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Hexapla on Genesis and Exodus

Name: Hexapla on Genesis and Exodus
Author: Andrew Willet

Andrew Willet 1633

An extensive sixfold commentary on Genesis and Exodus comparing multiple translations and addressing three thousand theological questions.

Now the fourth time imprinted, with the authors corrections before his death; EEBO-TCP A15408 (TEI), original spelling, printed page numbers. EEBO 99849421; STC/Wing STC 25685; ESTC S114193

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, in the spelling of this edition.

¶ CERTAINE DIRECTIONS TO THE READER TO BE OBserved in the reading of this Booke.

CHristian Reader, seeing God hath called us the Ministers of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ, not to stand idlely in the market place, but to labour in his vineyard, some in one worke, some in another, I thinke no labour better bestowed, than in setting forth the word of God, both by preaching and writing: as S. Peter toucheth both: of the first he saith, I think it meet, as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stirre you up by putting you in remembrance: of the second: [2. Peter • .13. ••] I will endevour therefore alwayes, that ye also may be able to have remembrance of these things after my departure. That time therefore, which others spend, some in following their pleasures, some in ambitious suit of preferment, some in attending their profit, I find most comfort to imploy after this manner: for if that heathen Orator did professe: that he did bestow as much time in humane studies as others took in following their businesse, [quis mihi jure succenseat, si quantum caeteris ad res suas obeundas, quantum ad festos dies Iudorum celebrandos, quantum ad alias voluptates conceditur temporis; quantum alij tribuunt in tempestivis conviviis, quantum denique aleae, quantum pilae, tantum egomet mihi ad haec studia recolenda sumpsero. Tull. orat. pro Archi. poeta.] some in celebrating festival dayes▪ some in pleasure, some in feasts and bankets, some in playes & games. Much more should we preferre the divine study of the Scriptures, before all worldly pleasures and commodities whatsoever.

I know that these labours of mine shal find many hard Censors, as my other travailes before; some have not forborn in publike assēblies to tax me & my writings, some in private corners have spoken their pleasures: of such I say with the Apostle: I would know, not 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the speech, of them which are puffed up, but 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the power: [1. Cor. 4. ••] as the same Apostle else-where saith, they understand not, that they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves. But as Hierome saith: he which carpeth other mens writings: when hee commeth to write himselfe, [2 Cor. 10. ••] and setteth foot to foot, then will he sweat, and tug, and find great difference between publike writing, and private carping. si ad libros venerit & pedem pedi contulerit, tunc haerebit, tunc sudabit, tunc intelliget aliam viam fori esse, aliam triclinij Hieron. ad Domin.

In this worke I have abridged the learned commentaries of Mercerus and Pererius, and of others, that have written upon Genesis, taking the best and leaving the worst: Pererius hath taken great pains in this argument, though he have many slips in history and not a few errors for doctrine: I have served him, as Hierome did ◊rigen, I have caused that our country men should know his best things, and be ignorant 〈…〉 his worst. It seemeth that he spent above ten yeares in compiling that work, the first tome was set forth, 1589. the fourth and last, ann. 1598. he was as long a time about it, as Isocrates was in penning his panegyrikes: and I confesse, that I almost have at spare times beene as many yeares occupied in preparing this worke, as the Elephant is in bringing forth her young: I have also collected divers things out of Mercerus: of whole learned expositions upon Genesis, I may as Isocrates did of his panegiricke orations: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, &c. that both they which had handled that argument before, being ashamed of that they had said, did rase out all their orations, and they who seemed some body, mistrusting their wits, gave over.

In the reading of this booke, I would premonish the Reader to take these directions, that he would first with his pen mend the faults, which are very many, escaped in my absence, through the over-sight of the Printer▪ In the divers readings S. standeth for the Septuagints translation. H. for the latine thought to bee Hieroms: C. for the Chalde: P. for Pagnius, A for Arias Montanus: B. for the great English Bible. G. the Geneva translation. T. Tremellius: he. for the Hebrew. text: caet. for caeteri, the rest.

In the marginall figure: ad. signifieth, addeth. differ. ver. difference of words. diver. accep. divers takings. app. f. pr. appellative for proper: plu▪ f. sing. plurall number for the singular: de, detract or take away: cor corrupt: diu. sig. divers significations: negat f. affir. negative for affirm. invert. inverting of the order: al. alt. altring of the text. differ. pron. difference of pronunciation: mut pers. change of the person: differ. temp. difference of the tense: simil. voc. likenesse of the words: interp▪ interpret, when the sense is kept, and not the words: transp. transposing of words: mut. temp. change of the tense: mut. voc. change of the voice, as when the active is put for the passive, or contrariwise. r. standeth for right. c. for corrupt. These my labours and travels I commend to the favourable acceptance, and Christian use of the carefull reader, thinking my selfe happy, if by my small talent, I can any wayes profit the Church of God. Th◊◊ I end, craving the hearty and unfained prayers of all, that shall finde themselves furthered by this worke, for me, and all other our fellow labourers: that as the Apostle saith, utterance may bee given us, to open our mouthes boldly, that we may publish the secrets of the Gospel ▪ and as the Prophet David saith, [Eph. 6.19. Psal. 12 • .] Pray for the peace of Hierusalem.

Reverendissimis in Christo Patribus ac Dominis, D. Richardo divina providentia Archiepiscopo Cantuariens. totius Angliae Primati & Metropolitano: & D. Richardo Episcopo Londinensi, dioecesano suo salutem & pacem in Christo sempiternam.

REverendissimi Domini, si quos ego in hac scribendi exercitatione, progressus fecerim, quos exiguos certe ◊gnosco, si quid ego adjumenti ex privatis meis studiis ad communē fructum & utilitatē attulerim: totum illud vos vestro jure repetere & merito vendicare possitis, quorum unus author mihi extitit, alter adhortator ad suscipiendam hanc scribendi provinciam, in quà me mediocriter versatum esse fateor: [Hieronym. Sophronio.] vt cum Hieronymo dicere possem: vobis & quae possum debeo, & quae non possum.

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TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE, RIGHT VERTVOVS AND MOST CHRISTIAN PRINCE, King IAMES, our dread…
¶ CERTAINE DIRECTIONS TO THE READER TO BE OBserved in the reading of this Booke.
Reverendissimis in Christo Patribus ac Dominis, D. Richardo divina providentia…
The Analysis or Logicall resolution.p. 1
The Genesis or Grammaticall construction where the translations…p. 1
3. The Exegesis, or Theologicall explication of doubtfull questions…p. 2
QVEST. I. What the heaven and earth was, created in the beginning.…p. 2
QVEST. II. What beginning Moses speaketh of.p. 2
QVEST. III. Hebrewes curious observations.p. 2
QVETS. IIII. How the earth is said to be without forme and void.p. 2
QVEST. V. What is meant by the Spirit moved upon the waters?p. 3
QVEST. VI. What was the light created the first day?p. 3
QVEST. VII. How the evening and morning were the first day.p. 3
QVEST. VIII. How God is said to see the light to be good.p. 4
QVEST. IX. Why it is called the first or one day.p. 4
QVEST. X. Whether there are waters above the heavens.p. 4
QVEST. XI. How the waters were gathered together that covered the…p. 4
QVEST. XII. Whether the Sea be higher than the earth.p. 5
QVEST. XIII. How the waters were gathered into one place.p. 6
QVEST. XIV. Whether the earth be founded upon the waters.p. 6
QVEST. XV. Whether the dry land was caused to appeare upon the second…p. 6
QVEST. XVI. Of the divers kinds of trees and plants created out of…p. 7
QVEST. XVII. Whether the world were created in the spring or autumne.p. 7
QVEST. XVIII. When the Sunne and Moone were created.p. 8
QVEST. XIX. Of the greatnesse of the Sunne and Moone.p. 8
QVEST. XX. How the Starres doe serve for signes.p. 9
QVEST. XXI. Great Whales, how said to be created.p. 10
QVEST. XXII. Of the great Whales.p. 10
QVEST. XXIII. Whether the fowles were made out of the water or earth.p. 10
QVEST. XXIV. How and wherefore God is said to blesse the fish.p. 10
QVEST. XXV. Whether all kind of creeping things were made in the…p. 11
QVEST. XXVI. Whether creatures of a mixed kind were made in the…p. 11
QVEST. XXVII. How God made man according to his image.p. 11
QVEST. XXVIII. Wherein the image of God consisteth in man.p. 11
QVEST. XXIX. Why it is added, God created them male and female.p. 12
QVEST. XXX. Of mans rule and dominion over the creatures.p. 13
QVEST. XXXI. How all things are said to be good that God made.p. 13
QVEST. XXXII. Why Moses omitteth the creation of the Angels.p. 14
QVEST. XXXIII. When the Angels were made.p. 14
QVEST. XXXIV. Whether all trees in the beginning bare fruit.p. 14
QVEST. XXXV. Whether the flesh of beasts were eaten before the floud.p. 14
4. The didactica, that is, places of doctrine observed out of this…p. 16
1. Doct. Of the Trinity proved.p. 16
2. Doct. That the heavens and earth had a beginning.p. 16
3. Doct. The word from the beginning.p. 16
4. Doct. Of the different beginning of the soules of man and beasts.p. 16
5. Doct. That God hath no humane shape.p. 16
6. Doct. God not the author of evill.p. 17
7. Doct. Marriage made free for all men▪p. 17
5. The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; that is, places of confutation out…p. 17
1. Confut. Against the Manichees and Atheists.p. 17
2. Confut. Sacraments doe not conferr • grace.p. 18
3. Confut. Not lawfull to make the image of God.p. 18
4. Confut. Man created immortall.p. 18
5. Confut. Against the Anabaptists.p. 18
6. The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , places of exhortation and comfort.p. 18
The Analysis, or Methode.p. 19
The Genesis, or grammaticall sense.p. 19
QVEST. I. How God is said to have rested.p. 20
QVEST. II. How the Lord is said to have made an end of his worke the…p. 20
QVEST. III. The meaning of these words, vers. 3. which he created to…p. 20
QVEST. IIII. The Sabbath instituted of God, after the creation.p. 20
QVEST. V. Of the generations of the heaven and earth, how to be…p. 21
QVEST. VI. Of the name of God Iehovah.p. 21
QVEST. VII. The world made in six dayes, and not all at once.p. 21
QVEST. VIII. Of the mist that went up from the earth.p. 21
QVEST. IX. Whether Paradise were terrestriall.p. 22
QVEST. X. Where Paradise was situate.p. 22
QVEST. XI. Of the tree of life.p. 22
QVEST. XII. Of the tree of knowledge of good and evill.p. 23
QVEST. XIII. Of the river of Paradise.p. 23
QVEST. XIV. Of the river Pishon.p. 24
QVEST. XI. Of Bdellium.p. 24
QVEST. XV. Of the river Gihon.p. 24
QVEST. XVI. Of the rivers Hidekel and Perath.p. 25
QVEST. XVII. Whereof Adam was made, and of the excellent constitution…p. 25
QVEST. XVIII. In what state or age Adam was created.p. 25
QVEST. XIX. Whether Adams soule was created after his bodie.p. 22
QVEST. XX. What is meant by breathing the breath of life.p. 22
QVEST. XXI. Whether Adam were created in Paradise.p. 22
QVEST. XXII. Wherefore Adam was placed in Paradise.p. 22
QVEST. XXIII. Whether the precept given to Adam were only negative.p. 27
QVEST. XXIIII. Whether the precept was given both to Adam and Eve.p. 27
QVEST. XXV. Why the Lord gave this precept to Adam.p. 27
QVEST. XXVI. How a Law is not given to a righteous man.p. 27
QVEST. XXVII. Why God gave a precept to Adam, fore-seeing before that…p. 27
QVEST. XXVIII. What kind of death was threatned to Adam.p. 28
QVEST. XXIX. When Adam began to die.p. 28
QVEST. XXX. Whether God made death.p. 28
QVEST. XXXI. Why it was not good for man to be alone.p. 29
QVEST. XXXII. Wherein woman was a meet helpe for him.p. 29
QVEST. XXXIII. When the woman was formed.p. 29
QVEST. XXXIIII. How the creatures were brought to Adam.p. 29
QVEST. XXXV. How an helpe could not be found meet for Adam.p. 30
QVEST. XXXVI. Of the excellent knowledge and wisdome of Adam.p. 30
QVEST. XXXVII. Of Adams sleepe.p. 30
QVEST. XXXVIII. Why the woman was made of one of Adams ribs.p. 30
QVEST. XXXIX. Whence the bone was taken, whereof the woman was made.p. 30
QVEST. XL. How many ribs, and whence taken.p. 31
QVEST. XLI. Whether this rib were a necessary or superfluous rib.p. 31
QVEST. XLII. Of the womans soule.p. 31
QVEST. XLIII. How God is said to have built the woman.p. 31
QVEST. XLIIII. How Adam knew the woman to be taken out of him.p. 31
QVEST. XLV. How a man is said to leave father and mother.p. 31
QVEST. XLV. How man was not ashamed of his nakednesse.p. 32
1. Doct. The Dominicall or Lords day, is grounded, not upon tradition…p. 32
2. Doct. The soule is not part of Gods substance.p. 34
3. Doct. There is but one soule in a man.p. 34
4. Doct. Paradise was a place not altogether unknowne.p. 34
5. Doct. The terrestriall Paradise is not now extant.p. 34
6. Doct. Marriage is not to be prohibited to any.p. 34
7. Doct. Polygamie condemned.p. 34
1. Confut. Experimentall knowledge of evill not to be desired.p. 43
2. Confut. Why God gave a commandement that man would not keepe.p. 43
3. Confut. against Celsus.p. 43
4 Confut. Paradise planted in a knowne place.p. 43
5. Confut. Adams sinne pardonable.p. 43
6. Confut. Adam lost not his faith.p. 43
Places of Exhortation.p. 43
The Analysis or Method.p. 36
The difference of translations.p. 36
QVEST. 1. Whether it were a true serpent that talked with Eva.p. 37
QVEST. II. How the serpent is said to have beene more subtile, &c.p. 37
QVEST. III. Why Satan in the serpent beginneth with an interrogation.p. 37
QVEST. IIII. Why Satan tempted man, and that by the woman.p. 38
QVEST. V. How Eva indured to talke with the serpent.p. 38
QVEST. VI. What mooved Eva to give eare to the serpent.p. 38
QVEST. VII. Whether the serpent went vpon his bellie before the curse.p. 38
QVEST. VIII. Why the Devill spake out of the serpent.p. 29
QVEST. IX. Of the manner how the woman was tempted of Satan.p. 29
QVEST. X. Adam tempted and deceived as well as the woman, though not…p. 29
QVEST. XI. Whether Adams sinne was the greatest of all sinnes.p. 29
QVEST. XII. Whether Adams or Eves sinne were the greater.p. 40
QVEST. XIII. Whether Eve added to the commandement, and spake…p. 40
QVEST. XIIII. Why Eve gave to her husband.p. 40
QVEST. XV. How many wayes the eyes of the body and minde are said to…p. 40
QVEST. XVI. How their eyes are said to be opened.p. 40
QVEST. XVII. Why they made aprons of fig-leaves.p. 41
QVEST. XVIII. Why man was created naked.p. 41
QVEST. XIX. Why the voyce of the Lord was heard in the coole of the…p. 41
QVEST. XX. Why Adam hid himselfe.p. 41
QVEST. XXI. How God diversly speaketh unto man.p. 41
QVEST. XXII. Why God asketh Adam, where art thou?p. 42
QVEST. XXIII. How the Serpent is accursed.p. 42
QVEST. XXIV. Of the enmity betweene the seed of the woman and the…p. 42
QVEST. XXV. Of the sorrowes of women.p. 43
QVEST. XXVI. How the earth was cursed unto man.p. 43
QVEST. XXVII. Of the growing of Thistles.p. 43
QVEST. XXVIII. Why Eva is called the mother of the living.p. 43
QVEST. XXIX. What the coats of skinnes were which God made for Adam…p. 44