was given to Phineas his Son with whom 't is probable his Father lived For though the Priests had their Cities by lot in other Tribes namely Judah Simeon and Benjamin see Ch. 21.4 yet that the High Priest might be near to Joshua the Governour who dwelt in Mount Ephraim and that he might enquire of the Lord for him upon any special occasion and that he might be near to the Tabernacle which at this time was in Shiloh 't is like Eleazar (y) Donarunt forsan hunc locum honorarium Eleazaro ut Joshuae contiguus habitaret qui tamen est a Filio cognominatus in posterum Anonym in loc here lived and was now here buried Josh Ch. 24. whole Chapter SECT CXXII WE are now come to the Book of Judges The Book of Iudges which comprehends an History of the Common-wealth of Israel from the death of Joshua to the days of Eli containing the space of 299 years during which time they lived under the Government of certain Judges whom God successively and extraordinarily raised up and endowed with a Spirit of Wisdom and Courage to Rule over them as His Deputies and Vicegerents There are twelve of these mentioned in this Book viz. 1. Othniel whose Government from the death of Joshua is reckoned to be 40 years 2. Ehud 80 3. Deborath 40 4. Gideon 40 5. Abimelech 3 6. Thola 23 7. Jair 22 8. Jephtha 6 9. Ibzan 7 10. Elon 10 11. Abdon 8 12. Sampson 20 299 Within which space of time we are to comprehend the Six Oppressions of the Israelites mentioned in this Book and not to reckon them apart but as included within the years of the Judges and the Rest of the Land viz. Under Cushan 8 years Eglon 18 Jabin 20 Midian 7 Ammonites 18 Philistines 20 To the twelve Judges before-mentioned Eli and Samuel succeeded whose Acts are not here set down but in the First Book of Samuel Now there being 480 to be reckoned from the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt to the building of Solomon's Temple 1 Kings 6.1 we may compute them thus 40 years spent in the Wilderness 17 in Joshua's Government 299 in the times of the twelve Judges 40 in Eli's time 40 in Samuel and Saul's 40 in David's 4 in Solomon's in the Fourth Year of whose Reign the Foundation of the Temple was laid 480 As to the Pen-man of this Book of Judges 't is very uncertain who it was But it seems to be gathered by some Prophet of God out of the Publick Records and Registers that were kept of their Affairs Some think Samuel was the Compiler of it SECT CXXIII JOshua being now dead and having a little before his death encouraged the people to expel the Canaanites that remained out of the Land though they had no man at present chosen of God and set over them to Command them in chief as Moses and Joshua did and finding that it was fit for them to go on with the War they assembled together as it seems at Shiloh to consult about this matter And because the success of their first Attempts would be of great consequence either to encourage or dishearten their Enemies they thought fit that Phineas the High Priest should enquire of the Lord for them by Vrim and Thummim which of their Tribes should first begin and set upon the Canaanites that still remained among them and the Lord appointed that the Tribe of Judah the Royal Tribe and the strongest and most populous of them all should begin the War and first clear his portion of the Enemy Caleb the Son of Jephunneh is chosen General for the Tribe and the Simeonites who had their lot within theirs being invited to joyn with them they readily agreed to it the Tribe of Judah promising to assist them afterwards in clearing their lot In this Expedition they took the City of Bezek * Bezek a City in the Tribe of Judah not far from Jerusalem and after they had taken it in the pursuit when the King thereof with many of his people fled to save his life they killed ten thousand men They also took their King Adonibezek and cut off his Thumbs and his great Toes having as it seems when they took the City found some of those poor Captive Kings that had been thus inhumanely used by him or else had heard of the Tyranny he had exercised upon them in that kind and therefore thought fit according to the Law of Retaliation Exod. 21.24 to serve him after the same manner Adonibezek could not but acknowledge the justice of God upon him herein For says He threescore and ten Kings (z) Reguli diversarum urbium Ante Ninum teste Justino quisque Rex terminis civitatis suae contentus erat Petty Kings of particular Cities not that he had so many at once under this base slavery but in the whole course of his life some after others 't is like he did it in a base sporting cruelty or else thereby to unfit them for War unde homines viles defides Italis Gallis Poltroni vocantur id est pollice trunci having their Thumbs and great Toes cut off gathered their meat under my Table as I have done to them so God hath requited me Then the men of Judah carried this great Tyrant and shewed him before Jerusalem to strike the greater terrour into the Jebusites and there they killed him and then sacked and burnt that City viz. that part of it which was in their Tribe For though the former King of it had been slain in the Field Josh 10. yet was not the City taken nor it nor any other City fired in Joshua's time but only Jericho Ai and Hazor and therefore the eighth verse should be read And the Children of Judah warred against Jerusalem and took it and smote it c. not as if it had been taken before Judges 1. from 1. to 9. * For these Verses from v. 9. to 16. see Sect. 108. because the Author of this History was here to relate the memorable Exploits that were done by the men of Judah therefore together with those noble Acts which they did after the death of Joshua He repeats also those which were done by them whilst Joshua lived under the command of Caleb both against Hebron and Debir that He might set forth the glory of this Tribe more fully SECT CXXIV JEthro's Family call'd Kenites that had come up with Joshua and Israel into the Land of Canaan and dwelt in their Tents which was ever their way of living about Jericho the City of Palm-Trees among the people of the Tribe of Judah and Judah having now cleared his portion in so good a measure that they began to spread into new Plantations These Kenites went along with them and setled themselves with them in the South upon the Coasts of the Amalekites and so in Saul's time were mingled among them see 1 Sam. 15.6 These Kenites were the root of the Rechabites of whom more is
coming to Bethshan took and carried away their dead bodies and brought them to Jabesh and burnt them there that is burnt the flesh of them which having hung some days in the Sun was putrified and stinking and so could not be embalmed and the flesh being burnt from the bones they gathered up their bones and solemnly buried them under a Tree in Jabesh and there they continued till towards the end of Davids reign when he took them up and buried them in the Sepulchre of Kish the father of Saul 2 Sam. 21.12 14. Then the men of Jabesh-Gilead to express their sorrow for the death of Saul and his Sons and that they might implore mercy from God in behalf of the whole land which was now in a very sad condition they afflicted themselves with fasting for seven days together only taking still at night some small refreshment 1 Sam. Ch. 31. whole Chapter SECT CLXXIII MEphibosheth the Son of Jonathan being five years old at this time upon the dismal tidings of these disasters his Nurse catching him up and flying away with him in that great fright and consternation she let him fall out of her arms and he became lame of his feet ever after 2 Sam. 4.4 SECT CLXXIV WE are now come to the Second Book of Samuel The Second Book of Samuel so called because it containeth the History of David's reign who was chosen of God to succeed Saul in the Kingdom and anointed thereunto by Samuel and because it relates how those things which Samuel promised unto him from God were really made good unto him It contains an History of forty years from the death of Saul to the death of David As for the Author of it some think it was the office of the High-Priest to register the History of the Jewish Church and the remarkable occurrences that hapned in his time Others think it was pen'd by Nathan the Prophet and Gad the Seer as is intimated in the first of Chron. 29.29 Now the Acts of David the King first and last behold they are written in the Book of Samuel the Seer and in the Book of Nathan the Prophet and in the Book of Gad the Seer * See more concerning the Title of this Book Sect. 149. The first thing here related is how the tidings of the death of Saul and his Sons were brought to David whilst he was yet at Ziklag (a) Which was not as it seems so totally burnt down but that some of it was standing in which David thought better to remain with his men than to go to any other Town of the Philistines whether he was newly returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and had been preparing and sending away presents to his friends in Judah of the spoils he had taken in that Expedition on the third day after a young man came out of the Camp with his clothes rent and earth upon his head to testifie the dismalness of the tidings he brought and when he came to David he fell on the earth and did obeisance David understanding he came out of the Camp of Israel askt him how matters went He told him the Israelites were vanquished many of them killed and Saul and his Son Jonathan slain David astonisht at this askt him how he knew it to be so This young man to ingratiate himself with David who was by general fame known to be the man whom Samuel had anointed to succeed Saul and apprehending that if he should carry the first tidings of Saul's death to him he should not miss of a great reward he tells him that being on mount Gilboa he found Saul leaning on his Spear * The Reader may compare this whole narration with that he will find 1 Sam. 31 4. and then judg what truth there is in the thing as not being able to stand because of the deadly wounds the Archers had given him and the Chariots and Horsemen pursuing him so fast he call'd unto him and desired him to stand over him and slay him for he was in great anguish and trouble that his life was yet whole and intire in him and accordingly he dispatcht him as Saul desired of him for he was sure he could not live after he was fallen And he took off the Coronet he wore on his head and the Bracelets which he wore on his arm and here says he I present them unto my Lord the King David then took hold of his Clothes and rent them and so did all the men that were with him and they mourned and wept and fasted unto the evening for Saul and Jonathan his Son and for the people of the Lord that were fallen in the battel and that by the hands of the Uncircumcised Philistines which was an evidence of Gods wrath against the Land David angrily askt this young man how he durst presume to stretch forth his hand against the Lords anointed 'T is like the Amalekite thought David would have been highly pleas'd with him for doing it but David upon Saul's death being come into the actual possession of the Regal rights and this man having confest the crime himself David bad one of the young men about him to fall upon him and kill him which he accordingly did and David said thy blood be upon thy own head * See Josh 2.19 for thy own mouth hath testified against thee that thou hast slain the Lords Anointed 2 Sam. Ch. 1. from v. 1. to 17. SECT CLXXV DAvid now laments the death of Saul and Jonathan and the men of Israel in a Funeral Song having first given order that the children of Judah should be taught the use of the bow and the rather because Saul and Jonathan had been overcome by the Archers among the Philistines therefore he desired they should be expert in that Art that they might match their enemies in that military skill for time to come Which order is further recorded in the Civil Annals or the General Chronicle of the Memorable Acts of the Nation called the Book of Jasher * Which Book with divers others particularly some composed by Solomon were burnt in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans which was continued as is probable from time to time by the Prophets See Note on Josh 10.13 David begins his Funeral Elegy thus O how are Saul Jonathan and many other valiant men of Israel who were the beauty ornament and glory of the land fallen on the mountains of Gilboa O tell it not in Gath publish it not in the streets of Askalon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph as they us'd to do in their dances and songs see Note on 1 Sam. 18.6 O if it were possible that this thing might be conceal'd from the enemies of God and his people lest they triumph and insult over them see Judg. 16.23 Mich. 1.10 ascribing the glory of this victory to their Idol-gods to the great dishonour of the only true God
and valour 4. Four thousand to be Singers and Players on Instruments therewith to praise the Lord whereof two hundred eighty eight were eminent men for skill and possibly Teachers of the rest These also were divided into twenty four courses and so served about eightscore in every course and the twenty four Sons of Asaph Jeduthun and Heman three great Masters of Musick were to be the chief Heads of their Courses or Companies and to Prophesie with Cymbals See 1 Sam. 10.5 So for every Course of the Priests there was also appointed a Course of Levite-Singers and these were assign'd to their several Courses by lot also And as David appointed their Courses so he gave them also Psalmes penned by himself to sing assigning some for the Sons of Asaph others for the Sons of Jeduthun and Heman as by the Titles of many Psalmes does appear (a) 1 Chron. 25.5 All these were the words of Heman the Kings Seer in the words of the Lord to lift up the Horn. He was call'd the Kings Seer in the words of God because employed in that Prophetical work of setting forth the praises of God and singing Psalmes composed by men inspir'd by God and therefore call'd thence the words of God And to lift up the Horn whereby some Musical Instrument seems to be meant as the Cornet c. These Singers are said to Prophesie because in their Musick they were acted with an holy zeal such as Prophets in their Prophesies us'd to be acted with 1 Chron. Ch. 23. from v. 2 to the end 1 Chron. Ch. 24. whole Chapter 1 Chron. Ch. 25. whole Chapter 1 Chron. Ch. 26. whole Chapter SECT CCVII. SOlomon being now about twenty years of age Rehoboam is born to him of Naamah an Ammonitish woman as appears by Rehoboam's age at the beginning of his reign 1 King 14.21 where 't is said He was forty one when be began to reign We are now come to the first Book of Kings The united State of the Kingdom of Israel as it began under King Saul and increased under King David hath been described in the two Books of Samuel and how it came to its height under King Solomon is described in the Eleven first Chapters of the first Book of Kings and how it came to be divided and upon that division decreased and came to ruin at last we shall find described in the remaining Chapters of these two Books The first Book of the Kings contains an History of 126 years viz. forty years of Solomon's reign over all Israel after him the Kingdom being divided we have from Chap. 12. to the end the Lives and Acts of four Kings of Judah and eight Kings of Israel according to this following Scheme Solomon reigned forty years over all Israel Kings of Judah Kings of Israel  Years  Years Rehoboam 17 Jeroboam 22. Abijam 3. Nadab 2. Asa 41. Baasha 24. Jehoshaphat 25. Elah 2.   Zimri seven days    Omri 12.   Ahab 22.   Ahaziah 2. SECT CCVIII DAvid being now seventy years of age and broken with continual cares wars and troubles was grown so weak and feeble that applying warm clothes would hardly keep any heat in him whereupon by the advice of his Physicians a well-complexioned-young-Virgin was sought out for him who being taken by him as a wife or concubine might lye in his bosom and cherish him And such an one was found out viz. Abishag the Shunamite who did accordingly lye in his bosom and cherish him and ministred unto him but he knew her not 2 King Ch. 1. from v. 1. to 5. SECT CCIX. A Donijah David's Eldest Son now living seeing his Father decline so fast began to have aspiring thoughts after the Crown and understanding that Solomon was designed to succeed his Father he resolved to prevent it if he could by making himself King before his Fathers death In order hereunto he provides himself chariots and horses and fifty men for a guard as his brother Absalom had done before him And 't is like his Fathers former over great indulgence to him did the more embolden him though it also aggravated his fault that he durst do a thing so contrary to his Fathers mind who had been so kind to him He was also a goodly man of person and as that might be one cause that made David so much to dote on him and Absalom so it made him the more acceptable to the people In order therefore to the carrying on of his design he consulted with Joab the General of the Army and with Abiathar the High-Priest about it who it seems encouraged him in it and promised him their best assistance But Zadok and Nathan and Benaiah Captain of the Kings guard with the mighty men that were under his command joined not with him Adonijah having the General of the Army and the High-Priest on his side he now thus contrives his matters He makes a great Feast near Enrogel on the East-side of Jerusalem to which he invites all his Brothers the Kings Sons except Solomon and all the Officers and people of the Court that he thought would join with him intending there to be Installed King Nathan hearing of this went immediately to Bathsheba and asked her if she did not hear that Adonijah reigned and took upon him to be King She was strangely surpriz'd at this having heard nothing of it He advises her if she intended to save her own and her Sons life to go presently to the King and to ask him whither he did not swear solemnly to her that Solomon should reign after him And if he did how was it that Adonijah took upon him to be King surely it is without the Kings privity and consent And says Nathan while thou art speaking to him I will come in and confirm thy words and further add what I conceive requisite to be added Bathsheba accordingly went to the King and making a very low reverence to him she told him that he had solemnly sworn to her that Solomon her Son should reign after him but behold says she Adonijah has at this very time made a great Feast to which he has invited the Kings Sons and Joab and Abiathar in order to be by them Installed King And my Lord O King the eyes of all Israel are upon thee to observe whom thou wilt declare for thy Successor in the Kingdom and the people are generally inclined to yield to that which thou shalt determine therein and if thou dost not confirm what thou didst formerly swear concerning Solomon when thou diest I and my Son shall be counted Traytors and accus'd for endeavouring to get the Kingdom from Adonijah While she was speaking Nathan came in who bowing himself before the King with his face to the ground in a respectful manner askt the King whither he had appointed that Adonijah should succeed him in the Throne I do assure thee says he he hath made a great Feast this day and to it hath invited
Sepulcher is with us unto this day and this was above a thousand years after David was buried Now as to the Acts of David first and last behold they are written in the Book of Samuel the Seer and in the Book of Nathan the Prophet and in the Book of Gad the Seer that is the Acts of David were related in the History or Books of Samuel which were written by Nathan the Prophet and Gad the Seer who set down all the passages of his reign and his valiant acts and the victories obtained by him or his commanders and the prosperities and adversities of his time and reign either in his own Kingdom or the Kingdoms adjoining to him which he subdued and conquered * David was a glorious type of Christ in his birth at Bethlem in his victory over Goliah in his power over Sauls divel in his persecutions in his Royalty and victoriousness over his enemies 2 King Ch. 2. from v. 1. to 12. 1 Chron. Ch. 29. from v. 26 to the end SECT CCXIII. DAvid was stiled the sweet Psalmist of Israel 2 Sam. 23.1 for he composed many Divine Hymns and Psalmes for the benefit of the Church which we have in the great Volum of the Psalmes but he was not the Author of them all The Jews anciently divided this great Volum or Book of the Psalmes into five lesser According to which division the first Book of the Psalmes reached from Psalm the first to the end of Psalm the 41 and concludes thus Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting Amen and Amen All these by their Titles are declared to be Davids excepting 1 2 10 33. and as for the 2d that is declared to be Davids in Act. 4.25 26. Hereupon it s probably conceived that the other three were his also and that this first Book was all written by him and by him disposed into this order in which now it is The second Book begins at Psalm 42 and reaches to the end of Psalm 72 containing 31 Psalmes and closes thus Blessed be his glorious name for ever and let all the earth be filled with his glory Amen and Amen The prayers of David the Son of Jesse are ended Nineteen of these were composed by David as the Titles of them do evince Probably David collected and disposed in order this Book also The third Book begins at Psal 73 and reaches to the end of Psalm 89 comprehending 17 Psalmes and concludes thus Blessed be Jehovah for ever Amen and Amen Of these seventeen only one is ascribed to David one to Heman one to Ethan three are directed to the Sons of Corah no Penman being named eleven are ascribed to Asaph * Possibly Asaph might collect and dispose in order this Book The fourth Book begins at Psalm 90 and reaches to the end of Psal 106 comprehending also 17 Psalms and concludes thus Blessed be the God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting and let all the people say Amen Hallelujah Of these one is ascribed to Moses two to David fourteen have no author mentioned in their Titles The fifth Book begins at Psalm 107 and reaches to the end of Psalm 150 comprehending 44 Psalmes and concludes thus Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah Of these fifteen are in their Titles ascribed to David and not one of all the rest ascribed to any particular Author So that of all the Psalmes we reckon to David only seventy eight Many of these Psalmes viz. 125 have Titles and 25 of them have none One of these Psalmes viz. the 90th was composed before David was born and some of them long after he was dead as Psalm 45.74.83.126.137 Some think this Book of Psalmes was put into this form and order it now has by Ezra others think it was thus dispos'd after the return of the Jews from Babylon But of these things seeing we have no certain foundation to build upon we shall not peremptorily determine SECT CCXIV. SOlomon now sat upon the Throne of his Father David and his Kingdom was greatly established for the people were generally well pleased with his advancement to the Crown But it seems Adonijah being assisted by Joab and Abiathar had still a design to wrest the Kingdom from him And for the better carrying on of that design he resolved if possible to marry Abishag his Fathers late wife or concubine thinking thereby to inlarge his interest and gain a fairer pretence for what he designed In order hereunto he addresses himself to Bathsheba the Kings mother she was at first a little startled at his coming to her considering his former design to get the Crown and therefore asked him whether he came peaceably He answered very peaceably for he came humbly to request a favour of her which was this Thou knowest says he that I being the Eldest Son surviving of my Father by birthright the Throne of the Kingdom belonged unto me and the people looked upon me as heir apparent to it but now by Gods own appointment the Soveraignty is diverted another way and become my Brother Solomons (a) 'T is like he did not sincerely make this acknowledgment but only to dispose Bathsheba the more readily to grant his desire And seeing I am now fallen from so great an expectation I hope thou wilt compassionate my condition and wilt please to beg one favour of the King for me which I question not but he will readily grant unto thee which is this viz. that he would please to permit me to marry Abishag the Shunamite Bathsheba though a wise woman as appears by the counsel she gave her Son Prov. 31. yet not diving into the bottom of the design readily undertakes to speak to the King in his behalf Accordingly she went to the King who being set upon his Throne as soon as he saw her he rose up and bowed himself with great reverence unto her and then conducting her to his Throne caused a seat to be set for her on his right hand where being set she told him she had one small request to make to him which she desired him not to deny her He told her he would not provided that what she desired were just and safe for him to grant Then she said I pray thee let Abishag the Shunamite be given to thy brother Adonijah to wife Solomon startled at this replies Ask for him the Kingdom also for he is my Elder Brother yea for him and for Abiathar and for Joab that they may share it among them He seems to wonder at the strangeness of the request to wit that Adonijah should desire her for his wife that had lain in his Fathers bosom which was plain incest And probably the intention of Adonijah was discovered to him either by some special instinct of the Spirit of God or some secret intelligence which he had gotten and therefore he said Ask for him the Kingdom also c. As if he should have said He has already
walls of some and dismantled them as particularly Gath Jabneh and Ashdod and built Cities in the Country of Ashdod and Garrison'd them to keep them in subjection Also he mastered some parts of Arabia and brought the Ammonites to pay him tribute For God helped him So that his fame spread abroad and he grew very much renowned in all Countries between Judah and Egypt and he went on strengthening himself daily And if we consider the great success of Jeroboam the second at the same time King in Israel these two Kingdoms since the division never were in an higher flourish than now He repaired the wall of Jerusalem which in his Fathers days Joash King of Israel had demolished and fortified it with Towers wherein he placed new invented Engines to shoot arrows of an extraordinary bigness and possibly many of them together for the annoying of an enemy at a distance and for the shooting of great stones greater t is like than the greatest of our Cannon-bullets He was a great sheep-master and had many cattel which he kept in the low grounds and plains and he built Towers for the defence of his berdsmen and cattel and digged many wells of water for them He was a lover of husbandry and a great planter of Vines which he planted in the fruitful Carmel and the hills about it employing many Vine-dressers in that work About the 22th year of his reign as 't is probable that dreadful Earthquake * The Prophet Zachary also speaks of it Chap. 14.5 Ye shall flee like as ye fled from before the Earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah happened which Amos speaks of Ch. 1.1 The words of Amos which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Vzziah King of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam King of Israel two years before the Earthquake And seeing Earthquakes are usually forerunners and presages of great changes in Kingdoms though they have not always immediately followed but some years after therefore possibly that speech of the Prophet Isaiah Ch. 7.8 may have some reference to that Earthquake for the head of Syria is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken that it be not a people Those sixty five years cannot be understood to begin from the time when this Prophesie was spoken which was in the first year of Ahaz Isa 7.1 for from thence there were not above twenty years to the Captivity of Israel but must be understood to commence from the 22th or 23th year of Vzziah and from thence to the year wherein the Kingdom of Israel was broken were indeed about sixty five years as learned men compute them Under these two renowned Kings Jeroboam the second of Israel and Vzziah of Judah there flourished sundry eminent Prophets * These holy Prophets Speeches and Sermons were set down in writing by themselves and as some think kept in the Temple and added to other holy Books to stand for Authentick Scripture Their Ministry was directed to these general Ends 1. To maintain the purity of Religion 2. To beat down the disorders and growing evils and vices of the times they lived in 3. To keep always alive the promises of the Messias and to hold the faith and expectation of the Jews always bent towards him in each Kingdom particularly in Judah The Prophet ISAIAH ISAIAH he is thought by learned men to have been of an illustrious family his Father Amoz being as they conjectured brother to Amaziah Jerom with others is of opinion that he was of a noble descent Indeed his Prophesie is so sublime and eloquent and so curiously garnished with Rhetorick and all sorts of Elegancies that he seems to have been a person of more than ordinary education He prophesies of the destruction of the Kingdoms of Syria and Samaria shortly to be accomplished by the Assyrian and of the Kingdom of Judah afterwards by the Babylonian and of the destruction of the Babylonians by the Medes and Persians and of the Jews deliverance from the Babylonian Captivity by Cyrus whom by name he mentions above one hundred years before he was born And withal he declares the restitution and enlargement of the Church whereof the deliverance from the Babylonish Captivity was a figure together with the calling of the Gentiles by Christ whose Incarnation Birth Offices Royal Priestly and Prophetical life teaching sufferings death rising again glory ensuing and his Kingdoms extent he so largely and lively describes that he seems rather to write a story of things already done than a Prophesie of things to come In regard whereof he is call'd an Evangelical Prophet He often mixes his severe denunciations of judgments with promises of grace in Christ to all save only the Babylonians who by reason of their pride and merciless persecution of the Church did bear the image of Antichrist and his faction condemned together with the Devil the head thereof to everlasting perdition the terrors whereof are very lively described in many places of this Book How long he Prophesied is obscurely intimated Isa 1.1 viz. in the days of Vzziah Jotham Ahaz and Hezekiah Kings of Judah but in what year of Vzziah he began and in what year of Hezekiah he ceased is not declared 'T is evident that he Prophesied in the year Vzziah died Isa 6.1 and by the Prophesies foregoing that Chapter it seems probable that he Prophesied a good while before But let us suppose with some that he Prophesied only two years under Vzziah sixteen years under Jotham sixteen under Ahaz fourteen under Hezekiah For Hezekiah reigning twenty nine years in all in his fourteenth year Isaiah was sent to him in his sickness to tell him that God would add to his days fifteen years more After that Isaiah threatens the Babylonish Captivity upon Hezekiah's shewing all his Treasures to the Babylonish Ambassadors v. 17. Here is in all 48 years Now if we may suppose with the Jewish Doctors that Isaiah was sawn asunder by Manasseh there 's fifteen years more under Hezekiah and one year at least under Manasseh and so we have 64 years in all for the time of his Prophesying A very long time this was for a Prophet to preach to a * How patient then should Gods Ministers be in their function though their peoples profiting for a long time answers not their labours rebellious and gainsaying people See Isa 65.2 and Rom. 10.21 Some divide this Book of Isaiah into three parts and so according to them the first contains the Sermons he Preached under Vzziah from Ch. 1. to 6. The second contains the Sermons he preached under Jotham and Ahaz from Ch. 6. to 15. The third the Sermons he preached and the Prophesies he uttered and the things that fell out under Hezekiah from Ch. 15. to the end Others divide this Prophesie thus 1. In the twelve first Chapters are contained Prophesies immediately directed to the Jews whom he does sharply reprehend for
their sins intermixing exhortations and consolations to the penitent 2. From the 13. Ch. to the 29. he Prophesies against the bordering Nations that were enemies to the Jews viz. the Babylonians Philistines Moabites Syrians Assyrians Ethiopians Egyptians Arabians Tyrians and lastly against the Israelites of the Ten Tribes 3. From the 29. Ch. to the 40. he Prophesies of the Conquest of the Jews by the Babylonians and their leading them Captive into Babylon In which there are four Historical Chapters viz. Ch. 36 37 38 39. occasionally interposed about the invasion of Judea by Senacherib of which we shall speak more particularly in the life of Hezekiah 4. From Ch. 40. to 49. he foretels the deliverance of the people of the Jews from the Babylonish Captivity 5. From 49. to the end are contained Prophesies of the Messiah and his Kingdom This Prophesie was always of very great account in the Church our Saviour himself whose Sermons were all Text took his Text out of this Prophet Luk. 4.17 18. The Ethiopian Eunuch read this Prophet in his Chariot Act. 8.27 30. 'T is oftner quoted in the New Testament than any Book of the Old excepting the Psalms which are quoted sixty four times and this Prophesie of Isaiah no less than sixty as the learned Alsted observes * In Praecogn Theolog lib. 2. cap. 122. And this is all we shall say at present concerning this Prophet Another eminent Prophet whom God raised up at this time and sent him to Prophesie to Judah and Jerusalem was Joel The Prophet JOEL He sets forth to them how the fierce anger of God was manifested against them in that terrible judgment of dearth and famine now upon them occasioned by an extream drought and swarms of Caterpillars with Lionlike teeth and other such destroying insects the one devouring what the other had left Thereupon he exhorts them to true repentance and deep humiliation before the Lord shewing it must be general of all sorts and conditions because they had generally offended and it must be serious and hearty testified by fasting weeping and mourning to which they must join earnest prayer and supplication for mercy which if they would do he promises not only deliverance to them from that terrible plague but that their losses should be repaired and made up to them again by a wonderful plenty And from a promise of these temporal blessings he rises to shew them what spiritual blessings in their due time the true Israel of God should enjoy under the Messiah foretelling the plentiful effusion of the gifts of the Holy Ghost which should then be poured forth viz. on the day of Pentecost He also tells them they should have deliverance from their enemies the heathen round about them and that God himself would judg their adversaries and take vengeance upon them for the wrongs they had done to his people And so much concerning that Prophet Vzziah who had before shewed himself to be a worthy Prince towards the latter end of his reign after he had been so wonderfully helped and blessed by the Lord and made so prosperous grew proud and his heart was lifted up to his destruction so prone are men to abuse the mercies of God to pride and presumption which is usually a forerunner of ruin Vzziah would needs now out of a strange arrogance usurp the Priests office and go into the Temple to burn incense Accordingly he goes presumptuously into the holy place to the Altar of Incense which none but the Priests might do The High Priest as soon as he understood whither he was gone immediately followed after him attended with eighty Priests men of courage who coming to him just as he was ready with a Censer in his hand to burn incense they withstood him and plainly told him he had highly trespassed in coming thither it appertained not to him but to the Priests only and that by Gods appointment to burn incense Therefore they advise him to go presently out of the Temple for he would receive no honour from God for what he had done but contrarily might expect some severe punishment Vzziah was very wroth at this their reprehension Kings and great men usually scorning to be stopt in the career of their sins by the servants of God but his wrath against them did but the more incense the wrath of God against him for immediately the Lord smote him with a leprosie in his forehead as he stood besides * V. 19. Megnal pro Inal juxta the Altar of Incense And thus having sinned with so bold a face and so much arrogance he was punished in his forehead that his sin might be read in his punishment The Priests seeing this and being encouraged by Gods so eminently owning of them and appearing for them they thrust him out of the Temple yea he himself hasted to go out perceiving that the Lord had smitten him And from hence forward to the day of his death he was a leper and dwelt in an house apart by himself and so was cut off from the house of the Lord and he that had so presumptuously gone into the holy place was now excluded from going even to the Court of the people there to worship God Vzziah being thus smitten of the Lord Jotham his Son as Viceroy and deputy-Deputy-King governed the Kingdom in his stead as 't is thought about four years Vzziah's Acts were written by Isaiah the Prophet though that Book seems not now extant as not necessary for the use of the Church as neither that of Jasher mentioned 2 Sam. 1.18 Vzziah being dead they buried him in the field where the Sepulchers of the Kings were but in some remote corner thereof where none of the former Kings Sepulchers were because he was a Leper †Supplicium triplex lepra excommunicatio funus inglorium ut a populo vivum lepra defunctum a Regibus aliis dimoverit Anonym in loc When this King died it seems the Philistines greatly rejoiced and triumphed because he had been such a scourge to them as is related 2 Chron. 26.6 Whereupon Isaiah Prophesied that a King should spring from this Vzziah viz. Hezekiah the Son of his Grandchild Ahaz who should sting them worse than ever he had done Isa 14.29 Rejoice not thou whole Palestina because the rod of him that smote thee is broken for out of the serpents root shall come forth a cocatrice and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent 2 King 14.21 22. 2 King 15. from v. 1 to 8. 2 Chron. 26. wh Ch. The 11th King of Judah JOTHAM JOTHAM was twenty five years old when he began to reign and he reigned sixteen years He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord as his father had done before him that is he maintained and encouraged the true worship of God as his Father had done but did not go into the Temple to burn incense as his Father had done so that he was like him not in the evil he
of their forefather Ionadab they were wont to dwell came into Ierusalem and by their obedience in refusing to drink wine God condemneth the disobedience of the Iews Ier. 35. wh Ch. Nebuchadnezzar having brought his forces before Ierusalem in a short time takes it and Iehoiakim prisoner whom he bound in chains intending at first as it should seem to carry him to Babylon but was afterwards intreated upon his submission and promises of subjection to leave him as his vassal and so Iehoiakim became his servant and tributary three years to wit the fifth sixth and seventh years of his reign From which entring of the King and people of the Iews into subjection to Nebuchadnezzar The beginning of the seventy years Captivity according to the Learned Usher some think the seventy years of the Captivity are to be reckoned which were foretold by the Prophet Ieremy Chap. 25.11 And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment and these Nations shall serve the King of Babylon seventy years Ver. 12. And it shall come to pass when seventy years are accomplished that I will punish the King of Babylon and that Nation saith the Lord for their iniquity and the land of the Chaldeans and will make it perpetual desolations And Chap. 29.10 Thus saith the Lord after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform my good word towards you in causing you to return to this place 2 Chron. 36.6 2 King 24.1 Nebuchadnezzar carried away at this time part * Some were left and carried away in Jehoiakim's time 2 King 24.13 and some in Zedekiah's Jer. 52.17 c. of the vessels and furniture of the Lords house and gave command to Ashpenaz the Overseer of the Eunuchs or Pages that he should carry from thence some of the choicest boys both for beauty and wit that he could find and such as were of the Royal blood and of the noblest families as had been expresly foretold by the Prophet Isa 39.7 And of thy Sons that shall issue from thee which thou shalt beget shall they take away and they shall be Eunuchs in the palace of the King of Babylon which being by his care educated for three years in the language and sciences of the Chaldeans might be fit afterwards to wait upon him in his Palace Among whom of the Tribe of Judah were Daniel whom the overseer of the Eunuchs call'd Belteshazzar and Hananiah whom he call'd Shadrach Mishael whom he call'd Meshach and Ananiah whom he call'd Abednego every one of them having his name changed at his discretion These with several others Nebuchadnezzar carried away at this time Dan. 1. from 1 to 8. 1 Chron. 36.7 In the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim there was a solemn fast proclaimed to all the people at Ierusalem in remembrance as it seems of the taking of the City a year before in the same month at which time Baruc standing at the Gate of the house of the Lord read out of a roll or book all the words of the Lord which he had taken from the mouth of Jeremy the Prophet in the audience of all the people who were then assembled out of all the Cities of Judah whereof the Princes being advertis'd called Baruc unto them and caused him to read to them the same book but when they heard the contents thereof they advised him and Jeremy to hide themselves out of the way for fear of the Kings displeasure But the King himself having heard some inkling of it would needs have the roll or book read unto him and having heard some part of it he was so inrag'd at it that he cut the roll through with a pen-knife and then threw it into the fire and burnt it Jer. 36. from 9 to 26. The King having thus burnt the Book he gave order for the apprehending of Baruc the writer and Jeremy the Prophet but God hid them and denounced a heavy judgment against that impious King for it And God commands Ieremy to take another roll and Baruc wrote therein from the mouth of the Prophet all the words of the Book which Jehoiakim had burnt adding many like things thereunto Jer. 36. from v. 26 to the end Nebuchadnezzar pursuing the victory he had gotten over the Egyptians took from them all that they possessed between Egypt and Euphrates so that from thence forward Necho was fain to keep himself within his own bounds in Egypt 2 King 24.7 While these things were doing Nabopolassar the father of Nebuchadnezzar dies which news coming to Nebuchadnezzar he made no delay but after he had given order for the bringing away of the captives as well Jews as others he posted with a small company the nearest way through the desert and came to Babylon before them and being received there as sole Lord of all his fathers large Dominions he afterwards disposed of the captives when they were brought thither here and there as he thought fit And the Sacred vessels and other furniture of the Temple which he had taken away from Jerusalem he disposed into the Temple †By the Divine Providence they were there reserved to be carried back again to Jerusalem See Ezra 1.7 8 c. But Nebuchadnezzar intended service of his Idol and Belshazzar his Grandchild most profanely abused them Dan. 5.2 of his god Belus Dan. 1.2 2 Chron. 36.7 Daniel and his three fellow Nobles being brought to Babylon refuse the Court-diet provided for them and content themselves with pulse and water and yet were found to look better than those that did eat of the Kings fare And when afterwards at the time appointed they were brought to attend the King they appeared in all matters of knowledg wisdom and sciences to excell all the Magicians and Astronomers that were in the Kingdom And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams Dan. 1. from 8 to the end Nebuchadnezzar in the second * See Richardson on Dan. 2.1 Anno secundo cum vixi tanquam consiliarius in regno Nebuchadnessaris non autem cum vixi in regno Cyrl cujus mentio proxime praecessit v. ult cap. praeced year after the three years of Daniels education were past and he brought to stand before the King which falls in with the fifth year of his reign dreamt his dream of the great image made of divers metals and forgetting the particulars of his dream though in the general it much affected him he would needs know of his Magicians and Astronomers both what his dream was and what it meant And when they could not satisfie him in so unreasonable a demand he like a great Tyrant commanded them all to be put to death But Daniel when he saw the execution preparing and understood the cause thereof humbly moved the King to forbear a while and joining in prayer with his fellows unto God obtained both to have the dream it self and the interpretation thereof revealed to him And accordingly he declared to the King
things be when will our Posterity by their Rebellions thus provoke God and bring such heavy Judgments on themselves and the Land I answer That is only known to God Himself secret things belong to Him but things revealed belong to us and our Children and therefore we may safely conclude That if they do thus provoke God then all this Misery and Calamity will certainly befal them except by true and timely repentance and turning unto God they prevent this ruine This says He God hath revealed and what he hath revealed it becomes us and our Câ—â—ldren always to consider and lay to heart that we may not provoke Him by transgressing any of his Commandments Ch. XXXI Moses now calling the people together He tells them He was at this time an 120 years old and therefore by the course of Nature it could not be expected that he should be able much longer to go in and out before them and to lead and govern them as before he had done And besides the Lord had told him He should not go over Jordan However he bids them be of good courage for the Lord Himself would go before them and by the Conduct of his Servant Joshua would subdue their Enemies for them as he had already done Sihon and Og Kings of the Amorites and they should destroy them as he had commanded and therefore he bids them not to be afraid of them for the Lord would go along with them and would not fail them nor forsake them Then he addresses his Speech to Joshua and in the sight of them all bids him be strong and of a good courage trusting in Gods Providence and Assistance who would not fail him nor forsake him He tells him He must lead the people over into Canaan and cause them to inherit it Then Moses having put into writing (x) Videtur Scripsisse tuâ—â— Deuteronomium tum Canticum sequens antequam ea populo pronunciaret this Law that is this Book of Deuteronomy he delivered it solemnly unto the Priests who upon some extraordinary occasions did carry the Ark as well as the Levites see Joshua 3.17 Josh 6.12 and unto all the Elders of Israel thereby giving them to understand that they were the men to whom it did especially belong to see that this Original Copy of the Law were safely kept and that the Laws therein commanded were duly observed both by themselves and the people And Moses commanded the Priests to read this Book this Original Copy of the Law every seventh year which was the year of Release among the people at the Feast of Tabernacles 'T is like some part of the Book of the Law was read among them by the Levites every Sabbath-day see Acts 15.21 and 't is like the people had Copies of the Law for their own private use in the reading whereof they did daily exercise themselves (y) If this were required of their Kings Ch. 17 18 19. much more may we think it was required of them But yet once in seven years God would have this Book to be read by the Priests from the beginning to the end among the people both that it might make the deeper impression on them and cause them to fear the Lord their God and to observe and do all the words of this Law and that it might appear to them that those Copies of the Law which they had among them and were read to them every Sabbath-day did agree with this Original Copy which Moses had given them And God appointed this to be done in the year of Release because then they had most liberty to mind and attend that Service the Land lying that year at rest themselves being freed from the danger of having their Debts exacted of them It was also an holy year the Sabbath of years and so the fitter for this extraordinary duty And it was appointed to be done at the Feast of Tabernacles because all Israel used then to appear before the Lord. For though the Males only were bound to appear at the three solemn Feasts Exod. 23.17 yet at this Feast it seems they carried their Wives and Children and the Strangers within their Gates along with them as appears vers 12. Neh. 8.3 And hereby their Children who had not seen the Wonders and Miracles that God had wrought for them as their Fathers had done might by hearing this Original Book of the Law read openly among them learn to fear the Lord their God and to serve him faithfully as long as they lived Then the Lord tells Moses That the day of his death did now approach and therefore he should call Joshua and they two should present themselves before Him in the Tabernacle of the Congregation that there he might give Joshua his Charge They accordingly went to the Tabernacle and the Pillar of Cloud stood over the door of it and the Lord said unto Moses Behold thou shalt lie down to sleep in the dust as did thy Fathers but I know that after thy death this people will go a whoring after the gods of the Canaanites and will forsake me and break my Covenant Then my anger will be kindled against them and I will forsake them and hide my Face from them and withdraw my Favour Blessing and Help and then they shall be devoured by their Enemies as by wild Beasts and many evils and troubles shall befal them so that they will say in that day Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us The Lord therefore commands Moses to write this following Song set down in the next Chapter containing a Prophesie of their falling off from God and his just Judgment upon them for it And the Lord was pleased to give it to them in the form of a Song that it might be the better remembred by them and might work more upon their affections and the Israelites were to learn it and sing it that in time to come when they should so provoke God by their sins as is there set forth and God should thereupon punish them with those very evils that are there foretold this Song as out of their own mouths might be a Witness for God against them viz. that He had given them sufficient warning and yet notwithstanding by their willful and hainous Provocations they had brought these Miseries on themselves For says the Lord I know their secret Imaginations and the base apostatizing thoughts and purposes which some of them already have in their hearts even now before I have brought them into the Land which I sware unto their Fathers to give them see Amos 5.25 and Acts 7.43 and I do foresee what they will do hereafter Moses accordingly wrote this Song the same day and taught it the Children of Israel God then gives Joshua his Charge saying to him Be strong and of a good courage for thou shalt bring this people into the Land of Canaan V. 23. Hoc loco primum alloquitur Dominus Joshuam ut
ei authoritatem coram populo Conciliet and I will be with thee Moses now commands the Priests the Sons of Levi to put this Book of the Law which he had written in some safe Repository or Chest on the outside of the Ark where was the Pot of Manna and Aaron's Rod see Heb. 9.4 Indeed in the Ark it self were only the two Tables 1 Kings 8.9 but on the outside of it and by it was this Volume of the Law to be kept This Book was many years after found in the Treasury of the Temple in Josiah's Reign 2 Kings 22.8 2 Chron. 34.14 and therefore it seems it had been removed from the Ark and kept elsewhere wherein seeing they transgressed the directions that God here gave to the Priests no marvel if this precious Treasure was for some years lost and not looked after Moses having commanded them to place this Book on the outside of the Ark He said to them O Israel if thou art disobedient this Book shall be a witness against thee wherein thou art sufficiently warned to the contrary and shewed the Judgments that will thereupon insue But alas I know thy rebellious Disposition and thy stiff Neck Ye have been rebellious against the Lord while I was with you how much more will ye be so when I am dead Gather therefore unto me all the Elders of your Tribes and your Officers that I may speak unto them and call Heaven and Earth to witness against them For I know that after my death you will corrupt your selves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you and evil will befal you in the latter days because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and thereby provoke Him to anger The Elders and Officers of the people being met Moses spake in the ears of all the Congregation of Israel the words of this following Song Ch. XXXII Give Ear O ye Heavens * See Isa 1.2 and I will speak and hear O Earth the words of my mouth He beginneth this Prophetical Song with a Rhetorical Scheme calling the Heavens and Earth and all the Creatures in them to be witnesses of his word the more to affect the hearts of the people to reprove their hardness and to excite their attention I wish says He my Doctrine which I have received from God might so fall upon your hearts as the sweet and gentle Showers and fruitful Dew falleth upon the Herbs and Flowers and Grass of the Earth and causeth them to spring forth and flourish Isa 55.10 Hear therefore for I will now publish unto you the Name of the Lord that is his glorious Excellencies viz. his infinite Power Wisdom and Goodness and therefore see that ye ascribe Greatness and Majesty to Him and that ye magnifie Him as ye ought to do saying Thine O Jehovah is the Greatness and the Power and the Glory 1 Chron. 29.11 and that ye attend to what is spoken with all humility and lay it to heart and yield Obedience thereunto Know ye therefore that God is the Rock * In times of danger men use to fly to Rocks to shelter themselves 1 Sam. 13.6 He is an All-sufficient stable and sure Refuge for all those that fly to Him neither is there any sure Shelter any where else but in Him His Work is perfect for all his ways are Judgment All his Works are perfect (z) Even in those works of God that seem to have some imperfection in them as Children that are born blind or lame c. yet as they are acts of Providence there is a perfection of Wisdom Holiness and Justice in them and there is nothing at all in them for which God can justly be blamed and without any blemish there is no defect or fault to be found in any of them All his ways are Judgment his dealings with his people have been always right and just He is a God of truth and without Iniquity just and right is He. But as for this people they have corrupted themselves by their Idolatry their spot is not the spot of his Children for it proceedeth not of weakness and infirmity to which all are subject but of wilfulness and perverseness and an impenitent heart They are a perverse and crooked Generation for both their hearts and ways are evil and turned aside from the right Rule of Gods Law Do you thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is not God thy Father that made thee Is not He thy Father that hath bought thee that is ransomed and brought thee forth out of Egypt with a mighty Hand and the power of Miracles Hath not He made thee his people and established thee by Covenant to continue so if thou art not wanting to thy self and thy duty Remember the days of old and consider the years of many Generations ask thy Father and he will shew thee thy Elders and they will tell thee how God when by his Providence He disposed the several Nations that came out of the Loins of Adam into several parts of the Earth allotting to one Nation one Country and another to another did then set the bounds of the people according to the number of the Children of Israel that is did then chuse the Children of Israel to be his peculiar people and Inheritance and where they were there it might be said was his people and where their bounds ended there was the end and utmost bound of his people and the bounds of the Heathen then began and according to his secret purpose he gave and allotted to the Canaanites such bounds and limits as he knew would serve for the number of the Israelites For the Lords portion is his people Jacob is the lot of his Inheritance that is the Israelites are that portion of Mankind whom he was pleased to make his peculiar people they are his Inheritance and therefore dear to Him as Inheritances use to be to men which are divided to them by lot and they were to acknowledge no other Lord over them but Himself and they and their Children after them were to be His successively He found them in a desart Land in a wast howling Wilderness inhabited only by wild howling Beasts of Prey He found them there in desperate danger but came in seasonably to their succour when they were ready to perish He led them about he instructed them both by his Word and Works by his Spirit and the several Dispensations of his Providence He kept them as the apple of his eye with tender care and love As an Eagle stirreth up her nest that is awaketh her brood or young ones in her nest rousing them up with the Cry that she maketh to signifie to them that she intends to teach them to fly and spreading abroad her wings taketh them up and beareth them thereon so did the Lord carry Israel towards Canaan leading them Himself thither and there was no strange god with him that is no strange God had any hand in
people that were therein and killed them and Samson himself with them So the dead which he slew at his death were more than those he slew in his life His Bretheren and all the house of his Father hearing of his death came down and took his dead body and brought it up and buried it in his Fathers burying place between Zorak and Eshtaol the Philistines by the over-ruling Providence of God not opposing it whose pride and power by this fatal blow given to their Princes and so many of their people was much abated and pulled down so that they thought this was no fit time to provoke the Israelites by denying them such a thing Judg. Ch. 16. whole Chapter SECT CLI First Book of Samuel WE are now come to the first Book of Samuel which contains an History of eighty years forty in the time of Eli in the four first Chapters and forty in the times of Samuel and Saul in the rest of the Book so that the History of these three persons together with some part of the History of David is the chief matter of this Book The two Books of Samuel are thought to be written by Samuel Nathan and Gad one after another 1 Chron. 29.29 yet some passages in these Books may seem to intimate that they were written in latter times as 1 Sam. 5.5 and Ch. 30.25 2 Sam. 6.8 These two Books of Samuel are stiled by the Septuagint and several others the first and second Book of the Kings the first containing all the History of King Saul and part of the History of King David both whom Samuel anointed by Gods appointment and the second the History of King Ishbosheth shortly and of King David at large After Samsons death Eli the High-Priest in whom the High-Priesthood was translated from the stock of Eleazar the Eldest Eli 13 Judg. to the posterity of Ithamar the younger Son of Aaron executed the Office of a Judg in Civil causes and judged Israel forty years He was extraordinarily both High-Priest (a) How he came to be High-Priest we cannot say that Eli was of the posterity of Ithamar Aaron's second Son appears from hence Abiathar who was deposed from being High-Priest by Solomon was of the posterity of Eli 1 King 2.27 and of Abimelech who was the Son of Abiathar it is expresly said 1 Chron. 24.3 that he was of the Sons of Ithamar How the High-Priesthood came to be transferred from the posterity of Eleazar to Eli who was of the house of Ithamar cannot be cleared by any place of Scripture we may conjecture that it so fell out because the High-Priests of Eleazars family had some way or other highly provoked God by their evil courses in the days of the former Judges This was the Series of the High-Priests as appears 1 Chron. 6.4 Aaron Eleazar Phineas Abishua Bukki Uzzi from Uzzi the High-Priesthood was translated to Eli to whom succeeded Achitob to him Achias to him Ahimelech to him Abiathar who was deposed from the Priesthood by Solomon 1 King 2.27 that he might perform the word of the Lord that he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh 1 Sam. 2.31.35 and Judg a good and famous man though faulty in being too indulgent to his Children as we shall see afterwards In his time and under his Government Samuel was born whose History we come now to describe His Father was Elkanah a Levite of the family of the Kohathites of the posterity of of Korah 1 Chron. 6.22 23. who dwelt in Ramathaim-Zophim in Mount Ephraim He had two wives probably Hannah was his first wife and she being barren he afterwards took Peninnah who was fruitful Though the Lord allowed not Polygamy yet he was pleased to tolerate it for a time and possibly the Jews did conceive that Gods promise to Abraham of multiplying his seed as the stars of the heaven did imply a dispensation for them to have more wives than one The Tabernacle was now at Shiloh and there had continued since the seventh year of Joshua Ch. 18.1 thither went Elkanah yearly that is at those three solemn Feasts wherein all the males were bound to appear before the Lord Deut. 16.16 He might possibly go at other times as a Levite to do service in his course but he failed not to go up at those great Solemnities and it seems several of his family used to go up with him yea the women also such was their devotion though not bound thereunto by the Law At those great Feasts he gave to Peninnah and all her Sons and Daughters portions of the Peace-offerings which he offered to the Lord according to the ancient manner of Feasts of which see Gen. 43.34 but unto Hannah who was his best beloved he gave a larger and better portion and possibly of the choicest and best of the Sacrifices Peninnah was angry at this and thereupon quarrelled with and provoked Hannah and upbraided her for her barrenness as an effect of the Lords displeasure against her and as Elkanah did thus continually express his great love to Hannah when he went yearly with his family to the House of God so Peninnah persisted from time to time to vex her with her provocations and possibly upbraided her with her fruitless seeking to God so earnestly at those times for a child this greatly troubled Hannah in so much that she mourned and wept and did not care to eat as others did especially not with any joy and chearfulness as they were bound to do at those solemn Feasts Elkanah perceiving it asked her why she so grieved and wept and so mourned in a time when she ought to have rejoiced 'T is true says he the Lord hath not afforded thee Children but am not I who love thee so dearly better to thee than ten Sons (b) In concorde matrimonio plus boni est quam in ipsa faecunditate Gr. But when Elkanah and his family had eaten and drunk together with whom Hannah sate she being in bitterness of soul went out and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore and she said O Lord of Hosts if thou wilt please to look on the affliction of thy hand-maid and wilt give unto me a man-child I will give him unto thee all the days of his life (c) As to the power of her Vow we must understand that she only vowed to do what in her lay that it might be thus if the Child had no defect either in body or mind and was willing when he came to the years of discretion to take upon him the Vow and provided that her Husband consented thereunto without which the Womans Vow was of no force Numb 30.8 Indeed it is evident in the sequel of Samuels story that he did not always continue in the Tabernacle see Ch. 7.16 but went from year to year in Circuit and judged Israel And hence it seems probable that after he became Judg in Israel he was by special dispensation from God freed from this Vow of
Stobaeus that is shewed them the duty of a King towards his Subjects and of his Subjects towards him and these fundamental Laws of the Kingdom he wrote in a Book (d) Hic liber periit cum multis aliis and laid it up before the Lord that is before the Ark or in the Tabernacle for the sure preservation of it and to intimate that God would take care of thâ—se Laws to uphold and maintain them and to punish those that should violate or break them These things being done Samuel dismissed this great Assembly and Saul went to Gibeah his own City and there went with him a band of men (e) Quos scil divinus spiritus ad obsequium illud novo Regi exhibendum impulit such whose hearts God had touched and moved to think it fit that they should attend him and as a Royal guard wait upon him and conduct him in his return home But all the people were not so well pleased with this Election though it plainly appeared to be of God there were some rude and wretched fellows Sons of Belial that despised him and look d upon him as a person unfit to be King and unlikely to govern them well and defend them against their enemies as a King should do whereupon they refused to bring him any presents (f) That was the custom of those times as is noted concerning Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 17.5 see Mat. 2.11 sine muneribus Reges orientis adiâ—i non solebant as it seems the rest of the people did to testifie their subjection and that they did acknowledg him to be their King But Saul held his peace not seeming to take notice (g) Novum imperium inchoantibus utilis clementiae fama ait Tacitus of their unworthy carriage towards him but seeking to win them by lenity and love 1 Sam. Ch. 10. from v. 17. to the end SECT CLXII NAhash King of the Ammonites now came up and besieged Jabesh-Gilead a City without Jordan this attempt had been brewing against the Israelites before they desired a King and was in great part the occasion of it as appears Ch. 12.12 And now possibly it was the more hastened by Nahash because of the report that was brought to him that the Israelites had shaken off the Government of Samuel and had chosen a King to reign over them at which some of them were discontent and would not accept him 'T is like the Ammonites made the ground of their present quarrel the old pretence and claim which they laid to the land of Gilead in which Jabesh stood see Judg. 11.13 which now they hop'd to recover and revenge the shameful overthrow which Jephtah then gave them The men of Jabesh-Gilead being now in extream fear and not trusting in the Providence of God as they ought to have done and contrary to Gods command who had forbidden them to make any Covenant with the accursed Nations they desire Nabash to make a Covenant with them and to take them under his protection as his Confederates and they would pay him Tribute and serve him Nahash proudly and tyrannically answers them that on this condition only he would make a Covenant with them namely if he might have liberty to put out their right eyes Hereby he intended it seems to disable them from War for with their Shields they covered their left eyes and therefore if their right eyes were put out what service of war could they be fit for as also to fix a reproach upon all Israel For the accepting such base conditions would be a perpetual disgrace to all the people of whom it would be said that they were so base a people that they would buy their peace and lives upon any terms yea it would be a reproach to the God of Israel as if he could not help his people in their distresses or would not do it The Elders of Jabesh-Gilead desire seven days respite to send unto their brethren for help in which time if they were not relieved they promise to come out unto him and to yield themselves to be disposed of at his pleasure Nahash being puft up with a vain opinion of his own strength and thinking it impossible that their brethren in that time either could or durst come to relieve them yields to their desire and by this means through his own arrogancy and folly he brought ruin and destruction upon himself and his people And God by his alwise Providence made this a means that Jabesh-Gilead should be delivered by the hands of Saul whose valour and magnanimity being in this atchievement so much displayed the hearts of the people were hereby more inclined to receive him for their King The men of Jabesh-Gilead having therefore liberty granted them to send to their Brethren their Messengers came first to Gibeah where Saul and Samuel now were to acquaint them with the extream streights they were in that so they might speedily send into all the Coasts of Israel for help When the people of Gibeah heard these doleful tidings they lift up their voices and wept Saul though elected King yet being returned to his own house betook himself as it seems to his former private Country-life expecting till God should please to give him an opportunity by some eminent action to shew himself worthy to be their King Coming home therefore out of the fields after his Herd he perceived the people all in an uproar crying out and wringing their hands and tearing their hair and expressing the bitterest lamentation Being extreamly surpriz'd at it he asks what was the matter they tell him the sad tidings that were brought to them concerning Jabesh-Gilead At the hearing of this the Spirit of God came upon him that is the spirit of fortitude and courage and magnanimity and zeal for his Countrys defence and though he was before very patient in his own cause when certain Sons of Belial scorned and despised him and easily passed it over as we have seen Ch. 10.27 yet now his anger was highly kindled and he was impatient of the wrong that was done to the Lord and his people by the Ammonites Taking therefore a yoke of Oxen and hewing them in pieces he sent the pieces to the several Tribes of Israel in imitation of the Levite Judg. 19.29 who did thus cut his Concubine in pieces and sent them to the several Tribes to stir up their indignation And because he was not as yet generally received as King he uses not only his own name but Samuel's also and by his messengers gives the people to understand that whosoever did not come forth and join with them in this expedition against the Ammonites their Oxen should be so served And the fear of the Lord fell upon the people and so moved and inclined their hearts that they readily came forth and joined with Saul and Samuel in this undertaking And when they were come together in the Territories of Bezek Saul numbred them and the Children of Israel were three hundred
gathered their armies together to fight against Israel being encouraged no doubt thereunto by the distractions that were now in the land and the weak state of the Kingdom by reason of them Achish sending for David acquainted him that he resolv'd that he and his men should go along with him in this expedition David being unwilling to displease him by a direct refusal answered ambiguously and told him that if he commanded him to attend him in this war he should see what his servant could do Achish thereupon being confident of his fidelity to him told him he would make him keeper of his head for ever that is Captain of his Life-guard and would commit the chief care of his person to him as long as they both lived The Philistines accordingly now invading the land Saul was in great perplexity for Samuel was dead whom though he disregarded in his life-time yet now he finds himself extreamly to want his counsel and advice The Philistines pitched in Shunem a City in the border of Issachar and Saul having gathered an army out of all the Tribes of Israel pitched in Gilboa a mountainous place in the Tribe of Issachar near Jezreel And his iniquity being now come to its full measure he was exceedingly afraid the guilt of his conscience suggesting dreadful things to him in this distress he enquired of the Lord (a) 1 Chron. 10.14 'T is said he enquired not of the Lord. Indeed he pretended so to do but he did it not sincerely nor in faith and so it is reckoned as not done partly as 't is probable by prayer and partly by consulting with the Priests and Prophets that yet remained in the land and putting them upon seeking to God in his behalf but the Lord answered him not neither by dreams or by Vrim for Abiathar had carried away the Ephod to David or by Prophets giving them any answer so that the Lord answered him not either one way or other * See Lamentations Ch. 2. 9. which was an evidence that he was highly displeased with him Saul had sometime before out of a seeming zeal and pretence of obedience to God put away those that had familiar spirits (b) See Levit. 19.31 20.6 27. Deut. 18.11 and wizards out of the land (c) Out of a like zeal he had destroyed the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.1 2. namely as many of them as he could meet with but yet it could not be doubted but that there were still some of them that secretly lurked among the people wherefore being forsaken of heaven he now resolves to seek to hell †Divinatio ex mortuis omnium divinationum antiquissima signum creditae durationis animarum post mortem Grot. for help and thereupon bad his servants seek him out a woman that had a familiar spirit (d) This is recorded as the last and most desperate wickedness he fell into before his death and one that wrought by Necromancy or raising Apparitions and Ghosts of the dead †Divinatio ex mortuis omnium divinationum antiquissima signum creditae durationis animarum post mortem Grot. and consulting with them see Isa 8.19 for he intended to go and enquire of her what he should now do they told him they heard there was such an one at Endor a Town of the Manassites within Jordan wherefore disguizing himself and putting on other clothes that the woman might not know him and possibly that others might not discover his gross hypocrisie and impiety in going now to witches for counsel whom he had before persecuted to the death and taking two servants along with him he came to the woman by night * Flectere si nequeam superos Acheronta movebo and desired her to cause the spirit or ghost of a dead man whom he should name to her to come up and appear before him of whom he would enquire several things The woman told him he could not be ignorant what Saul had done in persecuting those that had familiar spirits and therefore she asks him why he laid a snare for her life Saul sware to her as the Lord liveth there should no punishment befall her neither would he discover her if she would comply with him in this matter The woman having this assurance given her asked him whom she should call up He said old Samuel our late eminent Prophet She accordingly by her Diabolical art (e) Quis credet faeminae quae se Diabolo manciparat tantam potestatem fuisse in animam Samuelis in caeleste regnum jam receptam Quis credet in manu Diaboli esse mortuos vita donare Proinde an piis molestum est jussa Dei exequi An ulla molestia in beatas animas cadit Nemo itaque non videt non verum sed fictum Samuelem comparuisse Freidlib caused an evil spirit who took on him the shape and form of Samuel * For they that die in the Lord are under his protection and their souls out of Satans reach in heaven and without the soul the body cannot act any thing And as the Devil had no power to bring Samuel so it is not probable that the Lord did send him For seeing he refused to answer Saul in an ordinary way by Dreams or Prophets it is unlikely he would do it in an extraordinary and miraculous way by raising the Prophet Samuel from the dead to appear For 't is no way likely that the Lord who had so lately refused to answer Saul by the Prophets would now raise up Samuel from the dead to answer him Had Samuel been raised up by God to appear to Saul he would never have said as this counterfeit Samuel did Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up It was therefore by the enchantments of the Witch that this counterfeit Samuel was raised or the Devil (f) All which shews that the Author of the Apocryphal Book Ecclâ—siasticus wrote not by the inspiration of the Spirit of God who saith of Samuel in relation to this History Ch. 46.20 After his death he prophesied and shewed the King his end in Samuel's likeness and therefore called Samuel here and when he was raised it seems the Witch was presently possest with a spirit of Divination and thereby knew that it was Saul for whom she had done this and thereupon cried out as apprehending he was come to ensnare her why hast thou deceived me for thou art Saul Saul bad her not be afraid and asked her what she saw she said she saw Gods that is one of the Gods or some magistrate or personage of great honour such being called Gods Psal 82.6 ascending out of the earth Saul not yet seeing him asked her of what form or shape he was she said he appeared like an old man covered with a mantle (g) We cannot think that the true Samuel was buried in his mantle but the Devil thickning the air might form such a likeness and representation of him V.
and Ministers of Justice The number and order of them is here recorded to set forth his great wisdom 1. Azariah the Son of Zadok was his principal Minister of State * Cohan signifies sometimes a secular Prince as well as a Priest and 't is probable he was the Son of another Zadok and not of Zadok the High-Priest 2. Eliphoreph and Ahiah the Sons of Shisha his Secretaries We read but of one Secretary of State that David had 2 Sam. 20.25 whose name was Sheva and possibly this is the same man with Shisha and that he trained up his two Sons in his own way and made them so expert therein that Solomon took them both for his Secretaries and living in greater splendour than his Father he had two Secretaries whereas his Father had but one 3. Jehoshaphat the Son of Ahitub the Recorder or Master of Requests whose office was to put the King in mind of Petitions and possibly to record the memorable Acts of State he had this place in David's time and it seems held it still under Solomon See 2 Sam. 20.24 and so must needs be very ancient 4. Benaiah was Captain-General of the host in Joab's place 5. Zadok and Abiathar were the chief Priests for though Abiathar was removed from the place of High Priest Ch. 2.27 yet it seems he retained the Title though he executed not the Office 6. Azariah the Son of Nathan the Prophet was over the twelve Officers or Purveyers which are named v. 7 to 19. 7. Zabud his brother was a principal Officer and possibly President of the Kings Council he was the Kings friend and favourite as Hushai was to David 2 Sam. 15.27 and had on all occasions free access to him from hence it appears that Solomon had Nathan in very high esteem in that he put two of his Sons in the highest Offices of the Kingdom and made one of them his especial favourite Nathan had indeed been a faithful Prophet and servant to David and discovered to him Adonijah's conspiracy and gave advice for the setling Solomon on the Throne Ch. 1.11 And 't is probable that Nathan's Sons were trained up with Solomon under their Fathers Tuition 8. Abishai who was either Governour of the Kings Houshold or Treasurer of it 9. Adoniram who was over the Tribute and chief receiver of the Kings revenues Ch. 4. from 1 to 7. 2. Solomon appointed twelve Officers over all Israel to take care to furnish his House with a set quantity of provisions of meat and drink for all the twelve months of the year Had these great stores that were needful for the Kings houshold been to be gathered out of one place only near the Court the people thereabouts might have been overburdened therefore these store-gatherers were scattered all over the land and had Treasure-houses to store up their provisions in which in their several months they brought forth and furnished the Kings house therewith These Officers were it seems the sons of men of note and therefore their names and their fathers names are here set down Their divisions were not exactly made according to the Tribes for so there might have been some inequality but according to the Commodities of the soil The son of Abinadab was over the Region of Dor in Manassehs portion and it seems he was a man of great worth for he married Taphath one of the daughters of Solomon Ahimaaz's Province was in Naphtali he also seems to be some great man for he married Basmath the other daughter of Solomon Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flower and threescore measures of meal The word translated measure is in the Hebrew Cor now one Cor contained about ten Ephas and one Epha about three pecks of our measure so that by this account Solomon had for every day a very great quantity both of flower and meal Also ten oxen fatted in the stalls and twenty out of the pastures also an hundred sheep besides Harts Robucks fallow Deer and fatted fowls This store shews that Solomon's houshold was very great but possibly under it are to be comprized his wives housholds and such Companies of Soldiers as attended about the Court yea and such foreign Princes and Ambassadours as came from other Countries to his Court and their retinues Thus those Officers provided victuals for King Solomon and for all that came to his Table every man in his mouth and by this means sufficient provision was made for them all 1 King Ch. 4. from 1 to 26. 3. That wherein Solomon more especially discovered his wisdom was in the Proverbs or wise and acute sentences he spake which were three thousand and in the Divine Songs or Odes he composed which were a thousand and five He spake also of trees from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hysop that springs out of the wall and of beasts and of fowl and of creeping things and of fishes So that he read Lectures of natural and moral Philosophy yea and of Divinity too to those that were about him or came to hear his wisdom He was also an excellent Poet as appears by those many Songs and Odes (b) Liber odarum quam ediderat complectebatur mille quinque odas Non Theologus tantum Philosophus sed insignis Poëta Sunt qui dicunt ex Canticis Proverblis Solomonis solum utiliora Spiritus Sancti instinctu reservata esse in libellos illos coacta qui hodie extant Munsterus he composed 'T is like he did dictate his Proverbs and Philosophical instructions in familiar discourse which those about him wrote down and some of them are lost But let us be thankeful to God for those that remain and labour to make a good use of them 1 King 4.32 33. As for the Book of Proverbs it contains the chief of those three thousand wise sentences which he spake The first nine Chapters contain instructions of piety and praises of wisdom with exhortations to get it all which may serve as a large Preface to the whole Book Then follow his Proverbs or choice sentences or wise Apothegmes There is sometimes a repetition of the same things which might easily happen by reason of the several collections of these Proverbs The verity of some of them consists in such a generality of truth as stands good and is for the most part so and yet admits of alteration by the change of circumstances Throughout this Book Solomon speaks one while in his own name another while in his Fathers then in Wisdom's elsewhere in his Mothers and sometimes in Gods name 1. He seems to speak in his own name in Ch. 1st 2d 3d. 2. He sets down the summ of his Father David's instructions Ch. 4.5 6 7. 3. He brings in wisdom speaking Ch. 8.9 4. He sets down those Proverbs of his own which he had set in order in his life time from Ch. 10. to Ch. 25. 5. Then others are added which were gathered by the servants of King Hezekiah
wives yea furthered it by suffering them to build Temples for their Idols and thus his Idolatrous wives turned his heart from the Commandments of God which enjoin'd him to root out Idolatry but it seems his carnal love to them devouring his zeal for God he was so far from rooting it out that he permitted it and thereupon is said to have followed * Dicitur sequutus Deos alienos quod eorum cultum non repulcrit Debuit quatenus vir ab Idololatria uxores reprimere quatenus vero Rex ditionem suam in vero Dei cultu retinere Horum neutrum praestitit sed uxorum blanditiis dilinitus Templa Fana extruxit impensas ad Sacrificia Sacerdotes suppeditavit after Ashtaroth (e) See Judg. 2.13 the Goddess of the Zidonians and Milcom (f) Levit. 18.21 or Molech the Abomination of the Ammonites namely because he connived at the worship of these Idols And to the great aggravation of his guilt he permitted (g) V. 7. Aedificavit scil permisit ut uxores aedificarent Non increpavit eas a Temple or an Image or both to be built for Chemosh (h) Numb 21.29 the Abomination of Moab and for Molech on Mount Olivet (i) And there it seems they continued till Josiahs days 2 King 23.13 nigh unto Jerusalem even in the very face and as it were to affront the Temple of the living God And though at first possibly he granted this favour but only to two or three of his Idolatrous wives yet the rest by degrees so far wrought upon him that he was fain to gratifie all of them that sought to him for it and undoubtedly many of the people were hereby ensnar'd And thus he shewed that his heart was not so upright with God as his Father Davids was For though David was guilty of many gross sins yet he never yielded to any Idolatry but kept the worship and service of God pure all his days And a great aggravation of Solomon's guilt it was that he turned from observing the Commandments of the Lord who had in so extraordinary a manner twice appeared to him viz. once at Gibeon Ch. 3.5 and a second time at Jerusalem Ch. 9.2 and had commanded him particularly to take heed of this thing namely not to go after other Gods The Lord therefore had just cause to be angry with him for this and accordingly he sent Ahiah the Shilonite or some other Prophet to him to speak to him after this manner Thus saith the Lord Forasmuch as thou hast done this and hast not kept my Covenant (a) A Covenant when applied to God signifies a Law appointed or enjoyned to be kept and that with promise of reward to them that keep it and of penalty to such as transgress it Deut. 29.9 25. and my statutes which I commanded thee I will surely rend the greatest part of thy Kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant But I will not do it in thy days because of my promise to David thy Father 2 Sam. 7. from v. 12 to 16. but I will rend it out of the hand of thy Son and so thou shalt be punished (b) Monentur hinc Parentes ut sancte vivant ne filiis poenas intempestive attrahant in him Yet I will not rend away the whole Kingdom from him but will give him one (c) He speaks here of one of the Tribes that belonged to the Kingdom of Israel considered as separate from the Kingdom of Judah which in regard of its eminency was reckoned apart from the rest of the Tribes See 1 Sam. 11.8 So much also of Simeon as lay within Judah was comprised under Judah See Josh 19. from 1 to 9. of the Tribes of Israel viz. Benjamin besides the Tribe of Judah See 2 Chron. 11.12 And this I will do for David my servants sake and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen for the place of my publick worship and the seat of the Kings from whom the Messiah who I have promised is to come 1 King 11. from v. 1 to 14. SECT XVI SOlomon as 't is conceived was so terrified with this threatning that he repented of his sin and as an evidence of his repentance wrote his Book call'd Ecclesiastes in which he publisheth to the world his remorse for his former sins and follies and the vanities to which he had been too intemperately addicted * Ecclesiastes or the Preaching Soul truly penitent gathering it self to the Church and by wholsome admonitions gathering others also that were going astray after vanity In this Book he reflects upon the honours pleasures and wealth he had so abundantly enjoyed the errors and miscarriages he had fallen into the observations he had made of things Natural Moral Domestical Civil Sensual and Divine and the curious enquiry he had made after true happiness And in the first six Chapters he shews wherein it doth not consist and in the six last wherein it doth And first he shews it doth not consist in knowledg either Natural or Moral 2. Not in pleasures or sensual delights 3. Not in honour greatness and power which is so far from making men happy that without the fear of God to correct and temper it it is ordinarily the occasion of much wickedness in them that have it and of much misery to others 4. Not in an outward formal religiousness 5. Not in riches and great possessions which are often snares and occasions of much hurt to the possessours who must leave them and many times they know not to whom Then he shews wherein mans happiness doth consist 1. In contentation of mind and the free and regular and joyful fruition of Gods blessings and the comforts he gives us with humility moderation and thankfulness 2. In a quiet and humble acquiescence in the will of God 3. In sincerity of heart in the worship of God and in a due care that we offend not in vows prayers and addresses unto him 4. In patience of spirit under all oppressions 5. In a composed preparedness of mind to undergo afflictions 6. In a pious and prudent behaviour towards all men that so we may preserve our names from calumny and our persons from danger 7. In meekness charity and patience towards such as offend us considering humane frailty 8. In a due deportment of our selves towards our Superiours that our lives may not be made uncomfortable to us by their dispeasure 9. In a practical prudence or wisdom rightly to judg and discern of times wherein things are to be done 10. In submission to the holy and invincible Providence of God admiring his works and adoring his judgments 11. In a conscionable industriousness in our particular Callings And lastly he concludes that in old age elegantly described by him and at death it will appear that to fear the Lord and keep his commandments is both the duty and the happiness of man and the chief thing wherein it consists And so
who will seek thee out to slay thee as a false Prophet and a deceiver of thy King and to revenge the blood of the King and the overthrow of the Army upon thee Ahab hearing these things look'd upon them as meer dreams and enthusiastical fancies and so regarded them not Thus God judicially blinds those whom he intends to destroy And being in a rage he orders them to carry back Michaiah to Amon the Governour and to Joash the Son of Omri who it seems had some place of authority in the City and to command them in his name to put him again into prison and to feed him with the bread of affliction and the water of affliction see Deut. 16.3 until he came again in peace Micaiah replys If thou return at all in peace the Lord hath not spoken by me and all you that are here present take notice and observe what I say and whither I am a true Prophet or no. 'T is strange that Jehoshaphat should see this holy Prophet Micaiah thus injuriously used by a proud Priest of Baal and afterwards sent away to prison and yet speak never a word in his behalf we may see from hence how dangerous a snare even to good men ill company is But 't is much more strange that after the Prophet had told them so plainly what would be the event of this expedition that he should yet join with Ahab therein It seems having joined himself lately in affinity with him and engaged his word to him he was loth to shrink from it notwithstanding the threatnings of the Prophet and so he and Ahab went up to fight against Ramoth-Gilead Ahab being as 't is like something inwardly troubled at the threatnings of Micaiah though he seemed outwardly to slight them and having heard of the King of Syria's charge to his Captains concerning himself v. 31. viz. That they should fight neither with small nor great save only with the King of Israel that is that they should observe especially where he was and to bend their main force against him as the chief cause of the war he told Jehoshaphat that he himself would go into the battel disguised as an ordinary Commander but advis'd him to put on his Royal Robes or such kind of Armour as was fit for the General of the field that he might appear like himself This being accordingly done when the battel was joined the Syrians seeing Jehoshaphat they thought he had been the King of Israel and accordingly leaving all others assaulted the party where he was and compassed them about Hereupon Jehoshaphat cried unto the Lord for succour who helped him in that great strait and moved the Syrians to depart from him for it seems they gathered from some circumstance or other that he was not the King of Israel and so not the man they aimed at Thus the Lord was pleased by bringing Jehoshaphat into so great danger to let him see his folly in joining with Ahab notwithstanding the Prophets fair warning to the contrary But the battel going on against that party in which Ahab was a Syrian drew a bow at a venture and the arrow being directed by God hit Ahab and entred between the joints of his harness and wounded him sorely He being thus wounded spake to the driver of his chariot to carry him out of the host The battel growing fiercer and fiercer it seems they had not time to dress his wound but only stayed him up in his chariot in which he went out to fight against the Syrians and towards the evening he died and his blood ran out of his wound into the midst of the chariot And thus at last the vengeance of God fell upon him for his Idolatry and persecuting the Prophets of the Lord and for the murder of Naboth When the Commanders of the Army had notice of the Kings death they had no heart to continue the fight any longer and so made Proclamation about Sun-setting that every man should depart to his own Country and to his own City And so the word of the Prophet was fulfilled which he spake v. 17. I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills as sheep that have not a shepherd and the Lord said These have no master let them return every man to his house in peace Thus died Ahab and was brought to Samaria and was there buried And they washed his Chariot in the Pool of Samaria and possibly his bloody Armour might be washed in Jezreel where his chief Armory was and where Naboth was killed and the dogs licked up his blood according to the word of the Lord which he spake by Elijah Ch. 21.19 And the rest of the Acts of Ahab and the Ivory house which he made * See Amos 3.15 and the Cities of defence which he built are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel that is in those large records and Chronicles which were written for the use of those times but were no part of Canonical Scripture and differed from the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah and Israel which we now have So Ahab slept with his fathers having reigned 22 years in Israel and Ahaziah his Son reigned in his stead 1 King 22. from 1 to 41. As soon as Ahab was dead all the land of Moab fell away from the Israelites David had subdued them and made them tributary to him see 2 Sam. 8.2 but when the Ten Tribes revolted from the house of David the Moabites as it seems revolted also from the Kingdom of Judah and rather chose to be vassals to the Kings of Israel upon part of whose Kingdom their land bordered and so they continued to the days of Ahab But now taking advantage from the late discomfiture of the Israelites by the Syrians at Ramoth-Gilead and the death of Ahab Mesha the present King of Moab refused any longer to pay the tribute of an hundred thousand lambs and an hundred thousand rams with their wool which before he paid to the Kings of Israel 2 King 1.1 and Ch. 3.4.5 2 Chron. 18. from 3 to the end WE are now come to the second Book of the Kings The Second Book of the KINGS which is a continuation of the History of the Kings of Israel from Ahab and of the Kings of Judah from Jehoshaphat till Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians and Judah captivated by the Babylonians The time and order of their reigns we may see in this ensuing Table Kings of Judah Jehoram 8. years Ahaziah 1. Athaliah 6. Joash 40. Amaziah 29. Vzziah 52. Jotham 16. Ahaz 16. Hezekiah 29. Manasseh 55. Amon 2. Josiah 31. Jehoahaz or Shallum 3 Months Eliakim or Jehoiakim 11. Jehoiakin 3 Month. and then carried captive to Babylon Mattaniah alias Zedekiah * The History of Ahaziah is partly in the last Ch. of the first Book of Kings and partly in 2 King 1. And some think the 2d Book of Kings should begin with the beginning of his reign 11. Kings of Israel Ahaziah †So
taking this advantage forthwith she laid hold on the Princes of the blood and those of the Royal family that remained in Judah and slew them although some of them as 't is like her own Grandchildren so cruel and bloody are the minds of Idolaters But by the wonderful Providence of God it happened that Joash an infant-son of Ahaziah escaped her hands for Jehoshaba the wife of Jehoiada the High Priest got him away and hid him with his nurse in a private Chamber belonging to the Temple Athaliah did these strange and unnatural things that she might quietly possess the Royal Throne and set up the worship of Baal again in the Kingdom And some conjecture that she had Sons by some other man besides Jehoram whom she desired to promote to the Crown perhaps some of those who brake up the house of God and bestowed the dedicated things thereof upon Baal as we read 2 Chron. 24.7 For the Sons of Athaliah that wicked woman had broken up the house of God and all the dedicated things thereof did they bestow upon Baalim Athaliah having thus usurped the Crown she reigned about six years 2 Chron. 22.10 11 12. 1 King 11. from 1 to 4. The 8th that reigned in Judah was JOASH AThaliah having usurped the Crown and reigned about six years during which time she had much promoted the worship of Baal in Judah at length Jehoiada the High Priest began to think of setling this young Joash in the Throne to whom it did belong not only by natural right being the former Kings Son but by vertue of the promise made by God to David and his posterity 2 Sam. 7.13 16. Having therefore imparted this secret to five Captains of the land in whose fidelity he had most confidence and he and they having made a Covenant to do their utmost to depose Athaliah the Vsurper and to set up Joash and to pull down Idolatry and establish the true Religion afterwards by their means he drew in others of the principal men of the Kingdom both Levites and others procuring them to meet at Jerusalem in order to the carrying on of the design And accordingly they being met together in some Chamber of the Temple and having taken an Oath of secresie and fidelity he shewed them the Kings Son Then they resolved how the business should be manag'd the next Sabbath-day in every particular The Levites were by an order long since established among them by David divided in twenty four Companies which did in their courses each company a week perform the service of the Temple the rest abiding in their private dwellings in the several Cities of Judah and so every Sabbath-day they that served the week before went out and another company came in to serve in their rooms In each company there were a great many of these Levites besides Porters and Singers Now because Jehoiada and his Associates were not able to bring together secretly so many trusty and serviceable hands of the Country as would be sufficient to manage this great business therefore he resolv'd to arm the Levites for the work having secretly laid in the Chambers of the Temple some arms and weapons for the purpose And that the Levites whom he intended to employ in this business might be the stronger he took in the new company that were to come in on the Sabbath-day and did not dismiss the old that should have gone out but retained them still and so by that means without any noise he made up such a number as he thought would be able to deal with the Queens ordinary Guards if need should be All these Levites therefore he disposes under the command of several Captains either such as were principal men among the Levites or others whom he had sworn his associates in this design in this manner Those that were to enter into the service of the Temple that Sabbath-day he divided into three Companies One Company whereof he assigned to watch at the Gate of the outer Court viz. the North-gate that led to the Kings Palace where Athaliah now was Another company he assign'd to the East * Call'd the Gate of Shur or the Gate of the foundation 2 King 11.6 Gate that led into the City A third company to the South-gate Those Levites that should have gone out from the service of the Temple he divided into two companies and appointed them to be a Guard in the Temple unto the Kings person the one on his right hand and the other on his left Then he gave to the Captains for themselves and their men King David's Spears and Shields See 1 Sam. 21.9 2 Sam. 8.7 viz. such weapons as were there reserved as Trophies and monuments of David's victories which weapons of war were some of those things dedicated by David and brought into the Temple by Solomon 1 King 7.51 Thus this Guard of Levites stood every man with his weapon in his hand and Jehoiada charged them to look to it that their watches were not disordered by the breaking in of any body and that if any offered to break through their ranks by force they should slay them Things being thus ordered he brought forth the Kings Son to them and set him on the Brazen Scaffold and Jehoiadah and his Sons anointed him and put the Crown upon his head and gave into his hands the Testimony that is the Book wherein the Law of God was written and wherein was testified what God required of his people and what they might expect from him in case of obedience These things being done all there present made a great acclamation and cried out God save the King Then Jehoiada made a Covenant between the Lord and the King and the people viz. that the King should serve the Lord and maintain his pure worship and root out Idolatry and that the people should join with him therein and should fear and serve the Lord and him only and every way carry themselves as became his peo-people Then he made a Covenant between the King and the people viz. that the King should govern them righteously and that they should yield due obedience unto him Athaliah being at the Palace which was near the Temple and hearing these great loud acclamations of the peo-people and of such as in the great Court stood about the King she with a few of her servants that were about her rusht into the Temple through the Guards and when she came to the great Court she saw the King standing by the Pillar on the Brazen Scaffold with the Crown on his head and the Trumpeters about him blowing and all the people there present wonderfully rejoicing upon this she rent her clothes and cried out Treason Treason Jehoiada immediately commanded the Officers and Commanders to lay hold on her and to have her out of the ranges and and to kill any man that offered to rescue her and to carry her out of the Temple and to slay her which accordingly they did in the
himself as 't is thought to meet him with his Army and having discomfited him he led away abundance of them captives in such scornful manner as is expressed Isa 20.4 So shall the King of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners and the Ethiopians captive young and old naked and barefoot even with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt And the Jews were ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory Isa 20. from 3 to the end After this victory over the Ethiopians and Egyptians it seems the Assyrians did reinforce their siege of Jerusalem begirting it with a vast host of men though Sennacherib himself in person did not come thither as may be gathered from Isa 37.33 Thus saith the Lord concerning the King of Assyria he shall not come into this City nor shoot an arrow there nor come before it with shields nor cast a bank against it But though he was not there himself yet his Army prest on the siege with great vigor and when there was no likelihood in an humane way but that the City should be taken by this great host then did the Lord by his holy Angel in one night destroy an hundred fourscore and five thousand of them and among them many of their Captains and Leaders and in the morning when the men of Jerusalem went out they saw all these lying dead on the ground and those few that had escap'd the sword of the Angel were fled Isa 37.36 2 King 19.35 2 Chron. 32.21 Sennacherib hearing of this prodigious slaughter of his men with shame of face returned out of the land of Iudah and went to Nineveh his chief City And the Book of Tobit tells us that at his return he in a rage slew many of the Israelites whom he had there captive Tob. 1.18 And if the King Sennacherib had slain any when he was come and fled from Iudea I buried them privately for in his wrath he killed many but the bodies were not found when they were sought for of the King Not long after Tobit says fifty-five days when he was at his Idolatrous worship in his Idol-temple two of his own Sons Adrimelech * 'T is a Tradition among the Jews that they killed their Father because he had vowed to offer them as a sacrifice to his God Nisroch if he would appease the minds of those of his subjects that were incens'd against him For many of them who had lost their Sons and Brothers and Kinsmen in the late slaughter made by the Angel at Jerusalem were highly offended with him as being the cause thereof and Sharezer slew him with the sword which done they fled presently into the land of Ararat or Armenia and Esarhaddon his Son reigned in his stead 2 King 19.36 37. 2 Chron. 32.21 Isa 37.37 38. Thus God preserved Hezekiah and his people in Ierusalem miraculously from the Assyrians and as 't is probable much enriched them by the spoil of their Camp and he manifested his favour to them by saving them out of the hands of all others also and by guiding them and guarding them on every side and taking care of them And many of Hezekiah's subjects understanding this great goodness of the Lord to him came to Ierusalem and brought offerings to the Lord in token of their thankfulness and presents to the King So that from henceforward he grew exceeding rich and made himself Treasuries for Silver and Gold and precious stones and jewels and rare spices and perfumed ointments and made himself Armories and storehouses for corn wine and oyl and stalls for all manner of beasts as horses and camels and cotes for sheep and goats Moreover he provided for himself also fenced Cities and had great abundance of flocks and herds and all sorts of worldly substance So that he was magnified in the sight of all Nations from henceforth and he prospered exceedingly in all that he went about 2 Chron. 32.22 23 27 28 29 30. Hezekiah being now become the wonder of the world for the Suns going back for his sake and Gods fighting immediately for him against his enemies and being grown rich and wealthy his heart was lifted up with pride and self-confidence and he rendred not unto the Lord according to the benefit done unto him therefore God was angry with him and his anger being kindled by his pride and ingratitude and the sins of the people he afterwards in a just judgment brought on the whole Nation the Babylonish Captivity 2 Chron. 32.25 Sennacherib being now dead as is before related and Esarhaddon his third Son succeeding him in the Kingdom it seems Merodach or Berodach Baladan Sennacherib's Lieutenant or Viceroy in Babylon taking advantage of the loss of the Assyrians before Jerusalem and of the young Kings weakness and contention with his Brothers revolted from him and made himself King of Babylon And being thus possessed of that Kingdom and informed by his Chaldeans the great Astronomers of those times of that wonderful strange alteration in the Sun's motion of which we have spoken before and hearing that it was done by the God of the Jews to assure their King of his recovery from a desperate sickness he took this occasion to send his Ambassadors to Hezekiah both to congratulate his recovery as also to inquire about this wonder of the Sun's Retrogradation and withal doubtless to assure to himself the friendship of such a King who was a known enemy to the Assyrians from whom he had lately revolted Now here God left Hezekiah to himself that he might know what was in his heart †Ita Deo deserente prodente carne Satana denuo insidiante pii labascunt and how weak and frail he was that so he might thereupon humble himself For in a vain glorious ostentation he shewed these Ambassadours all his Treasuries and riches that were in his own Palace at Jerusalem or in other houses which he had in any part of the Kingdom and he was too ambitious as it seems to assure to himself the friendship of this new King of Babylon which argued too much trust and confidence in the Babylonish aid and too much distrust of Gods care over him which was the more blame-worthy in Hezekiah who had had such large experience of Gods protection of him and of his Kingdom And it seems Hezekiah did not own the Lord in all his deliverances and mercies and magnifie him before these Ambassadors so much as he should have done Hereupon God sends the Prophet Isaiah unto him who inquires of him who these Ambassadors were and from whence they came and what they had seen Hezekiah tells him they came from Babylon and that he had shewed them all his Treasuries The Prophet then delivers to him a sad message from the Lord Behold says he the days are coming when the King of Babylon shall carry away this people and all their riches unto Babylon and thy Sons which shall issue from thee shall they make captives * This was
seemeth to have been missing ever since the beginning of Manasseh's reign who possibly at first endeavoured to burn all the Books of the Law and so this Book was hid in some secret place of the Temple by some faithful Priest that it might be preserved for future times Hilkiah having found it he sent it by Shaphan the Scribe unto the King who having heard it read all over to him was exceedingly affected therewith and rent his clothes and more especially as 't is likely at those dreadful threatnings against Idolatry which are written in Levit. 26. Deut. 28. Hereupon he immediately sent to (b) Miriam and Deborah and Anna were all Prophetesses Thus the Lord is pleas'd to endue some women with the spirit of Prophesie to shew that he is not tyed to any sex Huldah a famous Prophetess who dwelt in Ierusalem in the suburbs or second part and desired her to ask counsel of the Lord for him Ieremy possibly being not then at Ierusalem but at Anathoth For Iosiah hearing those curses in the Law denounced against Idolatry and knowing how much some of his Predecessors had been guilty thereof he much seared lest the judgments threatned in that Book might fall upon him and his people and desired to know whither there might be any means to pacifie Gods wrath and prevent those judgments Huldah returned this answer Thus saith the Lord Behold I will bring evil upon this place and upon the inhabitants thereof even all the curses written in the Book which the King of Judah hath read because they have forsaken me and burnt incense to other gods and have provoked me to anger with the works of their hands viz. their idols and altars therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place and shall not be quenched intimating the utter extirpation of the Jews out of that good land but to the King of Judah who sent you say to him Thus saith the Lord as touching the words and threatnings which thou hast heard read out of the Book because thy heart was tender and soon moved at the hearing of my threatnings and thou hast humbled thy self before me when thou heardest what I spake against this place and the inhabitants thereof that they should become a desolation and a curse that is have the curses written in this Book executed upon it and hast rent thy clothes and wept before me Behold I will gather thee unto thy pious ancestors in heaven before these dreadful calamities shall fall upon this place and people and thou shalt be gathered unto thy grave in peace This answer of Huldahs being brought to the King his heart was so affected with it that to prevent if it were possible this judgment threatned he called together the Elders of Judah and Jerusalem together with the Priests and Prophets viz. Jeremy Baruck Zephany and Vriah and the people both small and great and caused one of the Levites to read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Covenant * The Law is called a Cove an t because obedâ—ence was therein requir'd on the peoples part and a blessing thereupon promised on Gods part so called because it contained the Covenant that God made with the people of Israel See 1 King 8.9 And the King stood by the Pillar on the Brasen Scaffold or on some Throne erected by a pillar in the Temple for him to stand upon at that time and there solemnly made a Covenant before the Lord in his own name and the name of the people to walk after the Lord that is to observe what he prescrib'd unto them and to keep his commandments testimonies and statutes with all their heart and with all their soul and to perform the words of the Covenant written in that Book and he caused all that were present to give their consent to it and the inhabitants of Jerusalem were the most forward to engage themselves to walk according to the Covenant of the Lord God of their Fathers and did accordingly so walk Then the King commanded Hilkiah the High Priest and the Priests that were next unto him and the Levites to bring forth out of the Temple * Josiah did begin to purge Judah and Jerusalem of Idols in the twelfth year of his reign six years before the Book of the Law was found but upon hearing those dreadful threatnings in the Law against Idolatry he now proceeded further and perfected that reformation which was then begun Therefore the Penman of the Sacred History of the Chronicles relating the Reformation that Josiah wrought in the twelfth year of his reign adds also what was done afterwards when the Book of the Law was found and speaking how he suppressed Idolatry upon the hearing of the Law read to him he joins many things of the same nature that were done in the twelfth year of his reign that all his zealous acts in rooting out Idolatry might he related together all the vessels that were made for Baal and used in his worship or in the Idolatrous worship of the Groves or of the Host of Heaven and he burnt them in the field by which the river Kidron did run and carried the ashes of them to Bethel therewith to defile the prime seat of Jeroboams Idolatry These things had been us'd by Manasseh and Amon but were set aside as it seems in some by-place of the Temple in Josiah's time and seeing still they remained there this good King's zeal would not permit them to be there any longer And he put down the Idolatrous Priests or Chemarim whom the Kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in high places in the Cities of Judah and in places round about Jerusalem He put down those also who burnt incense to Baal or to the Sun Moon and the Planets and host of heaven and he brought out the Image whereon a grove was engraven which it seems was hung up in the Temple and stampt it to powder and cast the dust thereof upon the graves of those that had worshipped Idols and sacrificed unto them 2 Chron. 34.4 And he brake down the Tents of the Sodomites that were in the grove by the house of the Lord and where the women wove hangings for those filthy tents so that in that grove they not only worshipped Idols but as it seems defiled themselves also with all manner of abominable uncleanness And he brought all the Priests that were the Sons of Aaron and had served the true God in high places out of the Cities where they had exercised that false worship and would not suffer them to live there and he defiled the high places even from Geba the North border of the Kingdom of Judah to Beersheba the South-border and beat down their Altars and burned dead mens bones on them v. 14. to make them unclean and brake down the high places that were erected at the entring of the Gates by Joshua the Governour of the City whither it seems many of the people used to
things shall go better with them At the evening time it shall be light he prophesies also that the Doctrine of Salvation shall spread to all parts of the world and that Christ shall be King over all the earth and shall be acknowledged as the only Saviour both by Jews and Gentiles and that his name only shall be preached invocated and worshipped and that Idols shall be rejected Further a particular promise is made of the exaltation restitution and safety of converted Israel v. 10 11. and sore judgments are threatned against the enemies of the Church viz. that they shall be cut off as by a consumption v. 12. by intestine discord v. 13. by the hand of the Church v. 14. and that the stroke should reach all those means they had imployed against the Church viz. their very beasts for carriage and service should share in the plague v. 15. Next there is a promise of the conversion of many of these enemies of the Church when they shall see Gods judgments on the rest and that they shall acknowledg Christ and joyn with the Church in this publick spiritual worship which is expressed in terms taken from the outward ceremonial worship of the old Testament v. 16. And if they did not God would impart none of his blessings to them but inflict a curse upon them v. 17 18 19. Lastly there is a promise of the holiness and purity of the Church in that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses holiness to the Lord that is all the superfluities of these new converts shall be turn'd into charity and so consecrated to God and they shall offer frequent sacrifices of thanksgiving described in a way of allusion to the ancient ceremonial service and that in the time of the Messiah no people or Nation shall be excluded from the worship of God for the Nations that were before unclean shall then be holy to the Lord. Chap. 14. whole Chapter Sixth year of Darius In the sixth year of Darius towards the latter end thereof on the third day of the twelfth Month called Adar was the structure of the Temple finished about twenty years after the foundation was laid The Dedication whereof the Israelites which returned out of the Captivity celebrated with great joy and abundance of Sacrifices though it was not to be compared to the magnificent dedication of Solomons Temple of which we read 1 King 8.5 v. 63. 2 Chron. 7.5 And they set the Priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses for the service of the Temple according as Moses had enjoyned Upon the 14th day of the first Month they and the proselytes that had joyned themselves to them celebrated the first Passover in the second Temple keeping also the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great joy for that God had turned the heart of the Emperour of Persia who was now also King of Assyria towards them whereas Cambyses's had been turned against them Ezra 6. from 19 to the end The seventh year of Darius In the seventh year of Ahashuerus's reign when Esther was brought unto the King she obtained favour in his eyes above all other damsels insomuch that he put the Crown of the Kingdom upon her head and made her Queen in the room of Vashti Esth 2. from 12 to 18. Ahashuerus in honour of his new Espousals made a most sumptuous feast for all his Princes and servants and called it Esther's feast at which he eased the Provinces of many Taxes and gave gifts answerable to the state and magnificence of so great a King Esth Ch. 2. v. 18. When there was a second gathering of Virgins possibly to chose some out of them to attend upon Queen Esther Mordecai was one of the Kings Porters and attended at the Gate of the Palace It so happened that two of the Kings Chamberlains being exceedingly offended as 't is probable at the Kings putting away of Vashti on whom as 't is like they had attended and at his taking of this new Queen who was crowned with so great solemnity they conspired to take away his life This as Josephus thinks was discovered to Mordecai by a Jew who was servant to one of them Mordecai immediately discovered it to the Queen and she to the King acquainting him that Mordecai had done him this faithful service that so she might bring him into his favour Inquisition being made about this matter and it being found to be true the Conspirators were both hanged and the thing was registred in the Book that continually lay before the King for him to read in at his pleasure Esth 2. from 19 to the end Sometime after as it seems Ahashuerus promoted Haman the Son of Amadetha of the Royal stock of Agag King of the Amalekites who were ever bitter enemies to the Jews as may appear Deut. 25.17 19. and advanced him above all his Princes and commanded his servants to bow unto him and do him more than ordinary reverence Mordecai was not satisfied in conscience to pay him that respect because he was a professed enemy of Gods people and withal one of that accursed Nation against whom the Jews were by the Law bound to oppose themselves in perpetual enmity Exod. 17.16 The Apocryphal Additions of Esther do assign this as the true reason of Mordecai's refusal whom they bring in saying thus Chap. 13.12 13 14. O Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that it was neither in contempt nor pride nor for any desire of glory that I did not bow down to proud Haman I could have been content with good will for the salvation of Israel to have kissed the soles of his feet but I did this that I might not prefer the glory of man above the glory of God So far that Author But however it was Haman was desperately enraged at it yet thought it a mean revenge for him to destroy Mordecai alone and therefore resolved for his sake to be reveng'd on all his Nation and if possible to root it quite it out And for the better executing of this his bloody purpose that he might find out the most lucky and successful time as he superstitiously thought for the accomplishing of it on the first month Nisan in the twelfth year of Ahashuerus about four years after Esther was married to him he caused Pur that is a lot to be cast before him which was a kind of divination used in those times to find out what month and day would be most lucky for the accomplishing his intended revenge And the lot fell upon the twelfth and last month of the year and the thirteenth day of it And thus by the Providence of God over-ruling the superstition of this wretch a way was made for the preservation of the Jews as we shall see afterwards Haman having found out the lucky time as he thought for the accomplishing his wicked intent he comes now to the King to get leave and authority from him to put it
to Simeon the Just among other heads of Doctrine had taught that they ought not to be like servants who served their Masters mercinarily and only for rewards Sadoc and Baithus interpreted this good saying into a bad sense inferring from thence that there was no reward after this life and thereupon denied the future state and Angels and Spirits and so framed their Heresie The third Sect was that of the Esseni who its probable sprang from the Pharisees They had skill in Physick and thence some would derive their name from Asa which signifieth to heal They were accounted in some things more strict than the Pharisees themselves Simon dying and leaving behind him only one Son named Onias then an infant his brother Eleazar the Son of Onias the first took upon him the High Priesthood of the Jews Ptolemaeus Philadelphus second King of Egypt being a great favourer of learning and all Liberal Arts and Sciences in the seventh year of his reign built a very famous Library at Alexandria He committed the care of getting Books of all sorts and out of all Countries to Demetrius Phalereus who was not only a great Grammarian and Philosopher but also had been a great Statesman and an excellent Governour in Athens Now to make this collection of Books he had this advantage as 't is reported of him Aristotle at his death left his Library to Theophrastus and he at his death lest his own and Aristotle's Books to Neleus Scepsius and of him Ptolemy bought them besides others which he bought at Athens and Rhodes and brought them all to Alexandria 'T is said that he gathered together 20000 Books or Manuscripts Demetrius Phalereus advised Ptolomy to send to have the holy writings of the Jews to be translated out of the Hebrew into the Greek But Aristeas who was an attendant about him at that time advised him for the purchasing of that translation to set all the Jews who were then slaves in Egypt at liberty and to send them home which Ptolemy agreeing unto 't is said the number of them came to One hundred thousand souls and every one of them cost the King a hundred and twenty drachms as Josephus says Now an hundred and twenty drachms make thirty Sicles or Stateres which was the price of a slaves See Exod. 21.32 At which rate our Saviour was sold by Judas so that the price which Ptolemy paid to redeem the Jews from their Masters came to above 400 Talents In which redemption the like price was paid for every sucking child of them together with their mothers whom they sucked whence it is that Josephus says that Ptolemy paid in this kind upward of 460 Talents Of these Jews Ptolemy took the younger sort and ablest of them into his Army and of the rest such as he thought fit he employed in his private affairs as he himself in his Letters to Eleazar the High Priest affirmeth And with those Letters he sent also rich presents to the use of the Temple at Jerusalem by Andreas and Aristaeas his two servants to be delivered to the High Priest as namely a Golden Table of two cubits long and no less than half a cubit thick all of solid gold also twenty goblets of like gold and thirty of silver and precious stones to the number of five thousand of very great value Besides which he sent an hundred Talents to buy sacrifices and for other uses of the Temple Eleazar the Priest receiving these presents he chose six principal men out of every Tribe for after the Captivity there remained some of all the Tribes as we have shewed before and such as were most eminent for gravity learning and experience who should translate Gods Law out of Hebrew into Greek the particular names of which Seventy two Elders are expresly delivered by Aristaeas Eleazar also sent a Letter to the King full of respect and thankfulness when he sent the Seventy two Interpreters to him who coming to Alexandria presented the King with such gifts and presents as Eleazar had sent unto him together with sundry Parchments wherein the Law was written in Hebrew in golden letters and the Parchments so joyned together that the seaming of them could not be discerned by the eye of man And it fell out that they came thither at a happy time viz. when news came to him of a great victory obtained by his Navy at Sea against Antigonus Ptolemy receiveth these Seventy two Interpreters with great respect feasts them seven days in a most magnificent manner and afterwards appoints one Dorotheus to take care of them and to supply them with all necessaries not letting them want for any thing for their Table or otherwise And the King himself would now and then put questions to them some concerning affairs of State some concerning Morality whereunto they made him prudent and well advised answers as we find in Aristaeas who took all that he wrote out of the King 's Diaries Three days after Demetrius led these Interpreters into the Isle of Pharos and there placed them in a goodly house and far off from any noise or tumult and there they set themselves every one to his work of the Translation most exactly fitting it to the meaning of the Original which done Demetrius caused it to be fairly exscribed Every day they sat at it till three a Clock the afternoon and then went and took their repast having all things abundantly provided for them and especially their diet which was of the same kind that was provided for the Kings own Table Moreover every morning early they came to Court and there having paid their respects to him and wished him a good morrow returned to their place and there having washed their hands as their manner was and prayed they set themselves to read and to interpret from point to point It so fell out that this work of the Seventy two Interpreters was finished in seventy two days as if it had been so cast by them of set purpose Which done Demetrius calling them all together in the place where it was done read it all over in the presence of them all and they as the Authors and finishers of so great and good a work were highly commended and magnified by all the Jews there present Demetrius also himself wanted not his share of praises among them and they besought him that he would deliver a copy of the Law so translated to their Rulers which Was accordingly done When the work was thus finished it was read all over to the King who exceedingly admired the wisdom of the Legislator and commanded all possible care to be taken thereof and that it should be religiously laid up and kept He also desired the Interpreters themselves that after their return home they would not fail to come often to him again And he gave to every one of them three fair Gowns two talents of gold a cup of one talent and the full furniture of a Chamber And moreover to Eleazar the High Priest
Galilee and Petrea or the Country beyond Jordan Philip he makes Tetrarch of Trachonitis Gaulonitis Batanea that is the Land called Basan and Paneada nearer the heads of Jordan To Salome his Sister he gave Jamnia Azotus and Phasaelis and fifty thousand drachms to several of his Kindred he gave money and yearly Pensions and to Cesar and Livia his Wife he left great Legacies Herod having thus ordered matters five days after he had put Antipater to death he died himself about the 25th of our November having enjoyed the Kingdom 34 years from his Conquest over Antigonus but 37 years from the time he was first made King by the Romans and about the 70 year of his age Solome and Alexas before the death of the King was known discharged those Nobles that were shut up in the Hippodrome Then was the Kings death declared and all the Soldiers called into the Theater at Jericho and there they first read the Kings Letters to the Soldiers in which giving them thanks for their fidelity and love to him he desires them that they would do the like for his Son Archelaus whom he had appointed his Successor in the Kingdom Then the Kings Testament was read then was there a shout for joy that Archelaus was King the people praying God to prosper him A Royal Funeral was prepared by Archelaus for his Father The Body was carried in Funeral Pomp from Jericho to the Castle Herodion where he himself had appointed it to be buried they going each day but Eight Furlongs or an Italian Mile It was carried in a Golden Litter set with precious Stones Bearing-Cloth of Purple The Body also was cloathed with Purple and a Diadem on his head and a Scepter in his right hand and over his head hung a Crown of Gold His Son and Kindred marched about the Litter then followed the Soldiers marshalled according to their several Nations then 500 Servants bearing Perfumes The Ceremony of the Funeral being ended Archelaus coming to Jerusalem solemnized a Mourning for his Father seven days according to the Jewish Custom and at the end of the Mourning made a Funeral Banquet to the multitude After this going up to the Temple and there sitting on a Golden Throne he spake very graciously to the people but withal said He would not take upon him the name of King till Cesar had confirmed his Fathers Testament FINIS Some BOOKS Printed for and Sold by Thomas Simmons at the Princes-Arms in Ludgate-street 1. THE Lives of sundry Eminent Persons in this latter Age in two Parts I. Of Divines viz. Mr. Hugh Broughton Mr. Rob. Boid Dr. â—wiss Mr. Tho. Wilson Dr. Sam. Bolton Mr. Richard Vines Mr. Richard Blackerby Mr. Ralph Robinson Mr. John Janeway Mr. John Machia Dr. Sam. Winter Mr. Tho. Tregoss Mr. Rich. Mather Mr. Joseph Allein Dr. Staunton Mr. Sam. Fairclough Mr. Tho. Wadsworth Mr. O. Stockton and Mr. Tho. Gouge To which are added some remarkable passages in the Lives and Deaths of divers Eminent Divines in the Church of Scotland viz. Mr. John Scringer Mr. Rob. Blair Mr. Andr. Steward Mr. John Welch Mr. Hugh Kennedy Mr. Rob. Bruce Mr. Davidson and Mr. Patr. Simpson Together with an account of several Providences strange and extraordinary II. Of Nobility and Gentry of both Sexes viz. Sir Phil. Sidney Sir Charles Coot Mr. John Lamot Sir N. Bernardiston Mr. John Rowe Sir Mat. Hale Mrs. Mary Gunter Lady Alice Lucy Lady Mary Vere Mrs. Kath. Clark Countess of Warwick Mrs. Marg. Baxter Lady Armine Lady Langham and Countess of Suffolk by Samuel Clark sometimes Pastor of Bennet-Fink London To which is added the Life of the Author In Folio 2. Church-History of the Government of Bishops and their Councils abbreviated including the chief part of the Government of Christian Princes and Popes and a true account of the most troubling Controversies and Heresies till the Reformation By Richard Baxter a Hater of false History In Quarto 3. A Treatise of Episcopacy confuting by Scripture Reason and the Churches Testimony that sort of Diocesan Churches Prelacy and Government which casteth out the Primitive Church Species Episcopacy Ministry and Discipline and confounds the Christian World by corruption Usurpation Schism and Persecution Meditated in the year 1640 when the Et caetera Oath was imposed written 1671 and cast by Published 1680 by the importunity of our Superiors who demand the Reasons of our Nonconformity By Rich. Baxter In Quarto 4. Forgetfulness of God the great Plague of mans heart and Consideration of the principal means to cure it By W.D. M.A. and once fellow of Kings Col. Cambridge 5. Londinum Triumphans or an Historical Account of the grand influence the Actions of the City of London have had upon the affairs of the Nation for many ages past Shewing the antiquities honour glory and renown of this famous City the grounds of her rights priviledges and franchises the foundation of her Charter the improbability of its forfeiture or seisure the power and strength of the Citizens and the several contests that have been betwixt the Magistracy and the Commonalty Collected from the most authentick Authors and illustrated with variety of remarks worthy the perusal of every Citizen By Will. Gough Gent. In Octavo 6. The five days Debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum 1. Upon Comforts against Death 2. Patience under pain 3. The cure of Discontent 4. The Government of the Passions 5. The chief end of man Between Master and Sophister In Oct. 7. The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary Impositions are not the oyl that must heal the Church together with the way or means to do it By a Country-Gentleman who goes to Common-Prayer and not to Meetings In Octavo 8. A Private Psalter or Manual of Devotion composed by a Minister under the apprehension of the Stone which may serve for all Christians with the omission of any such petition which is peculiar or not suitable and the addition of others as are suitable to every ones proper condition In Octavo 9. Magna Charta made in the ninth year of King Henry the Third and confirmed by King Edward the First in the 28th year of his Reign With some short but necessary observations from the L. Chief Justice Cook 's Comments upon it Faithfully translated for the benefit of those that do not understand the Latin By Edw. Cook of the Middle-Temple Esq In Octavo 10. The Plea of the Children of Believing Parents for their interest in Abraham's Covenant their right to Church-membership with their Parents and consequently their title to Baptism The cause of publishing this Discourse after so many Learned men have laboured in this Province is declared in the Preface to the Reader By Giles Firmin In Octavo 11. The Traveller's Guide and the Countries safety Being a Declaration of the Laws of England against High-way men or Robbers upon the Road what is necessary and requisite to be done by such persons as are robbed in order to the recovering of their damages against whom
due time to perform what God commanded them in driving out the Canaanites out of the Land Now the Canaanites that were left in the Land and not cast out were these viz. five Lords of the Philistines viz. the Lords of Ashdod Gaza Askelon Gath and Ekron and the Canaanites Sidonians and Hivites that dwelt about Libanus and from Mount Baal-hermon on the East of Libanus to the entring in of Hamath a City in the North of Canaan afterwards call'd Antiochia The Children of Israel dwelling thus among the Canaanites grew extreamly corrupt so that they served their gods and the Idols which they set up and worshipped in Groves and made interchangeable Marriages with them Upon which great Provocations the Lord gave them up into the hands of Chushan-rishathaim King of Mesopotamia 'T is like he first brake in upon the Tribes that lay on the other side of Jordan and then incroached upon those within Jordan by degrees And this was their first Servitude (g) First Servitude under Cushan eight years Othniel first Judge which continued eight years Then returning unto the Lord and crying unto Him for Mercy and Forgiveness He was pleased to raise up for them a Saviour and Deliverer namely Othniel the Son of Kenaz Caleb's Nephew and Son in law see Ch. 1.13 so that to the great Honour of the Children of Judah the first Judge after Joshua was of their Tribe Thus that Prophesie was made good Gen. 49.8 Judah thou art He whom thy Brethren shall praise thy Hand shall be in the Neck of thine Enemies thy Fathers Children shall bow down before thee Othniel being thus raised up by God to this high Office The Spirit of the Lord came upon him that is he was furnished with those Gifts and Graces that were requisite to make him a wise and valiant General in War and a prudent Governour in Peace and the Lord gave Cushan into his hands so that he prevailed against him and delivered the Israelites out of their Bondage under Him And so the Land had rest forty years Not as if there were forty years of Peace in the Land uninterrupted from this time but the Land had Rest till forty years were expired from the first Rest wherein it was setled by Joshua before his death And then Othniel died Judg. 2. from 11. to the end Ch. 3. from 1. to 12. SECT CXXXIV AFter the death of Othniel the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the Lord and He stirred up Eglon King of Moab and gave him Courage and Resolution to go against Israel and he joyning with the Ammonites and Amalekites overthrew them and took Jericho that is possessed himself of the Lands and Territories thereabout where the City of Jericho once stood and possibly built some great Fortress there that he might have the Command of the Fords of Jordan that being the passage over to his own Country Second Oppression under Eglon eighteen years Ehud second Judge And this second Oppression continued eighteen years The Israelites then crying unto the Lord for help he raised up for them Ehud Son of Gera of the Tribe of Benjamin which was but a little before almost wholly destroyed a man left-handed By Him the Children of Israel sent a Present to Eglon which Opportunity he readily embraced having a design to kill Him And being stirred up as 't is probable by the Spirit of God to do it He accordingly provided himself of a Dagger fit for the purpose Then going with the Present to Eglon and humbly presenting it to Him He with those that brought it take their leave and depart When they were come as far back as the Quarries by Gilgal He himself returns again to the King who was in his Summer-Parlour and addressing himself to him tells him He had a secret Message to him The King bids him forbear delivering his Message till his Servants and Attendants were gone out of the Room They being gone Ehud tells him He had a Message from God to him Eglon hearing this rose up as if he would give some respect to such a Messuage Ehud then drawing out his Dagger thrust it into his Belly and gave him such a deadly blow that he left him who had so long oppressed the people of God wallowing in his own blood and dung Then shutting the door after him and locking it having as 't is probable a Spring-lock he quietly and with a composed Countenance passed away The Servants finding the door shut and locked they concluded that the King covered his feet in his Summer-Chamber that is that He had laid himself down to sleep because when they did so they used to cast some covering over their feet as it is said of Ruth when she went to lie down by Boaz as he lay sleeping at the end of his heap of Corn Ruth 3.7 That she uncovered his feet and laid her self down So when Saul went into the Cave where David and his men were 1 Sam. 24.3 't is said Saul went in to cover his feet that is to lie down and sleep there for a while else how could David cut off the Skirt of his Garment and not be perceived if he had not been asleep The Servants having staid a great while and finding the King did not open the door they began to be ashamed they had stayed so long and not looked after their Master sooner fearing that some evil had befallen him Then taking a Key it being usual in Kings Houses for the Servants to have Keys to their Masters doors and opening the door they found their Lord dead Ehud thus escaping He came to Mount Ephraim and there blew a Trumpet and gathering the Children of Israel together He tells them what he had done and that the Lord had delivered the Moabites into their hands Then bidding them follow him he went down with them and took the Fords of Jordan that neither the Moabites now in Canaan might escape to their own Country nor those in the Land of Moab pass over Jordan to aid their Brethren in Canaan Then he fell with his Forces upon the Moabites and the Israelites slew ten thousand of them at that time even lusty and stout men So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel and the Land had rest fourscore years to wit after the former rest and Deliverance procured to them by Othniel In the time of those 80 years the Philistines making some Inroads into the Lands of the Israelites Shamgar the Son of Anath who seems to be some Country-man or Farmer of Note did on a suddain raise the Country thereabouts and they (h) Some think that this Victory of Shamgar's was miraculous and that he himself slew 600 as Sampson slew a 1000 of them with the Jaw-bone of an Asse Ch. 15.15 16. with their Ox-goads set upon the Philistines and slew 600 of them So that He was a Deliverer though not a Judge Judg. Ch. 3. from 12. to the end SECT CXXXV The Book of Ruth
HEre the History * Some think Samuel the Pen-man of this History of Ruth according to the judgment of learned men falls in which serves mainly to declare how Ruth being married to Boaz Son to Salmon a Prince of the Tribe of Judah who married Rahab that entertained the Spies at Jericho bore unto him Obed who was the Grandfather of David of whom according to the Flesh Christ came Matth. 1.5 As also to shew that Christ deriving his Humanity from the Gentiles as well as the Jews Ruth being a Moabitess Salvation by Christ belongs not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles also The History of Ruth is in brief this God at this time it seems for the sins of the people of Israel had sent a Famine among them Upon this Elimelech of Bethlem-Judah or Bethlem-Ephrata so called to distinguish it from another Bethlem in Zebulun Josh 19.15 with his wife Naomi and his two Sons Mahlon and Chilion went over into the Land of Moab to Sojourn there during the Famine Here Elimelech dies and after his decease his two Sons married to two Daughters of Moab (i) If they had embraced the true Religion before they married them doubtless they offended against the law Deut. 7.2 Nehem. 13.23 That Ruth had embraced the true Religion appeareth plain v. 16. Ch. 2.12 of Orpah the case is doubtful Ch. 1.15 whose Names were Orpah and Ruth and having lived there with them about ten years both these young men died without Children Thus Naomi lost both her Husband and her two Sons in this Country She hearing at last that the Lord had visited his people in mercy and sent them plenty again she resolves to return to her own Country It seems both her Daughters-in-law did intend at first to have gone with her into the Land of Judah and did both of them accompany her part of the way thither But she advised them both to return to their own Mothers for 't was pity they should leave them and go with a Mother-in-law into a strange Country Therefore she said to them Return back and the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with your Husbands my Sons that are now dead and as ye have dealt with me My prayer to the Lord is that He would please to provide you good Husbands with whom ye may live comfortably and who may be able to defend you from Injuries and provide things necessary for you that so your Husbands houses may be places of rest and true content unto you Then she kissed them to take her farewel of them but they lifted up their Voice and wept and said They would not leave her but would go along with her to her people Naomi pressed them again to return Alas says she there are no more Sons in my Womb that according to the Law Deut. 25.5 6 might make you Husbands There is no expectation of any such thing from me who am old Besides if it should be supposed that I should be married to an Husband this night and should have Sons by him surely you would not stay for them till they were of age fit to make you Husbands Therefore return to your own Friends For though the Hand of God is gone out against me and is heavy upon me and He hath brought me low yet it grieves me not so much for my self as for you that I am not able to yield you any comfort or support at all Then they lift up their Voice and wept again being much affected with these tender Speeches of Hers to them Quia non Religione sed humanitate mota fuit ad sequendum socrum However Orpah thinking it best for her to return kissed her Mother-in-law and took a final Farewel of her but Ruth clave to her and told Her She would not forsake her Naomi told her She saw her Sister was gone back to her people and the Country where the (k) Possibly Orpah after her Husbands death had fallen back to the Idolatry of the Moabites gods of the Moabites were worshipped Go thou therefore says she after her (l) V. 15. Tentativè dictum non positivé Ruth desir'd her not to press her to leave her For says she whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge thy people shall be my people and thy God my God Where thou diest I will die and where thou art buried there will I be buried also The Lord do so to me (m) A form of an Oath which not only the Jews but other Nations used by which they prayed God to send some great evil upon them if they did not speak truly see 1 King 19.2 20.10 But they were naturally afraid to mention the evil they wished to themselves or others not daring to use such desperate particular Imprecations as the prodigious Wretches of our Age do and more also if ought but death part thee and me Naomi perceiving her stedfastness left off pressing her further and so they went on till they came to Bethlem When they came thither the Inhabitants of that Town were amaz'd to see her who had lived in so good fashion among them and went out with her Husband and two Sons return now in so poor a Condition with only a young Widow hanging on her And they ask'd with some admiration Is this Naomi She answered Call me not Naomi which signifies Pleasant but Mara which signifies Bitter for the Lord hath brought many bitter Sorrows and Afflictions upon me I went out full but the Lord hath brought me home empty The Lord hath testified his Displeasure against me and convinc'd me of my Sins by laying these sharp Afflictions on me Ruth 1. 'T was about the beginning of Barley-Harvest in the Month Nisan answering to part of our March and part of our April when they came to Bethlem and there lived as it seems in a very poor Condition Ruth told her Mother-in-law She had a mind to go out and Glean if she could find a mans Field who would so much favour her as to give her leave And herein she expressed her humility and modesty that she would not make use of the liberty allowed by the Law Levit. 19.9 without the leave and consent of the Owner Her Mother bids her go She accordingly went and it happen'd that she lighted upon a Field that belonged to Boaz a rich Kinsman of Elimelech's and making suit to the Overseer of the Reapers that she might have leave to glean after them she obtained her desire Boaz coming to see his Reapers said to them The Lord bless and prosper you and your labour They answered The Lord multiply his blessings on thee Boaz ask'd his Bailiff Who that Damsel was who was there gleaning He told him She was the Moabitess that came back with Naomi out of Moab to whom he had given leave to glean and she had followed her gleaning hard from morning to that time only now in the heat of the