NOTES ΟΝ ΤΗΕ Book of EXODUS 1 CHA P. I. The ARGUMENT. The Names of the Sons of Ifrael who came into Egypt. They multiply there when oppreffed by a new King. The Midwives obey not the King, who commanded them to kill the Male-children of the Hebrews; after which the fame Command is given to the People of Egypt. N Ow these are the 1. and his houfhold came with Jacob. THES HESE are the names: God had promised to Abraham that he would exceedingly multiply his feed, Gen. 15.5. And by comparing the number of thofe that went into Egypt with the number that came out thence, we may learn, that God did make his Promise good. 2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3. Ifachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4. Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Afher. T 2 5. And 5. And all the fouls that came out of the loyns of Jacob, were fewenty fouls for Jofeph was in Egypt already. 5. Seventy fouls : i. e. Seventy perfons, V.Gen. 46. 26, 27. The Greek have feventy five, adding five perfons of Jofeph's Family, Gen. 46. 20. which number of the Greek (it being a Translation of great fame and note) is fupposed to be followed alfo, Act. 7.14. If St. Stephen had in that place followed the Verfion here, he might have been defended for fo doing in his Speech to the Jews; but this is but fuppofed. Another and more clear account may be given of the number of feventy five mentioned Act. 7. 14. which the Reader may justly expect in its proper place. It will be fufficient at prefent to obferve, That St. Stephen's defign (and his words too) are very different from that of Mofes here and Gen. 46. Mofes gives account of Jacob and his Seed onely, Gen. 46. v. 6, 7, 8, 26. with Exod. 1. v. 5, 6. but Stephen mentions thofe onely whom Jofeph called into Egypt: Jofeph and his two Sons belong not to Stephen's number nor to his defign, they being in Egypt already: In a word, Mofes reckons Jacob and his Seed, or thofe that came out of his Loins; Stephen mentions Jacob and his Kindred, which takes in the Wives of Jacob's Sons. See Gen. 45. 10, 11. with v.5. and Jofeph. Antiqu. Book 2. ch. 3. For Jofeph, &c. These words feem to refer to v. 4. Jofeph is not numbred, though he belong to the number, he being before hand in Egypt. And accordingly in the Greek we find thefe words at the close of the fourth Verfe, and immediately before those words, where our English begin the fifth Verfe. 6. And fofeph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7. And the children of Ifrael were fruitfull, and increafed abundantly, and multiplyed, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 7. Was filled: In the space of two hundred years and upwards, the feventy increafed to about fix hundred thousand Men, Exod. 12. 37. a thing not at all incredible: for fuppofing but fifty Men that fhould beget Children, and that not till they arrived at twenty years of age, and allow them three three Sons a-piece, yet in the space of two hundred years the whole fum would amount to 2952450; whence it is evident, that the number mentioned (Exod. 12.37.) is not to be wondered at, it speaking onely the Divine Blessing and Veracity. ་ 8. A new king: Of a new House and Family perhaps [30feph. Antiq. 1.2.c.5.] Knew not: i. e. He did not confider and regard what Joseph had done, Hof. 2. & 9. And he faid unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Ifrael are more and mightier then we. 9. He faid: The King of Egypt's pretences for his oppreffing the Ifraelites were [I.] Their great Number (v. 9.) [II.] Their joining with. the Enemies of Egypt, if War fhould happen (v. 10.) [III.] Left they fhould go out of Egypt when they pleased (v.10.) 10. Come on, let us deal wifely with them left they multiply, and it come to pass, that when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and fo get them up out of the land. 11. Therefore they did fet over them task-mafters, to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treafure-cities, Pithom and Raamfes. 12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grem. And they were grieved becaufe of the children of Ifrael. 13. And the Egyptians made the children of Ifrael to ferve with rigor. T3 12. The more they multiplied: So vain a thing it is to endea vour to make void God's Counsel, Prov. 19, 21. 13. Rigor: Without Mercy Hence Egypt is called An Houfe of Bondage Exod 20.2. 14. And 14. And they made their lives bitter with hard bow dage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of fervice in the field: all their fervice wherein they made them ferve, was with rigor. 15. And the king of Egypt Ĵpake to the Hebrew midwives (of which the name of one was Shipbrah, and the name of the other Puah.) 15. Midwives (of which, &c. These, 'tis like, were principal Midwives, the command being given also to the reft 16. And he faid, when ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and fee them upon the ftools; if it be a fon, then ye shall kill him, but if it be a daughter, then fhe fhall live. 17. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but faved the men children alive. 17. Feared God: i.e. They more feared God's difpleafure than they did Pha raoh's. 18. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and faid unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have faved the men-children alive? 19. And the midwives faid unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 20. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplyed, and waxed very mighty. 21. And it came to pass, be cause the midwives feared God, that be made them houses. 19. Lively: They have great vigor, and are skilfull. See the Chaldee and Vulgar Latin. 20. Dealt well: They that fear God receive many bleffings in this life, Ecclef.8. 12, 13. 21. He made them houses: Them, i e the Ifraelites and not the Midwives, it being of the Mafculine Gender in the Hebrew. That is, $ God by this means multiplyed and increafed the Ifraelites, which is expreffed by making them Houfes. See Gen. 16.2, Ruth 4. 11. Pf. 127. 1, 3. Gen. 30. 3. 2 Sam. 7. 11. 22. And Pharaoh charged all his people, faying, Every fon that is born ye shall caft into the river, and every daughter ye shall fave a live. 22. All his people: Not leaving it to the care of the Midwives any longer, CHA P. II. The ARGUMENT. Mofes is born, and hidden, and laid in the Flags. Pharaoh's Daughter finds him, and brings him up. He kills an Egyptian, reproves one of the Hebrews, and fleeth into Midian, marrieth Zipporah, by whom he bad Gerfhom. God regards the Mifery of the He brews. 1. A ND there went a man of 1. A Man: Called the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. Amram, Exod. 6. 20. Numb. 26.59. A daughter of Levi: Her name was Jochebed, and the was Amram's Father's Sifter, Exod. 6. 20. The Family of Ifrael was as yet small, and the Law of Marriages not yet given. This was afterward forbid, Lev. 18. 12. 2. And the woman conceived, and bare a fon and when she faw him that he was a goodly child, fhe hid him three months. 2. A goodly child? A beautifull Child. Heb.11.23. Alt.7.20. [See Jofeph, Antiqu. 1.2. c.5.] " 3. And when she could not longer hide him, he took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with flime and with pitch, and put the child therein, and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. T 4 4. And |