Ezra 2.36,40. Nehem. 8. 9. and ch. 12.] They continued to the times of Jefus, our Meffiah. We read much in the New Teftament of Priefts, Levites, Scribes, Doctors of the Law: We have mention of Gamaliel, a famous Doctor; of Simeon, the Son of Hillel, the Founder of a great School, and famous ftill among the Hebrew Writers. That by Shiloh, is meant the Meffiah, is agreed by the ancient Jews, and upon the matter by all Chriftians, what-ever differences there have been in the Explication of the word. And 'tis by no means to be thought that Jacob would omit this great Bleffing of the Tribe of Judah, that the Meffiab fhould fpring from it, when he relates a great number of fmaller matters which fhould happen (and they came to pafs) to the other Tribes. 11. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his affes colt unto the choice vine; be washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. 12. His eyes fhall be red with wine, aud his teeth white with milk. 11, 12. Binding, &c. These words are the Fruitfulness and a fit Description of Plenty of Judah'sInheritance in Canaan; and will be better underftood if we compare them with what we read Numb. 13. 22, 23. and with other forms of Speech used in Scripture, Deut. 33. 14. Job 29.6. 13. Zebulun fhall dwell at the haven of the fea: and he fhall be for an haven of ships, and his border fhall be unto Zidon. 13. Zebulun: His Situation fhall be fuch, that by means of his Shipping he fhall eafily have InAnd therefore Mofes Deut. 33. 18. This tercourse and Traffick with Zidon. faid, Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out, Tribe was fituate upon that Coaft or Border which led to Zidon: Unto Zidon may be tranflated Toward Zidon, which agrees better with the place, if by Zidon we underftand the City fo called. But understanding by Zidon the Territory or Country adjacent, we need not tranflate it otherwife, because Zebulun did reach fo far. 14. Ifachar is a strong ass, couching down between two burdens. 15. And he faw that reft was good, and the land that it was pleafant; and bowed his fhoulder to bear, and became a fervant unto tribute. 14 15. flachar: Thele words give an account of Ifachar's Lot. His Land was Temper and of his pleafant, and its Inhabitants lovers of Peace and Reft; and inftead of War or Merchandice gave themfelves up to the Labours of Husbandry. To which account the words of Mofes agree, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and Ifachar in thy tents, Deut 33. 18. 15. Dan fhall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Ifrael. 16. As one, &c. Though Dan be the Son of an Hand maid (whereas the abovenamed were the Sons of Leah) yet fhall not that hinder him from the priviledge belonging to the others, but he fhall judge his People as any one of the other Tribes of Ifrael. 17. Dan fhall be a ferpent by the way, an adder in the path; that biteth the horse-heels, fo that his rider fball fall backward. 17. Dan, &c. Sam pfon of thisTribe shall be an eminent Judge, and Deliverer of his People: And though he do not overcome the Philistines with a numerous Army, and in pitched Battels, yet he fhall deftroy them craftily, and whiles they are lefs aware, like a Serpent by the way, &c. 18. I have waited for thy falvation, O LORD. 18. I have waited, &c. q. d. Whereas. Sampfon died in the overthrow of his Enemies, and left his People obnoxious to their Oppreffors, and I foresee the Straits and high Mifdemeanours this Tribe of Dan will hereafter fall into. (Compare Joh. 19. 47. Judg. 1. 34, with Judg. 18. 30. and 1 King. 12. 29.) I cannot but upon this occafion intimate my firm belief and earnest expectation of that eternal Deliverance which fhall be wrought by the Meffiab, Luk. 2.30. This fenfe is favoured by the ancient fems: See Hieronym. Quaft. Hebr. in Genef. & Targum Hierofol.&Jonathan.] 19. Gad, 19. Gad, a troop fhall overcome bim: but he shall overcome at the laft. 19. Gad, &c. Gad was forely oppreffed by the Ammonites their Neighbours Judg. 10.7, 8, But as the Gadites were a fierce and valiant People (Deut. 33. 20.) fo we have a particular account of their Victory over their Enemies (1 Chron. 5. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.) and however they were oppreffed for a time, yet they overcame at the last. 20. Out of Afher his bread fhall be fat, and be fhall yield royal dainties. fruitfulness of Afher's Inheritance. 21. Naphtali is a hind let loofe: he giveth goodly words. 20. Out of Alber &c. These words are a description of the Compare Deut.33. 24. 21. Naphtali, &c, It hath been thought that the former part of the Verse intimates the promptitude and readiness of this Tribe in their Wars; and then what we read Judg. 4. and ch.5. 18. may ferve as an inftance of it. And that the latter part implies that they were not rafh in undertaking War, but treatable, and willing to live at Peace, being contented with their Lot, (Deut. 33. 23.) and fo far from provoking others to quarrel, that they were very civil in their Converfation with other Men. Though after all, it must be owned, that, as the words lie in the Hebrew Text, they are very obfcure and need a farther Explication. And perhaps 'twill not be eafie to find a better Explication of these obscure words than what is intimated by the Greek Interpreters, who, by what we render an Hind understand the Stock of a growing Tree, and by what we render Words they feem to understand, the Shoots or Branches of fuch a Tree. And then Naphtali is compared to a growing Tree which puts forth goodly Branches. The Situation of this Tribe fuits very well with this Comparison. 'Twas fituated upon the Waters (Pf. 1.3.) of Fordan, and the Lake of Genefareth, the latter of which places hath been obferved to be fo called from words in the Hebrew importing the Gardens of Noblemen or Princes. And as this Interpretation hath fome countenance from the Greek, fo it hath fome from the Hebrew alfo, as thofe words might be understood. It is very probable, that the Situation of. the Tribe is in this place to be confidered. 22, Jo * 22. Jofeph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; : whose branches run over the wall. 22, Fruitful; &c. A very fit refemblance this is, (Pf.1.3. Jer. 17. 10.) by rea fon of his numerous Off-fpring. Jofeph was the Head of two Tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, rous alfo, Numb. 1. 33, 35. Josh. Deut. 33. 17. 23. The archers have forely grieved him, and Jhot at him, and bated him. and they very nume17. 14, 15, 16, 17. 23. The Archers, &c. Jofeph was as it were aimed and fhot at, and greatly op preffed by his Enemies. His own Brethren reviled him (fhooting at him with the Arrows of bitter words) they contrived his death: He was fold into Egypt through Envy, and imprifoned by a Lye. His Chaftity was greatly affaulted by his Mistress, his Patience exercifed by his Mafter, and the Ingratitude of Pharaoh's Butler. 24. But his bow abode in ftrength, and the. arms of his hands were made ftrong, by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: from thence is the shepherd, the ftone of Ifrael. 24. His bom abode. in ftrength: The Di vine Help and Mercy did not forfake ferved and relieved him, he was preby the mighty God of Ifrael. By him he was kept alive when his Death was defigned; preferved Chaft when he was greatly tempted to Lewdnefs; rendered profperous in his lowest Circumftances, and from them advanced to great Dignity, and made an Inftrument of very great good to others. From thence, &c. i. e. From the fame Divine Power and Mercy it was that Jofeph (who had been fold, tempted, maligned and im prifoned, and greatly oppreffed) became the Feeder, and Stay, and Support (called here Stone. Compare Gen.28.11.) or Rock of defence of his Father and his Family. Neither was there a Man born like unto Jofeph, a Governour of his Brethren, and a Stay of the People, Eccluf. 49. 15. 25. Even by the God of thy father who fhall help thee, and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with 25. Even by (or, rather from) the God, &c. This confirms the bleffings of heaven above, bleffings of the deep that lieth under, bleffings of the breasts, and of the womb. the Expofition given but who will help him; and from the Almighty, who will bless him with all kind of Temporal Bleffings. Such are seasonable Weather, (Lev. 26. 4. Deut. 28. 12. and 33. 14.) and confequently, a fruitful Land; a numerous Off-fpring, and Power to bring them up. And thefe Bleffings are very valuable, if it be confidered, how great a Curfe is imply'd in an Heaven of Brafs and Earth of Iron, (Deut. 28. 23.) and in a mifcarrying Womb and dry Breafts, Hof. 9. 14. 26. The bleffings of thy father have prevailed above the bleffings of my progenitors; unto the utmost bound of the everlasting bills; they fhall be on the bead of Jofeph, and on the crown of the bead of him that was feparate from his brethren. 26. The bleffings of thy father: i. e. The Bleffings which I with which I bless have received, and thee and thy Brethren. Have prevailed: Do prevail, or, are greater. Blef fings of my progenitors: viz. Abraham and Ifaac. Jacob bleffed Jofeph's two Sons, whereas Abraham fuffered Ishmael to be caft out; and Ifaac bestowed the Bleffing on Jacob rejecting Efau. Befides, Jacob was bleffed with many Sons, none of which were excluded from Inheritance but were the Heads of their feveral Tribes, and continued among God's peculiar People. Unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting bills: Thele words may imply the Plenty of that part of Canaan which was the Lot of Jofeph's Chil dren. Compare Deut. 33. 15. Or, the eminence and long duration of thefe Bleffings, which is metaphorically expreffed by the height and duration of ancient Hills. Compare Ifai. 54. 10. 27. Benjamin fhall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he fall divide the Spoil. 27. Benjamin, &c. As Judah is likened to a Lion, achar to a strong Afs, Dan to a Serpent, Naph |