CONDENSED, BUT RETAINING EVERY USEFUL THOUGHT; THE PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS OF REV. THOMAS SCOTT, D. D. WITH EXTENSIVE EXPLANATORY, CRITICAL, AND PHILOLOGICAL NOTES, SELECTED FROM SCOTT, DODDRIDGE, GILL, ADAM CLARKE, PATRICK, POOLE, LOWTH, BURDER, HARMER, CALMET, STUART, ROBINSON, BUSH, ROSENMUELLER, BLOOMFIELD, AND MANY OTHER WRITERS ON THE SCRIPTURES. THE WHOLE DESIGNED TO BE A DIGEST AND COMBINATION OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE BEST BIBLE COMMENTARIES, AND EMBRACING NEARLY ALL THAT IS VALUABLE IN HENRY, SCOTT, AND DODDRIDGE. CONVENIENTLY ARRANGED FOR FAMILY AND PRIVATE READING, AND AT THE SAME TIME PARTICULARLY ADAPTED TO THE WANTS OF SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND BIBLE CLASSES; WITH NUMEROUS USEFUL TABLES, AND A NEATLY ENGRAVED FAMILY RECORD. EDITED BY REV. WILLIAM JENKS, D. D. PASTOR OF GREEN ST. CHURCH, BOSTON. TRANSFERRED TO RE-EDITED AND ADAPTED TO THE VIEWS OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION OF CHRISTIANS, BY PASTOR OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH, IN BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS. EMBELLISHED WITH ENGRAVINGS, ON WOOD AND STEEL, OF SCRIPTURE SCENES, AND ILLUSTRATIVE OF SCRIPTURE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, ANTIQUITIES, ETC. RUTH-PSALM LXIII. BRATTLEBORO': PUBLISHED BY FESSENDEN AND CO., 1836. Enterest, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1936, by in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Vermont. EDITORIAL NOTICE. Grateful to Gop and to the religious community, for the THROUGH the good hand of Gop' upon the Editor, and his valued assistants, (who have been the same in this vol. as the preceding,) While it is not intended, as has been observed in the general Preface, another stage is reached, in this undertaking of great labor and high responsibility. degree of tayor accorded to the portions of the work already published the Editor trusts, the the present valuable in its preparation and accompaniments than the others. bes work of controvology to which, of course, no apology is offere elous, reflecting individual. for But that it should answer all the wishes of mere scholars could hardly be expected by any judiThe long and patient investigations of critical questions, in which many modern writers have meritoriously Indulged, as they could be appreciated only by persons acquainted with exegetics, and the original languages of the SS. have been but rarely followed out; yet, it is hoped, are occasionally, and as the greatly limited space assigned could permit, so alluded to, the sources of further Information so indicated, and the results of biblical research in such manner reported, as will accommodate the wishes and necessities of those classes of readers, for whom the plan of the work was originally designed, and who are found among its patrons and friends. blend defight and interest with the inquiry, and glorify Himself in its usefulness, is, while he asks the continued prayers of the friends of That Gop may continue to bless the effort, and render it instrumental in promoting a inore enger investigation of his Word, cause it to Divine Truth, the hearty desire of the Editor, LIST OF ENGRAVINGS IN VOL. II. Vignette, title, Nathan and David. MAPS, Kingdoms of Judah and Israel. FRONTISPIECE. WILLIAM JENKS. View of the present state of Ramah View of the present state of Sidon View of the walls of Jerusalem, and the ascent from the valley of Jeshoshaphat One sort of oriental veil, or head mantle Arab maiden going out to draw water, Syrian lyre or harp' of the time of the Maccabees 1 Sam. 7:17. 1 Sam. 10:3, 1 K. 5:6. The above views are authentic, from sketches taken on the spot. Ancient pipes,' (also used by the Egyptians,) from Ancient trumpet-pipe from Herculaneum (cornet?) Ancient Egyptian fork' Diagram of oriental method of furrowing Complete suit of ancient armor 15 | Herculanean flageolet and cymbals' 43 View of the river Jordan P. 50 Cedars of Lebanon now standing 217 Ruins of Tadmor (Palmyra) 341 Olive trees now standing in the garden of Gethse P. 2 Chr. 4:1, 2. 438 47 Oriental custom of submission' (giving the hand un- 60 1 Sam. 13:20, 21. 1 Sam. 14:14. 1 Sam. 17:5-7. Solomon's brazen altar,' according to Calmet 50 'Molten sea,' according to Calmet Ancient Egyptian sculpture representing the service,' 2 Chr. 15:9. 455 1 Sam. 17:5-7. 74 1 Sam. 17:18. 76 Ancient Balista for throwing arrows 456 1 Sam. 18:6. 80 Ancient steel bow for darts, used in sieges 2 Chr. 26:14, 15. 1 Sam. 18:6. 80 1 Sam. 19:9. 84 Ancient spring-machine for throwing rocks in sieges 2 Chr. 26:14, 15. 481 481 2 Chr. 26:14, 15. 481 99 123 Another ancient machine with metal spring for do. - 2 Chr. 26:14, 15. 2 Chr. 26:14, 15. 481 481 Ezra 2:68. 513 Persian bowing, stooping with his face toward the earth'l Sam. 24:8. an early Egyptian king Oriental bier or funeral chariot' Ancient Egyptian four stringed instrument' 2 Sam. 1:9. 2 Sam. 3:31. - 2 Sam. 6:5. 136 Ancient Egyptian lyre or 'harp' Herculanean lyre' and timbrel' Ancient and modern oriental tom tom' or 'drum' Figure dancing and playing the harp,' or lyre, from Ancient Egyptian ark or shrine, with idolatrous emblems; (from Elephantine) 2 Sam. 6:13. 138 Ancient Egyptian praying figure Oriental house, and open, pillared and balconied 'court' 2 Sam. 11:9. Ancient Egyptian 'hand-dart' 2 Sam. 6:14. 138 - 2 Sam. 7:18. 142 150 2 Sam. 12:30. 156 2 Sam. 18:14. 175 2 Sam. 18:18. 175 Ancient Egyptian bronze, brass, or steel bow, and feathered and barbed arrow Ancient Egyptian standing cherub' Ground plan of the magnificent ancient temple-palace" Ancient Egyptian symbolic and linear hieroglyphics for prayer Splendid ancient Egyptian throne,' answering the description of Solomon's An ancient Egyptian red idol-cow, with idolatrous emblems Hieroglyphic name of Shishak, from ancient Egyptian monuments Oriental barrels,' 'oil vessel' Splendid steel, brass, silver and gold 'thigh-piece of armor, of an early Egyptian king Four kinds of oriental lattice' from an ancient building in Cairo Ancient Balearían 'slinger,' and 'slings,' and 'aling stone' Ancient Egyptian priest, turning balls of incense, on a The future volumes of the Comprehensive Commentary will be illustrated by numerous authentic views of places mentioned in the Scriptures, (including several of Petra, &c.) as they exist at the present day; from a large collection in the hands of the publishers. See a notice of BUSH'S ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE, (forming a companion to this work,) in this volume. Stereotyped by T. G. Wells & Co. Boston. Oriental letters, ancient and modern Oriental stocks' Job 14:27. 633 Ancient Egyptian 'stocks' Javanese shield, with boss, bosses' and spike Job 15:26. 638 'Booth which the keeper' of crops buildeth' in Teha- 220 Hieroglyphic name of an Egyptian king, contemporary Job 16:15. 640 660 Job 26:5. 662 Broom plant, genista (juniper' (2) Heb.) Job 27:18. 665 Job 30:4. Flying dragon,' draco volans, of zoologists 672 Ancient Syracusan grave or tomb; representing 'bars of Job 30:29. 673 Job 33:18. 683 Ancient oriental, and occidental zodiacs Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphica illustrating the phrase Job 38:32. 699 Ancient Egyptian barbed 'fish-spears' Job 38:37. 700 Job 41:7. Ancient Egyptian harpoons, with shaft, and metal blade Job 41:7. 707 707 Yama, the Hindoo Soul-Catcher,' with his snare' - Pe. 18:5. Ancient Egyptian horn of plenty' (Keren-happuch, ?) Job 42:14. Job 41:28. 708 711 Ps. 6:12. 726 Ps. 18:2. 748 748 Ps. 20:5. Bay tree" Ancient Egyptian eleven stringed 'harp' 754 Ps. 34:2. 780 Ancient classical tear-bottles' or lachrymatories Ancient arrows' which cut in pieces' Ps. 57:1. 837 Ps. 58:7. 840 - Ps. 62:9. 846 COMPANION TO THE COMMENTARY. TRATIONS OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, Y FROM THE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, ANTIQUITIES, TRADITIONS, AND FORMS OF SPEECH, RITES, KS OF ART, AND LITERATURE, OF THE EASTERN NATIONS; EMBODYING ALL THAT IS VALUABLE IN F ROBERTS, HARMER, BURDER, PAXTON, CHANDLER, AND THE MOST CELEBRATED ORIENTAL TRAVELAACING ALSO THE SUBJECT OF THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY, AS EXHIBITED BY KEITH AND OTHERS. CRIPTIONS OF THE PRESENT STATE OF COUNTRIES AND PLACES MENTIONED IN THE SACRED WRITINGS, RATED BY NUMEROUS LANDSCAPE ENGRAVINGS, FROM SKETCHES TAKEN ON THE SPOT. Y REV. GEORGE BUSH, PROFESSOR OF HEBREW AND ORIENTAL LITERATURE IN THE NEW YORK CITY UNIVERSITY. in worth and importance to the possession, is doubtless to be esti- taken, which are natural properties and particular manners of the counthe correct interpretation of the sacred volume. Indeed, it is the tries to which they refer. I discerned this in my first voyage to the which gives its value to the former. A revelation not understood, Indies: for I gradually found a greater sense and beauty in divers dot intelligible, is no revelation, as far as its recipients are concerned. passages of scripture than I had before, by having in my view the The position, therefore, that the meaning of the Bible is the Bible, we things, either natural or moral, which explained them to me; and in consider as unquestionably true, and consequently any new accession of perusing the different translations which the greatest part of the translalight, which goes to clear up its obscurities, and cause its genuine sense tors of the Bible had made, I observed that every one of them (to render to stand forth in bolder relief upon the inspired page, is in reality enrich the expositions, as they thought, more intelligible) used such expressions ing us with a larger amount of its treasures, and virtually bestowing upon as would accoinmodate the phrase to the places where they writ: and is added communications of the Divine will. In this view, the progressive which did not only many times pervert the text, but often rendered the elucidation of the scriptures, whether by the expository labors of critics, sense obscure, and sometimes absurd also. In fine, consulting the comthe researches of travellers, or the fulfilments of prophecy, may be com mentators upon such kind of passages, I found very strange mistakes in pared to the gradual rolling away of the morning mist from a splendid them, and that they had long guessed at the sense, and did but grope (as landscape. As the sun advances, the shades retire, and new and inter- in the dark) in search of it. And from these reflections I took a resoluesting features of the prospect are continually opening upon the delighted tion to make my remarks upon many passages of the scriptures; pereye of the spectator. Or, it may be said to resemble the slow, but mo- suading myself that they would be equally agreeable and profitable for inentous process of unfolding the ancient papyri, which the ravages of use. And the learned, to whom I communicated my design, encouraged time and fire have spared among the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. me very much, by their commendations, to proceed in it: and more Here, as every successive word and letter, which can be redeemed from especially when I informed them, that it is not in Asia, as in our the crisp and crumbling texture of the blackened parchment, is noted Europe, where there are frequent changes, more or less, in the form down with the most scrupulous care, as forming a part of the continuous of things, as the habits, buildings, gardens, and the like. In the record, and going to make out its entire sense; so the sense of the sacred East they are constant in all things; the habits are at this day in the volume is gradually elicited, item by item, and needs only to be collected same manner as in the preceding ages; so that one may reasonably and treasured up with equal solicitude, in order to constitute a possession believe, that in that part of the world, the exterior form of things (as of infinitely more value than the choicest literary relics of antiquity. their manners and customs) are the same now as they were two thousand Perhaps it may safely be affirmed, that the materials are at this moment years since, except in such changes as have been introduced by religion, in existence, for the satisfactory solution of nearly every obscure passage which are, nevertheless, very inconsiderable."-(Preface to Travels in of holy writ: but the great desideratum is to have them brought together- Persia, p. 6.) Morier, an eastern traveller, says, "The manners of the to collect them from their wide dispersion over a countless multitude of East, amid all the changes of government and religion, are still the writings, in various languages, which the great majority of Christians same; they are living impressions from an original mould: and at every can neither procure nor understand. It is only in this way that they can step, some object, some idiom, some dress, or some custom of common be made really available to the great end which they are calculated to life, reminds the traveller of ancient times, and confirms, above all, the subserve; and far from idle are the claims of any one who professes to beauty, the accuracy, and the propriety of the language and the histo bring from scattered sources a new quota to the general stock of biblical ry of the Bible." *** illustration. As the Bible, in its structure, spirit, and costume, is essentially an Eastern book, it is obvious that the natural phenomena, and the moral condition of the East, should be made largely tributary to its elucidation. In order to appreciate fully the truth of its descriptions, and the accuracy, force, and beauty of its various allusions, it is indispensable that the reader, as far as possible, separate himself from his ordinary associations, and put himself, by a kind of mental transmigration, into the very circumstances of the writers. He must set himself down in the midst of oriental scenery-gaze upon the sun, sky, mountains, and rivers of Asiago forth with the nomade tribes of the desert-follow their flocks-travel with their caravans-rest in their tents-lodge in their khans-load and unload their camels-drink at their watering-places-pause during the heat of the day under the shade of their palms-cultivate the fields with their own rude, implements-gather in or glean after their harvests-beat out and ventilate the grain in their open thrashing-floors-dress in their Costume-note their proverbial or idiomatic forms of speech, and listen to the strain of song or story, with which they beguile the vacant hours. In a word, he must surround himself with, and transfuse himself into, all the forms, habitudes, and usages of oriental life. In this way only can he catch the sources of their imagery, or enter into full communion with the genius of the sacred penmen. While, therefore, we readily concede the very high importance of critical and philological research in dissipating the obscurities of the scriptures, and fixing their exact sense, we cannot, at the same time, but think that the collateral illustrations derived from this source, are deserving of at least equal attention from the student of revelation. The truth is, the providence of God, which is never more worthily employed than about his Word, seems now to be directing the eyes of his servants, as with pointed finger, to the immense stores of elucidation constantly accumulating from this quarter. The tide of travel within a few years has turned remarkably to the East. Animated either by the noble spirit of missionary enterprise, of commercial speculation, of military adventure, or laudable curiosity, men of intelligence and observation have made their way into every region on which the light of revelation originally shone; exploring its antiquities, mingling with its inhabitants, detailing ita manners and customs, and displaying its physical, moral, and political circumstances. From these expeditions they have returned laden with the rich results of their industry, and the labors of the pen and the pencil have made thousands partakers of the benefits of their toils. Little more han half a century ago, when the justly celebrated Observations of Harmer were given to the public, the range of materials to which he had cess was comparatively limited. The travels of Chardin, Pococke, Shaw, Maundrell, Pitts, D'Arvieux, with Russel's Natural History of Aleppo, were his principal authorities-authorities, it is true, which have not yet been wholly superseded. But since his time, what an immense accession has the department of oriental travels received! The names of Volney, Niebuhr, Mariti, Clarke, Chateaubriand, Porter, Burckhardt, Buckingham, Morier, Seetzen, De Lamartine, Laborde, exhaust but a small part of the list of eastern tourists, whose labors have gone to make us familiarly acquainted with the land of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. How desirable that the scattered gleams of illustrative light, which shine in their works, should be concentrated into one focus of illumination! This is the task which we have essayed in the present volume. In entering upon and advancing in this task, we have been more and more impressed with the remarkable fact of the permanence of eastern usiges. To the question, therefore, whether the state of things in the East, as described by modern travellers, really coincides with that which existed at the time the scriptures were written, so that one may be cited as conveying a correct idea of the other; we may reply, in the words of Sir John Chardin, one of the most respectable and authentic of the number:-"The language of that divine book (especially of the Old Testament) being oriental, and very often figurative and hyperbolical, those parts of scripture which are written in verse, and in the prophecies, are full of figures and hyperboles, which, as it is manifest, cannot be well understood without a knowledge of things from whence such figures are This steadfast resistance to the spirit of innovation and change, which thus remarkably distinguishes the nations of the East, will probably, in the providence of God, remain unsubdued, till it shall have answered all the important purposes of biblical elucidation, when it will give way to the all-pervading, all-regenerating influence of the Bible itself, borne upon the bosom of a new tide of civilization and improvement, which shall, ere long, set in upon the East from the nations of Europe, and the great continent of the West. In the mean time, while the inevitable doom of revolution and transformation that awaits the East, lingers, it behooves us to make the most, for useful purposes, of that state of society which still exists, but which, ere long, will have passed away. With this view, we have endeavored to embody in the present volume a large mass of oriental illustration. The work is strictly of an eclectic character. Postponing the claims of originality to those of practical utility, the Editor, after arraying before him the amplest store of materials which he could command, set himself to the task of selecting and arranging the most valuable portions which he could bring within the limits of his plan. The kindred works of Harmer, Burder, Paxton, Taylor's edition of Calmet, (five vols. 4to..) scarcely any of which are in common accessible to the majority of biblical students, have been diligently gleaned, and all their important contents transferred to our pages. As these works are not likely ever to be reprinted in this country, there appeared no other way to arrest their progress to oblivion, and to secure a larger and wider circulation to the valuable matter which they contain. But the range of selection has been by no means confined to the works now mentioned. So prolific has been the press within the last twenty or thirty years, of books of eastern travels, illustrative of manners, customs, and religion, that our resources in this department have been almost indefinitely multiplied. As the present work is designed to be marked by somewhat of the same Comprehensive character which distinguishes the other biblical works lately issued from the press of the Publishers, the illustrations bear upon numerous other points than those relating to manners and customs. The subject of the Fulfilment of Prophecy cannot well be lost sight of by any one conversant at once with the scriptures and the reports of modern travellers. The topographical descriptions of many of the most noted places of scripture, a department to which particular attention has been given in the ensuing pages, suggests at once the divine predictions bearing upon their future doom. The researches of tourists, both skeptics and Christians, have poured a flood of light upon this subject. It is perfectly astonishing, to one who has never examined the subject, to find how literally and minutely the prophetic declarations of scripture have been fulfilled, so that even infidel travellers and historians, as Volney and Gibbon, in their accounts of nations and countries, have unwittingly used for description, almost the words of scripture in which the events are foretold. Volney, particularly, (one of the bitterest opposers of Christianity.) in his published travels in the East, has afforded, unwillingly and unthinkingly, a wonderful attestation to the truth of the Bible, in the relation of facts which came under his own eye. There needs no better witness. Indeed, it is impossible for the most determined infidel carefully to examine and weigh this subject, and not be forced to feel that the Bible is divine: or, in the words of Bishop Newton, "he is reduced to the necessity, either to renounce his senses, deny what he reads in the Bible, and what he sees and observes in the world, or acknowledge the truth of prophecy, and consequently, of divine revelation." The researches of travellers in Palestine have been abundant, and the prophecies thereby verified are numerous and distinct, so that the facts may be related literally in the language of the prophecy. To use the words of a late writer in the London Quarterly Review, "we confess that we have felt more surprise, delight, and conviction, in examining the accounts which the travels of Burckhardt, Mangles, Irby, Leigh, and Laborde, have so recently given of Judea, Edom, &c. than we have ever derived from any similar inquiry. It seems like a miracle in our own times. Twenty years ago we read certain portions of the prophetic scriptures, with a belief that they were true, because other similar passages had, in the course of ages, been proved to be so, and we had an indistinct notion, |