Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Book 1 · Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXVI.
1. The Method and Contents.
IN this chapter, the externall state and happinesse of Esau is set forth: first by his polygamie and marriage of many wives: with the fruits thereof, his children, and the adjunctes thereunto, his riches, vers. 1. to vers. 8.
Secondly, by his genealogie: where his children and nephewes are rehearsed, and described. 1. By their nativitie, of what wives he had them, vers. 8. to 15. 2. By their dignity, vers. 15. to 20.
Thirdly by the estate of his country, where first the old inhabitants, the H…rites are described, vers. 20. to 32. then the new inhabitants the Edomites, first governed by Kings, vers. 31. to 40. then by Dukes againe, vers. 40. to the end.
2. The divers readings.
S. cor. S. cor. S. cor. S. ad.v. 2. Eliba, Sebagon. S. A…libama. Sibeon. cat.
v. 5. Ieul, Ieglom. S. Iehus Iaalon. cat.
v. 6. all the bodies of his house. S. the soules of his house. caet.
he went out of the land of Canaan. S. into another country. H. C. G. P. into a country away. B. into the region (of Seir) T.
T. cor.from his brother Iacob. H. from the face of his brother. S. B.G.P. because of his brother. C. before the comming of his brother. T. from the face of his brother, heb.
S. ad. H. ad. S. cor. S.v. 8. Iacob dwelt in the land, where his father dwelt in Canaan. S.
v. 11. K…nez and Ch…ra. H. Kenes. cater.
v. 13. Zaresome. S. Zerach, Sammah. cat.
v. 14. The sonnes of Libemas, the daughter of Enam, S. of A…libamah the daughter of Ana: caeter.
v. 21. Leson, Asar, Riso…. S. Dishon, Ezer, Dishan. caeter.S. cor, B. S.H.C.
v. 24. as she fed. B. as he fed. caeter.
this is that Ana that found Eanomin in the desart. S. that found giants in the wildernesse. C. hee waters. H. that found mules. T. B. G. P. ieen…m, miles. cat.
when he found the yoakes, hupozugia, of his father Sibeon. S. when he fed his father Si…eons asses. cater,S. chamorim, asses.
v. 32. Balac the sonne of Beor. S. Bela the sonne of Beor. cat.
v. 39. Arath the sonne of Barad regarded in his stead. S. Adad. H. G. Hadar. cat.S.
the name of his citie, Phogar. S. Pha…. C.H. Pan. G.B. Pahn. T. P. sic heb
the daughter of the goldsmith. C. of Mezoab. cater.C. app. f. pr.
v. 40. Duke Gola. S. Al…ba. H. duke Alua. cater. gnaluah.
v. 41. duke Ol…. S. duke Ela. caet.S.
v. 43. duke M…bdiel. cat. H. Magdiel, duke Zaphoim. S. duke Hiron. caet.H. S.
3. The Explanation of doubtfull questions.
QUEST. I. The order of time of the things set downe in the chapter.
Vers. 1. NOw these are the generations of Esau. 1. These things which are declared in the chapters following, from 35. to 41. are set downe out of their place, as all going before the death of Isaack who saw his sonne Esau married, and greatly encreased: he knew of the incest of Iudah with Thamar, and of Iosephs selling into Egypt, Luther. 2. For Esau was 120. yeares old, when Isaack died at 180. therefore the history of this chapter was before Isaacks death, Perer. 3. The selling of Ioseph into Egypt was 12. yeares before Isaacks death, as is proved, Quest. 21. of the former chapter: who is thought to be delivered out of prison the same yeare that Isaack died, thirteene yeare after he was sold by his brethren, Mercer.
QUEST. II. Of Adah Esaus wife.
Vers. 2. ADah the daughter of Elon. 1. This Adah is not the same, before called Iudith the daughter of Beeri, Gen. 26.34. as some Hebrewes: which they would have first so called because she professed God, but afterward being given too much to the decking of her selfe, she was called Adah of gnadi a iewel or ornament. But this Adah is the other called Basemath, which is there said to be the daughter of Elon the Hittite: for it is no rare thing in Scripture for men and women to be called by divers names: as Maacah the daughter of Absalom the mother of Abjah, 1. King, 15.2. is called Micajah of Vriel, 2. Chron. 13.2.
2. Concerning Aholibamah the second wife of Esau: Aholibamah whether the same with Iudith.1. these are neither other wives beside those which Esau maried before, as Ramban thinketh, who maketh Esau to have had 5. wives in all: for the Scripture maketh mention but of three wives that Esau had: and here it is therefore said, not that hee tooke wives, but his wives, as having relation to those which were his wives before: so that this Aholibamah, is the same which is called Iudith before. 2. Shee is said to be the daughter of Anah, not the sonne, (as the Greeke and Latin readeth) but daughter of Sibeon: for the word is bath, not ben: neither is it meant that Anah was the daughter of Sibeon, as some reade: for Anah was Sibeons son, vers. 14. a man not a woman: nor yet as the Hebrewes fable,Of Sibeon and Anah. this Aholibamah is said to bee the daughter of Anah and of Sibeon, two brothers, as begotten in incest, or of Sibeon the father of Anah: But this is added by way of distinction, because there were two called Anah: one brother to Sibeon, vers. 20. another sonne of Sibeon, vers. 24. this Aholibamah was daughter to Anah sonne of Sibeon, and so also is said to bee the daughter, that is, neice of Sibeon, Iun. Mercer. 3. And whereas her father is before called an Hittite, but here an Hivite: that is, because the Hivites were the greater nation, and comprehended also the Hittites, Iun. or the one may be understood of the father, the other of the grandfather, Mercer.
3. Basemath, that is, the same before called Mahalah, Gen. 28.9. first so named, because she was sickly, of chalah, to be sicke, afterward Basemath, of a pleasant smel, Ramban. others will have her so named,Basemath Ismaels daughter. for offring incense to idols, Rasi. but the derivations of names are uncertaine: it appeareth, that the daughter of Ismael whom Esau married was called by two names, Iun.
QUEST. III. Whether this Eliphaz were one of Iobs friends.
Ves. 4. ADa bare unto Esau Eliphaz. This is not like to be that Eliphaz, which was Iobs friend, though he might be of his posterity, for these reasons: 1. that Eliphaz is called a Teman…te: but Teman was one of the sonnes of this Eliphaz, who is not like to have taken denomination of his sonne, Mercer. 2. this Eliphaz could not be much lesse than 70. or 80. yeare old, when Isaack died at 180. for Esau 60. yeares younger than Isaack, married at 40. yeares: then Eliphaz his first borne was not much more then 100. yeares younger than Isaack. And by this it would follow, that Iob, that lived with Eliphaz, should have beene many yeares before the departure of Israel out of Egypt, which is uncertaine, Muscul.
QUEST. IV. Why Aholibamah the second wife is last named.
Vers. 5. AHolibamah bare Leu…h, &c. Aholibamah is set after the other two wives, whereas Esau married her before he took Ismaels daughter. 1. Some thinke, because she was the last of the three that bare him children: but that is not like, that she began to beare, after 36. or 37. yeares, having many children. 2. It is more like, that Aholibamah had children before, which died, and therefore they are not rehearsed. 3. But the most like conjecture is, that the other two are named first, because they … but each of them a sonne: Aholibamah is named last, because she had divers sonnes, and therefore Moses was to insist longer in her generation: or else, seeing the Scripture doth often invert and change the order of time in history, we need not much stand upon this point, who are first or last named, Mercer.
QUEST. V. Corah how he is said to be the sonne of Esau by Aholibamah, and the sonne of Eliphaz.
Vers. 5. WHereas Corah is named among the sonnes of Aholibamah, vers. 5. and yet is numbred also among the sonnes of Eliphaz of Adan, vers. 16. 1. neither for solution of this doubt, need wee with the Hebrewes, to imagine that Corah was the sonne of Eliphaz, by Aholibamah Esaus wife, who committed incest with her: for then the Scripture would not before have set him downe as the sonne of Esau. 2. R. Levi thinketh, that when Aholibamah was dead, Eliphaz brought up Corah the youngest sonne of Aholibamah, among his owne children, and so he is reckoned with the rest of Eliphaz. sonnes: but in this case, the Scripture would not have altered, sometime making Corah the sonne of Esau, sometime of Eliphaz. 3. Therefore we thinke rather, that there were two of this name, one brother to Eliphaz by Aholibamah, the other Eliphaz sonne, or nephew: as in this chapter, there are two Anahs mentioned, the one brother, the other sonne of Sibeon, vers. 20.14. Mercer. And further, whereas Corah is not reckoned in the first place among Eliphaz sonnes, vers. 11.12. yet afterward he hath his place among the Dukes of Eliphaz, vers. 16. it is like he was the nephew rather than the sonne of Eliphaz, who was famous among the rest, and therefore is named among the honourable dukes of Eliphaz, Iun.
QUEST. VI. When Esau departed from Iacob into mount Seir.
Vers. 6. WEnt into a country away from the face of Iacob▪ &c. 1. This can neither be understood of Esaus first departure, after Iacob was gone into Mesopotamia: for Esau could not be said to goe away from Iacobs face, he being absent: and to say, that Isaack reserved a double part for Iacob, as the first-borne, and sent Esau away, it would have exasperated him so much the more. 2. Neither yet was this the first time of Esaus going to dwell in Seir, after Iacobs returne: for Iacob sent messengers before to Esau into the country of Seir, from whence he came with 400. men, Gen. 32.3. And that exposition is somewhat rackt, to interpret for [from the face of Iacob] before his comming, Iun. for in the next verse the reason of Esaus departure is yeelded, for that they (not Isaack and Esau, as Iun.) but Esau and Iacob, whereof immediate mention before was made, could not dwell together by reason of their substance. 4. therefore the right solution is, that Esau first dwelled in the country of Seir, while Iacob was in Mesopotamia, removing from his father, either upon displeasure, for the losse of his birth-right, or because of the unquietnesse of his wives, that were an offence to his parents: or for that he was allied by marriage to the Hivites that dwelt in Seir: for Aholibamah was the daughter of Anah, of Sibeon the Hivite, Gen. 36.2.24. Muscul. But as yet Esau had not removed all his goods and substance to mount Seir, which he had not full and peaceable possession of, before the Hivites were thence expelled, Ramb…. And afterwards Esau returned from thence to visit his father, and having performed his last duty, in the buriall of Isaack, he then finally departed altogether, sic August. Mercer.
QUEST. VII. The cause of Esaus departure from Iacob.
Vers. 7. THeir riches were great, and they could not dwell together. These then were the causes of Esaus departure from Iacob. 1. As it is here expressed, their substance was so great, that they could not inhabit together: not as though the land of Canaan were not sufficient for both: but that corner in Hebron, where they inhabited as strangers, was too scant for their great flocks of cattell, Mercer. 2. Beside Esau had a minde to mount Seir, as fitter for his study and trade of life, who was given to hunting, Perer. and for that his wives were of that country, and he had dwelt sometime there already. 3. But most of all Gods providence herein appeared, to separate these brethren, both for the commodious and quiet dwelling of Iacob, who would continually have incurred the offence of his brother: as also herein the Lord provided for Esaus posterity, that they should not dwell in Canaan, lest with the rest of the Canaanites they might have beene destroyed by the Israelites, to whom that land was promised, Perer.
QUEST. VIII. How the generations of Esau are said to be borne in mount Seir.
Vers. 9. THese are the generations of Esau, father of Edom in mount Seir, &c. 1. Edom is the name also of Esau, but here it is taken for the Idumeans, the posterity of Esau, Calvin. 2. Whereas before these sonnes here rehearsed were said to be borne in Canaan, vers. 5. we must either understand, not that these generations were borne, but dwelt in Seir, Muscul. or it must be referred not to the sons of Esau, which are againe rehearsed, but to his nephewes, his sonnes children, which might be borne in Mount Seir, Mercer.
QUEST. IX. Of Thimna the mother of Amalek.
Vers. 12. THimna was concubine to Eliphaz. 1. Neither was this Thimna Eliphaz daughter which he had by the wife of Seir, as the Hebrewes imagine, which afterward was his concubine. 2. Neither had Eliphaz a sonne called Thimna by this Thimna. beside Amalech: because, 1 Chron. 1.36. Thimna and Amalek are numbred among Eliphaz sons: for there, Thimna the mother is set before Amalek her sonne, because he was borne to Eliphaz, of his concubine, and therefore Iunius inferreth …ell, by way of explanation, the sonne of Thimna, Amalek. 3. Yet Thimna and Aholibamah mentioned vers. 40.41. are the names of men, who were so called by the names of the first mothers of that nation, Iun. 4. This Thimna then was the daughter of Seir the Sister of L…an, verse 2…. which being a little one, might be brought up with Eliphaz his sonnes, and afterward become his concubine, Mercer. 5. Amalek is here shewed to come of Eliphaz by his concubine Thimna, to shew a difference betweene the right sonnes of Eliphaz, and his bastard sonne Amalek, of whom came the Amalekites whom God commanded to be destroyed, whereas the Idumeans God would have to be preserved, Mercer. 6. Whereas vers. 16. Amalek is counted among the sonnes of Eliphaz by Adah, whereas his mother was Thimna, it is like that Adah made him her adopted sonne, and so he is numbred with the rest, Luther.Amalek how counted among the sons Adab.
QUEST. X. Of Seir the Horite, of whom the mount Seir was so called.
Vers. 20. THese are the sonnes of Seir the Horite, &c. 1. For the name Seir, which signifieth hairie, both Esau was so called, Gen. 25.25. and this Seir, who first gave the name to mount Seir, before Esau came thither: some of the Hebrewes thinke, the place was so called Seir, of the apparition of devils, who shewed themselves as hairy men, such as the Faunes were imagined to be. But it is more like that the place tooke denomination of this Seir, which there inhabited before Esau, Mercer. 2. Horite is not here an appellative, but a proper name, it signifieth, free, noble, and they were the same with the Hivi…es: as Sibeon the sonne of this Seir the Horite, is called an Hivite, Gen. 36.2. Iun. Of the Horites, what people they were.These were the ancient inhabitants of Mount Seir, surprised sometime by the foure kings of the East, Gen. 14.6.
QUEST. XI. Whether Anah first found out the generation of mules in the wildernesse.
Vers. 24. THis is that Anah that found mules, &c. 1. The Septuagint make it a proper name, reading, ieemim, not knowing as it should seeme, what to make of it. 2. The Chalde, interpret it Giants, that Anah found, that is, overcame gyants in the wildernesse: in which sense the Lord is said in the psalme to finde out his enemies: but then it should be eemim, with al…ph, not ieemim. 3. Oleaster doth reade, he found out maria, sea or salt water in the wildernesse: but then the word should be iamim. 4. Hierome translateth hot waters: for so saith he the word signifieth in the Punicke language: but we must not f…tch the originall of an Hebrew word from another tongue. 5. Wherefore the best reading is, he found mules: that is, first coupled divers kinds together, the …e asse and the mare, of whom came the mules: thus the word is best interpreted, though it be only found in this place, both because the circumstance of the place giveth it: for hee kept his fathers asses: as also the thing may bee noted for the strangenesse of it, being a mixture of divers kinds against nature: and therefore the mules ingender not: and forbidden also by Moses law, Levit, 19.19. Thou shalt not suffer thy cattell to gender with other kinds, sic Musul. Mercer. Iun. Rupert. Lyran. &c. But Pererius misliketh this opinion though with no great reason.
QUEST. XII. Of Dishon and Aholibamah.
Vers. 25. THe children of Anah were these, Dishon and Aholibamah, &c. 1. This Anah is not the same which in the verse before is said to have found out the mules, but he is the fourth son of Seir named before, vers. 20. for the generation of Seirs seven sonnes is set downe in order. It seemeth then, as there were two called Anah, one the brother of Sibeon, vers. 20. the other the son of Sibeon, vers. 24. so there were two women of the same name Aholibamah: one the daughter of Anah, Sibeons brother here mentioned: the other the daughter of Anah, Sibeons son, the wife of Esau, vers. 2. so that this Aholibamah is not the same with the other, as Iunius with some other Hebrews thinke. 2. So Dishon here is the sonne of Anah, the fourth sonne of Seir: Dishon, three of that name▪there is another Dishon also brother to Anah the fift sonne of Seir, whose generation is expressed, verse 27. there is a third Dishon or Dishan, brother to this last Dishan, the 7 sonne of Seir, who is called Dishan, vers. 21. with this difference: the first Dishon is written Dishon, with van, without jod: the second the seventh sonne of Seir, Dishan, with j…d without van: the third the sonne of Anah, without either jod or van: although this difference bee not alwayes kept: for vers. 26.28. they are both called Dishan with the same letters.
QUEST. XIII. Of the number and time of the kings of Edom.
Vers. 31. THese are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, &c. 1. The Hebrews are somewhat curious, who against these eight Kings of the Edomites, set as many kings of Iudah, Saul, Isboseth, David, Salomon, Rehoboam, Abia, Asa, Iehosapha…, during whose time there was no king in Edom: but in the reigne of Ioram, Iehosaphats sonne the Edomites rebelled, and made themselves a king, 2 King. 8.20. that king of Edom in the time of Iehosaphat, was no absolute king, but a Viceroy, deputed by the Iewes, 1 King. 22.47. Beside they note, that Edom had 8. kings, because Iacob 8. times calleth Esau, Adonai Lord, Mercer. 2. He meaneth not those kings of Israel, which succeeded after Saul, as Mercer. for there were many more kings in Edom, before Saul was elected their king: though I deny not, but Moses by the spirit of prophecie, did foresee, that there should be kings in Israel; as he describeth the duty of a king, Deut. 17.3. Moses then meaneth, before there was any certaine forme of government, or supreme magistrate in Israel, that is, till his time, who is said to be as a king, Deut. 33.5. sic Aben Ezra. Iun. though learned Mercerus mislike this opinion.
QUEST. XIV. Bela the sonne of Beor, neither Balaam nor Balac.
Vers. 32. BEla the sonne of Beor. 1. This neither could be Balaam, that troubled Israel, as some thinke, who neither was a king, nor yet an Idumean, but a Syrian. 2. Nor yet Balac, as the Septuagint reade, who was the sonne of Zipp…r. not of Beor, and king of the Moabites, not of the Edomites, Mercer. and this Bela being the first king of the Edomites, was long before the time of Moses.
QUEST. XIV. Of what country and kindred Iob was.
Vers. 33. IObab the sonne of Zerah of Bozrah. 1. This neither was Iob that famous man for his patience, whose book is canonicall, as thinketh Tostatus: and it is affirmed by the Septuagint in the end of Iob, that he was this Iobab the sonne of Zerah, the sixt from Abraham: for there is great difference in the names, Iob is written with aleph, in the beginning: but Iobab, without aleph, Mercer. Againe, Iob dwelt in the land of Huz: but this Iobab was of Bozrah▪ in the confines of Moab and Idumes: neither can it be gathered that Iob was a king, though hee were a man in authority for his wisdome and justice. 2. Some affirme Iob to be a Canaanite, and apply that place, Numb. 14.9. where it is said of the Canaanites, their shield is gone from them, unto Iob, who while he lived, by his righteousnesse delivered Canaan, R. Salomon. 3. Cajetan thinketh that Iob was an Arabian of Arabia-Petr…a: But it is not like that Iob so vertuous a man came of cursed Cham the father of the Canaanites and Arabians: and all the rest of Iobs friends were either of, Abraham, Nachor, or Es…u, whom hee calleth his brethren. 4. Neither was Iob of the posterity of Nae… or Abrahams brother, which is the opinion of Hierome, Lyranu…, with some others: for though Huz were one of Nahors sonnes, yet it is more like that the first Huz the sonne of Aram of Sem, Genes. 10.22. gave denomination to Iobs country: and as Elihu one of Iobs friends was a Buzite of Nahor, Iob. 32.2. so Bildad was a Shuite of Abraham by Keturah, Eliphaz a Temanite of Esau, therefore that concludeth not that he descended of Nahor. 5. Nor yet doe I thinke, that Iob was of the posterity of Esau, which is the common opinion of Chrysost. Augustine, Theodoret, and of the new writers, Mercer. Perer. with others. 1. For though the daughte… of Edom be said to dwell in the land of Huz, Ier. 4.21. because Edom had so farre extended their habitation: yet they were two divers and distinct countries in themselves, as may appeare, Ierem. 25.20, 21. where Huz and Edom are named asunder. 2. And what though Eliphaz one of Iobs friends be a Temanite of Esau, so was Eli…u a Buzire of Nahor. 3. Neither is it like that Huz the sonne of Dishan the Horite, that dwelt in the land of Seir, before the Edomites, Genes. 36.28. gave that name unto Iobs country, which is Tostatus opinion: but of the first Huz. of Aram, as is before said, was that country so called, Iun. 4. I thinke it therefore more probable, that Iob came of Abraham by Keturah; as Bildad the Shuire was of Shuah Abrahams sonne by Keturah, whom with the rest Iob calleth his brethren: And these sonnes of Keturah, are said to be sent into the East country, Genes. 25.6. and Iob is said to be the greatest of all the men in the East, Iob. 1.3. Abraham also had a greater care to instruct his sons, and to command them after him to keepe the way of the Lord, for which care the Lord himselfe commendeth him, Gen. 18.19. than either Nachor, or Esau had: and therefore it is not unlike but that Iobs great knowledge was the fruits of Abrahams instruction propagated to his posterity.
QUEST. XV. In what time Iob lived.
COncerning the time wherein Iob lived. 1. He was neither so ancient as Iacob, which seemeth to bee the opinion of Philo who thinketh that Dinah Iacobs daughter was Iobs wife: for Eliphaz the Temanite, of Teman, of Eliphaz, of Esau, the third from Esau, one of Iobs friends, will make him after Iacobs time. 2. Neither was Iob in the time of Moses, which must be the opinion of Hierome, who maketh Eli…u to be Bala…m. 3. Much lesse lived he in the time of the judges, as Gregorie thinketh: for at such time as Iob lived, who is commended for offering sacrifice, the sacrificing priesthood was not instituted. 4. Wherefore it is probable, that Iob lived in the time of the Israelites being in Egypt, after the death of Ioseph, before the birth of Moses, when Sathan compassed the earth, and it was a rare thing to finde a righteous man: for Moses is held to be the writer of the booke of Iob: and as Eliphaz of Teman, of Eliphaz, of Esau, of Isaack, of Abraham, was the sixt from Abraham, so might Iob be in another line.
QUEST. XVI. Of Baal-hanan the seventh king of Edom.
Vers. 38. BA…l-hanan the sonne of Achbor, &c. In that the city or country of this Baal-hanan is not expressed, as of the rest. 1. Some thinke it is omitted, because he was of the same city, of the which was the king next before named. 2. Some, because he had many adversaries, and therefore had no certaine place. 3. Some, as Ramban, that Hanan was his citie, and so he is called, Baal-hanan, that is, Lord of Hanan. 4. But it may be, that he was not so famous as the rest, and therefore his citie is not noted, Mercer.
QUEST. XVII. Of Mehetabel the wife of Hadad.
Vers. 39. MEhetabel the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezab…h▪ &c. 1. Some thinke that Matred was her father, Mezabah her mother. 2. Some, as R. Levi, will have her the naturall daughter of Matred, and the adopted daughter of Mezabah. 3. Some thinke that Mezabah was the name of the place, otherwise called Medeba, or with Ptolome, Medava, Iun. but this seemeth to be somewhat coact and strained: that she should be called the daughter of such a citie or towne. 4. Therefore she is said to be the daughter of Matred her father, not mother; and daughter, that is, niece of her grand-father, as Aholibamah before is said to be the daughter of Anah, and daughter, that is, niece of Sibeon, Mercer. 5. Mezabah signifieth golden waters: it might be that he was inriched by such waters, where gold was gathered; Matred also is interpreted one that is diligent or conversant in his worke: of the word tared, from whence some thinke the name Mithridates to be derived, Mehetabel, that is, doing wel or giving unto God, of the same signification with the name Theodos…, Mercer.
QUEST. XVIII. Of the Dukes of Edom.
Vers. 41. DVke Timna, &c. Duke Aholibamah. 1. As the principality of Edom began with Dukes, and rose to Kings: so it returneth to Dukes againe, who did not one succeed another, as the Kings, but they were all rulers together, in divers places of Edom, after the death of Hadad, in Moses time, 1 Chron. 1.51. 2. These are not here the names of women, as thinketh Aben Ezra, that first the Dukes are named that came of Timna, then those which came of Aholibamah; neither are they the names of men, Iun. but rather of the places, called by the names of their first mothers, where these Dukes had their seat, Mercer. Muscul.
4. Places of Doctrine.
1. Doct. The prosperity of the wicked of short continuance.
Vers. 32. THese are the Kings that reigned, &c. The wicked are soone raised to honour, and are quickly cast downe againe: as Esaus posterity was speedily advanced to a Kingdome, but it continued not long; Iacobs seed, though a long time kept under in affliction, yet at the last obtained a firme and permanent Kingdome: such is the condition of the elect; though of a long time their happinesse appeareth not, yet when it breaketh forth, it hath a durable continuance; but the prosperity of the wicked soone fadeth away; therefore they are said to be set in flippery places, and they are as a dreame when one awaketh, Psal. 73.18.20. Mercer.
2. Doct. Alteration of states in the hand of God.
FUrther, whereas first the Horites dwelt in mount Seir, and had divers Dukedomes and Principalities there: and after them the Edomites were first Dukes, then Kings, then Dukes againe; wee see that the alteration of states, transplanting and changing of Kingdomes, is in the Lords hand; it is God that maketh low, and maketh high, Psal. 75.7. Muscul.
5. Places of Confutation.
1. Confut. Outward prosperity, no sure note of the Church.
Vers. 32. THese are the Kings that reigned in Edom, &c. There were divers Kings in Edom, before any reigned in Israel; yet was not Edom the Church of God, but Israel; prosperity then and outward glory is no sure note of the true Church, as the Papists make it, Luther. For then Moses would not have chosen to suffer affliction with the people of God, and have refused the glory, pompe and pleasure of Pharaohs Court, Heb. 11.25.
2. Confut. Against the Iewes, that Magdiel is not Rome.
Vers. 43. DVke Magdiel: the Hebrewes take this for Rome, because they thinke that the Romans came of the Idumeans; but they have no reason for it; spiritually indeed the Romanists, and all other enemies to the Church of God may be counted Idumeans; But otherwise there was no affinity betweene Rome and Idumea, being so farre distant; Magdiel was a place in Edom, as Timna and Teman and the rest were; It signifieth, annuntians Deum, praising or confessing God; in which sense it were happy for Rome, now spirituall Babylon, if she could truly be called Magdiel.
6. Places of morall observation.
1. Observ. God blesseth the seed of the righteous, for their fathers sakes.
Vers. 15. THese were the Dukes of the sonnes of Esau, &c. As Ismael was temporally blessed for Abrahams sake, so was Esau for Isaacks sake: his posterity was renowned and honourable. Thus the Lord often vouchsafeth temporall and outward favours even to the degenera…e seed, for their righteous forefathers sake: as the Lord would not take away the whole Kingdome from Rehoboam, that David still might have a light in Jerusalem, 1 King. 11.36.
2. Observ. The wicked void of naturall affection.
Vers. 20. THese are the sonnes of Seir the Horite, &c. Esau was by marriage allied to this Seir, for hee married Aholibamah, nee…e to Sibeon the third sonne of Seir, Gen. 36.2.20. yet the children of Esau chased away the Horims, and destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead in mount Seir, Deut. 2.12. whereby it is evident that the wicked are void of naturall affection, and that affinity is not much regarded among them, when they are bent upon their owne preferment and commodity: as Laban pursued after Iacob and his daughters, purposing to have done him some harme, but that the Lord staid him, Gen. 31.29.
THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE SECOND TOME OR PART OF GENESIS: Containing the notable History of the life, acts, and vertues of honourable JOSEPH.
HEB. 11.12.
By faith, Ioseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandement of his bones.
AMBROS. Lib. 1. Officior. cap. 17.
Ioseph humilis fuit usque ad servitutem, verecundus usque ad fugam, patiens usque ad carcerem, remissor injuriae usque ad remunerationem:
Ioseph was humble even unto service, shamefast unto flight, patient unto prison, a remitter of wrongs unto reward.
VERITAS ❀ FILIA ❀ TEMPORIS
LONDON, ¶ Printed by the Assignes of THOMAS MAN, PAVL MAN, and IONA… MAN. 163… ▪