cause I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession. Deut. ii. 9. 19. An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. Even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever. De. xxiii. 3. Now these are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites, &c. Ju. iii. 1, &c. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased (said Boaz) to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. Ru. iv. 10. And he (David) smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. 2 Sa. viii. 2, &c. And Mesha, king of Moab, was a sheep-master, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams with wool. 2 Ki. 3, 4, &c.

Children of Ammon.] See com. verse 37. "Moab." And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served the gods of Moab and the gods of the children of Ammon; and forsook the Lord, and served not him. Ju. x. 6. What man is he (said the people and princes of Gilead) that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He

shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Ju. x. 18. and chap. xi. 1 Sa. xi. and 2 Sa. x. On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people, and therein was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever. Ne. xiii. 1. 3. 23. 28. Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation (said the enemies of Israel), that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance; for they (the confederacy of her enemies) have consulted together with one consent. The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Ps. lxxxiii. 4-8. They (the dispersed of Judah) shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. Is. xi. 14. Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and

salt-pits, and a perpetual desolation. The residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. Zeph. ii. 9.

CHAP. XX.-1 From thence, &c.] And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south. Ge. xiii. 1. And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre. Ge. xviii. 1. And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi: for he dwelt in the south country. Ge. xxiv. 62.

Kadesh, &c.] See chap. xiv. 7. and com. And the angel of the Lord found her (Hagar) by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way of Shur. Ge. xvi. 7. And they (who went to search the land) went and came to Moses and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh. Nr. xiii. 26. And behold “we” (“ the children of Israel") are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border. Nu. xx. 16. Because ye trespassed against me, among the children of Israel, at the waters of Meribar-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people. De. xxxii. 51. 50. And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 1 Sa. xv. 7.

Because

2 Said of Sarah, &c.] See com. on chap. xii. 11. 13. And Jehu went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. 2 Chr. xix. 2. thou hast joined thyself (Jehoshaphat) with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. 2 Chr. xx. 37. Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him (Hezekiak) to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Chr. xxxii. 31. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again ; but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Pr. xxiv. 16. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not. Bc. vii. 20. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was

to be blamed for before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision, Gal. ii. 11, 12. Lie not one to another. Col. iii. 9.

Abimelech, &c.] See com. on chap. xii. 15. And Isaac went unto Abimelech, king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us, for thou art much mightier than we. Ge. xxvi. 1. 16.

3 A dream by night, &c.] And he (Jacob) dreamed, and behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Ge. xxviii. 12. And God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Ge. xxxi. 24. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more. And behold, the > sun, and the moon, and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. Ge. xxxvii. 5. 9. And they (the butler and baker of Pharaoh) said unto “him” (“ Joseph") We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. Ge. xl. 8. And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold he Now stood by the river, &c. Ge. xli. 1, &c. a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men. Job iv. 12, 13. (For God speaketh) In a dream, in a vision of the * night, when deep sleep falleth upon men in slumberings upon the bed. Job xxxiii. 15. But while he (Joseph, the husband of Mary,) thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream. Mat. i. 20. And (the wise men) being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, &c. Mat. ii. 12, 13. When he (Pilate) was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. Mat. xxvii. 19.

A dead man, &c.] Now, therefore, restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet (said God VOL. I.

He

to Abimelech in a dream), and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are thine. Ge. xx. 7. (the Lord) suffered no man to do them (Israel) wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes. Ps. cv. 14. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ez. xxxiii. 14, 15. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried and said, Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown. Jon. iii. 4.

4 Had not come near, &c.] And God said unto him (Abimelech) in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me, therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. Ge. xx. 6. 18.

Wilt thou slay, &c.] So Abraham prayed unto God, and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants, and they bare children. Ge. xx. 17. See chap. xviii. 23. 25. and com. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. When Ge. xix. 24. one told me (said David), Behold, Saul is dead, I took hold of him and slew him, &c. How much more, when wicked men have slain "a righteous person" ("Ish-bosheth") in his own house, upon his bed. Shall I not, therefore, now require his blood of "your" hand ("Rechab and Baanah"), and take you away from the earth? 2 Sa. iv. 10, 11. And David said unto God, is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is that have sinned, and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house, but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. 1 Chr. xxi. 17.

5 In the integrity, &c.] The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know (said the children of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh) if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord (save us not this day), that we have built us an altar, &c. Jos. xxii. 22. And if thou L

(Solomon) wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, &c: then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom. 1 Ki. ix. 4. I beseech thee, O Lord (said Hezekiah), remember now how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 2 Ki. xx. 3. I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me (David), in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things, &c. 1 Chr. xxix. 17. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine in tegrity that is in me. Ps. vii. 3. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on thee (0 God). Ps. xxv. 21. So he fed them according to the integrity of "his" ("David's") heart, and guided "them" ("Israel") by the skilfulness of his hands. Ps. lxxviii. 72. The integrity of the upright shall guide them. Pr. xi. 3. The just man walketh in his integrity. His children are blessed after him. Pr. xx. 7. For our rejoicing is this; the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 2 Co. i. 12. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe. 1 Th. ii. 10. (I Paul) who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 1 Ti. i. 13.

Innocency of my hands, &c.] I (Elihu) have heard the voice of thy words saying, I (Job) am clean without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. Job xxxiii. 8, 9. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart shall receive the blessing from the Lord. Ps. xxiv. 4, 5. I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord. Ps. xxvi. 6. Verily, have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency (said David, beholding the prosperity of the wicked). Ps. lxxiii. 13. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me, (said Daniel), forasmuch as before him innocency was found in

suffered him not to hurt me. Ge. xxxi. 7. And they (Jacob and his household) journeyed; and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. Ge. xxxv. 5. For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders (Israel), neither shall any man desire thy land when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year. Ex. xxxiv. 24. Now, therefore, my Lord (said Abigail to David), as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my Lord, be as Nabal. 1 Sa. xxv. 26). In very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee; surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light, &c. 1 Sa. xxv. 34. For the Lord God is a sun and shield. Ps. lxxxiv. 11. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will Pr. xxi. 1. Therefore behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she (Jerusalem) shall not find her paths; and she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them. Then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband, for then was it better with me than now. Ho. ii. 6, 7.

Sinning against me.] Neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife (said Joseph to his mistress); how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Ge. xxxix. 9. If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, or hath deceived his neighbour, the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord. Le. vi. 2. 7. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Ps. li. 4 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust, and they walked in their own counsels. Ps. lxxxi. 12. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. 2 Th. ii. 7. 11.

To touch her.] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Ge. iii. 3. And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man" ("Isaac"), or his wife, shall surely be put to death. Ge. xxvi. 11.

not to touch her.

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 1 Co. vii. 1. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. 2 Co. vi. 17.

7. Prophet.] See chap. xii. I. 3, and com. And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? Ge. xviii. 17. And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh. And Araon thy brother shall be thy prophet. Ex. vii. i. Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 1 Ch. xvi. 22. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant. Ps. xxv. 14. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac, saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Ps. cv. 9. 15. God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. He. i. 1. Pray for thee.]

Then it shall be, because he hath sinned and is guilty, the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord. Le. vi. 4. 7. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 1 Sa. vii. 5. 8. And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not. As for "me" ("Samuel”), God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. 1 Sa. xii. 19. 23. And David spake unto the Lord, when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. 2 Sa. xxiv. 17. And the "king" ("Jeroboam") answered and said to the man of God, Entreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me again; and the man of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. 1 Ki. xiii. 6. But Naaman was wroth (when bidden to wash in Jordan), and went away and said, Behold I thought he will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 2 Ki. v. 11. And he (Hezekiah) sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. And they said unto him, Lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left. 2 Ki.

xix. 2. 4. Take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams (said the Lord), and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering, and my servant Job shall pray for "you" ("his three friends"). Jab xlii. 81. Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. Je. xiv. 11. Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people. Je. xv. 1. But if they be prophets, and the word of the Lord be with them, let them now make intercession to the Lord of hosts. Je. xxvii. 18. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. Ja. v. 14. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 1 Jn. v. 16. If any man will hurt them (the two witnesses that shall prophesy), fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy, and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. Re. xi. 5, 6.

Surely die.] For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. Ge. xx. 18. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. Ge. ii. 17. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues, because of Sarai, Abram's wife. Ge. xii. 17. Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. Job xxxiv. 18, 19. He suffered no man to do them wrong, yea, he reproved kings for their sakes. Ps. cv. 14. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked man from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ez. iii. 18. unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; why will ye die, O house of Israel? If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he hath robbed, walk in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, &c., none of his sins

Say

that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him; he hath done that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. Ez. xxxiii. 11. 16. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. He. xiii. 4.

All that are thine.] The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. Ge. xii. 15. And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them (Korah, Dathan, and Abiram) up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the congregation. Nu. xvi. 32, 33. When "he" ("David") saw the angel that smote the people, he said, Lo, I have sinned (in numbering the people), and I have done wickedly. 2 Sa. xxiv. 17.

9 What hast thou done, &c.] And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Ge. xii. 18. and com. And Abimelech said, What is this thou (Isaac) hast done unto us? One of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. Ge. xxvi. 10. And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf which Aaron made. Ex. xxxii. 35. And

Joshua said (to Achan), Why hast thou troubled us? The Lord shall trouble thee this day. Jos. vii. 25. And "he" ("David") said, Wherefore doth my lord (Saul), thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord: for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods. 1 Sa. xxvi. 18, 19. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit; but the upright shall have good things in possession. Pr. xxviii. 10.

A great sin.] And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in-law

hath played the harlot, and also behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. Ge. xxxviii. 24. How then (said Joseph), can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Ge. xxxix. 9. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Le. xx. 10. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man (who had taken the poor man's lamb), and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man! Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house. 2 Sa. xii. 5. 7. 9, 10. For there is no respect of persons with God. Rs. ii. 11. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. He. xiii. 4.

Ought not to be done.] And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it, and the men were grieved, and were very wroth, because he (Shechem) had wrought folly in Israel, in lying with Jacob's daughter, which thing ought not to be done. Ge. xxxiv. 5. 7. And she (Tamar) answered him (Amnon), Nay, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. 2 Sa. xiii. 12. For there are many unruly, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not. Tit. i. 11.

11 Surely the fear of God, &c.] And he (the angel of the Lord) said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad (Isaac), for now I know that thou (Abraham) fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only so, from me. Ge. xxii. 12. And Joseph said unto "them" ("his brethren") the third day, This do and live (leave Simeon bound, and bring Benjamin), for I fear God. Ge. xlii. 18. The former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, &c., but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Ne. v. 15. There