Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 4
NVMBERS.
CAP. I.
51 The stranger that commeth nigh shall be put to death.ANy Israelite whosoever, being not of the Tribe of Levi, if he offer to meddle with the Arke, shall surely die, either by the immediate hand of God, or by the hand of humane justice, and authority.
CAP. II.
2 Farre off about the TabernacleTHe measure, of at least two thousand cubits, shall be the distance betwixt the tents of Israel, and the holy Tabernacle of God.
CAP. III.
7 And they shall keep his charge.THey shall doe that service which Aaron, as from the Lord, shall appoint unto them.
9 Thou shalt give the Levites to Aaron and his sonnes.Thou shalt designe and appoint the Levites to attend upon Aaron, and his sonnes, in the holy ministration.
12 I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, in stead of all the first borne, &c.Whereas, before, the first borne of the family was ordained to execute the office of the Priesthood, and to offer sacrifices for the rest, now I have confined this office to one tribe alone, so as onelyonly those of Levi shall (in stead of the first borne) be set apart for this worke.
CAP. IIII.
7 The continuall bread shall be thereon.THat shew-bread which is appointed to be continually set upon the Table before the Lord; being every Sabbath to be renewed in a perpetuall succession.
CAP. V.
WHen a man,6 Shall commit any sin which men commit. or woman shall commit any sinne of frailty or infirmitie, which is commonly incident to every man.
By way of recompence,7 He shall recompence his trespasse with the principall thereof, and adde unto it the fift part. he shall pay the price of that thing which he hath taken away, or wherin he hath done the wrong, and adde moreover a fift part of the worth, as a satisfaction to the party wronged.
If any mans wife shall leave off the conversation of her husband, and offend against his bed.12 If any mans wife goe aside, and commit a trespasse against him.
That water which shall prove bitterly afflictive and deadly to her, if she be guilty. vid. Vers. 27.18 The bitter water.
CAP. VI.
TO signifie the continuance of his holy consecration and his subjection to God,5 Shall let the lockes of the haire of his head to grow. he shall suffer his haire to grow unto the length.
This offering he shall make to the Lord,21 For his separation: besides that that his hand shall get. for his Nazariteship, besides that voluntary oblation, which hee shall moreover make upon any other occasion unto God.
Laying their hands upon the children of Israel,27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will blesse them. they shall call upon my name for a blessing; and it shall be given by me according to their prayers.
CAP. VII.
THe Princes of Israel by their severall gifts,2 The Princes offered. testified their joyfull celebration of the dedication of the Tabernacle, and the Altar.
To the sonnes of Merari (whose charge was the heaviest carriage that belonged to the Tabernacle,8 Foure waggons and eight oxen he gave unto the sonnes of Merari. as the boards and pillers thereof) he gave a double proportion of waggons, and oxen, for the more easie removall thereof.
When Moses was gone into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to attend upon the Lord,89 When Moses, &c. to speake with him. and to receive his commandements.
CAP. VIII.
2 The seven lampes shal give light over against the candlesticke.THe seven lampes shall give light round about the bulke or shaft of the candlesticke on all sides.
11 Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering of the children of Israel.Aaron shall present the Levites before the Lord, as persons consecrated to God: whom the chiefe of Israel in the name of all the rest shall devote to the holy service of God, in their behalfe as designed, & allowed by them to offer up their oblations.
24 From the age of twenty five yeares and upward they shall goe in to wait upon the service of the Tabernacle.From the age of twenty five yeares they shall so enter into the Tabernacle, as to informe themselves, and to learne both by institution, and practice, how to performe the services; and at the age of thirty yeares they shall enter upon the execution of their charge.
25 After fifty yeares, &c. they shall serve no more.They shall not serve any more, after the age of fiftie, in any of the painfull and laborious workes of carriage or attendance; although for over-sight, and aide of advice, no age ought to be exempted.
CAP. IX.
15 And on the day that the Tabernacle was reared up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle: namely the tent of the testimonie; and at even there was upon the Tabernacle as it were an appearance of fire untill the morning.IN the day that the Tabernacle was perfitly set up, God gave visible testimonie of his presence therein; appearing in the day time as a cloud in the Holy of holies, over the Arke; and in the night time as a lightsome fire over the same.
Upon the will of God signified really to them by the stay,18 At the commandement of the Lord the children of Israel journeied. or removall of the cloud, they disposed of their journey, or abode.
CAP. X.
2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of one whole peece shalt thou make them.OF one entire peece beaten out into length, and breadth, shalt thou make each trumpet; and not of severall parcells beaten together; of silver, for the purity of the metall; of one peece, for the unity and perfection of the sound.
31 Thou maiest be to us in stead of eyes.By reason of thy knowledge and experience, thou mayest be a good direction for us.
CAP. XI.
ANd the people murmured,1 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled: and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them in the uttermost parts of the campe. and were discontent at their three dayes journey in the wildernesse, ere they setled in a resting place; and the Lord tooke notice of their repining; and his anger was kinled against them, and shewed it selfe in a sensible judgement upon them; for he sent forth a visible fire amongst them, and consumed those that were in the outer skirts of the campe.
And the multitude,4 And the mixt multitude that were among them fell a lusting; and the children of Israel also wept againe, and said; Who shall give us flesh to eate. which was a mixed company of native Israelites, and of strangers that came along with them, out of Aegypt, fell to an earnest longing, and lusting after their old diet; and said, Oh that some body would now give us flesh to eate.
The Manna was in fashion and quantity,7 The Manna was as Coriander seed; and the colour thereof as the colour of Bdellium. like to Coriander seed, and the colour of it was, as of a cleare white gumme.
If I shall be put to beare the charge, and burthen of this busie and troublesome people alone;15 And if thou deale thus with me, kill me I pray thee. rather take me away.
I will endue them with the same spirituall gifts,16 I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them. and abilities, that I have furnished thee withall for the weilding of this great administration.
Make your selves by due preparation,18 Sanctifie your selves against to morrow. of beleeving and thankfull hearts, apt and capable to receive this new and marvellous blessing from God.
Untill you be over-cloyed with it.20 Till it come forth at your nostrils.
CAP. XII.
IT is my manner when I would honour any man with the calling and imployment of a prophet,6 If there be a Prophet, among you, I the Lord will make my selfe knowne to him in a vision, and will speake unto him in a dreame. to reveale my will to that man either by dreames, or visions, which are the two usuall meanes whereby I am wont to impart my selfe unto men.
But, as for my servant Moses,7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithfull in all my house. he is none of the ordinary ranke of Prophets; him (as whom I have found faithfull in all the service, that I have commited unto him) I have thought good to grace with an especiall favour and entirenesse.
With him will I speake in a more familiar manner,8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in darke speeches. then with the rest of mankind, even as a man would talke with his friend, by an immediate revelation of my selfe unto him; here shall need no dreames, or visions, wherein to convey my will and pleasure unto him, but his very senses shall apprehend, and perceives the paine and cleare demonstration of my presence, and the notice of my will, by a familiar and sociable conference.
CAP. XIII.
23 And when they came to the brooke of Eshcol.ANd when they came to the valley, or brooke, which afterward upon this occasion was called Eshcol, from the cluster of grapes which here they cut downe.
32 It is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof.Either the ayre is unwholesome, and wasts the inhabitants with diseases, or the soile is so stubborne and harsh to worke upon, that it spends their bodyes with the difficulty of their labours.
33 Wee were in our owne sight as Grassehoppers.For stature, and strength, there seemed to be no lesse difference betwixt them and us, then betweene grassehoppers and men.
CAP. XIV.
8 Floweth with milke and hony.HAth abundance of all provision, both for sustenance, and pleasure.
9 For they are bread for us.We shall consume them with great ease, and feed upon their rich provisions.
10 And the glory of the Lord appeared in the Tabernacle.And the Lord gave an apparent signe of his glorious presence in the cloud, that covered the Tabernacle, in the sight of Israel.
21 All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.The whole earth shall take notice of my righteous judgements, which I will execute upon this people; and give unto me the praise, and glory of my justice.
33 Your children shall beare your whoredomes.Your children (though they shall at last enter into the promised land) yet in the meane time they shall smart for your sinnes; that you may be punished in them.
34 You shall know my breach of promise.Since you have thus shamfully broken your covenant with me, ye shall know & feele that those promises, which I made to you upon your obedience, shall now be reversed.
40 We will goe up to the place which the Lord hath promised, for we have sinned.We will now, without any farther mutinie, goe forward to the promised land, and fight with our enemies; for we doe well see, and confesse, wee have sinned against our God, in this our murmuring, and backwardnesse.
CAP. XV.
THat man that sinneth in an arrogant,30 But the soule that doth ought presumptuously, &c. the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soule shall be cut off from among his people. and presumptuous manner, as it were daring God, and despighting heaven, he shall be destroyed by an immediate hand of God; as having wilfully affronted the Lord, and called his Iustice into question.
CAP. XVI.
YE take too much state and greatnesse upon you;3 Yee take too much upon you; seeing all the congregation is holy, every one of them; and the Lord is among them. as if you onelyonly might, or ought to ingrosse the Lord to your selves; since there is none of the congregation, but is capable, and fit to doe those holy actions, which yee have appropriated to your selves; and the Lord would be as ready to testifie his acceptation of them.
In a deepe sorrow for this presumptuous sinne of these princes, and in an humble invocation upon God,4 Moses fell upon his face. who onelyonly could right these proud challenges, Moses cast himselfe downe upon his face.
To morrow the Lord will give a visible proofe,5 Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come neare unto him whom he hath chosen. whether he hath set us apart to these his highest services; and whether he bee well pleased, that ye should, without any speciall calling thereunto, approach unto his presence to offer sacrifices to him?
Rather thou, O Korah, being one of the tribe of Levi,7 Yee take too much upon you, yee sonnes of Levi. takest too much upon thee and thine, thus to incroach upon the Priests office; which thou shalt well finde in the sequell.
Canst thou hope so to blinde the eyes of these people;14 Wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? that they shall not discerne thy fraudulent, presumptuous, and false dealing with them.
God had begunne to strike the people with a suddaine death.47 The plague was begunne among the people.
CAP. XVII.
WE doe well see how deadly a thing it is for us to offer to meddle with any of the sacred businesses of the Tabernacle; But, O Lord,13 Whosoever commeth any thing neare unto the Tabernacle of the Lord, shall dye. Shall we be consumed with dying? what shall become of us? Some of us are swallowed up of the earth, others of us are consumed by fire, others by the sudden stroke of thy hand; O God, wilt thou not be intreated to take off thy revenging hand from us, till we be all utterly consumed?
CAP. XVIII.
1 Thou and thy sonnes and thy fathers house with thee, shall beare the iniquity of the Sanctuary.THou (and thy posteritie, that is descended from the loynes of Levi) shalt be answerable for any abuse that is done in the Sanctuary.
7 I have given the Priests office unto you, as a service of gift.I have of my free choyce, and gift, designed you to the office and service of the Priest-hood.
19 It is a covenant of salt for ever.It is an incorruptible and everlasting covenant.
22 Lest they beare sin.Lest they suffer death, as the due punishment of their sinne.
24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave-offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inrite.The tithes of the children of Israel, which they set apart and consecrate to the Lord, by lifting them up in way of oblatiō to God, I have given to the tribe of Levi, as a constant and perpetuall inheritance, to claime and enjoy for ever.
27 And this your heave-offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the come of the threshing floore, and as the fulnesse of the winepresse.And this tenth part, which you shall offer out of your tithe, shall be no lesse imputed to you, or accepted from you, then if it were raised out of your own corne-floore, or your owne winepresse.
CAP. XX.
9 It shall be kept, &c. for a water of separation.IT shall be kept for the cleansing of those that are separated upon occasion of legall uncleannesses.
10 Heare now ye rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rocke?Heare now ye rebells; Is it likely that we shall fetch water out of this hard rocke, to satisfie your thirst? this wee are required to doe; but is this a thing possible to be done?
12 Because ye beleeve me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel, &c.Because ye doubted of the performance of my word; and in a weake distrust stroke the rock twice, as not being confident of the issue, whereas ye were onelyonly bidden to speake unto the rocke, to yeeld forth these waters, &c.
CAP. XXI.
5 Our soule loatheth this light bread.VVE are weary of this Manna, as that which wee finde a light and unsatisfying food, in comparison of that solid, and substantiall diet, which we had in Aegypt.
Serpents, which wheresoever they stung,6 Fiery Serpents. caused a deadly inflammation in the body.
CAP. XXII.
ANd God who seeth the heart,22 And Gods anger was kindled, because hee went. and knew the sinister affections, and intentions wherewith Balaam went, was sore displeased at his so going.
And God caused the Asse miraculously to speake with the voice of a man,28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the Asse. to reprove the foolishnesse of the Prophet.
The eyes of Balaam, which before were held,31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel. that they could not see the visible shape which the Angell had taken upon him, were now freed, and inlightned to behold that sight.
I have done ill in smiting my beast causlesly.34 I have sinned.
CAP. XXIII.
I Am set upon this high rocke and mountaine;9 From the tops of the rockes I see him, and from the hills I behold him, Lo; the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. on purpose, that upon the sight of Israel, I might curse him; I doe indeed behold him, but I have no power to curse him; Lo, this people shall be an entire nation within themselves; and shall be a peculiar people, severed, and set apart to God, from all other nations upon earth.
This people shall through the blessing of God so multiplie,10 Who can count the dust of Iacob, & the number of the fourth part of Israel? that a man may as soone count the severall moates of dust on the whole face of the earth, as reckon their number; yea, one of those foure squadrons into which they are divided, shall for their multitude be past the summe of any computation.
God hath already spoken a word of blessing,19 God is not as man, that he should lie, neither the sonne of man that hee should repent. and hath accordingly decreed a large benediction for Israel; doe not therefore hope vainely, that he will upon any intreaty reverse his word, and doe contrary to what he hath determined and revealed.
God in his great mercy and favour to Israel,21 He hath not beheld iniquitie in Iacob: neither hath seene perversenesse in Israel. will not impute their sinnes unto them; he will not take notice of their offences, to punish them according to desert.
As God is now their King to governe,21 The shout of a King is among them. and protect them, so he hath ordained that they shall have Kings out of their owne loines, to rule over them; whom they shall receive with great joy, and acclamation.
23 Surely there is no enchantment against Iacob, nor any divination against Israel.In vaine doe yee carry me from place to place, that I might by my incantations procure some mischiefe to Israel, for certainely this people is so strong, and safe in Gods protection, that no inchantment, or any other evill art can prevaile against them.
23 According to this time it shall be said of Iacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought?Even at this very time I cannot but with astonishment record what great and wonderfull things the Lord hath wrought for Israel.
CAP. XXIIII.
1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to blesse Israel, hee went not as at other times to seeke inchantments.NOtwithstanding all the faire pretences of Balaam, he had (together with his former consultations of God) used all kinds of sorcery, to hurt Israel, but since he saw that none of his wicked plots would succeed, he surceased to practise his enchantments upon them, any more.
2 And the Spirit of God came upon him.God who knowes how to use evill instruments well, and is wont indifferently to bestow these kinds of gifts, caused the spirit of prophesie to come upon Balaam.
3 The man whose eyes are open hath said.The man whose eyes (how ever formerly shut) yet now are by the spirit of prophesie so opened, as becomes Gods Seer.
4 Falling into a trance but having his eyes open.Falling into a trance, so as all his outward senses were shut up, yet the eyes of his minde were opened, to behold the visions of God.
6 As the trees of Lign-Aloes, which the Lord hath planted, and as Cedar trees beside the waters.As the most sweet and flourishing trees which the Lord himselfe hath planted, in a most fruitfull soile.
7 Hee shall poure the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; and his King shall be higher then Agag.He shall have a plentifull and rich progenie, his issue shall spread abroad over fruitfull regions, and the Kings that shall come of his loines, shall be more mighty then the most flourishing Kings of the Amalekites.
9 He couched, he lay downe as a Lion, &c. Who shall stirre him up?He shall rest in fulnesse of courage, strength, and victory, so as no enemie shall dare to provoke him.
17 I shall see him, but not now, I shall behold him but not nigh: There shall come a starre out of Iacob; and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Seth.I doe by the spirit of prophesie discry afarre off the state and glory of the people of Israel; There shall arise out of Jacob, a glorious King, bright as the morning starre, which shall not onelyonly rule over Israel, but shall powerfully subdue all the enemies of his Church, round about.
19 Him that remaineth in the City.That sheltreth himselfe in any of the Cities of Edom.
21 And hee looked on the Kenites, &c. strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rocke.Ye Kenites, the posterity of Jethro, may please your selves in your security, for that ye are setled in strong and well fortified places; and according as your name signifieth, have built your nest, high, and impregnably.
But your hopes shall, at the last, faile you; for when the Assyrians shall prevaile against Israel, then shall they also root you out of your land,22 Neverthelesse the Kenites shall be wasted untill Ashur shall carry thee away captive. and carry you away captive with your neighbours.
What grievous and intolerable calamitie there shall be, when God shall bring this judgement!23 Alas, who shall live when God doth this!
And ships shall come from the coasts of Greece, and Italy, & shall afflict both the Assyrians, & the Hebrewes,24 And ships shall come from the coasts of Chittim, and shall afflict Ashur, and shall afflict Eber; and he also shall perish for ever. but when they have done, these rods that scourged others, shall themselves be burnt; and feele that destruction which they brought upon others.
And Balaam rose up, and being frustrated of his wicked plots, in cursing Israel,25 And Balaam rose up and went, and returned to his place. addressed himselfe towards his returne, but in the way was overtaken with the just revenge of God.
CAP. XXV.
ACcording to the wicked project of Balaam,1 And the people begun to commit whoredome with the daughters of Moab. the people of Israel began to commit fornication with the women of Moab.
And the Israelites joyned themselves both in spirituall, and bodily fornication,3 And Israel joyned him selfe to Baal-Peor. with those which worshipped Baal Peor.
The Captaines, and ring-leaders of this wickednesse.4 The heads of the people.
Brought into the campe of Israel,6 Brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman. with an open profession, and purpose of commtting fornication with her, a Midianitish woman.
Behold,12 Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace. his zeale hath turned away my wrath from Israel; so as now, I will be reconciled with them; and for this cause I doe decree to make and everlasting covenant with Phinehas, that he, and his posterity shall serve me in the priest-hood.
CAP. XXVI.
Howsoever Korah perished in that insurrection against Moses and Aaron, yet his sonnes,11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. as being free from their fathers conspiracy, perished not with him, but were imployed in the service of God, with very gracious approbation.
CAP. XXVII.
3 He dyed in his owne sinne.HE was not one of them which was an author of sinne unto others, but as other un-noted Israelites, he died in the wildernesse, without any publike offence or censure.
11 A statute of judgement.A Judiciall law that shall continue unto Israel for ever; which as it is grounded upon just reason, so shall stand in due force upon all occasions hereafter.
12 Get thee up into this mount Abarim.Get thee up into this mount Nebo, which is one of the hills called Abarim.
14 For ye rebelled, &c.vid. Num. 20.12.
18 A man in whom is the spirit.A man whom I have indued with more then an ordinary measure of my spirit of wisedome, and courage.
20 Put some of thine honour upon him.Let him have the same titles, and respect from the people, that thou hadst.
21 He shall stand before Eleazar the Priest, who shall aske counsell for him, after the judgement of Vrim.The high Priest shall upon all weighty occasions, aske counsell of God for him; and he shall receive directions from the brest-plate of judgement in all his doubts.
C. 28. and 29.
Are the lawes of the sacrifices repeated, after the long intermission of them since their first delivery.
CAP. XXX.
5 The Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.IT shall not be imputed to her, as a sinne; that she performed not that which her father denieth allowance unto; since she is not in her owne power to dispose of.
13 Every vow and every binding oath to afflict the soule, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.Every vow, which the wife maketh (though she bind it with an oath also) tending to any act of humiliation, by abstinence, or any other penitentiall exercise, the husband (who hath power over the wife) may, according to his owne judgement, and will, either estabish, or frustrate.
CAP. XXXI.
23 Yee shall make it goe through the fire.YE shall cleanse by putting it into the fire; that as by fire it received that form, so thereby it may receive a new purity.
23 Neverthelesse it shall be purified with the water of separation.The water of purification which is appointed for all holy vessels shall be sprinkled upon it, beside and above that cleansing by fire.
That ye may acknowledge all your successe and victory to come from the Lord,28 And levie a tribute unto the Lord of the men of warre which went out to battell, one soule of five hundred both of the persons, and of the beeves, & of the asses, and of the sheepe. the soldiers shall present to God the five hundreth part of both the persons, and beasts which they have taken.
CAP. XXXII.
ON this condition that ye will goe armed in the front of the battell, before the people of the Lord;20 If ye will doe this thing, if ye will go armed before the Lord to war. and by this meanes testifie your courage, and forwardnesse, that all Israel may know, it is not out of any cowardise, or feare, that you take up your stations on this side Jordan, but onelyonly for the greater convenience of the place; I shall yeeld that your portion shall light where you have desired.
CAP. XXXIII.
THose whom ye shall suffer to remaine amongst you,55 Those whom yee shall let to remaine of them, shall be prickes in your eyes, and thornes in your sides. shall be a continuall vexation to you, both in spirituall, and bodily respects; procuring much sorrow and mischiefe to you.
CAP. XXXV.
BEsides those sixe Cities of refuge which shall be given to the Levites for their possesson,6 And to them shall ye adde forty & two cities. yee shall also adde two and forty Cities more, to be the peculiars of the said Levites, so as forty eight Cities shall be allotted to them, for their inheritance.
That whosoever hath committed man-slaughter,12 That the manslaier die not, untill hee stand before the Congregation in judgement. may for the time shelter himselfe there, till he may have a faire and judiciall triall before the Elders of that City, where the fact was done, and may not be surprized by the avenger of blood, ere his cause be fully heard.
The revenger of blood (to whom lawfull authority shall commit the execution) shall slay the murtherer;21 The revenger of blood himselfe shall slay the murtherer when hee he meeteth him. when he is delivered into his hand by a legall judgement, he shall be his executioner.
CAP. XXXVI.
6 Let them marry to whom they thinke best; Only to the familie of the Tribe of their father shall they marry.LEt them not bee forced to marry where they like not; it shall be free for them to take their owne choice; but so, as that they keepe themselves within the compasse of their owne Tribe; they may not therefore marry with any man of any other Tribe of Israel.