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give honour to his omniscience and justice, who hath found thee out in thy sin, by acknowledging this heinous offence, whereby thou hast provoked God's anger against his people.

IX. 14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not coun sel at the mouth of the LORD.

And the men took their relation upon trust, at the sight of their mouldy victuals; and did not consult with the high priest, who, in all doubtful cases, was to return them the answers of the Lord.

IX. 23 Now therefore ye are cursed.

Ye are of that nation, whom God, amongst the rest, hath cursed and appointed to be rooted out; and, besides, you have deserved a just punishment of this your guile.

X. 12 Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

O God, let it please thee to command the sun to stand still, while we are fighting in and for Gibeon; that we may have light to do full execution upon thine enemies: and let the moon forbear to bring on the night upon us.

X. 40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs.

So Joshua smote all that part of the country, which lay to the south; both those cities which were built on the hills, and those which were seated in the plains.

XI. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burnt none of them. As for those cities, which yielded themselves up to Joshua, ere they were defaced by a violence of a siege, Israel burnt none of them.

XI. 20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle.

It was the wise counsel and just decree of the Almighty, that the inhabitants, being left to their own thoughts, should take up stub. born resolutions to stand out in battle against Israel.

XV. 19 Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water.

Out of the bounty of a parent, give me this addition to my child's part thou hast already bestowed upon me a parcel of mountainous and dry land, give me also some other ground that lies low and well watered.

XVII. 18 And the outgoings of it shall be thine.

Thou shalt take all the passages to, and from, and about it; the bordering places adjoining to it.

and

XXII. 17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,

XXII. 18 But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD, &c.

Was it not enough wickedness in us, that heretofore, through the enticements of the Moabitish women, we were joined to Baal-Peor, and were drawn into horrible idolatry, (the remainders of which sin and judgment do still stick by us, although God sent a grievous plague amongst us, in regard thereof) but that ye must now again this day, sin against God, in a new point of will-worship, and idolatry?

XXII. 19 If the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, &c.

If there be any taint of idolatry in the very place, whereby it is made unholy and infectious; then leave that your possession beyond Jordan, which is separated from the rest of the inheritance of God's people, and pass over hither to us,

XXIV. 12 And I sent the hornet before you. See Deut. vii. 20. XXIV. 19 He will not forgive your transgressions, nor your sins. He will not suffer your willing and presumptuous sins to go unpunished.

XXIV. 27 Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it kath heard all the words of the LORD, &c.

This stone shall be a monument of this day's covenant, which you have renewed with the Lord; forasmuch as, in the view and presence thereof, ye have spoken the words of this covenant, mutually agreed upon betwixt God and us,

JUDGES.

III. 8 He sold them into the hand of Chushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia.

God gave them into the hands of the king of Mesopotamia, that they might be his tributaries and slaves.

III. 10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him.

And God enabled him with the gifts of wisdom and power, to rescue and govern his people,

IV. 4 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

And Deborah was moved with the spirit of prophecy, and was extraordinarily raised up by God, to give answers from God to Israel, and to give counsels and directions to his people.

V. 4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchodst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, &c.

O Lord, thou shewdest thyself marvellous in all the passages of Israel out of Egypt; when thou wentest up before them from the land of the Edomites, both the heavens and the earth did both feel

and declare thy power; in all these were seen the wonderful signs of thine Almighty protection of thy people.

V. 5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

The very foundations of the mountains were moved at thy presence; insomuch as mount Sinai itself, which had formerly shaken at the delivery of thy Law given upon it, did now again, though far distant, quake at the awful manifestation of thy power.

V. 6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, &c.

In the days of the late tyrants that enthralled and oppressed Israel, even from the time of Shamgar's deliverance till this of Jael, the ways were unfrequented: no man durst stir out, for fear of their cruelty.

V. 8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates.

It was for their idolatry, that God stirred up enemies against them, and brought this desolation to their cities.

V. 9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people.

I cannot but applaud, and bless God, for the forwardness and cheerful courage of the chief rulers of Israel, in undertaking this war. V. 10 Speak; ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.

O ye, that are the chief leaders and governors of the people, do ye help me to praise our God, for our deliverance; and ye, that are travellers and traders abroad, join with me in this thanksgiving.

V. 11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, &c. towards the villages of Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.

And ye, the meanest of the people, even the drawers of water, in Israel, who, for the danger of the enemy, durst not stir forth of your doors, do vou, being delivered from this fear, magnify the great works of God, who hath so freed all the villages of Israel, that now they may safely resort to their cities, whether for justice or traffic.

V. 12 Lead thy captivity captive.

Bring forth thy captives in a triumphant manner.

V. 14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek ; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. Most of the several tribes did their parts in this conflict: some came from Ephraim; others, from the borders of the Amalekites; and thou, Benjamin, who art but a small tribe, wert not behind the rest of Israel: some from Manasseh (of whom Machir descended) who were chief rulers among the people, came forth; and the scribes of the tribe of Zebulun were not wanting to this valiant

service.

V. 15 And also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

Also Barak, with his tribe of Naphtali, came readily, and with all the speed that his feet could make, into the field. As for those tribes of Reuben and Gad, who were by the lot of their inheritance divided from the rest, there were great exceptions taken at their absence.

V. 16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatngs of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

0 ye of the tribes beyond Jordan, how could any of you sit still quiet among your flocks and herds, when these great businesses were in hand? For the absence of Reuben, great exceptions were taken, and diverse censures passed.

V. 17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships, &c.?

Gilead came not forth, but abode still at home beyond Jordan; and those of Dan were attending their merchandize, &c.

V. 19 The kings came and fought.

The neighbour kings came forth to aid Jabin.

V. Ibid. They took no gain of money.

They gained nothing by the war.

V. 20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

The very clouds and winds fought for us, against our enemies; and the stars of heaven, whose influence works upon these creatures, took part with us against Sisera.

V. 21 Omy soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

O my soul, thou hast triumphed over all the strength of thine enemies.

V. 23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye utterly the inhabitants of Meroz; because they came not to the help of the LORD, &c.

The angel of God, whose prophetess I am, hath bidden me to call for your curses against Meroz, and the inhabitants thereof; who, dwelling near to the place where this battle was fought, and, as it were, within the noise of our trumpets, yet came not forth to our aid.

VI. 10 Fear not the gods of the Amorites.

Do not worship or serve the gods of the Amorites.

VI. 22 For because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. For, because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face, in that visible form which he assumed, I shall surely die.

VI 26 Upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place.

In the top of this rock, whereon I gave order unto thee before, to offer that thy sacrifice (which my fire consumed) in that place, which is already predisposed for this work, offer thy burnt-sacrifice, &c.

VI. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon.

God raised up the heart of Gideon, with courage, to undertake this war; and, with prudence, to manage it.

VIII. 2 What have I now done in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? What need ye contend for this? That later fact, that ye Ephraimites have done, in chasing and executing the Midianites, is much more than all that, which we followers of Abiezer have done, in joining the battle and routing these enemies.

VIII. 6 Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

Canst thou be so foolish, as to hope to subdue Zeba and Zalmunna, that we should cast away our victuals on thine army, upon this vain pretence?

VIII. 7 I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness. I will beat your bodies, with whips of thorns and briers, unto death. VIII. 16 And with them he taught the men of Succoth. With them he did, according as he had threatened, beat the elders of that city, for a warning unto the men of Succoth; who, by their example were taught, how dangerous it is to slight God's agents.

VIII. 26 A thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold.

A thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, whereof every one weighed a hundred and sixty grains, which is two drams and sixteen grains.

VIII. 27 And put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it.

He put it, as a monument of that great victory and deliverance, in his city Ophrah: but the people afterwards made an ill use of it; turning it to the service of their idols, wherewith they were shamefully defiled.

IX. 13 Which cheereth God and man.

Which is pleasing to God in the use of his sacrifices, and to men in their feasts.

IX. 20 Let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, &c.

Let there be deadly dissension between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and let the one of them be used as a means to plague and destroy the other: let Abimelech burn the Shechemites, and let them kill him.

IX. 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem.

Then God, according to the imprecation of Jotham, did, in his just judgment, give way and power to Satan, to set discord between Abimelech and the men of Shechem.

IX. 28 Is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

Is not he the base son of Jerubbaal? and is not this unworthy Zebul his officer? if ye must serve, rather submit yourselves to those that are the issue of the ancient lords of this city, than to this upstart generation.

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