Chap. 24. An Expojition upen the Bockrf JOB. VLrf. 5. 509 Yet I conceive that we may more clearly expound thefe words as carrying acontinued feries of the p-aâices of wicked men, who are here compared to wildeaffes ; and there is a word in the 5thverfe which gives a fpeciall reafon why this fhould not be un derflood of the poore or oppreffcd, but of the opprefio-, where it is faid, they rife betimesfor prey ; now that word which we render a prey,cometh from a root which fïgn fies to tear;to rend. et., topull affunder after the mannerofwilde baits ; and is of the d fame ((lucid as well as fign'fication with our Englifh word; teare, cer.:v,t darn» therefore it fhould rather be underftood ofopreffors,thenof the íu prop fur=t oppreffed ; for a man that goes forth to labour,and work for his terms,n t.g, living, cannot properly be laid to rifebetimes for a prey, for he goes forth to get his bread honef}ly; now a prey is that which i; got by violence; and the word is never applyed to men,but in alb lufion to ravenous and devouring beafts. Jacobcomparing his fcn 7udab to a Lyons whelpe (Gen. 49. 9.) faith; From the prey, my Son, tbou_art goneup. So Motes ( Deut. 3 3. 2n. ) ;flndof C.{d ke raid, Bleffed be he that enlargeth Gad; he dwelleth as a Lt :41 and teareth the Arme with the Crown of the head. And DAvid praying tobe delivered out of the hand ofhis enemy, gives this realon ( 'PfaIm. 7. z.) Left he tear my foul like a Lyon, while there ie none to deliver. So that the word noting properly the act ofa ravenous beaft who lives upon fpoyle and prey;It is very im- proper to apply it to the work ofa labouring man, who lives and Barnes his bread with the sweat ofhis brows.Yet I find that word fignifyingfood ingenerali ( Mal. 3. to ) Bring ye all the tythes into theioreboufe, that there may be meat inmine hotefe. Whick the -interlineral renders, that there maybe a prey in mine hcrtfe ; and vt fit prado in another thus,that there may he that,whichyefnatch,in mine l.mtsfoe. dnno meo. Surely the Lord flrikes at fame mifderoeanor while heexpreffeth vt°ir rya,dee; the foodof the Peiefts & Levits,by a word fignifying that which piris,&c Page: is torn away by violence. And (I conceive) it may either rt fi. Ft upon the people who parted fo hardly with the tythes which did belong to the Temple at that time, that they were rather torne or pulled from them by a kinde ofviolence, then freely paidor brought in according to the law ofGod:or it might refletf upon the extreme greedines ofthe Priefts that did adminiffer in the f ê- ple,as ifthey did look upon the tythes & their portió in thê,with as earneft defire as wild beafls barg ever & trait for a prey. So that where
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