Hebrewes say, might not bee imployed to other uses; nor sold as merchandise: see the … p. 155on Exod. 23. 11. thy sojourner] the stranger…, that dwelt in the land: and so in common for all in differently, the owner had no more right in it, then any other man; wherefore whosoe… locked up his vineyard, or hedged in his field in the seventh yeere, broke a commandement. And so if he gathered all his fruits into his house; but all was to be free, and every mans hand alike in every place. Maimony in I…el ch. 4. sect. 24. But they might not carie the fruits out of the land, nor feed the heathens with them, nor …elings (of the heathens,) except they had agreed to find them meat: but strangers that were guests might eate of them. Maim. ibid. ch. 5. sect. 13.

Vers. 7. the beast] or, as the Greeke translateth, the wilde beasts: under which the fowles also are 7comprehended. But the fruits which were properly m…s mea…, they might not feed cattell with them. Maimony in Iobel, ch. 5. sect. 5. the revenue] or in-come, which properly is the fruit when it is ripe, and fit to be gathered into the barne. Whereupon the Hebrewes say, they might not gather in the fruits of the seventh yeer, when they were unripe; they might eate a little of them in the field, before they were ripe, as they did others yeeres, but not bring any to bee eaten within their houses, till the season of the tithes. Maimony ibid. chap. 5. sect. 15. for to …] for meat. From hence the Hebrewes gather, that the fruits of the seventh yeere, might not bee eaten (by men,) save so long as the same kind (of fruits) were found in the field: so long as the beast did eate of that kinde, out of the field, thou maist eate of it that is in the house. If it be all consumed for the beast, out of the field, a man is bound to put that kinde (of meat) out of his house. And after the putting away, it is unlawfull to be eaten, either of poore or rich, Maimony in Iobel, ch. 7. sect. 1. This Sabbath or Rest of the Lords land, and common participation of all the fruits thereof, prefigured the spirituall Rest of his Church which they enter into by the faith of Christ, Heb. 4. and the communion of all graces and good things; as the scriptures mention the common faith, Tit. 1. 4. the common salvation, Iude, ver. 3. and the communion of the mystery thereof, Ephes. 3. 9. whiles both Iewes and Gentiles are fellow-heires, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise of Christ by the Gospell, Ephes. 3. 6. Besides communion also in outward things, as need requireth; as when all that beleeved, were together, and had all things common; & sold their possessions & goods, and p…ed them to all men, as every man had need; and continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eate their meat with gladnesse, and singlenesse of heart; and the multitude of them that beleeved, were of one heart, and of … soule; neither said any of them, that ought of the things which hee possessed was his owne, but they had all things common. Act. 2. 44. 45. 46. and 4. 32.

Vers. 8. thou shalt number] The Hebrewes hold, that this comandement of numbring seven times 8seven yeeres, and the commandement of sanctifying the fiftieth yeere, vers. 10. was given to the high Sy…drion (or great Senate of Israel) onelyonly: unto whom the care of proclaiming the …ubile and lib…ies of the same, did belong. Ma…. treat. of the Intermission and Iubile, ch. 10. sect. 1. seven Sabbathes] in Greeke, seven Rests: in Chaldee, sev… Releases (or Intermissions.) 49. yeeres] which nine and fortieth yeer was the seventh rest or Sabbath yeere. And the beginning of this numbring, fell out in the 8. yeere of Iosua, as is shewed before on vers. 2. but the Hebrewes misse generally in this computation, saying that the beginning of this count, was fourteene yeers after they came into the land; for six yeeres (were spent) in conquering the land, and seven yeeres in parting of it. Mam. in Iobel. c. 10. s. 2. But this agreeth not with Calebs speech in Ios. 14. 7.—10. neither was the land so long inparting. Wherfore as they have missed of Christ, unto whō all their Sabbathes and Iubilees led them: so God hath given them over to misse in the computation of their Iubilees, wherby they are the more hardened in their errour. Even the Storke in the heaven, knoweth her appointed times; and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow, observe the time of their comming: but the Iewes know not the judgment of the LORD; Ier. 8. 7. O ye hypocrites, ye can discerne the face of the skie, yet can ye not discerne the signes of the times? Matt. 16. 3.

Vers. 9. shalt cause to sound] Hebrew shalt cause to passe: which word when it is used of sounds or 9voices, meaneth to proclaime, publish, or declare, … the Greeke here translateth it; so after, and in …zr. 1. 1. They caused the trompet to passe throughout all the borders of Israel: saith Maim. in Iobel ch. 10. sect. 10. the trompet] or, the cor…t: see …ev. 23 24. The trompet of the Iubilee, and of the beginning of the yeer, is one, in every respect. Maim. in Iobel, ch. 10. sect. 11. and Talmud in Rosh hasshanath, chap. 3. of loud-sound] or of alarme, as is Englished in Numb. 10. 5. See the notes on Lev. 23. 14. It is commanded to blow with the trompet, in the tenth (day) of Tisri (that is Sebtember,) in the yeere of Iubile, and this commandement is given to the Synedrion first, as it is written, And thou shalt cause to sound, &c. and every particular person is bound to blow, as it is written, yee shall cause the trompet to sound; &c. Maimony ibidem ch. 13. sect. 10. This blowing with trompets, figured the preaching of the Gospel, Luk. 4. 18. 19. as is shewed also on Levit. 23. day of Atonements] or of expiation, which was the Fasting day, when the whole Church every yeere afflicted their soules, and the high priest made atonement for them in the most holy place, Lev. 16. ch. & 23. 27. And though the yeere began tenne dayes before, (the first of the monethmonth,) yet as our spirituall bondage was not done away, but by the atonemēt made through the death of Christ, Heb. 2. 14. 15. so neither was the type hereof performed in Israel till the day of Atonement. The Hebrewes say, From the beginning of the yeere untill the day of Atonement, the servants were not released unto their owne houses, nor from being in servitude to their masters: Neither were the fields returned to their owners: but the servants did eate and drinke, and rejoyce, & weare crownes (or garlands) upon their heads. When the day of Atonement came, the Magistrates (the Synedrion) blew the trompet, the servants were released to their owne houses, and the lands returned to their p. 156owners. Maimony in Iobel, ch. 10. sect. 14.

Vers. 10. the yeere of fiftie yeeres] an Hebrew Phrase, meaning the yeere even the fiftieth yeere: so 10that they misse which count every nine and fortieth yeere to be the Iubile: that was the seventh seven, the ordinarie Sabbath and yeere of Rest, and the yeere following, was the Iubile, even the fiftieth, so two holy yeeres came came together. Thus the Hebrew canons declare it; The yeere of Iubile commeth not in the count of the yeeres of the seven; but the nine and fourtieth yeere is the Release, and the fiftieth yeere the Iubile; and the one and fifteth yeere beginneth the sixe yeeres of the Seven (following:) and so in every Iubile. Maimony in Iobel, ch. 10. sect. 7. And againe, The nine and fortieth yeere it selfe, is the (yeere of) Release: and after it is the Iubile, in the fiftieth yeer. R. Menachem on Lev. 25. proclaime libertie] for Hebrew servants, from their Masters, Ier. 34. 8. 9. Such as went not out at the seventh yeere of their servitude, but were bored through the eare to serve for ever, went out at the Iubile; for then their ever was at an end, as is noted on Exod. 21. 2. 6. & as after followeth in this chap. v. 39. 40. 41. Wherefore the other legal ordinances which are commanded to be kept for ever, had also their end at the Iubile of the Gospel, as the Apostle sheweth, Heb. 9. 9. 10. 11. Colos. 2. 14. 16. 17. And the Iewes which urge the obseruation of them, may be answered from their owne writers. It is a knowne thing, that this word (legnolam) For ever, is sometime spoken of a time determined, as, Hee shall serve him for ever, (Exod. 21. 6.) that is to say, unto the ever of the Iubilee. And sometime it is spoken of length of dayes, without knowledge of their limit, but yet they have a limit and an end; as, Let King David live for ever, (1 King. 1. 31.) And sometimes it is spoken of a time which hath none end, as, The Lord shall reigne for ever and aye, (Psal. 10. 16.) saith R. Menachem on Lev. 25. This yeere of liberty, figured the yeere of grace by Christ, who dying in the last Iubile that ever the land had, did deliver them who through feare of death, were all their life time subject to bondage, Heb. 2. 14. 15. such as were the servants of sinne, whom the Sonne making free, they are free in deed, Iohn 4. 34. 36. Of this time of grace Christ prophecying, calleth it the yere of his redeemed, Esay 63. 4. and the acceptable yeere of the LORD, Esay 61. 2. And the Apostle exhorting us, that we receive not the grace of God in vaine, saith, Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation, 2 Cor. 6. 1. 2. a Iubile] in Hebrew Iobel, which the Chaldee calleth Iobela; the Greeke here interpreteth it, a yeere of remission of signification. In Ezek. 46. 17. it is called the yeere of libertie. The Hebrewes some of them thinke it hath the name (from the Arabike) of a rammes horne, whereof the Cornets sounded this yeere, were made: so the trompets of Iobelim, in Ios. 6. 4. are in Chaldee expounded, trompets of rams horne. But the Hebrew word signifieth neither ram, nor horn, but hath the name of carying, or leading-alōg, Iob 10. 19. and 21. 32. Psal. 60. 11. whereupon Iuball is a streame, or water course, that runneth along, and carieth things with it, Ier. 17. 8. Esay 44. 4. And thus R. Menachem, (on Lev. 25.) and the Zohar, derive the name Iobel, from Iubal: Streame, or water-course, according to that phrase in Ier. 17. 8. It seemeth also to have the name of the long-sound of the trompet; as in Exod. 19. 13. Iobel is the sound of the trompet: and because this yeere was joyfull to servants and poore people; of the joyfull shout which they made, and sound of trompets, the Latines have borrowed the word Iubile, which is to make a joyfull shout. And in mysterie, the Iubile is so named, as carying men to Christ, by whose redemption all the faithfull have cause to shout and rejoyce. When hee sounded the Trompet of his Gospel, (as God hath sent him to preach the Gospell to the poore, to preach deliver a… to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blinde, to set at libertie them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord.) then he said, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your eares; and all bare him witnesse, and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, Luk. 4. 18.—22. his possession] his tenement, meaning lands and houses which had beene sold, and now must be returned to the first owners: a figure of our restoring by Christ into Paradise: the possession whereof, Adam lost by sinne: Gen. 3. Luk. 23. 43. So there were three things especiall unto this yeere; the sounding of trompets, the freedome of servants, and the restoring of lands or tenements: but the resting of the land was one with the seventh yeers rest, vers. 4. 11. And here note the accord and the difference betweene the Sabbath (or seventh) yeere, and the Iubile, which the Hebrewes lay, downe thus: The Law of the Iubile for the resting of the land, and the Law of the yeere of Release, is one in every respect. Whatsoever is forbidden in the sevēth yeere concerning the tilling of the land, is forbiaden in the yeere of Iubile: and whatsoever is lawfull in … seventh yeere, is lawfull in the Iubile: & that work for which they are beaten if they doe it in the seventh yeere they are beaten for the same in the Iubile. And the Law for the fruits of the yeere of Iubile, concerning eating, or selling, or putting them away, is as the law for the fruits of the seventh yeere in every respect. The seventh yeere is above the Iubile, in that the seventh yeere releaseth (debts of) money, (Deut. 15. 1. ….) which the Iubile doth not: and the Iubile is above the seventh yeere, in that the Iubile letteth servants goe out (free,) and releaseth lands, [which the seventh yeere doth not.] Lev. 25. 24. The Iubile releaseth lands, in the beginning of the same: but the seventh yeere releaseth not moneyes, till the end of the same, (Deut. 15. 1.) Maim, in Iobel, chap. 10. sect. 15. 16. Further, from these words, yee shall returne every man, &c. they gather, that he which gave his field f… a gift (though he sold it not,) yet it was restored … him in the yeere of Iubilee: Maim. ibid. ch. 11. s. 19. his familie] from which hee was departed whiles through poverty he was sold unto another familie, vers. 39. 40. 41. It figured our returning unto God the Father, through our Lord Iesus Christ; of whom the whole familie in heaven and e… is named, Eph. 3. 15.

Vers. 11. A Iubile shall it be] or, That Iubile, … p. 157be unto you, the yeere of fiftie yeeres; that is, even in the fiftieth yeere. The Greeke translateth it, (A yeer) of remission of signification shall it be unto you; the fiftieth yeere shall the yeere bee unto you. of the separations thereof] which the Greeke calleth the sanctified fruits thereof. They were separated from the owners, and sanctified of God to bee common for all; like the fruits of the seventh yeere, as before is noted. See vers 4. 5. 7.

Vers. 12. it is the Iubile] in Greeke, it is the signification of remission. holinesse] that is, a most holy 12yeere, to be hallowed or sanctified unto the Lord, by the obedience of these his precepts, & meditation of a better rest, freedome & holynes, w^ch should be obtained by Christ, in the acceptable yeere of the Lord, Luk. 4. 18. 19. 21. out of the field] and not out of the barne; see the notes on ver. 5. and on Exodus 23. 11. By this, God also led them to depend upon him for their daily bread, and not to care for the morrow, Mat. 6. 31. 34. and to w…ane them from the world, that they that buy, may bee as though they possessed not, and they that use this world, as though they used it not, 1 Cor. 7. 30 31.

Vers. 14. if ye sell] that is, if any of you: the Greeke for more plainness, changeth the number, 14if thou sell: so after, the Greeke sayth oppresse (or …ing) not thou. not oppresse] or, not vexe, not make a prey. This Moses here and in the next ve…se shewe…l to concerne both buyer and seller: so that if a man sold too deare, the buyer was oppressed; and if a man bought a thing too chcape, the seller was oppressed.

V. 15. According to] or By the number of yeeres: which two phrases doe explaine one another, and 15are used sometime indifferently: as **foreignIn (or by) the word of Gad, 1 Chron. 21. 19. is by another Prophet set downe, **foreignAccording to the word of Gad, 2 Sam. 24. 19. And so the Greeke translateth it here, According to. So after, in vers. 50. and in Numb. 14. 34. yeeres of the revenues] that is, of the fruits: so that the land properly was not sold, but the fruits thereof, v. 16. See after on vers. 23 25. From this word yeeres, the Hebrewes gather, that Who so selleth his field, he cannot redeeme it till after two yeers, because it is said, according to the number of the yeeres of the revenues, hee shall sell unto thee. Yea though he that bought it would consent, yet he may not: till after two yeeres from the sale thereof. And the buyer must eat two revenues of two yeeres, and afterward it may bee redeemed. Therefore if the seventh yeere be one of the two yeeres, or if it be a yeere of blasting or m…ldew, it is not reckned in the number. And if hee buy it one yeere before the Iubile, bee eateth of it the second yeere after the Iubile; for it is written, THE YEERES OF THE REVENVES. Maimony in Iobel, chap. 11. sect. 9. 10. 12.

Vers. 16. the number of the revenues] that is, according 16to the number of yeeres of the revenues: as verse ….

Verse. 17. feare thy God] by abstaining from this evill, and doing the contrary good; for; by the feare of the Lord, men depart from evill, Prov. 16. 6. and whereas it is said, in 1 King. 8. 40 that they may feare… as long as they live: another Prophet openeth …t thus, that they may feare thee, and walke in thy waies as long as they live: 2 Chro. 6. 31. But the want of the feare of God, is the fountaine of evill deeds, Deut. 25. 18. Psal. 36. 2. Rom. 3. 18. So Nehemias blaming cruelty in the Iewes towards their brethren, said, Ought yee not to walke in the feare of our God? Neh. 5. 9.

V. 18. my statutes] the Gr. addeth, all my st…tes 18and all my judgments: which addition is here implyed, as elsewhere the Holy Ghost explain…h him-selfe: for, to stablish the words of the Law: D… …. 26. meaneth all things written in the bo…ke o… Law, Gal. 3. 10. and They did eate, Luk 9. 17. M…r 7. 8. is expounded, They did all eat, Mat. 14. 20. and 15. 37. & many the like. See the notes on Ex. 25. 40 in confident-safety] or, with boldnes and security. The originall word signifieth both the confidence or boldnes which men that trust in God, and walk in his wayes, have within themselves, and the safety and secure estate, wherein God serreth them; frō danger of evill. This promise is often renewed; as in Lev. 26. 5. Deut. 12. 28. & 23. 12. 28 Prov 1. 33. Ezek. 28 26. & 34. 27. 28. and under this promi…e, eternall life is figured; as is shewed on Gen. 12. 5.

Vers. 19. give] or yeeld her fruit: which was a 19signe of Gods blessing, Lev. 26. 3. 4. Psalme 67. … 7. and a figure of heavenly blessings in Christ, Esay 45. 8. Psal. 85. 11. 12. 13. Ezek 34 26. 27. eate to the full] or, eate unto satie…e: see the notes on Lev. 26. 5.

Vers. 20. behold we shall not sow] the Greeke … teth 20it, if we sow not, nor gather, &c. This saying or thought of theirs, God approveth not o…: for hee teacheth men, by the s…wles of the aire, and lilies of the field, to take no thought, what to eate or drinke, or wherewith to be clothed, Matt. 6. 25. 26. &c. But preventeth the objection of humane infirmitie, by promise of extraordinary blessing, to them that obey his Law. The like hee doth in Exodus 34. 23. 24. about their going up to this solemne feasts; and in Mitthew 6. 33. to all that seeke his kingdome and righteousnesse.

Verse 21. will command] that is, will powerfully 21send: as the Greeke interpreteth, I will send: but it noteth the power and efficacie of Gods word, who sendeth his edict upon earth, and his word runneth very swiftly, Psalme 147. 15. So Moses againe speaketh of commanding the blessing, Deuteronomie 28 8. and David, in Psalme 133. 3. and of commanding salvation, Psalme 44. 5. and 71. 3. of commanding strength, Psalme 68. 29. and other things, which hee effectually pr…eth and causeth to come to passe, 2 Samuel 17. 14.

Verse 22. yee shall eate] This promise of 22blessings and the fruition of them, was to encourage them in obedience to Gods Law; for godlinesse is profitable unto all things; having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come, 1 Timothie 4. 8. And God is able to make all grace abound towards us, that wee alwayes having all-sufficiencie in all things, may abound to every good worke. And he that ministreth p. 158seed to the sower; will both minister bread for your food, and multiply our seed sowen, and increase the fruits of our righteousnes, 2 Cor. 9. 8. 10.

Vers. 23. for ever] or absolutely, precisely: Hebrew 23to binding-fast; meaning unto the buyer, as ver. 30. and this the Greeke version favoureth, translating, unto confirmation; that is, to bee firme and fast unto him that bought it, as his owne for ever. And as the originall word is sometime used for cutting off, so it may here bee Englished; and then it meaneth, it should not bee sold so as to bee cut off off from redemption, (as vers. 24.) or to bee absolutely cut-off from the first owner. The Chaldee translateth, absolutely or properly, for the proprietie of him that buyeth the same. Hereupon Naboth would not sell his inheritance to the King, 1 King, 21. 3. See also Ezek. 48. 14 where the oblation of land given to the Priests and Levites, they might not sell it, neither exchange, nor alienate the first fruits of the land: because it was holy, unto the LORD. is mine] Though the whole earth be the Lords, and the plentie thereof, Psal. 24. 1. yet the land of Canaan was his in more speciall manner, (even as Israel to whom he gave it, was his peculiar people above others, Exod. 19. 5.) because he had sanctified it to be the inheritance of his Church here on earth, Gen. 12. 7. and a figure of the inheritance of his saints in heaven, Hebrewes 11. 9. 10. Therefore it is called THE LORDS land, Hos. 9. 3. and Immanuels (that is, Christs) land, Esay 8. 8. and the holy land, Zach. 2. 12. and so being Gods, men had no right to sell it; and it taught them, that the gift of God may not be purchased with money, Act. 8. 20. and that the heavēly heritage which he hath prepared for his in Christ, cannot bee alienated from them; but is surely confirmed in his blood, and reserved in heaven for them; unto which they shall returne at the great Iubile of his second appearing, when the trompet of God shall sound, Rom. 8. 38. 39. Iohn 10. 28. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 4. 5. 1 Thes. 4. 16. 17. sojourners with mee] that is, as the Greeke and Chaldee expound it, before me. Thus David professed, I am a stranger with thee, a sojourner as all my fathers, Psalme 39. 13. and so hee speaketh of all I…rael, in 1 Chron. 29. 15. (where in sted of with thee, he saith before thee.) So that as the heathens that became proselytes, had no inheritance in the land, but dwelt therein as sojourners, so was Israel in the sight of God. Hereby he taught them, to desire and seeke a better country, that is, an heavenly; where there remaineth a rest for the people of God: Heb. 11. 13. 14. 16. 9. 10. and 4. 8. 9. See the annotations on Gen. 12. 5. and 13. 15. Some understand this with me, as if the Lord himselfe were but as a sojourner in this world, and his people with him; whereupon R. Menachem, (on this place) bringeth an exposition of more ancient Doctors thus: For ye are strangers and sojourners with me; it is enough for the servant, that he be as his master. This may have use, if it bee referred unto Christ, and his sojourning here in our flesh; who also himselfe used this proverb unto his, saying, It is enough for the disciple, that he be as his master; and the servant, as his Lord, &c. Mat. 10. 25

Vers. 24. grant] or give a redemption, that is, suffer it to be redeemed; (for giving, is often used for suffering, as is noted on Gen. 20. 6.) And this redemption, is by the yeere of Iubile, when every man was to let the land returne to the owner, as being redeemed for him by the Lord. Of mens redeeming their lands by money, &c. he speaketh afterward. Hereupon the Hebrew canons say, the land of Israel, which was parted among the tribes, may not be sold for ever, Lev. 25. 23. And if a man selleth for ever, both of them [the seller and the buyer] doe transgresse against a prohibition: and it availeth them nothing; for in the Iubile, the land returneth to the owner thereof. The Iubile is above the seventh yeere, for that the Iubile letteth servants goe out free, and releaseth land: and this is the right of the sale of fields, spoken of in the law, and is a thing commanded, as it is written, YE SHALL GRANT A REDEMPTIO… FOR THE LAND. Maimony in Iobel, chap. 11. sect. 1. and chap. 10. sect. 16. This figured the land and state of grace, which all Gods people by the Iubile of the Gospel doe returne unto by repentance and faith in Christ, though by their former sinnes, they have for a time deprived themselves of their inheritance in his Church, 2 Cor. 2. 7. 8. 1 Iohn 1. 9.

V. 25. waxen-poore] or brought low, as the Greeke translateth it in v. 39. though here both the Greek and Chaldee expound it waxen poore. Hereupon the Hebrew canons say, A man may sell his house, or field of his possession, (although they returne againe unto him after the time,) unlesse he be a poore man, Lev. 25. 25. But sell them for to put the …ony in his purse, or to make merchandise with it, or to get vessels, or servants, or beasts therewith, he may not; save for food onelyonly. Yet if hee transgresse and sell, the sale notwithstanding is confirmed. Maim. in Iobel, c. 11. s. 3. the redeemer] the Hebrew Goel, is also a kinsman, Numb. 5. 8. Ruth 3. 9. unto whom the right or redeeming lands, houses, or persons doth belong, & also theavenging of their blood (if they be slaine) Num. 35. 10. Which kinsman, in this worke of redemption, was often a figure of Christ, who being neer unto us, and allied in the flesh (in that he rock part of the same flesh and blood with us, Heb. 2. 14.) is called our Goel, that is, Redeemer or Deliverer: as, the Redeemer shall come to (and out of Sion: Esay 59. 20. Romanes 26. And hee it is, that hath redeemed us, & our heavenly inheritance unto us in our low depressed and poore estate, Hos. 13. 14. 1 Thes. 1. 10 2 Cor. 8. 9. Rom. 5. 6. 8. 10. The Hebrewes in Tan…huma upon this place, say, the Redemer thereof, this is the holy blessed (God) as it is said (in Ier. 30. 34.) their redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is his name, &c. he that is … unto him, this is the holy blessed (God) as it is said (in Psal. 148. 14.) a people neere him. Thus they saw somewhat a far off; though their eyes are darkned, that they cannot perceive how God was in Christ our redeemer, whom they crucified. neere unto him] or next, to weet, in blood: as Lev. …1. 2. 3. Num. 27. 11. the sale of his brother] that w… his brother hath sold. This dutie of the naturall p. 159kinsman, shadowed the duty of love which all Christians should shew one to another, by spiritual alliance; in helping to recover them that are occasionally fallen, and restoring them with the spirit of …ecknes, Gal. 6. 1. 2. 1 Ioh. 5. 16.

Vers. 26. hath attained] in Greeke, aboundeth, or, …; which word is used in Act. 11. 29. every 26man according to his abilitie. From hence the Hebrewes conclude, that a man must redeeme it with his owne; for if he borroweth (of an other,) to redeeme it with all; they hearken not unto him. Maim. in Iobel, c. 11. s. 17. found sufficiency for] or, even the sufficiency of theredemption. This the Hebrewes understand to bee of such things as he hath gotten after the sale; wherefore they say, He that selleth a field of his possession, and hath hath other fields, and selleth of them fields, enough to redeeme the field which hee sold; they hearken not unto him: for it is written, AND FOVND SVFFICIENCY FOR THE REDEMPTION, that is, when hee hath found something, which was not found with him, at the time of the sale. Maimony ibid. ch. 11. s. 17.

V. 27. restore the overplus] The Hebrewes explaine it thus; As if there remaine unto the Iubile ten yeeres, 27and he selleth him his field for an hundered crownes, & …e that bought it, hath eaten of (the fruits) of it three yeere, and then the seller would redeeme it, hee is to give …0. crownes, and the other is to restore him his field. And so if he have eaten of it six yeeres, he is to give him fortie (crownes) and the other restoreth him the field. If he redeeme it not, but leave it in the hand of him that bought it, untill the yeere of Iubile; then it returneth to the (first) owner, without price. Maimony in Iobel, ch. 11. sect. 5.

Vers. 28. the Iubile] in Greeke, the Remission. 28to his possession] that is, to his land, but trees and the like, are by the Hebrewes excepted. If a man sell trees; he cannot redeeme them before two yeeres, [as is before noted on vers. 15.] and if hee doe not redeeme them, they returne not to the owner, in the Iubile: for it is written, HE SHALL RETVRNE to his possession, he saith not to the trees. Maimony in Iobel, ch. 11. sect. 14. See more in Lev. 27. This returning of the poore to their possessions, figured the grace of God toward us in Christ, whereby we are restored into his favour, and shall be to his heavenly inheritance, Col. 1. 12. 13. 14. and 3. 24. Ephes. 1. 10. 11. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 4. compared with Esay 60. 2…. and 61. 7. and 65. 9. Contrariwise it was a signe of wrath, when God threatned, the seller shall … returne to that which is sold, Ezek. 7. 13.

Vers. 29. a walled city] Hebrew, citie of wall, which 29the Greek explaineth walled; the Chaldee, compassed with a wall, the end] or, the perfection, the whole accomplishment of the yeere; in Greeke, till the yeere be fulfilled; meaning, that it might bee redeemed by the owner any time within the yeere; but not after. dayes] understand, a yeere of dayes, as the Hebrew sometime expresseth, Gen. 41. 1. meaning an whole or perfect yeere, (as the next verse sheweth,) which consisteth of 365. dayes and sixe houres. Thus the sale and redemption of houses, differed from lands; w^ch in the Hebrew canons is explained thus. He that selleth an house within a citie compassed with a wall, hee may redeeme it all a twelve moneths (space) from the day that hee sold it, at any time that he pleaseth, yea though it bee the same day that be sold it. And when he pleaseth to redeeme it, he giveth all the price which be tooke. and abateth nothing to him that bought it. And his neer ki…ne may not redeeme it [as they might doe his land, verse 25.] but the seller himselfe, if his hand can attaine is it; and he may sell his goods to redeeme it: but hee may not borrow, and redeeme it therewith. If he that bought it be dead, he may redeeme it out of the hand of his sonne: so if he that sold it, be dead; his sonne may redeeme it all the twelve moneths. If the 12. moneths be out, and it is not redeemed: then it is absolutely confirmed in the hand of him that bought it. And so if he gave his house for a gift, and redeemed it not within twelve moneths, it is absolutely his to whom he gave it. If it bee leapeyeere, [that is, a yeere of thirteene moneths, as the Hebrewes had two Adars or Februaries, by reason of odde dayes:] it is not absolutely made away till the end thereof, as it is written. TILL A WHOLE YEERE BE FVLFILLED. Lev. 25. 30. to imply the monethmonth that is overplus. If the twelve monethmonth day become, and he cannot be found that bought it, that it may be redemed from him: then (the owner) leaveth the money with the Synedrion, and breakes open the doore, and goeth into his house; and when he comes that bought it, hee goeth (to the Synedrion,) and taketh his m…ny. Ma…mony in Iobel, ch. 12. sect. 1.—7.

Vers. 30. hath not a wall] this because it seemeth contrarie to the former, is written and noted in the 30Hebrew margine to be read, hath a wall; there being in the letters a difference, but not in the pronunciation; as the like hath beene before in Exod. 21. 8. Lev. 11. 21. The Greeke and Chaldee also translate, hath a wall, and that the meaning is so, the words foregoing shew. Yet is not the text corrupted, (as is observed from the Hebrewes in Exodus 21. 8.) but it seemeth, may thus be reconciled; that if it were in a city which sometimes had a wall, but for the present had none, or very ruinous (as was the case of Ierusalem, 2 King. 25. 10.) then the order here set, should stand for the sale of the house. And here I will add… what the Hebrewes write concerning this: The citie which was not compassed with a wall, at the time when Iosua conquered the land; though it bee walled now, yet it is like the houses of the villages: and the city which was compassed with a wall in Iosuahs dayes, though it …ee not walled now, yet it is as if it were walled. And when they went into captivity, at the first desolation (of the Temple, 2 Kings 25.) the holinesse of the walled Cities which had beene in Iosuahs time, ceased: when Ezra came up, at the second comming into the land. (Ezra 1.) all the walled Cities were sanctfied at that time; because their comming in in the dayes of Ezra, which was the second comming, was at their comming in in the dayes of Iosuah: &c. Maimony in Iobel, chap. 12. sect. 15. for ever] or, to the cutting off of all redemption; the Greeke translateth, firmely, the Chaldee absolutely: see verse 23. And as this is expresly spoken of the house, so the Hebrewes say, that gardens, and bathes to wash in, and dovehouses, p. 160which were within the wals of the city, these were as the houses: but fields if any were within the city, were to be redeemed as fields that were without the citie. So for Ierusalem; they say, no house might be absolutely sold in it: likewise, that an house builded upon the wall; [as was Rahabs, Ios. 2. 25.] was not as the (other) houses of a walled citie. Maim. in Iobel, c. 12. s. 11. in the Iubile] Greek, in the remission. Likewise, if one sold an house in a walled citie, and the Iubile came within the yeere of the sale, it was not returned in the Iubile; but remained in the hand of him that purchased it; till it pleased the seller to redeeme it all the yeere of the sale, or that the yeere were fulfilled, and so it was absolutely gone. Maim. in Iobel. ch. 12. sect. 9.

Vers. 31. villages] or, open-places; the word is elsewhere used for Courtyards. no wall-round-about] 31meaning a wall properly, of earth, stone or the like. For, a citie that had the gardens thereof for a wall, or that had the Sea for a wall, was not (counted) a walled citie. No place was called a walled citie, till it had in it three villages (or courtyards) or moe; and in every of those villages, two houses or moe; and it were compassed with a wall at first, and afterward they builded villages within it. But a place that was first inhabited, and afterward walled about; or wherein there were not three villages with two houses in every of them, it was not a walled citie; but the houses therein, where as the houses of the villages. Maimony in Iobel, chap. 12. sect. 13. 14. redemption shal be to it] that is, it may be redeemed at any time, at the fields before mentioned; or it may be redeemed as the houses forementioned. Both are shewed by the Hebrewes thus; He that selleth any house in the villages, or in a citie which hath no wall, as is meet for it; it may be redeemed as liketh him best, according to the law of the field, or according to the Law of the house in a walled city. As, if he will redeeme it out of hand, hee may redeeme it according to the law for houses: [that is, without abating any thing to him that bought it.] If the 12. moneths be expired, and he hath not redeemed it; loe hee may redeeme it till the yeere of Iubile, according to the law for fields. And when he redeemeth it, he is to count with him that bought it, and abate unto him, for the time that he injoyed it. If the Iubile come, and hee hath not redeemed it: the house returneth (to the owner) without price, after the manner that fields doe. Maimony in Iobel, ch. 12. sect. 10.

Vers. 32. of the Levites] which were the sixe cities of Refuge, & forty two cities moe, (48. in all,) 32given them to dwell in, and the suburbs of them, for to feed their cattell, Num. 35. Ios. 22. a redemption ever] that is, they may ever (or at any time) be redeemed by the Levites: to the Greeke explaineth it. And the Hebrewes say, The Priests and Levites may redeeme their houses in walled cities, at any time when they please, though it bee after many yeeres. Maim. in Iobel, ch. 13. sect. 7. shall be to the Levites] This caution respecteth the possessiōs which the Levites injoyed in their cities; and so doth that which followeth in vers. 33. that the redeemer must be of the Levites. Wherfore the Hebrewes have this rule: An Israelite which is heyre to his mothers father a Levite, he redeemeth as the Levites 4doe, though he be not a Levite; yet sieing the cities or fields are the Levites, he may redeeme (at any time) for ever. For this right dependeth upon those places, and not upon the owners. And a Levite which is heyre to his mothers father an Israelite; he redeemeth as an Israelite, and not as the Levites doe: for it is not said that the Levites may redeeme at any time for ever, but in the cities of the Levites. Maimony in Iobel, chap. 13. sect. 8. 9.

Vers. 33. redeeme, of the Levites] understood, … shal be of the Levites, and it shall not be redeemed by other Israelites. Some take redeeming here, for buying or purchasing: though I finde not the word so to meane, any other where. the sale of the house] that is, the house which is sold, as vers. 28. and the citie] the Greek translateth, and the sale of the houses of the citie of their possession, shall got out: and so it agreeth with the reason following. shall go out] unto the first owner, as ver. 28. out of the hands of any Israelite that had bought it, or of any other Levite that had redeemed it. their possession] whereas the Levites might have no part in the spoiles of the heathens that were conquered, not inheritance in the houses and lands which were divided to the other Israelites, Deut. 18. 1. God gave them cities and suburbs, for them and their cattell, which was all the possession they had: therefore he confirmed this gift unto them, with a stricter law both for sale and redemption, then the Israelites had for their possessions.

Ver. 34. the field] that is, the fields: as the Greeke 34translateth. of the suburbs] which wee three thousand cubits every way, from the wall of the city and outward; see Numb. 35. 4. 5. with the annotations. not be sold] this seemeth to be an absolute prohibition, that though the Levites might sell their houses, yet not their lands at all: which yet was but a figurative restraint (as the other legall ordinances,) untill the Iubile of the Gospel; for then, Barnabas a Levite sold his field, that hee might injoy a better inheritance among the saints Act. 4. 36. 37. Howbeit the Hebrew doctors understand this Law otherwise, and say; The Priests and the Levites, which sell any field of their cities, … ny house, &c. doe redeeme them after this manner: they sell fields, though it be neer to the Iubile, and redeeme them out of hand and they redeeme houses in the walled cities, at any time when they please, though it bee after many yeeres, Lev. 25. 32. Maimony in Iobel, chap. 13. sect. 7. And this law against selling, they expound of alteration or changing, thus: In the Levites cities, they may not make of a citie the suburbs; nor of the suburbs a citie, nor of the suburbs a field, nor of a field suburbs, as it is written, the field of the suburbs of their cities shall not be sold, Lev. 25. 34. We have beene taught, that this which is said SHALL NOT BEE SOLD, meaneth shall not be altered; but the field, and the suburbs, and the citie, shall all three of them be as they are, for ever. Maimony ibidem sect. 4. 5.

Vers. 35. waxen poore] or brought low, as vers. 25. 35and 39. hand faileth] or, hand is moved, which the Greeke translateth, and he bee weake (or impotent) in his hands by thee, that is, unable to relieve himself. This phrase is here once applied to the land, in Deut. 32. 35. and often other where to the p. 161foot, the moving or sliding whereof, is also a decay or falling into evill. strengthen him] or, take hold on him, and so confirme his weake hands; that is, as the Greeke translateth, helpe or relieve him. So God is sayd to strengthen or hold the right hand of Cyrus, when he inabled him to subdue nations, Esay 45. 1. so of Christ, in Esay 42. 6. and of his people, when hee helpeth them against their enemies, Esay 41. 12. 13. According to this law, is that in Deut. 15. 7. 8. 10. where God commandeth to open the hand, to lend and to give unto the poore: and it is reckoned for one of the sinnes of Sodom, that shee strengthened not the hand of the poore and needy, Ezek. 16. 49. even the stranger] that is, though he be a stranger, and none of thine owne nation: or, as the Greeke translateth, thou shalt helpe him as a stranger and saj…urner. Wherby God may intend the naturall Israelites, which were but strangers and sojourners with him, verse 13. which is also the state of all the Saints on earth, 1 Pet. 2. 11. that he may] or, and hee shall live: so the Gr. saith, and thy brother shall live with thee. By living, is meant the recovering of him-selfe out of his miserie, as elsewhere life is opposed to sicknesse, ruine, and other miseries, Esay 38. 9. Nehem. 4. 2. 1 Chron. 11. 8. Gen. 45. 27. Therefore God commandeth to let the poore man have sufficient for his need, Deuteronomy 15. 8. see the annotations there. Hereby also was figured, that such as are poore in spirit, ought to bee comforted: and such as are impoverished by sinne, should bee sought after for their recovery, by admonition, exhortation, prayer &c. that life may be given them; 1 Thes. 5. 14. 1 Ioh. 5. 16. Iam. 5. 16. 20.

V. 36. biting-usurie] of this, see what is noted on 36Ex. 22. 25. increase] or multiplication, overplus; that is, when one taketh more then he lent. So in Ezek. 18. 8. 13. 17. Spirituall usury and exaction (which under this Law is also forbidden) is when the Law is urged upon the conscience of repentant sinners, more then is meet; whereby his life with God (which is by faith in Christ,) is empeached: or when the rudiments of the Law (which Christ hath freed his people from,) are layd as a yoke upon their neckes, and burden upon their consciences; both which are hinderances of that true life and joy, which God by the Gospel and Spirit of his Sonne, ministreth unto the Saints, Matth. 18. 28.—33. Gal. 2. 14.—21. and 4. 9. 10. 11. and 5. 1. 2. &c. Acts 15. 1. 10. 11. Esay 9. 8.

Vers. 39. waxen poore] in Greeke, be humbled, or, 39brought low: as vers. 25 be sold] for extreame povertie, debt, or theft; as 2 King. 4. 1. Exod. 22. 3. See the notes on Exod. 21. 2. not serve thy selfe] in Greeke, hee shall not serve thee. of a servant] of a slave, or bondman, as to compell him to doe base and slavish works. The Hebrewes say, It is unlawfull for an Israelite when he buyeth any Hebrew servāt to make him serve in things vile, which are proper for servants (or slaves) to doe; as to cary his vessells after him to the bath, or to untie his shoes &c. Lev. 25. 49. Which is to be understood of an Hebrew servāt, because his soule is east downe by his sale: but an Israelite which is not sold, it is lawfull to use his ministerie as a servants; for lo he doth not such worke but willingly and of his owne minde. Maimony tom. 4. treat. of Servants, chap. 1. sect. 7. This Law Solomon kept, as it is said, but of the sons of Israel did Solomon make no servant: but they were men of warre, & his servants, & his princes, & his captatins, &c. 1 Kin. 9. 22.

Vers. 40. as a sojourner] in Greeke, or a sojourner: 40meaning that he should be used kindly, reverently, and as a brother, vers. 46. The Hebrew canons say, Every Hebrew servant or handmaid, their master is bound to make them equall to himselfe in meat, in drinke, in clothing & in dwelling; as it is said (in Deut. 15. 16.) because he is well with thee: so that thou maist not eate white bread, and he eate browne bread; or thou drinke old wine, and he drinke new; or thou sleepe on a fetherbed, and he sleepe on straw, &c. Hereupon they say, who so buyeth an Hebrew servant, buyeth himselfe a master: &c. Neverthelesse it is necessary that the servant behave himselfe with a servants behaviour, in those services which he doth unto him. Maim. in Servants, ch. 1. s. 9. yeere of Iubile] which was the yeere of liberty for all manner Hebrew servants: therefore, No Hebrew maid, or Hebrew manservant was in use (in Israel) but at the time when the Iubile was in use: whether it were a servant that sold him-selfe, or that was sold by the Synedrion. Maimony in servants. chap. 1. sect. 10.

Vers. 41. goe out from with thee] the Greek saith, he shall goe out to remission, (into liberty.) For what 41cause, or after what sort soever he hath beene sold, the Iubile released him: which was a figure of the time of grace, whereby now Christ hath freed us from the servitude of sin and Satan: Ioh. 8. 32. 36. Rom. 6. 14 18. The Hebrew doctors say, He whom the Synedrion sold, served six yeeres (Exod. 21. 2.) from the day of his sale; and in the beginning of his seventh yeere, hee went out a free man. If the yere of release (Deut. 15. 1.) Fel within those six yeers yet he did serve therein: but if the yeere of Iubile fel in them, though he were sold but a yeer before the Iubile, he goeth out free. (Lev. 25. 40. 41.) A man may soll himselfe for mee then six yeeres; if he sell himselfe for 10. or 20 yeeres, and the Iubile fall out, though within a yeere, he goeth out at the Iubile. If a man have sold himselfe or beene sold by the Synedrion, and he runs away: he is bound to make up the six yeeres; but if the Iubile fall, he goeth out free. If he have been sicke, either by a continued sicknes yeere after yeere, or beene sicke by fits; if the whole time (of his sickene) be lesse then foure yeers, they are reckned among the six (yeeres service:) out if he have been foure yeers sick. he is bound to make good all the dayes of his sicknes as it is written (Lev. 25. 40.) As an hireling, as a sojourner: if the Iubile fall, he goeth out. Maim. in Servants, ch. 2. sect. 2. 3. 4. 5. his sons with him] that is, his children (as the Greek translateth,) whether sonnes, or daughters. In Exod. 21. 3. there is the like, for his wife. And by the parable in Matth. 18. 25. it seemeth that in Israel men might be sold for debt, they, their wives, and their children, and all that they had: and in 2 King. 4. 1. the credit or would take the children bondmen, for their fathers debt. Howbeit the Hebrew Doctors understand these otherwise, saying; Every Hebrew servant, his master is bound to finde his wife meat &c. p. 162and so he is bound to finde his sons and daughters meat. Of him whom the Synedrion sold, it is said (in Exod. 21. 3.) if hee were the husband of a wife, then his wife shall goe out with him. If thou thinkest that when hee was bought, his wife became a servant; it is not so: but to teach that his master was bound to give her food. And of him that sold himself, it is said (in Lev. 25. 41.) he and his sons with him. And of him that was sold to an heathen, it is said (in Lev. 25. 54▪) he and his sonnes with him. Whether they were the wife and children which he had at the time when he was sold; or wife and children which he had after he was sold, so that he tooke her with his masters consent; but if he tooke her without his consent, his master is not bound to finde her meat. Though his master bee bound to finde his wife and children meat, yet hath hee nothing of the labours of their hands, but the wives labours are her husbands: and whatsoever is due from a husband to his wife, is due to her, forasmuch as he is an Hebrew servant. Maimony, treat. of Servants, ch. 3. sect. 1. 2.

Vers. 42. my servants] their redemption from Pharaoh, figured the redemption from Satan by 42Christ; and their freedome, that of which it is said, ye are bought with a price, …ee not the servants of men▪ 1 Cor. 7. 23. and now being made free from sinne, and made servants to God; ye have your fruit unto holinesse, and the end everlasting life, Rom. 6. 22. the sale of a servant] that is, not after the manner that servants (or slaves) are sold in the market, publikely; but privately and by way of honour, Maimony in Servants. ch. 1. sect. 5.

Ver. 43. with rigour] as the Egyptians ruled over Israel, Exod. 1. 13. The Hebrewes describe it thus: 43What is rigorous service? It is service which is not determined, and service whereof there is no need: but (the masters) purpose is to make him worke, and onelyonly that he should not cease. Hereupon our wise men have said, that (the master) should not say unto him, Digge under the vines untill I come; for loe he giveth him no determined stint: but hee is to say unto him, dig till such an houre, or unto such a place. And so hee may not say to him, Dig this place; when there is no need to doe it, &c. Maimony in Servants, chap. 1 sect. 6. But this rigor, fiercenesse or crueltie here forbidden, extendeth forther, even to all overmuch labour, above that which is meet, and they are able; as the Greeke here translateth, Thou shalt not racke him (or afflict, torment him) with labour: beating if their worke be not done, Exod. 1. 14. and 5. 7. 8. 14. and threatning with hard words; Ephes. 6. 9. and the like. feare thy God] and thereby abstaine from this evill: see verse 17.

V. 44. of the heathens] as the Hebrew servants set 44at liberty by the Iubile, figured Gods elect, set free by Christ: so the heathens brought into subjection and bondage, may figure the reprobates, whom Christ and his people shall rule with an yron rod, Psal. 2. 9. Rev. 2. 26. 27. Or, being understood of such servants as were bought and brought unto the faith of God, & were circumcised, (as in Gen. 17. 27.) it might foreshadow the conversion of the heathens, and bringing them into the perpetuall service of Christ and his Church; Esay 56. 3. 6. 7. and 60. 3. 7. 10. 12. Compare that promise made by the Prophet, The Lord will have mercy … Iakob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in the… own land; & the strangers shall be joyned with them, & they shall cleave to the house of Iakob. And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possesse them in the land of the Lord, for servants and handmaids, and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors, Esay 14. 1. 2.

Verse▪ 45. of the sojou…n…s] or, of the stranger▪ inhabitants; meaning such as were in the land, but not joyned to the Church of Israel; as the Chaldee paraphrast here calleth them uncircumcised sojourners: these sojourners are opposed to the heathens out of the land, round about them, verse 44. that doe sojourne] or, that are strangers: in Greeke, that are among you. of their fa…the] in Chaldee, of their seed. And this might bee, if the mother onelyonly were a stranger. An Israelite, the lyeth with a Canaanitish bondwoman, for as much as she is a bondwoman, he begetteth a Canaanite … every respect; and he is fold and bought, and made to ser… for ever, as other bondmen. Maimony in Servants▪ chap. 9. sect. 1. which accordeth with that law in Exod. 21. 4.

Vers. 46. as an inheritance for your sonnes] the Greeke translateth, you shall divide (or impart) them unto your children. These words, possession and … heritance, applyed thus to servants; meane their subjection under their masters; according to which phrase, God is said to inherite in all nations, Ps. 82. 8. and Christ, to have the heathens &c. for his inheritance and possession, Psal. 2. 8. And in saying for your sons, hee implieth a prohibition to sell the… to strangers, especially if the servant were turned to the faith; and by the Hebrew canons, hee that sold his servant to the heathens, the servant were out free, and his master was compelled to redeeme him out of the heathens hand. Maimony in Servants, ch. 8. s. 1. for ever] they and their … dren after them, are bondmen; until they be made free. They were free by Gods Law, if their master had maymed them, as Exod. 21. 26. 27. and by the Hebrew canons, their freedome might be bought by themselves, or their friends: Maimony in Servants, chap. 5. sect. 2. serve your selves] o…, bring them into servitude, use them as servants. not rule over him] in Chaldee, not serve your selves with him: in Greek, not racke (or afflict) him with labours; as vers. 43. But might they then rule over the heathens with rigour? The Hebrewes say, It is lawfull to make a Canaanitish servant serve with rigour: but not with standing this right, it is the property of mercy, and way of wisedome, that a man should bee compassionate, and follow justi…, and not make his yoke heavie upon his servant, nor afflict him. And to give him meat and drinke of all sorts. The first wise men, used to give their servants of all meats that they did eat themselves; and they gave their beasts and their servants meat, before they themselves did eat▪ Loe he s…th (in Psalme 123. 2.) as the eyes of servants, unto the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a mayden, unto the hand of her mistresse: Also they used not a servant contēp…ously, by hand, or by words: the seript… p. 163giveth them for service, not for shame and contempt. And let him not much crie out against him, or shew in…, but speake gently to him, and heare his plea▪ … s… it is expressed in the good wayes of Iob, for which be commendeth himselfe. If I despised the cause of my servant or of my handmaid when they contended with … ▪ did not …e that made me in the wombe, make him, &c. Iob▪ 31. 13. 15. Ne…her should cruelty and hardnesse be found, s…ve among the idolatrous heathens: but th… s…do… Abraham our father, upon whom the blessed God hath poured out the good things of his Law, and commanded them stat…es and judgements which are righteous; they shall be mercifull towards all. And so among the properties of the holy blessed God, which we are commanded to imitate, he saith, His tender mercies are over all his workes, (Psal. 145. 9.) and who so sheweth mercy, mercy shall be shewed unto him, &c. Maimony treat▪ of Servants, chap. 9. sect. 8.

Vers. 47. the stranger] which the Chaldee expoundeth, the uncircumcised: so after. doe attaine] 47in Greeke, doe finde, to weet, enough to buy a poore Israelite; that is, if he be rich and able: so in verse 26. and 49. the stocke] or, the stumpe, as this word is Englished in Dan. 4. 15. that is, any of the linage or kinred remaining. The Chaldee translateth, to the Aramite (that is, to a paynim or …eathen,) of the familie of a stranger (or Pros…lyte:) meaning one that was of a proselytes stocke, but was not himself a proselyte, or of the faith of Israel.

Vers. 48. redemption shall be to him] that is, hee 48shall have right to be redeemed. his brethren] that is, his kinred; as is after explained.

Vers. 49. his uncle] in Greeke and Chaldee, his 49fathers brother. his hand hath attained] to weet, wealth enough; if he be able of himselfe. The Hebrew canons say, He that is sold to a stranger, if his owne hand attaine not to redeeme himselfe, his kinred are to redeeme him; and one kinsman before another, as it is said, his uncle, or his uncles sonne, &c. And the Synedrion are to compell his kindred to redeeme him, that he be not drowned (or swallowed up) among the heathens. If his kinred redeeme him not, or his owne hand cannot attaine to i… ▪ every man of Israel is commanded to redeem him. And whether his kinred doe redeeme him, or any other man, he is to goe out free, [and not to be a servant to him that redeemed him.] And he may borrow, for to …deeme himselfe from an heathen, and hee may redeeme by the halfe (or in part.) But hee that is sold to an Israelite, his kinred may not redeeme him, neither may …e borrow to redeeme himselfe; neither is redeemed by the halfe (or part,) but if his hand be able to give according to the yeeres that remaine, hee may give and goe out, otherwise he goeth not out. Maimon. in Servants, chap. 2. sect. 7. A practise of this, we finde in Nehem. 5. 8. We, after our abilitie, have redeemed our … the Iewes, which were sold unto the heathen: and will you even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold … us?

Vers. 50. with him that bought him] This is a common 50equitie; whether he had sold himselfe to an Israelite, or to an heathen, or had beene sold by the Magistrates, hee aba…ed of his redemption, and went out, Maimony ibidem, chap. 2. sect. 8. the money] Hebr. the silver: this the Hebrewes hold strictly, to be money, not moneyes worth, as fruits, vessels, or the like. Maimony ibidem, chap. 2. sect. 8. dayes of an hired servant] that is, a precise or set number of dayes, not more nor fewer. So this phrase elswhere noteth, as in Iob. 7. 1. 2. Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? and are not his dayes like the dayes of an hireling? &c. And in Esa. 16. 14. In three yeeres, as the yeeres of an …ireling: and in Esa. 21. 16▪ yet a yeer; according to the yeeres of an hireling: that is, precisely, without longer day.

Vers. 52. according to his yeeres] As▪ if hee had sold 52himselfe for an hundred (crownes,) and there remained unto the …ubile from the yeere of his sale, ten yeeres: hee shall re…kon ten (crownes) for every yeere that hee hath served him, and abate the price of them, and returne the rest in money, Maim. in Servants, chap. 2. sect. 8.

V. 53. As an hired servant of the yeere, by the yeere] 53that is, as a yeerely hireling: see verse 50. before thine eyes] that is, thou shalt not suffer the stranger to rule over him with rigour, and thou winke at it. But every Israelite was bound to forbid: him this; and because it was a stranger that dwelt in the land, the Magistrates of Israel, might restrain him from rigour.

V. 54. by these] Greeke, by these things (or means:) 54that is, neither by others, nor by himselfe, before the Iubile. of Iubile] Greeke, of Remission: which was a yeere of full discharge of all servants from the hands of al other masters, that they might be the Lords, and serve him onelyonly. Which thing Christ hath fulfilled for us in truth, who dying in the last Iubile, the acceptable yeere of the Lord; hath set us free from all sinfull servitude; that sinne should reigne no more in our mortall bodie, nor wee obey it in the lusts thereof; but present our selves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead; and our members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God, Rom. 6. 11. 12. 13. Ioh. 8. 34. 36. Heb. 2. 14. 15.