iv The Notes are hints and suggestions rather than disquisitions. Arguments for amended translations and quotations of authorities are generally omitted, in my dominant wish so to condense the annotations as not to withdraw the reader's attention too long from the sacred text. Of course in such a work an examination of MS. readings has no part, and therefore no criticisms upon the MS. value of such passages as Mark xvi. 9-20 and John viii. 2-11 are submitted. My earnest desire is that the Divine Word may speak more unobstructedly to the heart. It is this blessed Word which gives light to the mind (Ps. cxix. 130) and which sanctifies the sinner (John xv. 3, xvii. 17–19; Eph. v. 26), and if one soul be induced by these Notes to study more carefully the Divine Revelation, my labour is rewarded and my prayer answered. I have the honour to subscribe myself Your attached friend, HOWARD CROSBY. NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J., March 2, 1863. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and rations are omitted, probably as thus found omitted, for some unknown reason, in the public registers. We know of the omission of Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah between Joram and Ozias, and we may reasonably believe that between David and Christ, during a period of 1100 years, there were more than 27 Matthew' s. David Roboam Asa Luke's. Rhesa CHAP. I.-1. Book, that is, "roll" or "account." This word does not refer to the whole Gospel, but only to the following genealogical statement and account of Christ's birth. Generation. This genealogy differs widely from that of Luke (iii. 23). Luke's begins at Adam, Matthew's at Abraham; and from David downward the two evange-generations. Luke's genealogy probalists pursue different lines. As both bly has no omissions after David. It these lines end with Joseph, the suppos- contains 56 names to Matthew's 41. ed father of Christ, there is an apparent We might synchronize the lists from discrepancy. Calvin solves it by saying Jesse down thus: that Matthew's genealogy is the legal and Luke's the natural, the former showing the line of regal inheritance only. The word "begat" is a fatal objection to that view. Matthew's is evidently the natural line of Joseph, although many links in the chain are wanting. A man may be said to "beget" his great-grand-child, but not his nephew. Luke's genealogy may then be considered (according to the com- Ozias monly-received opinion) as the geneal- Joatham ogy of Mary, and of Joseph by adoption. Joseph was the son of Heli, Mary's father, although Heli did not beget Manasses Er him. Sonship can be adoptive-begetting can not. Notwithstanding the dif ference between the two genealogies, they both have the names of Salathiel and Zorobabel. We may explain this by the same theory of adoption. Salathiel may have married Neri's daughter or otherwise have been adopted by Neri, during the dark days of the Babylonish captivity, when the royal name of Jechonias was of small account; and so he is shown to be doubly the descendant of David. From Zorobabel the lines run through different sons. In Matthew's genealogy, several (perhaps many) gene Achaz Ezekias Luke'a. David Matthew's. Zorobabel Zorobabel Mattatha Abiud Joanne Juda Eliakim Eliakim Joseph Jonan Semei Amon Mattathias Heli The average length of a generation, by Luke's genealogy, from David to Christ, is between 26 and 27 years. It is highly probable that both the lists make omissions between Esrom and David, the time from Esrom's boyhood (when Jacob's family came into Egypt) to David's birth having been about 600 years, and being represented by only 8 generations.- -3. Thamar, his daughter-in Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon; law (Gen. xxxviii. 6). -5. Rachab, the harlot of Jericho (Josh. ii. 1). Possibly Salmon, her husband, was one of the Israelitish spies.- -6. Her that had been the wife of Urias.. Bathsheba (2 Sam. xi. 3).- -11. Jechonias. Although this Greek name is given to Jehoiachin in the Septuagint, yet as the Septuagint also gives both Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin the name of "Joakeim," I am inclined to think that this name Jechonias belongs to both, and that in this verse it refers to Jehoiakim, while in ver. 12 it refers to Jehoiachin. 16. Who is called Christ, i. e., "who is called the Anointed," referring to the Hebrew word "Messiah," of which "Christ" (anointed) is the Greek. 17. Fourteen generations, Thus: 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar ; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came to gether, she was found with child | name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his 24 Then Joseph being raised. from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife : 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. CHAPTER II. Bethlehem of Judea in the WOW when Jesus was born in days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the cast to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of of his cruelty. See on chap. xiv. 1. Wise men. The Greek term is "Magi," and refers to the large Persian and Chaldean caste of priestly philosophers, with whom astronomy, or rather astrology, was a favorite science.- -2. His star. From the description of the movement of this star in the 9th verse ("went before" and "came and stood over"), we conclude that it was a supernatural ap II.—1. Bethlehem of Judea, so called to distinguish it from Bethlehem of Zeb-pearance in star form, an appropriate ulon (Josh. xix. 15). It is 6 miles S. of Jerusalem. Herod. This was Herod the Great, now in the last years of his brilliant and cruel reign. He was the son of Antipater, an Idumean, and had become king of all Palestine by means of his interest with the power of Rome. He had somewhat defended his title to the throne by marrying the heiress of the Maccabæan princes of Judah. She had, however, been one of the victims apparition and guide to those eastern star-gazers. The phrases used show that it could not have been an ordinary star or any heavenly body. God probably permitted this miraculous phenomenon to coincide with their astrological deductions in pointing the way to Judea and Judea's King. In the east," i. e., when we were in the east.-4. Where Christ should be born. The question of Herod shows that the Jews were await the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the ing their Messiah, and the conduct of young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the have gone to the tyrant Herod to make |