the sepulchre that Ephron son of Zoar, Gen. xxiii. 8, or of the sons of Abraham bought for Heth, Gen. xlix. 32. And so, saith Josephus, some of a sum of money of his sons also.

the sons of Emmor

the father of Sychem. 17, 18. And when the four hundred years began 17 But when the to be expired, after which the performance of the protime of the promise mise to Abraham's seed, of giving them the land of drew nigh, which Canaan, was to commence, the people growing into a Abraham, the peo- great number, and another king coming to reign in ple grew and multi- Egypt, that forgat the merits of Joseph.

God had sworn to

plied in Egypt,

19. (Who therefore did all that he could to keep 18 Till another king the Israelites from flourishing or increasing, and arose, which knew not Joseph. among other things, commanded all their male child19 The same dealt ren to be put to death, Exod. i.)

out their

young

subtilly with our kin- 20, 21. At this point of time Moses was born, and dred, and evil en- being a very beautiful child, he was first kept close in treated our fathers, his father's house three months, Exod. ii.; but when so that [d] they cast that could no longer be done, he was put in a cradle of children, to the end bulrushes by a river's brink; and being there left and they might not live. exposed, the providence of God preserved him. For 20 In which time it happened that Pharaoh's daughter found him there, was [e] exceeding and took him, and put him to nurse to his own mofair, and nourished ther, Exod. ii. 9, and so afterwards educated and up in his father's brought him up as her own son.

Moses was born, and

21 And when he

house three months: 22. By which means he was instructed in all the was cast out, Pha- learning of the Egyptians, in mathematics, and phyraoh's daughter took sic, &c., (see note [a] 2 Tim. iii.,) and was thereby him up, and 5 nou- a person of great abilities above other men, both for rished him for her speaking (viz., in respect of eloquence and power of speech, though for the manner of utterance he had learned in all the some stammering in his speech) and also for manawisdom of the Egypt- gery of business; very able both to give counsel, and ians, and was mighty to act any great affairs.

own son.

22 And Moses was

deeds.

in words and in 23. And when he was forty years old, God 23 And when he having some way revealed unto him (see note [a] was full forty years 2 Tim. iii.) his purpose of delivering the Israelites old, it came into his out of their slavery by his hands, and making him heart to visit his their leader and instrument of his vengeance on their

ren of Israel.

brethren the child- oppressors the Egyptians, (see ver. 25,) thereupon he 24 And seeing one resolved to visit them, and see how it was with them. of them suffer wrong, 24. And seeing an Egyptian do injury to an Israeldefended him, ite, he took the Israelite's part against him, and in and avenged him defence of the Israelite killed the Egyptian.

he

that was oppress

25. This he did as an act of that office to which

ed, and smote the God had designed him, that of a saviour or deliverer

Egyptian :

256 For he sup- of his countrymen; and although he had not yet re3 circumvented, κατασοφισάμενος. 4 by casting out their children, or causing them to be cast out. 5 brought him up for herself as, or, for a son, ἀνεθρέψατο αὐτὸν ἑαυτῇ εἰς υἱόν. 6 But, or, And he thought that his brethren did understand, 'Evóμige dè ovviévai toùs àd.

stood how that God

self unto them as

posed his brethren ceived his commission to that office, but only some would have under- notice of God's designation, yet thinking that the by his hand would Israelites did also know that he was thus designed, deliver them: but he thought fit to do this, (which lawfully he might, they understood not. in the defence of an innocent person's life against an 26 And the next unjust assault or violence, which could not be averted day he shewed him- but by this means,) viz., in defence of the one to kill they strove, and the other, as a first assay or exercise of that office. But 7 would have set in this he was mistaken, for the Israelites knew nothem at one again, thing of this purpose of God to employ him, and from saying, Sirs, ye are this act of his had not that sagacity to discern it. brethren; why do ye 26. The next day he interposed himself again as a pacifier or composer of controversies among them, to 27 But he that did see how that would be accepted by them, whether his neighbour wrong they would be likely to receive him as a judge, to go thrust him away, in and out before them, which was another part of saying, Who made thee a ruler and a the office to which he was designed.

wrong one to another?

judge over us?

day?

29. And Moses seeing himself thus repulsed, and, 28 Wilt thou kill on the other side, fearing that what he had done me, as thou diddest already might by being known bring hazard on the Egyptian yester- him, (as it did, Exod. ii. 15, when Pharaoh heard of 29 Then fled Mo- it he sought to kill him,) he fled from thence to ses at this saying, Midian, and there sojourned with Revel, Exod. ii. and was a stranger 18, or, which is all one, with Jethro, ch. iii. 1, the in the land of Madi- priest or prince of Midian, Exod. ii. 16, and he kept his sheep, and married his daughter. Zipporah, by 30 And when forty whom he had two children, Gershom, so named for years were expired, his being a stranger or sojourner there, and Eliezer, there appeared to from God's helping him or delivering him from the ness of mount Sina hand of Pharaoh, that sought his life, Exod. xviii. an angel of the Lord 2-4.

an, where he begat

two sons.

him in the wilder

31 When Moses

him,

in a flame of fire in 30. And at the end of a second part of three of his a bush. life, i. e. of a second forty years, which was also the saw it, he wondered period of the four hundred years prefixed, ver. 6, as at the sight: and as Moses was feeding his sheep about Horeb or Sinai, he drew near to be- that mount, after so famous for God's delivering the hold it, the voice of law out of it, and therefore called the flaming mounthe Lord came unto tain of God, Exod. iii. 2, he saw a flame of fire in a 32 Saying, I am the bush, but the bush was not hurt nor consumed by it, God of thy fathers, which was the appearing of an angel, according as it the God of Abra- was usual for angels to appear: (see note [k] Matt. iii.) ham, and the God a And this voice of God, by an angel speaking, God of Jacob. "Then (and perhaps, as it was usual, thunder joined with it,) Moses trembled, and was so terrible to him, and the flame that appeared durst not behold. in the bush so glorious and illustrious, that he durst 33 Then said the not look upon it, but hid his face, Exod. iii. 6.

of Isaac, and the

Lord to him, "Put This appearance of an angel is an argument and persuaded them to peace, συνήλασεν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην.

7

off thy shoes from evidence of my peculiar presence, from which any thy feet for the place is called holy; and therefore, in reverence due to place where thou standest is holy such a presence, put off thy shoes &c.

ground.

34. Now is the time come wherein I will certainly 34 I have seen, I visit and relieve that people of mine, the children of have seen the afflic- Abraham, which, according to what I foretold him, tion of my people which is in Egypt, (see ver. 6,) have been used like slaves in Egypt a and I have heard long time; and to this purpose now I have sent down their groaning, and my angel, the only way of my peculiar presence in come down to any one place, that I may commune with thee, and deliver them. And send thee on this message, as my commissioner to bring them out thence.

am

now come, I will

send thee into Egypt. Moses 35 This

thee a ruler and a

35. And so that Moses, that they would not receive whom they refused, to avenge their injuries or compose their quarrels, saying, Who made vv. 27, 28, was now sent by God to lead them and judge? the same did bring them out of Egypt, and to this end an angel God send to be a sent to talk with him, and give him his commission, ruler and a deliverer which was done in a glorious manner by a flame in by the hand of the (but not consuming) the bush.

angel which appear- 36. And at last, after the working of many terrible

ed to him in the bush.

36 He brought prodigies, first in Egypt, then at their departure in them out, after that the Red sea, he rescued them out of Pharaoh's hands; he had shewed won- and after forty years spent in the wilderness, to punish ders and signs in the their murmuring, and to shew forth more of God's land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and power and miracles in sustaining them there, they in the wilderness were at last brought by Joshua into Canaan.

forty years.

unto the children of

37. Now what was this Moses all this while but a 37 This is that prophet foretelling the purpose of God to send anMoses, which said other great prophet to you in these later days, the Israel, A prophet Messias, which (though he were God from heaven, shall the Lord your yet) should here be born in an ordinary condition of God raise up unto a daughter of Abraham, and warning you to be sure you of your brethren, to receive and entertain him when he should come, like unto me; him assuring you, that if you hear not (receive not) him, 38 This is he, that you shall (which was the point in hand which Stewas in the church phen was all this while a demonstrating, in answer to in the wilderness what was laid to his charge, ch. vi. 14.) be utterly with the angel which destroyed? Acts iii. 32.

shall ye hear.

mount Sina, and with

spake to him in the 38. This Moses afterward, when the people were our fathers: who re- encamped in the wilderness, was called up to mount ceived 10 the lively Sinai, where an angel spake to him and the Israeloracles to give unto ites, and delivered the law to them: see note [a] Rom. iii.

us:

39 To whom our

fathers would not 39, 40. And after all these prodigies and miracles obey, but thrust used by God to give him authority among them, the him from them, and Israelites murmured and rebelled against him still, 8 oppression, ill usage, káκwow. 9 congregation, dekaŋolą.

11 become obedient, ὑπήκοοι γενέσθαι.

10 living, Carra.

in their hearts turn- and had more mind to be in Egypt again than under ed back again into his government, and to that purpose made them picEgypt, 40 Saying unto Aa- tures of the Egyptians' gods to go before and lead them, ron, Make us gods as Moses did, viz., a calf, ver. 41, only upon pretence to go before us: for that Moses had forsaken them, was gone they knew as for this Moses, not whither, when indeed he was only called by God which brought us out of the land of unto the mount, to receive commandments to give Egypt, we wot not unto them.

what is become of him.

41. And when they had made this calf, they very 41 And they made solemnly worshipped it, and by sacrifice and festivia calf in those days, ties celebrated that idol (which they themselves made) and offered sacrifice in the same manner as God himself is wont to be worunto the idol, and rejoiced in the works shipped.

of their own hands.

up to worship the

42. This provoked God to forsake them, to leave 42 Then God turn- them to themselves, to permit them to follow their ed, and gave them own hearts' desires into all the madness they led them host of heaven; as to, and so by not restraining, to deliver them up to it is written in the worship the stars of heaven, instead of God, upon book of the prophets, which it is that God expostulates with them, Amos O ye house of Israel, v. 25-" Were the sacrifices which you offered up in have ye offered to me the wilderness all those forty years, offered to me, O crifices by the space ye house of Israel?

slain beasts and sa

of forty years in the wilderness?

12

43. "Nay, as the grossest idolatry, ye set up a chaplet or shrine with an image in it, (see note [e] ch. 43 Yea, ye took xix.,) and that image the image of one of the Egyptup the [f] tabernacle of Moloch, and ian kings, under the title of Mars; and again, the the star of your god picture of Saturn, another planet denoting another [9] Remphan, fig- Egyptian god; and these images of these false gods ures which ye made have been made by you on purpose to be worshipped to worship them: and by you: which idolatry, together with your consebeyond Babylon. quent sins, hath brought that captivity upon you," 44 13 Our fathers Amos v. 26.

I will carry you away

had the [h] taberna

wilderness, as he had

44. These fathers of ours in the wilderness had the cle of witness in the tabernacle of the testimony, that is, the tabernacle appointed, speaking with the ark in it, called the ark of the testimony, unto Moses, that he (because of the tables of the law put there, which should make it ac- were the testimonies and evidences of God's will how cording to the fashi- he would be served,) or else the tabernacle where on that he had seen. God promised to meet them, the place where he fathers that would record his name, Exod. xx. 24, where they after brought in with were to commemorate his mercies to them, and where Jesus into the pos- he would answer their prayers, bestow blessings on session of the "Gen- them, and this built exactly according to the pattern drave out 15 before shewed Moses by God.

45 Which also our

came

tiles, whom God

the face of our fa- 45. This their successors under Joshua brought in

12 have set up, åveλáßeтe- 13 The tabernacle of the testimony was among our fathers, Ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἦν ἐν τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν. 14 nations, ov@v. 15 from, áπó. HAMMOND, VOL. I.

Kk

thers, unto the days to Canaan with them, and so it continued till David's of David;

46 Who found favour before God, and

time.

46. Who having received special favour from God, desired to find a ta- desired earnestly to build a standing temple for his bernacle for the God service.

of Jacob.

47 But Solomon

48 Howbeit the

47. But this temple was not thought fit to be built built him an house. by him, because, though he were a very excellent most High dwelleth person, yet he had had great wars, and shed much not in temples made blood, 1 Chron. xxii. 8, and xxviii. 3, in which respect with hands; as saith God would not permit him to have this honour of the prophet, building the temple, a place destined to all peaceable

throne, and earth is

49 Heaven is my ness, purity and holiness: this therefore was reserved my footstool: what for Solomon, who accordingly built it in a most sumphouse will ye build tuous manner.

Ime? saith the Lord: 48-51. But sure God doth not so dwell in this or what is the place temple (who hath the whole world for his palace) as of my rest? 50 Hath not my that he should be bound to preserve this for ever from hand made all these being destroyed, when you have by crucifying his Son things? thus provoked his vengeance against you, (and this 51 Ye[] stiff- brings home Stephen's discourse in this chapter to the cumcised in heart point which he had in hand, ch. vi. 14,) and continue and ears, ye do al- in the rebellions of your fathers: for sure if David's ways resist the Holy bloodguiltiness made him uncapable of building it, Ghost: as your fa- yours will render you uncapable of having it contithers did, so do ye. nued to you.

necked and uncir

52 Which of the prophets have not

52, 53. For as your fathers persecuted and slew all your fathers perse- the old prophets, which foretold the coming of the cuted? and they have Messias, so ye, now he is actually come, have betrayslain them which ed and murdered him. A sin set out and heightened shewed before of the with the greatest aggravations imaginable, whether coming of the Just One; of whom ye we consider the person thus used by you, or you that have been now the thus used him; he the holiest person in the world, betrayers and mur- that came to be your Saviour; and you the people of God, the very men for whose sakes the law was de53 Who have re-livered by God to hosts of angels, and by them deliceived the law 16 by the disposition of vered to you, and yet you have not obeyed it, nor angels, and have not embraced him which came to perfect that law, but kept it. absolutely rebelled against all.

derers:

54 When they 54. This whole sermon, but especially the close of heard these things, it, foretelling their destruction for their bloody sins, they were 17 cut to wounded them deep; but instead of producing contrithe heart, and they tion, exasperated them the more, and put them into an gnashed on him with horrible rage against Stephen, and that inflamed their 55 But he, being zeal to set upon the stoning of him.

their teeth.

full of the Holy 55. But he, full of courage, looked up far above all

16 Or, among host, or, troops, els diarayás: see note [f] ch. xiii. heart, or, enraged: see note [e] ch. v.

17 mad in their