146 23 NUMBERS wrath from the Lord was upon him. the Angell oflehovah] this Angell fpeaketh as the Lord hi in- è1fe , nne/y the word that I fha11 fpeakunto thee , that (halt thoufpeake, v.3 5. Wherfore this feemeth to be Chrift, the Angel which redeemed lakob from all evill, Gen. 48.16. and now commeth to redeeme Iakobs children from the curfe intended againft them; the Angell that was fent beforehead to keepe them in their way, in whom Iehovahs'name was, Exo. z 3.30,21. even Michael the great prince, which ftandeth for his people,Dan. s o.zt.and 12.1. an adverfary ] in Hebr. Satan , which name when it is ufed for anadverfary to Gods people,utually nieaneth the Deuill , lob.;.6. hlat,4. s o. Rev. 12. 9. and ao. 2. but herebeing Cpoken of an adver- farie to the wicked , and defender of tke church, is applied to an holy Angell, or to the Prince of Angels and men. And here the love of God unto Ifrael appeareth,that when hegiveth a wicked man leave to goe out againft them , forthwith hee fendeth his Angell to refill him, and to (rand for the helpe of his chofen; as all the Angels are minifringileitr, Jene firth tominter fir them , who (ball he hgires, of falvation, Heb. 1.14. two of hit young men] that is, of his fervants: fee the notes on Exo. 33. 1 s. So Abraham went with twoof his young men, Gen.22.3. Ver.23.tbe Affe fare the Angell]It pleafeth God to confound the wifedome of the wife & arrogant, by baie and contemptible means, for thefoolifhnes of God is reif r than (the wifdome of) men, 5 Cor. r 25. Balaam was a great Prophet, accuftomed to vifions and revelations, yet faw not with his ties, neither knew with all his skill (verf.34.) that the Angell flood againft him,whont his Affe,a rude & filly beati, did fee and avoid,to the fafety of his matter : & he that could advertife other of things that should befall them, Num. 24.14. could not advertife himfelfe of the danger of death which was before him.So God defiroyetb the wifedome of the wife, and bringeth to nought the nnderf anding of the pru- dent, t Car.; .19. When vifions appeared,the Pro- phets were wont to fee then, and others in their company law them not,as in Dan.to.7.and At1.9. 7. here the Prophet feeth nothing, but the beat{ under hint bath the eyes opened to fee the appa- rition. his (word drawne]a figne of wrath & ven- geance; fo David faw the Angell that plagued IC rael with a drawn fword in his hand,} Chron.21.16. and Ioíùe the like,in that Angels hand , who as captain of the Lords hot , was to deftroy the Cana - anites,Iof.5.13,14.Balaam went with a purpofe to curie Ifrael,& after to have them killedwith the fword: his curies would have been like the piercing: ifa fword;Prov.1z.i8, he hadwhetted his tongue as a fward,& bent his arrow,even a bitter reord,Pfi64.4 the Lord to reward him according to his works, fendeth out a fword againft him. the Afe turned afide] The beafts , and fowles , and other bruti(h creatures, are often taken to teach and convince men,lob 12.7,2.Efay 1.3.Ier.8.7.& Balaams folly' was reproved hereby the altion of this dumbe beat}, as after itwas by words, Num. 22.28.30,2 Pet. 2. 16. Salaamsway was perverfe before the Lord,verf.32. he had forfaken the right way,and went altray, 2 Pet.2.15. the affe turning afide out of the way , might have taught him to have defi- fled from his evill course. The Affe avoideth the danger and evill before his eyes; the matter being blinded with ambition and covetoufnes , feeth it not,but would goe on to defruEtion,verf.33, fmote the aft] the Greeke here addeth , with his rod (or fiaffe)which is taken from verf.27. As he that judgeth another,condemneth himfelfe doing the fame things, Rom. 2.1. fo the Prophet in fmiting his beak, fheweth himfelfe to bee worthy of nine (tripes doing much works than it. A whip for the borle , a bridle far the aft, and a rod for the fades baeke, Prov. 26.3. Verfe 24. and a wall] in Chaldee , and another wall. The Angell needed not have chofen fuch places ; but thefe things hapned unto Balaamfor enfanples, and are written for our admonition: for when men goe on in a way not good , if they efcape one perill , they fall into another greater, and at lair into inevitable danger ; as the Pro - phet fignifieth by fèare , and pie, and flare; Hee that feeeth from the fears fhal fal into the pit ; and hee that gettetb up out ofthe pit, foal be taken in the flare, ler. 48.43, 44. Verfe 25. and 1hruf Balaam: foot ] or , prefed, creIed his foot. This word is ufed in 2 Kings 6. 32. where the Kings met%nger, who was fent to take away Élifhaes head, was pre Qjèd ( or erupt) in the doore. God by this fecond figue cane neerer unto Balaam , who went on inhis perverse way, and withall dtcovereththe vanity of his art,who being a diviner , could not prefage the evill that fhould befall him , though filch things as thefe happened in his way; which in the opinion of vaine men , are figues of ill lucks : and therefore by the grounds of his owne craft should have turned hint backe, or made him to fufpe& at leatt.that this journey fhould be unfortunate : fee s Sam. 6.2,3.9. But God taketh the wife fn their owne craftinefe,and the counfell of the froward is carried headlong : they meet with darknefè in the day time, and grope in the noun day , as in the night. But he favetb the pore from the fword , fromtheir mouth , and from the band of the mighty, Iub 5. 53, 54,15. The children of God have the Angels to keepe them in all their wayes, and to beare them up left they daft their foot againft a (tone, Pfalm.91.11, s2. But Balaam tempting the Lord, bath his Angell to withftand him , whereby his foot is crushed againft the wall : yet maketh he no good ufe thereof. Verfe a6. no way to turn afiel ] In this carri- age of theAngell , the Lord would have us fee the proceding of his judgements againft tanners; firlt more mildly , fhaking his rod at them , but letting them goe untouched ; then comming nearer, bee toucheth them with an eafie corre- Ilion , as it were wringing their feat againfta wall; but bringeth them at lata to filch a tirait, as they can no way efcape his hand , but muff fall before him.. Verte 27. Balaam: anger was knelled] the wrath e 24 25 26 27
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