Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Theological treatise · Chapter 22 · Analysis – Questions
1. The Method and Argument.
IN this Chapter other politicke and civill Lawes are delivered, which are of two sorts, either concerning every ones private duty, to vers. 28. or the publike, vers. 27. to the end of the Chapter.
The private duties are of two sorts, either touching prophane, or sacred actions. Of the first sort are these: 1. Concerning theft, either apparent, as either of simple theft consummate, when the thing stollen is killed, or sold, vers. 1. or of theft with violence, vers. 2.3. or of simple theft not consummate, when the thing stollen is yet found with the man, v. 4. or secret theft, in feeding on other mens grounds, vers. 5.
2. The Law of burning, vers. 6. 3. The Law of committing any thing to anothers trust, vers. 7, 8. 4. Of things taken away, vers. 9. 5. Of things that are hired, what is to be done, if they decay in his hand that hired them, vers. 10, 11. what if they be stollen. 6. The Law of borrowing and lending, vers. 14, 15. 7. Of simple fornication, what is to be done if the father consent, vers. 16. what if he refuse, vers. 17.
The sacred Lawes follow. 1. Which are either grounded upon the Law of Nature, which are two, not to suffer a witch to live, vers. 18. nor to lye with a beast, vers. 19. 2. Or upon the institution of God, as not to offer unto any strange gods, vers. 20. 3. Or which concerne the duties of humanity to be shewed: 1. Toward strangers, vers. 21. 2. The widowes and fatherlesse, vers. 22. whereunto the reason i… added, containing a commination of punishment against those which oppresse and trouble them. 3. Toward the poore, neither in oppressing them with usury, vers. 25. nor keeping backe their pledge, vers. 26. with the reason, vers. 27.
The publike Lawes are: 1. Concerning duties both toward Magistrates in generall, not to speake evill of the Rulers, vers. 28. and in particular, toward Ecclesiasticall Ministers, in yeelding their tithes and first fruits, vers. 29, 30. 2. And touching the generall duty of sanctimony in themselves, vers. 31. testified by that outward ceremoniall signe, in not eating any uncleane thing.
2. The divers readings.
I.Vers. 1. Foure small beasts of the flocke, for one small beast. I. better than, foure sheepe for a sheepe. B.G.S.L. for the first word is tzon, the other, sheh, and therefore cannot bee interpreted by the same word: or than, foure sheepe for a lambe. C. A. for that had beene unequall: or foure sheepe for a small beast. P. V. for it might be a goat as well as a sheepe which was stollen, and then foure goats were to be restored againe, not foure sheepe: tzon is a noune collective, and signifieth the flocke, as well of goats as sheepe.
I.L.C.Vers. 2. He shall not be guilty of bloud. L.C. or, of slaughter. I.S. better than, there shall be no capitall action against him. V. or, bloud shall not be shed for him. B.G. or, he shall be subject to death. P. bloud shall not …e to him. H. that is, the bloud of the slaine shall not be imputed to him: it is better referred to the bloud of the slaine, than of the killer.
I.C.S.Vers. 5. If any man doe feed field, &c. I.C.S. or, cause to be fed. V.A.P. better than, hurt field. B. G. L. the word is baghar, to feed: and two kindes of feeding are touched, when one willingly causeth his cattell to feed on others ground, or by negligence.
Vers. 9. In all manner of trespasse. B. G. V. or, matter of trespasse. C.A.P. better than, in every businesse of things carried away. I. pashagh, signifieth to trespasse, to rebell, or to depart from the will of the master, Oleaster. It is meant of all kinde of trespasse, in withholding another mans goods.
I.V. A.Vers. 10. Carried away by violence. I.V.A. or, taken captive. S.L.P. better than, taken of enemies. L.B.G. shabah, signifieth to take by force, or drive away.
V.I.A.P.B.Vers. 13. He shall bring it for a witnesse. V.I.A.P. that is, that which is torne for a witnesse. C. or, witnesse of the tearing. B. better than, he shall bring record. G. here somewhat is wanting: or, bring unto him that which is slaine. I. here somewhat is added: or, bring it to the doore. S. here somewhat is changed.
Vers. 31. Tot… of beasts. C.A.P. cum cater. better than, tasted before of beasts. I.
3. Questions discussed.
QUEST. I. Of the ….
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