Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

§ 6 But Aben Ezra, as we observed, is otherwise minded; and in him, we have an example of the wilful blindness of the residue of them, who will not endure the light of that Conviction which is tendered unto them in this Testimony. First, By Shebet, he grants Rule to be intended, or preeminence above others, being then somewhat more modest then their latter Masters. This saith he, shall not depart from Judah, [Greek or Hebrew] until David come; and why David? [Greek or Hebrew] for he was the beginning of the Kingdom of Judah. So that it seems the meaning of the words is, that the Sceptre shall not depart, until the Sceptre come; that is, they should have rule, until they had rule, For as himself well observes, the Kingdom of Judah began in David. But what Sceptre had the House of Judah before? Four hundred years the people were ruled under Judges, of which but one was of that Tribe. At length a Kingdom was set up in the House of Benjamin; where was all this while the Sceptre of Judah, If that was the space of time designed for its continuance? Two instances he gives hereof. First, [Greek or Hebrew], The Standard of Judah marched first in the Wilderness; [Greek or Hebrew], Again, God said, Judah shall go up first. But what was this to a Sceptre and a Law-giver? The first belonged only unto the order of the Tribes in the Wilderness, whilst Moses was Prince of the Tribe of Levi, and afterwards Joshua of the Tribe of Ephraim; nor was that privilege, if any it were, peculiar unto Judah, but common to the other Tribes joined with him. The other was only an occasional Expedition, wherein the especial concernment of Judah lay; which gave him no power nor Sovereignty amongst his Brethren. So that we have here no small instance, how the Wisest of their Masters do befool themselves, in seeking evasions from this Testimony. Of the sense of the following words, abstracting from the design of the whole, he gives a tolerable account, Nor a Law-giver from between his feet. [Greek or Hebrew], Mechochek is a Scribe, who engrosseth any thing on a Roll or Books, [Greek or Hebrew] and that expression of from between his feet, is taken from the common custom of such Scribes, to sit at, or between the feet of the Prince; namely, to record and enrol the Laws of his Kingdom.

§ 6 But Aben Ezra, as we observed, is otherwise minded; and in him, we have an example of the wilfull blindness of the residue of them, who will not endure the light of that Conviction which is tendered unto them in this Testimony. First, By Shebet, he grants Rule to be intended, or preheminence above others, being then somewhat more modest then their latter Masters. This saith he, shall not depart from Judah, untill David come; and why David? for he was the beginning of the Kingdom of Judah. So that it seems the meaning of the words is, that the Scepter shall not depart, untill the Scepter come; that is, they should have rule, untill they had rule, For as himself well observes, the Kingdom of Judah began in David. But what Scepter had the House of Judah before? Four hundred years the people were ruled under Judges, of which but one was of that Tribe. At length a Kingdom was set up in the House of Benjamin; where was all this while the Scepter of Judah, If that was the space of time designed for its continuance? Two instances he gives hereof. First, , The Standard of Judah marched first in the Wilderness; , Again, God said, Judah shall go up first. But what was this to a Scepter and a Law-giver? The first belonged only unto the order of the Tribes in the Wilderness, whilest Moses was Prince of the Tribe of Levi, and afterwards Joshua of the Tribe of Ephraim; nor was that priviledge, if any it were, peculiar unto Judah, but common to the other Tribes joyned with him. The other was only an occasional Expedition, wherein the especial concernment of Judah lay; which gave him no power nor Soveraignty amongst his Brethren. So that we have here no small instance, how the Wisest of their Masters do befool themselves, in seeking evasions from this Testimony. Of the sense of the following words, abstracting from the design of the whole, he gives a tolerable account, Nor a Law-giver from between his feet. , Mechochek is a Scribe, who engrosseth any thing on a Roll or Books, and that expression of from between his feet, is taken from the common custom of such Scribes, to sit at, or between the feet of the Prince; namely, to record and enroll the Laws of his Kingdom.