Genesis 21

Genesis 21:5-7

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14. ¶ ‘Simeon and Levi are brethren: ‘instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, ‘mine

honour, be not thou united: for ‘in their anger they slew a man, and in their self will they digged down a wall. 7. Cursed be their anger for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: ‘I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Simeon and Levi have still a severer judgment pronounced on them. They were men of a bloody mind, utterly unlike their peaceable father: and the murder of the Shechemitis through a prosperous wickedness, meets now its recompense: since they will not be restrained by their father’s advice, they shall be under his curse. With abhorrence of their deeds, he professes his innocence, and brands their cruel wrath with deepest detestation: though by Providence preserved from being scattered by the inraged Canaanites, yet God will will them, and scatter them among the tribes. Simeon’s lot was dispersed, and his posterity made no figure; whilst Levi had no portion with his brethren, God having fixed the forcedural office in that family, and scattered them through all the tribes. Now, (1.) The best fathers cannot frequently restrain their children from vile deeds. (2.) The greatest dissimilarity of children from their parents, is observable; the meeked man has often a most passionate child. (3.) Though wickedness seems to succeed for a time, we may be assured the curse is coming. (4.) We must disclaim all fellowship with wicked men, and their deeds. (5.) As all anger is murder, God will reckon it as such, in the judgment day. Mat. v. 22.

8. ¶ ‘Judah, thou art be whom thy brethren shall praise; ’thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; ’thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. 9. Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: ‘he throoped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10. ‘The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor ‘a law-giver from between his feet,’ until Shiloh come, and ‘unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his asses colt unto the choice wine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. 12. His ’eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

Genesis 21:8-12

Judah inherits the birth-right of Reuben: his brethren shall praise him; victorious over his enemies, and chief among the tribes, valiant as a young lion to seize his prey, and strong as an old lion to preserve it: his land so plenteous, that vines should be common as the thorn in the hedge, and their produce so abundant, that wine should be pleant as water, and milk in equal abundance. Above all, the scepter shall be in his family; nor, which was the greatest of blessings, depart from him, till the Messiah should come: all which we shall see exactly fulfilled. Now, in a more glorious field, Jesus is this lion of the tribe of Judah, head over all, to whom his enemies must bow, and whom his faints adore. He is the law-giver; to him will the gathering of the people be; and in him are the rivers of wine and milk, every gospel blessing, richly and freely dispersed without money and without price.

13. ¶ ‘Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. 14. ¶ Issachar is a throng aforesaid, couching down between two burdens. 15. And he saw that rest was good, and the land, that is was pleasant; and bowed ‘his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. 16. ¶ ‘Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17. ¶ Dan shall be a serpent by the way, ‘an adder in the path; that bleeth the horse-heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 18. ¶ I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. 19. ¶ ‘God, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. 20. ¶ ‘Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. 21. ¶ ‘Naphtali is a blind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

Genesis 21:13-21

A variety of mercies are allotted the several fathers, and each fulfilled in its time to the children.

1. Zebulun’s lot was at the sea, and Zidon being a famous mart, his tribe were the chief marines.

2. Issachar’s lot was tillage; and being rich with corn, was taxed high. Now, The husbandman need not grudge to pay those for his rest at home, who fight for him abroad.

3. Dan was famed for policy; from him arose Sampson, in whose destruction of the Philifines, living and dying, this prophecy was eminently fulfilled.

4. Jacob paulo to make a warm ejaculation; with prophetic light, he sees the predictions, as if already fulfilled, and his waiting foul now clearfully is yielded up to God. Now, They

who Before Christ 1469. serpence of sionism. Chap. xviii. 7. § Phil. xvi. 1. Deut. Chap. xxix. 15. 2. Or bought decent. Job. xix. 3. & xii. 5. 6. 7. 1. Chron. 19. &c. 29.