people were mustered in the Citie of Bala In this suruey besides those of the tribe of Iuda there were numbred seuen hundreth thousand men and of the tribe of Iuda in particular there were seuentie thousand Hauing therefore passed Iordan and marched some ten cables length of Nilus which is about some three leagues all the night time before the sunne rise he attained the place whither he intended to conduct them and deuiding his army into three parts he assailed the enemie on euery side that expected no such encountry and fighting valiantly against them he slew diuers and amongst the rest Nahas king of the Ammonites This victorie made Sauls name famous amongst all the Hebrewes so that he was wonderfully praised and honoured for his valour so that if before that time any one had contemned him at that time they chaunged their opinions and honoured him and accounted him the worthiest of them all For he was not satisfied to redeeme and deliuer those of Iabes but he entred the countrey of the Ammonites also and forraged the same with his army and vtterly ouerthrew them and after he had obtained a great bootie and pray both he and his victoriously magnifically returnd to their dwelling places The people highly pleased with this noble action atchieued by Saul reioyced because they had chosen them so noble a King and exclaimed against those that said that it would be discommodious and vnprofitable for their common-weale saying where are now these murmurers let them be put to death with other such like words that a people besorted with some good successe is wont to speake and inforce against them that set light by the authors inducers of the same Saul receiued great content and comfort thorow this good liking and allowance of the people yet notwithstanding he swore that no one of their tribe should be put to death that day because it would not seeme conuenient nor agreeable that the victorie which was giuen them by God should be mixed with the bloud of their brethren but rather that it was more decent and comely that the time should be spent in feast and iollitie Hereupon Samuel told them that it behooued them to confirme the kingdome to Saul by a second election and to that end they assembled together in the Citie of Galgal according as he had commanded them and there in the sight of all the people Samuel annointed Saul the second time with the consecrated oyle and proclaimed him king ar◅ew Thus was the Aristocracie and gouernment of the better sort amongst the Hebrewes turned into a Monarchie For vnder Moses and his disciple Iesus who gouerned the Empyre and armie at that time the nobilitie and elected worthie men ruled the state After whose death for the space of 18. whole yeares the people was without gouernment the common-weale not long after reassumed her pristine pollicie and the gouernment was giuen vnto him which was esteemed the most valiant in warre and the most vpright in doing of Iustice. All which time for this cause hath beene called the time of the Iudges After this the Prophet Samuel assembled the people and spake vnto them after this manner I coniure you by that great God that hath giuen life to those two brothers I meane Moses and Aaron and that hath deliuered your forefathers from the Egyptians and their tyranny that without any affection either of feare or shame or instigation of any other passion you truly testifie whether I haue committed any sinister or wicked act either for profit sake or for auarice or fauor Reproue me if I haue taken away any mans calfe or sheepe or any other thing-whatsoeuer but that which I might lawfully take for my reliefe and sustenance and at such hands as willingly offered me the same or if I haue drawen any mans beasts to my vse or vsed his cattell to my profit and his hinderance in these and such like if I haue offended any man let him now accuse me in the presence of the king All of them cried out with one voice that no such default had beene committed by him but that he had gouerned their nation in holines and iustice After that the people had thus publikely testified in the behalfe of Samuel he said vnto them Since you haue liberally freely protested that you haue no cause of wrong to vrge or inforce against me heare I pray you that wherewith I can iustly accuse you of You haue grieuously offended against the maiestie of God in that you haue required a king at his hands you should haue rather remembred that your old father Iacob accompanied onely with his 70. sons came into Egypt constrained thereunto by famine and that in that countrey diuers thousands of persons issued from his loynes whom the Egyptians kept in captiuitie offering them extreme outrages And whenas your fathers called vpon God how he wonderfully deliuered thē from the necessities wherin they were without giuing them any king contenting themselues with two brothers Moses and Aaron who brought and conducted you into this countrey which you possesse at this present And although you participated these benefits by the hands of God yet notwithstanding you haue not forborne both to forget religion and neglect pietie This notwithstanding at such time as you haue beene conquered by your enemies he hath set you free gracing you first of all with the ouerthrow of the Assyrians their forces secondly giuing you victorie ouer the Ammonites and Moabites and finally ouer the Philistines Now these great exploits were performed by you not vnder the conduct of a king but by the direction of Ieptha and Gedeon what folly therefore hath bewirched you to make you flie from God and to seeke to liue vnder the subiection of a king But I haue named such a one vnto you whom God hath chosen to be your gouernour Notwithstāding to the intent that I may giue you a manifest testimony that Gods wrath is whetted against you because you haue desired to haue a king I will striue to expresse it vnto you by visible signes done by God himselfe I will therefore require of God that he wil make you see in this place and in the hart of sommer such a storme that there is not any one of you that hath euer seene the like thereof Scarce had he spoken the words but that so dainly there fell great store of lightning thunder and haile in approbation of that which the Prophet had said so that amased and transported with feare all of them confessed that they had offended They notwithstanding professed that their errour was of ignorance not of obstinacie and besought the Prophet that with a good and fatherly affection he would beseech God to appease his wrath towards them and forgiue them their offences at that present which to their other grieuous negligences they had annexed and whereby they had transgressed his holy will All which Samuel promised them to
Moses seeing that Pharao would not repent nor let the people of Israel depart he came vnto him and spake after this manner As long as you shall resist the ordinance of God who commaundeth you to suffer the Hebrewes to depart there is no meanes whereby you may be exempted from these mischiefes in doing that which you doe The King enraged at these words threatned him to cut off his head if once more he durst appeare in his presence to motion vnto him any such matter Moses answered him that he would no more speake vnto him as touching this matter but that both himselfe and the chiefest among the Aegyptians woulde exhorte the Hebrewes to depart which said he forsooke his presence But God intending to expresse that he meant yet once more to plague the Aegyptians and to constraine them to deliuer the Hebrewes he commaunded Moses to declare vnto the people that they should haue their sacrifice in a readinesse and hauing prepared it the thirteenth day of the moneth Xanthicus to celebrate the same the 14. of the said moneth by the Egyptians called Pharmuth and by the Hebrewes Nisan and Xanthicus by the Macedonians and that he should lead forth all the Hebrewes bearing with them all their goods Whereupon he who had the Hebrewes alreadie in a readinesse to depart and had distributed them by families kept them in one place and in the same order but when the fourteenth day was come all of them addressed to depart made sacrifice and with the bloud of the lambe purged their houses besprinkling them with branches of Isope And after they had supped they burned the flesh that remained as being on the point to addresse themselues to depart Whereupon euen at this day we retaine the said custome to sacrifice in like sort and do call this solemnitie Pascha which is as much to say as the passage by reason that on that day God leauing and ouerpassing the Hebrewes without harme stroke the Egyptians with sicknes for that plague in the night time cut off all the first begotten in Egypt so that by multitudes they that dwelt round about the pallace assembled them in the presence of the King and besought him to let the Hebrewes go for vvhich cause Pharao calling for Moses gaue order that they should depart the countrey supposing that assoone as they were gone Egypt should no more be afflicted with such like plagues Moreouer they honoured the Hebrewes with presents partly to the end they should depart vvith the more expedition partly for the neighborhood and acquaintance sake vvhich they had one with another And as they departed the Aegyptians wept and repented them of the euill vsage they had shewed vnto them but they tooke their way towards Latopolis at that time desert and in which place afterwards Babylon was builded at such time as Cambyses destroyed Aegypt The third day they came vnto Beelzephon neere vnto the red sea and for that they vvanted victuals by reason of the desart they tempered their meale with vvater and hardened it with a little heat and made cakes with vvhich they sustained themselues for the space of thirtie daies for they had not brought any more victuall out of Aegypt but as much as would serue them for that time and that which they had they dispensed verie sparingly rather feeding for necessitie then eating with sacietie For which cause in memorie of that want we celebrate a feast for the space of eight daies which we call the feast of Azymes that is to say of vnleauened bread But it is not easie to number the multitude of them that dislodged if we consider the women and children but of those that were of full age and fit to beare armes they were in number sixe hundreth thousand CHAP. VI. The Hebrewes depart out of Egypt vnder the conduct of Moses THey therefere forsooke Aegypt the fourteenth day of the moneth Xanthicus foure hundreth and thirtie yeares after Abraham our father came into Chanaan and in the two hundreth and fifteenth yeare after Iacob was transported into Aegypt the eightith yeare of Moses age who had Aaron to his brother three yeares elder than himselfe They caried also with them the bones of Ioseph according as he had commanded his sonnes But the Aegyptians repented themselues because they had suffered the Hebrewes to depart the King also was very sore moued supposing that which was fallen vpon them had happened by Moses meanes and they all concluded to pursue and follow after them They therefore armed themselues and furnished them with all their abiliments of warre intending to pursue them vnder intent to bring them backe if they might ouertake them for they said that God would no more be displeased against them for that alreadie they had giuen them leaue to depart They hoped likewise verie easily to bring them vnder subiection because they were all of them disarmed and wearied with trauaile They therefore inquired of euery one which way they held and hasted themselues to follow them although they knew the Region was very hard to trauell in not onely for those that were to march in troupe but also for those that were to iourney one by one And therefore did Moses conduct them this way to the end that if the Aegyptians should repent them of their dismission and should haste them to pursue them they might receiue the reward of their wickednes and the breach of their promise He chose this way likewise least the Palestines should vnderstand of their departure by reason they were displeased against the Hebrewes because of an auncient grudge which they bare them Now doth Palestine confine and border vpon Aegypt and therefore led he them not by the way that directly leadeth thither but he intended to bring them into Chanaan by conducting them farre about and thorow many calamities to the end that afterwards he might lead them to the mountaine of Sinai where they might offer sacrifice according to Gods commaundement As soone as the Egyptians ouertooke the Israelites they prepared themselues to fight trusting themselues to the number which they had and shut themselues into a place of securitie For with them there serued sixe hundreth chariots with fiftie thousand horsemen and two hundreth thousand armed footemen They had also stopped the passages wherethrough they thought the Hebrewes might escape enclosing them betwixt vnaccessible rockes and the sea on which place there abutteth a mountaine vnfrequented by reason of the daungerousnes of the way and by this meanes they excluded them from all hope of escape or flight For on the one side they were shut in by the mountaine that extended it selfe euen vnto the sea and on the other side by their campe pitched and embattailed before their faces to cut them off from the champion if so be they intended to flie that waies Seeing therefore that they were in no securitie but were hemmed in by the importunitie of the place and by
to a Pomgranate cut in the middest to which there is annexed and groweth a round couer as if turned and framed on purpose hauing those eminent clefts as I said like to the midst of a Pomgranate resembling the pointed and sharp thornes and pricking blades Now it contayneth a certaine fruit vnder the couer and in the whole cup is like to the seed of the herbe Sideritis his flower is not much vnlike that which springeth from the poppey Such was this crowne about the necke and the two Temples for these cups came not neere the front or brow For on the same there was as it were a bend of gold on which the name of God was engrauen Such were the ornaments of the high priest I cannot therfore but greatly wonder at the strange and causelesse malice which other nations haue conceiued against vs as if we were iniurious against the diuine maiestie which they say they so much honour For if a man marke the composition of the Tabernacle and examine the habit of the high priest and consider all the necessaries which we vse in celebrating the diuine seruice they shall find that our lawmaker was a man of a diuine spirit and that we without any desert are iniuried by other nations For if without partialitie a man will duely examine it he shall find that all things haue beene done to represent and figure the world For the Tabernacle is of thirtie cubits diuided into three parts whereof two are left for the sacrificers as a place prophaned and common signifying the land and sea wherein all sorts of creatures are conuersant But the third part is sequestred and reserued for God alone in like sort as the heauen is vnaccessible by men The table on which the twelue loaues were placed signifieth the yeare diuided into twelue moneths The candlestick made of seuentie pieces signifieth the twelue signes thorow which euery one of the seuen planets passe the seuen lampes that were therein represented the seuen planets The vailes made of foure seuerall kinds of stuffes resembled the foure Elements For the linnen seemed to represent the earth from whence it was drawen and deriued The purple resembled the sea because the purple colour is made of the bloud of a shell fish called Murex The Hyacinth signifieth the ayre and as touching the Scarlet it signifieth the fire The tunicle likewise of the high priest demonstrateth the earth for it is made of linnen The Hyacinth sheweth the pole the Pomgranates resembled the lightning as the bels the noyse of the thunder The sircot sheweth that the whole world is compassed of foure Elements resembled in his foure colours to which gold is annexed as I interprete it for that light is annexed to all things Essen also is planted in the middle thereof in such sort as the earth obtaineth the middle place of the world Likewise the girdle wherewith he is girt resembleth the sea which enfoldeth and begirteth all things The two Sardonix stones set as buttons or loops in the high Priests garment signifie the Sunne and Moone the number of the gems are alluded to the number of the moneths or the twelue houses or the equall number of the parts of that circle which the Graecians call the Zodiacke he shall not much erre that followeth eyther the one or the other of these opinions The cap likewise hath an allusion to heauen by reason of his azure or Hyacinthine colour for otherwise the name of God might not be placed therein For it was beautified with a crowne of gold to signifie the light wherein God highly delighteth Let this suffice for the present for that which we shall discourse hereafter will furnish vs with sufficient and ample matter to shew and set out the vertue of our lawmaker CHAP. IX Of Aarons priesthood and the lawes which appertaine to the feastes and sacrifices AFter these things abouesaid were finished and left as yet vnconsecrated God appeared vnto Moses commaunding him to establish Aaron his brother in the priesthood who in respect of his vertue deserued that title of honour aboue all the rest For which cause Moses assembling the congregation discoursed vnto them his vertues and discouered his good affection and reckoned vp vnto them how many daungers he had suffered in their behalfe whereof each of them gaue ample testimonie declaring the forward zeale and loue they alwaies bare vnto him whereupon he spake vnto them after this manner The worke is now brought to such an end as it hath pleased God and hath beene possible for vs and for that you know we are to receiue him into this Tabernacle we ought aboue all things to haue an especiall care in the election of such a one who shall make sacrifice and supplication for vs. Touching my selfe if the matter depended on my priuate choise I should esteeme no man more worthy then my selfe to execute this function both for that naturally men loue themselues and for that I am well assured how many trauels I haue supported for your safetie sake But God himselfe hath iudged Aaron worthy of this honour and hath chosen him for his high priest and sacrificer in that he excelleth all other of vs in equitie and iustice commaunding that he should be inuested with the robe consecrated to God and that he should take charge of the altars and sacrifices He shall make prayers for you vnto God who will heare them willingly by reason that he hath care of your race and will receiue them proceeding from a personage whom he himselfe had elected These words of his were gratefull vnto the people and they all of them approued the election which God had made For Aaron was more capable of that honour then any other both by reason of his race as also in regard of the prophecing spirit and vertue of his brother he had at that time foure sonnes Nadab Abihu Eleasar and Ithamar But whatsoeuer remained of those things which were gathered for the building of the Tabernacle was employed to make vailes to couer the Tabernacle Candlesticke Altar and the other instruments to the end that in their trauaile they should not be soiled eyther by raine or dust And hauing once more assembled the people together he commaunded them to offer euerie one of them halfe a sicle now the sicle is a kind of Hebrew coyne that is as much in value as foure Athenian drammes whereunto they obeyed willingly so that the number of them that offered was sixe times one hundreth thousand fiue hundreth and fiftie and they that brought this money were such as were of a free condition and betwixt the yeares of twentie and fiftie and that which was receiued was imployed in the necessaries of the Temple Then did he purifie the Tabernacle and the priests in manner and forme following He tooke the waight of fiue hundreth sicles of chosen Mirrhe and the like quantitie of Ireos of Cinnamon and of Calamus which is a
the Tabernacle was remoued this manner was obserued Assoone as the first charge was sounded they that were encamped towards the East first of all dislodged at the second charge they to the southward disincamped then was the Tabernacle vnpitched and caried in the midst sixe of the tribes marching before and sixe of them after the Leuites were all about the Tabernacle And when they sounded the third time the quarter towards the Westward remoued and the fourth was that to the Northward They made vse also of these Cornets in the diuine seruice with which they ordered the sacrifices on the Sabboth and other daies Then also was the first Passeouer celebrated with solemne offerings after their departure out of Aegypt they being in the desart CHAP. XII Sedition against Moses through the scarcitie of victuals and the punishment of the Rebellious NOt long after this they remoued their campe from the mountaine of Sinai and after certaine encampings of which we will speake they came to a place which is called Iseremoth where the people once more began to ruminate and reuiue their seditions and lay the fault of their laborious pilgrimage vpon Moses obiecting that by his perswasion they had left a fertile countrey and now not onely that they were destitute of the plentie thereof but also in stead of hoped felicitie forced to wander here and there in extreame miserie and trauelled with want of water and that if Manna likewise should in any sort faile them they were like all of them without question to perish for want of sustenance Hereunto annexed they diuers contumelies which were euery where inflicted against him being a man of so great desert and consequence Meane while there arose one amongst the people who admonishing them of the forepassed benefits receiued by the hands of Moses counselled them to be of good courage assuring them that at that time they should not be frustrate either of that hope or helpe which they expected at Gods hands But the people were the rather incēsed against him by these words and more more whetted their spleanes against the prophet who seeing them so desperate willed them to be of a good courage promising them that although by iniurious speeches he had vndeseruedly beene offenced by them yet that he would giue them store of flesh not for one day onely but also for many But they being incredulous and some one amongst them demaunding how he could make prouision for so many thousand men God saith he and I although we be euill spoken of by you yet will we neuer desist to be carefull for you and that shall you shortly perceiue Scarce had he spoken this but that all the campe was filled with quailes which they hunted for by heapes Yet God not long after that punished the insolencie and slaunder of the Hebrewes by the death of no small number for at this day the place retayneth his name which for that cause vvas imposed thereon and it is called Cabrothaba as if you should say the monuments of concupiscence CHAP. XIII Of the spies that were sent to search the land of Chanaan and how returning to the Israelites they amated them with feare BVt after that Moses had led them out of that place and had brought them into a countrey not so apt for habitation not farre from the borders of the Chanaanites which is called the Iawes he called the people to a councell and standing vp in the midst of them he spake after this manner God saith he hauing decreed to grant you two great benefits namely the libertie and possession of a happie countrey hath granted you alreadie the possession of the one and will shortly make you partakers of the other For we are vpon the borders of Chanaan from whence both the Cities and Kings are so farre from driuing vs as the vvhole nation being vnited together is not of power to expell vs. Let vs therefore addresse our selues verie confidently to attempt the matter for neither vvithout fight will they resigne the title of their countrey vnto vs neither vvithout great conflicts may we obtaine the palme of victorie Let vs therefore send out certaine spies to search into the secrets of the countrey and such as may coniecture how great their power is but aboue all things let vs be at vnitie one with another and let vs honour God who assisteth vs in all daungers and fighteth for vs. After that Moses had spoken after this manner the people applauding his counsels chose twelue out of the most noblest families of the tribes to go and search the countrey out of euery tribe one vvho beginning from the parts extending towards Egypt visited all the countrey of the Chanaanites vntill they came to the Citie of Amathe the mountaine of Libanus and hauing searched out both the land and the nature of the inhabitants they returned home againe hauing consumed fortie daies in those affaires Moreouer they brought with thē such fruits as the coūtrey yeelded by the beautie thereof by the quantity of those riches which they reported to be in that countrey they incouraged the harts of the people to fight valiantly but on the other side they dismaid thē with the difficultie of the conquest saying that there were certaine riuers impossible to be ouerpassed both for their greatnes depth that there were therin also inaccessible moūtalnes and Cities fortified both with wals and bulwarks moreouer they told them that in Hebron they found a race of Giants And thus these spies when as they had found all things farre greater amongst the Chanaanites then to that day they had seene since their departure out of Egypt they of set purpose by their feare brought the rest of the multitude into a dangerous suspition and perplexitie Who coniecturing by their discourse that it was impossible to conquer the land dissoluing the assembly returned each one to their houses lamenting with their wiues and children saying that God had onely in words promised many things but that in effect he gaue them no assistance moreouer they blamed Moses reuiled both him and his brother Aaron the high priest And thus spent they all the night in disquiet vrging their discontents both against the one and the other but on the morrow they reassembled their councell vnder this pretence that stoning Moses and his brother they might returne backe againe to Egypt from whence they came Which euent when two of the spies greatly suspected namely Iesus the sonne of Naue of the tribe of Ephraim and Caleb of the tribe of Iuda they went into the middest of them and appeased the multitude praying them to be of good hope and not to challenge Almightie God of deceit by yeelding certaine slight beliefe to some who by spreading vaine rumors of the affaires of Chanaan had terrified the credulous multitude but rather that they should follow them who both would be the actors and conductors also of
conquering Egypt they generally wasted the same and hauing tasted of the sweetnesse of pillage without anie temper or moderation in their victorie they were incensed to attempt greater matters And whereas they perceiued that hauing wasted all their neighbour regions no man durst sally out to encounter them in armes they marched forward toward Memphis euen vnto the sea arriuing neere no Citie that either had the heart or durst make head against them By which calamities the Egyptians being ouersore oppressed they send one to take counsell of the Oracle in what manner they might preuent their miseries and when as an answer was giuen them that they should choose an Hebrew to assist them in the warres the king commanded his daughter to giue them Moses who together with the Empire might gouerne the whole armie She taking an oath of the king that no iniurie or violence should be offered him deliuered him into his hands esteeming it to be a great good fortune for Moses that he was called to the succours of her countrey and contrariwise she blamed the Sacrificers who were not ashamed to demaund his aid and assistance whom they had foreiudged and adiudged to be slaine as their common enemie But Moses exhorted by Thermuthis and the king willingly tooke the charge vpon him Whereat the Priests of both nations were verie ioyfull for the Egyptians hoped that when by his vertue and valouâ—… he had ouercome their enemies they afterwards might more easily dispatch murther him by some treason and sinister meanes and the Hebrewes conceiued a hope that they might depart out of Egypt by reason that Moses was the Generall of the armie Moses therefore making haste before such time as the enemies had any notice that he was dislodged he leuied his army and conducted them not along the bankes of the riuer but through the maine land wherein he made manifest his most admirable prudence For the iourney by land being very dangerous by reason of the multitude of serpents for the countrey thereabouts breedeth vp al sorts of theÌ„ and some of that kind as the like thereof are not seene in anie place els all different in proprietie malignitie and horrible forme and amongst these likewise there are some winged and apt to fly who not only offend those that they encounter on the earth very priuily but also tower verie high in the aire who houer about to hurt those that are not aware of them he for the securitie of his armie and to the end he might march without anie inconuenience inuented this marueilous and admirable stratageme For he caused two paniers of sedge to be made in forme of cofers and filled them with certaine birds which were called Ibes who are mortall enemies to serpents and before whom the serpents flee and sometimes in flying from them like Harts they are laid hold of and swallowed by them Otherwise these birds are managed and made tame and are not harmefull to any but to serpents of whom I will now cease to write anie further because the Greekes do already know what kind of bird it is When as therefore he arriued in the countrie of serpents he let flie his Ibes against the venemous beasts and made vse of them to encounter the other and when he had marched in this sort he attained and surprised the Ethiopians before they suspected him and sodainly câ—…arging them he ouercame them in battell spoyling them of the hope they had to conquer Egypt and entring the townes of Ethiopia he rased them and made a great slaughter of the inhabitants The Egyptian armie hauing tasted the happie successe that happened vnto them vnder the conduct of Moses intermitted not their occasion especially for that they saw that the Ethiopians were welnigh conquered or rather wholy destroyed and in the end hauing driuen them euen vnto Saba the chiefe citie of Ethiopia which Cambyses called Meroë for the loue which he bore vnto his sister who was so called they besieged them The Citie was strong and verie hard to be assailed by reason of the riuer Nilus which enuironed it round about on the other side the riuers of Astapus and Astaborra did flow in so freshly as they could neither breake the course of the water nor wade ouer the streame for the citie is builded in an Island inuironed with a strong wall round about hauing great rampiers betwixt the riuers and the walles built to resist the inundations of the waters which are the cause that the Citie may be very hardly taken although the opposite armie had found meanes to passe the water Now when Moses was verie sore grieued that his armie profited nothing by reason that the enemies durst not encounter them in open field behold what a chaunce happened Tharbis the daughter of the king of Ethiopia beholding Moses at such time as he approched with his armie neere vnto the walles of the Citie and seeing how valiantly he fought and behaued himselfe and wondering at the exploits and enterprises which he made which was the cause that the Egyptians almost despairing of their estates and libertie were growne so forward and how the Ethiopians not long before esteemed the conquereâ—…s and happie in their warlike exploits and fortunate executions were in the greatest extremitie of daunger she was surprised with his loue and for that this passion augmented more and more in her she sent vnto him seuen of heâ—… most faithfull and houshold seruants to offer him her loue and intreat with him of mariage The which he accepted vnder that condition that she should deliuer the Citie into his hands promising her vnder a solemne oath that at such time as he were master thereof he would take her to wife without falsifying or breach of his promise The matter was no sooner motioned but the effect followed so that hauing surprised conquered the Ethiopians and after he had giâ—…en thankes vnto God Moses accomplished the mariage and sent the Egyptians backe againe into their countrey Who conceiued an occasion of hatred against Moses because he had beene the cause of their safetie and began seriously to consult and deuise amongst themselues how they might betray him sâ—…pecting least he by reason of the happie successe he had had should beginne to quicken and reuiue some alterations in Egypt they accused him therefore of murther before the King who alreadie of himselfe had him in suspicion as well in respect of this hatred he bare him for his noble cariage and courage during such time as he was generall as also for the feare he had conceiued of the destruction of Egypt foretold by his priestes who incessantly incited him against Moses so that the King was vpon the point to lay hands on him and mâ—…rther him But he hauing intelligence of those his practises escaped and fled secretly flying from his presence thorow the desart by which the enemies least suspected that he should haue fled and although at no
the King to endeuour himselfe least he should seeme to contemne his fauours to grant the people free passage for feare least if he should secretly forbid them the same he might accuse and condemne himselfe to suffer that which they in reason ought to endure who resist the wil and works of God for to those that stirre vp the wrath of God against themselues al kind of mishaps do flock and flow on euery side The earth befriendeth them not neyther smileth the ◅yre vpon them their children are not begotten according to nature but all things oppose themselues as enemies and contraries against them Moreouer he added that the Aegyptians should feele the plague after that the people of the Hebrewes should in despight of their resistance depart out of their countrey but in that the King despised these words of Moses and would not be conuerted most grieuous plagues fell vpon the land of Aegypt The which I will particularly set downe by reason that at that time the Aegyptians suffered those things which neuer before that time happened to any other people and for that cause likewise that I may testifie and declare that Moses hath not falsified or erred in any thing that he hath done and besides for that it is expedient for men to learne do those things which are agreeable to gods wil for feare least he being prouoked and incensed against them should punish them for their vniustice For first of all by the commaundement of God the riuers ouerflowed with bloud neyther was it possible for them to drinke notwithstanding they had no other fountaines of water neither was the water only coloured like bloud but when as likewise any one dranke therof it ingendred procured in him diuers dolors and grieuous gripings Such was the water to the Aegyptians but to the Hebrewes it seemed good and sweet in taste without any waies chaunging the nature thereof Hereupon the King not knowing what to doe and seeing this straunge accident and being afraid by reason of the Aegyptians permitted the Hebrewes to depart but no sooner was this plague ceased but he presently chaunged his mind and would not permit them liberty to depart for which cause God seeing his ingratitude and that he would not be warned notwithstanding he had deliuered him from the former calamitie he inflicted an other plague vpon the Aegyptians He therefore sent an infinite number of frogs vpon them that couered and infected the whole countrey and the riuers were so packed and stored with them in such manner that they that drewe water to drinke found it altogether infected with the putrefaction of them dying rotting in the waters so that the whole countrey was full of filthie mud by reason of the frogs that defaced died on the same They corrupted also their meats mingling themselues in their houses amidst their meat and drink creeping amidst their chambers from whence an odious stench exhaled by reason of the multitude of frogs that lay dead Now when the Aegyptians saw themselues so sore pressed with these euils the King commanded Moses that he should take the Hebrewes that he should depart and as soone as he had spoken this the multitude of frogs vanished and appeared no more neither on the earth nor in the water but that they retained their accustomed nature No sooner was the earth deliuered frō this curse but Pharao forgot the cause therof retained the Hebrewes anew as if he had a desire to experimēt the maner of diuers miseries he denied thē that issue which before time he had granted thē rather inforced therunto by his feare then forward good liking For this cause God once againe rewarded his fraud by sending him another plague for a multitude of lice swarmed from the bodies of the Aegyptians whence the wretched men perished wretchedly neither could they exterminate that race eyther by bathings or inunctions The king troubled with this calamity fearing the ruine of his people and bethinking him of the shamefull end therof he was constrained to remit the better part of his malignitie For as touching the Hebrewes he permitted them to depart but after the plague was appeased he required at their hands that they would leaue their wiues and children behind them for pledges till their returne and by this meanes he prouoked Gods wrath more heauily against him in that he supposed to delude his prouidence as if it had not beene God who in the Hebrewes behalfe had punished them but Moses that had plagued the Aegyptians For God filled their countrey with many and diuers sorts of beasts the like whereof before that time had not beene seene in that countrey which killed them vp so that the earth became desolate and vnmanured and if any one amongst them escaped from death they were afterwards destroyed by sicknes But notwithstanding all these the King still continuing obstinate in his wickednes and disobedient vnto God permitting onely that the women and men should depart that their children should be left behind them but God desisted not to punish his wickednes by diuers and most grieuous plagues farre more tedious then the former yea such as were dispersed ouer all the people For their bodies were grieuously tormented with vlcers and corrupted inwardly and after this sort the greater part of the Egyptians perished but whenas the King was neither moderated nor mollified by this plague God rained downe haile vpon them which neuer before that time was engendred in the ayre of Aegypt further so great or rather greater then that which falleth to the Northward neere to the Pole Attique in the midst of the spring and spoyled all their fruite After which an armie of grashoppers deuoured all those buds and fruits which were vnoffenced by the hayle so that all the hope which the Egyptians had of their haruest or fruite was vtterly ouerthrowne These aforesaid afflictions had beene sufficient to perswade a man of the meanest vvit except he had beene a reprobate to grow wise and make vse of that which was most profitable for him But Pharao knowing the causes of the same enforced himselfe to resist God not onely thorow imprudence but for malice so that voluntarily he betraied his commonweale He therefore commaunded Moses that he should lead away the Hebrewes with their wiues but that they should leaue their substance behind them for a pray in that they complained that after all these calamities they had nothing left them To whom Moses aunswered that he demaunded an vnlawfull matter by reason that they were to offer sacrifice vnto God of their pray or bootie Now whilest the time was spent in these consultations darknes altogether deuoyd of light ouerspred the land of Aegypt where through they died miserably in closing their eyes by reason of the thickenesse thereof so that they were afraid least the fogge should choake them which being dispersed after three daies and so many nights
of a Coriander seede of which euery one gathered and by commaundement it was enioyned that euery one of them should particularly gather euery day the measure of an Assaron which is the tenth part of an Epha to the end that no one should be scant◅ed of this foode which was done to that end least the weaker should want whilest the stronger thorow auarice should gather more then sufficed them And if any one contrarie to the prescript commaund had ga◅hered more then was permitted him although he toyled and trauelled more then any of them yet was his portion ◅o waies increased by that meanes For whatsoeuer beside the appointed measure of the Assaron remained till the next morning was of no value thorow bitternes and was putrefied thorow wormes so diuine and admirable was this kind of foode and of that nature that who so had sufficient thereof needed no other sort of sustenance Moreouer euen in these our daies al that countrey is bestrewed and bedewed with that kind of aliment which God in fauour of Moses sent for the peoples sustenance The Hebrewes call it Manna for in our tongue Man is an interrogation signifying what is that Thus liued they then ioifully being sustained by this kind of meat sent thē from heauen and vsed the same for the space of fortie yeares during that time which they liued in the desart But afterwards when they were dislodged from that place and encamped neere to Raphidim they were extremely trauailed with thirst where vpon their first arriuall they found some few springs but afterwards they found the land wholy destitute of water They therefore once more were incensed against Moses but he withdrawing himselfe apart from the furie of the people conuerted himselfe vnto God in prayer beseeching him that as he had giuen them food in their necessitie he would now also giue them drinke at that present wherein they were well nie choaked with thirst praying him to prouide them of drinke also or otherwise that their meat was vnprofitable to them whereon God presently granted his prayer promising Moses that he would giue him a fountaine and aboundance of water from that place from whence he least expected it Hereon he commaunded him that striking vpon the rock with his rod which was thereby hard at hand he should from thence seeke that which they demaunded and wanted assuring him that euerie one without trauell or labour should haue sufficient therefro which counsaile when Moses had receiued from Gods hands he returned vnto the people who expected him and had their eies fixed vpon him for at that time they beheld him descending from the rocke where he had made his prayer No sooner was he arriued but he told them that God would in like sort deliuer them from that necessitie and would gratiously grant them an vnexpected reliefe telling them that a floud should sodainly breake from the rocke but they beeing amased at that which they heard and doubting least tired with thirst and trauelled by iourneyes they should be inforced to hewe and cleaue the rocke Moses stroke the same in such sort with his rod that he deuided it in sunder and deliuered out most cleere and pure water in great aboundance The people were very sore astonished at this so strange accident so that beholding the water their thirst was quenched They afterward drunke of the water and found it verie sweet and pleasant resembling in the goodnes of it the diuine bountie power of the giuer thereof For this cause they highly esteemed Moses seeing that God had honoured him in this sort and they acknowledged Gods prouidence and their thanksgiuing by their sacrifices humbly thanking him for the care he had ouer them The sacred scriptures likewise which are kept and consecrated in the Temple testifie that God had foretold Moses also that water should in this sorte issue from the rocke CHAP. II. How the Amalechites and their associates were ouercome and how great a pray the Israelites obtained thereby BVt when the renowme of the Hebrewes waxed great and was spred in the eares of all men so as the brute thereof was heard in euerie part it came to passe that the inhabitants of that countrey were in very great feare whereupon sending embassages the one vnto the other they mutually incited themselues to expell and vtterly ruinate the whole nation Amongst the rest those of the countrey of Gobol and the Citie Petra who are called Amalechites a nation verie warlike and more actiue then the rest were the chiefe agents in this expedition whose Kings both encouraged one another and whetted their neighbour nations to the Israelites destruction telling them that a forraine army flying from the thraldome of the Egyptians had inuaded their countrey whose increases were not a little to be suspected counse◅ng them before they had gathered head and ◅couered more meanes and a countrey to dwell in and withall waxed more confident by reason of their forbearance to charge them first rather then to expect their increases and so to oppresse them esteeming it to a better point of wisedome to represse their insolencie and forwardnes in the desart then to expect whilest they were possessed of strong Cities rich meanes For this said they is the part of wise men to resist the vprisings and power o◅ their aduersaries and not to expect whilest by daily exploites they more more increase rather to prouide to preuent then deliuer themselues from perill After these embassages it was decreed by generall councell that they should endeuour to confront and assault the Hebrewes These determinations and desseignes of theirs amated and troubled Moses verie much for that he expected no hostilitie When therefore he perceiued that the people were affrighted and amased to see themselues being wholy vnprouided to be charged by so strong and well furnished an armie he recomforted them and willed them to bethinke themselues of Gods promises who by his power had set them at libertie assuring them that they should ouercome all those that made party and head against them to destroy them wishing them to thinke that though they were inferiour vnto their enemies in weapons wealth money and munition and such like yet since they had God to friend and readie to fight for them against their enemies that they ought to conceiue such courage as if they were furnished with farre more then humane supplies Alledging further that they were not ignorant how great an assister God was hauing had so often triall of his goodnes in their greatest daungers whom both he knew to be an enemie to their enemies and fauourable to their proceedings which fauour of his he most manifestly expressed by his miraculous deliuerance of them from hunger and thirst by yeelding them free escape when they were shut in by sea and mountaines and that which should most animate them to the fight and victorie at that time was that after this plunge they should want nothing that
appertained to a more commodious and peaceable life Moses thus hauing encouraged the people by his words he called vnto him the chiefest of the tribes and euerie one of them that had the charge of them both in priuate and publike assembly commaunding the younger to obey the elder and the elders to be obedient to their Generall But they contemning their daunger and desirous of fight hoped that this conflict would proue the final end of their calamity for which cause they instantly besought Moses to lead them forth against the enemie praying him not to dull the alacritie of the soldiers by any vntimely delay Whereupon chusing out amongst the whole multitude such as were most fitte for warre he chose Iesus the sonne of Naueus the Ephraimite to lead them a man valiant in armes and prouident in counsaile and exceeding in pietie and not degenerating in that respect from Moses his master He also in such sort disposed certaine bands that he might not in any sort be cut off from water he left also so many as might guard the multitude keepe the campe and weake company Thus stood they all the night long in a readines to take armes such as they had fitted for them expecting their captaines who should lead them out to fight as soone as Moses should command them On the other side Moses slept not but instructed Iosuah how he should conduct the army And as soone as the day appeared he encouraged Iosuah to shew himselfe such a one in that battell as both the place where with he was honoured and the cause for which they fought required wishing him by his prowesse and good deserts to giue life and courage to his soldiers that followed him He likewise exhorted the chiefest of the Hebrewes in particular and in generall heartned and emboldened all other that entred the battell And as touching himselfe after he had thus disposed the armie by words and effect he retired himselfe vnto a mountaine committing the armie to Gods protection and Iosuahs conduct Then encountred the armies on both sides and euerieone foug◅t most valiantly neither wanted there encouragements on either sides and as long as Moses lifted vp his hands the Hebrewes had the better against the Amalekites B◅ for that he was vnable continually to support the same and because hee throughly perceiued and obserued that as often as he held downe his hands so long the enemies droue the Israelites to re◅eat he willed his brother Aaron and Vron his sister Maries husband to stand on each side of him and sustaine his hands and succour him for feare his forces should faile him Which when they had perfourmed the Hebrewes by maine force ouercame the Amalechites so that all of them had beene slaine if so be the chace had continued and had not beene cut off by the approch of the night At this time our predecessours obtained a most happie and necessarie victorie For they had the vpper hand ouer them that were embattelled agai◅st them and astonished and amated the nations round about and got great strength and riches by their trauell for being seased of the enemies campe they generally gate great riches and particularly were all of them relieued whereas before that time they had not necessarie meanes to maintaine themselues And this victorie of theirs was the cause of their verie great good fortune not onely for the present but also for the time to come For not onely had they their enemies bodies vnder their subiection but also their spirits so as they were feared by all the nations round about And they multiplied both in strength and riches for there was a great quantitie of gold and siluer taken in the campe Diuers vessels likewise and tables of brasse we◅e found therein likewise great quantity of tissue worke and excellent furniture for armes Moreouer they had all their baggage tents harnesse and horses and generally the whole prouision of an arranged battel became their pray Then after also they became more vertuous and industrious then before supposing that the end of all actions was obtained by industrie Thus ended this battell The next day Moses caused the enemies that were slaine to be rifled and gathered the scattered armes of those that fled He honored them also that had brauely demeaned themselues in the battell praised the Captaine Iosuah in publique whose honour was confirmed by the applause of the whole armie There was not one Hebrew that perished that day and so manie of the enemies were there put to the sword as their number cannot be expressed He offered likewise a sacrifice of thanks giuing vnto God and erected an altar vnto him and dedicated it to God the victor Hee prophesied moreouer that all the Amalechites should be vtterly extinguished so that none of them shuld be left aliue in that they had assaulted the Hebrewes that in the desart and at such time as they were in affliction He feasted the Generall in like sort This issue had this battell which was the first that was leuied against them or dur◅t assault them since their departure out of Egypt But as soone as Moses had celebrated a fe◅st in memorie of the victorie to the end he might giue the Hebrewes some repose after the battell abouenamed hee caused them to march in array for now at that time they had manie armed souldiers Thus passing onwards by little little they arriued the third month after their departure out of Egypt neere to the mountaine of Sinai where as before time it hath beene declared Moses saw the vision in the bush and other such like wonders CHAP. III. What counsel Raguell gaue to his sonne in law WHen Raguel Moses father in law vnderstood of this his good successe he came with great ioy vnto Moses vnder purpose to salute him his daughter Zephorah and her childrē who greatly reiovcing at his arriuall prepared a sacrifice and feasted the people neere vnto the bush which could not be consumed by fire and in the banquet time the people was distinguished according to the order and place of euerie family But Aaron with the assistance tooke Raguel and they sung praises vnto God ascrib◅g to him both the meanes and manne◅ of their libertie They also spake much in honour of their Generall by whose vertue all things had had so fortunate an issue Raguel on his side highly praised the people and dignified Moses their Gouernour by whose prudence so many good and valiant men were g◅ded But on the next day Raguel seeing Moses oppressed with the multitude of businesse by reason that he decided all their debates that appealed vnto him who were thus perswaded of him that at that time they were onely rightly censured when Moses gaue the sentence and they that were condemned by him endured the verdict patiently knowing that their cause was by him decided rather by the rule of iustice then the instinct of amerce he for
bread of twentie foure Assars of flower and those loaues they baked two by two the day before the Sabboth and the day of the Sabboth in the morning they bring it and set it on the sacred Table opposing sixe to sixe the one against the other and vpon them are imposed two platters full of incense and these things remaine after this maner till the next Sabboth and then set they new in the place of the first which are giuen to the Priests for their maintenance The incense is cast into the sacred fire in which the burnt offerings are consumed and in place thereof there is new incense put The Priest also sacrificeth on his owne charge flower mingled with oyle and a little baked by fire and this doth he twise euerie day and bringeth to the fire halfe an Assar of flower in the morning and the other halfe in the euening But I will entreat hereof more expresly hereafter for the present me thinks I haue sufficiently spoken already Moses separated the tribe of Leui and exempted them from the other people to the end they might be consecrated vnto God and he purified them with liuing fountaine water and purged them with solemne sacrifice and committed the Tabernacle to their charge with all the holy things pertaining therunto and all the rest which had bin made for the couer of the Tabemacle to the end they might be ministers to the Priests their superiours who were already consecrated to God After this he distinguished the beasts also namely those that were to be eaten froÌ„ those which were to be forborne and abstained from of which we will speak at such time as occasion is offered vs and will bring proofes and the reason which induced him to ordaine that some were proper to feede vpon and for what cause he would that we should abstaine from other some He hath generally interdicted all vse of bloud in meates esteeming the bloud to be the soule and spirit of beasts He hath also generally prohibited to eat the flesh of those beasts that died by theÌ„selues likewise the caule and fat of goates of sheepe and oxen He thrust them likewise out of the company and conuersation of men who were leprous such as were troubled with the fluxe of their seed And as touching women that haue their sicknesse he sequestred them for the space of seuen dayes after which it was lawfull for them to conuerse indifferently the one with the other The like decreed he of those that had assisted the buriall of a dead man whom he permitted to conuerse with other after seuen dayes were expired It was a thing also decreed by law that he that was surprised with vncleannesse and vnpurified beyond the number of those dayes he should sacrifice two Wethers one of which should bee purified and the other giuen to the Priests The like sacrifice is made for him that hath had vnnaturall pollution who first washeth himselfe in cold water The like must they offer that haue vse of their lawfull wiues Hee altogether droue the leprous out of the citie not permitting them to frequent any mans companie but esteeming them as men little differing from the dead And if any one by his prayers made vnto God was deliuered from this disease and his skin reduced to his natiue colour such a one presented himselfe before God in diuers oblations and sacrifices of which wee will speake hereafter For which cause they are worthy to be laughed at who say that Moses fled out of Aegypt because he was a leper and that he conducted with him other such as were trauelled with that disease and brought them into the land of Canaan For if that were true Moses had not made these ordinances to his owne preiudice which if other had proposed it behooued him to haue opposed himselfe against them especially since amongst diuers other nations there are lepersâ—… who are held in great honour and who are so far from disdaine and contempt as that they haue beene made Generals of most notable armies and elected for Gouernours of common-weales hauing libertie to enter the Temples and to be present at the sacrifices What therefore hindred Moses if he had beene polluted with the like hatefull sicknesse to make such lawes and ordaine such statutes among those people who honoured and obeyed him whereby such as were therewith infected might be preferred By which it is manifest that those things that are obiected against him are rather of malice then probability But Moses being cleane from such sickenesse and conuersing amongst his countrimen which were vntainted made these ordinances for them that were sicke hauing regard to the honour of God But of these things let each man censure as best liketh him He forbad that women should enter into the Temple after their deliuerance or to assist the sacrifice vntill fortie dayes were expired if they had beene brought a bed of a sonne but if it were a daughter he willed that the number of the dayes should be doubled and that when they should enter they should present their offerings vnto God and to the Priests that offered them And if any one suspected that his wife had committed adultery hee brought an Assar of grinded barley and cast a handfull thereof before God and the rest was reserued for the maintenance of the Priests and then the Priest placing the woman in the porch which is right ouer against the Temple and taking the couer from her head writeth the name of God vpon a skinne and maketh her sweare that she hath not plaid false with her husband and wish if she had transgressed thè bounds of chastity that her right thigh might be put out of ioint her womb might rot and that death might follow thereupon but if through entire loue and iealousie proceeding therefro her husband had beene inconsiderately drawne into that suspition that she might within ten moneths bring forth a male child And after such an oath ministred vnto her the Priest wipeth out the name of God that was written on the skinne and wringeth it into a viall and then taking of the earth of the Temple according as he findeth it and hauing mingled the same giueth it the woman to drinke and if she hath beene vniustly accused she continueth with child and beareth her fruit her full time but if she hath falsified her faith to her husband forsworn herselfe before God then dieth she a shameful death for her thigh is nummed her wombe growes full of water See here how Moses hath prouided for these sacrifices at the purifying of a woman He furthermore made these lawes which ensue He generally forbad adulterie iudging it to be a great good hap if men demeaned themselues honestly in mariageÌ„ that both in politique estates and priuate families it was a thing most profitable that children should be borne in lawfull matrimonie The law also forbiddeth a man to haue the
vse of his mother for that it is a thing most abominable and likewise prohibiteth him to keepe vnlawful companie with his fathers wife his Ant and his sister or his sonnes wife and detesteth it as a most hainous and hideous offence It prohibiteth also the vse of a woman when she hath her monthly sicknesse the vse of beasts also especially the male by reason that such affections are abominable and against the transgressours of these lawes he established most strict and mortall punishments Hee willed also that the Priests should be twise more chast then the rest for he not onely forbad them that which he prohibited others but moreouer he enioyned them not to marie those that had bin abādoned or slaues or prisoners or victualers and tauerners forsaken by their husbands for any occasion whatsoeuer And as touching the high Priest he permitted him not to match with the widowe of him that was dead although it were made lawfull for the other Priests and granted him only libertie to take a virgin to his wife and to keepe her The said high Priest is also forbidden to approch a dead man although the other Priests are not scantled of that libertie to approch their brothers fathers and mothers and children deceased Willing that they should be simple in all kind of simplicitie He likewise ordained that the Priest which should not be sound in bodie should be maintained by the other Priests but in the meane time that he should not approch the Altar neither enter into the Temple willing that not onely they should be neat in that which concerned the diuine seruice but also that they should studie and indeuour to be the like in all the actions of their life to the end that no man might reproue them For which cause they that beare the habit of the Priests are vnreproueable and in all things pure and sober being forbidden to drinke wine as long as they ware the priestly vesture They were willed also to offer vp entire sacrifices and no wayes maimed These statutes did Moses decree and make during his life time And afterwards he deuised others also at such time as he remained in the desart which both the people might practise in that place and then also when they had possessed the land of Canaan He gaue rest vnto the earth the seuenth yeare so that it was neither tilled nor planted in like manner as he had commaunded them to rest from their labours on the seuenth day of the weeke and hee ordained that the fruits which the earth of it selfe brought forth should be common to all those that would make vse thereof as well to those of the countrey as strangers without any forbidding or reseruation He likewise decreed that his should be done after the seuenth week of yeers which containeth the space of fiftie yeares which the Hebrewes call Iubile in which the debtors are acquited by their creditors and the bond-men made free who being of the people and for that they had forfeited against some one law had beene punished being handled after the maner ofslaues and not put to death and to those who from the beginning had beene possessours of lands they were restored vnto thē in this maner following The Iubile being at hand which word signifieth libertie both he that sold and he that bought the land meete together and cast vp the account of the profits and expences that haue beene reaped bestowed on the land and if it be found that the profits do amount he that sold the land repossesseth it but if the charges exceed the value of the profits he restoreth the surplusage to the buier that is due vnto him and retaineth the land to him selfe And if the profits and expences are answerable the one vnto the other the restitution is made to him that had the auncient inheritance He ratified likewise the same law in houses that were bought in Villages or Cities For if he that sold counted down the money he had receiued before the yeare were finished he compelled the purchaser to restore him his house and if he stayed till the yeare were fully finished the possession and free purchase remained vnto him that bought it Moses receiued this disposition of his lawes from God at such time as his flocks fed at the foot of the mountaine of Sinai and he gaue them in writing to the Hebrewes CHAP. XI The lawes and customes of warre AFter that these lawes had beene after this manner digested Moses addressed himselfe to the affaires and lawes of warre for thinking him of those battels which should follow He therefore commaunded the gouernours of the tribes the tribe of Leui onely excepted to take a precise view and musters of those men that were capable and able to beare armes for the Leuites were sacred and exempt from those functions and the search being made there were found sixe hundreth and three thousand sixe hundreth and fiftie fighting men betwixt the yeares of twentie and fiftie But in stead of Leui he chose Manasses the sonne of Ioseph and Ephraim for his father Ioseph for so much had Iacob intreated at Iosephs hands that he would giue him his sonnes that he might adopt them as it hath beene aforetime declared When they pitched the Tabernacle it was planted in the midst of the campe guarded and defenced with the tribes which were incamped three by three on euery side There were certaine waies or paths likewise laid out betweene them and a market place was quarteraed out and shops for all sorts of merchandise disposed by order and workemen and artizans of all occupations trauailing in their shops so that to looke vpon it it resembled a Citie that marched and encamped The Priests first were planted next vnto the Tabernacle and after them followed all the communitie of the Leuites for there was a viewe also made of them accounting all the males exceeding the age of thirtie daies and they were counted to be twentie and three thousand eight hundreth and eightie And when it chanced that a cloud descended vpon the Tabernacle then rested they as if God thought good to rest in that place and if it departed from the same then remoued they likewise He inuented also a certaine kind of Cornet made of siluer and framed after this manner In length it was almost a cubit and it was like the narrow whistle of a Fife but a little more thicker yet naithelesse it was wide inough for the space of the mouth to the end to receiue the breath and the end thereof was made like a little Bell in forme of a Trumpet They call it in the Hebrew tongue Asosra There were two of them whereof the one of them serued to assemble and call the people to publike assemblies and the other to conuocate the gouernours when they were to consult vpon affaires of estate and if both of them were sounded then all of them in generall gathered together When
them in the conquest of the countrey and that neyther the greatnes of the mountaines nor the depth of the riuers could hinder them that like valiant men were prepared to attempt especially God being their guide and readie to fight for them in that battell March forward therefore said they and laying aside all feare and being assured of the diuine succors follow vs with a bold courage whither soeuer we lead you With these words laboured they to appease the insulting multitude In the meane while Moses and Aaron falling prostrate on their faces besought God not for their owne safetie but that it would please him to restore the despairing multitude to a better mind who were troubled with so many present and instant necessities Whereupon sodainly a cloud appeared on the Tabernacle and gaue testimonie that God was there present which when Moses perceiued drawing his spirits vnto him he pressed into the presence of the multitude and told them how God was incited and whetted to take punishment of the outrage which they had committed against him yet not so seuerely as the iniquitie of their sinnes deserued but in that discipline which fathers are accustomed to vse for the instruction of their children For at such time as he stood before God in the Tabernacle and besought him with teares for the safetie of the multitude God had recounted vnto him how many benefits and fauours they had receiued from him and how vngratefull they shewed themselues towards him and that at the present being transported with the feare of the spies they had esteemed their reports more true then his promises Notwithstanding all which that he would not vtterly consume them all nor exterminate their whole race whom he had honoured aboue all the nations of the earth but that he would not grant them the grace to conquer the land of Chanaan neyther make them partakers thereof but would bring to passe that they should liue in the desart without house or Citie for the space of fortie yeares for punishment of their transgression Yet hath he promised said he to giue the countrey to your successors whom he will make Lords of their goods and heires of those possessions which you haue enuied your selues After that Moses had discoursed these things after this manner according to the ordinance of God the people were in great sorrow and calamitie and besought Moses that he would appease Gods wrath conceiued against them beseeching him that forgetting their faults that were past in the desart he would make them Lords of their enemies Cities Moses answered them that God was not incited against thē according to the maner of humane weaknes but that he had giuen a iust sentence against them In this place it is not to be supposed that Moses who was but a man onely did appease so many multitudes of displeased men but that God assisted him and brought to passe that the people were conquered with his words hauing by diuers disobediences and by the calamities whereinto they were fallen knowne that obedience was both good and commendable Furthermore for that Moses was admirable for his vertue and the force proceeding from his faith of whom not onely they haue spoken who liued in his time but euen at this day there is not any one amongst the Hebrewes who as if Moses were now here present to chastice him if he ran astray would not obey the ordinances made by him although he might make breach of them in secret There are besides diuers great and euident signes of the more then humane vertue which was in him and amongst the rest this was not the least that certaine straungers trauailing out of the Regions beyond Euphrates a foure months iourney to their great charges and with no lesse perill to honour our Temple and offer sacrifice yet could they not obtaine licence or permission to offer in that by our lawes it was not lawfull for them to doe it and some other without sacrificing other some the sacrifice halfe finished the rest not permitted to enter the Temple haue returned backe againe to their owne homes without finishing their purposes chosing rather to obey Moses law then their owne vvils yet being reproued therein by none but their owne consciences So much did the opinion once conceiued of this man preuaile that he is esteemed more then a man who is supposed to haue receiued lawes from God and to haue deliuered them to men Of late also not long before the warres of the Iewes during the Empire of Claudius and Ismael being high priest amongst vs when as so great a famine oppressed our nation that an Assar was sold for foure drams and there was brought to the feasts of Azymes the quantitie of seuentie Cores which make thirtie Sicilian and fortie Athenian Medin ni which are two bushels of ours almost some of the priests were not so bold as to eate one graine of Barley notwithstanding the countrey was in that extremitie fearing the law and Gods displeasure extended alwaies against sinnes concealed For which cause vve ought not to wonder at that which happened at that time considering that the writings left by Moses are in such force euen at this day that they themselues who hate vs confesse that he that hath instituted our gouernment is God by the meanes and ministerie of Moses and his vertue But of these things let euery man thinke as it pleaseth him THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 4 booke 1 The fight of the Hebrewes with the Chanaanites and their ouerthrow by them without Moses knowledge 2 The sedition raysed by Chore against Moses and his brother for the Priesthood 3 How the authors of the sedition were slaine by Gods iudgement and the Priesthood confirmed to Aaron and his sonnes 4 What chanced to the Hebrewes in the desart for the space of 38. yeares 5 How Moses ouercame Schon and Og Kings of the Amorites and ouerthrewe their armies 6 Of the prophet Balaam 7 The victorie of the Hebrewes against the Madianites and how the countrey of the Amorites was granted by Moses to two and a halfe of the Tribes 8 Moses lawes and how he was taken out of the world CHAP. I. The fight of the Hebrewes with the Chanaanites and their ouerthrow by them without Moses knowledge WHilest thus the Hebrewes passed their life in great penurie and perplexitie in the desart groning vnder the burthen of their grieuous afflictions there was nothing that more distracted and distempered them than this that God had forbidden them to hazard or enter battell against the Chanaanites neither would they now any longer giue eare vnto Moses who perswaded them to peace but waxed confident in themselues that both without his conduct and counsails they might easily obtaine victorie ouer their enemies and accused him likewise as if he sought after no other thing but that they being daily
pressed with great wants should be enforced continually to depend vpon his counsels Whereupon they embattailed themselues against the Chanaanites presuming with themselues that God would succour them not onely in regard of Moses but also for that he had a general care of their natiō euer since the time of their forefathers whom he had alwaies held vnder his protection and by reason of whose vertues he had alreadie granted them libertie They said likewise that if they would take the paines at that time and endeuour themselues that God would alwaies fight with them protesting that they were able to ouerrunne the nations although they were but themselues yea although Moses would endeuour to estraunge God from them In a word that it was behoouefull that all of them should be Lords of themselues and that being recomforted and redeemed from the seruitude of Egypt they ought not to suffer Moses to tyrannize ouer them or to conforme their liues to his will vnder this vaine beliefe that God had onely discouered to Moses that which was behoouefull for them by reason of the affection which he bare him As if all of them were not deriued from the loynes of Abraham and that he onely were the motiue of all in foreknowing the things that should happen vnto them by particular instruction from God That euen then they should seeme to be wise if condemning his pride and fixing their trust vpon God they would take possession of the countrey which he had promised them in spight of Moses contradiction who for this cause hindred them setting the name of God before them that therefore putting before their eies their necessitie and the desart which daily more and more aggrauated their miserie they should endeuour themselues couragiously to sally out against the enemie the Chanaanites alledging that God would be their guide so as they had no reason to expect the assistance of their lawmaker At last when this sentence was approued by a generall allowance they flocke out in multitudes against their enemies who neither affrighted by their fierce assault neither terrified with their infinite multitude valiantly resisted them who desperately charged them so that the better part of the Hebrewes being slaine they pursued the rest enforced shamefully to turne their backes euen vnto their campe This ouerthrow hapning beside all mens opinion wonderously deiected the minds of the multitude that they grew desperate of all future good fortune concluding that God had sent and inflicted that plague vpon them because without his counsell and fauour they had enterprised the battell But when Moses perceiued that both his owne countrimen were dismaid with the ouerthrow which they had and the enemie was waxen proud with their late victorie fearing likewise least not content with their present successe they should attempt further he determined to retire his forces backe againe into the desart And whereas the people promised thereafter to be obedient to him being taught by their owne miserie that nothing would fall out prosperously vnto them without the counsell and conduct of their guide they disincamping themselues retired into the desart vnder this resolution that they would no more attempt the battell against the Chanaanites before they receiued a signe of their good successe from heauen But euen as in a great army it accustomably falleth out especially in time of trouble that the common multitude wax headstrong and disobedient to their gouernours so did the like also happen amongst the Iewes for whereas they were in number sixe hundreth thousand and euen in their better fortunes seemed disobedient to their gouernours so much the more were they exasperated by their wants and misfortunes both amongst themselues as against their gouernour For which cause there arose so great a sedition as neither amongst the Greeks or Barbarians the like was euer heard of which things without doubt had ouerthrowne them being brought into so desperate an estate except Moses forgetting the iniurie he had receiued which was no lesse then a pretence to stone him to death had succoured and relieued their distressed fortunes Neither did God vtterly abandon the care of them but although they were contumelious against their law-maker and transgressed also against the lawes which hee had deliuered them by Moses yet deliuered he them out of that dangerous sedition of which without his especiall prouidence there could be expected no other but a lamentable issue This sedition as also how Moses gouerned the estate when the troubles were ended we will now declare hauing first expressed the cause thereof CHAP. II. The sedition raised by Chore against Moses and his brother for the Priesthood CHores a man noble in birth and famous for his wealth amongst the Hebrewes and endowed with a certaine kind of popular eloquence seeing Moses placed in the highest estate of dignitie was sore troubled and oppressed with enuie For although he were of the same Tribe and kinred yet thought he it to be a great indignitie in himselfe to be held his inferiour beeing both more enabled in riches and nothing inferiour in parentage For which cause he began to mutine and murmure amongst the Leuites which were of the same Tribe with him and his kinsmen telling them in vehement discourse that it was not to bee suffered nor permitted that Moses vnder a pretext of certaine diuinitie should by ambitious policie to other mens preiudice onely studie his owne glorie shewing them how of late without all law and right he had giuen the Priesthood to his brother Aaron and distributed other dignities at his owne pleasure like a king without the allowance and approbation of the people That this iniurie done by him was not to be endured by reason that so couertly he had insinuated himselfe into the gouernement that before he might be espied the people should be brought vnder seruitude For he that knoweth himselfe to be worthy of a gouernement striueth to obtaine the same by kind perswasions and consent of the people and not by force and violence but they that despaire by good meanes to attaine thereunto doe notwithstanding abstaine from force least they should lose the opinion of their goodnesse and honestie yet endeuour they by malicious subtilties to attaine thereunto That it concerned the common-weale to extinguish and roote out the subtill insinuations of such men least of priuate they should at last grow publike enemies For what reason said he can Moses yeeld why he hath bestowed the Priesthood on Aaron and his sonnes For if that God had decreed that this honour should be bestowed on one of the tribe of Leui there were more reason that I should haue it who am of the same kinred with Moses and who surpasse him both in riches age And if this honor appertained to the most ancient of the Tribes that those of Rubens loynes ought by right to enioy it namely Dathan and Abiram and Phalal who are the most ancient of that Tribe and the most powerfull in riches
their ancestors and for their owne abilities farre greater then theirs with these also stood Aaron and Chore and all of them offered with their censors before the Tabernacle with perfumes such as they brought with them when sodainly so great a fire shone as neither the like was euer kindled by mans hand nor vsually breaketh from the bowels of the burning earth neyther was euer quickned in the woods split and borne downe in the sommer time by a southerne brize but such a one as seemed to be kindled in heauen most brightsome and flaming by force and power whereof those two hundreth and fiftie together with Chore were so consumed that there scarce appeared any reliques of their carcasses Only Aaron remained vntouched to the end it might appeare that this fire came from heauen These things thus brought to passe Moses intending to leaue a perpetual memory to posteritie of that punishment to the end they should not be ignorant thereof commaunded Eleazar the sonne of Aaron to consecrate their censors affixed to the brasen Altar that by reason of this monument all men might be terrified who thinke that the diuine power can be circumuented by humane policy CHAP. IIII. What things happened in 38. yeares space to the Hebrewes in the desart AFter that by so euident an argument it appeared very sufficiently that Aaron neither by sinister insinuations neither by the fauour of his brother but onely by Gods election had obtained the Priesthood he euer afterwards held it without any contradiction yet for all this the sedition was not sufficiently ceased but that it brake out with a more vrgent furie then at first for it tooke his originall from such causes that it might easily appeare that it would be of long continuance For whereas this perswasion had once taken roote in the hearts of men that nothing is brought to passe without Gods wil they imagined that God wrought these things in fauor of Moses to him therfore imputed they all these things as if God had not punished those men thorow the hate he bare against their sinnes but onely on Moses solicitation and they were sore aggrieued that Moses hauing giuen this mayme vnto the people by the losse of so many noble men that onely perished thorow the zeale they bare to Gods seruice not onely had done them open wrong but that which was more had assured the Priesthood to his brother after such a manner that thereafter no man durst oppose himselfe to purchase the same seeing how vnfortunately those others were ouerthrowne by a violent death Moreouer the kinsmen of those that were slaine solicited and stirred the people praying them to restraine the pride and ouergreat power of Moses in that it lay in their power easily to perform the same But Moses perceiuing that the people was incensed and fearing least once more they should bethinke them on some innouation whereby some great misfortune might succeed he assembled them together and gaue audience to their accusations without replying any waies for feare he might the more incense them hee onely commaunded the heads of the tribes that each of them should bring a rod wherein the name of each tribe should be written promising that the Priesthood should remaine with them in whose rod God should shew any signe Which iudgement of his being allowed by all men both they and Aaron brought theirs with their inscriptions and Aaron had written in his the tribe of Leui. These Moses tooke from them and laid them in Gods Tabernacle the next day he brought them forth euery one of them which were easily knowne to be those which the Princes brought the rest of the people had marked and they saw that al theirs remained in the same forme which the day before they retained when Moses tooke them but out of Aarons rod there grew branches and buds and that which is more to be wondred at it bare ripe Almonds which in a rod of that kind of wood was admirable and miraculous The people amated at the noueltie of this spectacle dismissing their hatreds wherewith they both prosecuted Moses and Aaron became wholy amased and drawne into admiration of Gods iudgement and forbare any more to repugne against God or to oppose themselues against Aarons Priesthood And thus three times confirmed by the approbation of God by all mens consent he became hie Priest and the people of the Hebrewes turmoyled with long seditions at last by this meanes grew setled in peace and quietnes But after that Moses had made the tribe of Leui which was dedicate to Gods seruice free and exempt from warfare for feare least being occupied in prouiding themselues necessaries for their maintenance they should grow negligent in executing their duties in sacrifice he ordained that after the land of Chanaan was conquered by their forces and Gods fauour that of the Cities they should conquer they should distribute fortie eight of the best fairest on the Leuites certain lands abutting on their Cities to the quantity and space of two thousand cubits Moreouer he commaunded that the tenths of all the yearly fruit that was gathered by the whole people should be giuen and bestowed on the Leuites and Priests and euer after this tribe had their solemne reuenues Now must I declare what things are proper to the Priests Of the fortie eight Cities which were granted to the Leuites he commaunded them to grant thirteene to the Priests and that of those tenthes which they receiued of the people they should pay vnto them a tenth share Besides he gaue charge that the people should offer vp vnto God all the first fruits of whatsoeuer the earth yeelded them and that the first borne of foure footed beasts dedicated for sacrifice if it were a male should be deliuered to the Priests to sacrifice to the end they might be nourished with all their family in the sacred Citie of Ierusalem and that they which are not fit to be sacrificed to God should be eaten by them according to the vse and custome of the countrey the owners paying in lieu of a firstling a sicle and a halfe and for the first borne of a man fiue sicles He allotted them likewise the first fruits of sheep-shearing and ordered that the bakers should offer them some cakes But they that consecrate themselues by vow and are called Nazarites nourishing their haire and tasting no wine when as they consecrate their haire were bound to offer it vnto the Priests They likewise who call themselues Corban which is called the gift of God if they desire to be dismissed from that ministerie whereunto by voluntarie vow they bound themselues must pay money to the Priests for a woman thirtie sicles for a man fiftie and that those that had not so much money should be left to the discretion of the Priests And if any man should kill for his priuate feast any beast and not for Gods seruice yet that he ought to offer
grieuously wounded yet were they more afflicted with thirst then anie other hostilitie in that it was sommer time so that all those that went to refresh coole their thirst at the riuer besides all those that had turned their backs to flie were pursued with all kinds of missile weapons and darts vntill they were all slaine The king Sehon himselfe also was slaine in this fight And the Hebrewes spoiled those that were slaine caried away great store of pillage They had likewise great foison and abundance of all kinds of fruits in that the haruest was not as yet gathered Thus passed the Armie through the whole countrey foraging and spoyling the same without any resist by reason that the enemie was discomfited and that all his forces in warre were defeated This was the destruction which hapned to the Amorites who neither vsed their counsel prudently nor managed their warre valiantly But the Hebrewes occupied their countrey situate betweene three riuers after the maner of an Island For the banks of Arnon do terminate the Southerne coasts thereof and Iobacchus the Northerne which flowing into Iordan leeseth his name now the Westerne coast is watered by the riuer of Iordan Amidst this prosperous estate of the Israelites there arose a new enemy against them called Og king of Galadine of the countries of Gaulanitis who came as a friend and companion to assist Sehon who seeing his fortunes and estate so desolate and desperate yet in hope to obtaine the victorie determined to make triall both of his owne mens vertue and his enemies valour which hope of his failed him for he both died in the battell and his whole host was likewise discomfited But Moses no sooner ouerpassed the floud of Iobacchus but that entring Ogs kingdom he ouerthrew one citie after another and destroyed all the inhabitants thereof who for riches and fruitfull pastures exceeded all other men of that countrey Og also was a man of a most heroicke and high stature and nothing inferiour thereunto either in strength or vertue the argument of whose strength and stature was extant in the sacke of the chiefe citie pallace of the country of the Ammonites called Rabatha where there was an Iron bed found of foure cubits breadth and nine in length The fal of this man did not only further the present felicity of the Hebrews but also became the cause of manie their future and more fortunate successes for they tooke sixtie well fortified cities which were vnder his gouernement and what with their priuie praies and publike pillage they were all enriched After this Moses remoued his campe towards Iordan and pitched it in a broad plaine neere vnto the citie of Iericho which is rich and fruitfull and aboundeth with palme trees and balme And now were the minds of the Israelites in such sort confirmed as they desired nothing more then warre and battell and Moses thinking good to make vse of this their forwardnesse hauing sacrificed to God in way of thanksgiuing and feasted the people he sent part of them armed to destroy the countrey of the Madianites and to spoyle the cities of that region the cause of which warre had this originall CHAP. VI. Of the Prophet Balaam WHen Balac king of the Moabites who was both an old friend and confederate with the Madianites saw the Israelites increase to such greatnesse he began to suspect the securitie of his owne fortune and estate for he knew not that God had inhibited the Hebrewes to couer to possesse any other countrey but the land of Canaan and therefore more rashly then prudently he bethought him of new matters and for that he durst not assaile them in battell whom he knew to be puffed vp with the successe of manie victories yet desirous to hinder them from proceeding any further he sendeth Embassadours to the Madianites to consult with them as concerning their common profit They knowing that beyond Euphrates there was a famous Deuine called Balaam who was their especiall friend sent some of their most honourable princes together with Balacs Embassadours beseeching him that he would come vnto them and curse the Israelites The Prophet entertaining the Embassadours with great humanity and feasting them at his owne table asked counsell of God as touching that which the Madianites had required at his hands but seeing that God forbad him to obey them he returned vnto them and told them that he wanted not will to gratifie them but that God withstood him to whose mercie he ascribed the glorie which he had hitherto gotten by true predictions and prophecies for that armie which they desired should be cursed was dearly beloued by God For which cause he gaue them counsell that seeking out the Israelites they should make peace with them vnder whatsoeuer conditions which said he dismissed the Embassadours But the Madianites being instantly requested by Balac once more sent their Embassadours vnto Balaam to that purpose who desirous to satisfy them in their demands consulted with God But God offended with him commanded him to assent to the Embassadours and he supposing that God had indeed licensed him therein departed onward with the Embassadours But as he trauelled vpon the way the Angell of God came met him in a certaine narrow way betweene two mounds or wals made of stones which when the Asse perceiued whereon Balaam was mounted he started out of the way and thrust Balaam and crushed him against one of the wals and neither by the strokes which his rider gaue him being sore grieued by his bruise nor by any other meanes might he be drawne forward And when as neither the Angell forsooke the way neither the Prophet gaue ouer tormenting the Asse at length the beast falling downe by the will of God spake to Balaam in a humane and articulate voice blaming him for that hauing neuer before that time receiued domage by him he had so cruelly tormented and beatē him considering that he vnderstood not that God did prohibit him from the performance of that which he desired Whilest thus he was troubled with the prodigious speech of the Asse an Angell appeared vnto him blaming Balaam and telling him that the Asse was not in the fault but that he hindred his iourney by reason he attempted it against Gods will Hereat the Prophet terrified addressed himselfe to returne backe againe but God commanded him to prosecute that iourney which he had intended charging him to declare and doe that which hee should aduise and instruct him in After that God had giuen him this charge he went vnto Balac who entertained him honourably and caused him to be brought to a certaine mountaine from whence he might behold the Hebrewes campe Balac also himselfe being royally attended accompanied the Prophet conducting him honourably vnto a certaine mountaine which ouerhung the Israelites being threescore furlongs from their campe Which when he perceiued he caused the King to build seuen Altars on which he
Zambrias had beene sodainly cut off by such a meanes as ensueth Phinees both in respect of other things as also the dignitie of his father the chiefest among the youths and the sonne of Eleazar the high Priest whose great vncle Moses was was grieuously discontented with Zambrias contumacy and least by his impunitie the law might grow into contempt he resolued to be reuenged vpon the transgressors being well assured how ◅uch the example of great men preuaileth on both parts and whereas he was of so much strength of mind and of bodie as that he would not attempt any thing rashly which he would not bring to issue he repayred to Zambrias tent and at one stroke slew both him and Chosbi his wife By whose example the rest of the youth being exasperated by this his worthie act enforced thēselues to do iustice on those that had committed the like offence so that they slew a great part of them by the sword and the rest by the pestilence which was inflicted by Gods iudgement on them were vtterly rooted out Neither spared he those who though by reason of consanguinity theyought to haue restrained disswaded their kinsmen from lewdnes yet had rather either dissemble or kindle their lust in them then counsaile them neyther intermitted he from punishing those men till fourteene thousand of them were done to death by sicknes For which cause Moses being incensed against the Madianites sent out an army to destroy that nation of which expeditiō we wil presently discourse after that we haue annexed that which was omitted in this historie For reason would that we should not pretermit to praise the deseigne of our law maker in this behalfe For in regard of Balaam sought out by the Madianites vnder the intent to curse the Hebrewes although he could not do it being hindred therefro by the prouidence of God who notwithstanding gaue that counsell to the enemie by meanes whereof within a little space a great multitude of the Hebrewes were corrupted in their course of life and diuers haue been grieuously plagued with sicknes in regard I say of this Balaam he hath greatly honoured him in chronicling his predictions in his writings And although it had beene easie for him to haue depriued him of the glory and to haue appropriated it to himselfe by reason that there was not any witnesse that might contradict him yet neglected he not to giue testimonie of him and to make mention of him in his writings Yet let euerie one thinke of this according as it shall seeme good vnto him But Moses as I began to say sent an army of twelue thousand men against the Madianites chosing out of euerie tribe one thousand soldiers and appointed Phinees captaine ouer these forces by whose industrie as a little before I haue declared both the lawes were satisfied and Zambri that brake the same was punished CHAP. VII The Hebrewes fight against the Madianites and ouercome them BVt the Madianites hauing intelligence that their enemies drew neere vnto them and that they were not farre o◅f from their borders gathered their forces together and beset all those passages of their countrey by which they thought their enemie might breake in addressing themselues to repulse them with force and valour but no sooner did Phinees with his forces charge them and set vpon them but that vpon the first encounter so great a multitude of the Madianites was slaine that the number of the carcasses might not be accounted neyther were their kings in like sort saued from the sword These were Og Sures Robeas Vbes the fift Recemus from whom the chiefest Citie of the Arabians deriueth his name and at this day retayneth the same and is called Receme which the Graecians had rather call Petra The Hebrewes hauing thus put their enemies to flight foraged the whole Region and caried and droue away with them a great pray and killing all the inhabitants threof both men women they only spared the virgins for this commaund had Phinees receiued from Moses hand◅ who returning home with his armie in safetie brought with him a memorable and mightie pray of Oxen fiftie and two thousand sixtie and seuen of Asses sixtie thousand of golden and siluer vessels a great number which those of that countrey were wont to vse in their domesticall affaires For by reason of their great riches they liued verie delicately there were also led captiue from thence about thirtie thousand virgins But Moses diuiding the pray gaue the fiftith part thereof to Eleazar and the Priests and to the Leuites another fiftie as for the remainder he distributed it amongst the people Whence i◅ came to passe that euer afterwards they liued in great security hauing gotten riches by their ver◅ue and peace also to enioy the same Now for that Moses was well stricken in yeares he appoynted Iesus who if need were might succeed him in the offices both of a Prophet and a Prince and gouernour for God had so commaunded that he should make choyse of him to be his successor in the principalitie For he was most expert in all diuine and humane knowledge being therein instructed by his master Moses About that time the two tribes of ◅d and Ruben with the halfe tribe of Manasses being abundantly stored with cattell and all other manner of riches by common consent besought Moses that he would giue and assigne to them in particular the countrey of the Amorites which not long since they had conquered by the sword for that it was full of rich pastures But he suspecting least surprised with feare they did detract and withdraw themselues from the battell of the Chanaanites and that vnder pretext of the care of their cattell they couered their sloth highly taunted and controuled them saying that they were fearefull dissemblers He accused them likewise that their desire was to possesse that land which was conquered by the common valour of the people to the end they might lead their liues in idlenes and pleasure and that bearing armes with the rest of the host they would not helpe to possesse the land beyond Iordane which God had promised them by ouercomming those nations which he commaunded them to account for their enemies Who perceiuing that hee was displeased least he should seeme to be deseruedly incensed against them aunswered that neyther thorow feare they fled daunger neyther by reason of sloth esteemed labour but onely shot at this that leauing their pray in commodious places they might be more fit to enter conflict saying that they were readie if so be they might receiue Cities for the defence and receit of their wiues children and substance to follow the rest of the armie whither soeuer they were conducted and to aduenture their liues with them for the common successe Whereupon Moses allowing their forwardnes and assembling Eleazar the high Priest and Iesus with the rest of the Magistrates granted them the land
your possessions by our helpe as we by Gods fauour and your assistance haue attained to this our present felicite Neither hau you aduentured without some reward of your trauels for in this your warfare you are inriched and shal beare away with you a great pray both of gold and siluer and besides all these our beneuolence and loue tied ynto you with all alacritie and readines when soeuer you shall haue cause to vse vs. For you haue neither forgot nor set light by Moses commaund before he departed out of this life and haue spared no indeuour whereby you might allie and tie our affections to you we therefore dismisse you to your owne possessions in complete fulnes of your delight praying you to remember your selues onely of these things that you will suppose that no terme can terminate our kinred Neither by reason of the entercourse of the riuer Iordan betwixt you and vs suppose you vs to be any others then Hebrewes For all of vs both those that dwell on this side and on the other side of Iordan are the posteritie of Abraham and one and the same God hath brought to light both yours and our progenitors whose lawes and religion instituted by Moses are diligently to be obserued for by this meanes he will become our helper and fauourer as on the contrarie side if we shall degenerate from his statutes he will be an enemie against vs. After he had spoken vnto them after this manner he embraced in particular all those that were in dignitie and in generall the whole people This done he stayed in that place but the rest of the whole people conueyed them onward with teares and they departed the one from the other with great griefe and remorse But after that the tribe of Ruben and of Gad and the rest of the Manassites had passed ouer Iordan they builded an Altar vpon the banke of the riuer that might serue for a memoriall to posteritie and a token for the present of the coniunction which they had with those that dwelt on the other side of Iordan But when the tidings hereof came vnto their eares that dwelt on the further side of the riuer and that they knew that they had builded an Altar but notwithstanding were ignorant of the respect and cause they had in building it they supposed that seeking to innouate their religion they would introduce the seruice of forraine and false gods and being rashly stirred vp with this suspition of the violation of their religion they put themselues in armes with this resolution to reuenge themselues of those who had builded that Altar and to take punishment of them for that they had forsaken the lawes and ordinances of their forefathers For they supposed that they were not so farre to respect their parentage or dignitie who were accused as to forget the will of God and that seruice which was agreeable in his sight for which cause being in this manner incensed they prepared themselues to the expedition But Iosuah and the high Priest Eleazar with the rest of the Elders restrained them counselling them first of all to sound their deliberation and afterward if it should be apparant vnto them that they did it vnder a sinister intent at that time they might lawfully inuade them by the sword Hereupon they sent Phinees the sonne of Eleazar and ten other of the most noblest amongst the Hebrewes as Embassadours vnto them to know what the intent and reason was why they had builded that Altar on the banke of Iordan Now when these Embassadours had past the floud and were come amongst them they summoned an assembly and Phinees standing vp in the midst of them spake after this manner You haue committed so hainous an offence saith he as there is no question either to reproue or punish the same hence forward in words yet notwithstanding we haue not vpon the instant taken armes neither assaulted you in battell or had reference or regard to the hainousnesse of your crime to the intent to punish you but we haue bin sent vnto you as Embassadours in considera tion of our alliance for that as we suppose you may be drawen by good perswasions to the acknowledgement and detestation of your misdeeds to the end that when we are informed of the cause that hath induced you to erect this Altar it might not be thought that we haue headlong thrust our selues into armes against you if vnder an holy affection you haue builded the same and if it appeareth otherwise that the offence is iustly imputed and grounded against you we may take reuenge of the same according as reason requireth For scarcely could we beleeue that you who are inwardly grounded in the knowledge of God and who are hearers of those lawes which he himselfe hath giuen you should since your departure from vs and vpon your arriuall in your owne patrimonie which you haue obtained by lot by the meanes of his grace and peaceably enioy by the power of his prouidence should forget him so soone as to forsake the Tabernacle Arke and Altar which we haue by hereditarie right receiued from our progenitours and introduce strange gods to the intent to be partakers of the impieties of the Chanaanites But if you repent your misdeedes and plunge your selues no further in so great madnesse but reclaime your thoughts and reuerence your domesticall and ancient lawes the pardon is graunted you but if you obstinately persist in your wickednes we will refuse no trauell for the maintenance of our lawes but passing the riuer in defence both of them or to speake more fitly of our God and accounting you no lesse hatefull and impious then Chanaanites we will vtterly roote out and race both their memorie and your posteritie together For do not suppose this that because you haue past the riuer you are exempt from Gods power because in what place soeuer you be you are numbred amongst them that appertaine vnto him and it is impossible for you to auoid either his power or his vengeance And if you thinke that the place is an impediment and let vnto you from following the better course it were better for you to make a new diuision of lands and leaue this region to be conuerted into pastures It behooueth you therefore to grow better aduised and that changing your purpose you desist from innouation Whereunto we exhort you by that loue which you beare to your children and wines and beseech you by the respect you hold of that which is most deare vnto you that you enforce vs not to wage warre against you who are wholy vnwilling to listen to your iniuries Resolue yourselues therefore in this present matter assuring your selues that therein consisteth the issue whether you had rather perpetually enioy your peace and affections by our perswasion or expose both you and yours to the perill of a bloudy warre After that Phinees had finished this his oration they that were the Peeres and principals
betrothed her after he had rauished her from Dauid she bare fiue sonnes of whom we wil speake in their place The king perceiuing how by Gods assistance his affaires prospered daily more more thought that it should be a hainous offēce in him if he should dwel in houses made of Cedar high and well builded and neglecting the Arke suffer it to remaine vnder a pauilion for which cause he conceiued a desire to build a Temple vnto God according as Moses had foretold and to this intent consulted he with the Prophet Nathan who willed him to performe all that which he was minded to accomplish assuring him that God would be each way assistant vnto him for which cause he was verie heartily affected towards the building of the Temple But the same night God appeared vnto Nathan commaunding him to certifie Dauid that he accepted his will and that his affection was agreeable vnto him considering in especiall that no one before him had a thought to performe the like yet notwithstanding although his deliberation were such he permitted him not to finish the same by reason he had followed many warres and had embrewed his hands in the bloud of many of his enemies But after his decease which shall happen after he hath liued a long and prosperous life his sonne called Salomon to whom he shall leaue the kingdome after his death shall cause a Temple to be built vnto him promising him to assist and fauour the said Salomon euen as the father doth his sonne and that he would continue the royaltie in his heires and their successors And that if they shall happen to offend him he will onely punish them with sicknes and sterilitie Dauid vnderstanding these words which were deliuered him by the Prophet was verie ioyfull by reason that the royaltie was firmely assured to his heires and for that his house should be famous and renowmed and presenting himselfe before the Arke he prostrated himselfe and adored and gaue God thanks for all the benefits he had bestowed on him for that from a poore and humble shepheard he had raised him to so great a height of maiestie and glory and for that he had promised to haue care of his posteritie as erst he had had of the Hebrewes and their libertie This said after he had sung hymnes vnto God he departed CHAP. V. Dauid ouercomming the neighbouring nations imposeth tributes on them NOt long time after this Dauid thought it requisite to make warre vpon the Philistines partly to the intent he might auoid the suspition of sloth and idlenes and partly that hauing according as God had foretold discomfited his enemies he might leaue a peaceable kingdome to his posteritie after him He therefore assembled his army anew commanding thē to be in a readines to march forward to the warre whenas therefore he supposed that the armie was addressed he departed out of Ierusalem and made a road vpon the Philistines whom he ouercame in battell and tooke a great part of the countrey from them by meanes whereof he enlarged the frontires of the Hebrewes and translated the warre and led forth his forces against the Moabites whose army being deuided into two parts was by him defeated and ouerthrown and the rest were taken prisoners and tributes were imposed on them which they were bound to satisfie euery yeare Afterwards he led out his host against Adarezer sonne of Ara king of Sophona and waging battell with him neere vnto the riuer of Euphrates he slew about twentie thousand of his footmen and some fiue thousand of his horse he tooke also almost a thousand of his chariots the greater part whereof was wholy consumed and one hundreth of them onely reserued to his owne vse CHAP. VI. They of Damasco are ouercome by Dauid ADad king of Damasco and of Syria vnderstanding that Dauid had made warre on Adarezer who was both his friend and confederate issued forth with great forces to bee assistant vnto him and to deliuer him from his enemies according as he expected But entring field and waging battell with Dauid neere vnto the riuer of Euphrates he was ouercome and lost a great number of his souldiers for in that battell there were staine on his side by the Hebrew enemy to the number of twenty thousand and the rest fled Of this king Nicholas the Historiographer maketh mention in the fourth book of his histories in these words Sithence and long time after a certaine man of that countrey called Adad gouerned in Damasco and ouer the rest of Syria except Phoenicia who making warre against Dauid king of Iudaea and hauing oftentimes fought with him in his last encountrie wherein he was ouercome neere vnto the floud Euphrates he shewed himselfe more resolute then all other kings in force and valour Moreouer he speaketh of his heires how after his death they succeeded him both in royaltie and name the one after the other and saith thus He being deceased his sonnes raigned for ten generations after him each of them receiuing from their father the same name and the same kingdome after the manner of the Ptolomies of Aegypt The third of these being more mightie then the rest and desirous to reuenge himselfe in warre of these iniuries which were offered vnto his grandfather led foorth his army against the Iewes and destroyed the countrey called at this day Samatia Wherein he varied not any waies from the truth for he of whom he speaketh is that Adad that made warre in Samatia during the raigne of Achab king of Israell of whom we will speake hereafter in his place But when Dauid had led forth his campe against Damasco and against the rest of the countrey of Syria he reduced them all vnder his obeisance placing garrisons amidst their countrey and imposing tribute vpon them which they should pay vnto him He dedicated also to God in the Citie of Ierusalem the golden quiuers and armors which Adads guard were wont to weare which afterward Syssa king of Aegypt tooke at such time as he warred against Roboam his Nephew and carried away great riches out of the temple of Ierusalem as it shall be declared hereafter when as we shall come to intreat of that matter This king of the Hebrewes being inspired by God who made him prosperous in all his wars encamped before the goodliest Cities Adarezer had that is to say Betthea and Machon which he besieged tooke and spoyled where there was found great store of gold and siluer and of brasse which was of more estimation then gold whereof Salomon made that great vessell called the Sea and other faire lauers at such time as he adorned and furnished the temple of God When the king of Amath vnderstood of all that which had hapned to Adarezer and how his power and forces were destroied he grew affraid of his owne estate and resolued with himselfe to make a league confederacie with Dauid before he might come out against him
hauing their eies sodainly darkned and blinded Othersome giuing order for the buriall of their houshold seruants died before they were thorowly interred and from the day break at which time the pestilent mortalitie began to rage vntill dinner time there died seuenty thousand persons And now had the Angell of God stretched out his hand ouer Ierusalem readie to inflict punishment thereon when as the king put on sackcloth and prostrated himselfe on the ground beseeching and praying God that it would please him to surcease his wrath and be pacified with the number of those that were already consumed by the pestilence Whilest thus he prayed lifting vp his eies he beheld the angell of God houering in the ayre ouer Ierusalem with his naked sword whereupon he besought God and said that it was hee that was the shepheard who had deserued to bee punished and not his flocke who ought to be fauoured in that they had not any waies offended praying him to satisfie his displeasure vpon him and his posteritie and to spare the people Hereupon God accepting this prayer surceased the plague and sent the Prophet Gad vnto him commanding him that he should presently repaire to the threshing floore of Oronna the Iebusite and there build an altar on which he should offer sacrifice vnto God Which when Dauid vnderstood he neglected not this ordinance but went presently to the appointed place When Oronna who threshed his come saw the king accompanied by his sonnes comming towards him he ranne out to meete him and humbled himselfe before him This man was by nation a Iebusite and one of the greatest friends that Dauid had by meanes whereof he left him vnspoiled at such time as the fortresse of the Iebusites was taken as we ha◅ heretofore declared Oronna asked him for what cause his Lord came thus vnto him who was his seruant Dauid answered him that it was to this intent that he might purchase his threshing floore to the intent that he might build an Altar in that place and offer sacrifice vnto God Oronna replied that both his floore chariots and oxen were the kings to offer vp for a burnt sacrifice beseeching God that he would graciously accept that offering To this the king answered that he highly esteemed his simplicitie and magnaminitie and that he fauourably respected the offer he had made him yet that it was his pleasure that he should receiue the price of the same because he held it an inconuenient to offer sacrifice vnto God vpon other mens charges To this Oronna aunswered that his Maiestie might doe as best pleased him Hereupon he bought the foresaid floore of him for fiftie sicles Then erected he an Altar in this place and offered sacrifices thereon as well burnt offerings as other sacrifices for prosperitie and by this meanes the diuine maiestie was appeased and euer after shewed himselfe fauourable Now this place was the verie same whereto Abraham in times past had brought his sonne Isaac to offer him vp for a burnt sacrifice vnto God and as he was about to sacrifice him a Wether vpon the instant presented it selfe neere vnto the Altar which Abraham offered vp in steede of his sonne as we haue heretofore made manifest Dauid seeing that God had heard his prayer and fauourably accepted his sacrifice decreed that in that place the generall Altar of the people should stand and that on the verie same floore he would build a Temple vnto God which words of his God afterwards ratified For sending his Prophet vnto him hee certified him that his sonne that should succeed him should build a Temple After this propheticall declaration the King commaunded to number the inhabitantes of Ierusalem and it was found that they were one hundreth and fourescore thousand men of which number hee appointed eightie thousand to intend the hewing of stones and ordered that the rest of the common people should beare stones vnto them and he appointed three thousand and fiue hundreth who should gouerne them haue the ouerseeing of the workes He gathered also a great quantitie of Iron and brasse to worke vpon with store of huge and mightie Cedar trees which they of Tyre and Sidon sent him whom he had put in trust to furnish him therewith telling his friends that he made that preparation at that time to the intent that when his sonne should fortune to gouerne after him he might haue stuffe in a readinesse for the building of the Temple and to the intent that he being as yet young and vnexperimented should not be troubled with the gathering therof but hauing all things in a readinesse might finish the building of the Temple CHAP. XI Dauid during his life time surrendreth the kingdome to Salomon THen calling vnto him his sonne Salomon he charged him that after his decease and his enstalment in the kingdome he should build a temple vnto God telling him that though he had both a will and intent to performe the same yet that he was contradicted by God for that he had beene soyled with slaughters and brought vp in warre Adding further that it was foreprophecied vnto him that the finishing of that edifice was by Gods ordinance reserued to his yonger sonne that should be called Salomon whom God should no lesse tender and care for then the father doth his sonne and how the whole land of the Hebrewes should be made happy vnder this Prince and among all other benefits that they should haue peace which is an especiall prerogatiue and blessing and not onely be freed from forraine warres but also from ciuill dissensions For which cause said he since by God thou wert appointed King before thou wast borne indeuour thy selfe to be capable and worthy to be conducted by his prouidence by honouring pietie iustice and fortitude keeping those his ordinances and lawes which he gaue vs by Moses and not permitting others to transgresse the same And as touching the temple which he will that thou shalt build when thou shalt obtaine the kingdome enforce thy selfe to discharge that duety towards God neither be thou dismaid or afraid at the greatnes of the work For before I shall depart out of this world I will set all things in a readines for thee Know therefore that I haue alreadie gathered ten thousand talents of gold and an hundreth thousand talents of siluer of brasse and yron there is as much which is a thing innumerable of stone and of wood a matter most incredible Moreouer thou shalt haue many thousands of masons and carpenters and if ought be defectiue besides these thou shalt thy selfe make prouision thereof when thou hast performed this thou shalt be gracious in gods sight who shall be thy soueraigne and safe conductor He exhorted also the gouernours of the people to set to their helping hand and yeelde their assistāce to his sonne in finishing this worke in furthering the seruice of God without suspition of any inconuenient assuring them that they
and continuance of these eighteene was foure hundreth sixtie six yeeres six moneths and ten daies so long as the Iewes haue had the royall gouernment After the surprisall of Ierusalem by the Babylonians vntill such time as Cyrus king of Persia dismissed the Iewes and gaue them leaue to returne from Babylon into their owne countrey with permission to reedifie their temple there are 70. yeeres and at that time the captiues beeing returned Iesus the sonne of Iosedech tooke vpon him the high priesthood who with those of his posteritie to the number of fifteene haue gouerned in a Democratie or popular estate vntill the time of Antiochus surnamed Eupator for the space of foure hundreth and fourteene yeeres This Antiochus was the first who with his generall Lysia displaced Onias surnamed Menelaus of his priesthood commanding him to be slaine at Beryth and after he had driuen his sonne out of the succession he established Iacim high priest who notwithstanding was of Aarons race but not of his family For this cause Onias the sonne of Onias and nephew to the deceased Onias retired himselfe into Aegypt where growing familiar with Ptolomey Philometor and Cleopatra his wife he perswaded them to build a temple in the confines of Heliopolis not vnlike to that of Ierusalem and to create a high priest in the same of which temple in Aegypt we haue made verie oftentimes mention After that Iacim had held the priesthood for the space of three yeeres he died without successor For the Citie remained seuen yerees without a high priest Againe the Asmoneans recouered the gouernment of their nation and after they had warred against the Macedons they established Ionathan hie priest who exercised the office seuen yeeres but afterwards he was slaine by an ambush and treason conspired against him by Tryphon as we haue declared elsewhere After him Simon his brother vndertooke the priesthood who was not long after slaine treacherously by his sonne in lawe at a banquet After him succeeded his sonne Hyrcanus who enioying this dignitie for the space of thirtie one yeeres died when he was verie olde leauing behinde him Iudas surnamed Aristobulus who dying by sicknesse left his brother Alexander his heire both of the kingdome and high priesthood After that Aristobulus had obtained the royal gouernment he enioyed both dignities one whole yeere For this Iudas surnamed Aristobulus was the first that set the diademe on his head causing himselfe to be called a king The which Alexander did continue for he also ioyned the kingdome with the high priesthood and raigned 27. yeers and feeling himselfe draw neere to his death he left it in Alexandras his wiues hands to dispose of the priesthood as she pleased She therefore bestowed it on Hyrcanus and as touching the kingdome she kept it in her own hands nine yeers afterwards died Her son Hyrcanus was high priest for so long time for after Alexandras death his brother Aristobulus made warre against him and hauing ouercome him he tooke the kingdome from him and not onely seazed the crowne but the priesthood After he had raigned three yeeres and as many moneths Pompey repaired to Ierusalem and tooke it perforce and laying hold of Aristobulus sent him bound vnto Rome with his children After which he restored the priesthood once more to Hyrcanus committing the gouernment of the nation vnto his hands forbidding him in the meane space to weare the diademe Besides the first nine yeeres Hyrcanus gouerned twentie and foure but Barzapharnes and Pacorus princes of the Parthians passed Euphrates and made warre against Hyrcanus and tooke him aliue prisoner and made Antigonus Aristobulus sonne king But after he had gouerned three yeeres and three moneths Sosius and Herode tooke him aliue perforce and Antonius sent him to Antioch where he was put to death After that Herode was created king by the Romans there was neuer any hie priest created of the posterity of the Asmoneans for he gaue the hie priesthood to certaine men of obscure base condition who were of the order of the priests Aristobulus onely excepted This Aristobulus was Hyrcanus nephew who was prisoner among the Parthians and hauing giuen him the priesthood he married himselfe with Mariamme his sister to the intent to continue himselfe in the good liking of the people in remembrance of Hyrcanus but afterwards fearing least all of them should turne to Aristobulus side he caused him to be slaine by finding out a meanes to cause him to be stifled at such time as he bathed himselfe in a fishpond neere to Iericho as we haue declared before this After him he bestowed the priesthood no more on any of the line of the Asmoneans Archelaus his sonne followed his fathers steps in respect of the priesthood and from that time forward the Romans haue enioied the soueraigntie ouer Iewry All they then that haue exercised the priesthood from Herodes time vntill the day that Titus tooke the Citie and the temple haue been in all twentie and eight All the continuance of their gouernment was one hundreth and seuen yeeres Certaine of these gouerned during Herodes life and in the daies of Archelaus his sonne but after these two were dead the gouernment was Aristocraticall or of the nobilitie wherein the priests had the gouernment ouer the whole nation Thus much haue we thought meet to speake at this time as touching the high priests CHAP. IX How Florus Albinus successor offered many iniuries to the Iewes which constrained them to take armes GEssius Florus being sent by Nero to succeed Albinus filled all Iudaea with many mischiefs and miseries He was a Clazomenian borne and was married to a certaine woman called Cleopatra no lesse mischieuous then himselfe who being beloued by Poppea Neros wife obtained this dignitie for him He behaued himselfe so outragiously and violently in all his gouernment that thorow the great iniustice he committed the Iewes praised Albinus as if hee had been their benefactor For he concealed his mischiefe taking care least it should wholy be conceited or discouered but Gessius Florus behaued himselfe in such sort as if he had been sent to make open shew and sale of his villanies publishing his iniustice in the eares of our nation without omitting either rapine or iniustice in execution and inflicting punishment on the innocent For he was pitilesse and couetous and made no difference betwixt noble and ignoble and was not ashamed to be partaker with theeues of whom there were diuers that made it their profession to steale without any feare in that they were assured of their safetie because he was partaker with them And in a word there was no moderation in him in sort as the poore Iewes being vnable to endure the insolent rapines and spoilings of their goods that they receiued by these theeues were constrained to abandon their owne houses and to flie their countrey and remaine in some more commodious place of securitie yea though it were among strangers What neede I
granted him to create the hie priest Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. al. 5. Monobazuâ—… the king of Adiabena begetteth two sons on Helena his sister Monobazus and Izates The yeare of the world 4009. after Christs natiuitie 47. Izates sent to Abemerigus marieth his daughter Samacha Caeron very fruitful in Amomum in which the reliques of Noes aâ—…ke are to be seene Izates was made king by his mother Helena the nobility and Monabazus gouerneth the kingdome till his comming Izates and his mother Helena learne the true seruice of God according to the manner of the Iewes The yeare of the world 4009. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 47. Izates sendeth his brothers to Claudius Caesar and Artabanus Izates is disswaded by Helena his mother and Ananias from circumcision Eleazar perswadeth Izares to be circumcised They that â—…olie on God put their confideÌ„ce in him do alwaies reap the reward of their pietie Helena the Queene of Adiabena resorteth to Ierusalem Alias cap. 6. The yeare of the world 4009. after Christs birth 47. Artabanus reâ—…reth himselfe to Izates and requireth his assistance Izates comforteth Artabanus promiseth him his assistance Izates writeth to the Parthians and perswadeth them to receiue their king Cinnamus restoreth the kingdome to Artabanus Izates receiueth great honours and gifts at Artabanus hands Antiochia and Mygdonia builded by the Macedons Vardanes after his fathers death laboreth to perswade Izates to make warre against the Romanes but he preuaileth not The yeare of the world 4009. after Christs birth 47. After Vardanes was slaine the kingdome is comâ—…ted to Gotarza Vologelus king of Parthia Monobazus and his kinred thinke to receiue the Iewes religioÌ„ The Adiabenians conspire with the king of Arabia against Izates The Lords of Adiabena perswade Vologesus to kill Izates Izates calleth vpon God who sendeth the Dahans and Sacans into Parthiâ—… vpon whose arriuall Volgesus returneth The yeare of the world 4010. after Christs Natiuitie 48. Izates deliuereth vp the kingdome to his brother Monobazus and dâ—…eth Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. al. 8. Theudas perswadeth the â—…eople that with a word he will cause Iordan to deuide it 〈◊〉 yeeld them passage he with his followers are slaine Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. al. 8. Tiberius Alexander gouernour of Iudaea Iames and Simon the sons of Iudas of Galilee crucified The yeare of the world 4011. after Christs birth 49. The yeere of the world 4011. after Christs birth 49. Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. al. 10. In the feast of Pascha a certaine souldier shewing his priuie members moueth a sedition amoÌ„g the people whereby twentie thousand Iewes lost their liues Stephen Caesars seruant robbed in his iourney for which cause Cumanus spoileth the villages neere to the place where the robbery was done A certaine soldier â—…eareth the bookes of Moses â—…aw and therefore is beheaded by Cumanus coÌ„maundement Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. al. cap. 12. Certaine Samaritanes kill diuers Galileans in their way to Ierusalem The yeare of the world 4014. after Christs birth 52. The yeare of the world 4014. after Christs natiuitie 52. The Galileans in reuenge of their iniuries burne certaine villages of the Samaritanes and spoyle the same Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. al. 12. The Samaritanes accuse the Iewes before Numidius Quadratus The Iewes lay the burthen of the warres on the Samaritanes and Cumanus Dortus with foure other are crucified Ananias Ananus Cumanus Celer and some other are sent to Rome Alias cap. 13. Agrippa moueth Agrippina to intreat Caesar to heare the cause of the Iewes The yeare of the world 4015. after Christs birth 53. Hedio Ruffinus cap 9. al. 14. Claudius â—…oelix gouernour of Iudaea Drusilla Mariamme â—…oelix getteth Drusilla from her former husband Polemon king of Cilâ—…cia marrieth Bernice The yeaÌ„re of the world 4018. after Christs birth 56. Mariamme scorning Archelaus marrieth Demetrius Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. al. 15. Agrippina Meslaâ—…na and Paetinâ—… Clâ—…dius wiues Nero Emperour The yeare of the world 4019. after Christs birth 57. Nero a tyrant Neros tyranny The yeare of the world 4019. after Christs Natiuitie 57. Alias cap. 16. Foelix punisheth y t theeues and Magicians and other seducers of the people Eleazar the sonne of Dinaeus sent to Rome Foelix conspireth against Ionathas Butchery The deceitfull Magicians Hedio Ruffinus cap. 12. al. cap. 17. A falle prophet draweth the Iewes to the mount Oliuet The yeare of the world 4019. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 57. Hedio Ruffinus cap. 13. al 18. A broile in Caesarea betweene the Syrians and Iewes The yeare of the world 4020. after Christs birth 58. Ismael the son of Phabeus the high priest The strife betweene the high priests the priests Alias cap. 19. Foelix acculed Hedio Ruffinus cap. 14. The cutthroâ—… among the Iewes Festus discomfiteth a great deceiuer with all his â—…ollowers Hedio Ruffinus cap. 15. al. 10. The yeare of the world 4020. after Châ—…sts birth 58. The chiefest men of Ierusalem stop vp the prospect of Agrippaâ—… house Ioseph Cabi y t son of Simon made high priest Albinus gouernour of Iudaea Ananus the son of Ananus the high priest Hedio Ruffinus cap. 16. al. 21. Ananus had fiue sons that succeeded him in the priesthood The â—…eare of the world 4025. after Christs birth 43. Iames the brother of â—…ur Lord stoned Ananus accused before Albinus Iesus the sonne of Damneus possesseth Aâ—…anus place Some forcibly gather the tenths of the â—…riests The yeâ—…re of the world 4026. after Christs birth 64. The theeues apprehend Ananias kinred and seruants Caesarea Philippi new builded by Agrippa and called Neronias The Berytianâ—… receiue much kindnes at Agrippas hands Ananias Costobarus and Saul prepared to spoile the weaker Hedio Ruffinus cap. 17. al. 22. Albinus executeth the hainous malefactors Agrippa giueth them of the tribe of Leuâ—… leaue to wâ—…are linnen garments Agrippa permitteth the ministers of the temple to sing the sacred hymnes The people of the Iewes beseech the king that it may be lawfull for theÌ„ to repaire the porch Matthias the sonne of Theophilus high priest The yeare of the world 4026. after Christs natiuitie 64 Hedio Ruffinus cap. 18. The succession and number of the hie priests among the Iewes Aaron and his progenie There were 83. high priests in all The yeare of the world 4026. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 64. Aristobulus slaine by Herode supra lib. 15. cap. 3. The yeare of the world 4028. after the birth of Christ. 66. Gessius Florus gouernour of Iudaea Gessius Floruâ—… worse then Albinus The yeare of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Florus the originall cause of the wars of the Iewes The beginning of the warres The Epilog of the Antiquitles of the Iewes The yeere of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Ioseph expert in the Greeke and Hebrew tongues This volume was written The yeare of the world 4057. after Christs birth 95. Iosephus Ilnage Ioseph the son