Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 1 · Chapter 49
CHAP. XLIX. Verſ. 1. Gather your ſelves together]
THis is Jacobs ſwan-like ſong▪ his laſt bequeath, Sic ubi fata v… cant, u…is abjectus in herbis, Ad vada Maeandri conciuit albus olor. Ovid. Epiſt.his farewell to the world; and it is a moſt heavenly one. The wine of Gods Spirit is uſually ſtrongeſt, and beſt at laſt, in the hearts of his people: his Motions quickeſt, when natural motions are ſloweſt; moſt ſenſible, when the body begins to be ſenſeleſs; moſt lively, when holy men are adying. Look how the Sun ſhines moſt amiably toward the deſcent; and Rivers, the nearer they draw to the ſea, the ſooner they are met by the tide; ſo is it with the Saints, when nigh to death, when grace is changing into glory, they deliver themſelves uſually to the ſtanders by, moſt ſweetly. So, beſides Jacob, did Moſes, Joſhuah, Paul, and He, (in whoſe one example is a globe of precepts) Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in that laſt heavenly Sermon and Prayer of his, Ioh. 14.15.16.17. Whereunto, let me add that faithful Martyr, John Diazius, who was cruelly butchered by his own brother, Alphonſus Diazius, and that meerly for his religion. See the Notes on Chap. 4. ver. 8. I remember (ſaith Senarclaeus. his friend and bed-fellow, who wrote the hiſtory of his death) when he and I were at Newburg, the very night before he was murthered, he prayed before he went to bed, more ardently then ordinary, and for a longer time together. After which, he ſpent a good part of the night in diſcourſing of the great works of God; and exhorting me to the practice of true piety. Ego verò illius oratione ſic incoudebar, ut cum eum …iſſ… entem audirem, …piritus ancti verba me audire ex…ſtimarem. Ibid. Queſt. Anſw.And truly, I felt my ſelf ſo inflamed and quickned by his words that when I heard him diſcourſing, methoughts I heard the Spirit of God ſpeaking unto me. This, and much more, Senarclaeus writes to Bucer; who at that time, had employed Diaz…us to over-look the right printing of a book of his, that was then in the Preſs. [That I may tell you that which ſhall befall you] But how knew Moſes this laſt ſpeech of Jacob being born ſo long after? Partly, by Revelation, and partly alſo by Tradition. For the words of dying men, are living Oracles; and their laſt ſpeeches are long remembred. And the accompliſhment of all theſe Prophecies in their due time, as the following Scriptures ſhew, adds much tothe authority of Moſes's writings, and confirms them to be faithful and true, as He ſaith, Joh. 21.24.
Verſ. 2. Hear ye ſons of Jcaob, and hearken] Draw up the ears of your ſouls, to the ears of your bodies, that one ſound may pierce both at once. Let him …hat hath an ear to hear, hear: not only with that outward griſtle that grows upon his head, but with his utmoſt intention of mind, attention of body, and retention of memory, and of prac…c… alſo. He that hears the Word of God, muſt hear, as if he did (for ſo he doth) hear for life and death; he muſt, as Jacob bids his ſons, hear, and hearken.
Verſ. 3. Virgil.My might and beginning of my ſtrength.] Nate meae vires —. The word here uſed, ſignifieth the ſtraining of the body forcibly, foreign.to effect a thing much deſired; ſuch as was that of S. Paul, Phil. 3.13. and that of Eliah, 1 King. 18.42. when he prayed and prayed, foreign Jam. 5.17.as St. Iames hath it, that is, with utmoſt intention of affection. [The excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power] That is, ſaith the Cha…ee Paraphralt. Excellens principatu & ſacerdotio. Both theſe he forfeited and fell from; ſo cannot Chr… ſtians, Rev. 1.6.
Verſ. 4. Ʋaſtable as waters] Eaſily drawn to ſin, and ſuddenly down from his dignity. Reuben, for a ſhort ſinful pleaſure, loſt great priviledges and bleſſings. So do all Epicures, that loſe heaven for a baſe luſt, their ſonls for their ſin. As Ambroſe reports of one Theotinus, that having a diſeaſed body, and told by the Phyſitian, that unleſs he lived temperately, he would loſe his eyes; Vale lumen amicum, ſaid he; if my eyes will not away with my luſts, they are no eyes for me. So here; Men will have their ſwing in ſin, whatever come of it. They may ſo, and for a time, hear no more of it; as Reuben did not, for almoſt fourty years after his inceſt was committed. foreign.But, quod defertur non ſtatim auſertur. The Heathen Hiſtorian could ſee, and ſay, That, ſooner or later, great ſins will have great puniſhments from Cod. Deus horrenda peccata horrendis poenis immutabiliter vindicat, ſaith Paveus on this Text. [He went up to my couch] The fact was ſo odious to Iacob, that, abhorring the very thought of it, he turneth his ſpeech from Reuben to the reſt. Rom. 12.9. foreign. Epheſ. 5.3.Hate as hell, that which is evil, ſaith Paul. And, as for fornication, and all uncleanneſſe, let it not be once named amongſt you. Spit it out of your mouthes, as the Devils drivel.
Verſ. 5. Simeon and Levi are brethren] Nobile par fratrum, Horat. Metaphora et la. tens Antanaclaſis. Piſcat.not more in nature, then in iniquity. Here Moſes blancheth not over the blemiſhes, of his progenitours, but wrote as he was inſpired, by the inpartiall Spirit of truth. If it could be ſaid of Suetonius, that in writing the lives of the twelve Caeſa…s, Eal bertate ſori…ſit Imperatorum vitas, qua i…i vix…runt.he took the ſame liberty to ſet down their faults, that they took to commit them: how much more truly may this be ſaid of the holy p…nmen? they ſpared not themſelves, much leſs their friends. See my true treaſure, pag. 21. Mekerah alii relaumper Graecam …con, Machaerae …ram Nonincomm…e. Pareus. foreign. D…o. The world en…mp. by Sr. Fr. Drake. pag. 53.[Inſtruments of cruelty are in their habitations] Or, are their ſwords. Barbarous and brutiſh perſons they were, skilfull to deſtroy, Ezek. 21.31. Such a one was Druſus, the ſon of Tiberius the Emperonr; ſo ſet upon bloodſhed, that the ſharpeſt ſwords were, from him, called in Rome, 'Druſians. The Spainards are ſaid to try the goodneſs of their ſwords, upon the bodies of the poor Indians: and they ſuppoſe (ſaith Sir Francis Drake,) that they ſhew the wretches great favour, when they do not, for their pleaſure, whip them with cords; and day by day, drop their naked bodies with burning bacon; which is o…e of their leaſt cruelties.
Verſ. 7. O my ſoul come not thou, &c.] Iacob here meaneth, that neither ſhould any, neither would he approve of their perfidie, ſaith an Interpreter. And yet Th…a us writes, Thuah.that the Pope cauſed the Maſſacre of Paris, to be painted in his Pallace. Another of them highly extolled in his Conſiſtory the noble act of Clement the Monk, that killed the King of France, I…cob. Revins de vi…is Pont. f. pag. 291.comparing it with the work of creation, incarnation, &c. …rier Garnet our chiefe powder plotter, had his picture ſet among the reſt of their Saints, in the Ieſu…es Church at Rome. And Cornel. a Lapide, upon Apocalyps. 7.3. crowns this traytour, with freſh Encomiaſticks. [In their anger they ſlew a man] Yea, …r. r. Apol. contra leſuit.many innocents; and then cryed out, O remregiam! as Valeſius did, when he had ſlain three-hundred: O pulchrum ſpeaculum; as Hannibal, when he ſaw a pit full of mans blood; Quam bonus eſt odor hoſtis mortui! as Charles the ninth, in the Maſſacre of Paris; where they poiſoned the Queen of Navarr, piſtold the Prince of Condee, murdered the moſt part of the peereeſs Peeres of France, their wives and children; Anſw. to Cathol. Supplic, by Gab. Powell.with a great ſort of the common people, in divers parts of the Realm; 30000 in one monethmonth, 300000 in the ſpace of a year. Mahomet the firſt, Emperour of Turks, was thought, in his time, to have been the death of 800000 men. Selymus the ſecond, in revenge of the loſs he had received, at the battell of Lepanto, would have put to death all the Chriſtians in his dominion, in number infinite. Mithridates King of Pontus, Ibid. 885. Val. Max. lib. 9.with one letter, ſlew fourſcore thouſand Citizens of Rome, in Aſia, that were ſcattered up and down the country, for traffique-ſake. It was the cruel manner of Ʋladus, Prince of Valachia, Turle. hiſt. fol. 363.together with the offendours, to execute the whole familie; yea, ſometimes, the whole kindred. Did not theſe two brethren in ſin, do ſo, and worſe.
Verſ. 7. Curſed be their anger] Of the miſchiefe of raſh anger, and means to repreſs it, See the notes, on Chap. 34. verſ. 7. See my Common-place of anger. [I will divide them in Iacob] A puniſhment, ſuitable to their ſin: they conſpired to do miſchief, and are therefore divided in Iacob. Of Simeon, Judas Iſcariot is ſaid to have come; who tumbled, as a ſtone, till he came to his place. Levi had his habitation among the other tribes; and this curſe was afterwards turned to a bleſſing; when they were conſecrated, as Prieſts, to preſerve, and preſent knowledg to their brethren; Deut. 33.9, 10.to teach Iacob Gods judgments, and Iſrael his laws.
Verſ. 8. Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren] All this is chiefly verified in Chriſt, and of him to be underſtood. In him is beauty, bounty, goodneſs, greatneſs, and whatſoever elſe is praiſeworthy. Rev. 6.2.He goeth forth, riding on his white horſe, conquering and to conquer, Saint Paul, his chief Herald, proclaimes his victory, with a world of ſolemnity and triumph, 1 Cor. 15.56. and calls upon all his brethren, to bow down before him, Philip. 2.10. as they do, Rev. 12.10. caſting down their crowns at his feet, Rev. 4. Apud. Rom. ſiqui ſervati eſſent, ſolebant Servato rem ſuum coronare. foreign. Polyb. lib. 6, In in…diis. In ſubſidiis.ult. and ſetting the crown upon his head; as the manner was, among the Romans, that the ſaved ſhould crown their Saviours, and honour them, as their fathers, all their lives long, being wholly at their ſervice. It was not without myſtery, that David did reverence to his ſon Solomon, when he was newly crowned: what would he have done, think we, to his Lord (as he calls Chriſt, Pſal. 110.1.) had he been there in his Royalty?
Verſ. 9. Judah is a Lions whelp] Many Lion-like Lyſimachuſſes came of this tribe: that, as Sampſon, and David, firſt fought with lions, and then with their enemies; all which were types of that lion of the tribe of Judah, Rev. 5.5. The divell is a roaring, lion, Leo foreign, lyes in wait for the Church: but Chriſt her invincible Champion, is ever at hand for her help, who is alſo Leo; foreign, as Saint Paul hath it, the Lion of the tribe of I…dah, 2 Theſſ. 1. ult.that delivereth us from the wrath to come. And when this Lyon roareth, all creatures tremble, Amos 3.8. Saint Ambroſe tells us, that when the Lyon puts forth his voyce, many creatures that could out-run him, are ſo aſtonied at the terrour of his roar, that they are not able to ſtir from the place. And Iſidore writeth, that the Lions whelp, for the firſt three dayes after it comes into the world, lyeth as it were aſleep, and is afterwards rouzed and raiſed by the old Lions roaring, which makes the very den to ſhake. Chriſt, at the laſt day, ſhall come with the voyce of the Archangell, and trump of God, &c. And then ſhall they that ſleep in the duſt of death awake, ſome to everlaſting life, and ſome to everlaſting horrour and amazement, Dan 12.2.
Verſ. 10. Till Shiloh come] Shiloh is by ſome expounded, Ʋſque dum venturae erunt ſecundinae ejus, id eſt Judae, ut maſculin genua in Heb. oſtendit. Athemate Shalab, unde Shaluab, Tranquillitas. Unde Lat. Salvere, Salvus, ſalvare. Amama. Sub Auguſt… cuncta atque continua totius generis humani aus pax fuit, aut pactio. Flor. hiſt. l. 4.the ſon of his ſecundines. The Hebrew word implyes, His ſon, and Her ſon; that is, the ſon of the Virgin, that came of the line of Iudah. Secundines are proper to women. He therefore, whom Secundines alone brought forth, without help of man, is Chriſt alone, the promiſed ſeed. Others render Shiloh, Tranquillator, Salvator, The Safe-maker, The Peace-maker, The Proſperer. This Prince of Peace, was born in a time of peace, not long after that Pompey had ſubdued Iudaea to the Romane Government, and reduced it into a Province. Then was the Scepter newly departed from Iudah; and Herod, an Edomite, made King of the Country.
And unto him ſhall the gathering of the people be] As unto the ſtandard-bearer, Cant. 5.10. the carkaſe, Matth. 24.28. the deſire of all nations, Hag. 2.7. with Heb. 12.25. Totus ipſe deſideria, ſaith the Church, Cant. 5.16. and, When I am lifted up, ſaith He, I will draw all men after me, Joh. 12.32. they follow the Lamb whereſoever he goeth; as the hop and heliotrope do the ſun.
Verſ 11. Binding his foal unto the vine] Vines ſhall be ſo plentiful, that as Country-men tye their aſſes to briars and ſhrubs, ſo ſhall Judah to the vines, that ſhall grow thick every where. Where Chriſt is ſet up in the power and purity of his ordinance, there is uſually a confluence of all inward and outward comforts and contentments. He is the Cornu-copia of both to his Church and choſen.
Verſ. 12. His eyes ſhall be red, &c.] Wine and milk are uſed, to ſigniſie plenty of ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly things, Eſay 55.1. & 25.6.
Verſ. 13. Act. 17.Zebulun ſhall dwell, &c.] It is God that appoints us the bounds of our habitations. Be content therefore; and although we have not all things to our minds, yet having God for our portion, let us cry out with David, The lines are fallen unto me in a fair place, &c. Zebulon is placed by the ſea-ſide. Now ſhore men are ſaid to be borridi, immanes, latrocini… dediti, omnium denique peſſimi. Hence the Proverb, Maritimi mores. And h…ce, haply, that raſh and harſh character that Scal…ger gives of us, Scal. de re Poet. cap. 16. Heyl. Geog. p. 468.Angli p…rfidi, inflati feri, contemptores, ſtolidi, amentes, inertes, inh…pitales immanes. His bolt, you ſee, (ſaith One) is ſoon ſh…t; and ſo you may haply gueſs at the quality of the Archer. Be it that our Anceſtors were ſuch, yet the Goſpel hath civilized us at leaſt▪ whatever the more be. Chriſt left Nazareth, and came and dwelt at Capernaum, which is upon the ſea-coaſt, in the borders of Zabulon and Napbtali. Ever ſince which, The people which ſate in darkneſs, have ſeen a great light, &c. Matth. 4.13, 16. And when Gilead abode beyond Jordan, and came not to the help of the Lord againſt the mighty, Reuben was buſic about his ſheep, Dan about his ſhips, Aſher about his breaches, &c. Zabulon and Naphtali are much commended, Judg. 5.16, 17, 18.for a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field; that ſtudied and promoted the publike, more then their own pirticular intereſts. Oh, it is a brave thing to be of a pablike ſpirit, and to ſtudy Gods ends more then our own. Surely, if …od ſaw us to be ſuch, we might have what we would, and God even think himſelf beholden to us. Shall a Heathen ſay, Cicero. Loel.Non nobis ſolùm nati ſumus, &c. And again, Mihi non minoris curae eſt, qualis reſp. poſt meam mo…tem futura ſit, quam qualis hodiè ſit? And ſhall Chriſtians be all for themſelves, looking only to their own things, and not to the things of one another, the common good of all …ſpecially? S. Chryſoſtome upon thoſe words, 1 Cor. 10.33. Not ſeeking mine own profit▪ &c. ſaith, that to ſeek the publike good of the Charch, foreign.and to prefer the ſalvation of others, before his own ſafety and commodity, is the moſt perfect Canon of Chriſtianity, the …gheſt pitch of perfection, the very to…-gallant of Religion. And, I could not but love the man (ſaith Theodoſius the Emperour, concerning Ambroſe) who when he dyed, Magis de Eccleſiarum ſtatu, quam de ſuis periculis angebatur; was more troubled for the Churches troubles, then for his own dangers. This made the ſame good Emperour ſay, that he knew none that deſerved to be called a Biſhop, but Ambroſe. foreign. Paul n. Nolan. in vita Amb.He was called the walls of Italy, whiles he lived: As when he dyed, Stilico the Earl ſaid, that his death did threaten the deſtruction of that whole country.
Verſ. 14. Iſſachar is a ſtreng aſſe, &c.] He ſo commends his ſtrength, that withal, he condemns his dulneſs. This Chriſt can ſo little abide, that he ſaid even to Judas, That thou doeſt▪ do quickly. God utterly refuſed an aſſe in ſacrifice. The firſtling of an aſſe muſt either be redeemed, or have his ne… broke. Bellarmine gives the reaſon, (and it is a very good one) quia tardum & pigrum animal, becauſe it is a ſlow ſluggiſh creature, ſegnis quaſi ſeignis, without fire; heavy to action, which God, who is himſelf a pure act, cannot abide.
Verſ. 15. And he ſaw that reſt was good] He ſubmitted to any burdens and hard conditions, for quiet life. This was a low poor ſpirit; and his poſterity were, for the general, very unworthy and vile. For Iſſachars lot fell in Galilee, Joſh. 19.18. &c. Now, doth any good come out of Galilee? The beſt that we read of them, was, that they had underſtanding of the times, 1 Chro. 12.32to know what Iſrael ought to do, and were therefore in great account with David. But for action, it ſeems they were heavy-ſpirited, dullmettal'd men; much like thoſe potters, mentioned, 1 Chron. 4.23. that dwelt among plants and hedges; the baſe brood of their degenerated fore-fathers in Babylon. Ho, ho, come forth and ſtee from the land of the North, ſaid the Lord unto them, Zach. 2.6. Cyrus alſo had proclaimed liberty to all that would, to return to Jeruſalem But theſe dull droans, becauſe they got a poor living by making of pots for the King of Babylon, they thought themſelves well as they were; and choſe rather to ſtay under the hedges of Babylon. Theſe are res obſoletae, (ſo Junius renders the text there) things worn out and forgotten, and indeed they deſerve to be forgotten.
Verſ. 16. Dan ſhall judge] Here is an alluſion to his name in the Original; q. d. the Judger ſhall judge. This is an high honour, to ſit in the ſeat of judicature, and no leſs a burden: Fructu… honos oneris, fructus honoris onus. They that are called to this office, muſt neither ſpare the Great for might, nor the mean for miſery; as they muſt have nothing to loſe, ſo nothing to g…t neither; they muſt be above all price or ſale; and ſtraining out all ſelf-affections, Deut. 16.20.ſee to it, that Juſtice, juſtice, as Moſes ſpeaks, that is, pure juſtice, without mud, run down as a mighty torrent.
Verſ. 17. Dan ſhall be an adder by the way] He ſhall ſubtily ſet upon his enemies, and ſuddenly ſurprize them: as they did the men of Laiſh; and as Sampſon, of this tribe, did the Philiſtims. Moſes ſaith, Leonina pelli vulpinam aſſuere.Dan is a Lions whelp, Deut. 33.22. But when his Lions hide would not ſerve turn, he could piece it out with his fox-skin or ſerpents ſlough; he could, if not outfight his enemics, outwit them: And, — dolus, Virg.and virtus, quis in hoſte requirat? Of Decebalus King of Dacians it is reported, to his ſingular commendation, that he could, optimè inſidias facere, praelium committere, optimè uti victoriâ, et acceptam cladem ferre moderatè. All which were the parts and points, foreign Dio in vita Domit.of an excellent warriour.
Verſ. 18. I have waited for thy ſalvation] A ſudden and ſweet ejaculation; either, as feeling himſelf faint, and ſpent with ſpeaking, he deſires to be diſſolved, and ſo to be freed from all infirmities: Or elſe, fore-ſeeing the defection of this tribe to idolatry, and their many miſeries thereupon; he darts up this holy deſire to God for them, and himſelf, in them. Good Nehemiah is much in theſe heavenly ejaculations: And the ancient Chriſtians of Egypt, were wont to uſe very ſhort and frequent prayers, ſaith Auguſtine; leſt, in longer, their fervour of affection ſhould ſuffer diminution: N… per moras evaneſceret et bebetaretur oratio. Aug. Exod. 14.15. Ioh. 16.33.Why cryeſt thou unto me, ſaith God to Moſes? This was but a ſudden deſire darted up.
Verſ. 19. Gad, a troope ſhall overcome him, but] This is every good Chriſtians caſe, in the Spirituall warfare; he conquers, but comes to it, through many conflicts and counterbuff…s, Apoc. 13.7. He made war upon the Saints, and overcame them: for a ſeaſon it may be, according to humane conceit howſoever. But Chap. 12.11. They conquered and overcame him, according to the truth of the thing, by the blood of the lamb, in whom they do overcome, and are more then conquerours, Rom. 8. This was fulfilled in the tribe of Gad, 1 Chron. 5.18, 19, 20.
Verſ. 20. Out of Aſher, his bread ſhall be fat] The kidneys of wheate, as the Pſalmiſt hath it, Pſal. 81.16. Or choiceſt bread-corn. Moſes expoundeth this; Aſher ſhall dip his foot in oyle, Deut. 33.24. That is, he ſhall dwell in the horn of the ſon of oyle, as the expreſſion is, Iſai. 5.1. Or in a very fruitfull corn-countrey; which was a ſingular bleſſing, according to his name, which ſignifieth bliſs and happineſs. [He ſhall yeel… dainties for a King] Kings uſe to feed of the fineſt. Yet of Auguſtus we reade, that he was never curious in his diet, but content with ordinary and common viands. He never drank but thrice at one meale, and lived neer fourſcore years. Queen Elizabeth of England, New-landors cure by Sr. Edw. Vaughan. Camd. Eliſab. Sabellic. AEnead. 2. Plures pereunt gulâ quam gladio, lancibus quam lanceis, crapulâ quam capul…, &c. Heidfeld.did ſeldome eate but one ſort of meate, roſe ever with an appetite, and lived about ſeventy years: King Edward the ſixth, called her by no other name, then his ſweet ſiſter temperance. Contrarily, Sylla the Roman Dictator, by ſurfeiting and banquetting, at laſt gat a moſt miſerable diſeaſe, and dyed full of lice. Surfeters either dig their graves with their own teeth: (The Grecians called the intemperate, foreign, as wanting health:) Or elſe they come to ſome untimely end, by the juſt judgment of God; as thoſe monſtrous Epicures Caligula, Heliogabalus, Geta the Emperour, who was ſerved in with dainties by the Alphabet. One while he would have anſerem, anatem aprum. Another time, he would have phaſianum, farra, ficus: Sometime again, pullum, pavonem, Bruſon. lib. 3. cap. 1.perdicem, porcellum, piſcem, pernam, &c. This was one of thoſe Caeſars, who gat nothing by their honour, but ut citius interficerentur.
Verſ. 21. Naphtali is a hinde let looſe] Swift of foot; and which when it ſlieth, looketh behind it, ſaith the Chaldee Paraphraſt, on Cant. 8.14. This was fulfilled in Barac of this tribe, Iudg. 4.6, 10, 15, 16. Veget. lib. 1. cap. 24.which who went up on his feet, againſt Siſera's iron chariots; were firſt a terrour, and afterwards a ſcorn, as Vegetius ſaith of chariots, armed with ſithes and hookes. Origen obſerves, that in all the victories God gave his people in Canaan, he never uſed the help of horſes. The adverſaries, both Egyptians and Canaanites had chariots, and horſes; not ſo Iſracl. A horſe is a warlike creature, full of terrour, Iob 41.20. Prov. 21.31. So ſwift, that the Perſians (as Pauſanias hath it,) foreign. Pauſ. Prov. 21.31.dedicates him to their God the Sun; as the ſwifteſt creature, to the ſwifteſt God. But what ſaith David; An horſe is a vain thing for ſafety, Pſal. 33.18. And to the ſame purpoſe, Solomon; A horſe …s prepared for the day of battell: but (when al's done,) ſalvation is of the Lord. This, Barac with his friend Deborah, found, and celebrated▪ in that famous ſong, Iudg. 5. [He giveth goodly words] In the aforeſaid Song. Chriſt alſo began to utter his words of grace, in the duplicate page duplicate page land of Nepthtali, Mat. 4.13. And this is the Reaſon, that as of the children by Leahs ſide, Iudah obtained the firſt place, among thoſe that were ſealed, Revel. 7. becauſe Chriſt ſprang of him; ſo of thoſe on Rachels ſide, Nephtali is firſt named, becauſe there he dwelt; (at Capernaum where he had hired a houſe,) and preached, ut ubique ſuperemineat Chriſti praerogativa, ſaith a learned Interpreter. Medes in Apocalyps.Compare with this text, Deut. 3….23. and then obſerve, that good words do ingratiate with God and men.
Verſ. 22. Joſeph is a fruitfull bough] Of the vine, ſaith the Chaldee Paraphraſt. Uno anno ſepties fructus ſufficit. Vnde pomum decerpſeris, alterum fine mora protuberat. Solin.But it may be, Iacob meant it of the Egyptian fig-tree, whereof Solinus reporteth, that it beareth fruit, ſeven times in the year; pull one fig, and another preſently puts forth, ſaith he.
Verſ. 23. The archers have ſorely grieved him] Theſe were his barbarous brethren, that ſold him; his adulterous miſtreſs, that harlot-like, hunted for his precious life; his injurious Maſter, that without any deſert of his, impriſoned him; the tumulcuating Egyptians, that pined with hunger, perhaps, ſpake of ſtoning him, as 1 Sam. 30.6. and the envious courtiers, and inchanters, that ſpake evill of him before Pharaoh, to bring him out of favour: as the Ieruſalemy Targum addeth. All theſe arrow-maſters, as the Hebrew here hath it, ſet againſt Ioſeph, and ſhot at him, as their but-mark; willing to have abuſed him, but that Gods grace, providence, and unchangeable decree (called here, Joſeph's bow and ſtrength, verſ. 24.) would not permit them; as thoſe cruel Turks, did one Iohn de Chabas a Frenchman, at the taking of Tripolis in Barbary. Turk hiſt. 756.They brought him into the town; and when they had cut of his hands, and noſe, put him quick into the ground, up to the waſt, and there, for their pleaſure, ſhot at him with their arrows, and afterwards cut his throat.
Verſ. 24. But his bow abode in ſtrength] He gave not place to them by ſubjection, Cal. 2.5. Prov. 24.10. foreign, Phlt.no not for an hour. If thou faint in adverſity, thy ſtrength is ſmall, ſaith Solomon. Ioſeph did not, but as it was ſaid of old Rome; Roma cladibus animoſior; and as of Mithridates, he never wanted courage, or counſell, when he was at the worſt; ſo neither did Ioſeph: Virtus lecythos habet in malis. The ſound heart, ſtands firme under greateſt preſſures, 2 Cor. 1.9, 12. Whereas if a bone be broak, or but the skin rub'd up, and raw; the lighteſt load will be troubleſome; hang heavy weights, upon rotten boughes, they preſently break. But Ioſephs were green and had ſap.
By the hands of the mighty God of Jacob] It was ſaid of Achilles, that he was Styge armatus; but Joſeph was Deo forti armatus, and thence his ſafety. He uſed his bow againſt his adverſaries, as David did his ſling againſt Goliah. He ſlung, ſaith One, Bucholcer.perinde ac ſi fundae ſuae tunicis non lapillum, ſed Deum ipſum induiſſet ac implicuiſſet, as if he had wrapt up God in his ſling.
Verſ. 25. Who ſhall help thee] God hath, God ſhall, is an ordinary way of arguing; it is a demonſtration of Scripture Logick, as Pſal. 85.1, 2, 3, 4. So 2 Cor. 1.10. Every former favour is a pledg of a future. [With the bleſſings of heaven above, &c.] God ſhall hear the heaven, the heaven ſhall hear the earth; and the earth ſhall hear the corn, wine, and oyl: the genealogy of all which is reſolved into God, Hoſ. 2.21, 22. [with the bleſſings of the breaſts, and of the womb] Yet rather then Ephraim ſhall bring forth children to the murtherer, the Prophet prayes God to give them (as a bleſſing, as ſome think) a miſcarrying womb, Matth. 24.19.and dry breaſts, Hoſ. 9.13, 14. And our Saviour ſaith, Woe be to ſuch as are with child, and give ſuck in thoſe dayes of war and trouble.
Verſ. 26. Above the bleſſings of my progenitors] Chiefly, becauſe Jacob pointed them out the particular tribe, whereof, and the very time, wherein, Shiloh ſhould come. This myſtery was made known to the Church, not all at once, but by degrees. Adam was told, the ſeed of the woman ſhould break &c. but whether Jew or Gentile, he heard not a word. Abraham the Hebrew, long after was certified, that In his ſeed all nations ſhould be bleſſed; but of what tribe Chriſt ſhould come, till now, the world never heard. After this, David was made to know, that Chriſt ſhould be a male; but that he ſhould be born of a Virgin, was not known till Eſay's time. Thus God crumbles his mercies to mankind; and we have his bleſſings by retail, (ſaith One) to maintain trading and communion betwixt him and us. So the cloud empties not it ſelf at a ſudden burſt, but diſſolves upon the earth, drop after drop.
unto the utmoſt bounds of the everlaſting hills.] Spiritual bleſſings in heavenly things, whereof thoſe temporals afore promiſed, Eph. 1.3.were but types and pledges. Whence David doubts not to argue from temporals to ſpirituals, Pſal. 23.5, 6. God in the Churches infancy fed them, and led them along, Sunt qui autumant hanc proph…tiam Paulo applicari debore. Bez. Annot. ad Act. 83.by earthly to heavenly bleſſings, ſpeaking unto them as they could hear.
Verſ. 27. Benjamin ſhall ravin as a Woolf] There are that think, that this ought to be applyed to S. 'Paul the Benjamite; who while he was Saul, not content to conſent to S. Stephen's death, (though it be all one to hold the ſack, and to fill it; to do evil, and to conſent unto it,) Act. 8.1, 3.he made havock of the Church, like a ravening Woolf; entring into houſes alſo, and haling men and women to priſon. Yea, Act. 9.1. he lyes breathing out threatnings and ſlaughter, panting and windleſs, as a tired Woolf: and having recovered himſelf, is marching toward Damaſcus for more prey: But met by the chief ſhepherd, of a Woolf, he is made a Lamb, Eſay 11.6. not once opening his mouth, unleſs it were to crave direction; What wilt thou have me to do, foreign, Philip. 3.14. 2 Cor. 5.13. with Act. 26.11. Sand's his ſurvey of Weſt. Relig.Lord? After which time, he never perſecuted the Saints ſo faſt, as now he purſues and preſſes hard toward the high prize; and as mad every whit, he is thought to be for Chriſt, as ever he was againſt him. The papiſts, ſome of them, have cenſured him for a hot-headed perſon, and ſaid, that there was no great reckoning to be made of his aſſertions. Is this blaſphemy in the firſt or ſecond table, ſay you? Porphyry, the Philoſopher, could ſay, that it was pity ſuch a man as Paul, was caſt away upon our religion. And the Monarch of Morocco, told the Engliſh Embaſſadour in King John's time, that he had lately read Paul's Epiſtles, which he liked ſo well, that were he now to chuſe his Religion, Heyl. Geog. pag. 714.he would, before any other, embrace Chriſtianity. But every one ought, ſaid He, to dye in his own religion: And the leaving of the faith wherein he was born, was the only thing that he diſliked in that Apoſtle.
Verſ. 28. Bleſſed them every one according &c.] Theſe hard bleſſings (to ſome of them eſpecially) hindered not the covenant. Still they were Patriarchs, and heirs of the Promiſes. Afflictions, how ſharp ſoever, ſhew us not to be caſt-awayes. If a man ſhould be baited, and uſed as a dog or a bear, yet ſo long as he hath humane ſhape, and a reaſonable ſoul, he will not believe he is either dog or bear. Let not croſſes cauſe us to take up hard thoughts of God, or heavy thoughts of our ſelves, as if out of his favour; but account it a mercy rather, that we may ſcape ſo; and be judged here of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Jacob is here ſaid to have bleſſed all his ſons. He rather ſeemed to curſe ſome of them. And for his welbeloved Benjamin, Parum auſpicata & honorifera videtur haec prophetia, ſaith Pareus. But becauſe they were not rejected from being among Gods people, (as Iſhmael and Eſau were, for leſs faults perhaps) though they were to undergo great and ſore afflictions, they are ſaid to be bleſſed, yea and they ſhall be bleſſed, as Iſaac ſaid to his whining ſon, Eſau.
Verſ. 29. I am to be gathered, &c.] That is, I am now going to heaven; whereof being ſo well aſſured, what wonder though he were ſo willing to dye? I know that my Redeemer liveth, ſaith Job; I know whom I have truſted, ſaith Paul: Ipſe viderit ubi anima mca man ſura fit, qui proea ſic ſollicitus ſuit, ut vitam pro ea poſuerit. Luther Occidere poteſt, ladere non poteſt.And what ſhall become of my ſoul when I dye, let him ſee to it, who laid down his life for it, ſaid Luther. Death may kill me, but cannot hurt me, ſaid Another. This aſſurance of heaven is, as Mr. Larymer calls it, the ſweet-meats of the feaſt of a good conſcience. There are other dainty diſhes in this feaſt, but this is the banquet.
Verſ. 33. He gathered up his feet] He quietly compoſed himſelf, as it were, to ſleep in Jeſus. He had ſtretcht out himſelf before (ſaith Muſculus) as well as he could, for reverence to the Word of God, which he delivered, &c. [And was gathered to his people] To the general Aſſembly and Church of the firſt-born, whoſe names are written in heaven, Heb. 12.23. In Jeruſalem records were kept of the names of all the citizens, Pſal. 48.3. So is it in Heaven, where Jacob is now a denizon.