God at such time as he slew the Philistine Dauid hauing gotten it fled out of the countrey of the Hebrewes and went vnto Geth a countrey of the Philistines wherein Achis was king There being knowne by the kings seruants hee was discouered and noted to be that Dauid that had slaine many thousand Philistines Dauid fearing to be put to death by him and suspecting least he should fall into the same daunger which hee had escaped by flying from Saul counterfeited himselfe to be foolish and mad so that the some frothed and issued out of his mouth and counterfeited in all things so cunningly that he made the king of Geth beleeue most stedfastly that he was besotted and frenzie in his sicknesse For which cause the king was wroth with his seruants in that they had brought him a madman and commanded them with all expedition that might be to driue him out of his countrey Hauing in this sort escaped out of the countrey of the Geths he transported himselfe into the tribe of Iuda and being in the caue of Adullam he sent vnto his brothers to let them vnderstand that he was there who came vnto him with all their linage and diuers others that either were in need or stood in feare of Saul resorted vnto him saying that they were ready to performe whatsoeuer he should command them all which amounted to the number of foure hundreth or thereabouts Dauid therfore being thus assured by reason of the succours and forces that come vnto him dislodged from thence went to the king of the Moabites beseeching him that he would bee pleased to entertaine his father and mother in that countrey vntill such time as he vnderstood what should be the issue or end of his affaires The king vouchsafed him this fauour and did them great honour all the time they were in his countrey And as touching Dauid he hauing receiued instructions by the commandement of the Prophet to abandon the desart to soiourne in the tribe of Iuda he obeyed him so that comming to Saron he made his aboade in that place But when Saul had vnderstood that Dauid had beene seene with a number of men he fell into an extraordinarie feare and trouble of minde for knowing both the vnderstanding and courage of the man he thought inwardly with himselfe that he would attempt no action that was not great and such a one as might not onely endanger his kingdome or at leastwise breed him much difficultie labor For which cause assembling his friends and captaines and those of his tribe in Gaba where he kept his royall court there sitting in a place called Aror where all his honourable and ciuill magistrates with the rest of his captaines and souldiers enuironed him round about hee spake vnto them after this manner Beloued friends I know that you can beare witnesse of my bountie and how I haue aduanced some of you to honours signiories and possessions and haue preferred you to the chiefest dignities and prerogatiues amongst the people Now would I know of you whether you hope or expect from the sonne of Iesse greater bountie and larger benefits then I haue bestowed vpon you I know that all of you are confederated with him and that my sonne Ionathan likewise is of the same faction and hath perswaded you to follow and fauour him For I am not ignorant both of the othes and couenants that are past twixt him and Dauid and am well assured that he is both a counseller and assister vnto him in whatsoeuer he vndertaketh against me yet are none of you touched with these cares but intending your owne quiet you expect the euent of these matters When the king had spoken thus there were none of the assistants that replied onely Doeg the Syrian master of the kings mulets arose and said That he had seene Dauid in the Citie of Nob who resorted to the high Priest Achimelech to aske counsel of him as touching his assaires that there he had receiued those things that were needfull to furnish him in his voyage and Goliahs sword likewise and how he was safely conducted towards the place whither he pretended to go Hereupon Saul sent for the high Priest and all his kinred and spake thus vnto him What wrong or displeasure haue I done thee that thou hast entertained the sonne of Iesse and hast deliuered him victuals and armes to him I say that seeketh but the meanes to possesse himselfe of my kingdome What answere hast thou made him as touching those demaunds he presented thee in regard of his future fortunes for thou hast not been ignorant that he fled from me and what hatred he beareth against both me my family The high priest denied none of these things but freely confessed that he had deliuered him such things as were reported but not with an intent to gratifie Dauid but the king for I entertained him said he not as thine enemy but as thy faithfull minister and tribune nay which is more as thy sonne in law and such a one as was tied vnto thee by neere alliance For who would haue thought that he who was intitled to so much honour by thee should be thine enemie nay rather who would not esteeme him for thy sauourite and neerest friend And where as he asked counsell of me as touching Gods will this is not the first time I haue answered him but oft many other times haue I aduised him And where as he said that he was sent by thee about some hastie and secret businesse should I haue refused him those supplies which he required at my hands I might haue bin iudged rather to haue done iniurie to thy maiestie then to him For which cause thou art not to suspect or thinke euil of me or if thou hast receiued any aduertisement that Dauid at this time intendeth some trouble innouation against thee oughtst thou to thinke that by reason of the curtesie I haue shewed him that I either fauor him or maintain him against thee for what I bestowed I imployed as on thy friend thy sonne in law and thy tribune and whatsoeuer curtesie he receiued from me it was done vnto thee Notwithstanding all these iust allegations yet could Saul be no waies induced to beleeue them but contrariwise his vehement feare made him suspect the true iustifications of Achimelech so that he commanded certaine armed men that were about him that they should put both him and all his family to the sword But when they held it no lesse then sacriledge to violate by violent death such as were men consecrated vnto God Saul commanded Doeg the Syrian to perpetrate the slaughter who ioyning to himselfe certaine other sacrilegious and impious men he murthered Achimelech and all his race who were in number three hundreth thirtie and fiue men He further sent to Nob the citie of the Priests and put all of them vnto the sword neither sparing woman nor childe nor hauing respect vnto any
most incident to this purpose For although he knew that vvhich should befall him and that his death vvas at hand according as it had beene foretold him yet resolued he not to auoid the same neither so loued he his life that for the conseruation thereof he vvould deliuer vp his people into the hands of their enimies nor dishonour his royall dignitie but himselfe vvith his children and all his household exposed themselues to daunger thinking it more honourable to die vvith them in fighting for his subiects and farre more expedient that his children should die like valiant men then to leaue them aliue in incertitude of estate whereinto they might fall supposing that hee should haue sufficient successours of his race if he left behind him a perpetuall memorie and praise both of him and his For which cause in my opinion he was both iust strong and prudent and if anie one either is or hath beene like vnto him I suppose that it becommeth all men to giue testimony of such a mans vertue For I thinke that the Historians and ancient Writers haue not worthily entituled them with the stile of valiant men who attaining some worthie actions attempted warre vnder assured hope of victorie and safetie but they only that imitate Saul may deseruedly be called iust praise-worthie couragious hardie and contemners of all dangers For what great thing is there in vndertaking the common hazard of warre and tossing twixt hope and feare to vse fortunes fauour if she fawne vpon vs but contrariwise I count it an assured signe of a valiant man when as without conceit of hope of any goodnes and knowing his death at hand and assured in his conflict is not affraid nor dismaid with such apprehensions but seeketh out with an inuincible courage his most assured hazard This is the praise of our Saul who is an example to all true louers of glory that if they haue regard to leaue an honest memory to their posterity they should vpon the like opportunitie propose the same resolution to themselues but in especiall kings who by reason of the excellencie of their degree ought not onely forbeare to be euill but also striue to be excellently vertuous I could likewise say more of this generous argument of Sauls valour but least I should seeme too affectionate I will returne to our former purpose After that the Philistines were thus encamped according as hath beene afore-spoken and had numbred their forces according to their nations kingdomes and gouernments king Achis issued in the rereward with his particular companie whom Dauid followed accompanied with his sixe hundreth soldiers whom when the chieftaines of the Philistines beheld they asked the king whence those Hebrewes came and what their leaders name was Who answered thē that it was Dauid who fled from Saul his master and how he had entertained him being fled from him againe how Dauid in recompence of the good he had receiued at his hand and to reuenge him on Saul was readie to fight for them against him But the chieftaines blamed him because he had chosen an enemie for his associate counselling him to dismisse him for feare least he should secretly performe some straunge stratageme against his confederates because said they he hath a fit opportunitie to reconcile himselfe to his master They therefore willed him to send Dauid backe vvith his sixe hundreth souldiers vnto the place vvhich he had giuen him to inhabite because it was the same Dauid of whom the damsels made songs singing in praise of him that he had slain many thousand Philistines When the king of Geth vnderstood these things he thought their counsell to be laudable for which cause calling Dauid vnto himhe said vnto him I protest vnto thee said he that I beare a most singular affection and good liking towards thee and for that cause I haue called thee out to assist vs in this battel but our captaines allow not of my resolution for which cause retire thy selfe to the place which I haue giuen thee without conceiuing any euil suspitiō of me There shalt thou be in garrison to forestal the enemie from foraging our country and in so doing thou shalt partly assist vs in the warre Herupon Dauid departed vnto Siceleg according as the king had commaunded him But during the time that Dauid was in campe and attended on the Philistines warre the Amalechites arose and tooke Siceleg by force and burned the Citie and after they had gathered a great bootie both in that place and in other villages of the Philistines countrey they retired backe againe Now when Dauid arriued at Siceleg and found it wholy ruined and spoiled and seeing likewise that his two wiues and the wiues of his companions were prisoners togither with their children he presently rent his rayment and began to weepe and lament with his companions yea so much was he afflicted that he had scarce any teares left him to bemone himselfe beside this his companions amated with the captiuitie of their wiues and children were readie to stone him to death accusing him that he was the cause of all that which had hapned But when as his griefe was after a manner aslaked and he somwhat returned to himself he lifted vp his heart vnto God and commaunded the high Priest Abiathar to put on the Ephod and aske counsaile of God and that done to declare vnto him whether by his assistance he might ouertake the Amalechites if so be he should pursue them and whether he should recouer his wiues and children that they had led away and reuenge him of his enemies As soone as the high Priest had certified him that he might pursue them he sallied out with sixe hundreth soldiers and pursued the enemie and drawing neere vnto the riuer he found a certaine stragler an Egyptian by nation wholy discomforted and feeble thorow want and famine wherewith he was pressed hauing for three daies space wandred in the desart without any sustenance whom after he had refreshed with meate and drinke and recomforted he asked him to whom he belonged and what he was The Egyptian told him his nation and how he had beene left in that place by his master because that thorow his weaknes it was impossible for him to follow them He consessed likewise that his master was one of the number of those that had burned and sacked not onely other quarters of Iudea but Siceleg also Dauid taking this man for his guide ouertooke them finding some of them lying on the earth others banquetting and following drunkennesse and almost sencelesse by ouerdrinking so recouering both his booty and pillage and sodainly setting vpon them he made a great slaughter For they being naked and suspecting no such inconuenient and wholy addicted to frolicke drinking and feasting were all of them easily defeated diuers likewise amongst them were slaine as they sate at their meat others likewise were slaughtered whilest they carroused the one vnto the other and some
times I haue receiued at his hands For whilest I fed my fathers flocks I redeemed a lambe that was rauished out of my fold out of the lions iawes and catching the wild beast by the taile that with open mouth assaulted and sought to deuouâ—… me I bet him to the ground and slue him Neither with lesse successe inuaded I a beare that set vpon my flocke and as light doe I set by this monster also who vomiting out his slaunderous raylings both against God and men shall neither escape the diuine arme of iustice which he so wickedly prouoketh neither flie from my hands who am prepared to â—…counter him So much preuailed this forward readinesse in the yoong man that the king beseeching Gods assistance to second his courage furnished him with a royall armour a sword and a helmet and sent him forth to the battell But Dauid feeling the waight of his armour and seeming rather to be loaded then defenced with the same said vnto him Let these armes O king serue to inclose and defence thy body who art able to beare them and suffer me I beseech thee who am thy seruant to fight according to mine owne fantasie He therefore laid-by his armour tooke a staffe in his hand and fiue stones which he gathered on the bankes of the torrent which he put in his scrip his sling he bore in his right hand and being thus armed he marched forward to encounter his enemy Now when the Barbarian saw him thus furnished he so much contemned him that in way of scorne he asked him whether he thought him to be a dogge that he thus came foorth to fight with him with weapons fit to scarre dogges Nay said Dauid I esteeme thee worser then a dogge which so much peruerted Goliahs patience that he cursed the name of his God thundring out threats that he would cast out his carkasse to be deuoured by the beasts of the field and the birds of the ayre But Dauid answered Thou commest against me with thy sword thy iauelin and curets but contrariwise I march out against thee vnder the warrantise and protection of God who shall destroy thee by my hand and with thee thy whole army for this day will I take thy head from thy shoulders and cast the rest of thy body to the dogs whom thou resemblest and all men shall know that God is the Prince of the Hebrewes and that our armes and forces are the cares that it pleaseth him to haue of vs and that all other furniture of warre is vnprofitable except it be assisted by God The waight of the Philistines armes hindred him from marching readily so that he marched foote by foote towards Dauid contemning him and trusting that he should kill him easily both for that he was disarmed as also because he was yoong and tender in yeates CHAP. XI The single combate betwixt Dauid and Goliah and the slaughter of the Palestines that followed after DAuid set forward to make head against his enemy being assisted by a companion whom he saw not which was God drawing therefore one of the stones which he had gathered on the bankes of the torrent out of his scrip and hauing fitted it in his sling he forced it against Goliah and gaue him such a stroke on the forehead that he pierced him to the verie braine so that Goliah fell downe sodainly dead and he running vpon him as he lay sprawling on the earth cut off his head with his owne sword for he himselfe â—…ad none As soone as he was stroken downe discomfiture and flight seazed all the army of the Philistines for seeing the most esteemed warriour amongst them ouerthrowne and slaine they began to suspect the generall issue of their warre and resolued to retire from thence so tooke they their flight in disorder and confusion supposing by that meanes to deliuer themselues out of dangers But Saul and the whole army of the Hebrewes sallied out against them with great shoutes and cries and in the pursuit made a great slaughter of them and droue them to the borders of Geth and the gates of Ascalon In this battell there died on the Philistines side aboue thirtie thousand and the rest that were hurt and wounded were twise as many Saul returning backe into his campe pillaged and burnt their tents but Dauid bore Goliahs head into his pauillion and hung his sword in the tabernacle and consecrated the same vnto God But Saul afterward conceiued a priuie hatred against Dauid vpon this occasion which ensueth For whereas he returned triumphant like a conquerour with the army and the women and maidens singing and dauncing to their cymbals and timbrels in way of honour came out to meete him The women sung that Saul had slaine diuers thousands of the Philistines and the virgins answered that Dauid had slain diuers ten thousands Which when Saul vnderstood and saw that the lesser testimony of thousands was referred to him and that the ten thousands were attributed to Dauid he supposed that after so glorious a renowm there wanted nothing for Dauid except to be king For which cause he began to feare and suspect him so that by reason of the feare he had of him he thought that he was too neere his owne person and therefore from being one of the chiefest in authoritie about him which was to bee one of his chiefest commaunders and guard he made him captaine ouer a thousand rather respecting his owne securitie then the others honor to the intent that being often charged by incursions of the enemy hee might by some desaster be depriued of his life But Dauid hauing in all places the assistance of almightie God returned alwaies with good successe and happy issue so that for the excellencie of his valour the people intirely loued him And Sauls daughter also that was about that time mariageable began to be enamoured with him and so great and apparant was her affection towards Dauid as the certaine notice thereof came vnto her fathers eares who was sore displeased therewith yet hoping by that meanes the sooner to entrap him hee gaue eare thereto with some shew of allowance and told them who discouered their loues vnto him that he would willingly giue him his daughter to wife vnder pretence that the enioying of her might be the meanes of his vtter ouerthrow For said he I am content to giue him my daughter in mariage vnder that condition that hee bring me six hundreth enemies heads and he desirous to gette so high and famous a reward and in like sort to obtaine honour by an act both so dangerous and admirable will vndertake the execution thereof and shall be slaine by the hands of the Philistines and that intention which I haue conceiued against him shall succeede according to mine owne hearts desire for I shall be deliuered of him in sending him out of the world not by my meanes but other mens hands Further he charged his
him in his owne chamber where he lay and hauing at that time a iauelin in his hand he commanded him to play on his harp to sing hymnes Now whilest Dauid executed that his commandement Saul stretching out his arme threw his dart at him but Dauid foreseeing it auoided the stroke and fled into his owne house where he soiourned all the day long Now when the night was come the king sent out certaine of his seruants to watch his house for feare least he should escape to the end that the next day being drawen and appearing in iudgement he might be condemned and put to death But Michol Dauids wife and Sauls daughter hauing intelligence of her fathers intention ran vnto her husband telling him in how great peril both he and she were who without his presence neither could nor would liue any longer Beware said she least the sunne finde thee in this place for he shall no more behold thee here hereafter Flie therefore whilest the present night offereth thee opportunitie which God doth lengthen for thy safetie-sake for be assured that if thou beest surprised in this place my father will make thee die a miserable death This said she let him downe by a window and so saued him and incontinently after she prepared his bed and trimmed it as if he laye sicke therein and vnder the couering thereof she laid the liuer of a new slanghtered Kid and when her father had sent the next morning to apprehend Dauid she answered that he had beene sicke all the night long then discouering the bed that was couered she gaue them to vnderstand that Dauid was laid therein making them touch the couerlet vnder which the liuer stirred and made them beleeue that the liuer that lay there was Dauid who panted breathed verie hardly Which being signified vnto Saul he commaunded that he should be brought vnto him in that estate wherein he was because he was resolued to put him to death But when Sauls messengers were arriued and returned thither and had discouered the bed they perceiued Michols subtiltie and went and certified the king thereof who reproued her verie grieuously for that she had saued his aduersarie and deceiued her father But she defended her selfe with words full of good apparance saying that Dauid had threatned to kill hir and how for that cause and by the impulsion of feare she was drawen and induced to aide and saue him For which cause she ought to be pardoned since by constraint and not of set purpose she had furthered his escape For said she I thinke that you seeke not so greedily after the death of your enemie as you preferre the same before the safetie and securitie of your daughter On these perswasions Saul pardoned his daughter Dauid deliuered from this perill came vnto the Prophet Samuel to Ramatha and told him what ambushes the king had laid for him how hardly he had escaped death by the stroke of his Iauelin whereas in all things that concerned Saul he had alwaies shewed himselfe obedient againe how he had neuer ceased to warre vpon his enemies and had by Gods assistance beene fortunate in all things which was the cause that Saul was so displeased with him The Prophet informed of Sauls iniustice forsooke the Citie of Ramath and led Dauid to a certaine place called Galbaath where he remained with him But as soone as Saul was informed that Dauid was retired and accompanied with the Prophet he sent out certaine soldiers to lay hands on him and bring him vnto him who repairing to Samuel and finding the congregation of the Prophets were seased with the spirit of God and began to prophecie Which when Saul vnderstood he sent out others who had the like incounter with the first For which cause he sent out others and seeing the third companie prophecie likewise he was in the end so much despited that he came thither in his owne person And when he drew neere the place before that Samuel saw him he made him prophecie so that Saul comming towards him was seased by aboundance of the spirit so that he was rauished out of himselfe and hauing despoyled himselfe of his raiment he lay prostrate all the day and the night long in the presence both of Samuel and Dauid Dauid departed from thence and went vnto Ionathan to whom he complained of those ambushes which his father had laid to intrap him in telling him that notwithstanding he had neuer committed either iniurie or fault against his father yet did he earnestly pursue him to put him to death Ionathan perswaded him that he should neither rashly suspect these things nor be ouer-credulous in those reports which perhaps might be brought vnto him but that he should trust him onely who was assured that his father intended no euill against him For if he had he would haue told him who is neuer wont to act any thing without his counsell But Dauid sware vnto him that it was so and besought him that he would beleeue his vnfained assertiōs wherby he might the more easily procure his securitie least contemning his words and supposing them to be fained and friuolous he should by his death be ascertained of the sight and truth thereof For he assured him that his father for that cause did not communicate his counsailes with him because he was assured of the loue and friendship that was betweene them Ionathan sore aggrieued that Dauid was so perswaded and Sauls intention was such asked him what he desired at his hands or wherein he might shew him friendship Dauid said vnto him I know that thou wilt further me in what thou maist and refuse me in nothing Now to morrow is the first day of the moneth in which I was accustomed to dine at the kings table and if thou thinkest good I will depart out of the Citie into the field where I will lie hidden if he aske for me thou shalt say I am gone into the countrey of Bethleem where my tribe solemnizeth a feast thou shalt certifie him also that thou hast giuen me leaue And if he say God speed him which is an ordinary wish that friends vse to such as go a iorney know that he hath no hiddē rancor nor secret malice conceiued against me but if he answer otherwise it shall be an assured testimonie that he complotteth some mischiefe against me and this shalt thou ascertaine me of as both becommeth my present calamitie and our mutual friendship which by vowed oth thou being my Lord hast plighted with me who am thy seruant And if thou thinke me vnworthie of this fauour and iniurious towards thy father without expecting the sentence of his iustice kill me now at this present with thine owne sword These his last words so grieuously stroke Ionathan to the heart that he promised him to accomplish his request assuring him to certifie him if he any waies could perceiue that his father was ill affected towards him
and to the intent he might the better be beleeued he caused him to walke forth with him into the cleare and open ayre and there sware vnto him that he would not pretermit any thing that might tend to the conseruation of Dauid For said he that God that filleth and moderateth all things in this wide spred Vniuers and who before I speake knoweth my mind he I say shall beare witnesse of that accord which shall be ratified betweene thee and me that I will not cease to sound my father till such â—…ime as I know and haue conceiued his intention and that I haue entred into his secrets to know what sicknes his soule is seazed with and that when as I shall apprehend the same I will not conceale it from thee but giue thee notice thereof be it that he be appeased or displeased against thee The same God knoweth how incessantly I beseech him to be assistant vnto thee as also he is at this present and that he abandon thee neuer but make thee Lord ouer thine enemies yea though it were my father or my selfe Onely remember me in this point that after my death if I chance to die before thee thou take care of my children and be as fauourable towards them as I am affected to theeward at this present After he had sworne this oth he dismissed Dauid willing him to conceale himselfe in a certaine place of the plaine where he ordinarily exercised himselfe For that as soone as he vnderstood his fathers mind he would returne thither with his Page and if saith he hauing shot three shafts at the marke I shall commaund my Page to gather them and bring them backe againe to me for that they are right before him know thou that thou art to expect no euill from my father but if thou hearest me speake to the contrarie thinke thou that my father is incensed and misaffected towards thee yet howsoeuer it happen I will doe my best that nothing shall befall thee otherwaies then we expect and wish Be thou therefore mindfull of these things at such time as thou shalt obtaine thy happie daies and be thou fauourable vnto my children Dauid being confirmed by Ionathans promises retired himselfe to the appointed place The next day after which was the solemnitie of the new moone after the king was purified according to the custome he sate downe to take his repast Now when his sonne Ionathan was set on his right side and Abner the General of his Armie on the left Saul perceiued Dauids place was void and spake not a word supposing that hee was absent from that companie by reason he was not purified since he had the companie of his wife but seeing the second day of the new Moone that he was absent likewise he asked his sonne Ionathan why Iesses sonne both the day before and at that instant was not present at that fast who answered him that he was gone into his countrie prosecuting the storie according as it had beene concluded betweene them alleaging that his Tribe celebrated a feast and that he had permitted him to assist the same Further said he he inuited me to the banquet and if it stand with your pleasure I will assist the feast for you know how intirely I loue the man At this time knew Ionathan the displeasure his father had conceiued against Dauid and perceiued most apparantly how hainously he was affected for Saul could not conceale his choler but began to raile vpon his sonne calling him rebell and his enemie and companion and confederate with Dauid telling him that he shewed reuerence neither to him nor to his mother since he was so minded and that he would not beleeue but that as long as Dauid liued their royall estate should be alwayes in continual disturbance He commanded him therefore to bring him before him to the end that he might do iustice vpon him Ionathan replied What euill hath Dauid committed for which he should be punished Hereupon Saul not onely expressed his choler in words and disgraces but taking hold of a iauelin he assaulted him and would haue slaine him but he missed his purpose by reason he was retained by his friends At that time did Ionathan clearely discouer the hatred that Saul bare towards Dauid and how instantly furiously he sought his ruine since welny for Dauids sake he had slaine his owne eldest sonne Then did Ionathan withdraw himselfe from the banquet seeing with how little profit he had pleaded and so much was he grieued that he ceased not to weepe and the rather since welny his father had vnkindly slaine him And seeing that Dauid was adiudged to die he passed all the night long without sleepe and about the day spring he departed out of the Citie to the appointed field making a shew that he walked out to take his exercise but indeed it was to discouer vnto his friend the intent which his father had according as it was couenanted betweene them After that Ionathan had done that which he had promised sending backe his Page into the citie he came vnto Dauid both to see and speak with him in priuate who as soone as he perceiued him cast himselfe prostrate at Ionathans feet calling him the conseruer and maintainer of his life But Ionathan lifted him vp from the earth so that both of them embracing one another and intermixing their mutuall kisses for a long time lamented their yeares with warme teares and their vnfortunate friendshippe with bitter sighes they bewailed likewise their future separation no lesse grieuous vnto them then death it selfe Finally scarcely giuing any truce to their aboundant teares and exhorting one another to haue in perpetuall remembrance their plighted faiths and promises they departed the one from the other Dauid flying from the king and the war which he made against him retired himselfe to the city of Nob to Achimelech the priest who seeing Dauid come alone vnto him without either friend or seruant was amased and desired to know the cause why he thus wandred without any attendance Dauid told him that the king had sent him about some secret execution which might not be communicated vnto him although he were desirous to know it and as touching my seruants said he I haue commanded them to attend me in this place He further required him that he would giue him such things as were necessarie for his voyage that he had to make wherin he might performe the part of a friend in succouring him at such time as he had neede of him Which when he had condescended vnto he requested him to giue him some armes either sword or iauelin now in this place was there present one of Sauls seruants that was called Doeg a Syrian by nation and the pastor of the kings mulets The Priest answered him that he had no such thing by him except it were Goliahs sword which he himselfe had hanged in the Tabernacle and dedicated vnto
expressing their affection therein not onely in outward shew but also with their whole power labouring what they might that surprising him they might deliuer him to the kings hands But their iniust desire had as infortunate successe who being to incurre no perill by concealing him from pursuit promised to betray into the kings hands thorow adulation and auarice a man that was both vertuous and wrongfully persecuted to death by his enemies For Dauid being made priuie to their malice and ascertained of the Kings approch leauing those narrow streights wherin they then incamped escaped to a certaine rocke which is situate in the desarts of Simon Neither desisted Saul to pursue him for knowing by the way that he had ouercome the streights he came to the other side of the rock Dauid had surely both bin taken and circumuented had not the king beene reuoked by fearfull tidings which assured him that the Palestines had forcibly entred and spoiled his kingdome For he thought it more conuenient to reuenge himselfe on those his hostile and sworne enemies and to giue succour to his countrey and people being ready to be spoiled and wasted then vnder desire to lay hands on a priuate enemie to betray both his countrie subiects to their swords and thus was Dauid saued beyond all expectation and retired himselfe to the streights of Engaddi But after that Saul had repulsed the Palestines certaine newes was brought him that Dauid dwelt in the streights of Engaddi whereupon presently taking with him three thousand of the choisest men in all his armie heled them speedily to the forenamed place and being not farre from thence he perceiued neere vnto the high way a deepe hollowe large long and open caue whereas Dauid with his foure hundreth men might be hidden and descended himselfe alone into the caue to disburthen the necessities of nature This was presently discouered by one of Dauids followers who told him that God had presented him a fit oportunitie to reuenge him on his enimie and counselled him to cut off Sauls head and discharge himselfe thereby of much trouble and torment who arising and finding him out onely cut off the lap of the vesture wherewith Saul was attired and presently thereupon repented himself saying that it were a wicked deed in him to kil his lord whom God by election had raised to the estate of Maiestie and Empire For said he although he be vniust toward me yet ought I not to be iniurious towards him But when Saul was issued out of the caue Dauid went out after and cried with a loud voice beseeching Saul that he would giue him audience who turning backe vnto him he cast himselfe prostrate before his feete and humbled him on his face according to the custome and spake after this manner How vnworthie is it for thee O King that opening thy eares to scandalous backbiters and giuing trust and credit to vaine loose men thou suspectest thy most tried friends whom thou rather oughtest to iudge by their sincere and vpright actions for words may be either false or true but the mind may be discouered by none more apparant arguments then by mens actions as at this present thou maist iudge whether thou hast rashly beleeued them that make me guiltie before thy Maiestie of that crime that was neuer yet so much as thought vpon and haue so much exasperated thee against me that day and night thou thinkest on nothing more then my destruction Seest thou not now how vaine thy opinion is whereby they perswade thee that I am an enimie of thy house and earnestly desirous of thy death Or with what eies thinkest thou doth God behold thy crueltie who requirest his death who hauing occasion and opportunitie offered him to be reuenged on thee spareth thy life whose life were it in thy hands were assuredly lost for as easily might I haue cut off thy head as this lap of thy garment and therewithall in confirmation of his words he shewed it him yet did I forbeare this iust reuenge yet contrariwise art not thou afraid to exercise thy vniust tyrannies against me But God shall beare witnesse hereof and shall approue which of vs both are of more peaceable behauiours Saul amased to see how straungely his life had beene preserued and rauished to consider the naturall mildnes and moderation in Dauid began to weepe and Dauid wept also but Saul said that he had greater cause to lament then he For said he by thy meanes haue I receiued many benefits and thou at my hands hast been repaid with infinit iniuries This day hast thou testified that thou retainest the ancient iustice of thy progenitors who commaunded that their enemies should be dismissed with life at such time as they were surprised in the desart now am I thorowly perswaded that God hath reserued the kingdome for thee and that the Empire of all the Hebrewes attendeth thee Assure thou me therefore by an oth that thou wilt not exterminate my race neither remember thee of those iniuries I haue done vnto thee but that sparing my posteritie thou warrantise and keepe them vnder thy protection Dauid sware vnto him according as he had required and suffered him to returne into his Realme and both he and his companies retired themselues to the streights of Maspha About the same time died Samuel the Prophet a man who by his merit was in great estimation amongst the Hebrewes the famous testimonie of whose vertue and the peoples obseruation towards him was expressed in this in that they celebrated his funerall and set out his sepulcher with great pompe and when they had performed his rites they buried him in Ramath his countrey and lamented him many daies not after the manner of a common or forraine misery but as if each one of them had in particular a preiudice and losse to lament for For he was a man that was naturally framed to all iustice and goodnes and for these his vertues most acceptable vnto God He gouerned the people after the death of Eli the high Priest first in his owne person for the space of twelue yeares and afterwards during the raigne of Saul eighteene yeares whose death hapned as I said about this time But in those places where Dauid at that time remained there was a certaine Ziphian in a towne called Emma a man verie rich and Lord of much cattell For he had a troupe of three thousand sheepe and a heard of a thousand Goats On these did Dauid commaund his people to commit no waste neither thorow desire nor necessitie nor hope of concealement they should doe him any hurt Charging them moreouer that they should offer no wrong vnto any man because that to violate and take another mans goods was both vnlawfull and wicked and contrarie to Gods commandement Hee instructed them in this sort imagining with himselfe that he should gratifie a good man and such a one as deserued to be in like sort fauoured but
Nabal for such was his name was a rude and currish person leading his life in hunting Yet had he a wife that was good wise and faire To this Nabal did Dauid send tenne of his seruants about the time of his sheepe-shearing both to salute him as also to wish him all good and to beseech God that for diuers yeares hee would grant him grace to doe the like Meane while he requested him that he would impart vnto him somewhat of that which was in his power when as his shepheards could informe him that hauing long time remained in the desart we haue said they beene so farre off from doing your flockes any harme as we haue rather seemed to be their shepheards and keepers they promised him likewise that whatsoeuer courtesie he should shew vnto Dauid he should bestowe it on a mindfull and thankfull personage Thus spake the messengers vnto Nabal but he answered them verie discourteously and rudely demaunding of them what that Dauid was and being informed that he was the sonne of Iesse Now said he these fugitiues and slaues forsaking their masters liue proudly and insolently Dauid hearing of this report was grieuously displeased and commanded fower hundreth of his men to take vp their weapons and follow him commanding two hundreth to keepe the baggage for at that time he had sixe hundreth and in this equipage marched he forward against Nabal swearing that that verie night he would vtterly exterminate roote out all his race and ransacke all his riches Neither was he onely displeased for that Nabal was ingratefull towards them without respect of that humanitie which they had shewed towards him and his but also for that without any cause or iniurie offered he had iniured outraged him in words In the meane while certaine shepheards that attended Nabals cattell told their mistresse their maisters wife that Dauid hauing sent vnto her husband to require some small courtesie had not onely obtained nothing but also receiued insupportable iniuries whereas till that day he had suffered his flocks to be vntouched telling her that that insolencie of their Lord might breede them all much woe and miserie Which when Abigal heard for so was the woman called she loded diuers Asses with all sorts of presents without making any motion to her husband who was so drunke that he was insensible and went towards Dauid As therefore she descended the streights of the mountaine Dauid encountred her marching towards Nabal accompanied with foure hundreth men As soone as Abigal perceiued him she leaped from her Steed and falling vpon her face she prostrated her selfe before him beseeching him to forget Nabals words knowing that Nabals nature was answerable to his name For in the Hebrew tongue Nabal signifieth folly she excused her selfe likewise saying that she saw none of them that were sent vnto her husband For which cause she said I beseech thee grant me pardon and giue God thankes that by my meanes he hath hindred you from polluting your hands in innocent bloud for if thou remaine pure and innocent from bloudshed he shall exact a punishment at their hands that haue hurt thee For those misfortunes that attend on Nabal shall fall on the heads of thine enemies onely be thou fauourable vnto me in accepting these my humble presents and for my sake remit that wrath which thou hast iustly conceiued against my husband for clemencie and humanitie becommeth him whom the fates haue destinated a kingdome Dauid accepting her presents gaue her an answere after this manner Women said he God of his goodnes hath this day brought thee hither otherwise thou haddest not liued or seene the next morning For I haue sworne that this night I would ouerthrow thy house and leaue none aliue of that vngratefull mans familie who hath so contumeliously abused both me and mine but now God hath put thee in mind wisely to preuent and pacifie my wrath As touching Nabal although at this present he be exempted by thy meanes from punishment yet shall he not escape but he shall lose his life for his manners vpon an other occasion shall be the cause of his ruine This said he dismissed Abigal who returning to her house and finding her husband amidst his other companions loaden and ouerwhelmed in wine told him nothing at that time of that which had hapned but the next day when he was sober certifying him thereof he lost all his forces and his body became mortified thorow the griefe he conceiued at her words so that some ten daies after and no more he departed out of this life Which when Dauid vnderstood he said that he was deseruedly punished by God because that his owne wickednesse was the cause of his punishment and that he was afflicted and yet his hands who receiued the iniurie were vndistained with bloud and by this example he learnt that no wicked man can escape Gods iudgement and that all humane affaires are not rashly disposed as if neglected by God but that the good are rewarded with goodnesse and the wicked punished according to their wickednesse He afterwards sent messengers to his wife and caused her to come vnto him to the intent he might marrie her and take her to his wife She answered the messengers that she thought her selfe vnworthy to lie at his feete notwithstanding she repaired vnto him with all her furniture and meanes whatsoeuer and was married to Dauid hauing obtained that degree of honour both in that she was modest and iust as also for that she was beautifull Now Dauid had a wife before her whom he had married out of the Citie of Abesar As touching Michol the daughter of Saul and other-whiles his wife Saul gaue her to wife at Lissa to the sonne of Phalti of the Citie of Gethla After this certaine Ziphians comming vnto Saul told him that Dauid was returned againe into their countrey and that if it pleased him to assist them they might easily apprehend him Whereupon Saul issued with three thousand armed men and being surprised by night he encamped in a certaine place called Sicelleg When Dauid was certified that Saul was issued forth against him he sent out certaine spies whom he gaue in charge to bring him intelligence into what place at that time Saul was retired who ascertaining him that he was at Sicelleg he watched all that night without the knowledge of any of his followers and went into Sauls campe attended onely by Abisai his sister Saruias sonne and Achimelech the Chittite Now whilest Saul was a sleepe and both his generall Abner with all his souldiers wholy deuoured in drowsinesse Dauid entred into the kings campe and although he knew the kings pauilion by reason of his Iauelin that stood at the dore thereof yet slew he him not neither permitted he Abisai who was both willing and addressed to execute the slaughter to performe it But this he said that although the king were euill yet notwithstanding it were a strange and vndecent
thorow the intestine warres of his family Dauid was expulsed out of his kingdome by his son 9 Absolon marching out with his army against his father is ouerthrowne 10 The happy estate of Dauid restored againe into his kingdome 11 Dauid in his life time annointeth and createth his sonne Salomon king 12 The death of Dauid and how much he left his sonne towards the building of the temple CHAP. I. Dauid is created King of one Tribe in Hebron ouer the rest Sauls sonne obtaineth the soueraigntie THIs battell was fought on the same day that Dauid returned conquerour to Siceleg after he had subdued the Amalechites But some three daies after his returne he that slew Saul and had escaped from the battell hauing his garment rent and ashes cast vpon his head came and cast himselfe prostrate before Dauid and being demaunded from whence he came he answered from the battell of the Israelites and certified Dauid of the vnhappy issue thereof telling him how diuers thousands of the Hebrewes were slaine and how Saul himselfe and his sonnes were done to death in the conflict He likewise gaue him to vnderstand how hee himselfe retreated amongst the Hebrewes and was present at the flight of the king confessing likewise that he was the author of his death vnder purpose to redeeme him from the hands of his enemies For said he Saul hauing cast himselfe vpon the point of his sword was so weake by reason of the agonie of his wounds that he could not dispatch himselfe Furthermore he produced the testimonies of his death the gold about his armes and the royall crowne which he tooke and brought from him being dead Dauid perceiuing no cause wherby he should suspect his death whereof he had most euident and infallible testimonies rent his garments and spent the day in weeping and lamenting with his companions And the more was he ouerpressed with sorrow by reason of the losse of his most deere friend Ionathan whom he acknowledged to be the authour and conseruer of his life And so vertuous and affectionate shewed he himselfe towards Saul that although he had oftentimes been in danger to haue been slaine by him yet was he sore agrieued at his death and not that alone but he likewise executed him that slew him telling him that he himselfe had accused himselfe for slaying the king declaring thereby that he was the sonne of an Amalechite and commanded that he should be put to death He composed likewise lamentations and Epitaphs in praise of Saul and Ionathan which are as yet extant at this present time where in I liue After that he had thus honouted the king and performed his lamentation and obsequies he asked counsaile of God by the meanes of the Prophet what Citie of the tribe of Iuda he would giue him to inhabite in who answered him that he would giue him Hebron For which cause he forsooke Siceleg and came and dwelt in Hebron and brought thither his wife and souldiers All the people of the aforesaid tribe resorted thither vnto him and proclaimed him king where vnderstanding how the Iabesins had buried Saul and his sonnes he sent embassadours vnto them both to praise and approue their actions promising them that both he allowed their act and would remunerate their deuoire which they had extended toward the dead giuing them likewise to vnderstand that the tribe of Iuda had chosen him for their king But Abner the son of Ner General of Sauls army a man of execution and of a noble disposition vnderstanding that Saul and Ionathan and his two other brothers were dead came into the campe and bringing with him the onely sonne of Saul that was left whose name was Isboseth he passed on the other side of Iordan and proclaimed him king of all the people except the tribe of Iuda He appointed likewise for his royall seate and place of residence a certaine countrie called in Hebrew Machare that is to say the campe From thence went he with an elected band of souldiers with a resolution to fight against those of the tribe of Iuda in that he was displeased with them because they had made choise of Dauid for their king Against him marched out Ioab the sonne of Suri and of Saruia Dauids sister generall of his army to encounter him accompanied with his brothers Abisai and Azael and all Dauids souldiers and arriuing neere a certaine fountaine of Gabaa he arranged his army in that place to enter battell And when as Abner said vnto him that he desired to make triall whether part had the better souldiers it was accorded betweene them that twelue for either side should be chosen out to determine the challenge who marching out into a certaine place betwixt both the hosts and hauing darted their Iauelins the one against the other came at last to the sword where mutually assailing hewing and butchering one another both in their heads sides and bowels they all of them at last fell down dead as if the plot had bin determined between them Which done the two armies ioyned in like sort and after a cruel battell Abner with his followers were discomfited who speedily flying were incessantly pursued by Ioab who in his owne person insisted and exhorted his other soldiers to pursue them hastily without suffering any of them to escape But amongst the rest Ioabs brothers were hot vpon the chase and the yoongest of them called Azael gaue especiall restimonie of his forwardnesse thorow that swiftnesse in running wherwith he was endowed for he ranne not onely more swifte then other men but outstripped horses also in their race Whilest thus he pursued Abner with great vehemencie and headlong course without turning either on the one side or on the other Abner turned back vpon him and intending to dignifie him for his forces he first couenanted with him for one souldiers armour and another time seeing that he could not be perswaded to stay he prayed him to arest himselfe and pursue him no further for feare least being inforced to kill him he should be depriued of the courage to behold his brother Ioab But perceiuing that he made no account of his words but that Azael instantly insisted to pursue him Abner flying and turning himselfe backe stroke him with a Iauelin which he had in his hand in such sort as he presently died But they that pursued Abner likewise arriuing in the place where Azaels body vnaduenturously fell dead staied round about him and surceased to pursue the enemy any further But Ioab and his brother Abisai outstripping the body with swift running and conceiuing a more mortall hatred against Abner for that he had in this sort slaine their brother they pursued him vntill sun-set with admirable swiftnesse and incredible alacritie vnto a place called Dumaton There mounting vppon a hillocke hee sawe Abner with the tribe of Beniamin flying from him who beganne to crie out vnto him and say that men of the same tribe should not be so whetted
and incensed the one against the other That their brother Azael was in the fault because that although he had exhorted him to cease from running after him yet could he not perswade him and that for the same cause he had both stroken and slaine him Ioab wisely disgesting these his sayings and accepting of them as of holesome and friendly aduertisements and counsailes he commanded the trumpet to sound retreat and surceased to pursue them any more and encamped for that night in the same place during which time Abner trauelled without ceasing and hauing past ouer Iordan returned to his campe to Isboseth Sauls sonne The next day Ioab suruaied the dead and caused them to be buried Those that were found dead on Abners side were about three hundreth and sixtie men and on Dauids side nineteene ouer and besides Azael whose body Ioab and Abisai tooke with them and carried it vnto Bethleem and after they had enterred it in the toomb of their auncestors they repaired to Hebron vnto Dauid From that time forward there arose a ciuill warre amongst the Hebrewes that endured a long time in which Dauids followers had alwaies the vpper hand and neuer aduentured the hazard of the field without returning with some aduentage whereas the sonne of Saul and his partakers had almost euerie day the worse Dauid at that time had sixe sons by so many wiues the eldest of them was called Ammon the sonne of Achimaas the second was Daniel the sonne of Abigal the third was called Absolon the sonne of Machama the daughter of Ptolomey king of Gessur the fourth was Adomas the sonne of his wife called Aggite the fift and the sixt were called Gerthessa and Gala. But after this ciuill warre was begunne and that the kings on both sides had oftentimes encountred and fought togither Abner generall of the armie for king Sauls sonne a prudentman and one that was beloued by the people endeuored all that in him lay that the whole country might be commanded by Isboseth and in effect they all submitted vnto him for a certaine time but when as it afterwards fell out that Abner was charged and accused to haue kept company with Rispa Sauls concubine the daughter of Sibath and that Isboseth likewise had reproued him for the same cause he conceiued a great griefe and despite supposing that he had great iniury done vnto him considering how carefull he had beene and was of the kings estate for which cause he threatned him to establish the kingdome to Dauid and to make him know that it was neither his vertue nor prudence that made him soueraigne ouer the tribes on that side Iordan but that his faith and warlike conduct was the cause thereof For which cause he sent vnto Hebron to Dauid requiring him by an oth to accept of him as his confederate and friend promising him to perswade the people to forsake Sauls sonne and to proclaime him king of the whole region Dauid sware vnto him according as he had required and was verie glad of that embassage that Abner had sent vnto him and the rather for that vnder assured testimonie of their accords he had preserued Michol Dauids wife whom he had purchased with the price of diuers great daungers and with sixe hundreth heads of the Philistines presented to his father Saul to the end he might enioy her which Michol Abner had sent him backe hauing taken her from Phalti who had since that time espoused her whereunto Isboseth also was assistant to whom Dauid had written that it was reason that he should recouer his wife Abner therfore assembled all the elders and gouernours of the people and told them that at such time as heretofore they were readie to forsake Isboseth to submit themselues to Dauid he had disswaded them from that intent but at this present if they had the will hee vvould condescend vnto them because he was assured that God had chosen Dauid by the mouth of Samuel the Prophet to be king ouer all the Hebrewes and had foretold that he should punish the Philistines and should ouercome them and bring them vnder his subiection Which when the elders and gouernours vnderstood and were assured likewise that Abner would subscribe to their resolution as touching the estate they all of them determined to submit themselues to Dauid Abner seeing them thus resolued did afterwards assemble all the tribe of Beniamin out of which the archers of Isboseths guard were chosen and told them the like and perceiuing that they contradicted him no waies but submitted themselues vnto his pleasure he gathered about twentie of his familiar friends and resorted vnto Dauid to receiue in his owne person Dauids oth Both for that each man in his owne affaires reposeth greatest confidence in himselfe as also to giue him intelligence what speech he had held with the elders and the whole tribe Dauid receiued and entertained him very kindly and magnificently and sumptuously feasted him at his table for many daies praying him that he would depart and returne and bring the people with him to the end that in their presence and sight he might deliuer him the gouernment When Dauid had dismissed Abner some little time after his departure Ioab the generall of Dauids armie came to Hebron and knowing that Abner had beene with Dauid and that but some little time before he was departed from him with accords and promises made vnto him that he should be gouernour he feared least that if Dauid should place him in honour and dignitie and should make Abner who was a man otherwaies exercised in affaires and politique to preuent occasions as it were his companion in the kingdome that the said Ioab should be degraded and depriued of his office he tooke vpon him a cursed and froward resolution For first of all he laboured to detract and make him odious in the kings eare counselling him to stand on his guard and not to giue eare vnto Abners promises who vnder colour subtiltie sought to establish the kingdome vnto Sauls sonne alledging that he came vnto him vnder colour and caâ—…tele intending then to leaue him when his hopes were satisfied and affaires disposed But perceiuing that these his subtilties tooke little effect with Dauid and considering with himselfe likewise that he moued him in no sort he attempted a more perilous exploit then the former For resoluing with himselfe to kill Abner he sent out certaine men after him whom he gaue in commission that as soone as they should ouertake him they should vrge their interparlee in the name of Dauid alledging that they had something to communicate with him as touching the estate which he had forgot to certifie him of When Abner had heard the words of these messengers who ouertooke him in a place called Besira some twentie furlongs off of Hebron he strooke out of the way without suspition of his future desaster Ioab going before him embraced him with great loue and like an
affectionate friend for such as enterprise any wicked action do often and subtilly dissemble and make shew of honestie to the end to expell out of the innocents mind all iealousie or euill suspition where singling him from his other company and making a shew to informe him of certaine secrets and hauing drawne him into a by-way besides the wall accompanied only with his brother Abisai he drew his rapier and thrust it into his short ribbes Of which wound Abner died surprised by the treason of Ioab who pretended and coloured that act of his with the reuenge and death of his brother Azael whom Abner had slaine vpon the chase in the first warre at Hebron but in truth it was but the suspition of his greatnesse and honour fearing least he should be depriued and Abner inseated by obtaining the next degree of honour vnto Dauid Hereby may a man conceiue how many and how mightie things men attempt and hazard for their auarice and ambition sake and to the end they may not be inferiour vnto any others in those matters For when as they desire to attaine riches and honours they atchieue it by ten thousand mischiefes and at such time as they feare to be dispossest they striue to continue their estates by meanes more pernicious because they thinke it to be the lesse sinne and that the calamitie is lesse actiue rather not to haue obtained to any greatnesse and power then after the possession thereof to fall into disgrace Thence it commeth that all of them intend and practise many hazards and difficult encountries thorow the feare they haue to lose their degree But it sufficeth to haue briefly touched this point Dauid hauing notice of the murther of Abner conceiued a great griefe in his heart and called all his assistants to witnesse lifting vp his hands vnto God and protesting that he was no partaker of the murther and that Abner had beene slaine without his commandement or will He likewise vttered most grieuous curses against the murtherer his house and accomplices by which he wished them to be subiect to the fatal penalty of murther for he greatly suspected least he should be held in suspition to be a party in that which had hapned vnto Abner contrarie to his faith oth and promise which he had past vnto him Moreouer he commanded that all the people should weep and lament for him and that the funerals of his bodie should be honored according to the accustomed fashion in renting of garments and putting on sackcloth and that the same should be done the coffin being carried before which both he and the chiefest gouernours of the Israelites followed beating on their breasts and shedding teares and testifying the loue which they bare vnto him during his life and their displeasure to see him dead who had bin murthered contrary to their wil and intention He was entombed in Hebron with great magnificence and Epitaphs composed in his praise by Dauid himselfe who setting himselfe on the tombe first of all lamented and gaue others cause of lamentation And so much was hee confused at the death of this Abner that he swore to forbeare all kind of meat vntill the sunne-set notwithstanding all the instances of his friends who vrged him to take refection which act of his purchased him much good will and loue amongst the people For they that loued Abner were verie glad to be witnesses of that honour which he did him in his death and that faith which he maintained in honouring him euerie way according to the custome as if he had been his kinsman or friend and not embasing him with a vilde and contemptible tombe as if he had beene his enemie And in generall all of them were so glad of the curtesie sweetnesse and royall nature of king Dauid that they esteemed in the like case that he would haue the like estimate of them as they saw him haue of deceased Abner And by this means Dauid happely maintained his credit and increased the peoples good opinion of him escaping thereby the suspition and conceit that he might in some sort haue bin accessarie to his death He protested also vnto the people that he conceiued no small griefe at the losse of so good a man declaring thereby that it was no small staine vnto the state of the Hebrewes to be depriued of him who had the meanes to maintaine their peace by his good aduise and to ratifie the same by his executions and warlike valour But God said he who hath care of all things shall not suffer him to die vnreuenged And he it is that shall beare me witnesse that it lieth not in my power to punish Ioab and Abisai who haue greater credit in the armie then my selfe yet shall they not escape Gods iustice for this fault Thus ended the life of Abner CHAP. II. Isboseth is slaine thorow the treason of his friends and followers the whole kingdome descendeth to Dauid WHen Isboseth Sauls sonne had notice of Abners death he was sore displeased not onely for that he perceiuing himselfe to be depriued of his neere kinsman but also of so great a personage as had setled the crowne on his head Neither did he himselfe long time remaine aliue after him but by the sonnes of Ieremon Banaoth and Thannus he was traiterously done to death These two being Beniamites and of the chiefest nobilitie amongst them made their reckoning that they would make away Isboseth and thereby obtaine great recompence at Dauids hands supposing that such an act of theirs would get them the chiefest place and dignitie in the army or some other credit For which cause finding Isboseth alone in his house about mid-day laide on his bed and asleepe and vnassisted by any of his guard and perciuing likewise that the porter was fast who thorow his trauaile and other businesse by reason of the extreme heate was laid downe to rest they entred into his lodging whereas Isboseth was a sleepe and slew him and hauing cut off his head they trauelled all the night and day long as if they fled from those whom they had offended and sought their rescues from them who would succour and assure them from perill and when they came to Hebron they presented Dauid with Isboseths head offering themselues as his most dutifull liegemen to doe him seruice who had deliuered him of an enemy and made away an aduersarie against his royaltie But Dauid allowed not their act in such sort as they hoped but spake thus vnto them O cursed men said he on whom I intend presently to execute iustice haue you not heard how I punished him that murthered Saul and brought his royall crowne vnto me Yea although he slew him vpon his owne instant request and to the intent the enemy should not surprise him aliue Were you of that opinion that I was changed and that I am not the same that I was but that I take delight to be partakers with you in your mischiefes
two last which were named by vs were the sonnes of concubines But Thamar was Absalons sister by the same father and mother CHAP. IIII. Dauid assayled by the Palestines obtaineth a famous victorie against them neere vnto Ierusalem NOw when the Palestines knew that the Hebrewes had created Dauid king they led forth their army against him towards Ierusalem where encamping themselues in the valley of the Giants which is a place not farre off from the Citie they in that place expected the encountrey But the king of the Hebrewes who was wont to do nothing inconsiderately without Gods aduise commanded the high priest to prophecie and foretell what successe and euent the warre should haue who after he had informed him that God smileth on fauoureth their attempts he presently drew out his armie against the enemie and striking the battell he sodainly assailed the enemies on their backes and partly slew them and partly put them to flight But let no man suspect that the army of the Palestines was either small in number or weake in courage which at that time assailed the Hebrewes in that he coniectureth in his mind that they were easily ouercome without either attempting or performing any noble or memorable action For he is to know that all Syria Phenicia and all other warlike nations beyond them bare armes with them and were confederates in this warre which was the onely cause that notwithstanding they were so many times ouercome and had lost diuers thousands of men that they desisted not to assaile the Hebrewes with more great force and that which is more hauing beene defeated in the battels before recited yet forbare they not to assaile Dauid a new with thrice as much power as before or to incampe in the same place For which cause Dauid tooke counsell of God once more what the issue of this battell should be and the high Priest told him that he should encampe in the forrest called Teares because it was not farre off from the enemies campe and that he should not depart from thence neither attempt them in battell before the trees did shake without any agitation or breath of wind Whereupon as soone as the trees shooke and the time which God had appointed was come without any delay he issued out to enioy a prepared and manifest victorie For the squadrons of the enemie were disarrayed and incontinently betooke them to flight and were swiftly followed and slaughtered vntill the Citie of Gerar which is a frontire towne of their countrey and their campe was thorowly ransacked wherein there were found great riches and amongst all other things their Gods were beaten to peeces The battell being brought to this end it seemed good vnto Dauid by the counsaile of the Elders and Coronels ouer thousands that all the flower of their youth should be assembled from all the parts of the countrey euery one according to his tribe Secondly that the Priests and Leuites should repaire to Cariathiarim and bring from thence the Arke of God and conueie it to Ierusalem to the end that when it should be there the seruice of God might thereafter be celebrated in that place other sacrifices and honours agreeable to the diuine maiesty might be performed And had the same beene done during the life of Saul no inconuenient had fallen vpon them When as al the people were assembled according as it was decreed by him the king came forth to transferre the Arke which the Priests carying out of Aminadabs house they laid it vpon a new waine which togither with oxen their brothers and children drewe The king marched formost and after him all the people praising God a◅d tuning all sorts of melodie then vsuall in that countrey with diuersitie of sounds of instruments of Dances and Shalmes Trumpets and Clarions and in this manner conducted he the Arke into Ierusalem But when they were come to the threshing floore of Chidō which is a certain place so called Oza died thorow the wrath of God for the oxen stumbling that drewe the chariot and the Arke somwhat shaken he stretched out his hand with intent to sustaine the same and because he was no Priest God stroke him till he died The king and the people were sore aggrieued at the death of Oza and the place where he died is called to this day Ozas Striking Dauid fearing least if he should retire the Arke with him into the Citie the like happe should attend him that had befallen Oza who was in that sort done to death for that he had onely thus stretched out his hand he placed it not with him in his owne house within the Citie but commaunded that it should be left in the possession of one called Obed by descent a Leuite and in behauiour a man good and vertuous where it remained for three months space during which time his house was blessed with al worldly goods and goodnes The king being ascertained what aduantages had befallen Obed who of a poore and needie man was sodainly become verie rich so that all men had their eies fixed on him they that heard speake of his house enuied him he assured himselfe that no inconuenient would befall him for which cause he retired the Arke into his own house which was caried by the Priests and seuen quires of singing men disposed by the king went before the same The king himselfe likewise touched and plaied vpon the Harpe so that Michol Dauids wife and Sauls daughter seeing him entertaining himselfe after that manner mocked at him The Arke then being thus caried was placed in a Tabernacle orected and dressed by Dauid who offered most magnificent sacrifices of all sorts and forgot not the sacrifices for prosperities he feasted all the people likewise both men women and children distributing vnto euery one a cake a morsell of rosted meat a cake fried in the pan and a portion of the sacrifice and after he had thus feasted the people he dismissed them and retreated himselfe into his owne house But Michol his wife and daughter to king Saul drawing neere vnto him vpon his returne besought God for him that it might please him in all other things she might expresse vnto her husband all that which became her intire and vnequald loue towards him but in this she blamed him because that being so great and mightie a king as he was he had dishonoured himselfe in dauncing despoiling himselfe and discouering partly that which became him not doing all this in companie of his seruants and handmaids To whom Dauid answered that he was not ashamed in performing a thing so acceptable vnto God as that was who had honoured him more then her father placed him aboue all others assuring her that he would play dance oftentimes after that sort without care whether his demeanor pleased either her or her chambermaids This Michol of whom we intreat had no children by Dauid but being maried againe to another to whom her father had
and to that intent he sent his sonne Adoram vnto him to testifie and expresse what contentment he had receiued for that he had defeated Adarezer his enemy and to contract with him amitie and confederation He seht him presents also namely vessels of antique worke of gold of siluer and of brasse whereupon Dauid made a league with Thani for so was the king of Amath called and receiued the presents that were sent vnto him and afterwards dismissed his sonne with conuenient honor both for the one and the other and consecrated that to God which he had sent him togither with the gold and siluer which he had taken from other cities and nations that were subiect vnto him For God did not only so farre fauour him as to make him victorious and happy in his owne wars but hauing also sent Abisai Ioabs brother the lieutenant of his army against the Idumeans he likewise granted him victorie for Abisai slew in the battell about eighteene thousand of them and filled all Idumaea with garrisons challenging a tribute throughout the countrey by the pole This king loued iustice of his own nature and exercised iudgement according to veritie He had for his lieutenant generall in all his armies Ioab and appointed Iosaphat the son of Achilles chiefe ouer the Registers After Abiathar he established Sadoc of the house of Phinees for high priest who was his friend Sisa was his secretarie Banaia the sonne of Ioiada was captaine ouer his guard and all the elders were ordinarily about him to guard and attend him He remembring himselfe also of the conuentions and oathes that were past twixt him and Ionathan the sonne of Saul and of 〈◊〉 â—…itie and affection that had been betweene them for besides all other graces which he had he most freshly retained them in memorie from whom in times past he had receiued any friendship He caused a search to be made if any one of the house and family of Ionathan were left-aliue to the intent he might remunerate the friendship which he had receiued at Ionathans hands Where upon a certaine man was brought vnto him who was enfranchised by Saul that might enforme him what one of his race was aliue who asked him if he could name him any of Ionathans sons then liuing whom he might make partaker of those curteous fauors graces which in times past he had receiued by Ionathan Who answered him that he had one sonne remaining whose name was Mephiboseth who was lame of his legs for that at such time as the newes came that both his father and grandfather were slaine in the battell his nurse fearfully snatching vp the child and flying suffered him vnfortunately to fal from her shoulders and so hurt him When as then he was aduertised where and with whom he was brought vp he sent vnto the citie of Labath to Machir with whom Mephiboseth was kept commanded him to be brought vnto him Now when he came to Dauids presence he cast himselfe prostrate on his face to do him reuerence but the king exhorted him to be of good courage and to hope hereafter for better fortune and gaue him his fathers house with all the possessions that were purchased by Saul his grandfather appointing him to sit and feed with him at his owne table yea to eate of his royall prouision not letting one day slip wherein he accompanied him not at meales The yong man did him reuerence humbly thanking him for the gratious words and roiall offers be had made vnto him At that time Dauid called for Siba and certified him how he had giuen Mephiboseth his fathers house and all Sauls purchases commanding him to manure and husband his possessions and to haue care of all things and to returne the reuenew to Ierusalem for that Mephiboseth was euery day to take his refectioÌ„ at his table charging both him his 15. sons and 20. seruants to doe him seruice After the king had thus disposed of him Siba did him reuerence and after he had protested to performe whatsoeuer he had giuen him in charge he departed and Ionathans sonne remained in Ierusalem where he liued at the kings table and was entertained and tended as carefully as if he had beene his owne sonne he had a sonne also called Micha These were the honors that those children which suruiued after Ionathan and Sauls death receined at Dauids hands About the same time died Naas king of the Ammonites who during his life time was Dauids friend and his sonne succeeded him in his kingdome to whom Dauid sent embassadors to comfort him exhorting him to disgest his fathers death with patience assuring him that he would expresse no lesse loue towards him then he did vnto his father But the gouernours of the Ammonites entertained this embassage verie contumeliously and not according as Dauid had kindly intended it and murmured against their king telling him that they were but spies sent by Dauid to seeke into his forces and discouer the strength of his countrey vnder a pretext of humanitie counselling him to stand vpon his guard and not to giue eare to his protestation least being deceiued he should fall into some remedilesse inconuenient Naas king of the Ammonites supposing that his gouernors spoke nothing but truth outraged the embassadors that were sent vnto him with great iniuries for causing the halfe of their beards to be shauen close by the chin and cutting away the halfe of their vestments he sent them back againe returning their answeres not in words but in deeds Which when Dauid saw he was grieuously displeased and made it knowne that he would not suffer that mockerie and iniurie so easily to be disgested but that he would make warre on the Ammonites and reuenge those indignities that were offered to his embassadors The friends and gouernors of Naas considering how they had violated and broken the peace and how for that occasion they deserued to be punished prepared for the war and sent one thousand talents to Syrus king of Mesopotamia requiring him that he would be their consederate in that warre and receiue their pay they requested the like of Subas these kings had 20000. footmen in camp They hired also with their mony the king of the countrey called Michas and the fourth called Istob which two had with them 12000. thousand souldiers CHAP. VII How Dauid ouercame the Mesopotamians BVt Dauid was no whit amated neither with the confederacie nor force of the Ammonites but trusting in God resolued that the cause of his warre was iust for which cause he continued in reuenge of those outrages which he had receiued by them Hauing therefore mustered vnder Ioab the flower of his whole army he commanded him to depart and make warre vpon them who came and incamped himselfe before their chiefest Citie called Aramath which when the enemies perceiued they issued foorth and arranged themselues in battell not altogether but in two seuerall parts For their confederates and allies were
violence they cast themselues vpon their enemies They that were neere Vrias seeing them draw neere retired backe againe according as Ioab had before hand commanded them but Vrias being ashamed to flie or forsake his ranke expected the enemie and valiantly encountring him he slue diuers of them but at last being inclosed and shut in the middest of them he was slaine and with him some other of his companions perished in the conflict This done Ioab sent messengers vnto the king to certifie him that not enduring the delay of the siege and assailing and scaling the walles he was compelled to returne backe into his campe with losse of some men and repulse from the Citie yet had he commaunded the messengers that if they perceiued the King to be displeased with the newes they should gâ—…ue him to vnderstand that Vrias was dead The King hearing this discourse according as Ioabs messengers had deliuered it made a shew to be displeased saying that it was a fault in him that he had so neerely approched the wall alledging that he might haue done farre better to haue taken the towne by mine or engine vrging in way of example the act of Abimelech Gedeons sonne who intending to surprise by force a tower that was within the Citie of Tebez was stroken with a stone which was cast at him by an olde woman whereupon he that was a valiant man for entring an action ouerâ—…ash and dangerous shamefully died In remembrance of whose desaster they ought to haue beene more warie and not to haue approched the wall of the enemie so neerely For it is a verie good point in warre to haue in memorie both fatall and fortunate successes to the end that when a man is in the like daungers he may follow the one and flie the other Whilest thus he rebuked them the messenger certified him of Vrias death which did somewhat appease him So that he commaunded them to tell Ioab that it was but an humane accident and that such was the nature of warre that sometime the one side had the better and sometime the other to conclude that he should prouide for the siege and take care least hereafter they should receiue any further losse counselling him by trenches and engines to ruinate the wall and commaunding that all those that were in the towne should be put to the sword The messenger thus dismissed reported all these things vnto Ioab according to the Kings commaundement But Vrias wife hauing notice of the death of her husband wept and mourned for him diuers daies and when the dule and lamentations were finished and performed to the dead the king espoused her incontinently and she bare him a man child yet God beheld not this mariage with a fauourable eie but was wroth with Dauid and appearing to the Prophet Nathan in a dreame he blamed the king verie sore Now Nathan who was a wise and experienced man knew well that when kings are displeased they suffe themselues rather to be ouercome by passion then by reason for which cause he determined to conceale the menaces and threatnings that God had made for that time and discoursed of other profitable matters with Dauid after this manner requiring the king that it would please him to censure and deliuer his opinion in the same Two men said he dwelt in one and the same Citie the one of them was rich hauing many troupes of great and small cattell the other that was poore had but one only sheep which he nourished with his children sharing him out a part of that whereon he fed and louing her as tenderly as a man would doe his onely daughter It hapned that this rich man had a stranger that repaired to his house for whose entertainment he would not suffer any one of his own beasts to be slaine but sent a violent messenger who tooke away the poore mans sheepe and caused it to be dressed to entertaine his guest This report of Nathans displeased the king very sore in so much as he swore vnto him that he that had beene so bolde to commit such an act was a wicked man and that reason required that he should restore him fourefold and that after he should be put to death Whereunto Nathan replied saying that it was he that deserued this punishment who had giuen sentence against himselfe in that he had presumed to commit so grieuous a sinne Moreouer he certified him of Gods displeasure who notwithstanding he had made him king ouer all the Hebrewes and Lord ouer all the nations round about which were diuers and great and who besides these things had warranted him from the hands of Saul and had giuen him wiues whom he had espoused iustly and lawfully was so despised and dishonoured by him that he had espoused and kept by him an other mans wife and caused her husband to be slaine and betrayed him vnto his enemy For which sinnes of his he pronounced that he should be punished by God and his wiues should be violated by one of his owne sonnes who should likewise lay a snare for him so that he should suffer a manifest plague for the sinne he had committed in secret Moreouer said he the sonne which thou shalt haue by her shall shortly die After the king had receiued this message he was sore troubled and being confused he powred forth tears sighed for sorrowes confessing that he had done wickedly for vndoubtedly before this time he had alwaies feared God and had neuer in his life offended him but in that act with Vrias wife Whereupon after his submission God was appeased and tooke compassion of him promising him to continue both his life and kingdome and that he would be no more displeased with him if so be that he repented him of the sinne he had committed After that Nathan had declared these things vnto Dauid he departed vnto his owne house But God inflicted a grieuous sicknesse on the infant that was borne by Bethsabe for which cause the king was sore agrieued and for seuen daies space would take no refection notwithstanding that he was earnestly instanted thereunto by his houshold seruants He put on likewise a mourning habit and laide himselfe on the ground vpon a sacke beseeching him that it would please him to grant him the childes life towards whose mother he bare so exceeding loue and affection But when the infant was deceased about the seuenth day of his sicknesse his seruants durst not certifie him thereof supposing that if it should come vnto his eare he would the more obstinately abstain from eating the care of his person and should be in danger by reason of his disordinate griefe for his childe to procure and hasten his own death considering he had so vehemently bin afflicted and tormented for his onely sicknesse But the king perceiuing by their lookes that his seruants were troubled and that they concealed some fatall harme and gathering thereby that his sonne was dead
verie intirely who was his eldest sonne and would not disquiet him but Absalon hated him extremely expecting without any word speaking for some fit opportunitie wherein he might reuenge himselfe on the rauisher Now when as two yeares were expired since his sister was both derided and deflowred it chaunced that Absalon intending a sheep-shearing in Belsephon a Citie of the tribe of Ephraim inuited his father and brethren to come and banquet with him But when the king refused to go for feare least he might be chargeable vnto him Absalon insisted perswaded him to send his brothers thither which he granted Hereupon Absalon commanded his seruants that when they should see Amnon charged with wine and sleepe they should sodainly vpon a signe giuen by him vnto them kill him without feare or regard of any person CHAP. VIII How thorow the domesticall discord of his family Dauid was banished by his sonne out of his kingdome AFter that Absolons seruants had thus executed his commandement a trouble and feare seased all the rest of his brethren in so much as they suspected their owne persons for which cause mounting themselues on horsebacke they posted in all â—…te towards their father But a certaine man outstripping them in the way reported vnto Dauid that Absalon had slaine all his sonnes Who surprised with a bitter and mortall feare in supposing that such a number of his children should be slaine and that by their owne brother neither inquired the cause or any thing els which might be sifted out in so grieuous an inconuenient that had hapned but gaue himselfe ouer to extreame and strange discomforts and renting his garments laid him downe on the earth bewailing all his children both those that were slaine 〈◊〉 him also than had slaine them But Ionathan the sonne of Sama his brother exhorted him to moderate and bridle his passion telling him that he could not be perswaded that the rest of his children were slaine in that hee could conceiue no probable cause of coniecture But as touching Amnon there needed no question for that it was verie like that Absalon by reason of the iniurie which was offered vnto his sister Thamar would hazard himselfe to kill him Meane while a great trample of horses and a confused troupe of men brake off their discourse These were the kings sonnes who returned in post from the banquet Against these the father issued out accompanying their dolefull teares with a heauie and sorrowfull countenance and seeing beyond all hope how they whom a little before he supposed to be lost returned in safetie they were all of them on euerie side giuen ouer to teares and lamentations the brothers bewailed their mangled brother the king his murthered sonne But Absalon fled vnto Gessur vnto his grandfather on the mothers side and lord of that place and soiourned with him three whole yeers at the end whereof Dauid determined to send for his sonne Absalon not to the intent to punish him but to retire him vnto him by reason that the indignation he had conceiued against him was at that time aslaked Ioab also furthered this his resolution by all meanes that were to him possible For he caused a certaine olde woman attired in mourning habit to present her selfe before Dauid who said vnto him that betwixt her two sonnes that liued in the countrey there hapned such a different that falling to handy-strokes they were so whet the one against the other that not induring to be parted the one of them in such sort wounded the other that he died and for that the kinsmen were fore moued against the murtherer and sought without mercie to depriue him of life she humbly besought the king that he would giue her her sonnes life and not depriue her of that hope that remained her to sustaine her olde yeers with which he should bring to passe if so be he prohibited those that would kill her son from executing their intents for that except it were for feare which they had of him they would by no meanes be withdrawne from their fatall and bloudy resolution Now when as the king had granted her request the woman began once more to breake into these speeches I most humbly thanke your maiestie said she who haue had compassion of mine age and doe so prouidently foresee that I be not depriued of my sonne but to the intent I may be the better assured of thy humanity I beseech thee O King first of all pacifie thy displeasure conceiued against thy sonne and be no more incensed against him For how can I perswade my selfe that you will doe me this grace if you your selfe euen vntill this day continue your displeasure conceiued vpon the like occasion against your sonne For it is contrarie to the rules of wisedome to adde to the remedilesse losse of one sonne the haplesse death of a fathers liuing hope Vpon these words the king began presently to suspect that Ioab had suborned this woman and vnderstanding no lesse by the olde womans report he sent for Ioab and told him that he granted him that which he desired commanding him to send for Absalon assuring him that his displeasure was pacified and choler asswaged Ioab cast himselfe downe prostrate before the king and reuerently receiuing his word of reconciliation went-vnto Gessur and set Absalon from thence with him and brought him to Ierusalem The king vnderstanding that his sonne drew neere sent out a messenger to meet him commanding that as yet he should not presume to presse into his presence because he was not disposed to behold him so sodainly Who vnderstanding the will of his father forbore to shew himselfe vnto him and went and dwelt amongst his own familiars and houshold seruants Neither was his beautie any waies interessed by the sorrow he had conceiued nor for that his entertainment was farre different from the bringing vp and nourishing of a princes sonne but he rather excelled and grew more famous thereby so that for beautie and goodlinesse of personage he exceeded all those that liued more deliciously and daintily his glibband or haire was so thicke that it could scarcely be powled in eight daies and waied two hundreth sicles which amount to fiue pound He liued also two yeares in Ierusalem and was the father of three sonnes and one faire daughter which Roboam the sonne of Salomon afterwards tooke to wife of whom he begat a sonne called Abia. In processe of time he sent messengers vnto Ioab that now at length hee would pacifice his father and beseech him to admit him to his presence that he might both see and submit himselfe vnto him But because Ioab made small reckoning of these his motions he sent of his seruants and commanded them to burne and spoile Ioabs possessions that abutted vpon his who hearing of that which had hapned vnto him resorted vnto Absalon accusing him and questioning with him for what cause he had done him this iniurie To whom Absalon
that he had depriued him of his kingdome by the meanes of his owne sonne and in punishment of those crimes which he had committed against his owne master This his so cruel and vnbridled libertie moued all Dauids followers to displeasure so that all of them were prepared to reuenge them on Simei and amongst the rest Abisai would haue slaine him but Dauid pacified his displeasure willing him to forbeare for feare said hee least to our present miseries we annexe a further and new occasion For in as much as concerneth my selfe I set light by this mad dogge referre the matter vnto God who is the cause that he is thus desperatly bent against vs Neither is it to be wondred at that I suffer these outrages by him since mine owne sonne is so wicked as he taketh a felicitie to disdaine me but it may be that God wil haue compassion on vs if he please we shal haue the vpper hand ouer our enimies He therfore walked onward on his way not caring what Simei said who ranne on the other side of the mountaine rayling reuiling at him When Dauid was arriued on the banke of Iordan he mustred and refreshed his army who were fore wearied meane while Absalon entring Ierusalem with Achitophel his counsellor was saluted and applauded by the whole concourse of the people amongst the rest Dauids friend came vnto them who prostrating himself before Absalons feete wished him both prosperitie and perpetuitie in his kingdome Him did Absalon aske how it came to passe that he who was reputed to be one of Dauids most indeered friends and esteemed alwaies to be most loyall and faithfull vnto him should at that time when most occasion was profered him to expresse his loyaltie abandon him and submit himselfe to his enemie To him Chusai answered both readily and wisely that it became him to follow God and the good will of the people Since therefore said he my soueraigne that both these are for you it concerneth me to follow you because you haue receiued the kingdome from God If therefore you esteeme me to be your faithfull friend I will approue vnto you my loyaltie and true affection in like manner as in your knowledge I haue testified in effect vnto your father who ought not to be displeased at that which had hapned since the kingdome is not transported into an other house but remaineth in his owne family because he who was his sonne receiued the same By such like words he reconciled himselfe to Absalon whereas before that time he was inwardly suspected Hereupon Achitophel was sent for to consult with him about their affaires in hand who gaue him counsell to abuse all his fathers concubines and make them his owne For said he from that time forward the people will beleeue that you and he will neuer be reconciled and will be more readie to beare armes and inuade your father for your sake For hitherto said he they haue vnwillingly professed themselues to be his enemies suspecting least a peace should ◅e concluded betwixt the father and the sonne Absalon beleeuing this aduise of his caused a Tent or royall Pauilion to be pitched in the sight of all the people whereinto he entred and had the company of his fathers concubines All which fell out according as the Prophet Nathan had foretold at such time as he certified Dauid that his owne sonne should make warre against him CHAP. IX Absalons warre against his father his death and the discomfiture of his armie WHen Absalon had done that which Achitophel had instructed him in he requested him once more to counsaile him concerning that warre which he had enterprised against his father who required ten thousand chosen men at his hand promising him to kill Dauid and to bring all the rest that were in his conduct vnder his subiection assuring him that Absalons kingdome would be then established when Dauids head were cut off from his shoulders When this aduise of his had highly contēted him he sent for Chusai who was the chiefest amongst Dauids friends for so Dauid himselfe had termed him to whom he discouered the aduice which Achitophel had giuen him required him to giue his opinion what he thought therof who knowing verie well that if Achitophels counsaile were followed Dauid should be in daunger to be apprehended and slaine enforced all his arguments and counsails to the contrarie For said he my Liege you are sufficiently informed both what your fathers valour is and their vertue that accompanie him who hath fought many battels and hath had the vpper hand ouer all his enemies It is to be feared also least he at this present be encamped in the field For he is well exercised in leading armies and to preuent any stratagemes whereby the enemy may inuade him and about the euening he hath perhappes left his men hidden in some streight or in ambush behinde some rock and if our men shall assaile him his soldiers will by little and little retire and afterward recouering courage by reason that the King shall be neere vnto them they will charge vs afresh and during their medly your father will sodainly breake out of his ambush and encourage his owne men and discomfort yours wisely therfore examine mine aduice and if you find that it be good neglect that which Achitophel hath giuen you Send me thorow al the countrey of the Hebrewes commanding euery one to take armes march out against your father and when you haue gathered togither these forces be you your selfe in person the generall of the army and commit it not to an other mans charge and assuredly expect to haue an easie victory ouer him if you assaile him in the open field for that he is accompanied with a verie few men and your selfe are attended by many thousands who at least wise if they loue you and will shew a good affection towards you may easily rid you of that enemy And if so be your father shut himselfe vp in any Citie we will and may subuert the same by mines and engines This aduise of his seemed to be better then that of Achitophels so that Absalon preferred the same For it was God that put this thought into his heart to neglect Achitophels and respect Chusais counsell Now when Chusai had thus preuailed he presently repaired to the high Priests Sadoc and Abiathar certifying them what Achitophel had complotted and how he had contradicted him finally how his opinion had taken place giuing them in charge to send priuate intelligence vnto Dauid thereof and to enforme him of his sonnes resolution wishing him with all speede to passe ouer the riuer of Iordan for feare least Absalon being informed of his aboad in that place should make haste and pursue him and ouertake him before he might recouer a place of securitie Now had the high Priests before hand prouided that their sonnes should lie hid without the Citie of set purpose to the end
their messengers to euerie corporation aduertising them how many benefits they had receiued at Dauids hands and how after many and grieuous warres he had brought them to a secure libertie and how iniustly expelling him they had committed the kingdome vnto another For which cause it behooued them that since he was dead whom they had chosen to make their supplication and submission vnto Dauid that dismissing his wrath he would receiue the people into his fauour and according as before time so now also he would vouchsafe them his pardon and protection Of these things sundry intelligences came vnto the kings eares so that by expresse letters he commanded Sadoc and Abiathar the chiefe priests that they should certifie the princes of the tribe of Iuda that it should be a great indignitie for them that other tribes should preferre Dauid to the kingdome before them especially since he was both of their tribe and their kinsman also In like manner he commanded them to speake with Amasa the generall and expostulate with him why hee who was his Nephew by the sisters side did not perswade the army to recommend the kingdome to his hands willing them to assure him that he was not only to hope for pardon for that which had hapned but also for the gouernment of the whole army according as Absalon had granted him Hereupon the high priests not only conferred with the princes aforesaid but also informing Amasa what the king had promised in his behalfe wherby they drew him to their faction And first of all those of his owne tribe reuoked Dauid very instantly into the kingdome the rest of the Israelites by their example and Amasas authoritie did the like also and these embassadors flocked vnto him to receiue him into Ierusalem But wonderfull and praiseworthy was the diligence of the tribe of Iuda who went out as far as the banke of Iordan to meete with him with these came Simei the sonne of Gera with a thousand men which he had brought with him of the tribe of Beniamin Siba likewise Sauls freeman came thither with his fifteene sonnes and twentie seruants who made a bridge ouer Iordan that the king might the more easily passe ouer both himselfe and his armie As soone as he came vnto Iordan he was saluted by the tribe of Iuda and Simei marching onward on the bridge prostrating himselfe at the kings feete asked pardon of his offences and besought him to remit his displeasure and that in recouering his authoritie he would not first of all doe iustice on him but that he should remember this also that he being induced by the repentance of his errour did with the formost march out to meet him vpon his returne Whilest thus he besought and lamented Abisai Ioabs brother spake after this manner Why should he not die that hath thus villanously outraged the King whom God hath established But Dauid turned backe vnto him and said yee sons of Seruia will you neuer cease to hatch new troubles and to adde newe diuisions to your former commotions Know you not that this is the first day of my raigne for which cause I sweare an oth that I will pardon all them that haue committed any impietie against me and that no one man shall depart from me in my disfauour For which cause be of good cheere Simei feare thou not that I wil seeke thy bloud Whereupon he adored the King marched onward before him After this Mephiboseth Sauls nephew came out to meete him cloathed in a desolate sorie rayment hauing his haires hanging down in a neglected and sorrowful manner For since the time that Dauid fled fosooke the citie he had in such sort beene distressed that he neither had trimmed his haire nor changed or cleansed his garment supposing this calamity deposition to touch him as neerly as it did the king and further in that by Siba his steward he had beene vniustly detracted accused to the king After he had prostrated himselfe and adored the king Dauid asked him for what cause he forsooke him in his troubles and offered not himselfe to accompanie him in his flight Who answered that it was the wickednes of Siba who was the cause thereof for he said he being commaunded to prepare my necessaries for that iourney neglected the execution thereof contemning both me and it as if I had beene some abiect slaue Otherwise had I had the vse of my feete and the meanes to haue waited on thee in thy iourney I had neuer endured to haue forsaken thee Neither was he contented my liege to hinder my deuout seruice towards thee but furthermore he hath maliciously incensed your maiestie against me yet know I well that your wisedome will not admit or giue credence to his detractions both for that you are iust as also for that God and truth which you onely aspire to are onely beloued by you For whereas during my grandfathers daies you were alwaies conuersant amongst the most difficult dangers and followed and attempted by him and whereas all our posteritie by that meanes deserued to be vtterly extinguished yet haue you vsed both moderation and meeknes especially in forgetting those indignities at such time as the memorie thereof affoorded you meanes to punish them And notwithstanding all these things you haue entertained me like your friend feasted me at your dailie table and dignified me with no lesse honours then if I had beene one of your neerest and deerest kinsmen When Dauid had heard these things he neither thought good to punish Mephiboseth neither to examine whether Siba had wrongfully accused him but after he had certified him that he had giuen Siba all his goods yet did he pardon him and promise him the restitution of halfe his possessions Whereunto Mephiboseth replied Let Siba saith he possesse the whole it onely sufficeth me that I see your maiestie restored againe into your kingdome After this Dauid inuited Berzillai the Galaadite a vertuous man and of great authoritie and by whose bountie during the time of his warre he was assisted and who had attended him as farre as Iordan to accompanie him vnto Ierusalem promising him to make no lesse account of him then of his father and assuring him liberally to allow him in all things that concerned his honour and age But he being desirous to liue in priuate besought his maiestie to dismisse him from the court because as he said his age was so extreme as it made him vnapt for courtly pleasures considering that he had attained to the age of fourescore yeares alledging that it better became him to thinke of death and the departure out of this world For which cause he besought Dauid to fauour him so much as that he might gouerne himselfe according to his own desire because that by reason of his age he neither knew howe to sauour meate nor drinke besides for that his hearing was lost so that he could not distinguish nor discerne the
sound of instruments wherein they who converse in Kings Courtes doe most vsually take such delight To this Dauid replied since said hee thou doest so instantly request me to giue thee leaue to depart from me I dismisse thee but leaue thou thy sonne Achimaas with me who shall be master of my many fauours Hereupon Berzillai left his sonne with him and taking leaue of the king with praier that God would grant him the fulnes of all his desires he returned to his owne house But Dauid went vnto Galgal hauing alreadie the halfe part of the people with him and the whole tribe of Iuda Thither resorted then vnto him the chiefe gouernours of that countrey attended by a great multitude of people complaining vpon the tribe of Iuda for that vnwitting to the rest they had resorted to him when as by a mutual consent they should all of them haue met him together But the Princes of the tribe of Iuda requested them in no sort to misconstrue their preuention of them For that by reason of alliance they had done this office whereby being tied vnto him they were bound with more feruent studie to doe him seruice for neither in respect of that diligence of theirs receiued they any rewards whereby they that came after should thinke themselues preiudizde in profit This answere of theirs the Princes of the tribes tooke not in good part but thus they spake vnto their brethren We wonder said they that you onely challenge the king to be your kinsman as if he were not to be accounted an allie vnto vs all whom God hath equally placed to be gouernour ouer vs all whenas therefore the whole people consisteth of eleuen parts you onely are but one besides we are your elders so that you haue not delt vprightly in that you haue secretly and couertly sought out the King Whilest the gouernors in this sort debated the matter with them a certaine wicked and seditious person called Siba the sonne of Bochri of the tribe of Beniamin standing vp in the midst of the people began to crie out with a loud voyce and to exclaime after this manner We haue no part with Dauid nor inheritance with the sonne of Iesse This said he sounded a trumpet and proclaimed warre against the king so that all men followed him and forsooke Dauid Onely the tribe of Iuda remained with him and established him in the royall throne in Ierusalem where remouing his concubines which his son Absalon had knowen out of his pallace he neuer after that time had any company with them After this he declared Amasa generall of the armie and placed him in the same degree which Ioab had neere vnto the person of the King commanding him that he should assemble the greatest forces that he might out of the tribe of Iuda that within three daies he should return vnto him to the end that hauing deliuered him both the armie the place of generall he might send him to make warre vpon the son of Bochri After that Amasa was departed and employed his time in gathering vp his army the king seeing that he failed to returne vpon the third day told Ioab that it was not good to permit Siba to gather a greater head by delay thereby breede vs more trouble and molestation then Absalon had done For which cause said he stay thou not but take vnto thee those forces which thou hast in a readines and my sixe hundreth men with thy brother Abisai and pursue thou the enemie and in what place soeuer thou meetest him by all meanes indeuour thy selfe to giue him the battell Hast thee therefore and ouertake him for feare least he seaze some of our strongest Cities and thereby procure vs much trauell and labour Ioab with all expedition obeyed his commaundement and tooke with him the aforesaid sixe hundreth with his brother Abisai and commaunded all the forces that were in Ierusalem to follow after him and in this array issued he after Siba Now when he came vnto Gabaon a burrow some fortie furlongs distant from Ierusalem Amasa came met with him brought with him great forces Ioab hauing his sword girt by his side and his curets on his backe whilest Amasa came onward to salute him subtilly and of set purpose let his sword slip out of his sheath and taking it vp from the ground with one hand he drew neere vnto Amasa vnder pretence to kisse him on the chin and sodainly thrust the sword that was in his other hand into his belly and slew him Which action of his was both hainous and detestable proceeding from a iealousie he had conceiued against a good young man his cousen who had in no sort offended him and onely by reason of the estate of generall which the king had giuen him and because Dauid had equalled him in honour with him for which very cause before that he had slaine Abner Notwithstanding this act of his seemed in some sort pardonable by reason of the pretext which he pretended of the wrong done vnto his brother Azael yet was not this a sufficient colour to excuse the murther of Amasa When this was done he pursued Siba and left a certaine man to wait vpon the bodie of Amasa who had commaundement giuen him to proclaime with a loud voice thorow the whole armie that he was iustly and deseruedly slaine commaunding those that bare any fauour to the kings title to follow their generall Ioab and his brother Abisai Now whilest his body lay thus in the way al the multitude as it is vsual in such like accidēts flocked round about it he that had the charge of the bodie took it vp bare it into a certain place farre out of the way couered it with a garment which done all the people followed Ioab Now whilest he pursued Siba thorow all the region of the Israelites a certaine man told him that he had retired himself into a certaine strong citie called Abelmacha where he no sooner arriued but that he begirt the Citie and entrenched it round about commanding his souldiers to vndermine and ouerthrow the walles for he was sore displeased because they had shut the gates against him But a certaine honest and prudent woman seeing her countrey in extreme perill ascended the walles and called Ioab and his souldiers to a parlee who comming forth to conferre with him she spake after this manner God saith she ordained kings and generals of armies to the end they might destroy the enemies of the Hebrewes and plant amongst them an vniuersall and perpetuall peace but you inforce your selues to destroy one of the mother Cities of Israell that hath in no sort offended you Ioab praied God to be fauourable vnto them and said that for his owne part it was not his meaning that any one of the Citie should die neither his pretence to race and deface so famous a Citie his intent was only that if Siba the sonne of Bochri
and the kings aduersarie were deliuered into his hands to doe iustice on him to leuy the siege and to cause his army to retire from thence When the woman had heard what Ioab had said she praied him to stay a little while promising him incontinently to cast his head ouer vnto him Wherupon she came downe amongst the assembly of the Citizens to whom she spake after this manner Wretched men that you are will you miserably suffer your wiues and children to be slaine for a wicked mans cause and a stranger whom ye know not will you admit him in place of Dauid your king from whose hands you haue receiued so many benefits thinke you that one only Citie can resist so huge an army After this manner perswaded she them to cut off Sibas head and to cast it into Ioabs campe which done Ioab commanded the retreat to be sounded and leuied the siege and returning backe into Ierusalem was once more declared generall of all the people The king also appointed Banaia captaine of his guards and of six hundreth souldiers Adoram was made treasurer to gather in the tributes Sabath and Achilaus had the charge of remembrancers Susa was made secretarie Sadoc and Abiathar were made the high priests After this it hapned that the conntrey was afflicted with a famine For which cause Dauid besought God that he would haue compassion on his people and that it might please him to manifest not onely the cause but also the remedie of that maladie The Prophets answered him that God would be reuenged of the wrong done vnto the Gabeonites whom king Saul had deceiued and traiterously slaine without respect of the oath which the gouernor Iosuah and the elders made vnto them If therefore he would suffer the Gabeonites to reuenge the death of their slaughtered friends according to their desire God had promised to be appeased and to deliuer the people from their imminent presenteuils As soone as he vnderstood by the prophets what God required he sent for the Gabeonites and asked them what it was which they required who wished him to deliuer into their hands seuen of Sauls sonnes to take their reuenge on them whereupon the king made search after them onely sparing and protecting Mephiboseth the sonne of Ionathan When the Gabeonites had laid hold on these seuen they executed them according to their pleasures and thereupon God incontinently sent downe raine and disposed the earth to beare fruit moistning and alaying the drouth forepassed so that the land of the Hebrewes recouered againe his pristine fruitfulnesse Not long after the king made warre vpon the Philistines and at such time as the battell was striken and the enemies turned their backes it chanced that the king hotly pursuing the chase was left alone and discouered in his wearinesse by one of the enemies called Acmon the sonne of Araph of the race of the Giants who beside his sword had a iauelin the point whereof waied three hundreth sicles and a corselet tissued with chaines who returning backe charged Dauid very violently with an intent to kill the king of his enemies by reason that he saw him spent with trauell But about the same instant Abisai Ioabs brother arriued in the place who stept betweene them and rescued the king and slew his enemy The whole army for a little space were grieuously discomforted in regard of the danger wherein the king had been and the gouernors swore that he should neuer afterwards enter into battel with them for feare least he might fall into some distaster by reason of his readinesse and valour and by that meanes should depriue the people of those gifts which were in him which he had already made them feele and whereof hereafter they should be made partakers if God should vouchsafe him a long and blessed life The king hauing intelligence that the Philistines were assembled in the citie of Gazara sent out an army against them in which Sabach the Hittite one of Dauids redoubted and picked souldiers behaued himselfe very valiantly and gate great reputation for he slew diuers of them that vaunted themselues to be of the race of the Giants and that were verie proud and puffed vp with presumption of their valour and was chiefe authour of that victorie which the Hebrewes had After this last receiued losse the Philistines once more hazarded their fortunes in warre against whō when Dauid had sent out an army Nephanus his kinsman shewed himself very valiant For fighting hand to hand against him that was accounted the most valiant champion amongst all the Philistines he slew him and put the rest to flight of whom verie many died in that battell also In processe of time they reincamped neere vnto a Citie not farre from the frontiers of the countrey of the Hebrewes In which army of theirs there was a man six cubits hie who had on either foote and either hand a finger more then the accustomed bequest of nature affoorded him Against him Ionathan the son of Sama one of those that were sent by Dauid in this army fought hand to hand slew him so that approuing himselfe to be the meanes of that victorie he bare away the honor of the battell and praise of his valour for this Philistine boasted likewise that he was descended from the race of the Giants After this battell they warred no more on the Israelites Hereupon Dauid deliuered from war and danger and euer after enioying a perfect peace composed Odes and hymnes in praise of God in diuers kindes of verse for some are of three other some are of fiue measures He made instruments also and taught the Leuites to praise God vpon them on the Saboth daies and other feasts The forme of these instruments was after this manner The Cinnare is composed of ten strings and is plaid vpon with a bow The Nable containeth twelue sounds or cords and is striken with the fingers The Cimbals were large and great and made of brasse of which it sufficeth in this sort to make some mention least the nature of those instruments should wholy be vnknowne Now all those that were about the king were valiant men but amongst all the rest there were eight most notable and heroick men The noble actions of fiue of which I will declare because they might suffice to exemplifie the vertues that were in the other that remained for they were capable to gouerne a countrey and to conquer diuers nations The first of them was Issemus the sonne of Achemaeus who hauing verie oftentimes thrust himselfe into the midst of his disordered enemies neuer gaue ouer fighting till he had slain nine hundreth of them After him was Eleazar the sonne of Dodeias who had accompanied the king in Sarphat He in a certaine battell wherein thorow the huge multitude of the enemies the Israelites were affrighted and put to flight onely kept his place and affronted the enemy and
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
should enioy a firme peace and a flourishing estate such blessings as God bestoweth vpon those that studie after pietie and iustice Moreouer he charged him to place the Arke within the Temple at such time as it should be finished with all other sacred vtensils for the receit whereof the Temple should long since haue beene builded had not their forefathers neglected Gods commaund who had enioyned them that at such time as they should possesse their enemies land they should build him a Temple These were Dauids exhortations not onely vnto his sonne but also to the other Princes Now when Dauid was verie olde so that by reason of his yeares his bodie was so cold and benumd that notwithstanding the many couerings and clothes they laid vpon him yet could he not be her or warmed his Phisitions assembled themselues together and consulted and at last conluded that one of the fairest virgins that was in the countrey might be chosen out to lie with the king because by this meanes she might warme his chill lims and comfort his decaying heat Wherupon after search made they found out a Damsell called Abisace which surpassed all other in beautie who slept with him and warmed him for by reason of his age he was vnable to haue the vse of a woman But of this virgin hereafter we shall make further mention The fourth sonne of Dauid was a goodly tall young man called Adonias the sonne of Aegistha who resembling Absalon in complexion and ambition began to vsurpe with a deliberation to make himselfe king and amongst his ordinarie discourses which he vsed to his friends he said that it behooued him to take possession of the kingdome To this intent he prepared many chariots and horses and fiftie men to attend him for his guard His father certified of these his proceedings reproued him not neither crossed this his deliberation neither demaunded of him likewise wherefore he presumed to attempt such vnseemely actions Of this his reuolt he had for his coadiutors Ioab the general and the high Priest Abiathar but they that contradicted him were the high Priest Sadoc and the Prophet Nathan and Banaia the captaine of the guard with Simei Dauids friend besides all other the valiant men at aries Whereas therefore Adonias made a banquet out of the Citie and in the suburbes neere vnto the fountaine of the parke royall he inuited all his brethren vnto the same except Salomon and tooke with him Ioab and Abiathar with the gouernours of the tribe of Iuda but as touching Sadoc the Prophet Nathan Banaia the rest of the contrary partie he called them not vnto the banquet This did the prophet Nathan tell to Bethsabe Salomons mother certifying her that Adonias was made King without the knowledge of Dauid aduising her both to haue care of hir owne securitie and the estate maiestie of her sonne who by reason of Adonias vsurpation was like to be supplanted wishing her in person to certifie the king thereof and further promising that whilest she debated these things with the King he would come in in the meane while confirme that which she had said Bethsabe being thus perswaded by Nathan came vnto the King and humbling hir selfe before him afterwards requiring licence to speake vnto him she certified him of all those things that had hapned according as she had beene aduised by the Prophet particularly deciphering vnto him what banquet Adonias had made and what guestes he had inuited namely Abiathar and Ioab with the rest of his sonnes except Salomon and his particular friends vrging this furthermore that the people expected who it should be whom Dauid would nominate to succeed him for which cause she earnestly besought Dauid that he would prouide forsee that he who should succeed him in the gouerment should neither seeke her bloud nor the death of her son Salomon Whilest Bethsabe discoursed after this manner the chamberlaines gaue the king to vnderstand that Nathan attended to speake with him Whereupon Dauid commaunded that he should be called in and as soone as he was entred he asked the king if that day he had appointed Adonias to gouerne and succeed in the kingdome after him for that said he he hath made a sumptuous feast where unto he hath inuited all thy sonnes but Salomon thither also hath he called Ioab where after the great cheere and banquetting they haue proclaimed and cried long liue King Adonias Furthermore said he he hath neither inuited me nor the high Priest Sadoc nor the captaine of the guard Banaia It therefore behooueth thee to let vs know if this be done by thy approbation and allowance As soone as Nathan had made an end of his speech Dauid commanded that Bethsabe should be called in who had retired her selfe out of the kings chamber at such time as the Prophet entred into the same As soon as Bethsabe reentred the chamber Dauid said vnto her I sweare vnto thee by that great God that thy sonne Salomon shall raigne after me according as before this time I haue already sworne vnto thee and he it is that shall sit vpon my throne yea euen this present day Vpon these words Bethsabe humbled her selfe and besought God to grant the king long life Whereupon he called for Sadoc the high priest and Banaia captaine of the guard and gaue them in charge to take the Prophet Nathan with them and all the men at armes that attended him in court charging them to mount his sonne Salomon vpon the royall Moyle and to conduct him out of the Citie neere vnto the fountaine of Gehon in which place after they had annointed him with holy oyle he willed them to proclaime Salomon king commanding the high priest Sadoc and the Prophet Nathan to see his will performed charging those that followed him thorow the Citie with sound of trumpet and a loud voice to crie out that Salomon was seated for euer on his fathers throne to the intent that all the people might vnderstand that by his fathers consent he was declared king But as touching Salomon he gaue him instructions how he ought to behaue himselfe with pietie and iustice in the gouernment of all the people of the Hebrewes and of the tribe of Iuda After this Banaia besought God that it would please him to bee fauourable vnto Salomon and with all expedition Salomon was mounted vpon the kings mule and conducted out of the Citie neere vnto the fountaine where after he had been annointed with oyle they brought him backe againe into the Citie with ioy and applause wishing him a long and prosperous gouernment then reconducting him to the kings pallace they placed him in his throne and on the instant all the people began to celebrate banquets feasts and to disport and reioyce themselues with dances and instruments of musicke so that by reason of the multitude of instruments both the earth and the ayre resounded therewith So that Adonias and they that
thereof that the worthy nature of this king might be known vnto all men and how beloued he was of God and how surpassing in all kindes of vertue When Hiram king of Tyre vnderstood that Salomon succeeded his father in the kingdome he was glad thereof for he was Dauids friend for which cause he sent messengers vnto him to salute him and to congratulate with him of that good which had hapned vnto him by whom Salomon returned an answere in these tearmes Salomon to Hiram the king Know thou that my father hauing a wil to build a temple vnto God hath been withdrawen from the performance thereof by the continuall warres and troubles he hath had for he neuer tooke rest before he either had defeated his enemies or made thē tributaries vnto him For mine own part I thanke God for the peace which I possesse and for that by the means therof I haue opportunity according to mine own desire to build a temple vnto God for he it is that foretold my father that this house should be builded during my raign For which cause I pray you send some one of your skilfullest men with my seruants to the wood Libanus to hew downe trees in that place for the Sidonians are more skilfull in hewing and preparing timber then our people are and I will pay the cleauers of wood according to your direction When Hiram had read this letter he was very glad to p◅e the contents of the same and wrote backe againe vnto him to this effect The king Hiram vnto king Salomon Thou hast cause to thanke God in that he hath deliuered thy fathers kingdome into thy hands to thee I say who art a man wise and full of vertue For which cause since no newes can come vnto me more gratious nor office of loue more esteemed then this I will accomplish all that thou requestest for after I haue caused a great quantitie of Cedar and Cyprus wood to be cut downe I will send it thee by sea by my seruants whom I will commaund and furnish with conuenient vessels of burthen to the end they may deliuer the same in what place of thy kingdome it shall best please thee that afterwards thy subiects may transport them to Ierusalem You shall prouide to furnish vs with corne whereof we stand in need because we inhabit an Island The copies are yet at this day kept not onely by those of that nation but also by the Tyrians so that if any man desire exactly to know that they be let him search the publique records of the Tyrians and he shall finde in them matters accordant to that we haue said All which I say to that end that the readers might be assured that I outstrip not the truth in any sort and that I insert not in this historie matters that are meerly apparant deceitful and only fashioned for delight neither feare I that any man shall examine my writings neither desire I likewise that euery man giue credit at the first sight to the same or that I be held blamelesse in suffering my selfe any waies to vary or vnproperly dilate ought in this historie but contrariwise if I cannot approoue the truth by demonstration and sufficient testimonies I desire not to be allowed As soone as Salomon had receiued these letters from the King of the Tyrians he praised his facilitie and beneuolence and presently sent him that which he demanded euerie yeare therefore he sent him two thousand Cores of wheat and the like number of Ba ds of oyle this Bad containeth seuentie and two sextaries He gaue him also the like measure of wine From that time forward the friendship betwixt Hiram and Salomon increased more and more so that both of them protested that it should continue for euer The king imposed on his people the tribute of thirtie thousand workemen whom he gaue in charge to trauell continually and distributed them verie discreetly Hee ordained that ten thousand of them should cut wood in Libanus for the space of one moneth and that then they should rest two moneths returning euery man vnto his owne dwelling place vntill such time as the twentie thousand had in their turne accomplished the taske in the time that was prefixed vnto them and then the first 10000. renewed their work followed the same in the fourth month Ador◅ was constituted superintendēt ouer this tribute Besides these there were 70000. men appointed to cary stones wood who were the inhabitants of that countrey which Dauid had left There were foure score thousand hewers of stone ouer whichwere 3200. commissaries these had the king commaunded to cut the greatest stones to make the foundations of the temple which after they had hewed and prepared in the mountaine he commaunded should be drawne and brought into the Citie and not onely commaunded he his countrimen to performe this but those workemen also that were sent him by Hiram Salomon began this building in the fourth yeare of his raigne in the second month which the Macedons call Artemisium and the Hebrewes Iar fiue hundreth nintie and two yeares after the departure of the Israelites out of Aegypt one thousand and twentie yeares since the arriuall of Abraham in Mesopotamia one thousand foure hundreth and fortie yeares after the Deluge And since Adam the first man vntill Salomon who builded the Temple all the yeares that are passed haue beene three thousand one hundreth and two But the beginning of the building of the Temple hapned in the eleuenth yeare of the raigne of Hiram who gouerned in Tyre and since the first time that Tyre began to be inhabited vntil the said building of the temple there passed two hundreth and fortie yeares The king therefore laid the foundations of the Temple and made a most deepe trench and fortified it with most strong stones which might be able to resist al the iniuries of time These stones were so closely ioined the one vnto the other that for the strength of the foundations they might serue to make the base and ground both to fortifie the worke as also to sustaine that which should be builded thereupon either for embellishment or waight of the charge neither could the foundations be of lesse strength and hugenes which were to sustaine a sumptuous pile of that height greatnes magnificence and ornament The walles were made of white stone and continued of the same matter euen vntill the roofe The height of the Temple was sixtie cubits and the length as much and the bredth twentie Ouer that was another edifice hauing the like dimensions so that the whole height of the Temple was sixescore cubits and the entry therof was to the East-ward The porch that gaue entry thereinto had twentie cubits in length which was the bredth of the Temple and in bredth ten cubits and the height thereof was of sixescore cubits About the Temple were builded thirtie celles which inuironed the circuit of the same on
law at such time as he made the similitudes of beasts of brasse to vnderprop the vessell called the great sea and those of Lyons which he caused to be set vnto his throne For that action of his ill beseemed him who had a most excellent and domesticall example of vertue in the person of his father besides the glorie that he had left him by being a faithfull seruant of God whence it came to passe that by neglecting to followe his steppes notwithstanding that God had exhorted him thereunto by appearing vnto him at two seuerall times he died most ignominiously There came therefore vnto him a prophet sent from God telling him that his sinnes were manifest and notorious in Gods sight threatning him that ere long he should repent the wickednesse he had committed Yet notwithstanding the realme should not be taken from him during his life because God had promised Dauid that he should be his successor in the same but after his decease his sonne should beare the penalty of the same not so as all the people should reuolt but that he would giue ten tribes vnto his seruant and leaue two vnto the grandchild of Dauid because he had loued God and by reason of the Citie of Ierusalem where it pleased him to make his habitation When Salomon heard these things he sorrowed and was sore troubled in that all his felicitie for which he toforetime was admired began to decline Neither passed there long time after this denunciation of the Prophet but that God so pleasing there rose vp an enemie against him who was called Ader by nation an Idumaean and of the princely stocke who vpon this occasion grounded his rebellion and insurrection For at such time as Ioab generall of Dauids army had conquered Idumaea and in the space of sixe moneths defeated all the youth and those that were capable to beare armes he fled vnto Pharao king of Aegypt who entertained him verie courteouly and gaue him an house and lands for his maintenance and loued him deerely when he came to mans estate so that he maried him with Taphines his wiues sister on whom he begat a sonne who was brought vp with the kings children who hauing intelligence in Aegypt of Dauid and Ioabs death addressed himselfe vnto Pharao and besought him to giue him leaue to repaire into his owne countrey The King asked him what he wanted or what the cause was that moued him to be so hastie to forsake him Notwithstanding therefore that he importuned and requested him diuers times yet preuailed he nothing with him for that time But when Salomons fortunes began to decline by reason of his iniquities aboue mentioned and the wrath of God prouoked against him Ader by Gods permission came into Idumea after he was licēsed by Pharao to depart But being vnable to moue the people to reuolt from Salomon by reason of the strong garrisons he held and knowing that without hazard of his owne person he could moue no alterations or innouation in that place he departed from thence went into Syria where cōfederating himself with a certaine man called Raas who was fled from his master Adarezar king of Sophene and liued like an outlaw in that Region he contracted friendship with him and a great sort of outlawes and theeues that were his followers and went into Syria and taking seazure of that countrey proclaimed himselfe king thereof From whence making excursions into the lands of the Israelites he spoyled and pillaged the same during Salomons life time Thus were the Hebrewes enforced to sustaine these outrages at Aders hands Moreouer a certaine man called Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat by nation a Iewe rebelled against Salomon and raised his hopes aboue his estate perswaded thereunto by a prophecie that concerned him and incited him vnto the action For being left verie young by his father and carefully instructed by his mother as soone as Salomon perceiued him to be of a noble and couragious spirit he made him commissarie ouer the building of the wals at such time as he immured and fortified Ierusalem In this office he behaued himselfe so well that the king thought very well thereof and in way of recompence gaue him the estate of Generall ouer the tribe of Ioseph Towards which whilest he trauelled from Ierusalem a certaine Prophet met him vpon the way who was of the Citie of Silo called Achias who approching neere vnto him and saluting him drew him out of the way into a place where none but thēselues were present there renting the garment which he wore vpon his backe into twelue peeces he commaunded Ieroboam to take ten telling him that God had so decreed and how he would rent the gouernment from Salomon and reserue only one tribe vnto his sonne with that other which was annexed vnto it by reason of the promise made vnto Dauid and to thee said he he giueth the other tenne because Salomon hath offended God and addicted himselfe to the loue of straunge women and the seruice of forraine gods Now since thou knowest the cause wherefore God hath alienated the kingdome from Salomon be thou iust and obserue thou the lawes for if thou behauest thy selfe in such sort as thou knowest Dauid did a great reward of thy pietie and recompence of thy obseruance attendeth thee so that thou shalt become as mightie as Dauid hath beene before thee Ieroboam confirmed in great hopes by these words of the Prophet being by nature haughtie in yeares young and besides that desirous of authoritie he tooke no rest but being possessed of the place of generall and remembring himselfe of that which had beene told him by Achias he presently beganne to perswade the people to reuolt from Salomon and to choose him for their king Salomon hearing newes of this his deliberation and enterprise sought the meanes to lay hands on him and to put him to death but Ieroboam preuenting him fled vnto Susac king of Egypt with whom hee remained vntill the death of Salomon And thus for that time escaped he punishment and thus was hee reserued to the fortune of a kingdome CHAP. III. After the death of Salomon the people reuolte from Roboam his sonne and proclaime Hieroboam king of the tenne tribes BVt when Salomon was very olde he died after he had raigned fourescore yeares and liued nintie foure and was buried in Ierusalem of all kings the most happy rich and prudent except that sinne wherunto he was drawen by women in his olde age of whom and those calamities that presently after befell the Hebrewes we haue sufficiently spoken After the death of Salomon as soone as his sonne Roboam whom he begat vpon an Ammonitish woman called Nooma succeeded him in the kingdome the gouernours of the people sent certaine messengers into Aegypt to recall Ieroboam who arriuing in the Citie of Sichem Roboam came thither also resoluing himself in that assembly of the Israelites to take the
and feasted for diuers daies Thus after the death of Athalia the citie was in quiet Ioas was 7. yeers old at such time as he was made king his mother was called Sabia was of the town Bersabe He carefully obserued the lawes and highly affected the seruice of God all his life time and when he grew to mans estate he maried two wiues which the high Priest gaue him by whom he had sonnes and daughters This is all that I haue thought good to declare as concerning Ioas both how he escaped Athalias treasons and obtained the kingdome CHAP. VIII Azael King of Damasco leuieth an army and first of all assaulteth the Israelites and after marcheth forward against Ierusalem BVt Azael king of Syria making warre against the Israelites and against their king Iehu destroyed the countrey on the other side of Iordan and all the easterne tract inhabited by the Rubenites Gadites and Manassites Furthermore he burnt spoyled Galaad and Bathanaea violenting and outraging all those that he met withall For Iehu went not out against him to resist him but being become a contemner of God a despiser of pietie and his lawes he died after he had raigned seuen and twentie yeares ouer the Israelites he was buried in Samaria and left behind him Ioas his sonne to succeed him in the kingdome But Ioas king of Ierusalem conceiued a certaine desire to renewe the Temple for which cause calling vnto him Ioiada the high Priest he commaunded him to send thorow all the countrey the Leuites and Priests and to leuie vpon euery one of their heads halfe a sicle of siluer for the building reparation of the temple which was fallen into decay in Ioram Athalia and her followers times But the high Priest would not obey him herein knowing well that no man would willingly disburse money But in the three and twentith yeare of his raigne the king sent both for Ioiada and the Leuites also and expostulated with them for disobeying his commandement enioyning them from that time forth to prouide for the building of the Temple Wherupon the high Priest vsed present dispatch in leuying the money wherewith the people were highly contented He therefore made a chest of wood closed on euerie side except that on the vpper lid thereof there was a little cranny left open which he placed neere vnto the Altar commaunding that euerie one should offer according to his deuotion and put in his offering thorowâ—… the cranny into the coffer to be imployed in the repairing of the Temple whereunto all the people shewed themselues affectionate so that they gathered together a great quantitie of gold and siluer with great zeale and when the cofer was filled it was emptied and the account thereof taken and sumde vp by the secretary and high Priest in the kings presence and afterwards all was brought together into one assigned place which order was obserued euery day And when as it was supposed that there was sufficient money gathered the high Priest Ioiada and king Ioas hired masons and carpenters and prepared great beames of excellent timber After that the Temple was repaired they imployed the remainder of gold and siluer which was of no small quantitie to make cuppes pots and vessels and other vtensils and euery day offered they sacrifice of great value vpon the Altar and this custome was continued so long as Ioiada liued But after his decease which hapned in the hundreth and thirtith yeare of his age after he had liued a iust and vpright life and was interred in the sepulcher of Dauid in Ierusalem because he had established the kingdome in Dauids posteritie king Ioas had no more care to serue God and with him the rest of the gouernours of the people were corrupted in contradiction of the lawes and ordinances which they knew were verie conuenient for them For which cause God being prouoked by this change and incensed against the king and the rest sent his Prophets vnto them to protest to expostulate with them for their offences and to withdraw them from their iniquitie But they pursued sinne the more vehemently so that neither the punishments by which they who had offended God before times had beene plagued with all their posterities neither all the aduertisments giuen them by the Prophets could induce them to amend or to forsake those sinnes wherein they were engaged but that which is worst King Ioas stoned Zacharie Ioiadas sonne and put him to death in the Temple forgetting himselfe most vngratefully of the benefits he had receiued by his father And the occasion was for that Zachary hauing receiued a charge from God to prophecy came into the midst of the people and counsailed both them him to follow iustice foretelling them that they should be grieuously punished except they did beleeue This Zachary did at his death call God to witnesse and iudge of those calamities he endured in dying grieuously and violently for the good counsaile which he had giuen them and the benefits which his father had in times past done vnto Ioas. But many daies passed not before the king suffered due punishment for these misdeeds For Azael king of the Syrians inuaded his countrey and after he had first of all ruinated Gitta he marched forward with an intent to besiege him at last in Ierusalem Ioas desperate of all succours emptied all the treasures of God and those of the kings and tooke away the presents that were hung vp in the Temple and sent them to the Syrian redeeming the siege by this meanes least he should be drawen into hazard to lose all The Syrian pacified with such and so great riches and aboundant treasure suffered not his army to passe to Ierusalem After this Ioas was seazed with a greeuous sicknes and to the intent that the death of Zachary the sonne of Ioiada might not escape vnreuenged his friends conspired against him and he died by their hands He was entombed in Ierusalem but not in the sepulcher of his ancestors because he had fallen from God He liued seuen and fortie yeares CHAP. IX Amasias king of Ierusalem made warre against the Idumaeans and Amalechites and obtained the victory AMasias his sonne succeeded him in the kingdome But in the one and twentith yeare of Ioas raigne Ioachas the sonne of Iehu tooke possession of the kingdome of Israel in Samaria and was seazed thereof for the space of seuenteene yeares But he followed not his fathers steps but rather behauing himselfe impiously according as his predecessors in the kingdom contemners of God had done For which cause the king of Syria subdued him and cut off a great part of his dominions and tooke his greatest cities from him and defeated his armies so that at length he had but ten thousand footmen and fiue hundreth horsemen All which hapned to the Israelits according to the prophecy of Elizeus which he foretold vnto Azael at such time as he prophecied
a. high priesthood confirmed to him 80. g h i. giueth his stoole to Eleazar 82. h. his death ibid. h. Aarons rod fructifieth 81. a. Abdon Iudge of Israel 120. k. renowmed for his issue ibid. k. Abel second son of Adam 5. a. is commended ibid. a b. is stain by his brother and why ibid b c. Abias leuieth an army 211 b. ouercommeth Ieroboam 211. f. dieth 212. g. his issue ibid. Abiathar escapes Sauls hands 149. d. telleth Dauid of his families slaughter 150. g. asketh counsell of God 157. b. dispossessed of the priesthood 191. d. holpe Adonias 186. l. Abigal pacifieth Dauid 152 k l m. after married to Dauid 153. b. Abihu Aarons son burned 67. a. and why ibid a. Abimelech king of Gerar enamoured of Sara 16 i. plagued for taking her ibid i. made a couenant with Abraham ibid l. expelleth Isaac his countrey 21. b. after maketh a league with him ibid. c. d. Abimelech Gedeons bastard sonne 117. c. killeth 69. of his brethren and vsurpeth ibid. e f. practiseth against the Sichemites 118. i k. slaieth them and sacketh their Citie ib. l. burned the Sichemites fled to the rock 118. l m. taketh Tebez 119. a. is wounded and slaine ibid. Abiram rebellious 79. a b. he and those that were with him swallowed vp 80. g. Abisai ouercommeth the Idumaeans 167. c. sent against the Ammonites 169. a. Abisai 183. c. Abisace nourisheth Dauid 186. i. Abner Sauls vncle 132. l. questioneth with Saul ibid. m. Generall of his army 147. c. maketh Isboseth king 160. g. reuolteth from Isboseth 161. a. killeth Azael 160. perswadeth the Gouernours to create Dauid king 161. c d. is slaine 162. g. Abraham son of Thares 11. c. tenth from Noe ib. e. taught the Aegyptians religion artes 13. b c. first preacher of the word 12. i. his wisedome ib. an Astronomer 12. k. 13. c. an Arithmetitian ibid. c. his house 12. l. oppressed by famine ibid. m. deuided the land with Lot 13. c. rescueth Lot and the Sodomites 14. h. A son promised him 14. k. 15. b. foretolde his progenie to be euill intreated 14. k l. circumcised himselfe and Ismael 15. b. entertaineth Angels and entreateth for the Sodomites ib. d e. intended to offer his son 18. h. k. marrieth Chetura 19. prouideth a wife for his son ib. d. dieth 20. l. is commended ibid. Absence of Dauid excused 147. c d. Absolon killeth Amnon 173. a. fled to Gessur 173. c. reuoked from banishment and how ibid. d e. affecteth the kingdome 174. k. proclaimed king ibid. l. passeth ouer Iordan 177. d. his ouerthrow 178. h. slaine by Ioab ib. i. Abundance foretold 40. l. Abundance of siluer 204. h. Abundance of victuals foreshewed 228. i k. effected 229. d. Abundance of victuall shewed 722. g h. Acclamation of the people 451. c. Accusation of Laban against Iacob 25. b. of Iacob against him ib. d e. of Putifars wife against Ioseph 32. g. of Doeg against Achimelech 149. a. of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus 353. b c. of Antipater against his brethren 595. f. of Herod and Nicholaus 602. m. 603. a. 604. h. of Antipater against Archelaus 609. d. of the Iewes 612. k. Achab son of Amri king of Israel 214. h. followeth impieties ibid. tooke to wife Iesabell ibid. seeketh Elias 215. c. coueteth Naboths vineyard 217. b. his repentance ibid. f. twise ouercommeth the Syrians 219. a b d. reprooued for dismissing Adad 220. h i. imprisoneth Micheas and why 220. i. 221. b. reiected his aduice 221. e. f. wounded dieth 222. g h. Achabs 70. sons 232. Achar stole the spoiles dedicated to God 102 m. hid them in his tent 103. a. found guiltie and put to death ibid. c. d. Achaz of Iuda sacrificeth his son 241. a. serueth Idols ib. a b. 242. g. ouerthrown in battell 241. c. hireth Theglaphalasar 241. f. shutteth the temple gates 242. h. dieth ibid. Achias reprooued Salomon 204. l. foretold Ieroboam to be king ouer 10. tribes 205. c. Achis a king of the Philistines 148. h. leadeth out Dauid against the Hebrewes 156. k. dismisseth him and why ibid. l m. Achitophels counsell against Dauid 176. a. hangeth himselfe 177. b. Acmes letter to Antipater 446. m. 447. a. executed 450. g. Acquaintance of Rebecca with Abrahams seruant 20. g. Act of Saul most malicious 149. d. an Action how said to be good 140. h. Action of Saul and his people 139. e. Acts of the Israelites 109. b c d e f. Acts of Simon against the Zelous 692. h. c. Act most cruell 723. c. d. Actian warre 584 h. Adad king of Damasco ouercome 167. a. Adad king of Syria proposeth conditions to Achab 218. h i. k. ouerthrowne 217. a. his second expedition ibid. c. taken prisoner is dismissed ibid. d e. discomfiteth and slaieth Achab 222. g. h. asketh counsell of Elizaeus 229. c. his death foretold 229. f. Adam created and how 3. f. placed in paradice 4. g. forbidden the tree of knowledge onely 4. h. transgresseth ibid. i. cast out of Paradice 5. a. begot Cain and Abel ibid. a and other children also 6. g. his age and death ibid. g h. 7. b. prophecied of a twofold destruction ibid. h. Adar a moneth of the Hebrewes 99. e. Ader enemie to Salomon 205. a. spoiled the landes of the Israelites 205. c. Adoni-bezec taken 109. c. punished confesseth Gods iustice ibid. c. Adonias affecteth the kingdome 186. i. flieth to the Altar 187. d. requireth Abisace 291. a c. slaine ibid. c. Aduersities befell the Israelites 113. c. and why ibid. c. Aduice of Raguel allowed 58. i. of the Elders reiected 206. i. of young men accepted ibid. l. Adulteresse her policie 32. g h. Adulterie 71. b. punished 94. h. Adulterie of Elies sonnes 125. b. Adulterie of Dauid 169. d. Affaires of Ioseph 639 b. Affection of Ioseph toward his brethren 38. l. of Ionathan to Dauid 144 m. Affinitie of Iacob with Rachel 23. b. of Saul and Ionathan with Dauid 144. i. 145. b. of Demetrius with Ptolemey 326. h. Affliction of the Hebrewes with the causes thereof 41 b c d. 46. g. l. 47. e. Africa from whence it tooke his name 19. c. Agag king of the Amalechites taken 139. c. spared and why ibid c. put to death 140. l m. and why ibid. Agar Saraes handmaid 14. m. contemned her mistris and why ibid. m. fled commanded to returne 14. m. 15. a. promised happines 17. c. brought forth Ismael ibid. a. cast out with her sonne 17. b. comforted ibid c. Age of Isaac at his offring 18. g. when he died 27. d. Age of the fathers before the floud 7. a b c. Age of Abraham 20. l. of Iacob 40. m. Aggaeus the prophet encourageth the Iewes 271. b. Agreement of the seditious 700. m. 710. h. Agrippa offereth 100. fat Oxen 413. c. reconciled to the Ilyensians 414. g. confirmeth the Iewes priuiledges 415. c. writeth to the Ephesians 422. h. Agrippa becommeth poore 472. i. k. borroweth money 473. b c e admitted to Caesars