Afterwards calling unto them a certain Man that could cunningly play upon Instruments for so had the Prophet commanded whil'st he sung Elizeus was fill'd with the Spirit of God and enjoined the Kings to make certain Trenches in the Channel of the River Ver. 17. For said he you shall see the River full of water Elizeus fore-prophesieth store of water and their victory without either wind cloud or rain so that both the whole Army and all their Cattel shall be saved and sufficiently sustained and God will not only bestow these benefits on you but will give you the upper hand of your Enemies also and you shall surprize the fairest and strongest Cities of the Moabites and you shall cut down their Trees ruinate I their Countrey and fill up their Fountains and Rivers When the Prophet had spoken thus the next day before Sun-rise the River flowed abundantly with water for three days journey off Ver. 22 23. God had suffered a very violent rain to fall in Idumaea so that both the Soldiers and their Horses were sufficiently refreshed and watered A wonderful blindness of the Enemy grounded on the redness of the water that flowed When the Moabites were informed that the three Kings came out against them and took their way thorow the Desart their King assembled his Army and commanded them to keep the passage of the Mountains to the end they might hinder the Enemy from entering their Countrey unawares But beholding about the Sun-rise that the water of the River was blood-red for at that time it arose in the Countrey of Moab and at this hour the water is red they conceived a false opinion that the three Kings being pressed by thirst had K slain one another and that the River flowed with their blood Being in this sort seduced with this imagination they besought the King to give them leave to gather their Enemies spoils which when they had obtained they altogether inconsiderately marched forth as if to a Prey already prepar'd for them and came unto the Kings Camps with hope to find no Man to resist them But their hope deceived them for their Enemies environed them round about and some of them were cut in pieces the rest turned their backs and fled towards their own Countrey and the three Kings entering into the Territories of the Moabites destroyed thier Cities pillaged the Countrey broke down their Inclosures filling them with stones and mud taken out of the River cut down their fairest Trees stopped up the sources of their Waters and levelled their Walls with the L ground The King of the Moabites himself Ver. 24. seeing himself pursued and besieged and that his City was in danger to be taken by force The victory of the Hebrews against the Moabites sallied out very valiantly with 700 Men hoping by the swiftness of his Horse to break thorow the Israelites Camp on that side where he thought it was least guarded Which when he had attempted and could not execute Ver. 27. because he charged on that side which was best defended The King of the Moabites sacrificeth his own son he returned back again into the City and committed a desperate action for he took his eldest son who ought in right to succeed him in the kingdom and set him on the wall of the City and in the sight of all his Enemies offer'd him for a burnt-sacrifice unto God The Kings beholding this woful spectacle were moved with compassion and overcome with humanity left the siege and returned back again to their Countries After that Jehoshaphat M was returned into Jerusalem Jehoshaphats death he enjoyed a peaceable Government but lived not long after but dyed when he was 60 years old in the 25th year of his Reign and was magnificently buried in Jerusalem according as the Successor to Davids virtues and his kingdom ought to be interred CHAP. II. Joram obtaining the Kingdom of Jerusalem slayeth his brothers and his fathers friends JEhoshaphat King of Juda left behind him divers children the eldest of whom he appointed his Successor in the kingdom Joram Jehoshaphats son King of Jerusalem who was called Joram as his Uncle was who N was his Mothers Brother and Achabs Son lately King of Israel The King of the ten Tribes turning back unto Samaria kept with him the Prophet Elizeus whose actions I will here recite because they are notable and deserve to be registred in writing according as we have gathered them out of the Holy Scripture The widow of Obadiah who was sometime steward of Achabs house came unto him and told him That he was not ignorant that in that persecution wherein Jezabel sought to murther the Prophets her Husband saved one hundred of them for whose private maintenance he had borrowed much money of other men and that now being dead his Creditors strove to draw both her and her children into bondage 2 Kings 4. 1 ad 7. For which cause she besought him in consideration of this act to have compassion on her Elizeus commandeth the Widow to fill her empty vessels with oyl and to yield her some succor Hereupon Elizeus ask'd her If she had any thing O in her house she answer'd him That she had nothing but a very little oyl left her in an earthen Pot. Whereupon the Prophet commanded her to depart and to borrow divers empty vessels of her Neighbors that done he willed her to lock up her doors and to pour oyl into the vessels The year of the World 3050. before Christ's Nativity 924. because it was Gods pleasure to fill them all The Woman did according A as he had commanded her and all the vessels were found full so as none of them were empty whereof when she had certified the Prophet he advised her to go and sell her oyl and pay her Debts and when all was paid he assured her that there would be some remainder that might serve to sustain both her and her children By this means Elizeus discharged the Widow of her Debts 2 Kings 6. 9 ad 12. and that trouble which her Creditors intended against her He admonished Joram likewise by certain Messengers Elizeus adviseth Joram to avoid Adads ambush who lay in wait to kill him that he should take heed of a certain place wherein the Syrians lay in ambush intending to slay him by means of which admonition the King went not out on hunting But Adad being sore displeased because his ambushment was discovered began to suspect his own followers whereupon calling unto him his houshold servants he maliciously B termed them Traytors and furthermore threatned them with death for that they had discovered a matter which was onely committed to their trust unto his enemy Whereupon one of the assistants told him That he ought not to conceive that false opinion of them neither suspect that they had discovered his intended ambush to cut off his enemy but
which hapned to the Israelites according to the prophecy of Elizeus which he foretold unto Azael at such time as he prophecied unto him that he should reign over the Syrians and them of Damascus after that he had murthered his master Ioachas being in this extremity had his recourse to God in prayer and supplication beseeching him that it might please him to deliver him from the hands of Azael and not suffer him to be under subjection and thraldom unto him God that regardeth the penitent as if they had been innocent and that gently chastiseth those whom he might utterly exterminate if he so pleased gave him assurance against the War and danger so that the Countrey having obtained peace recovered her former state and prosperity When Ioachas was dead his Son succeeded him in the G government and began to reign over the Israelites in Samaria in the 37 year of Joas King of Juda. For this King of Israel was called Joas as well as he that reigned in H Jerusalem The year of the World 3089 before Christ's Nativity 875. he governed the Kingdom sixteen years He was a good man and was not like unto Ioachas his Father About this time Elizeus the Prophet was very old and fell sick the King of Israel came to visit him and finding him in the extremity and past hope of recovery he began to weep and lament calling him his Father and his armour because that during his life he had never occasion to use the sword against the Enemy Joas King of Israel and Samaria but that by means of his predictions he had alwayes the upper hand of them without fighting that now he departed this life and left him disarmed to the mercy of the Syrians and other his enemies so that he was not secure of liberty nor life but that he rather wished to die with him than live in those dangers Elizeus being moved with these complaints Elizeus foretelleth that Joas should overcome the Syrians thrice comforted the King that lamented in this I sort and commanding him to draw his Bow that he brought with him for the King had bent the same Elizeus said unto him 2 King 13. 20 21. Draw and he shot three Arrowes and gave over at the fourth Oh said Elizeus if thou hadst shot more Arrows thou hadst utterly ruined the Kingdom of the Syrians Elizeus death and the raising of a dead man to life that was cast into his Tombe and since thou hast contented thy self with shooting thrice only thou shalt overthrow the Syrians in three battels which thou shalt fight against them and shalt recover the Countrey they have taken from thy Father After the King understood these things he departed and not long after the Prophet died who was renowned for his justice and beloved of God who shewed miraculous and incredible works by his prophecies and such as the Hebrews ought to keep in perpetual remembrance and was buried magnificently according as it behoved a man who was so highly favoured K by God It chanced about that time 2 Chron. 25. 18 ad 25. that certain thieves having cast the body of a man that was murthered by them Joas trâ—bble victory upon the body of the Prophet where he lay buried the dead body returned to life Which made it appear that God had given him a power of working miracles not only in his life time but also after his death After the death of Azael King of Syria Adad his Son obtained the Kingdom against whom Joas King of Israel made War and having overcome him three times he recovered all that Countrey and those Cities and Towns that Azael his Father had conquered before him All which came to pass according as Elizeus had prophecied After that Joas was dead the Kingdom fell to Jeroboam his Son L CHAP. X. Amasias making War against Joas King of Israel is overcome THe tenth year of the reign of Joas King of Israel Hedio Ruffiâ—â—s chap. 9. Amasias reigned over the Tribe of Juda in Jerusalem his mother was called Judah and was a Citizen of Jerusalem Amasias King of Jerusalem He was very careful to maintaine justice notwithstanding he was very young 2 King 14 1 2. And having taken upon him the Government of the Kingdom he resolved with himself that he ought first of all to revenge the death of his father Joas who was traiterously slain by his friends he therefore laid hands on them and put them M all to the sword yet extended he not his displeasure to their children but conformed his actions according to the Laws of Moses 2 King 14. which faith that it is not lawful to punish their children for their Fathers offences Deut. 24. 16. He afterwards levied an Army of the Tribes of Juda and Benjamin and chose such as were in the flower of their years and about twenty years of age the number of which amounted to three hundred thousand men whom he divided into Centuries He sent also to the King of Israel and hired an hundred thousand of his armed men for an hundred talents of Silver because he intended to make War upon the Amalechites Idumaeans and Gabelites Now whilest he made this preparation and was in a readiness to undertake this exploit a certain Prophet counseled him to dismiss the Israelites that he had with him because they were wicked men N signifying unto him from God that if he were followed by them in that War he should be overcome and on the other side that he should have the upper hand over his Enemies if he fought with a few men according to Gods direction Hereupon the King was moved because he had already paid the Israelites their wages but the Prophet ceased not to exhort him to do that which was pleasing in Gods sight The dismission of the Isâ—aelites who would give him silver in abundance Hereupon he dismissed them telling them that he freely gave them their pay and he with the forces of his owne Kingdom marched out against those Nations 2 Chron. 25. 11 12 13. and fought with them and overcame them and slew ten thousand of them and took no less number of Prisoners whom he afterwards caused to be led to a high Rock that bounded upon Arabia Amasias vâ—ctory over the â—malechites and from thence cast them down headlong and O from all these Nations he recovered a great booty and brought home much riches Whilest Amasias stood upon these terms the Israelites that had taken wages of him and were cashiered by him conceived a displeasure against him supposing themselves to be injured by him The year of the World 3106. before Christ's Nativity 858. as if he had dismissed them for want of courage For which A cause they invaded his Country and spoiled it as far as Bethsemer and carried away a great quantity of Cattel and slew three thousand men But the victory
offerings to be sacrificed upon the Altar of thy God and to make whatsoever vessels of gold or silver which either thou or thy Brethren shall think meet Those sacred vessels also which are given thee thou shalt dedicate unto D thy God and if there be ought else requisite in this behalf that thou shalt think fit to provide the charges shalt thou receive out of my treasury I have also commended thee to the Treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia and have written to them that whatsoever Esdras the Priest and Reader of the Law of God shall require they shall presently deliver it to him And to the end that God may be favourable to me and my posterity my will is that an hundred measures of wheat be offer'd unto God according to the Law I command you also that are Magistrates that you exact nothing neither impose any taxations on the Priests Levites Singing-men Porters or holy Officers But thou Esdras according to the wisdom given thee from above shalt appoint Judges who shall in Syria and Phoenicia execute justice unto the people according to your Law Teach thou likewise freely all such as are ignorant so that whosoever violateth either E Gods or the Kings Law he may be fined or else condemned to death as not sinning through ignorance but of contumacy Farewell When Esdras had received this Letter he was well-pleased and gave thanks unto God Ver. 16 17 18. confessing that it was he Esdras assembled the Jews that dwelt in Babylon who was the Author of that favour he had received at the Kings hand And after he had read this Letter unto the Jews that were at that time resident in Babylon he kept the original but sent a copy to all those of his Nation being in the Countrey of the Medes who being inform'd of the King's zeal to the service of God and his favour towards Esdras were very joyful and divers amongst them took their goods and came unto Babylon desiring to return to Jerusalem but the rest of the F Israelites would not abandon or leave their dwelling Whereupon it came to pass that two Tribes were under the obedience of the Romans in Asia and Europe but the ten Tribes were on the other side of Euphrates even until this day and it is incredible how exceedingly they are there multiplied With Esdras there departed a great number of Priests Levites Porters Singing-men and servants of the Temple Now after he had assembled those of the captivity that inhabited on this side Euphrates and sojourned there three days he commanded them to solemnize a Fast and to pray unto God for his preservation that no evil might happen unto him and that neither their enemies nor any other might do them any violence For Esdras had foretold the King that God would be their Protector and that therefore he requir'd no Convoy of Horsemen at G his hand for his security After that they had recommended themselves unto God they set forward on their way the twelfth day of the first month of the seventh year of the H Reign of Xerxes and arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the same year Whereupon he incontinently presented unto the Treasurers who were of the race of the Priests the sacred depositum wherewith he was intrusted which consisted of 650 Talents of silver and of silver vessels an 100 Talents of vessels of gold to the value of 20 Talents of brazen vessels more precious than gold the weight of 12 Talents These were the Presents of the King and his Friends Esdras repaireth to Jerusalem and committeth the vessels and other precious Presents to the Treasurers hands and of the Israelites that dwelt in Babylon When Esdras had deliver'd these Presents into the hands of the Priests he offer'd burnt-offerings unto God according to the Law namely 12 Bulls for the publick conservation of the people 72 Rams and Lambs and 12 Goats for a sin-offering And afterward I he deliver'd the Kings Letters to his Princes and Governors in Coelosyria and Phoenicia who being constrain'd to execute that which was enjoin'd them by the King honour'd the Nation of the Jews and supplied them every ways in their necessities We owe unto Esdras the honour of this Transmigration for he not only laid the design of it but his virtue and piety were undoubtedly the cause that God gave him so good success in the undertaking Not long after there came certain Men unto him complaining that some of the people Priests and Levites had transgressed against their Ordinances and broken the Laws of the Countrey in that they had espoused certain strange women and corrupted the purity of the Sacerdotal race requiring him that he would have a regard to Gods Ordinances K for fear lest he being displeased with them should cast them again into that misery from which he had so lately deliver'd them Esdras prayers for the Levites that had married strangers Esdras hereupon was so much afflicted that he rent his cloaths and tore his hair and pulled his beard and cast himself upon the ground because the chief among the people were concern'd in that offence And because he feared left if he should command them to forsake their wives Esdr 9. per totum and those children which they had begotten by them he should not be obey'd he continu'd in grief and lay continually upon the ground Whereupon all those resorted unto him who were not guilty and wept and lamented with him because of that which had hapned In this affliction of mind Esdras raising himself from the earth and lifting up his hands to Heaven said That he was ashamed to look thereupon because the offences of the people L were so heinous and that they had so soon lost the memory of those calamities wherewith their Forefathers had been visited for their sins Nevertheless O Lord said he since thy mercy is infinite have pity I beseech thee on the remnant that hath escaped that long captivity and which thou hast brought back into their native Countrey Spare them O Lord and though they have deserved death yet let thy mercy appear in the sparing of their lives Whil'st thus both he and those that came unto him lamented with him with their wives and children a certain man called Achonias one of the principal men of Jerusalem came to him and said That they had sinned because they had espoused strange women and persuaded Esdras to command them all to banish both them and the children begotten by them advising that they who obey'd not the Law might be punish'd Esdras persuaded by these words M made all the Princes of the Priests Levites and Tribes of Israel swear That they would dismiss their wives and children according to the counsel of Achonias And as soon as he had received their oaths he departed from the Temple unto Johns house the son of Eliasib and there spent he all the day without tasting any meat by
Timaeus Z. Zophyrion Imprimatur Decem. 7. 1675. Geo. Hooper R mo D no. Arch. Cant. a Sacr. Domest A The Life of FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS The Son of Matthias Written by himself B FOrasmuch as I derive my Original Josephus Lineage by a long series of Ancestors from the Sacerdotal Race I may with some reason value my self upon the Nobleness of my Birth since as every Nation places the Grandeur of a Family in some certain marks of Honour that accompany it so amongst us 't is one of the most signal to have the administration of Holy things But I am not onely descended of the stock of the Priests I am also of the First of the Four and twenty Families of which it consists and whose Dignity is eminent above the rest To which I may add That by my Mothers side I reckon Kings amongst my Ancestors For the Branch of the Asmoneans from whom she descended for a C long time exercised both the High Priesthood and Princely Power among our Nation In this manner stands the order of the last of my Predecessors My great Grandfafathers Grandfather Simon sirnamed Psellus the stutterer lived at such time as Hircanus was High Priest the first of that Name and the Son of Simon the High Priest This Simon Psellus had Nine Sons the one of which was Matthias sirnamed Aphlias This Matthias took to Wife the Daughter of the High Priest Jonathan by whom he had one Son who was Matthias sirnamed Curtus who was born in the first year of Hircanus's Priesthood Matthias begat Joseph in the Ninth year of Alexander's Government and of Joseph came Matthias in the Tenth year of the Reign of Archelaus and Matthias begat me in the First year of the Empire of Caius Caesar Joseph the Son of Matthias was born in the first year of Caius Caesars Empire and the 4001 year of the world and the 39 after Christs birth I likewise have D Three Sons mine eldest is Hircanus who was born in the Fourth my next Justus who was born in the Seventh and Agrippa my last who was born in the Ninth year of Vespasians Empire This Genealogy of mine do I in this manner propose according as I have found it written in the Publick Registers to the end to confound the Calumnies of my Enemies My Father Matthias was considerable for his Extraction but more for his Justice and Authority in Jerusalem which is the Metropolis of our Countrey My bringing up during my tender years was with Matthias who was my Brother by the same Father and Mother with whom I happily profited in all kind of Science having a good Memory Joseph from his infancy very studious and addicted to learning and a quick Apprehension so that being yet a Child of Fourteen years of E Age I was praised by all Men in regard of the good Affection I had to Learning and the Priests and Noblest Citizens vouchsaf'd to ask my Opinion of things that concerned our Laws and Ordinances About the Age of Sixteen years my desire was to have a search and insight into the Sects of our Nation which are Three The first of the Pharisees which is the chiefest The second of the Sadduces And the third of the Esseans And this I did to the end I might choose the better of the Three when I understood them all For which cause with great Austerities and Labours I passed thorow them all and not content with this Experience after I had heard that a certain man called Banus lived in the Desart clothing himself with that which the Trees brought forth and feeding on no other kind of meat but what they freely yielded F and washing himself oftentimes by day and night in cold water to keep himself chaste I began to imitate his course of Life and after I had lived with him for the space of Three years and satisfied my desires I returned to the City at the Age of Nineteen years At this time I began to engage my self in the exercise of a civil Life Joseph a Pharisee following the Sect of the Pharisees which very neerly resembleth that Sect among the Grecians who are called Stoicks After I was Six and twenty years old it was my fortune to repair to Rome upon this occasion Whilst Foelix governed Judea certain Priests my familiars men of much honour and more virtue were upon some slight occasion bound and sent to Rome by his commandment to answer to what should be objected against G them in Caesar's presence Whereupon being desirous to do them service and having special intelligence that the Torments wherewith they were Martyred lessened not their Piety but that they lived contentedly on Figs and Nuts for this cause I departed for Rome and was encountred with many great and grievous hazards by Sea For the H ship Joseph's shipwrack wherein I sailed was wrackt in the midst of the Adriatick Sea and about Six hundred of us were forc't to swim all Night long and at Day-break by God's Providence a Cyrenian ship came in sight and both I and certain others to the number of Fourscore out-swimming the rest were taken up into it and saved After I had in this sort escaped I came to Dicaarchia which the Italians call at this day Puteoli and grew acquainted with Aliturus a Jew born who was a Comedian and in good reputation with Nero by whose means insinuating my self into the Emperess Poppea's knowledge Joseph obtaineth the Priests liberties I determined to beseech her to procure the liberty of those Priests with all expedition which she accordingly did and being gratified likewise by her with many great gifts I returned into my Countrey There I found the Commonwealth I much disquieted with Factions and Troubles The Jews seditious and divers too prone and ready to Rebel and withdraw their Allegiance from the Romans I inforced my self to repress the seditious and exhorted them to change their opinions representing before their eyes the quality of those against whom they enterprized War with whom they could neither compare in experience of War nor in good Fortune For this cause I advised them not to hazard the overthrow of themselves their Children and their Countrey by their rashness and rage Joseph dehorteth the Jews from sedition is suspected by them of treason To this effect I spake to them and instantly intreated them to desist from their unhappy resolution for that I foresaw that the end of this War would prove to our utter Ruine but I prevailed nothing with them The fury of desperate and dissolute men prevailed above reason for which cause fearing lest by K continual inforcing of one thing I should grow into hatred and suspition amongst them as if I favoured their enemies and they should put me to death seeing that the Fort of Antonia was already seized upon by the seditious I retired my self into the Sanctuary From whence after Manahem and the chiefest Revolters
Brother invented Musick Jubal inventes of Musick and the Psaltery and Harp And as touching Thobel one of his Sons by his other Wife Sella he surpassed all his other Brethren in courage and bravely managed the affairs of War by which means he got Riches and Means to maintain his G life with more pleasure than formerly 21 22. He it was that first invented the art of Forging and was Father to a Daughter named Naama But Lamech being well instructed in divine things and foreseeing that he should suffer punishment for the fratricide of Cain he told it to his two Wives So it was that during the life of Adam himself the successors of Cain were most H wicked Ver. 23 24. teaching and imitating one anothers wickedness the last of them proving always the worst The year of the World 70 before Christ's Nativity 2894. so that they were strangely inflamed to follow War and Theft and if perhaps some of them were more remiss than others in committing Murthers and outrages yet were they rapacious enough to spoil and possess the goods and heritages of other Men. But Adam the first Man made of Earth for the History requireth that I should return to speak of him after the death of Abel and the flight of Cain earnestly desired to have Children Cain the Father of hypocrits and evil Men. and accordingly he had many being about the age of two hundred and thirty years besides which after he had lived some seven hundred more at last he died amongst whose Children was Seth. Now for that it were too long to speak of all of them I will onely touch that which concerneth I Seth 25. Adams years 930. He being nourished and trained by his Father to the years of discretion studied virtue and left his descendants Heirs and followers of his sanctity who being all of them well born Gen. 4. 26. remained in the World free from all contention Gen. 5 3 4 5 and lived happily Seth the Son of Adam a vertuous Man so that it never hapned that any of them in any sort did injury to any Man To these we owe the science of Astronomy and all that which concerneth the Beauty and Order of the Heavens And to the end that their inventions might not wear out of the memories of Men nor perish before they were perfectly known insomuch as Adam had foretold them of the general destruction of all things after two sorts Two Pillers raised the one by the force of fire and the other by the violence and abundance of Waters they made two pillars the one of Brick and the other of Stone and ingraved K in each of them such things as they had invented to the end if that of Brick should be abolished by the overflowings and rage of Waters that other of Stone might remain and declare unto Men that which was imprinted thereon for their instructions That of Brick was destroyed by the deluge but the other of Stone is to be seen in the Countrey of Syna even to this present day CHAP. III. Of the Posterity of Adam till the Deluge from which God preserved Noah and his Family in the Ark. IN this manner Mankind liv'd for seven Generations Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. honouring one God the Lord L of all things and having always a respect of virtue But afterwards in process of time Gen. 5. 6. they degenerated from the ancient institutions of their fore-fathers Those whom Josephus nameth in this place Angels Moses calleth the Sons of God neither observing humane Laws nor continuing their accustomed service of God and they that before industroâ—â—sly exiercised themselves in virtue afterward with twice as zealous study followed wickedness and grew at last to that height of impiety that they provoked Gods heavy displeasure against them For the Angels of God marrying with the Daughters of Seth's descendants Gen. 6. 2. produc'd a race of insolent People contemners of all good by reason of the trust they had in their Forces Heb. 11. 7. and for their heinous actions not unlike the Giants which the Greeks mention in their Fables 2. Pet. 2. 7. 11. 13. But Noah perplexed and extremely M displeased with such their misdemeanors exhorted them to change their lives and amend their misdeeds and seeing them moved by no admonitions but wholly possessed with the pleasure which they took in vices he fearing lest they should kill him and his Family left them to their loosness and with his Wife Children and all his Family departed into another Countrey Noah departeth into another Countrey 13. Then God who lov'd him for his justice became so provoked with the malice and corruption of the rest of Mankind that he resolved to destroy all Creatures whatsoever in the World and to produce another new race innocent and repurged from all impiety He abridged also the time of their life so that they lived not any more so long as they were wont but onely attained the term of sixscore years and he covered the Land with Waters by which means all of them N were destroyed 14. Noahs Ark. onely Noah escaped by the means and way which God taught him He built an Ark of four stages in length three hundred Cubits in breadth fifty and in height thirty into this he entred with his Mother his Wife and his Children and their Wives 15. having provided himself of all things requisite both for their sustenance and use he closed also therein all sorts of living creatures Gen. 7. 2 7 8. two and two male and female for the conservation of every kind and of some of them seven couples The sides of this Ark were strong Noahs genealogy and the cover also so that no water could pierce the same and whatsoever storm might come The deluge it was able to resist it Thus was Noah by lineal descent the tenth from Adam saved with all his houshold for he was the Son of Lemech whose Father was Methusala the Son of Enos the Son of Jared the Son of Malaleel O who with divers other Brethren were begotten by Cainan who was the Son of Enos who was the Son of Seth who was the Son of Adam This destruction hapned in the A six hundredth year of Noah's age and the second month The year of the World 1656. before Christ's Nativity 1308. which was called Dius by the Macedonians and by the Hebrews Marsomane for so have the Egyptians distinguisht the year but Moses sets down Nisan for the first month in his Chronicles which is Xanthicus among the Macedonians for that in this month he brought the Israelites out of the thraldom of the Egyptians Nisan or Zanthicus is April to us He made this Law therefore that all things which appertain to divine service should take their beginning and reckoning from this month but in respect of civil matters as
time desirous that Isaac's Blessing should light upon her Son Jacob contrary to her Husbands intent and mind Jacob by his Mothers counsel stealeth his Brothers Blessing commanded him to go and kill a Kid and prepare a repast for his Father Jacob being obsequious and obedient to his Mother in all things obey'd her command and as soon as the meat was ready he wrapped his L arms and covered his hands with the Goats Skins The year of the World 2186. before Christs Nativity 1778. hoping by the Hairiness thereof to make his Father believe that he was Esau For being his Twin Brother he resembled him in all things except in this thing onely wherefore fearing lest he should be surprized in his subtilty before his Father Isaac had finished his prayers and instead of his Blessings he might be loaden with his Curses in this dress he presented the Meat unto his Father But Isaac perceiving some difference in his voyce from that of his Brother called his Son who stretching out his hands unto him covered with the Kids Skins Thou art saith he more like unto Jacob in thy voyce but by thy Hairiness thou seemest unto me to be Esau Thus suspecting no deceit and having already eaten he addressed himself to pray and called upon God saying O Eternal Lord maker of all Creatures thou hast promised great M Blessings unto my Father and hast given me many present felicities and hast vowed that thou wouldest be merciful unto my posterity and plentifully pour upon them more and more ample benefits let this thy favor I beseech thee be continued towards me neither dispise thou me by reason of this my present weakness which is the cause that I have more need of thy help Save and keep this my Son by thy clemency preserve him from all evil give him a happy life and possession of all blessings and benefits which are in thy power to bestow upon him make him terrible to his Enemies and gracious to his Friends Thus prayed he unto God thinking he had Blessed Esau Scarce had he finished his Prayers but Esau returned from Hunting which though Isaac perceived he was no ways moved with displeasure v. 30 ad 42. but held himself silent Esau besought him that he might obtain as much as he N had vouchsafed his Brother Esau required a Blessing but Isaac denyed him in that he had bestowed all his Blessings upon Jacob for which cause Esau lamented and wept His Father moved by his tears foretold him that he should excel in Hunting in force of Body in Arms and other such exercises whereby he should purchase immortal Glory both to himself and his posterity yet notwithstanding that he should be his Brothers Vassal Hedio Ruffinus chap. 27. Now for that Jacob feared lest his Brother should seek to be revenged of him for robbing him of his Fathers Blessing he was by his Mothers means delivered from this danger For she persuaded her Husband to send Jacob to take a Wife near Allied unto her out of Mesopotamia Esau at that time Married another Wife called Bassemath the Daughter of Ishmael knowing that Isaac was not well pleased with his former alliance with the Canaanites v. 42. ad fineâ— for which O cause to give him contentment he married Bassemath whom afterward he loved more entirely than any of his other Wives A CHAP. XVIII How Jacob fled into Mesopotamia for fear of his Brother Gen. 28. BUt Jacob being sent into Mesopotamia by his Mother in order to Marry the Daughter of Laban her Brother Gen. 28. whereunto Isaac consented through the counsel of his Wife passed through the Countrey of Canaan And for that there was a declared and open enmity betwixt Isaac's People and the inhabitants of Canaan he would not take up his lodging amongst them but lay abroad in the fields resting his head upon stones which he had heaped together in stead of a Pillow 10 11 ad 19. and during the time of his rest this vision B was presented unto him Jacob's Ladder It seemed unto him that he saw a Ladder that reached from the earth up unto Heaven on the steps whereof there descended certain persons more excellent to look on than the ordinary part of humane kind and on the top thereof God manifestly appeared and calling him by his name spake unto him after this manner Jacob God speaketh unto Jacob. Thou art the Son of a good Father and descended from a Grandfather renowned and famous for his great vertue thou must not therefore be daunted or dismayed by thy present travels but rather be encourag'd with the hope of a future happiness For by mine assistance thou shalt be blessed and endowed with many benefits For I am he that brought Abraham hither from the Countrey of Mesopotamia at such time as he was driven away from thence I have also made thy Father happy and C will be no less gracious and favourable unto thy self Be courageous therefore and prosecute thy journey under mine assistance The Marriage which thou pursuest shall have a happy issue and thou shalt have a good children who in number shall grow infinite and shall likewise leave after them a plentiful and famous posterity and I will give them the soveraignty over this Countrey both to them and their successors and they shall people and replenish both the Earth and the Sea as far as the Sun enlightneth the World 20. Jacob voweth a sacrifice unto God and calleth the place Bethel which is the house of God Let not therefore any danger dismay thee nor travel discomfort thee for besides all this whatsoever thou shalt undertake I will not cease to assist thee in it These things did God foretel unto Jacob who greatly rejoycing at that which he had seen and that which had been declared to him anointed the Stones on which he had rested his head D whilst the promises of so many blessings were made to him and vowed to offer sacrifice to God on the same if he return'd happy and safe into his Countrey which as he returned he accordingly performed The year of the World 2186. before Christs Nativ ty 1778. offering unto God the tenth of all his goods And as for the place where the vision appeared unto him he called it by the name of Bethel which in the Hebrew tongue signifieth the house of God Continuing then his journey into Mesopotamia he travelled so long till at last he arrived at Charran and having met in the Suburbs of the City with certain shepherds and young Men accompanied with young Maidens Gen. 29. 1 2 ad 9. sitting near to a certain Fountain he drew near unto them desiring them to give him drink Jacob arriveth at Charran in Mesopotamia among his Mothers Kindred and falling in discourse with them he asked them Whether they knew one that was called Laban and whether he were yet alive All of them
answered E that they knew him well and that he was a Man of that reputation that his name could not be concealed that his Daughter was accustomed to feed her flock with them and that they wondered that she was not yet arrived of whom said they thou mayest perfectly understand all that thou desirest to know Whilest thus they pass'd the time in talk the Maiden drew near accompanied with her shepherds whom one of the company informed that Jacob was inquisitive after her Father who rejoycing after the manner of young Maidens asked him what he was and whence he came and what affair had brought him thither wishing she had the means to supply whatsoever his necessities required v. 9 ad 12. Jacob being mov'd not so much by the courtesie and Kindred as by her beauty Jacob's talk with Rachel Rachels excellent Beauty which was very extraordinary said unto her If thou art the Daughter of Laban F there is a greater and more ancient conjunction betwixt us than either thine or my birth for Abraham Aran and Nachor were Thares Sons Bathuel thy Grand father was Nachors Son Isaac my Father was the Son of Abraham and Sara the Daughter of Aran. There is yet a nearer and dearer relation between us for Rebecca my Mother is Sister unto Laban thy Father born of one Father and Mother so that we are Cousins and therefore am I come at this present to salute you and renew that ancient love which our alliance requireth at our hands But she remembring all those things which her Father was wont to report and discourse of Rebecca and knowing that her Parents were desirous to hear some news from her wept for joy and embracing the young Man said unto him Thou bringest a most desired and great pleasure to my Father and all his G family who never forgets thy Mother but oftentimes makes mention of her and would esteem it a great felicity to hear tidings from her Then she desired him to follow her to her Father lest any longer he might be deprived of so desired a pleasure This said she brought him to Laban where being acknowledged by his Uncle he both H by that means lived securely amongst his Friends v. 12. ad 23. Jacob 's talk with Laban and brought him great contentment by his unexpected access unto them Some dayes after Laban told him that he took so much contentment in his presence The year of the World 103. before Christs Nativity 1771 that he could not express it in words and desired him to manifest the cause that had induced him to leave his Father and Mother in their old age when they had most need of him and he promised him all assistance and favour in whatsoever case he had to make use of him Whereupon Jacob discoursed unto him the whole matter that Isaac had two Sons Esau and himself that his Brother because by his Mothers contrivance he had defrauded him of his Fathers Blessing sought to kill him as the ravisher of that principality from him that was destinated unto him by God and the intercepter of his Fathers other intentions that this with his mothers command I was the cause why he came thither as to his nearest relation by the Mothers side adding that next after God he hoped to find his greatest assistance and help in him his Uncle Whereupon Laban promising to him whatsoever humanity he could desire as well in respect of their common ancestors as for the love he bare unto his Mother towards whom although she were absent he would express his good affection in shewing himself well affected towards him that was there present he told him then that he would give him the charge of his flock and make him Master over all his shepherds and that when he thought good to return back again to his Friends he should depart with such rewards and honours as might well beseem a Friend so nearly allyed unto him v. 23 ad 26. Jacob for recomâ—ence requireth Rachel for his Wife Which when Jacob understood he answered That he would willingly K endure any sort of labour in Labans service and that his devoir towards him would be a delight to himself but that in lieu of his labours he required Rachel to Wife who deserved his esteem for her vertue and particularly for her goodness wherewith she had brought him thither declaring that the love which he bare unto her was the cause why he used those speeches The year of the World 2103. before the Nativity of Christ 1771. Laban being greatly delighted and contented with this his discourse granted him his consent to the Marriage telling him that he could not have wisht for a better Son-in-Law but with condition that he should sojourn a while with him for that he was no ways minded to send his Daughter among the Canaanites and that it repented him that by reason of Marriage his Sister had been carried into so far a Countrey Jacob accepted the condition and covenanted to abide L with him for seven years saying that he was glad to have found an occasion of making appear to him by his care and good service that he was not unworthy of his alliance When the time which was covenanted between them was expired 22. Jacob instead of Rachel lyeth with Leah and Jacob expected the contented possession of his love as was promised him Laban prepared a nuptial feast and when night drew on and Jacob least suspected he brought his Daughter Leah less fair in face 23. and elder in years and lay'd her in his Bed Jacob deceived by the darkness and for that he had drunk liberally lay with her but the day after discovering the deceit he complained hereof to Laban who asked him pardon alledging that he had not brought in Leah with intent to deceive him 27 ad 35 but that the custom of the Countrey which forbids to Marry the younger before the elder compelled him thereunto yet that the M same should no ways hinder but that he should Marry Rachel too on condition to serve him yet seven years more Herewith Jacob was pacified and suffered himself to be perswaded out of the love which he bear to Rachel and when the other seven years were expired he Married Rachel Now these Sisters had two Maid Servants which their Father had given them Lea's Maid was called Zelpha and Rachel's Bala they were no Slaves but only Subjects Leah liv'd in great grief to see that Jacob bare greater affection to her Sister than to her self bethinking her oftentimes that if she could have Children she should be better esteemed and loved by her husband for which cause she continually besought Almighty God that it would please him to give her issue whereupon it happened that God gave her a Son and Jacobs affection was turned towards N her for which cause she called him Ruben that is to say the Son of Vision because she had
obtained him through the mercy of God After him she bare three other Children Simeon whose name signifieth that God had heard her Levi The explication and names of Jacob's Sons which is as much as to say the firmness of society and last of all Juda which signifieth thanksgiving At that time Rachel fearing lest she should lose part of her Husbands love by reason of the fruitfulness of her Sister caused her Maid Bala to lye with him Gen. 30. by whom he had a Son called Dan that is to say the judgement of God Rachel brings in Jacob to Baâ—a and after him Nepthalim which signifieth ingenious by reason that she used subtilty to requite her Sisters fruitfulness Leah hereupon us'd the same artifice and gave her Maid Zelpha to Jacob Leah bringeth in Zelpha of whom he begat Gad which signifieth come O by chance Gen. 30. 14 15 16. and after him Asar that is to say benificent because that Leah was more honoured for the multitude of her Progeny A Ruben The year of the World 2206. before Christs Nativity 1758. the eldest of all the Sons of Lea brought his Mother apples of Mandrake which when Rachel perceived she desired her to give her part thereof for that she longed to taste of the same whereunto Lea would yield no consent replying That she ought to content her self in that she had the advantage in Jacobs love Rachel to mollifie the heart of her sister told her That she would be content that Jacob should lye with her that night which Jacob accordingly did and Lea once more had children namely Isachar Gen. 30. 8. which signifieth Come by hire and Zabulon which importeth a pledge of good will besides whom 24. she had a daughter also called Dinah Not long after this Rachel lay with Jacob and brought forth a son who was called Joseph which signifieth an addition During all this time which was for the space of twenty years Jacob B had the government of his Father-in-laws flocks Gen. 31. 1 2 3. but afterwards he thought good accompanied with his Wives to return to his own Inheritance Jacob with his Wives children and flocks flee without his Fathers privacy which when his Father-in-law perceived he would in no sort give his consent thereunto for which cause he covertly determined to forsake him To this intent he made trial of his Wives to see how they were affected towards his flight 19. Rachel beareth away with her her Fathers houshold gods who heartned him by their consents insomuch that Rachel having stolen the images of those gods which were honored in that Countrey fled away with her Sister and the two Maids and all their Children with the rest of all their substance Jacob also drove away the moity of the Cattel without the knowledge of Laban 23. Rachel also bare with her the images of the gods although she had been taught by Jacob to contemn them and yield them no honour but C she supposed The year of the World 2200. before Christs Nativity 1758. that if Laban pursued and overtook them by restoring them she might obtain his pardon But Laban a day after the departure of Jacob and his Wives had notice therof and being therewith much troubled he pursued after them intending to assault them by force and on the seventh day he overtook them upon a certain hill where they sat down to take their rest 24. Laban pursueth Jacob but God delivereth him from his purpose in that it was evening but God appearing to him in a dream commanded him to use no violence neither towards his Son-in-law nor his Daughters but rather to listen to a peaceable accord betwixt himself and Jacob assuring him that if in contempt of Jacobs weakness he should lift up his arm to assail him that he himself would join with Jacob to protect him The next day 26. Labans accusation against Jacob. Laban having received this command from God called Jacob unto him D to the end to confer together and to tell him what the night before he had beheld in his dream As soon as Jacob was come to him he began to accuse him alledging that he had received him into his house at such time as he came unto him being poor and naked of all means and had given him great abundance of Goods I have saith he given thee my Daughters in marriage hoping by that means to increase thy love towards me more and more but thou hast had neither respect of thy Mother neither of the acquaintance or parentage betwixt thee and me neither of the Wives which thou hast married nor of thy Children whose Grand-Father I am but hast dealt with me after an injurious and hostile manner driving away that which appertained unto me seducing my Daughters to abandon him that begat them and carrying away my houshold E gods with them which both I and my Predecessours have served and honoured and what none but men of War would have done unto their Enemies that hast thou done unto me yea thou that art my kinsman my Sisters Son the Husband of my Daughters my pledge and my familiar Servant hast dealt thus with me On the other side Jacob alledged for himself 31. Jacobs answer to Labans objection that God had not only made impression in his heart but that all men also are possest with the love of their Countrey and that after so long space of time it seemed good unto him to visit his native soil And concerning that crime saith he which thou objectest against me touching the prey if any other but thy self be judge thou shalt be convicted to have dealt unjustly with me for whereas thou oughtest to have rewarded me for the maintenance and increase I have made of thy F goods hast thou not done us great wrong to envie us a little part and portion thereof And for thy Daughters know this that they have not followed me as persons conveighed away by subtilty but under that love and duty which married Wives bare unto their Husbands 36. Jacobs accusation against Laban they do not therefore only follow me but they come after their Children These things alledged he for himself Further he replied and accused Laban because that being his Mothers Brother and having given him his Daughters to Wife he had notwithstanding bitterly vext him by his severe commandments to which he had been obedient during the space of twenty years that the toyles he had endured in order to his Marriage with Rachel had been grievous unto him notwithstanding that it was but a trifle in respect of that which he suffered afterwards which had he born him an G envious affection or hostile hatred Labans subtil dealing with Jacob. he could very well have escaped In truth Laban had dealt most unjustly with Jacob. For seeing that God assisted him in all that he enterprized Laban promised to give him all
34. 1 2 3 4. he desir'd his Father that he might have her to Wife who listening thereunto went himself unto Jacob praying him to give Dina his Daughter in lawful Marriage to his Son Sichem The year of the World 2206 before Christ's Nativity 1758. Jacob not daring to refuse him by reason of his authority and quality and on the other side not thinking it to be either a thing lawful or convenient to match his Daughter with a stranger desired some time for deliberation Hereupon the King departed hoping that Jacob would listen to the Marriage But Jacob having discover'd unto his Sons the ravishment of their sister and the request of Emmor desir'd them to consider amongst themselves what was fit to be done in the matter C Ver. 21. 25. whereupon some held their peace not knowing what to say but Simeon and Levi the Brothers of the same womb with their sister complotted together this practice Simeon and Levi kill the Sichemites It was now a Festival of the Sichemites who intended nothing but pleasure and banquetting and the two Brethren taking this opportunity by night fell upon their first guards and killed them as they slept and from thence entering into the City they killed all the Males and with them the King and his Son but to the Women they offered no violence Gen. 35. 1 2. Which being executed without the knowledge of their Father Jacob digging up Laban's gods goeth and sacrificeth at Bethel they brought their sister back again Jacob was very much astonished at this accident so strangely executed and was greatly displeas'd with his Children but God appeared unto him and comforted him and commanded him to purifie his Tents and offer those Sacrifices which D he had vowed when first he went into Mesopotamia Ver. 16 17 18. and the Vision appeared unto him As he cleansed those which followed him Rachel dieth in Childbed he found the gods of Lâ—ban which Rachel had stoln Hedio Ruffinus cap. 28. and hid in Sichem in the earth under an oak without his knowledge Afterwards departing from thence he sacrificed in Bethel where he had seen the Vision at such time as he first of all took his journey into Mesopotamia and as he travelled in the Land of Ephrata Rachel died in Childbed and was buried there and she alone enjoyed not the honour of being buried in Hebron with those of her Parentage After he had made great lamentation he nam'd the Child which she bare at that time Benjamin by reason of the Pangs which kill'd his Mother These are all the Children of Jacob twelve Males and one Daughter of whom eight were born by his lawful Wives six of E Lea and two of Rachel and of their Maids four two of each of them whose names I have heretofore mention'd From thence went Jacob to Hebron a City of Canaan where his Father Isaac dwelt but he lost him also shortly after CHAP. XIX Isaac dieth and is buried in Hebron Gen. 35. 29. JAcob had not the comfort to find Rebecca his Mother still living The year of the World 2230 before Christ's Nativity 1734. and Isaac died in a little time after the arrival of his Son and was buried with his Wife by his Son Esau and Jacob in Hebron among their Fathers This Isaac was a man beloved of God and F guided by his special providence after the decease of Abraham and after he had passed his life in all virtue for the space of 185 years Isaac dieth 185 years old Gen. 35. he died O The Second Book of the HISTORY of the JEWS H Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the Second Book 1. How Esau and Jacob Isaac's Sons divided their habitations and how Idumaea fell to Esau's lot and Canaan to Jacobs 2. How Joseph the youngest of Jacob's Sons by reason of his Dreams which foretold his future Felicity incurred his Brothers envy 3. How Joseph was sold by his Brethren into Egypt and grew in great authority in that I Countrey and how at length he had his Brothers under his power 4. How Jacob with all his Progeny came unto his Son 5. Of the affliction of the Hebrews in Egypt for the space of 400 years 6. How under the conduct of Moses they forsook Egypt 7. How the Red Sea divided itself and gave the Hebrews a passage at such time as they fled out of Egypt CHAP. I. How Esau and Jacob Isaac's Sons divided their inheritance and how Idumaea fell to Esau's lot and Canaan to Jacobs K AFter Isaac's death The year of the World 2238 before Christ's Nativity 1734. his two Sons divided their inheritance among themselves and neither of them remain'd in that same place which they had chosen before to make their abode but Esau leaving the City of Hebron to his Brother went and dwelt in Seir and was Lord of the Countrey of Idumaea which he named by his name calling it Edom for the occasion which followeth Isaac's Sons departed their habitations He being very young returned one day sore wearied with Travel and hungry from Hunting Gen. 36. 6 7. and finding his Brother dressing for himself a mess of Lentil-pottage which were very red in colour and further encreased his appetite Gen. 25. 53. 27. 36. he desir'd them at his hands that he might eat them But he taking the opportunity and occasion of his Brother Esau's hunger constrained him to forsake him Birth-right Esau the first begotten felleth his birth-right and to sell him the same on condition he L should give him them to eat Esau then press'd with Hunger resigned unto him his Birth-right Esau called Edom. and confirm'd it with a solemn Oath Hereupon his equals in age in way of mockery called him Edom by reason of his red meat for Edom in Hebrew signifieth red His Countrey likewise was hence called Edom. Gen. 36. per tot Esau's Sons and Posterity But the Greeks to the end they might make the name more agreeable called it Idumaea He became the Father of five Children of whom he had three by his Wife Alibama whose names were Jaus Jolam and Chore of the other two Aliphates was the Son of Ada and Raguel of Mosametha these Children had Esau Aliphates had five legitimate Children Theman Omar Opher Jotham Cenez for Amelech was illegitimate born by one of his Concubines whose name was Thesma These dwelt in the part of Idumaea which is called Gobolitis M and in that part which by reason of Amelech is called Amalechitis For Idumaea being in times past a Land of great extent continued the name of Idumaea thorow the whole Countrey and the particular Provinces of the same kept the names of those that first inhabited them CHAP. II. Joseph the youngest of Jacob's Children is envied by his Brothers Gen. 37. BUt Jacob attained to that felicity The year of the World
2206 before Christ's Nativity 1658. that scarcely any other in all that Countrey was so happy for he surpassed all the Inhabitants of it in riches and by reason of the virtues of his Children he was both envied and regarded For they were accomplished N in all perfections endowed with stout hearts apt to execute any work of the hand and to endure all sorts of Travel finally all of them were furnished with knowledge and providence Gen. 37. 1 2. But God had such care of him and so graciously procured and furthered his good fortunes Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. that that which seemed unto him to be grievous and contrary he brought to a prosperous issue for him to the encrease of his riches and caused that both he and his Children were the first motive to our Ancestors to forsake the Land of Egypt on that occasion which here ensueth Ver. 3 4. Jacob having begotten Joseph of Rachel lov'd him entirely both in respect of the beauty of his body 〈…〉 and of the ornaments and virtues of his mind as also his prudence wherein he exceeded all his other Brothers This cordial affection of his Father moved envy and hatred amongst his Brothers towards him together with the O Dreams which he had seen and told both to his Father and Brethren which presag'd unto him a singular felicity For it is the common custom of Men to be jealous of their prosperity with whom they are familiar A Now the visions which Joseph saw in his dream were these Being sent by his Father in the company of his Brothers à v. 5. ad 9. Josephs Dream to reap Corn in the time of Harvest he saw a vision far different from those which commonly happen in sleep which as soon as he awoke he told unto his Brethren to the end they might interpret it He told them that he thought in his dream the night past that his Sheaf of Corn stood upright in a place where he had fixed it and that theirs run towards his to bow down and reverence the same Which vision of his seemed to foretel him his ample fortune and how he should obtain the Lordship over all of them But they concealed all these things from Joseph making shew that they could in no sort interpret the dream but being by themselves apart they breathed forth contrary imprecations wishing that nothing of this prediction B might take effect but persevered more and more in envy and hatred towards him But God opposing his power against their envy sent Joseph a second and more strange vision The year of the World 2206. before Christs Nativity 1758. for he dreamed that the Sun the Moon and eleven of the Stars descended down to the earth and humbled themselves before him Which vision he revealed to his Father in the presence of his Brethren without suspition of any hatred in them towards him and desir'd him to interpret unto him the meaning thereof v. 9. 10 11. Jacob greatly rejoyced at this dream Josephs Dream of the Sun Moon and Stars by reason he conceived in his mind the interpretation thereof and in comparing and alluding his conjectures not rashly but with prudence he rejoyced at those great matters which were signified by that dream The interpretation of Josephs Dream which foretold that his Son Joseph should be very fortunate and happy and that the time should come in which his C Father Mother and Brethren should honor him and do him homage For he compared the Moon which ripeneth and encreaseth all things that grow to his Mother and the Sun which giveth form and force to his Father And as touching his Brothers who were eleven in number he compared them to the Eleven Stars which receive their force both from the Sun and the Moon Neither did Jacob without judgment and consideration so interpret this vision But Josephs Brothers were highly grieved at this presage v. 11. conceiving as enviously and hatefully thereof as if this felicity had been portended to a stranger and not to their Brother with whom they might equally partake his good fortunes being as well Allied in felicity unto him as in consanguinity Whereupon they resolved on his death and destruction Josepâ—'s Brothers complot his death and having complotted these counsels D amongst themselves and gathered in their Harvest they retired themselves with their flock Sichem a fit place to graze in v. 13 14. towards Sichem which was a part of that Countrey very fit to feed their Cattel where they kept their flocks without giving any notice of thier departure to their Father But he perceiving that no Man came from the herd that might tell him any tidings being sorrowful and careful of his Sons sent Joseph to the flocks to understand how they did and how their affairs prospered CHAP. III. How Joseph was sold into Egypt by his Brethren and grew in credit in that Countrey and how his Brethren at length were under his subjection E BUt so soon as they saw their Brother coming towards them v. 18. they rejoyced not as at the arrival of one of their neer Friends Joseph cometh unto his Brothers who resolve to murther him sent unto them by their Father but as if their Enemy had met them and was by the will of God delivered into their hands They therefore mutually agreed to put him to death and not to let slip the present opportunity Reuben dissuadeth his Brothers death But Reuben the eldest amongst them seeing their disposition and conspiracy to kill him endeavoured to dissuade them setting before their eyes how heinous and wicked the enterprise was and what hatred they might incur thereby For said he if before God and before Men it be a wicked and detestable thing v. 21. to lay hands on and to murther a stranger how much more heinous a Crime will it be held for us F to be convicted to be the murtherers of our Brother whose death will heap sorrow on our Fathers head and draw our Mother into great grief and desolation through the loss of her Son robbed and bereft from her against the ordinary course of nature He prayed therefore them to be advised in these things and to consider in their minds what might happen if this Child who was fair vertuous and young should be put to death desiring them to give over this unnatural resolution and to fear God who was both the judge and witness of their deliberation intended against their Brother adding that if they would desist from this heinous act God would take pleasure in their repentance and reconcilement but if they proceeded in their enterprise he assured them that he would punish them like fratricides The year of the World 2217. before Christs Nativity 1747. since nothing is hidden from his providence G whether it be committed in the Desart or attempted in the City For wheresoever Men are there is
at liberty saying That they found the Money among the Wheat at such time as they emptied their Sacks which now in discharge of their truth they had brought back again But he denying that he ever missed their Money and they being delivered from this fear began to be more secure so that Simeon was suddenly G set at liberty to converse among his Brethren Now when Joseph was returned from the service of the King they offer him presents and he enquiring of them how their Father did they answered that he was in health Then perceiving that Benjamin was yet alive whom he saw among them he ask'd whether that were their younger Brother H and hearing that it was vers 29. he only uttered these words Joseph unknown to his Brethren saluteth both them and Benjamin That God's providence was over all things and departed from them being unwilling that any of them should see him shed Tears which he could not any longer contain Inviting them afterwards unto a Banquet he commanded them to sit down in order according as they were wont to do when they were with their Father and whereas he kindly entertained all of them he honoured Benjamin with a double share After the Banquet when they were all laid down to rest he commanded the steward to measure out the Wheat which every one should bear away with him and to hide the price thereof again in their Sacks but in Benjamins Sack he commanded him to put his Cup which he ordinarily made use of This he did Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. with intent to make triall of their loves towards Benjamin and whether I they would stick unto him Gen. 44. 2 3 being accused of Theft or leave him behind as a malefactor and return unto their Father Joseph tempteth Benjamins Brothers whether they would assist him as if the matter no wayes touched them Which being done according as he had commanded early in the morning all Jacobs Sons arose and taking with them Simeon departed onwards of their journey rejoycing as well at his restitution as Benjamins return whom they both promised and protested to bring back again to their Father Josephs brethren are staid in their journey when behold suddenly a Troop of Horsemen beset them round amongst whom was that Servant who had hid the Cup in the Sack They being troubled by this sudden incursion and asking why they set upon them whom they so lately had both invited and entertained so honourably v. 5 12. The Egyptians answered and exclaimed against them Jacobs Sons are accused of Theft calling them wicked Men who forgetting the late benefits received K and Joseph's gentleness and humanity were so wicked as to return him injuries for his courtesies threatning them that they should be punished for their Theft and telling them that although for a time they had deceived the Officer of the Table yet could they not deceive God and again asking them whether they were well in their wits in supposing that for this offence they should not be incontinently punished with these and the like speeches the Servant insulted over them But they who nothing at all suspected this subtilty accused him saying That they wondred at the Mans unreasonableness in so rashly accusing them of Theft who had not kept back the price of their Corn which they found in their Sacks whereas none but themselves knew of that Money so far were they from purposely offering any wrong Yet in that they thought the searching L would better satisfie them than denial they bid them search their Sacks offering themselves each of them to suffer punishment if any one of them were found guilty of the Theft This search which they offered the Egyptians accepted yet agreed the punishment should be inflicted onely on him who had done the injury Afterwards beginning to search and orderly looking into each Mans Sack at length they came to Benjamin not that they were ignorant the Cup was hid in his Sack but that they might seem to discharge their duty more exactly Now all the rest being secure in themselves they were only careful of their Brother Benjamin and they hoped that he would not be found guilty of falshood for which cause they more freely upbraided their persecutors objecting unto them how through their importunity they had been hindred M a good part of their journey Now as they searched Benjamins Sack they found the Cup whereupon all the Brothers began to mourn and lament both bewailing their Brothers misfortune who was presently to suffer death for the Theft and their own mishap who having plighted their faith unto their Father for Benjamins safe return were compelled to falsifie the same through this accident And that which further increased their grief was that when as they most of all hoped to be free from dangers they were by fortunes envy thrust into so great calamity confessing themselves to be the authors both of their Fathers and this their Brothers misfortune in that they had never ceased to importune and compel their Father although he were unwilling and resisted to send the Child with them N Now the Horsemen having laid hands on Benjamin led him unto Joseph and his Brothers followed him ver 12. Joseph beholding his Brother in the others hands and the rest bemoaning him round about them Benjamin is attached for Theft Have you said he O most wicked Men either so contemned my humanity or Gods providence as that you durst attempt such a hainous injury against him who entertained you with hospitality and dismissed you with benefits To whom they answered that they were ready to suffer punishment for Benjamin calling again to their remembrance Joseph's injuries saying that he was happy who delivered by death from life was exempt from all calamities and that if he lived God inflicted that plague on them for his sake They said also that they were the plague and great misfortune of their Father because that to the former sorrow which he had endur'd O ever since the time of Josephs death they had also annexed this new misery neither did Reuben desist to reproach them in bitter manner with the wickedness which they had A committed But Joseph told them that he dismissed them all seeing that their innocence was proved to him and would be contented with the Lads punishment for said he neither is it reasonable that he should be delivered for the sake of those who have not offended nor they punished for him that hath done the Theft He commanded them therefore to depart and promised them safe conduct on their way Whilest all of them were grievously wounded with these words so that scarcely one of them could speak for sorrow Juda who had persuaded his Father to send Benjamin with them A ver 18. ad finem and who above the rest was a Man of confidence purposed to expose himself to all danger in that resolution to
deliver his Brother Judah's Oration unto Joseph for Benjamin whereupon he addressed himself to Joseph and spake thus My Lord said he we confess that we are all B ready to suffer punishment though we have not all of us committed the offence but onely the youngest and though we suppose his life to be almost desperate yet our onely hope rests in your goodness and clemency We beseech you therefore that you will have compassion of us and be pleased to take counsel not of your just indignation but your native goodness since 't is proper to great minds as yours is to surmount those passions to which onely vulgar Souls give way and are wont to submit Consider I pray you whether it stand with your dignity to kill those who present themselves to be punished and desire in no sort to live except it be by the benefit of your mercy Suffer not your self to be deprived of this honour after you have delivered us from Famine and liberally furnished us with Corn to carry to our Family labouring under the same calamity For 't is one and the same bounty to continue them in life who are afflicted C with Famine and not to take it from them who have merited death And you shall save those whom you have fed and that life which you would not suffer to fail by Famine restore and give again whereby your clemency will be more commendable whil'st you give both life and those things likewise whereby life is maintained Moreover I think that God himself hath given you this occasion to declare your virtue that it may appear that you set lighter by the injuries offered unto you than by your will to do good and that you are not only liberal to them who are poor and innocent but merciful to those that are guilty For although it be a glorious thing to yield succor in adversities yet is a Prince no less honoured by his clemency especially in a cause that concerneth his particular interest for if they that remit small offences are followed by deserved praise what is it to restrain a Man's anger in a capital Crime Doth it not D very near approach the Divine clemency And had I not good experience by Joseph's death how grievously my Father taketh the want of his Children I would not so earnestly intreat for his safety who is so dear to him or if I did it should be only to contribute to the praise of your clemency The year of the World 2237 before Christ's Nativity 1726. and were there not some to whom our death would bring both grief and discontent we were willing all of us to suffer punishment But now whereas we have not so much commiseration of our selves though as yet we are but young and have not much tasted the pleasures of life as of our disconsolate Parent who is oppress'd not only with Age but Grief we beseech you not for our own sakes but for his to grant us life though at this day we are under your justice for our offence Assuredly he is a good Man and hath omitted nothing to render us like himself worthy he is never to taste or be tryed by any such calamity who now through our absence is discruciated E with care and sorrow Now if he should receive tydings of our death and the cause thereof he will not endure any more to live the infamy of our deaths will shorten his days and make his death by this means more unhappy yea rather than hear the rumor of our shame he would desire to die beforehand All these things considered although you are justly moved by this offence remit the revenge unto our Father and rather let your pity towards him than our iniquity towards you prevail Grant this favor to his old age since if deprived of our presence he neither will nor can desire to live yea grant it to the very name of a Father wherewith you are honoured your self so God the Father of all men will bless you in that name and prosper your Family whom also you shall honour if in respect of that common name you take compassion of our Father in considering the sorrow that he shall endure if he be deprived of F his children It now lieth in your power to give us that which you may deprive us of by that power which God hath given you and in doing us this favour you shall imitate the Nature of God Power given to save and in this respect become like unto him For since it lieth in your power to do both the one and the other it were better you did good than evil and contenting your self with your power not remember then to urge your revenge but only think that your power was given you to keep and preserve men and that the more mercy you extend towards many the more honour you redouble on your own head Now it lieth in your power by forgiving our Brothers error to give us all life For neither can we be safe except he be saved neither may we return home unto our Father except he return but here must we suffer whatsoever our Brother suffereth Neither do we crave any other mercy at your hand if we be repulsed in this but that you will iâ—flicâ— G one and the same punishment on us in no other manner than 〈◊〉 if we had been partakers of the Felony for this were better for us than that we our selves through â—orrow should offer â—â—â—lence to our own Souls I will not alledge or urge his youth or judgment as yet unripe neither will I alledge that pardon is usually granted to such but here will I make an end That whether we H be condemned in that I have not sufficiently pleaded his cause or whether we be absolved we may wholly ascribe this grace to your favour and clemency to whose praise this likewise shall be added That not only you have saved us but also in pardoning us the punishment which we have justly deserved you have had more care of us than we our selves If therefore it be your pleasure to adjudge him to die let me suffer for him and send him back unto our Father or if it please you to retain him for your slave I am more fit than he to do all sorts of services as you may perceive and I am ready to suffer all that which may be inflicted on me When Juda had spoken thus he humbled himself at Joseph 's feet endevouring as much as in him lay to mollifie and appease his anger in like sort also all the other Brothers prostrated themselves offering themselves to die for Benjamin I But Joseph moved with pity Gen. 45. 1 2. ad 16. and unable any longer to personate a displeased Man sent away all those that were present Joseph maketh himself known to his Brethren and being alone with them discovered himself unto his Brothers and in this sort to them only he disclosed himself
and said I cannot but commend the piety and love which you bear unto your Brother which I find to be greater than I did expect gathering my conjectures from those things which in times past have hapned unto me For to this end have I done all this that I might make trial of your brotherly affection whereof since you have given me a signal proof I will not ascribe that which you have done unto me to your natures but rather wholly to the Will of God who hath at this present furnished you with all things which are profitable for you and I hope will hereafter give you greater things by his special grace Seeing therefore I understand my Fathers rather desired than hoped K health and find you to be such as I desired you should be towards your Brother I freely forget those injuries which in times past were done unto me rather making choice to give you thanks as the Ministers of God's Providence that against this time provided for our common good than remembring your forepast malice I therefore pray you that forgetting those things which are past The year of the World 2231 before Christ's Nativity 1726. you will be of good courage and rejoyce that it hath pleased God to produce a good event of an ill intent Let not the evil sentence which in times past you pronounced against me any ways trouble you since you perceive it wanted effect but rejoyce at these Works of God and go and tell your Father that which you have seen lest being consumed with immoderate care of you I my self be deprived of the chiefest fruit of my felicity before he come to my presence and be made partaker of the same Wherefore depart you and bringing with L you him your Wives and Children and all your Kindred come back unto me for it were inconvenient my dear Brethren that you should not be partakers of my felicity especially since this Famine is as yet to continue for the term of five years This said Joseph embraced his Brethren but they were wholly confounded with tears and sorrow and the greater was their repentance Ver. 16. in that they had sinned against so kind a Brother After all this there follow'd a Banquet The King rejoyceth to know that Joseph's brothers were arrived Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. al. 4. v. 26 27 28. And the King understanding that Joseph 's Brethren were arrived he as if some good fortune had befaln him very heartily rejoyced and gave them Chariots laden with Corn and Gold and Silver with other Presents to present their Father with who enriched with divers gifts some from their Brother to his Father and others to themselves but especially to Benjamin returned home into their Countrey M Now when Jacob understood by his Sons in what estate his Son Joseph was that he had not only escaped death which he had so long time bewailed but also that he lived in high prosperity Jacob rejoyceth to hear the promotions and honors of Joseph and ministred to the King of Egypt and had in a manner the whole Government of the Kingdom in his hands he easily believed all things that were told him and acknowledged the great Works of God and his Goodness shewed unto him although for a time it seemed to be intermitted And a little time after he prepar'd himself to go and visit his Son Joseph CHAP. IV. How Jacob with all his Family went into Egypt N WHen Jacob arrived near the Fountain of Covenant he offered in that place a Sacrifice unto God and fearing lest his Children should inhabit Egypt by reason of the fertility of the place The year of the World 2239 before Christ's Nativity 1725. and that his posterity by not returning back into the Land of Canaan should lose the possession of that which God had promised them and furthermore doubting lest that his Journey into Egypt being by him enterprized without consulting the Will of God should be prejudicial to his Children suspecting likewise lest he should die before he came to Joseph's presence he was wonderfully perplexed in mind Whil'st thus he ruminated and cast these things in his mind he was surprized with a heavy sleep during which time God appeared unto him and called him O twice by his name Jacob asking who it was that called him God answer'd Dost thou not know O Jacob that God who hath both protected thee and thy Ancestors and succoured you A in all your necessities The year of the World 2293. before Christ's Nativity 1725. who contrary to thy father's purpose made thee lord of his family and when as by thy self thou didst travel into Mesopotamia did not I bring it to pass that being matched in wedlock very happily thou returnedst into thy Countrey back again being blessed with many children and stored with much riches Was it not I also that have kept thy family in safety and when it seemed thou hadst lost Joseph I raised him to that high step of dignity wherein now he liveth Gen. 46. 1 ad 5. and made him the next in dignity to the King of Egypt And now also I am come unto thee God appeareth to Jacob about the Fountain of Covenant to this end that I may guide thee in thy journey and that I may foretel thee that thou shalt depart this life in the arms of Joseph and that thy posterity shall be mighty and famous for many Ages and shall possess that Land the Empire whereof I have promised them Encourag'd and made confident by this dream he more willingly hastned B towards Egypt with his sons and his family whose number amounted to Threescore and ten Ver. 6 7 ad 26. Their names in that they are somewhat hard I should not mention were it not to satisfie some Jacob with his Sons and Nephews depart into Egypt who contend that we are Egyptians and not Mesopotamians The sons of Jacob therefore are twelve in number of whom Joseph came thither long before them The rest are these with their sons Reuben had four sons Enoch Phales Essalon and Charmis Jacob's Progeny Simeon had six Jumilas Jamin Puthod Jachen Zoar and Zaar Levi also had three Gelsem Chaath and Marari Juda had likewise three Sala Phares and Zara with two sons of Phares Esron and Amyr Issachar had four Thulas Phrusas Job and Samaron Zabulon had three Sarad Elon and Janel These were the children which Jacob had by Leah who also led with her Dinah her daughter the number of whom C amounted to Thirty three But Rachel had two sons of which the elder was called Joseph who had likewise two Manasses and Ephraim Benjamin had ten Bolossus Baccaris Asabel Gela Naman Ises Aros Nomphthis Optatis and Sarod These fourteen added to those abovenamed make up the number of Forty seven And this was the legitimate issue of Jacob. But by Bala Rachel's handmaid he had Dan and Nepthalim this latter
Hebrews endured in Egypt for the space of 400 years THE Egyptians are a Nation addicted to pleasures and delicacy Exod. 1. impatient of labour The History of the Book of Exodus and affecting gain whence it came to pass that bearing hatred to the Hebrews and envying their happiness Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. they were very evilly disposed toward them For seeing the Race of the Israelites flourish and abound in Riches which they got by their labour M and industry Exod. 1. 1 2 c. they conceived an opinion that their advancement and increase would be the overthrow and decrease of the Egyptians so that at length they forgot the benefits which Joseph had done to them The envy of the Egyptians towards the Hebrews and after the Royalty was transported into another Family they committed divers outrages against the Israelites and complotted against them in what manner they might more grievously afflict them They enjoined them therefore to cut Nilus into divers Trenches Ver. 11. and to inviron their City with Walls and to build Fortifications and Banks The Hebrews insupportable servitude whereby the inundations of the River might be diverted They also employed our Nation in building their high and vain Pyramides compelling them to learn divers Arts and to accustom themselves to endure Labour and in such afflictions liv'd the Israelites for the space of 400 years the Egyptians studying nothing else but to N vex them with continual labor The Prophecy as touching Moses and our Countreymen endeavoring always to surmount all these difficulties Living in this estate there grew afterwards another occasion which instigated them the more to seek the ruine and desolation of our Nation For one of the Sacred Secretaries to whose predictions those kind of People do very much attribute foretold the King Ver. 16. 22. that about that time there should be One born among the Israelites that should grievously afflict the estate of the Egyptians Pharaoh commanded that all the Male-children of the Israelites should be put to death and wonderously enhance the glory of the Israelites and surpass all other in virtue and purchase to himself immortal glory if so be he should attain to mans estate Wherewith the King being greatly terrified published an Edict by the advice of this Secretary that whatsoever Male-child should be born among the Israelites it should be cast into the River to be drowned he O commanded likewise the Egyptian Midwives diligently to observe the time when the Hebrew Women Travailed with Child because he trusted not to the Midwives of their own A Nation The year of the World 2373. before Christ's Nativity 1591. He Enacted also a Law with a penalty that if any should be so bold to conceal their Children both they and all their Family should be put to death Great was their calamity not only because they were deprived of their Children and the Parents themselves made the Ministers to murther their own Children but also because they foresaw hereby the certain and infallible extirpation of their whole Nation by reason that when the Children were slain Exod. 2. 1 2 3. the Parents themselves not long after were assured to die thus lamented they in themselves the extreme misfortune whereinto they were fallen But no man whatsoever though he complot never so many stratagems can resist the Will of God Amarames Moses Father prayeth God to be merciful to the Hebrews For both the Child of whom the Sacred Secretary had fore-prophesied was secretly brought up undiscovered by the Kings Spies and proved by the B events of his life that he was no false Prophet Amram an Hebrew born and a Noble man amongst his Nation fearing both the publick peril lest the whole Nation should be brought to nothing by the want of issue and his own private misfortune whose Wife at home was big with Child and ready to lie down was troubled in his mind and uncertain what to do For which cause he made his recourse unto God beseeching him that at the length he would have mercy on that People by whom onely he had been perpetually honoured and that it would please him to bring to an end the present affliction which threatned the whole Nation with utter ruine and destruction God being moved to mercy by his most humble Prayer appeared to him in a Dream and comforted him commanding him to be of good courage telling him That he had in memory the C piety of his Ancestors and that he would reward them for it even as in times past he had been gracious to their Forefathers For it was he that had increased their posterity and multiplied them to so mighty a Nation that by his favor Abraham departing alone out of Mesopotamia into Canaan besides other felicities had issue by his Wife that was formerly barren and left ample possessions to his Successors to Ismael Arabia to Chetura's Children Troglottite and to Isaac Canaan Nor could they ever forget without impiety and ingratitude the attempts also which were happily atchieved in War by his assistance that Jacobs Name is renowned amongst Foreign Nations both in respect of the felicity wherein he lived and that which by hereditary Right he left to his posterity who taking their original from 70 Men that accompanied their Father into Egypt D were now increased to the number of 600000 and assuring him that now also he would take care of them all in general and of him in particular That this Child for fear of whose Nativity the Egyptians have condemned all the Hebrews Children to death should be born to him that he should not be discovered by the constituted Spies and having escaped beyond all expectation should he be brought up and in due time deliver the Hebrews from the thraldom of the Egyptians and obtain an eternal memory for this his famous action not only amongst his own Nation but also amongst strangers that he should also have a brother that should deserve both in himself and in his posterity to inherit the Priesthood for ever Exod. 2. 1 2 3 ad 10. After these things were declared in a Vision unto Amram he awak'd and told it to his wife Jochabel and notwithstanding the prediction E of this Dream Moses birth their suspition and fear the rather increased more and more for they were not only pensive in respect of their Child but also by reason that the future great good fortune that was promised them seemed incredible But soon after the woman being brought to Bed gave credit to the Oracle having had so easie and gentle a Labor that she beguiled the Overseers and Spies in that she felt none of those Throes which commonly afflict such as are in Labour so that she nourished the Infant three months secretly in her house without being in any sort discovered But afterwards Amram fearing to be surprized and doubting lest he should incur the Kings
displeasure if the matter were discover'd whereby both he and the Child should be made away and Gods promises should be frustrate he chose rather wholly to commit the safety of his son to F his Providence supposing that if the Boy were hidden which notwithstanding would be hard to effect yet it would be troublesom unto him to live in continual peril both of his own and his sons safety moreover he thought that God would provide some means of preservation to the intent that nothing of that which he had foretold might be proved false Having taken this resolution they prepared and made a Cradle of Sedge after the manner of a Couch so great that it was sufficient to lay the Child in at ease and having pitched it on every side lest the water should pierce the same they put the Child in to it and suffering him to float along the stream committed him to the mercy of God Ver. 3. Whil'st in this manner it was born down by the stream Mariam the sister of the young Infant Moses cast into the floud by her Mothers command went along the Bank on the other side of G the River observing whither at length the Basket would be carried and where it should arrive At that time God manifestly declared That nothing is atchieved by mans wisdom but that all things are brought to pass by his admirable Providence and that they who for their profit The year of the World 2376. before Christ's Nativity 1588. and particular security seek the ruine and destruction of others H with never so much subtilty care and diligence yet are oftentimes deceiv'd in their expectations And that they that submit their wills unto Gods Will are secured from all wrongs by such means as were never thought on as may most manifestly be perceived by this Child Thermuthis Ver. 5. the King's daughter walking alone the River side espied this Basket carried away by the course of the stream Thermuthis Pharaohs daughter causeth Moses to be taken out of the River and presently commanded certain Swimmers to fetch it to Land and bring it before her who executing her Command she opened the Basket and beheld the Child who in that he was fair and well featured did greatly delight her Thus God so loved and favoured Moses that he caused him both to be nourished and brought up by them who for fear lest he should be born had decreed to I destroy all the rest of the Race of the Hebrews Thermuthis therefore commanded them to fetch her a Nurse who might give the Child suck who refusing the same as all other Nurses did that were sent for to suckle him Mariam as if by good fortune and not of set purpose she had light into their company began to speak thus unto Thermuthis In vain said she O Princess doest thou strive to give this Babe suck by any but an Hebrew Nurse for he will not accept it for if thou call unto thee a Nurse of the same Nation and agreeable with his nature doubtless he will take the nipple This Speech of hers being both heard and plausibly accepted the Princess commanded her to bring her an Hebrew woman that gave suck which she diligently performing returned and brought her Mother with her whom none of the assistants knew and who presenting her breast unto the Child K he willingly took the dug Moses whence he received his name so that upon the Princess command the suckling of the Child was wholly committed unto her By reason of this accident and for that he was cast into the River he was called Moses for the Egyptians call water Mo and saved Yses so this name composed of these two words was imposed on this Child who afterwards without exceptions became the wisest Man among the Hebrews according as God had foretold Moses the 7th after Abraham He was the seventh after Abraham for he was Amrams son and Amram son unto Cathis and he to Levi and Levi to Jacob who was the son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham He had a judgment riper than his age for even amongst his childish delights he shewed himself more discreet than all his equals and whatsoever he did it gave testimony that at such time as he should attain to Mans estate he would be L capable of great things When he was but 3 years old God adorned and endowed him with an admirable beauty He was so fair and amiable that there was not any how austere and inhumane soever but in beholding him would be astonished Yea divers who met him as he was carried through the streets turned themselves about to behold him and intermitted their other affairs Ver. 10. onely to look upon him for the admirable beauty of this Infant Moses the adopted son of Thermuthis daughter unto Pharaoh did ravish all those that saw him Whence it came to pass that Thermuthis in that she had no other Issue adopted him for her Heir and carrying him to the King her Father she presented him to him saying That she was careful of a Successor by reason God had not vouchsafed him to have any Issue for saith she I have brought up this Infant no less excellent in wit than divine in beauty having received him miraculously from the M River Nilus and I have decreed to adopt him my Child and to establish him as Successor to thee in thy Kingdom This said she delivered the Infant into her Fathers arms who after he had embraced and hugged him at his breast to give his daughter the more content he put his Diadem upon the Childs head but Moses pulling it from his head after a childish manner cast it on the ground and spurned it with his feet which act of his was supposed ominous to the Realm and dangerous for the King Whereupon the sacred Secretary who had foretold that his Nativity would be the destruction of the Egyptians willed them to kill the Child crying out with a loud voyce to the King after this manner O King this Child by whose death God promiseth us security hath already confirmed the presage insulting over thy Kingdom and spurning thy Diadem Take from the Egyptians N that fear which they have conceived of him by his death and from the Hebrews that hope which they build on his courage and life Ver. 10. But Thermuthis hastily conveyed him thence and the King was not overforward to lay hands on him Moses delivered from death by reason that God disposed all things in this manner in that he had a care of Moses preservation He was therefore very carefully brought up and by reason of him the Hebrews in general were replenished with good hope but by the Egyptians his education both was suspected and grudged at yet by reason that if the Lad should have been slain there was not any one either akin or adopted that could pretend to the succession of the Crown of
sequestred them for the space of seven days after which it was lawful for them to converse with Men. The like decreed he of those that had assisted at the burial of a dead Man whom he permitted not to converse with the other till seven days were expired It was also decreed by Law that he that had a flux of seed beyond seven days should sacrifice two Wethers one of which should be sacrific'd and the other given to the Priests Also that he that hath unnatural pollution should wash himself with cold water Goâ—orrhaâ— The like must Husbands do after they have had use of their Wives Of Lepers He likewise order'd that the Leprous should be separated for ever not permitting them to frequent any Mans company but esteeming them as little differing from the dead And if any one by his prayers made unto God was delivered D from this disease and his skin reduced to its native colour such an one presented himself before God with divers oblations and sacrifices Against them that object against Moses and his Followers that they fled out of Egypt for Leprosie of which we will speak hereafter Whence it appears how ridiculous a fable it is that Moses fled out of Egypt because he was a Leper and that all the Hebrews whom he conducted with him and brought into the Land of Canaan was troubled with that disease For if that were true Moses would not have made these ordinances to his own shame and if any other had proposed them he would have opposed himself against them especially since among divers other Nations there are Lepers who are held in great honour and who are so far from disdainand contempt that they have been made Generals of Armies and elected for Governors of Common-wealths having liberty to enter the Temples and to be present at the sacrifices E What therefore hindred Moses if he had been infected with this malady to make such Laws and ordain such Statutes among those People who honoured and obeyed him whereby such as were therewith infected might be preferred By which it is manifest that those things that are objected against him are rather of malice than probability But Moses being clean from such sickness and conversing amongst his Countrey-men which were untainted made these ordinances for them that were sick having regard to the honour of God But of these things let each Man censure as best liketh him He forbad women to enter into the Temple soon after their deliverance Hedio Ruffinus cap. 14. or to assist at the sacrifice until forty days were expired if they had been brought a-bed of a Son The Laws of Women that are brought a-bed but if it were a Daughter he appointed that the number of the dayes should be F doubled and that when they should enter they should present their offerings to God whereof one part was consecrated and the other belonged to the Priests And if any one suspected that his Wife had committed adultery Numb 5. v. 15. ad finem he brought an Assar of Barly Meal and cast an handful thereof upon the Altar The Laws of adultery and jealousie and the rest was reserved for the maintenance of the Priests and then the Priest placing the Woman in the porch which is right over against the Tabernacle and taking the cover from her head writeth the name of God upon a Parchment and maketh her swear that she hath not violated her faith to her Husband and wish if she had transgressed the bounds of chastity that her right thigh might be put out of joynt her belly burst and death follow thereupon but if her Husband had been inconsiderately drawn into that suspition through excess of love then it pleased G God at the end of ten months to give her a Son And after such an oath ministred unto her the Priest dippeth in water the Parchment on which the name of God was written and then taking some of the earth of the Temple according as he findeth it and having mingled the same giveth it to the Woman to drink and if she had been H unjustly accused she became with child and brought forth happily but if she had falsified her faith to her husband and forsworn her self before God then dyed she a shameful death in the manner above mentioned You see what Laws Moses provided for the sacrifices and purifications Of adultery and incest He furthermore made these Laws which ensue He generally forebad Adultery judging it to be a great felicity if Men demeaned themselves honestly in Marriage and that both in politick Estates and private Families Exod. 22. it was a thing most profitable Deut. 17. that children should be born in Lawful Matrimony Levit. 18. 20 21 29. He condemn'd also as a horrid crime for a Man to have the use of his Mother or his Fathers Wife his Aunt or his Sister or his Sons Wife and detesteth it as a most I heinous and hideous offence He prohibited also the use of a Woman when she hath her monthly sickness also the lying with Beasts or boys by reason that such affections are abominable and against the transgressors of these Laws he established Capital punishments He willed also that the Priests should be more chaste than the rest for he not onely forbad them that which he prohibited others but moreover he enjoyned them not to marry Women that had been cast off or Slaves or Prisoners or Victualers and Taverners forsaken by their Husbands for any occasion whatsoever And touching the High-Priest Lev. 21. 7 8 9 he permitted him not to match with a Widow although it were Lawful for the other Priests and granted him onely liberty to take a Virgin to his Wife What Wife the High-Priest might marry with and to keep her The said High-Priest is also forbidden to approach a dead Man K although the other Priests are not forbidden to approach their Brothers Fathers and Mothers and children deceased Requiring that they should be sincere and true in all their words and actions He likewise ordained that the Priest which had any bodily defect should be maintained by the other Priests but in the mean time that he should not approach the Altar nor enter into the Temple willing that not onely they should be pure in that which concerned the divine service but also that they should study and endeavour to be so in all the actions of their life to the end that no Man might reproach them For which cause when they wore the habit of Priests besides their general obligation to be always pure and sober they were forbidden to drink Wine and they were to offer up entire L sacrifices and no ways maimed These Statutes did Moses make in the Desart and caus'd to be observ'd during his life Levit. 25. v. 2. ad 8. Afterwards he made others also which both the People might practise in that place The
promising them that although by injurious speeches he had undeservedly been offended by them yet he would obtain of God for them store of flesh not for one day onely but also for many But they being incredulous and some one amongst them demanding Ver. 4. How he could make provision for so many thousand men God saith he and I The Israelites obtain Quails in the Desart although we be evil spoken of by you yet will we never desist to be careful for you and that shall you shortly perceive Scarce had he spoken this but that all the Camp was filled with Quails Psal 78. 24. of which every one took as many as he would Yet God not long after punished the insolency and mutiny of the Hebrews The graves of Concupiscence by the death of no small number from G whence at this day the place hath its name which for that cause was imposed thereon and it is called Cabrothaba that is to say The Sepulchres of Concupiscence CHAP. XIII H Of the Spies that were sent to search the Land of Canaan and how returning to the Israelites they discourag'd them with fear BUt after Moses had led them out of that place and brought them into a Countrey not so apt for habitation Hedio Ruffinus cap. 17. not far from the borders of the Canaanites call'd Pharan he called the People to a Council Num. 13. 1. ad 24. and standing up in the midst of them spake after this manner God saith he having decreed to grant you two great benefits Liberty and the Possession I of a happy Countrey hath made you already enjoy the one and will shortly make you masters of the other For we are upon the borders of Canaan from whence both the Cities and Kings are so far from driving us that the whole Nation being united together is not of power to expel us Let us therefore address our selves very confidently to attempt the matter for neither without fight Moses sendeth Spies to search the Land of Canaan will they resign the Title of their Countrey unto us nor without great conflicts can we obtain the Palm of Victory Let us therefore send out certain Spies to discover the Forces of the Countrey and how great their power is but above all things let us be at unity one with another and let us honour God who assisteth us in all dangers and fighteth for us After Moses had spoken this the People applauding his counsels chose Twelve out of the Noblest Families of the Tribes to go and view the Countrey out of every K Tribe one who beginning from the parts extending towards Egypt visited all the Countrey of the Canaanites until they came to the City of Amath and the Mountain of Libanus And having consider'd both the Land and the nature of the Inhabitants they return'd home again having spent 40 days in this journey Moreover they brought with them such fruits as the Countrey yielded and by the beauty thereof and by the abundance of riches which they reported to be in that Countrey they encourag'd the hearts of the People to fight valiantly but on the other side they dismay'd them with the difficulty of the Conquest saying that there were certain great Rivers unpassable both for their wideness and depth that there were therein also unaccessible Mountains and Cities fortifi'd both with Walls and Bulwarks Moreover they told them L that in Hebron they saw a race of Gyants and that they had seen nothing so terrible since their departure out of Egypt Thus the fear of these Messengers brought the rest of the multitude into a dangerous consternation and perplexity C. 13. 24. who conjecturing by their discourse The Spies drive fear into the Israelites that it was impossible to conquer the Land dissolving the Assembly returned each to their Houses C. 14. 1 2. lamenting with their Wives and Children saying That God had only in words promis'd many things The murmur of the people against Moses but that they saw no effects of them Moreover they blam'd Moses and revil'd both him and his brother Aaron the High-Priest And thus spent they all the Night in disquiet venting their discontents both against the one and the other But on the morrow they re-assembled their Council tumultuously with intention to stone Moses and his brother and then return back again to M Egypt from whence they came But two of the discoverers namely Josua the son of Nave of the Tribe of Ephraim and Caleb of the Tribe of Juda seeing this disorder and fearing the consequences of it Ver. 6. they went into the midst of them and appeas'd the multitude Josua and Caleb appease the people Praying them to be of good hope and not to accuse Almighty God of unfaithfulness by yielding certain slight belief to some who spreading vain rumors of the affairs of Cannan had terrified the credulous multitude but rather follow them who both would be the Actors and Conductors also of them in the Conquest of the Countrey and that neither the greatness of the Mountains nor the depth of the Rivers could hinder them that like valiant men were prepared to attempt especially God being their Guide and ready to fight for them in that Battel March forward therefore said they and laying aside all fear and being N assured of the divine succors follow us with a bold courage whithersoever we lead you Hedio Ruffinus cap. 18. With these words labour'd they to appease the tumultuous multitude In the mean while Moses and Aaron falling prostrate on their faces besought God not for their own safety but that it would please him to restore the despairing multitude to a better mind who were troubled with so many present necessities and vain apprehensions of the future Whereupon suddenly a Cloud appear'd on the Tabernacle and gave testimony that God was there present Which when Moses perceiv'd being full of confidence he press'd into the midst of the multitude and told them That God was provoked to take punishment of the outrage which they had committed against him yet not so severely us the iniquity of their sins deserved but in that discipline which fathers are accustomed to use for O the amendment of their children For at such time as he stood before God in the Tabernacle and besought him with tears for the safety of the multitude God had recounted unto him how A many benefits and favours they had received from him and how ungrateful they shewed themselves towards him and that at the present being transported with passion and fear they had given more credit to the reports of the Spies than to his promises Notwithstanding all which he would not utterly consume them all nor exterminate their whole Race whom he had honoured above all the Nations of the earth but for punishment of their sin Ver. 23. 33. they should not possess the Land of Canaan The
be of the Race of the Priests she shall be burnt alive If any man have two Wives Deut. 21. 15 16 17. the one of which he holdeth in greater honour and amity The first begotten should hold his right either for Love or by reason of her Beauty than the other if the Son of her that is more loved demand to have the prerogative of the elder which is a double portion of his Fathers patrimony for so much import our Ordinances and challenge the same by reason that his Father more dearly loveth his Mother than the other let it not be granted him For it is against justice that the eldest should be deprived O of that which appertaineth unto him by birthright because his Mothers condition is inferior to that of the other on account of his Fathers affection A If a man shall have corrupted a Maiden betrothed to another man and she hath consented The year of the World 2493 before Christ's Nativity 1471. they shall both be punisht with death for they are both equally guilty of sin the man because he hath persuaded the Maiden to prefer her lust before an honest marriage and the maid for suffering herself to be overcome and abandoning her body to leudness either for lust or lucre sake But if meeting her he alone enforce her and she have none near to succour her let him die alone He that shall deflowre the Virgin that is unmarried The punishment of adultery or rather ravishing shall take her to Wife but if he condescend not to the Father to take her in wedlock he shall pay fifty Sicles for amends of the injury Deut. 22. 23 24. If any man pretend to separate himself from his Wife for certain causes v. 25. such as ordinarily B happen amongst married couples The deflowring of a virgin let him confirm it in writing That he will never more entertain her again and then she may marry again unto another and refuse the former Husband and if it happen that she be ill us'd by the second or that he being dead the first would take her again in marriage it is not lawful for the Wife to return to him Let the Brother of him that is deceased without issue Deut. 25. 5 ad 9. take to Wife her whom his deceased Brother had married The Wife of the dead Brother married and let the Son born by this second wedlock bear his name and he brought up as the successor of his inheritance For it is advantageous to the commonwealth that Families should not come to ruine and that the goods remain to those of the same kindred And it will be a comfort to the Widow to be joyned C in marriage with one so near akin to her first Husband But if the Brother will not take her to Wife she shall repair to the Senate and make this protestation that the Brother of her deceased Husband will not marry her although she had desired to remain in that line and bring forth children to it and that by him only the memory of her deceased husband is dishonoured And when the Senate shall have examined the cause why he declineth this marriage his excuse shall be allowed of how great or slight soever it be and then shall the Widow unloose his shooe and spit in his face and tell him that he hath deservedly suffered these things in that he hath injured the memory of his dead Brother And thus shall he depart out of the Court being defamed for his whole life-time and the Woman may marry whomsoever she D please If any man take a Virgin prisoner Marriage with a Bond-woman or such an one as hath been already married and be desirous to take her to his Wife it is not lawful for him to touch or approach her till she is shaven Deut. 21. 11 12 13. and having put on her mourning apparel hath bewailed her Parents or Friends slain in Battel but after she hath in this sort asswaged her sorrow she may afterwards addict herself to mirth and marriage For it is a matter both honest and just The lamentatation and mourning of thirty dayes that he that entertaineth her to have issue by her should condescend unto her will in all wherein he may gratifie her and that he should not only addict himself to the pursuit of his pleasure but when the thirty dayes of mourning shall be expired for that time is sufficient for the Wife to bewail her Friends then E may she hearken after marriage And if after he hath had his pleasure with her it happen that he mislike her and will not accept her for his Wife he can no more make her his slave but she may go whithersoever she pleaseth for that she beareth with her her liberty All those Children that shall make no reckoning of their Fathers and Mothers Deut. 21. 18 ad 21. nor shew them that honour which belongeth to them but contemn them and behave themselves insolently towards them Disobedience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Parents whom Nature hath made their judges shall begin by remonstrating to them that they were matched together in Matrimony not for their pleasures sake or that by uniting their possessions they might become the richer but to the end they might beget Children who might nourish them in their F age and minister unto them in their necessities that they had received them at God's hands with great thanksgiving and infinite joy and brought them up with care and diligence sparing nothing that conduc'd to their sustenance or instruction But since some pardon is to be allow'd to the follies of youth let it suffice my Son that hitherto you have forgotten your duty recollect your self and grow wise remembring that God is grievously offended against those who disobey or disdain their Parents because he is the Father of all mankind and takes himself to be concern'd in that dishonour which is done unto those that bear that name when they receive not such duty from their Childrens hands as he commandeth and that the Law likewise inflicteth an inevitable punishment against such which I should be very sorry if thou G shouldest be so unhappy as to incur If by these remonstrances the child amend it is fit to pardon him the faults committed by him rather out of ignorance than malice for in so doing the Lawgiver shall be accounted wise and the Parents shall be held happy when they see that their Son or Daughter is exempt from the punishment H which the Laws appoint But if such speeches and instructions of the Father are set light by the Son let the Laws be irreconcileable enemies against such continual outrages and let him be drag'd out of the City in the sight and presence of all the people and there let him be stoned to death and after the offender hath lain a whole day in the sight of the people let him be buried by
by another so as he dye thereof let both of them both that which was dead and that which struck the other to death be sold and the price thereof parted equally betwixt both the owners They that dig a Pit or Cistern Deut. 21 33 34 35. must be careful that they inclose and fence it with Planks or Bars A Pit not to hinder any man from drawing water but lest any man by misfortune fall into the same And if any man's Beast fall into the same unfenced Pit the owner C of the Pit shall pay to the owner of the Beast the price thereof Also a Wall shall be made round the roofs of houses Deut. 24. to the end no body may fall from thence Let him that receiveth any thing in trust keep it carefully as a thing sacred and let neither man nor woman attempt to alien that which is committed to his custody although thereby he might gain much Gold and although there were no man that could convince him thereof For since the conscience knoweth the same every one ought to endeavor to deal uprightly and supposing himself a sufficient witness against himself let him do those things which are laudable in the sight of men but especially that which is pleasing to God from whose sight no wrongful dealing is concealed If notwithstanding he to whom this trust is committed shall chance without any fraud D on his part to lose the thing that is so left in trust let him present himself before seven Judges In the same place and there take an oath that nothing is lost by his will or consent and that he hath not converted any part thereof to his own use whereupon let him be dismissed without any further inquiry But if he have made use of the least part of that which hath been committed to his charge and trust and that he happen to lose it Levit. 19. 13. he shall be condemned to restore all that was committed to his keeping As it hath been ordained in matters of trust Hire the like is decreed touching Hire due unto the Labourer Deut. 24. 18 19. let each man take heed lest he defraud a Poor Man of his Hire knowing that God gave him his Hands instead of Lands and other possessions Children are not to be punished for their parents offences For which cause the payment of Hire ought not to be deferred but satisfied the same day by E reason that God permitteth not that the Labourer should lose the fruit of his travel The Children shall not be punished for the misdeeds of their Parents for if they be virtuous and are begotten by lewd Fathers they rather deserve that men should have compassion of them than hate them neither are the offences of the Children to be imputed to the Parents by reason that youth oftentimes engageth it self in those follies Eunuchs which it never learned by examples and for which it endureth not to be reproved Deut. 23. 1. Voluntary Eunuchs are to be detested and their company to be fled because they have deprived themselves of the means which God hath given to men for the encrease of mankind Such people therefore are to be driven far from us and esteemed wholly inexcusable as having kill'd their children before they be born F For it is a matter very manifest that their spirits being effeminate their bodies also are degenerate Each thing also that is monstrous to behold is to be driven away neither is it lawful to Geld either Men or Beasts Let this be the disposition of those Laws wherewith you shall be Policied and Governed in time of Peace to the end God may be favourable unto you and I beseech him to give you grace to use them in good order and without alteration And since it cannot otherwise be but that humane affairs must sometimes fall into troubles and dangers sometimes beyond desire and expectation and sometimes of set purpose I will briefly give you some advice touching that point to the intent that being fore-instructed of that which you ought to do you may prevent and not fall into any danger and calamity G I wish that when you have conquered the Countrey which God hath design'd for you by his assistance and your labour you may possess the same in security and peace and that Strangers may not levy Armies to overthrow you nor any civil Mutiny be raised amongst you which may cause what hath been well order'd and decreed H by your Ancestors to come to nought when you shall abandon the Laws which God hath given you Live therefore and persist to conform your selves to those Laws which both God hath approved for good and hath also given you But if perhaps you or your successors hereafter The Laws of War shall be oblig'd to undertake a War I wish it may happen without the Confines of your Countrey but if the matter must needs be tried by the Sword Deut. 20. 10. you shall send certain Heralds to your declared Enemies Heralds to be sent For before you enter battel it shall be requisite first of all to parley with them and to declare unto them that you have a great Army and Horses and Weapons and besides all these that you have Gods favour and assistance and you shall desire them that you may not be enforced to War against them nor to make booty of their Goods and to carry them I away captive If they condescend to any reasonable conditions then entertain Peace but if they contemn this proposal you shall lead forth your Army against them having God for your General and Soveraign Conductor and for his Lieutenant him whom you your selves shall chuse surpassing all the rest in Valor For when there are divers Commanders it falleth out that that which ought readily to be executed is hindered and commonly the issue is unfortunate Let your Army generally consist of men that are strong in body and hardy in courage and remove from your Army him that is fearful lest such men hapning to fly when they ought to fight give your Enemies the advantage Let them also be free from War who having built a new house have not enjoyed the same for a years space as also he that hath planted a Vineyard and K hath not gathered the fruit thereof and besides these he that hath wedded a Wife and hath not as yet brought her home to his house lest through the desire of these things and of reserving themselves to their dear forsaken pleasures they fight but faintly and coldly But when you have brought your Army into the field Deut 20. 20. take heed you commit no outrage Fruitful trees are not to be cut down and when you shall assault any Cities if you fortune to need Wood to make Engines of see you cut not down Fruit Trees but spare them remembring that they are planted for the good of men and that if they
and strike him on the face according as the Law had ordained which done Boos espoused Ruth by whom about a year after he had a Son which Naomi brought up and called his name Obed in hope he would assist in her old age E for Obed in the Hebrew tongue signifies assistance v. 13. Obed begat Jesse Boos begetteth Obed Davids grand father upon Ruth and Jesse begat David who was King and who left the Realm to his successors for one and twenty Generations I was obliged to relate these things touching Ruth because I would declare how God by his Soveragin power 1 Sam. 2. 12. ad 17. raises whom he pleases from obscurity to the highest dignity as he did David whose original I have shewed you The affairs of the Hebrews were at this time in very poor estate Ophni and Phinees the wicked Sons of Eli the High-Priest and they entred into a new War against the Philistines upon this occasion The High Priest Eli had two Sons Ophni and Phinees They against all right and law offering outrages to men and committing impieties against God suffered no sin to escape them Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1◠all 12. for they were not contented to receive what belonged to them but they took what did not And as women F came to the Tabernacle for devotion they abused them ravishing some against their wills and corrupting others by presents and thus they exercised a manifest and licentious tyranny their Father was much displeased with them for these crimes as well as the people And God having declared to Eli and the Prophet Samuel who then was very young what vengeance should fall upon Eli's Children he mourned over them as if they had been already dead But I will first speak something concerning this Prophet Samuel and afterwards of the Children of Eli and what calamity fell upon all the Hebrew Nation Elcana was a Levite of mean condition living in Ramath a part of Ephraim 1 Sam. 1. v. 10 12 13. he had married two Wives the one called Anna the other Phenenna by Phenenna he had children Anna. the Wife of Elcana requireth a Son at Gods hand yet he loved Anna very intirely although she was barren G One day when Elcana with his Wives were at Silo where the Tabernacle of God was as we have before declared to the intent to offer Sacrifice in that place during the festival he distributed the portion of his meat to his Wives and Children Anna beholding the Children of his other Wife sitting neer their Mother began to weep and H lament with her self The year of the World 2818. before Christ's Nativity 1468. because she was without issue and could not be eased with all consolation which her Husband gave her She went into the Tabernacle to beseech God that it would please him to make her a Mother and made a vow that if he gave her a Son he should be dedicated to the service of God And for that she employed much time in making her prayers the High Priest Eli who sate before the Tabernacle commanded her to depart from thence supposing that she had drunk too much Wine but after she told him that she drank nothing but Water and that being oppressed with grief she was come to the Tabernacle to beseech God that it would please him to grant her Children he exhorted her to be of good courage and assured her that God had heard her prayers whereupon she returned to her Husband full of good hope and I took her repast with joy v. 20. ad finem They returned to their own house she began to be big with child Hannah bare Samuel to Elkanah her Husband and at last she brought forth a Son whom she called Samuel that is to say requested of God Afterwards they returned to offer Sacrifice and give thanks to God for the birth of the child which God had given them and to bring their tenths Hannah remembring the vow she had made delivered the child into the hands of Eli and consecrated him to God to be his Prophsie For which cause they suffered his Hair to grow and he drank nothing but Water and he was brought up in the Temple Elkanah had by Hannah other Sons also and three Daughters 1 Sam. 3. v. 3. ad 10. As soon as Samuel had attained to the age of twelve years he began to prophecy For on a certain night whilest he slept God called him by his name and he supposing that it was the High Priest that K called him came unto him but Eli told him that he had not called him The same thing was done three times and then Eli easily judging what it was said to him Samuel I neither called thee now nor before but it is God that calleth thee answer him therefore and say Here I am ready to obey He heard the voice of God once more and he answered behold me O Lord what wouldst thou have me to do I am ready to obey Then God answered saying Go and tell the Israelites that so great a calamity shall fall upon them that no tongue can express it The Sons of Eli shall die in one day and the Priest hood shall be removed from his Family to that of Eleazar For Eli hath loved his Children more than my service and hath drawn my curse upon them Samuel fearing to overwhelm the old man with sorrow C. v. 11. ad 21. would not disclose L this oracle to him God foresheweth Samuel of the death of Eli and his Sons but Eli constrained him to tell it and it made him the more assured of the imiminent death of his Sons And because all the things which Samuel prophesied came to pass his reputation increased daily more and more At that time the Philistines leading out their Army against the Israelites incamped near the City of Amphec Hedio Ruffinus chap. 16. and for that the Hebrews were negligent to oppose them 1. Sam. 4. v. 1. 〈◊〉 4. they advanced further into the Countrey So at length in a fight with their Enemies the Philistines got the upper hand and slew 4000 Hebrews The Philistines kill four-thousand of the Israelites and pursued those that fled even to their own Tents The fear of the Hebrews after this overthrow was so great that they sent to the Council of the Elders and the High Priest praying them to bring the Ark of God with them to the end that having it present with them they might give M battel and overcome their Enemies But they considered not that he that had pronounced the sentence of their calamity against them C. 4. v. 4. was greater than the Ark which deserved not to be reverenced but for him The Hebrews bring the Ark into the battel The Ark was brought and the Sons of Eli attended it whom their Father expresly commanded that if it fell out that the Ark was
favourable to you it behoveth you not only to be touched with a desire of recovering your liberty but also to endeavor to recover the same in effect Hedio Ruffin cap. 2. Beware therefore lest through the corruption of your own manners you make your selves unworthy thereof and let each one of you endeavor to follow justice and expelling all sin out of your minds The punishment of the Israelites 1 Sam. 7. 3 ad 6. convert your selves in all purity to God and persevere constantly in his service For in doing these things you shall shortly obtain all felicity and especially a new liberty and an assured victory against your Enemies which neither by valor or by the strength of your bodies or by the multitude of your Armies Samuels oration to the people you were able to obtain for God hath not proposed Rewards for these things but for virtue and justice and trust me he will not deceive your I expectation Samuels exhortation to the people as touching their repentance nor fail in the execution of his promises When he had spoken after this manner all the People testified their consent by acclamations shewing the pleasure they conceived by this discourse and promising to do that which should be well-pleasing to God Whereupon Samuel assembled them the second time in the City of Maspha which word signifieth conspicuous there they erected an Altar and sacrificed unto God and after they had fasted for a days space they made publick Prayers to God The Philistines being advertis'd of this Assembly came suddenly with a great Army and many Forces intending to surprize the Hebrews who neither expected nor were prepared for them This sudden approach of theirs much dismayed the Hebrews so that running to Samuel they told him that their hearts failed them through fear The prayers supplications and fasts of the Israelites in Maspha and their minds were troubled K with the remembrance of their former losses for which cause they ought to hold themselves in quiet for fear lest the Enemy should employ his power against them Thou hast led us hither to pray sacrifice and offer up our vows to God and behold the Philistines are encamped near us v. 8. 9 and ready to surprize us naked and disarmed we have no other hope therefore of security What things in warfare are to be opposed against the-Enemy but what proceedeth from thee and unless God moved by thy prayers give us means to escape their hands Samuel in way of answer wished them to be of good cheer assuring them that God would give them some testimony of his assistance whereupon sacrificing a sucking Lamb in the name of the People he pray'd God that it would please him to stretch forth his right hand for them in the Battel against the Philistines Samuel comforted the people v. 10. and that he would not permit them to fall this second L time into the Enemies hands To these prayers of his God gave ear and accepted their humble hearts and dutiful observance v. 11 12 c. being well-pleas'd with their offering and promising them victory Samuels sacrifice and prayer Before the Sacrifice was wholly consumed with the flame and the Ceremonies performed the Enemies ranged their Battels in the Israelites sight supposing the day already theirs The sacrifice devoured by celestial flame a token of Gods assistance in that they had surprized the Jews unprepared for fight as being assembled in that place to no such end But the matter fell out contrary to what they expected and had they been foretold the same they would have scarcely believed it For first by an effect of Gods Omnipotence the Earth trembled under their feet so that they could scarce stand v. 10 and some were suddenly swallowed up by the Earthquake A horrible earth-quake among the Enemies and a great Thunder was accompanied with such scorching Lightnings that their eyes being M dazled and their hands blasted therewith they could not wield or manage their Weapons Samuels victory over the Enemy and so were constrained to repose all their hope and confidence in flight But Samuel seeing them thus dismayed suddenly set upon them and killing many of them ceased not to pursue the rest as far as a place called Corre where he erected a stone for a Trophee or mark both of his own Victory and the Enemies flight and called the same the strong Rock to testifie that the People had received from God all the strength which they had us'd in this famous Battel The Philistines after they had received this overthrow sallied not out any more against the Israelites but remembring their fear and the strange accidents that befel them they remained in peace offering no further invasion for the confidence which the Philistines had before that time conceived against the Hebrews was N removed into the hearts of the Hebrews ever after this Victory Samuel continu'd the War against them v. 14. and slew a great number of them and for ever abased their pride taking from them that Countrey which formerly by Conquest they had cut off from the inheritance of the Jews Samuel recovereth those Lands which the Israelites had lost which Countrey extendeth from the Frontier of Geth to the City of Accaron and the rest of the Canaanites at that time had peace with the Israelites O A CHAP. III. The year of the World 2871. before Christ's Nativity 1093. Samuel unable by reason of his old age any longer to Govern the State committeth it to the administration of his Sons NOw when the Prophet Samuel had reduced the people to a good form of Government Samuel prescribeth laws and disposeth the judgment-seat in several Cities he assigned them a City whither they might appeal and decide those differences that fell out amongst them and he travelled twice every year from City to City Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. to administer justice unto them and continued this policy for a long time But when he found himself overburdened with years and unapt to execute his ordinary B offices 1 Sam. 8. 1 2. surrendred the Government and Superintendency of the people to his Sons the elder of whom was called Joel Samuel committeth the Government and care of the common-wealth to his two Sons and the younger Abiha and he commanded that one of them should make his seat of justice in Bethel and the other reside at Bersheba dividing the people and attributing each part to its particular Judge Now it became manifest by experience that Children are not alwayes like their Fathers but sometimes of evil Parents there are good Children bred Joel and Abia. as contrariwise at this time of a good Father there were evil Sons For forsaking the instructions of their Father they followed a quite contrary course and perverted justice with corruptions and rewards and surfeited in delights and pleasures in contempt of
David said unto him I know that thou wilt further me in what thou mayst David desired Jonathan to sound his Father how he was affected towards him and refuse me in nothing Now to morrow is the first day of the month in which I was accustomed to dine at the Kings Table if thou thinkest good I will depart out of the City into the field where I will lie hid And if he ask for me thou shalt say I am gone into the Countrey of Bethlehem where my Tribe solemnizeth a feast and thou shalt certifie him also that thou hast given me leave And if he I say God speed him which is an ordinary wish that friends use to such as go a journey know that he hath no hidden rancour nor secret malice conceived against me but if he answer otherwise it shall be an assured testimony that he plotteth some mischief against me and this shalt thou ascertain me of as both becometh my present calamity and our mutual friendship which by vowed oath thou being my Lord hast plighted to me who am thy Servant And if thou think me unworthy of this favour and injurious towards thy Father without expecting the sentence of his justice kill me now at this present with thine own Sword These last words so pierced Jonathans heart that he promised him to accomplish his request and certifie him if he any wayes could perceive that his Father was ill affected towards him and to the intent he might the better be believed K he caused him to walk forth with him into the open air v. 16 17 8 19. and there sware to him that he would not omit any thing that might tend to his preservation For said he that God that seeth and governeth all things in this universe Jonathan confirmeth his friendship towards David with an oath and who before I speak knoweth my mind he I say shall bear witness of that accord which shall be between thee and me that I will not cease to sound my Father till I know his intention concerning thee and as soon as I understand the same I will not conceal it from thee but give thee notice thereof be it good or evil The same God knoweth how incessantly I beseech him to be assistant to thee as also he is at this present and that he never abandon thee but make thee Lord over thine Enemies yea though it were my Father or my self Only remember me in this point that after my death If I chance to die before thee L thou take care of my children and be as favorable towards them as I am affectionate to thee at this present v. 20. ad 24. After he had sworn this oath Jonathan giveth David certain signs whereby he should know whether his Father were displeased with him he dismissed David willing him to conceal himself in a certain place of the Plain where people ordinarily exercised themselves For that as soon as he understood his Fathers mind he would return thither with his Page and if saith he having shot three shafts at the mark I command my Page to fetch them back again to me know that thou art to expect no evil from my Father but if I do not think thou that my Father is incensed and ill affected towards thee yet howsoever it be I will do my best that nothing shall befall thee otherwise than we expect and wish Be thou therefore mindful of these things when thou shalt obtain thy happy dayes and be favorable to my children David being confirmed M by Jonathans promises retired to the apointed place The next day after which was the solemnity of the new-Moon after the King had purified himself according to the custom he sate down to take his repast and as his Son Jonathan was set on his right side and Abner the General of his Army on the left Saul perceived Davids place void and spake not a word supposing that he was absent from that company by reason he was not purified since he had the company of his Wife v. 25. ad 30. but seeing that on the second day of the new-Moon he was absent likewise Saul questioneth about Davids absence he asked his Son Jonathan why David was not present at the feast those two days He answered him that he was gone into his countrey Jonathan by his answer essayeth to know his Fathers mind according as it had been concluded between them where his own tribe celebrated a feast and that he had given him leave to assist at the same Further said he he invited N me to the feast and if it stand with your pleasure I will go thither for you know how entirely I love the man At this time Jonathan knew the displeasure his Father had conceived against David v. 30. and perceived most apparently how heinously he was affected Saul discovereth his heinous hate against David for Saul could not conceal his choler but began to rail upon his Son calling him Rebel and Enemy and companion and confederate with David and telling him that he shewed reverence neither to him nor to his Mother since he was so minded and that he could not believe v. 28 29. that as long as David lived their Royall estate could be safe he commanded him therefore to bring him before him Jonathan excusing David to his Father is almost slain with a javelin by him to the end that he might do justice upon him Jonathan replied What evil hath David committed for which he should be punished Hereupon Saul not only expressed his choler in words and reproaches O but took a javelin to kill his Son and had certainly slain him had he not been restrained by his friends Thus Jonathan clearly discovered the â—â—â—red of Saul A to David and how ardently he sought his ruine since his friendship to him had like to to have cost him his own life Then did Jonathan withdraw himself from the banquet without eating seeing with how little profit he had pleaded and seeing that David was adjudged to die he passed all the night without sleep and about day-break he departed out of the City to the appointed field making shew that he walked out to take his exercise v. 33 34. but indeed it was to discover to his friend the intent which his Father had Jonathan flyeth from the banquet according as it was covenanted between them After Jonathan had done that which he promised and sent back his Page into the City he came to David both to see and speak with him in private v. 35 36. David as soon as he saw him cast himself at his feet Jonathan and David meet in the field calling him the preserver of his life But Jonathan lifted him up from the earth B and both of them embracing one another and intermixing their mutual kisses for a long time Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. lamented their misfortune with tears and this
singing men who were appointed by the King went before it The King himself likewise played upon the Harp so that Michol Davids A Wife and Sauls Daughter The year of the World 2900 before Christ's Nativity 1004. seeing him mocked at him The Ark then being thus carried was placed in a Tabernacle erected by David who offered sacrifices of all sorts in such abundance that he feasted all the people both men women and children distributing unto every one a Cake and a portion of the sacrifice and after he had thus feasted the people David is mocked by his Wife Michol he dismissed them and retired unto his own house But Michol his Wife the Daughter of King Saul drawing neer unto him upon his return besought God for him v. 13 14 15 16. that it might please him in all other things she might express unto her husband all that which became her intire and unequal'd love towards him but in this she blamed him because that being so great and mighty a King he had dishhonoured himself in dancing and had thereby discovered that which became him not doing all this in company B of his Servants and handmaids To whom David answered that he was not ashamed of performing a thing so acceptable unto God as that was who prefered him before her Father and placed him above all others assuring her that he should oftentimes behave himself after that manner This Michol had no children by David but being married again to another to whom her Father had betrothed her after he took her from David she bear five Sons of whom we will speak hereafter 2 Sam. 7. 1 2 3 The King perceiving how by Gods assistance his affairs prospered daily more and more David decreeeth to build a Temple unto God thought that he could not without offence dwell in an house of Cedar and suffer the Ark to remain in a Tabernacle wherefore he designed to build a Temple unto God according as Moses had foretold and to this intent consulted with the Prophet Nathan who willed him to perform all that which he was minded to C accomplish assuring him that God would be assistant unto him which confirmed him in the resolutions he had taken But the same night God appeared unto Nathan commanding him to tell David v. 5. ad 17. that he accepted his will and commended his resolutions yet notwithstanding he permitted him not to proceed because he had embrewed his hands in the blood of many of his Enemies God certifieth David by Nathan that Solomon should build the Temple But after his decease which shall happen after he hath lived a long and prosperous life his Son Solomon to whom he shall leave the Kingdom after his death shall cause a Temple to be built promising him to assist the said Solomon even as the Father doth his Son and that he would continue the Kingdom in his Heirs v 18 ad finem And that if they shall happen at any time to offend him David giveth God thanks for the blessings which were promised him by Nathan he will only punish them with sickness and famine David hearing this was very joyful because D the Kingdom was assured to his heirs and for that his house should be renowned and presenting himself before the Ark he prostrated himself and gave God thanks for all the benefits he had bestowed on him for that from a poor and humble shepherd he had raised him to so great a heighth of Majesty and Glory that he had promised to to take care of his posterity and that he would secure the liberty of his people which he had asserted in delivering them from bondage CHAP. V. David overcoming the neighbouring Nations Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. imposeth tributes on them E NOt long time after this David Warreth against the Philistines and taketh a great part of the inheritance from them David made War upon the Philistines partly that he might avoid the suspition of sloth and idleness and partly that having according as God had foretold discomfited his Enemies he might leave a peaceable Kingdom to his posterity after him He therefore assembled his Army commanding them to be in a readiness to march and departing out of Jerusalem he made an inroade into the Countrey of the Philistines 2 Sam. 8. v. 1 2. whom he overcame in battle A great slaughter of the Moabites and took a great part of the Countrey from them by means whereof he enlarged the frontiers of the Hebrews He made war also against the Moabites whose Army being divided into two parts was by him defeated and overthrown 3 4. and many prisoners taken David overcometh the King of Sophona and tributes were imposed on them Afterwards he led out his Army against Adarezer Son of Ara King of Sophona and F giving him battel near the River Euphrates he slew about two thousand foot and five thousand Horse he took also almost a thousand Chariots the greater part whereof was wholly consumed and one hundred of them only reserved to his own use CHAP. VI 2 Sam. 8. v 6 7 8. They of Damascus are overcome by David Adad King of Damasco and Syria is overcome by David in battel A Dad King of Damascus and of Syria understanding that David had made War on Adarezar who was his feiend and confedarate raised great forces to assist him Nicholaus the Historiographer maketh mention of King Adads War with David But entering the field and encountering with David neare unto the River Euphrates G he was overcome and lost a great number of his Soldiers for in that battle there fell on his side twenty thousand and the rest fled Of this King Nicholas the Historiographer makes mention in the fourth Book of his History in these words A long time after the most puissant Prince of this Countrey called Adad governed in Damascus The year of the World 2904. before Christ's Nativity 1061. and over the rest of H Syria except Phoenicia who making War against David King of Judea and having oftentimes fought with him in his last encounter wherein he was overcome near the River Euphrates he signalized himself by such actions as were worthy of a great Captain and a great King Of another King of Syria that spoiled Samaria Moreover he speaketh of his Heirs that reighned successively after him That he being deceased his Sons reigned for ten generations after him each of them receiving from their father the same name and the same Kingdom after the manner of the Ptolomies of Egypt 2 Sam. 8. 1 ad 4. The third of these being more mighty than the rest and desirous to revenge himself of the injuries which were offered unto his grandfather led forth his Army against the Jews David imposeth tribute on the Syrians whom he subdued and destroyed the Countrey called at this day Samaria Wherein he varied not from
the truth for he of whom he speakth is that Adad that made War I in Samaria during the Reign of Achab King of Israel of whom we will speak hereafter But when David had led forth his Army against Damascus Jerusalem spoiled by Syssac King of Egypt and against the rest of the Countrey of Syria he reduced them all under his obedience placing garrisons in their Countrey and imposing tribute upon them He dedicated also to God in the City of Jerusalem the Golden quivers and Arms of Adads guard which afterward Syssac King of Egypt took when he vauquished Roboham his Nephew and carried away great riches out of the temple of Jerusalem as it shall be declared hereafter when we come to treat of that matter This King of the Hebrews being inspired by God who made him prosperous in all his warrs encamped before the chiefest cities of Adrezar that is to say Betha and Mazcon which he besieged took and spoiled where there was found great store of Gold K and Silver and of Brass 3 King 14. which was more precious then Gold whereof Solomon made that great vessel called the Sea The prey that was made in the War and other fair lavers as such time as he adorned and furnished the Temple of God When Thoy King of Amoth understood all which had hapned to Adarezer 2 Sam 8 6. c. and how his power and forces were destroyed he grew afraid of his own estate The King of the Amathens requireth a League at Davids hands and resolved to enter into a league and confederacy with David before he should come out against him and to that intent he sent his Son Adoram unto him to congratulate his success against Adarezer his Enemy and to contract an amity with him He sent him presents also namely vessels of antique worke of Gold of Silver and of Brass whereupon David made a league with him and received the presents that were sent unto him and afterwards honourably dismissed his Son both for the one L and the other and consecrated that to God which he had presented him together with the Gold and Silver which he had taken from the Cities and Nations that were subiect unto him For God did not only so far favour him as to make him victorious and happy in his own Warrs David compelleth the Idumeans to pay tribute by the Pole but having also sent Abisai Joabs Brother the Lieutenant of his Army against the Idumeans he likewise granted him victory for Abisai slew in the battel about eighteen thousand of them and filled all Idumea with garrisons imposing a tribute throughout the Countrey by the Pole The distribution of Offices This King loved justice of his own nature and the judgment which he gave was always most equitable He had for his Lieutenant General of his Armies Joab 2 King 9. and appointed Josaphat the Son of Achilles chief over the Registers After Abiather he established Sadock of the house of Phinees for M High Priest who was his friend Sisa was his Secretary Banaia the Son of Ioiada was Captain over his guard and all the Elders were ordinarily about him to guard and attend him He remembring himself also of the covenants and oaths that past 'twixt him and Jonathan the Son of Saul and of their amity and affection for amongst his other excellent qualities he was alwayes most eminent for his gratitude He caused inquiry to be made if any one of the house and family of Jonathan were left alive to the intent he might return the friendship he had received from Jonathan Whereupon a certain man named Ziba was brought unto him who was enfranchised by Saul that might inform him what one of his Race was alive C. 9. v. 1 c. who asked him if he knew any N of Jonathans Sons then living David maketh an enquiry if any of Jonathans kindred were left alive to whom he might make some return of the kindness which he had formerly received from their Father Who answered him that he had one Son remaining whose name was Mephibosheth who was lame of his legges for when the news came that both his Father and Grandfather were slain his Nurse hastily snatching up the child let him fall from her shoulders and so hurt him When he heard where he was brought up he sent unto the City of Labath to Machir with whom Mephibosheth was kept v. 7 8. and commanded him to be brought unto him Now when he came to Davids presence David giveth Mephibosheth his father Joâ—athans house and Sauls inheritance he cast himself on his face before him but the King exhorted him to be of good courage and to hope hereafter for better fortune and gave him his Fathers house with all the possessions that were purchased by Saul his grandfather appointing him to eat with him daily at his own table The young man did him reverence thanking him O for the Royal offers he had made him At that time David called for Siba and told him how he had given Mephibosheth his Fathers house and all Sauls purchases commanding A him to manure his possessions The year of the World 2910 before Christ's Nativity 1014. and to have a care of all things and to return the revenue to Jerusalem because Mephibosheth was every day to sit at his table charging both him and his fifteen Sons and twenty Servants to do him service After the King had thus disposed of him Siba did him reverence and after he had promised to perform whatsoever he had given him in charge v. 9. 10 11. he departed and Jonathans Son remained in Jerusalem David committeth the disposing of Mephibosheths Lands to Siba and commandeth him to make the return of his revenues in Jerusalem where he lived at the Kings table and was entertained and tended as carefully as if he had been his own Son he had a Son also called Mica These were the honours that those children which survived after Jonathan and Sauls death received at Davids hands About the same day died Nahas King of the Ammonites who during his life-time was Davids friend and his Son succeeded him in his Kingdom to whom David sent B Ambassadors to comfort him exhorting him to bear his Fathers death with patience assuring him that he would express no less love towards him than he did unto his Father Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. But the Governours of the Ammonites entertained this Embassage very contumeliously and not according as David had intended it and murmured against their King telling him that they were but spies sent by David to inquire into their forces 2 Sam. 10. v. 1 2 3 4. and discover the strength of their Countrey David sendeth Ambassadours to comfort the Son of the King of the Ammonites who are bâ—sely abused under a pretext of kindness advising him to stand upon his guard and not to give ear to
having violated her he would not suffer her to remain M there until night but thrust her out in the day time to the end she might have her shame discovered notwithstanding all these just reasons of hers he commanded his Servant to drive her out She being greived at the outrage and violence that had been offered her tore her Garment which was such as the Noble and Princely Virgins were wont to wear and strewed ashes on her head running thorow the City with cries and lamentations wherein she expressed what wrong had been done unto her Her Brother Absalom met her and enquiring what evil had befaln her she reported all the injury which her Brother Amnon had don her whereupon he exhorted her to pacifie her self and to suffer moderately whatsoever had befallen her v. 20 21. and not to suppose herself to be dishonoured by any act of her Brother Absalom comforetth his Sister Thama. Whereupon she was somewhat pacified and remained a long N time with her Brother Absalom unmarried David having intelligence of that which had hapned was displeased notwithstanding he loved Amnon very entirely Ver. 24. ad 29. because he was his eldest son and would not disquiet him Absalom invited his father and brethren to his sheep-shearing and commandeth his servants to kill Amnon being overcharged with wine and sleep but Absalom hated him extremely expecting some fit opportunity wherein he might revenge himself on the Ravisher Now when two years were expired since his sister was defloured it chanced that Absalom intending a sheep-shearing in Belsephon a City of the Tribe of Ephraim invited his Father and Brethren to come to his Entertainment But when the King refused to go lest he might be chargeable unto him Absalom pressed and persuaded him to send his brothers thither which he granted Hereupon Absalon commanded his servants that when they should see Amnon charged with wine and sleep O they should suddenly upon a sign given by him unto them kill him without fear or regard of any person A CHAP. VIII The year of the World 2912. before Christ's Nativity 1052. How through the Domestick discord of his Family David was banished by his Son out of his Kingdom AFter that Absalom's servants had thus executed his Commandment Ver. 30 31. a trouble and fear seized all the rest of his Brethren David is certified that all his sons are slain by Absalom insomuch as they suspected their own persons wherefore mounting themselves on Horseback they posted all in haste towards their Father But a Messenger who arrived before them reported unto David that Absalom had slain all his sons Who surprized with the dreadful apprehension of so heinous a crime B insupposing that such a number of his Children should be slain and that by their own Brother neither enquired the cause nor had patience to expect the confirmation of the report but gave himself over to extreme grief and renting his garments laid him down on the earth bewailing all his children both those that were slain as him also that had slain them Ver. 32 33. But Jonathan Jonathan comforteth David contradicting his fear in respect of all his sons and only upon just â—urmise suspecting Amnons deaâ—h the son of Sama his Brother exhorted him to moderate his passion telling him That he could not be persuaded that the rest of his children were slain in that he could conceive no probable cause of conjecture But as touching Amnon there needed no question for that it was very like that Absalom by reason of the injury which was offered unto his sister Thamar would hazard himself to kill him Mean while a great trampling of Horses and a confused Troop of Men break off their discourse These were the C Kings sons who returned in Post from the Entertainment the afflicted Father ran forth to embrace them accompanying their tears with a heavy and sorrowful countenance And seeing beyond all hope how they Davids sons resort unto their father whom a little before he supposed to be lost returned in safety they gave themselves over to tears and lamentations the Brothers bewailed the loss of their Brother Ver. 34. and the King his murthered Son But Absalom fled into Gessur unto his Grandfather on the Mothers side Absalom flieth to his grandfather and Lord of that place and sojourned with him three whole years at the end whereof David determined to send for his Son Absalom 2 Sam. 24. 1 ad 25. not to punish him but receive him into favor for the indignation he had conceived against him was at that time abated Joab also furthered this his resolution by all means possible Absalom by the subtilty of a woman and the setting on of Joab is revoked from banishment unto Jerusalem For he caused a certain old Woman attired in mourning D Habit to present her self before David who said unto him That betwixt her two Sons that lived in the Countrey there hapned such a difference that falling to handy-strokes they were so inraged one against the other that not enduring to be parted the one of them so wounded the other that he died and because her Relations were incensed against the Murtherer and sought without mercy to deprive him of life she humbly besought the King that he would give her her Sons life and not deprive her of that onely comfort of her old age which he should bring to pass if so be he prohibited those that would kill her son from executing their intents for except it were for fear of him they would by no means be withdrawn from their fatal and bloody resolution Now when the King had granted her Request the Woman proceeded I most humbly thank your Majesty said she who have had compassion of mine age and do so providently E take care that I be not deprived of my Son but that I may be the better assured of thy sincerity I beseech thee O King first of all pacifie thy displeasure conceived against thy Son and be no more incensed against him For how can I persuade my self that you will grant me this favor if you your self continue your displeasure conceived upon the like occasion against your Son For it is contrary to the Rules of Wisdom to add to the irreparable loss of one Son the voluntary deprivation of another Upon these words the King began to suspect that Joab had suborned this Woman and understanding no less by the old Womans report he sent for Joab and told him That he granted him that which he desired commanding him to send for Absalom assuring him that his displeasure was pacified and choler asswaged Joab cast himself down prostrate before the King and returning him Thanks he went unto F Gessur and brought Absalom from thence with him to Jerusalem The King understanding that his Son was come Ver. 24. sent out a Messenger to meet him commanding that as yet he should
not presume to come into his presence Absalom revoked by his father is commanded for a time to flie his presence because he was not disposed to see him so suddenly Whereupon he forbore to shew himself unto him and went and dwelt amongst his own Friends and Houshold Servants Neither was his beauty any way decreased by the sorrow he had conceived or for that his entertainment was far different from the quality of a Princes Son but he rather exceeded and grew more famous thereby so that for beauty and comeliness of person he excelled all others his Hair was so thick that it could scarcely be polled in eight days and weighed 200 shekels which amount to five pound He lived two years in Jerusalem and was the Father of G three Sons Ver. 27 28. and one Daughter which Roboam the Son of Salomon afterwards took to Wife Absaloms children born in Jerusalem of whom he begat a Son called Abia. In process of time he sent Messengers unto Joab to desire him that he would pacifie his Father and prevail with him to admit him to his presence The year of the World 2816. before Christ's Nativity 1040. that he might see him and submit himself unto him But receiving H no answer from Joab he sent his servants and commanded them to burn Joabs Corn-fields that joined unto his who hearing what had hapned unto him he came unto Absalom accusing him and asking him For what cause he had done him this injury To whom Absalom answered I have said he invented this stratagem to make thee come unto me seeing thou took'st no notice of the Address which I made V. 30 31 32 33. to desire thee to reconcile my Father unto me And now I beseech thee that thou wilt move my Father in my behalf otherwise I shall think my return more grievous than my banishment hath been Joab urged by the burning of his houses reconcileth Absaâ—om to his father if my Father shall yet continue his displeasure Joab was persuaded through the compassion he conceived of the necessity wherein he saw him and went and sollicited the King with whom he so effectually debated I as touching Absalom that altering his disposition he graciously sent and called for him As soon as he came unto his presence Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. Absalom cast himself prostrate on the ground asking pardon for his offences but David raised and lifted him up and promised that from thenceforth he would no more upbraid him with those misdeeds After these things had thus fallen out Absalom within a little space provided a great number of Horses and Chariots 2 Sam. 15. 1 ad 6. and entertained fifty Men for his Guard and every day early in the Morning presented himself before the Kings Palace Absalom subtilly affecteth his fathers Kingdom and talked with those that resorted thither about the tryal of their differences and whereas some of them lost their cause he talked with them according as he found them affected alledging That his Father had no good Counsellers and that perhaps he himself had in some things judged amiss and by these means K endeavored he to get the good will of all men telling them That if he had the like authority he would make them know by proof what his equity was Having by these plausible persuasions drawn the hearts of the common People unto him he was persuaded they would serve him in whatsoever he intended Four years after his reconciliation he came to his Father David desiring that he might go to Hebron and sacrifice unto God according as he had vowed at such time as he fled from his presence Which request when David had granted him he went thither being attended with a great concourse of People Ver. 10 ad 14. by reason he had appointed divers to meet him in that place Absalom proclaimed King amongst whom was Achitophel the Gelonite one of Davids Counsellers and 200 others of Jerusalem who altogether ignorant of his design assembled themselves in that place to be assistant to his Sacrifice by all whom he was declared King L according as he himself had commanded When the News hereof came unto Davids ears and he was assured how his Son had behaved himself he was much troubled for his impiety and arrogancy that he should so soon forget the pardon which he had obtained for his enormous Crimes and contrary to all Law plunge himself and hazard his Reputation in more grievous offences to pervert the state of the Kingdom which God had established to deprive his own Father of his Crown and Dignity wherefore he resolved to flie to the other side of Jordan Ver. 14. carrying with him his most trusty Friends to whom he represented the unbridled fury of Son David departed out of Jerusalem remitting all things unto God who judgeth all things and leaving the Government of his Royal House to the management M of his six Concubines Ver. 24. ad 30. he departed from Jerusalem David flying prohibiteth the High Priests to follow him to the intent to give him intelligence of that which did pass He was accompanied with a great number of People besides those 600 Soldiers who had followed him in his Banishment during Sauls life-time And although the High Priests Abiathar and Sadoc with all the Levites had resolved to depart with him yet persuaded he them to abide with the Ark assuring them that God would deliver them although the Ark should continue in its place He commanded Abiathar likewise to send him private intelligence of each occurrent that should happen reserving with him for most intimate and trusty Counsellers Achimaas the son of Sadoc and Jonathan the son of Abiathar But Ethéi the Gittite by no persuasions of the King could be induced to stay but contrary to his Command Ethei departed with David followed him whereby he more manifestly exprest his affection towards him Ver. 31. But as he went on his bare Feet up the Mountain of Olivet and all they N of his Train followed him Achitophel revolteth from David and followeth Absalom whose counsels David striveth by prayer to make frustrate intermixing their travel with bitter tears a certain Messenger came and certified him that Achitophhel was with Absalom Which report aggravated and increased his grief so that he besought God that it might please him to alienate the affection of Absalom from Achitophel that he might not give heed unto any of his counsels because Achitophel was a Man of a ripe judgment and ready execution in all that concerned him As soon as he came unto the top of the Mountain he beheld the City and as if he had utterly been banished from his Kingdom he began with abundance of tears Ver. 32 c. to call upon God Chusai is persuaded to submit to Absalom and to cross Achitophels counsels There met he with Chusai his sincere and
would not transgress the Laws of their Countrey for which cause being apprehended they were instantly cast into the Furnace of Fire and protected therein by Gods providence escaped death beyond all mens expectation For the fire touched them not neither could it burn during their abode in the Furnace For God so defended their Bodies that they could not be consumed by fire N which miracle made them in great estimation with the King for that he saw that they were virtuous and beloved of God and for that cause they were highly honoured by him Not long after this the King saw another Vision in his sleep which signified unto him that being cast from his Empire he should converse with Savage Beasts and that having lived in that estate in the Desart for the space of seven years he should recover his Kingdom again Having had this Dream he assembled the Magicians once more demanding their answer and the signification thereof But it was impossible for any one of them either to find out or declarethe meaning of this Dream unto the King Onely Daniel discovered the same and the effect was answerable to his prediction For the King passed the fore-limited time in the Desart Dan. 4. 1. ad 29. so that no man durst intermeddle O with the affairs of Estate during seven years The Dream and exposition hereof But after he had called upon God that it would please him to restore him to his Kingdom he repossessed the same again Let no man in this place accuse me for reporting these particularities according as I have found them written in Holy Books The year of the World 3381. before Christ's Nativity 5â—3 for in the entrance of my History I have A answered those objections so that I have openly protested that I will onely faithfully translate the Hebrew Histories into the Greek tongue and according to my promise relate that which is contained therein without adding any thing of mine own or concealing ought of another mans Nabuchodonosors death After that Nabuchodonosor had reigned fourty three years he dyed he was a man of good Conduct and more happy than any of his Predecessors Berosus maketh mention of his acts in the third Book of the Chaldaique History where he speaketh thus His Father Nabuchodonosor having notice that the Governour whom he had appointed over Egypt and the neighboring parts of Coelosyria and Phoenicia was revolted from him being at that time in himself unable to endure the troubles of War committed apart of his Forces unto his Son Nabuchodonosor who was in the flower of his age B and sent him forth against them Berosus of Nabuchodonosor Hedio Ruffinus chap 13. who encountring the Rebels and fighting with them overcame them and brought the Countrey under his subjection Mean while Nabuchodonosor the Father died of a sickness in Babylon after he had Reigned One and twenty years Nabuchodonosor the Son having notice of his Fathers death gave order to the affairs of Egypt and the rest of the Countrey and committing the care and transportation of the Jews Syrians Egyptians and Phoenicians to his friends to bring them to Babylon with his Army and Carriage he with a few Men made hasty journeys thorow the Desart And when he had taken the administration of the Kingdom upon him which in his absence was in the hands of the Chaldees and by their Chieftain was reserved until his return unto his use he became Lord of all his Fathers Empire When his prisoners were arrived he assigned them convenient C dwelling places in the Countrey of Babylon and with the spoils of War he magnificently repaired and decked the Temple of Bell and other places He enlarged the old City and repaired and beautified it with other buildings by means whereof they that would besiege the same were hindred from cutting off the current of the River to the prejudice of the Inhabitants He invironed it within with a treble Wall and outwardly with as mighty and as many enclosures and made all of burnt Brick The Walls were magnificently builded and the Gates bravely adorned in manner of Temples He caused a Palace to be builded near unto his Fathers antient Palace the magnificence and ornaments whereof I am not able to express onely this thing most memorable I have thought good to note that these great and pompous Buildings were finished in fifteen days In this Palace he had Vaults D raised so high that in outward appearance they seemed to be Mountains on which all sorts of Trees were planted He devised and prepared also a goodly Garden and called it the hanging Garden because his Wife having been brought up in the Countrey of Media desired at Babylon Megasthenes of Nabuchodonosor to see some resemblance of her own Countrey Megasthenes in the fourth Book of his Indian History maketh mention of this Garden in that place where he enforced himself to prove Diocles. that this King surpassed Hercules in valour and execution of worthy actions Philostratus For he said that Nabuchodonosor overcame the chief City of Lybia and a great part of Spain Diocles in the Second Book of the Persian History and Philostratus in his Phoenician and Indian History make mention of this King saying that he overcame the City of Tyre at the end of thirteen years at such time as Ithobal E Reigned over the Tyrians This is the sum of all that which the Historiographers write as touching this King CHAP. XI Nabuchodonosors Successors the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus King of Persia AFter Nabuchodonosors death Evilmerodach releaseth Jechonias from his long imprisonment his Son Evilmerodach obtained the Kingdom who incontinently delivered Jechonias King of Jerusalem out of prison and held him in the number of his most esteemed friends and gave him Presents and committed F the Government of the Palace of Babylon into his hands For his Father had not kept his promise with Jechonias 2 King 25. 27. when he surrendred himself his Wife Children and Friends into his hands Jer. 52. 31. ad finem in the behalf of his Countrey and to the intent that the City of Jerusalem should not be razed by those that besieged it Niglisar as we have heretofore declared Labophordach Evilmerodach died in the eighteenth year of his Reign Balthasar or Naboandel King of Babylon and Niglisar his Son obtained the Kingdom which he possessed fourty years and afterwards died After him the succession of the Kingdom came unto his Son called Labophordach which continued in him but for the space of nine moneths and after his death it came unto Balthasar who by the Babylonian was called Naboandel Against whom Cyrus King of Persia and Darius King of Media made War at such time as he was besieged in Babylon there hapned G a marvellous and prodigious spectacle H Balthasar sate upon a certain Festival day in a Royal Chamber The year of
tydings brought to the Jews and for the good success which he had given him in Darius 's presence For said he O Lord if thou hadst E not been favourable unto me I had not obtained it After he had in this manner given thanks for the present and pray'd God to shew himself always favourable hereafter he repaired to Babylon and told his Countreymen what encouragement he had receiv'd from the King who hearing thereof gave God thanks also who had restor'd them once more to the possession of their native Countrey and they fell to feasting and banquetting for seven days space The Jews depart from Babylon to Jerusalem for the restoring unto their Countrey as if they had solemniz'd the feasts of their birth-days Hereupon the heads of the several families made choice of those that with their wives and children should return unto Jerusalem who by the assistance of Darius's Convoy perform'd that journey with great joy playing on their Psalteries Flutes and Cymbals and were after this manner conducted on their way by F those Jews that remained in Babylon Thus went they forward being a certain and determinate number of every family I have not thought it necessary to repeat these families by name 3 Esd 5. lest I should perplex the Relation and the Readers should be interrupted thereby The number of the Jews that went out of Babylon Notwithstanding the whole number of those that went and were about 12 years old of the Tribes of Juda and Benjamin were four millions six hundred and eight thousand There were likewise four thousand and seventy Levites And of their wives and children together forty thousand seven hundred forty and two Besides these there were of Singers of the Tribe of Levi one hundred twenty and eight of Porters one hundred and ten and of those that attended on the Sanctuary three hundred twenty and two There were certain others likewise that pretended that they were G of the race of the Israelites but could give no testimony of their descent the number of whom was six hundred fifty and two Of the number of the Priests they that had espoused H wives whose genealogy could not be derived and who were not found also in the genealogies of the Priests and Levites they were about five hundred twenty and five The multitude of servants that followed or attended on them were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven There were also two hundred forty and five Singers of men and women four hundred thirty and five Camels and five hundred twenty and five other beasts for their carriage The conducter of this above-named multitude Zorobabel Chieftain and Jesus High-Priest of this company was Zorobabel the son of Salathiel descended of Davids Line and of the Tribe of Juda and Jesus the son of Josedech the High-Priest besides which were Mordochaeus and Serabaeas who were chosen by the people to be their Governors who contributed 100 pounds of gold and five hundred of silver Thus the Priests and Levites and part I of all the people of the Jews which were then in Babylon were conducted to dwell in Jerusalem the other part of them following a little after returned every one into his own Countrey The seventh month after their departure out of Babylon the High-Priest Jesus and the Governor Zorobabel 1 Esdr 3. 6. ad finem sent Messengers thorow all the Countrey and assembled the people from all quarters of the Region who with all alacrity and expedition repair'd to Jerusalem There erected they an Altar in the same place where heretofore it was built to the end they might offer Sacrifices thereon according to Moses Law but hereby they gave offence to their neighbouring Nations who in general were incensed against them They celebrated also at that time the feast of Tabernacles according as the Law-maker K had ordain'd C. 3. v. 4 5. afterwards they offer'd oblations and continual sacrifices observing their Sabbaths The feast of Tabernacles and all holy solemnities And they that had made any vows perform'd them and sacrificed from the New Moon until the seventh month After this they began to build the Temple and deliver'd great sums of money to the hewers of stone and Masons and gave strangers their ordinary diet who brought them stone and timber For it was an easie matter for the Sidonians The Temple began to be built ver 8. to bring wood and timber from Libanus and binding it up and gathering it together in rafters to ship it and land it at the Port of Joppa For Cyrus had heretofore given them that commandment and now the second time they were enjoined thereunto by Darius The second year after their arrival in Jerusalem the Jews assembled together in the second L month and began to build the Temple having laid the foundation thereof on the first day of December Over this work those Levites that were above 20 years of age were overseers with them also was Jesus and his sons and brothers joined and Zolimiel the brother of Juda the son of Aminadab and his sons And through the diligence that these overseers of the Temple used it was sooner finish'd than it was expected As soon as the Sanctuary was built the Priests apparelled in their accustomed habits and the Levites and the sons of Asaph arose and with Trumpets praised God and sung several Hymns and Psalms compos'd by King David The Priests and Levites with the Elders of the Tribes calling to mind how great and magnificent the first Temple was and beholding that which was built at present far inferior to the former and perceiving M how much the ancient wealth and dignity of the Temple was abased they were so sensibly touched with the consideration thereof that they could not but burst forth into lamentations and tears But the people were contented with that which they beheld and without any mention of the former Temple they troubled not themselves in comparing the one with the other neither thought they upon the difference betwixt the present and that which stood in times past but the Elders lamented and the Priests complain'd that the new erected Temple was far less than the former yet the noise of the Trumpets drowned their lamentations The Samaritans desirous to further the building of the Temple are rejected and the joyful applauses of the people their mournings The Samaritans hearing the noise of the Trumpets ran out to know the cause thereof because they were ill-affected toward the Tribe of Juda and Benjamin and understanding N that the Jews which were return'd from Babylon had re-edifi'd the Temple they addressed themselves to Zorobabel and Jesus and to the chief Governors of the families requiring them that it might be lawful for them to repair the Temple with them and to have part in the building thereof For said they we honour God no less than you we pray unto him and adore him we conform our selves to
Domesticks Haman being honoured by all men is neglected by the Jews Now as often as Haman the son of Amadath an Amalechite came unto the Palace to visit the King all those that were either Persians or strangers according to the Kings especial direction did him honour But Mardocheus shew'd him no honour because the laws of the Jews forbade it Which when Haman had observ'd Esther 3. 1 2 3 4. he demanded whence he was And understanding that he was a Jew he was much displeas'd C. 5. 9. saying in himself That the Persians who were of a freer condition cast themselves prostrate before him and he that was but a slave disdained to do the like Intending therefore to revenge himself on Mardocheus he thought it not sufficient to procure his punishment at the Kings hands but resolv'd wholly to exterminate his Race for he was by Nature an Enemy to the Jews by reason that the Amalechites from whom he descended M had heretofore been conquer'd by them Whereupon he address'd himself unto the King and accus'd them saying That there was a certain cursed Nation spread through his whole Kingdom insociable and abhorring the customs of other men who used divers laws and ceremonies contrary to those of all other Nations and destructive of the fundamentals of his Kingdom so that the greatest favour he could do to his Subjects would be utterly to exterminate them And lest your Majesties Tribute should be any ways impaired by these means I promise you of mine own Revenues forty thousand talents of silver Ver. 6. desiring rather willingly to forbear so much money The destruction of the Jews granted unto Haman than that your Kingdom should be unpurged of such a cursed Race of men When Haman had made this his request the King answer'd That he forgave him the money and that he permitted him to deal with that Nation as he thought fit When Haman had obtain'd N his desire he presently sent forth an Edict thorow all Nations in the Kings Name to this effect The great King Artaxerxes unto his Governors of an Hundred and seven and twenty Provinces extending from India as far as Ethiopia health Having obtained the Empire over so many Nations and extended my dominion over the World according to mine own pleasure and being so little inclined to treat any of our Subjects with rigour that we rather take great pleasure in affording them some signal marks of our favor and goodness causing them to enjoy an happy peace it remains that we seek after those means O that may render this happiness perpetual to them Being therefore admonished by my friend Haman who for his wisdom and justice is more honoured than all other by me and for his approved fidelity hath the second place in authority under me that there is a certain race of men intermingled among you The year of the World 3549. before Christ's Nativity 415. enemies to all mankind using none but their own laws and such A that are different from others disobedient to their Kings and of depraved manners and customs that neither submit themselves to our Government nor promote the welfare and prosperity of our Empire I will and command That as soon as Haman shall have made known unto you this our pleasure a man whom we hold as dear as our father they be slain with their wives and children so as you spare none of them not permitting your compassion towards them to prevail over your obedience to us And this command we to be done the 14th day of the 12th month of this present year that in one day cutting off all our enemies hereafter ye may live in peace and security This Edict being spread thorow all places of the Countrey and publish'd in every B City all men prepar'd themselves against the prefixed day utterly to exterminate the Jews and no less diligence was there used in Susa the Metropolitan City Mean-while the King and Haman feasted and made good cheer whil'st the City hung in suspence being troubled with the expectation of the event of that which should follow But Mardocheus having intelligence hereof rent his garments put on sackcloth and cast ashes on his head walking thorow the City and crying That their Nation had not committed any crime deserving death The lamentation of the Jews upon the hearing of this Edict and using these or such like speeches he came unto the Kings Palace and stood before the gate because it was unlawful for him to enter thereinto in that habit The like also did the Jews that were in the Cities where those Edicts had been publish'd against them weeping and lamenting their miseries But when the News C hereof was brought unto the Queen Esther 4. 1 2 c. that Mardocheus stood before the Palace-gate in a deplorable condition she was much troubled and sent certain of her servants unto him to command him to change his attire but they could not persuade him to put off his sackcloth for the cause of his sorrow still remaining he could not think of laying aside the marks of it She therefore called unto her her Eunuch Acraâ—heus and sent him unto Mardocheus to know what accident had befaln him that made him put on his mourning habit and to afflict himself after that manner and not at her intreaty to lay aside those marks of his sorrow Hereupon Mardocheus told the Eunuch of the Edict made against the Jews and sent by the King unto all his Provinces the offer of the money that Haman likewise had tender'd to the King whereby he had bought the utter D ruine of his Nation at the Kings hands moreover he gave him the Copy of that which had been proclaim'd in Susan to be deliver'd unto Esther whom he intreated to beseech the King and to esteem it no dishonour to become a Suppliant to save her Nation and to preserve the Jews from that death whereunto at that time they were expos'd since Haman the next in honour to the King had accused the Jews and incens'd his Majesty against them When Esther understood this she sent again unto Mardocheus giving him to understand That she was not called for by the King and that whosoever entered unto him and was not called should die except the King would secure him by stretching out his golden Scepter for he unto whom the King was pleased to grant that favor although he were not called unto him yet suffered he not death but obtained pardon When these things were reported E by the Eunuch from Esther unto Mardocheus he commanded him to tell her That she ought not so much to tender the particular respect of her life as the lives of her whole Nation assuring her that if at that present she had not care of them their succor should onely proceed from God by some other means than this Ver. 16 17. but she and her fathers house should be destroyed by them whom she
assistance levy the tribute from those Cities who were negligent in their payments and after he had borrowed five hundred talents of the Kings friends in Alexandria he departed into Syria As soon as he came to Ascalon he demanded the payment of the tribute at the Citizens hands which they not only refused but moreover upbraided him with injurious words Whereupon laying hold on about twenty of the principal among them he put them to death and having gathered their substances together he sent the King some thousand talents certifying him of that which he had done Ptolomy admiring L at his wisdom The Ascalonites and Scythopolitanes punished for their conâ—mpt and approving what he had done permitted him to dispose of all things at his pleasure The Syrians when they heard this began to fear the like severity and perceiving that the Ascalonites were slain by Joseph they opened their gates and received him willingly and payed him their tributes Whereas also the Scythopolitanes contumaciously refused to lay down according to order their accustomed tributes he slew the chiefest amongst them and sent the confiscation of their goods unto the King When therefore he had gathered much silver and made great gains of the farming of the tributes to the intent he might establish and make his power of longer continuance he liberally employed his gains considering with himself that it was a part of wisdom to secure his good fortune by those riches which he himself had gotten For he sent M many presents both to the King and Queen and gave liberally to their friends and favorites and to all those which had any authority or credit in the Court that he might win and bind them unto him by his benevolence And in this felicity continued he twenty two years during which time he was the father of seven children by one wife and of another called Hircanus by another Wife who was the Daughter of his Brother Solymius whom he married upon this occasion Going once to Alexandria in the company of his brother who carried with him his daughter already marriageable Josephs wealth and children intending to bestow her upon some Jew of good quality whilest he sate at meat with the King a fair Damsel coming into the room danced so well that she gained the heart of Joseph whereupon he told his brother of it praying N him since by the laws of their Countrey it was forbidden to a Jew to marry a stranger that he would hide his fault and be an assistant unto him that he might procure her for his Mistriss His brother promised him his assistance and in the mean time he dress'd up his own daughter and brought her by night unto his bed whereupon he lay with her not knowing who she was because he had drunk over much and had her company His love still increased and not knowing how to conquer his passion he told his brother that he feared the King would not bestow this Damsel on him His brother told him that he need not trouble himself promising that he should enjoy her whom he loved and that allready she was his wife letting him know the whole contrivance and how he had rather wrong his own daughter than to suffer his brother to fall into dishonor O After that Joseph had commended the kind and natural affection of his brother towards him Hericanâ—â— off-spring and towardness he took his daughter to Wife who bare him a Son called Hircanus as it hath been said Who being thirteen years old gave testimony of that natural spirit and dexerity that was in him The year of the World 3750. before Christ's Nativity 944. by reason whereof his brethren conceived an hatred against him A and the rather because he excelled them in all things and thereby instead of gaining their love he raised their jealousy and hatred Whereas Joseph was desirous to know which of his children had the ripest Judgement and understanding he sent them one after another to those masters who were most renowned for Science in that time but all of them returned back unto him rude and illiterate because they were negligent and idle Whereupon he sent Hircanus the youngest of them into a desart place distant from the high way some seven dayes journey and gave him with him three hundred couple of Oxen to sow the ground in that barren place concealing from him the yokes that should couple them together B When therefore he came unto the place and perceived that the yokes were missing he asked advice of some of the husbandmen who counselled him to send some one back unto his Father to fetch the couples But he supposing he ought not to lose so much time as would be spent in sending back a messenger he made use of a contrivance which seemed much beyond his years For he caused ten couple of the oxen to be slain and distributed the flesh amongst his workmen and made them cut the Skins and fashion couples thereof and having yoked his Oxen he caused the land to be manured according to his Fathers direction and afterwards returned home unto him Whereupon he loved him the more intirely by reason of his wisdom and the subtlety of his understanding and esteemed him as if he had no other child but him alone but this increased the malice and envy of his brothers C When news was brought unto Joseph Joseph sendeth his Son Hircanus to Ptolomey that about that time King Ptolomey was blessed with a young Son and how all the chiefest Lords of Syria and the Countries under his obeysance repaired to Alexandria in great pomp to celebrate the birth-day of the Kings Son he being of himself unable by reason of his age to go thither he asked his Children whether any one of them would go and compliement the King When therefore the eldest Sons had excused themselves and refused to undertake the journey pretending they were unfit to performe the message and understood not the manner of living at Court all of them advising that their brother Hircanus might be sent Joseph was well pleased thereat and calling for Hircanus asked him if he would go to King Ptolomy he promised to undertake the journey and told his Father he needed no great sum of D money to perform it because he should travel frugally and content himself for the whole expence with ten thousand drachms Joseph was very glad to hear of his Sons prudence and after Hircanus had kept silence for a while he advised his Father that he should not present the King with any thing out of Judea but that he should write unto his factor in Alexandria commanding him to deliver such summes of money as he thought convenient to buy that which he found to be most magnificent and of best esteem in the City Joseph imagining that perhaps he would imploy about ten talents in presents and approving of his Sons Counsel wrote unto his factor Arion who had the use
may now be called the Temple of Jupiter of Grece by which means we shall be deliver'd from all trouble and being at liberty to F attend our Affairs we may the easier and more willingly pay you the greater Tributes To this request of the Samaritans the King answer'd sending them back their own Letter King Antiochus to Nicanor Health The Sidonians of Sichem have sent us this request to which we annex unto these our Letters Since they who were sent unto us to this intent have sufficiently made appear both to us and our Council that they are utterly strangers unto those Crimes wherewith the Jews are charged and are desirous to live according to the Laws of the Grecians we absolve them in as much as concerneth this Cause and their Temple which hereafter shall be called by the name of Jupiter of G Grece We have writen to the like effect also to Apollonius their Governor Given the 46th year and the eleventh of the month Hecatomhaeon which signifieth August H CHAP. VIII The year of the World 3799. before Christ's Nativity 165. Matthias and his sons sâ—ay those that were sent by King Antiochus to compel them to offer abominable Sacrifices and after betake themselves to the Desart They are followed by many others of whom a great number are stifled in their Caves because they would not defend themselves on the Sabbath-day Matthias abolisheth that Superstition and exhorts his sons to assert their priviledges and deliver their Countrey from bondage AT this time there dwelt a certain man in Modin a village of Jury whose name was Matthias who was the son of John who was the son of Simon the son of Asmonaeus I a Priest of the rank of Joarib born in Jerusalem This Matthias had 5 sons John call'd Gaddis Simon call'd Matthes Judas call'd Machabeus Eleazar named Auran Jonathan called Aphus This Matthias oftentimes complain'd unto his sons of the deplorable condition to which their Nation was reduc'd of the ruine of their City the desolation of their Temple The zeal and piety of Matthias and his sons and the miseries of the People telling them That it were better for them to die in the defence of the Laws and Religion of their Forefathers than to live dishonourably amidst so many calamities When therefore the Commissaries deputed by the King came unto Modin to constrain the Jews to perform that which was enjoin'd them and to command them to sacrifice according to the ordinance requiring Matthias who surpassed the rest in honour and other qualities but especially in excellency of descent and nobility K to begin first of all to offer sacrifice to the end that the rest might follow him and be induc'd by his example assuring him That the King would testifie his being well-pleased with his compliance by the rewards which he would suddenly send him Matthias answer'd That he would by no means commit that Idolatry assuring them That although all other Nations of the World either for love or fear of punishment should obey the Edicts of Antiochus yet that neither he nor any of his children would be induc'd to forsake their fathers Religion As soon as he had return'd this answer he held his peace and a certain Jew stepped forth to offer sacrifice according to Antiochus ordinance An Apostate slain by Matthias wherewith Matthias was so much displeas'd that both he and his sons fell upon him and with their swords hew'd him in pieces He slew Apelles the Kings Captain likewise and the Soldiers which he brought with him to compel L the people to commit impiety And not content herewith he overthrew the â—ltar crying out with a loud voice If said he any one be affected to the Laws of his Fathers and the service of God Matthias with his sons flieth into the desart let him follow me And this said he presently retir'd into the Desart with his sons leaving the Borough utterly unpeopled The rest after his example retir'd also into the Desart with their Wives and Children and made their habitation in Caves The Kings Captains having intelligence hereof gather'd those Forces that were at that time in the Cittadel of Jerusalem and pursued the Jews into the Desart And having overtaken them they labour'd first of all to make them submit themselves and to make choice of that which was most for their advantage rather than to endanger themselves and enforce them to chastise their disobedience with blood But the Jews nothing M mov'd herewith resolv'd rather to die than commit such an impiety Whereupon they who omitted no opportunity assailed the Jews on a Sabbath-day and burnt them within their Caves who neither resisted their Enemies nor so much as closed up the mouths of their Caves forbearing to make any resistance by reason of the day resolving with themselves not to violate the Sabbath-day for we are commanded to cease from all labour on that day The Jews are slain on the Sabbath-day which slaughter maketh Matthias more wary There were therefore about a thousand stifled in their Caves with their Wives and Children Yet notwithstanding divers escaped and joined themselves with Matthias whom they chose for their Captain who declared unto them That they ought to fight on the Sabbath-day assuring them That if they did not but scrupulously observed the Law they themselves should be enemies unto themselves if perhaps the Enemy should assail them N on that day and they should not stand upon their guard for by that means they should be destroyed without resistance Hereby he persuaded them to do as he had said and until this day it is a custom among us that if need require we make no difficulty to fight on the Sabbath-day Matthias rooteth out all Idolatry Matthias therefore having assembled a sufficient number of men about him destroyed the Altars and slew those that had forsaken their Religion as many of them as he could lay hands on For divers were scatter'd here and there among the Nations for fear he commanded these to circumcise their children that were not circumcised Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. driving those from every place whom Antiochus had ordain'd to see his Law executed After that Matthias had govern'd for the space of one year he fell sick of a dangerous disease whereupon he called for his sons and spake unto them after this manner My O sons I must now go that way which is destined unto all men I therefore exhort you to follow my advice and diligently to observe it remembring the intent of your father who hath begot and nourish'd you which is to maintain the Laws of our Countrey and to establish our State which is in danger to be overthrown and hold no correspondence with those that would betray it to the A Enemy Let it appear to all the World that ye are my children indeed strengthen your hearts with courage to overcome all force and necessity And assure your selves
new benefits seeing such friendship and familiarity between thee and our King For we have understood by our Nation that dwell in Judaea how many offerings thou didst there sacrifice unto our God and with what vows thou honouredst him how thou feastedst the people and wast delighted in that mutual hospitality All which was an argument of the friendship confirmed between so great a Roman Prince and the Nation of the Jews even in Herod's house By all these we humbly request in the presence of the King nothing but this only that thou wouldest not permit us deceitfully to be defrauded of that which you your selves have already granted unto the Nation of the Jews Now no one of the Greeks offered to oppose himself against that which Nicholaus D did speak for this was no contention to a Judge concerning their right but only a deprecation and supplication to avoid injury Neither did they deny it only thus they excused themselves that the Jews dwelling amongst them were troublesome unto them But the Jews shewed themselves to be free Citizens and to live according to their Religion and Laws of their Countrey without any man's molestation or injury Wherefore Agrippa understanding that they were wronged Agrippa confirmeth the Jews privilege answered thus That he would not only gratifie them for his friend Herod's sake but also for that they seemed to him to demand a reasonable matter Wherefore though they had demanded a greater thing of him he would have granted them whatsoever he might without prejudicing the people of Rome And now seeing they only demand of him that which E already the Romans had granted unto them he would ratifie and confirm unto them the benefit which they had already received at the Romans hands and provide that henceforth no man should molest them for living according to the institution and ordinances of their Countrey Having thus spoken he dismissed the Assembly Then Herod arising Agrippa departed from Lesbus thanked him in all their names And then after mutual embracing one another they departed taking their leaves from Lesbus CHAP. V. F How Herod returned into Judea and freed his Subjects from the payment of the fourth part of the Taxes THe King having a prosperous wind Herod returned to Jerusalem and made a speech unto the people and let them understand the cause of his journey and remitted the fourth part of his Tribute within a few days after arrived at Caesarea from thence he went to Jerusalem and calling together all the people as well the Citizens as also the Countrey people there present there he told them the cause of his journey and how he had obtained immunities for the Jews living in Asia that they might converse there among the Gentiles without molestation Then he told them what felicity they had received and enjoyed by his reign seeing that his greatest care was so to provide for his Subjects that they might want nothing And to gratifie them G the more he told them that he would freely remit the fourth part of the Taxes and Tribute they were to pay for the year past The people greatly comforted as well with the King's speech unto them as with his liberality departed joyfully wishing the King all happiness CHAP. VI. H Salome Herod's Sister endeavoureth to ruine his two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus whom he begot of Mariamne He sends his Son Antipater whom he had by his first Wife to Rome IN the mean time Hedio Ruffinus cap. 3. al. chap. 7. the discord of his house was daily encreased by reason of Salome's inveterate hatred against Alexander and Aristobulus she presumed so much on her success against their mother that she hoped to leave none of her children alive to revenge her death Salome persecuteth Mariamne's children with natural hatred And she wanted no occasion for it seems the two young Princes were not I very well affected towards their Father partly for the memory of their Mother's death and partly also for that they desired the Kingdom So that they upbraiding Salome and Pheroras did renew their old hatred against them who daily practised by all means they could Alexander and Aristobulus being by Salome and Pheroras drawn into bad words are by them accused to their Father Herod to overthrow them The young men also hated them but not with the like hatred that they were hated of them For they for their ingenuous manners and noble race dissembled not their anger but freely declared their minds But Salome and Pheroras contrariwise enviously and craftily prepared themselves a way by calumniations always provoking the magnanimous spirits of these young Princes whose fierceness might soon bring them into suspicion with their Father that he might gather hereby that they wanted not will to revenge their Mother's death yea even K with their own hands forasmuch as they were not ashamed to be the Children of such a Mother and would contend that she was unjustly put to death And now all the City talked of them every one pitying their rashness Salome not ceasing to gather by their own speeches probable arguments of suspicion that they did not only take their Mother's death impatiently but also raging like furies did both bewail her death and their own case who were compelled to converse with the murtherers of their unfortunate Mother and as it were contaminate themselves with living amongst them Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. al. chap. 8. And the absence of the King greatly encreased their dissension who being returned having made a speech unto the people he presently was admonished both by Pheroras and Salome his Sister Pheroras and Salome accuse Alexander Aristobulus unto Herod that he was in great danger by reason of his L two Sons who did openly boast that they would be revenged of them that killed their Mother Feigning moreover that they were encouraged for that they hoped that Archelaus King of Cappadocia would help them to accuse their Father unto Caesar Herod hearing this was greatly troubled and so much the more that he heard the same also reported unto him by others And hereby he was put in memory of that which was past how that for the dissension of his house he could not long enjoy his friends and dearest wife Herod was fortunate abroad and unfortunate at home And as it were foreseeing by that that was past what would ensue and fearing some greater calamity would befall him he was altogether amazed And truly as abroad he was most fortunate above all hope so at home he was most unhappy and unfortunate beyond men's opinion So that one may well doubt whether M his fortunate success abroad did countervail his misfortunes at home or whether it had been more expedient for him to have had neither the one nor the other but to have had only a common and ordinary favour at fortunes hands Deliberating thus with himself Herod advanceth Antipater to bridle
the arrogancy of his Sons he thought it good to call unto Court another Son of his whom he begat when he was a private man and to grace him with honours and to oppose him against the other two Brethren to the end to bring down and repress their fierce and haughty minds this Son of his was called Antipater not minded which after overcome by affection he did to make him sole heir of all but thinking thereby to bridle Mariamne's Children and to diminish their arrogancy by letting them see that it was not needful to keep the inheritance of so flourishing a Kingdom only for them wherefore N he introduced Antipater one opposed against them that thereby the other two laying their pride aside might shew themselves more tractable to their Father And so thought by this means to provide for their safety Antipater inciteth his Father against his Brothers But it fell out far otherwise than he expected for they esteemed this fact as an injury done unto them And Antipater was of that nature that having gotten promotion contrary to his expectation he did endeavour all ways possible to be in greater account with his Father than the other two who was already through false accusations alienated from them and every day as he also desired ready to believe any thing that might incense him against them Wherefore this was all his business Yet he had an especial care not to be thought O an accuser of his Brethren but he used others of his Complices whom the King nothing suspected who for the trust the King put in them might also have better credit given A unto their words For this man had many followers and favourers as it were gaping after preferment by his means who with a kind of counterfeit good will made a shew of love and good will towards Herod And being many in number and trusty one to another the young Princes were every day entrapped more and more For many times they shed tears for very grief of the contumelies and injuries that they suffered and many times they mentioned their Mother and complained unto those whom they thought to be their friends of their Father as one that dealt not well with them all which Antipater's Favourites maliciously noting and adding thereunto something of their own invention they did presently tell it unto Herod and so did foment the dissention of his house For the King being moved hereat and purposing to humble B Mariamne's Children Herod brought Antipater's Mother into the Palace did daily encrease and augment Antipater's honour and at his entreaties at last brought his Mother into the Court and many times writing secretly unto Caesar in favour of Antipater he especially commended him in particular unto him And being to sail to salute Agrippa who was now to depart out of Asia having governed that Province ten years he only took with him Antipater of all his Sons whom he also committed to Agrippa with many gifts Herod delivereth Antipater to Agrippa to be carried to Rome to go with him to Rome and to be brought into favour with Caesar So that now all things seemed to be done as it were by his man's beck and the other two to be already dis-inherited C CHAP. VII Antipater doth so incense his Father against his Brothers Alexander and Aristobulus that Herod bringeth them to Rome and accuseth them before Augustus for having attempted to poyson him ANtipater's Journey to Rome Antipater was honoured at Rome with his Father's Letters of Recommendation to all his friends there proved both very advantageous and honourable to him yet this was a great grief to him Antipater when he was present incited his Father against his Brethren by lies and being absent he did the same by Letters that he could not daily calumniate his Brothers for he feared lest his Father's mind should change and so would affect Mariamne's Children D most This being his daily fear though he were absent he ceased not by Letters to incite his Father against them as having care of his safety but indeed for that he thereby through his bad practises hoped to obtain the Kingdom so that he encreased Herod's wrath against them that he was become a deadly enemy unto them both But fearing rashly in his anger to commit any thing to prejudice them he determined to sail again to Rome and there to accuse his Sons before Caesar lest he being led away through indignation and displeasure against them should seem to cast off all love and fatherly affection towards them Herod sailed to Rome and followed Caesar to Aquileia And repairing to Rome and not finding Caesar there he followed him unto Aquileia and coming to speech of him and requesting him to take notice of his misfortunes he presented his two Sons and accused them E before Caesar of insolency Herod accused his Sons before Caesar and for having attempted to poyson him complaining their hatred to be gone so far that now by any wicked and execrable way whatsoever they sought their Father's Kingdom notwithstanding that Caesar had given him full power and liberty to leave the Kingdom to him whom he found most dutiful unto him And that they though thereby they might not gain the Kingdom yet they could be contented with their Father's death and that they sought it with danger of their own lives and that this horrible and detestable hatred was now rooted in their hearts And that he having long endured this calamity was now forced to open it unto Caesar and trouble his ears with these complaints And spake after this manner Have I deserved this at their hands what wrong have I done F them or how can they think it reason that I who have exposed my self to so many dangers and undergone so difficult labours for a long time to obtain the Kingdom should not peaceably enjoy the same and suffer me to be Lord of my own Dominions and permit me the liberty to leave it unto him who shall deserve such honour in the best performance of a Son-like duty So that the beholders hereof seeing piety so rewarded might hereby be the more incited hereunto especially seeing that without violating the Law of Nature it is not lawful to think any such thought For no man can affect his Father's Kingdom but he doth also desire his Father's death seeing it is not permitted men to succeed those in the Kingdom who are yet alive He alledged moreover that for his part he had had a care that they should want nothing convenient for a kind G Father to provide for Princely Children neither ornaments nor followers nor delights That also he had provided for them Wives of a Noble Race and had married one of them unto his Sister's Daughter and the other unto Archelaus his Daughter King of Cappadocia And which was the greatest matter of all he had not used the H authority of a Father against them after
these enterprizes but brought them unto Caesar their common benefactor and that forsaking his own right of a Father who had been injured or of a King against whom treason had been wrought he was now content to debate his matter with them before such a Judge as well knew how to decide the thing in question according to right and equity yet requested him that their offence might not be left unpunished nor he forced to lead the rest of his life still in perpetual fear nor suffer them to be so miserable as never to enjoy themselves nor desire to see the light of the Sun after having violated the most sacred Laws of God and nature Herod having with a vehement voice objected these accusations against his Sons before Caesar the two Princes were not able to abstain from tears whilst he was I yet speaking and having ended his speech they wholly burst out into tears not that they were guilty of those impieties laid unto their charge but that they were accused by their Father against whom it was not decent to speak freely for themselves nor expedient to refuse to defend their own cause Alias chap. 9 Wherein they remained doubtful what to do Alexander and Aristobulus moved all that were present even their Father and accuser to tears and compassion moving the auditors to pity them by their tears and lamentations and fearful withal lest it should be thought that their guilty conscience did trouble them that they were not able to speak in their own defence seeing that indeed it was only for want of experience by reason of their tender years Which also Caesar perceived and all that were present were so moved to compassion that neither their Father who was their accuser could refrain from being moved with compassion K CHAP. VIII Of Alexander's defence and how the two Brethren were reconciled to their Father Herod L THen the young Princes perceiving both their Father and Caesar to be mollified and they that were present partly to pity them partly to shed tears of compassion the one of them named Alexander who was the elder directing his speech to his Father began thus to clear himself of the Crimes objected against them Father Alexander speaketh in his own and his Brother's defence how well and friendly minded thou art towards us this present judgment declareth for hadst thou determined any heavy sentence against us thou wouldest not have brought us before him who is the preserver of us all For thou mightest being a King or for thy authority over us as a Father have punished us for our offence according to thy power But in that thou hast brought us to Rome and made Caesar our Judge it is an argument that thou seekest to save us for no man brings any one M to the Temple whom he purposeth to destroy which greatly aggravateth our cause who do censure our selves unworthy to live rather than to incur an opinion of impiety committed against thee such a Father How far more expedient is it to die guiltless than to live suspected of so great an ingratitude Wherefore if God grants us so much success in our defence as to perswade you of the truth we shall not rejoyce so much for having escaped so great a danger as to be found innocent by your judgment for we do not desire to live with the suspicion of those Calumnies It is a probable accusation to accuse our years as having affected the Kingdom and our unfortunate Mother's calamity maketh it seem more probable But consider I beseech thee if the same crime may not as well be framed against any one whomsoever as against us N For any King having children by a Wife that is now dead may if it please him suspect them as practising treason against him their father But suspicion is not sufficient to prove a man impious and guilty Wherefore produce any one that can bring sufficient proof that may induce any moderate Judge to believe that we ever attempted such a horrid Crime Can any man shew that poyson was prepared by us for you or that we conspired with any or that we corrupted any servants with money and gifts or that we writ any letters against thee yet calumny may feign every one of these upon no occasion It is a grievous matter for discord to be in a Princes Court and the hope of Dominion which your Majesty affirmed to be the reward of piety doth often impel mens minds unto hainous offences But although it be most certain that we cannot be convicted of any crime yet how O can we clear our selves from accusations forged against us before them that will not hear us But did we speak some insolent words yet were they not against thee O my father for that had A been impiety but against them who traduced us We bewailed our mother's misfortunes It is true But not because she is dead but because after her death she is evil spoken of by those who ought not to do it We affect the Kingdom of our father he being yet alive Wherein Is not that purpose of ours vain and frivolous we having already been graced with Kingly honours And suppose we were not yet might we hope for them But could we expect them with killing of thee whom both earth and seas would disdain after so execrable an offence Or could we have expected that the loyalty of thy subjects and the laws of our nation would have permitted us having gotten the Kingdom by murthering our father to have enjoyed the same and entred into the holy Temple which thou didst repair Or suppose we despised them all yet could any one that murthered thee escape Caesar being living B The Children by thee begotten are not so impious nor foolish though more unfortunate than thy estate requires And seeing thou hast nothing to accuse us of or nothing to prove any accusation laid unto our charge how canst thou be perswaded that we are guilty of such inhumane acts Is it because our mother was put to death But her death ought rather to have made us more wary than insolent and rash We could speak more in our own defence than this but what need is it to excuse that which was never done Wherefore we beseech Caesar who is Lord of all and now our Judge only this that if thou canst O my father put away out of thy mind all suspicion of us to suffer us to live hereafter how unhappy and unfortunate soever For what is more miserable than to be rashly accused without cause But if thou canst not we living live without fear of us let us die condemned by our own C censure For our lives are not so dear unto us that we desire to keep them to his molestation that bestowed them upon us Caesar with these words though before not greatly crediting such accusations and slanders laid against them was now more moved to believe that they were guiltless and
the rather that fixing his eyes upon Herod he perceived him also to be moved and all that were present were sorry for the young Princes All men do pity the young men So that all who were present censured the King for the absurd and frivolous accusation framed against them their youth and handsomness made all the spectators so concerned at their misfortunes that there was nothing wherein they were not ready to assist them And much more after that Alexander had ingeniously refuted his father's accusations the accused remaining still D in the same posture and place and for grief fixing their eyes upon the ground At last some hope appeared so that the King himself seemed to need some excuse for having so rashly accused his sons without any certain proof of his accusations At last Caesar having a while deliberated with himself Caesar pronounceth the young men herein to have offended that they gave occasion of suspicion and he exhorteth the Father to be reconciled to his Children pronounced that the Princes were innocent of the crimes laid unto their charge Yet herein they were too blame that they had so behaved themselves that they gave their father occasion to suspect them And as for Herod he requested him to lay aside all suspicion and to be reconciled to his Children For it was unjustly done of him to believe such forged accusations against those whom he had begotten that he was fully perswaded that they would prove so dutiful to him for the future that he would not only forget that distaste that they had given E him but that he would also renew his former affection towards them and both parties endeavouring thus to re-establish the friendship and trust that ought to be between so near Relations their union would be greater and more sincere than ever Caesar having thus admonished the young men Herod is reconciled to his Children they prepared themselves to entreat their Father's wonted favour He not expecting so long came and embraced each of them one after another they weeping exceedingly and all those that were present both servants and others did the like Then giving humble thanks unto Caesar they departed together and Antipater with them Antipater friendly doth congratulate his brethren returned into his Fathers favour counterfeiting himself to congratulate their happiness for being reconciled unto his Father Within a few days after Herod gave Caesar three hundred Talents who F was now bestowing his gifts and presents at Rome and exercising his liberality upon the people And Caesar again bestowed upon him half of the revenues out of the Mines of the metal in Cyprus and the other half unto the overseer thereof and gracing him otherwise also Herod did give Caesar 300. talents he gave him leave to chuse which of his sons he pleased for to succeed him in his Kingdom or if he had rather to distribute it amongst them all which Herod presently would have done but Caesar would not permit him affirming that during his life he should keep it all whole and undivided Caesar gave Herod half his revenues out of the Mines of Cyprus and his sons should be subject unto him After this Herod returned again into Judea in whose absence the Trachonites that were no small part of his Kingdom The rebels are conquered were revolted yet by the industry of the Captains G he left to oversee all in his absence they were reduced again and forced to do as they were commanded As Herod and his sons were sailing towards home arriving at Eleusa a City of Cilicia which is now called Sabaste he found Archelaus there who was King of Cappadocia Archelaus did courteously entertain Herod and was very joyful H that his sons and he were made friends and that Alexander his son in Law had so well cleared himself and his brother of the crimes laid unto their charge And so each one bestowing upon the other princely gifts they departed taking their leave one of the other After this Herod being newly returned into Judea and calling the people together into the Temple told them all that had past in his absence from them and the courtesy of Caesar And told them also of other affairs that he thought fit for them to know and turning the latter end of his speech unto his Sons and exhorting the Courtiers and common people to concord he told them that his sons should reign after him and first of all Antipater and after him his sons that he had by Mariamne Alexander and Aristobulus In the mean time every one of them should honour him as King and I Lord notwithstanding his old age which for long experience was the fitter to govern seeing there was nothing in him wanting to keep both his Subjects and Children in their obedience and that the souldiers also if they only respected him should live in all happiness and felicity without molestation Having thus spoken he dismissed the people some thinking he had spoken according to equity others thinking clean contrary For having now as it were caused an emulation amongst his Children there was as it were already a shew of some mutation CHAP. IX K Herod having compleated the building of Caesarea dedicateth it to Augustus and entertaineth the people with stately Plays and Past-times He causeth other Towns to be built and several Monuments His extream Liberality to Strangers and his excessive rigour to his own Subjects ABout this time Caesarea was finished The year of the World 3957. before Christ's Nativity 7. the tenth year after it was begun to be built the 28. year of Herod's Reign in the 192. Olympiad In the dedication hereof there was great pomp and sumptuous preparations For all Musicians were brought thither to strive one with another who was most excellent in their Art and Champions L that wrastled being naked and anointed with oyl Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. al. 10. There was also a great many that fought with swords and a great number of wild Beasts and all things else that at such times were used and in account either at Rome or in other Countreys These sports were also consecrated unto Caesar Caesarea is finished and were to be renewed every fifth year All this provision the King at his own cost and charges provided to be brought from all places whatsoever Quinquennalâ— certamen to shew the greatness of his magnificence Julia Caesar's wife also bestowed much of her own to the furnishing hereof and sent many precious things out of Italy so that the worth of them all amounted to five hundred talents And a great company being gathered together to behold these sports he received all Embassadours sent unto him from other Nations to thank him for the benefits he had bestowed on M them and he lodged feasted and recreated them and being all day long amongst the people to see those sports at night he received them with banquets and shewing them
they were excellent and especially Alexander the eldest of them It had been enough for him suppose he had condemned them either to have kept them in perpetual Prison or banished them into some far Countrey seeing that he was assured of the Roman Power under whose protection he neither needed to have feared invasion nor secret Treason against him For to put them to death only to satisfie his own furious will what else doth it argue but only an impious liberty casting K off all Fatherly humanity and kindness especially seeing that he was aged whose years could neither plead ignorance nor that he was deceived For neither was he the more excused by the delay he used nay it had been a less offence if amazed with some sudden news he had been incited to so hainous an offence But after so long deliberation at last to effect such a matter betokens a bloody mind and hardened in wickedness as he shewed afterwards not sparing the rest whom before he held most dear Who though they were less to be pitied in that they justly suffered yet was it an argument of his like cruelty in that he abstained not from their deaths also But we will speak of this hereafter L M N O A THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK Of the B ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS Written by FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS The Contents of the Chapters of the Seventeenth Book 1. Antipater endeavoureth to hasten his Father's death that he may reign in his place The Children that Herod had by his nine Wives C 2. Of Zamaris a Babilonish Jew a man of singular virtue 3. Antipater Pheroras and his Wife conspire against Herod Salome acquainteth him with it he causeth some Pharisees who were of this Conspiracy to be put to death He endeavoureth to make Pheroras repudiate his Wife but he cannot be perswaded to it 4. Herod sendeth Antipater to Augustus with his Will by which he declareth him his Successor Syllaeus bribeth one of Herod's Guards to kill him but the plot is discovered 5. Pheroras's death D 6. Pheroras's Wife is accused and Herod is advertised of Antipater's Conspiracies 7. Antipater being returned back unto Judaea from Rome is convicted in the presence of Varus Governour of Syria for having endeavoured to poyson the King his Father Herod causeth him to be imprisoned and writeth to Augustus on that Subject 8. The Golden Eagle that Herod had consecrated and fixed on the Portal of the Temple is pulled off the severe punishment that he inflicteth for it The King 's terrible sickness and the cruel orders that he giveth to his Sister Salome and to her husband E 9. Augustus referreth it to Herod to dispose of Antipater as he pleaseth Herod falling into a relapse of his Torments desireth to kill himself Achiavus one of his Grand-children hindreth him It is reported that he is dead Antipater endeavoureth in vain to bribe his Keeper to set him at liberty as soon as Herod heareth of it he sendeth one to kill him 10. Herod altereth his Will declareth Archelaus his Successor he dieth five days after Antipater Herod's glorious Funeral ordained by Archelaus the peoples great acclamation in favour of Archelaus 11. Some Jews who demanded satisfaction for Judas and Matthias and others deaths F whom Herod caused to be burned for having pulled down the Eagle at the Portal of the Temple make an Insurrection which obligeth Archelaus to cause three thousand of them to be put to death He goeth afterwards to Rome to be confirmed King by Augustus His Brother Antipas who pretends to have right to the Crown repaireth thither also the Cause is pleaded before Augustus 12. A great Rebellion in Judea whilest Archelaus was at Rome Varus Governour of Syria stoppeth it Philip Archelaus's Brother goeth also to Rome in hopes to obtain one part of the Kingdom The Jews send Ambassadours to Augustus G to free them from their obedience to Kings and to re-unite them to Syria They complain to him against Archelaus and abhor the memory of Herod 13. Caesar confirms Herod's Testament and appointeth his Children to be his Successors H 14. An Impostor counterfeits himself to be Alexander Herod's Son Augustus finds out the Cheat and sends him to the Galleys 15. Archelaus marrieth Glaphyra his Brother Alexander's Widow Augustus having heard several of the Jews complaints of him confineth him to Vienna in France and uniteth his possessions to Syria Glaphyra's death CHAP. I. I Antipater endeavoureth to hasten his Father's death that he may reign in his place The Children that Herod had by his nine Wives AFter that Antipater had made away his Brothers through the extreme impiety and unbridled fury wherewith Herod their Father was incensed against them yet he did not immediately obtain that which undoubtedly he hoped for For being freed of K that fear he conceived lest his Brothers should be partakers with him in the Kingdom Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1. he found it a difficult and dangerous matter to find the means how to obtain it Antipater after he had made away his Brothers grew hateful both to the Souldiers and the people so strange and hainous a hatred had all the Nation conceived against him On the other side in shewing himself proud and lofty he more and more encreased that hatred which the Souldiers had conceived against him in whom the security of the Kingdom consisted if it should fortune to fall out that the people should attempt any alteration All which mischiefs were procured by his own sins and the unnatural murther of his Brothers Antipater governed the Kingdom with his Father Nevertheless he governed the Kingdom with his Father living only in less Authority than himself Herod also reposed more confidence in L him even in those things for which he was worthy to lose his head For the King conceived that in confirmation of his good affection towards him Antipater had accused his Brethren to continue his Father in security and not for any hatred he bore unto them more than to his Father though indeed he hated them for his Father's sake being transported with fury But all these were but as so many stratagems to insinuate himself into Herod's Counsels and Favours and these did he craftily make use of to cut off the occasion lest any should prevent or accuse him of that which he pretended to do and that Herod might be deprived of all relief if so be that Antipater should beâ—â— his Forces against him Antipater wisheth his Father's death For the Treason he complotted against his Brothers proceeded from the hatred he bare unto his Father But at that time he was the more egged on to prosecute M his intended purposes without any delay For if Herod should happen to die it was most sure that the Kingdom should be his and should his life continue any longer time and the practice Antipater went about should be discovered seeing himself invironed with these dangers he
should be enforced to make his Father his Enemy For which cause he was very liberal to all those that were about his Father Antipater spared no cost to win his Father's friends and through the great gifts he bestowed upon them he extinguished that hatred which all of them bare unto him and above all things he continued himself in credit with those friends which Herod had at Rome by sending them divers Presents and namely Saturninus who was Governour of Syria He hoped also by bribes and rewards to draw his Father's Brother into his faction and to corrupt the King's Sister also who was married to N one of the King 's most esteemed friends in Court He was a subtil and politick man in entertaining those men with colourable shew of friendship with whom he conversed and to draw himself into credit with them he was sufficiently dexterous to dissemble his malice and discontents which he had conceived against any man Notwithstanding all this Antipater could not deceive his Aunt he could not deceive Salome his Aunt who of long time before had sounded his inclinations and who was not so simple as to suffer her self to be deceived but had already by all cunning means that might be prevented his malice although she had a Daughter married unto his Uncle by the Mother's side This Daughter was first of all wedded to Aristobulus and afterwards by Antipater's means to his Uncle For Callaeas her Husband's Son had married the other But neither could this affinity colour the O matter so much but that his malice was discovered neither could that former consanguinity extinguish the deserved hatred conceived against him Herod constrained Salome A who through amorous passion had thought to have married her self to Syllaeus the Arabian to marry with Alexas and that by the mediation and perswasion of Julia Caesar's wife who advised Salome not to refuse that Marriage lest he should prove her mortal enemy for Herod had made an Oath that if Salome condescended not to marry Alexas Herod compelleth Salome to marry Alexas he would never make account of her For which cause she followed Julia's advice who was Caesar's wife and counselled her also to her profit and preferment At the same time Herod sent his Daughter Glaphyra to King Archelaus who had been married to Alexander Glaphyra sometimes Alexander's Wife is sent back to Archelaus King of Cappadocia Hedio and Ruffinus c. 1. presenting him a Dowry out of his own Treasury lest there should any difference arise between them and he himself most carefully brought up his Sons Children For Alexander had two Sons by Glaphyra and Aristobulus begat B on Bernice Salomes Daughter three Sons and two Daughters Sometimes he would recommend them unto his Friends and bewailing the misfortune of his Sons would beseech God that no such ill fortune might befall their children but rather that they might increase in virtue and acknowledge their education and bringing up with all dutiful respects unto their Parents Herod bringeth up his Sons children He provided them also each of them with a wife when they were ready for Marriage Namely the Daughter of Pheroras for the eldest of Alexander's Sons and the Daughter of Antipater for Aristobulus's eldest Son and one of Aristobulus's Daughters was married to Antipater's Son and the other to Herod his own Son whom he had begotten of the Daughter of the High Priest For it is lawful in our Countrey and according to our custom to have divers Wives at one C time The King procured these Marriages through the compassion he had of those Orphans thinking by this mutual Alliance to cause Antipater to be their Friend But Antipater conceived no less hatred toward the children than he had done malice towards their Fathers Antipater hateth his Brothers children For the care that Herod had of them increased his hatred in that he pretended to be the greatest among the Brethren and he especially feared lest when they should grow to mans estate they would resist his power being assisted by King Archelaus as his Sons in Law and Pheroras who was a Tetrarch should do the like for that he had married his Son to Alexander's Daughter And so much the more was he incited because all the people had compassion of these Orphans and had conceived a hatred against him who never ceased to express his malice against his D Brethren Antipater laboureth his Father to break of the Marriages he intended He therefore devised all the means that were possible to disanul the Decrees which his Father had resolved upon to this effect being very loath that they should ever live to be partners with him in the Kingdom So that at last Herod condescended to Antipater's demand which was that he might marry Aristobulus's Daughter and his Son to Pheroras's Daughter and thus were the forementioned Marriages wholly cut off Herod's nine Wives yea even against Herod's former Decree At that time Herod had nine Wives namely Antipater's Mother the High Priests Daughter by whom he had a Son that bare his name and a Daughter of his Brothers and a Cozen of his own by whom he had no children He had another Wife also that by Nation was a Samaritane by whom he had two Sons Antipas and Archelaus and a Daughter called Olympias E who was afterward married to Joseph the Kings Cozen. As for Archelaus and Antipas they were brought up at Rome with a certain private Friend of his Moreover he married one that was called Cleopatra that was born in Jerusalem by whom he had Herod and Philip which Philip was brought up at Rome By Pallas he had Phasaelus by Phedra and Helpia he had two Daughters Roxane and Salome As for his eldest Daughters Alexander's Sisters by the Mothers side whom Pheroras had refused to take in Marriage he match'd the one with Antipater his Sisters Son and the other he wedded to Phasaelus his Brothers Son and this was Herod's Progeny F CHAP. II. Of Zamaris a Babylonish Jew a man of singular virtue AFter this Herod buildeth a Castle in the Region of the Trachonites and maketh Zamaris the Jew that came from Babylon Governour therein intending to assure his Estate in the Countrey of Trachonite he resolved to build a Borough of the bigness of a City in the midst of the Countrey as well to secure his Countrey as to be in better readiness to repulse his Enemies with more expedition And having intelligence that a certain Jew was come from Babylon with five hundred Archers on Horseback and about one hundred of his Kinsmen G and had adventured to pass Euphrates and was in the Countrey adjoyning to Antioch near unto Daphne in Syria where Saturnine General of the Roman Army had given him a Castle called Valatha to inhabit he sent for him and his followers promising to give him both Lands and Lordships in the Segniory of Batanea which H bordereth on
death amongst the Pharisees who were the principal Authors of this Advice and with them also the Eunuch Bagoas and Carus who was his darling and one of the finest men of that time He afterwards cut off all those amongst his houshold Servants who were of the Pharisees Faction for the Pharisees had perswaded Bagoas that this new King whom they prognosticated would not only consider him as his Benefactor and Father but that he himself should also marry and find himself capable to beget Children D But after that Herod had punished those amongst the Pharisees Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. who were convicted to have been of the Conspiracy Herod accuseth Pheroras's Wife and commandeth him to put her away he assembled a Council of his friends before whom he accused Pheroras's Wife and ripped up the injuries that were done unto his Daughters as it hath been declared ascribing the same to the pride of this woman objecting it for a crime against her for having injured his Honour Besides this he accused her that she had of set purpose stirr'd up Mutinies and by all means possible both in words and deeds contrary to all Law of Nature stirred up debate betwixt him and his Brother and that the Fine that he had imposed upon his Adversaries was satisfied at her charge so that no jot of that Conspiracy was contrived without her consent For which causes said he Brother Pheroras it shall not be amiss for you of your own accord E to drive such a wretched woman from you before you be requested and the Sentence be pronounced against her otherwise she will be the cause to kindle a War betwixt you and me For if you will continue the Friendship and Brotherhood betwixt you and me seperate your self from her In so doing I will account you for my Brother and you shall lose nothing by the affection which I bear unto you For the bond of Brotherly love cannot continue safe and inviolable unless you put her away Now although Pheroras was moved with the importance and weight of this discourse Pheroras refuseth to put away his Wife yet he said that for the love he bare unto his Wife he would forget nothing of that duty which Consanguinity required at his hands in regard of his Brother but that he had rather die than live without her company Herod interdicteth Pheroras and Antipater their privy meetings and forbiddeth the Ladies no less whom he loved more dearly than his life Herod although he took this answer F of his Brother 's for a most grievous injury yet forbare he to discover his displeasure towards him He only forbad Antipater and his Mother and in like manner Pheroras to frequent the one with the other any more He commanded the women likewise that they should give over their familiar entertainments the one with the other which all of them promised to perform Yet this notwithstanding upon fit opportunities and occasions they visited one another and Antipater and Pheroras feasted one another by night The report also went that Antipater had the company of Pheroras's Wife and that his Mother was the means and instrument of their privy meeting G CHAP. IV. H Herod sendeth Antipater to Augustus with his Will by which he declareth him his Successor Syllaeus bribeth one of Herod's Guards to kill him but the plot is discovered ANtipater suspecting his Father's distastes Herod sendeth Antipater to Caesar and fearing lest his hatred should bring him into hazard he wrote unto his friends in Rome requiring them to write their Letters unto Herod requesting him to send Antipater unto Caesar with all expedition as was possible Which being brought to pass Herod sent him thither with divers Royal I Presents and gave him his Testament and Will with him wherein he had bequeathed the Kingdom to Antipater And if it should happen that Antipater should die before him then he bequeathed the same to his Son Herod whom he had by the High Priest's Daughter About the same time Syllaeus the Arabian repaired to Rome notwithstanding he had neglected those things which Caesar had commanded him Antipater accused him before Caesar Antipater accuseth Syllaeus at Rome before Caesar for the same faults wherewith he was charged by Nicholaus Syllaeus also was accused by Aretas for murthering divers of the best account in the City of Petra countrary to his mind amongst the which was Sohemus a man of much virtue and honour and Probatus Aretas accuseth Syllaeus for killing Probatus and others Caesar's Servant of which Crimes Syllaeus was accused upon this occasion which ensueth There was a certain man of K Corinthus who was one of the King's Guard and one he put very great trust in Syllaeus perswaded him by store of money and Bribes to kill Herod which he promised to perform Probatus made privy to Syllaeus's mind he presently told it to the King who caused him to be apprehended and tortured A Traytor that sought the King's death is apprehended who confessed the whole matter He laid hands also on two Arabians perswaded by this Corinthian's confession one of which was a man of Command in his Countrey and the other was Syllaeus's chief friend They being examined confessed that they came thither to solicite with many exhortations the Corinthian to execute the murther and to assist him if he stood in need of them Which being fully proved by Herod before Saturnine he sent them to Rome there more amply to be proceeded against and so to be punished L CHAP. V. Pheroras's death HErod perceiving that his Brother Pheroras did constantly continue his affection towards his Wife he commanded him to retire himself into his own Dominions whereupon he willingly departed to his Tetrarchy An Oath solemnly observed protesting by many solemn Oaths that he would never more return into the City unless he were assured that Herod was M dead Not long after it hapned that the King fell sick he was sent for to receive certain secret instructions as from the mouth of a dying man but Pheroras would not obey him in regard of his Oath Notwithstanding Herod dealt more kindly with him and continued his love and affection towards him Pheroras in his Sickness is visited by Herod and being dead is honourably buried by him for he came to Pheroras as soon as he heard of his first Sickness without being sent for And after he was deceased he sent his body to Jerusalem and honourably entombed him in that place and grievously lamented his death This was the beginning of Antipater's mis-haps who at that time was gone to Rome For it was God's pleasure that at last he should be punished for the murther of his Brethren I will discourse of this at large that it may serve for an example to many Kings how they ought to practice and follow Virtue in all their N actions CHAP. VI. Pheroras's Wife is accused and Herod is
advertised of Antipater's Conspiracies AFter Pheroras's death Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. two of his Freemen who were Taphnites by birth and such as Pheroras in his life time Pheroras's Free-men accuse his Wife for poysoning him both only trusted and dearly loved came unto Herod requiring him not to suffer his Brother's death to pass unpunished but to O make diligent enquiry of that unfortunate and unexpected disastre Herod gave ear to their suit perceiving that the matters they importuned him in were likely and very A credible Whereupon they told him that Pheroras the day before his unexpected sickness had supt with his Wife and that having received an unaccustomed Poyson with his meat he was dead That this Poyson had been brought thither by a woman of Arabia who in her speech protested that it was some Potion to encrease love but in effect it was to bring Pheroras to his end For the women of Arabia amongst all others are skilful in Poysons and are great Sorcerers and she that was charged with this fact was esteemed a great friend and favourer of Syllaeus's best beloved That Pheroras's Mother and his Wife's Sister went into those Quarters on purpose to buy that Poyson and returned back and brought this woman with them the day before the Supper Herod tortureth the Ladies Bond-women and soundeth out Antipater's and their secrets The King moved by these words of theirs tortured both those Maid-servants B of theirs who were their Bond-women as also certain other of their free servants Now when the fact could not be extorted by reason that none of them confessed it at length she that was last of all put to her tryal overcome by the pains she endured said nothing else but that she prayed God that Antipater's Mother might feel the like torments since she was the cause of all these mischiefs which they endured These words of hers made Herod the more eager and inquisitive so that by force of tortures he wrought out all the secrets of these women their Banquets their secret Assemblies and those very words that Herod had spoken apart betwixt his Son and himself which had been reported unto the women that Pheroras entertained namely C that he would give him one hundred Talents provided that he would use no conference with Pheroras Moreover they reckoned up the hatred that Antipater bare unto his Father the complaints that he made unto his Mother of the too long life and continuance of his Father for that in regard of himself he was already grown old so that although the Kingdom should fall into his hands presently yet he could receive but very little contentment thereby Moreover he alledged that divers Brothers and Brothers Children were brought up together with him so that he might not securely hope for any thing for that already if he should fortune to die the Kingdom was to descend not to his Son but to his Brother Besides this he was accustomed to accuse the King of divers cruelties committed by him and of that murther which he executed D upon the persons of his Children That for fear lest he should practice his Tyranny against those that remained Antipater had found out the device to be summoned to Rome and Pheroras withdrew himself into his Tetrarchy These words which as he knew had reference to that which his Sister had often informed him of were not by him held incredible so that being pressed with the malice of Antipater Herod thrusted Doris Antipater's Mother out of his Palace he sequestred Doris his Mother from his presence robbing her before her departure of all her Jewels which were valued at many Talents and from that time forward he shewed himself more favourable towards those women of Pheroras's houshold But nothing did more whet Herod's displeasure against Antipater than did a certain Samaritan Antipater the Samaritan declareth how Antipater the King's Son had provided Poyson for his Father who was also called Antipater who had the ordering of E the Affairs of Antipater the King's Son For he being brought in question and tortured declared among other things that Antipater had mixed a mortal Poyson and delivered the same to Pheroras his Uncle commanding him to practice the King's death in his absence and by that means least suspected That this Poyson was brought out of Egypt by one called Antiphilus Antipater's friend That it was sent to Pheroras by one called Theudion Antipater's Mother's Brother That this Poyson was kept by Pheroras's Wife Pheroras's Wife confesseth that she hath the Poyson and casts her self down headlong from the Roof and was committed by her Husband to her custody She being examined by the King hereupon confessed no less and hasting forth as if she intended to fetch the same she cast her self down headlong from the top of the house yet she did not kill her self because she fell upon her feet After she was recovered out of her swoun and the King F had promised all security both to her self and her Family if so be she would discover the truth and contrariwise threatned her with extreme torments if she obstinately continued in concealing these Treasons She sware she would discover all things according as they were acted and as many men thought at that time she told nothing but the truth That Poyson said she was brought by Antiphilus out of Egypt and bought there by the means of a Brother of his who was a Physician After this Theudion brought it to our house and I having received it from Pheroras 's hands kept the same but bought by your Son Antipater to poyson you that are his Father Now therefore after that my Husband fell sick and you in kindness came to visit and comfort him he being moved with compassion and conquered by your brotherly kindness G and by your good affection and loving care in giving order for his health called me unto him and said Oh Wife Antipater hath circumvented me whilst by his pestilent counsels and poysoning practices he desireth to cut off his Father and deprive me of a kind Brother Now therefore since I perceive there is no part of my Brother's love and H natural affection diminished towards me wherewith he was wont to entertain me and that my last hour of life approacheth God forbid that being ready to sleep with my Fore-fathers I should present them with a Ghost soil'd and sweltered in my Brother's blood Dispatch therefore and burn this poyson before mine eyes Hereupon said she I presently brought it forth according as my Husband commanded me and burnt the greatest part of the Poyson and the rest I have reserved that if after my Husband's death your Majesty should use me unkindly it might serve me to escape those extremities that would betide me After she had spoken thus she brought forth before them the Poyson and the box wherein it was kept The year of the World 3962. before Christ's Nativity 2. After her
effect That he should take heed that he returned not into the Countrey because his Father was made privy to all his practices and that for the present he had no other refuge but only to Caesar and to take care likewise lest he should fall into his Fathers hands Hereupon Antipater humbling himself on his knees before the King his Father besought him not to condemn him before his cause was heard but to suspend his judgment until such time as he had heard his justifications But Herod after he had commanded him to E withdraw himself into the midst of the Court and Assembly deplored his infelicity in begetting such Children and bewailed his mishap that in his old age he was reserved for an Antipater Antipater accused by Herod After this he reckoned up his cares in their education and institution and how bountifully he had bestowed upon him as much riches as he required he added that none of all these favours could preserve him from falling into the hazard of losing his life by their policy that they might unjustly possess the Kingdom before either the Law of Nature or the will of their Father or their own rights could challenge the same But above all the rest he wondred at Antipater with what hope he could possibly be puffed up to attempt so audacious and wicked an enterprize For by his Testament he had made him the Heir of his Kingdom and in his life time also had made him his equal in Dignity F Glory and Power That he received yearly fifty talents of revenue and to furnish his voyage for Rome had three hundred talents given him Moreover he accused him for his slanderous accusations against his murthered and slaughtered Brothers Who if they had been wicked why did he imitate them But if they were innocent why without cause produced he is slanderous accusations against those who were his natural Brethren For in his own respect he had never found any thing against them but by his report neither had be given Sentence against them but by Antipaters advice who for the present were absolved by him because he was become the Author of their Parricide In uttering these words he began to weep being unable to insist any further for which cause he besought Nicholaus Damascene who was his dear friend and conversed ordinarily G with him and was privy to all that which had passed to prosecute the rest of his Indictment But Antipater turning himself towards his Father began to justifie himself urging the same Testimonies and Favours that his Father had shewed unto him and the H honours he had received at his hands which he would never have shewed him if he had been unworthy of the same and had not by his virtue deserved these favours He alledged also that by his virtue he had prevented all that which might have happened and that where the cause required his labour or diligence Antipater's answer to his Father's objection he dispatched all things with his own industry that it was unlikely that he who had delivered his Father from those Treasons which were intended against him by other men should himself attempt the like And as far from probability that he should go to extinguish that virtue whereof even until that day he had given testimony to the end that always hereafter he might be defamed for such baseness For long before this time he was named and entitled to succeed him and to enjoy those very honours whereof already he enjoyed no small part whereby he protested I that it was unlikely that he who might enjoy the half of all that his Father had in all security vertue and honour should desire the whole with infamy and danger yea and with an uncertainty to obtain the same that the punishment which had befallen his Brothers whom he had disclosed and accused at such time as they were hidden was procured by him who if he had pleased might have concealed them and whose wickedness towards their Father after it was proved he himself had revenged upon them Neither as he said repented he himself of that which he had done for that action of his might be an argument to prove how incorruptly he loved his Father And as touching that which he had dealt in at Rome Caesar himself was witness thereof who could be no more deceived than God himself whereof those Letters bore record which were written by him which in K equity should be of no less force than the slanders of those who sought to set them at odds The most part of which objections and reproaches had been complotted and devised by his enemies who have had the leysure to pursue the same during his absence which they could not have performed in his presence At length he pleaded that all those Confessions were false which were extorted by torture in that it ordinarily falleth out that such as are put to the tryal confess many things by force of torment that are untrue to satisfie them that put them thereto Briefly without all favour he offered himself to the Rack in justification of his Innocency Upon these Protestations all the Council and Assistants were confounded For all of them had great compassion of Antipater who was wholly drowned in his tears so that his very enemies began to pity him And Herod himself L made it appear that he seemed in some sort to be altered in his opinion notwithstanding he endeavoured to conceal the same But Nicholaus Nicholaus Damascene prosecuteth the King's Accusation according as he was requested prosecuted that Accusation which the King had begun urging all things to the uttermost and producing all the Witnesses and those manifest Proofs that were gathered from their Examinations that were tortured Especially he discoursed at large of the King's Virtue which he had fatherly expressed in the education and instruction of his Children for which he had been so unkindly and unnaturally requited Moreover that his first Children's foolish rashness was not so much to be wondred at for that being young they had been corrupted by the malice of their Counsellors and had blotted out of their hearts all tue Laws of M Nature rather through ambition of Rule than desire of Riches But that Antipater's boldness was both wonderful and wicked who more cruel than the cruelest Beasts who towards their Benefactors acknowledge each good turn was nothing mollified by his Father 's so great indulgence nor terrified by his Brother's calamity but must needs emulate them in their cruelty And thou thy self said he O Antipater wert the Judge of their attempted Treasons by thy inquisition they were indicted thou didst execute the justice against them being convicted Neither do we disallow that thou didst prosecute them with just indignation but rather admire thee for that thou imitatest their intemperance And we easily gather that those acts of thine were not attempted for thy Father's security but intended for thy Brother's overthrow
appear to the end that a man may know that neither the number of Children nor any other humane force whatsoever it be can be available without the fear of God considering that within the space of one hundred years or somewhat E less it fell out that all Herod's Line which was very populous and fruitful was extinguished a very few excepted Whereby we are given to understand what the misery of Mankind is and learn to moderate our selves It is also expedient to speak something of Agrippa who amongst all other deserveth admiration that being a man wholly in Obscurity and base in Birth he was exalted to such greatness as no one of those that knew him would ever have thought his Fortune should have such success and power And although heretofore I have spoken somewhat of this matter yet it is requisite that I speak something more expresly thereof in this place Herod the Great had two Daughters born by by Mariamne Hircanus's Daughter The one of them which was called Salampso was married by Herod to Phasaelus the Son of Phasaelus F Herod's Brother The other called Cypros was married to Antipater her Cousin who was Salome's Son who was Herod's Sister Phasaelus had five Children by Salampso three Sons Antipater Herod and Alexander and two Daughters Alexandria and Cypros whom Agrippa the Son of Aristobulus married and Alexandria was married to Timaeus of Cyprus who was a man of great dignity and with whom she died without Issue Cypros had by Agrippa her Husband two Sons and three Daughters Bernice Mariamne and Drusilla their two Sons were called Agrippa and Drusus Drusus died very young but Agrippa was Brought up by his Grandfather amongst his other Brethren Herod Aristobulus and Bernice These were Herod's Children Son unto him who was surnamed the Great Bernice was Costobarus's Daughter begotten G on Salome Herod's Sister Aristobulus died leaving his Children under age under his Father's charge with Alexander his Brother as we have already related These attaining their full age were thus married Herod Brother to Agrippa was matched with Mariamne Olympias's Daughter who was Herod the Great his Daughter and of Joseph H Herod's Brother by her he had his Son Aristobulus Aristobulus Agrippa's third Brother married Jotape the Daughter of Sampsigeram King of the Emesenians They had a Daughter which likewise was called Jotape which was deaf These were the Children begotten by Herod's three Sons But Herodias their Sister married Herod the Son of Herod the Great whom he begot on Mariamne the Daughter of Simon the High Priest by whom Salome was begotten After her birth Herodias in contempt of the Laws of the Countrey married her self with Herod her Husband's Brother begotten of the same Father being separated from him during his life time who was Tetrarch of Galilee His Daughter Salome was married to Philip the Tetrarch of Trachonitis Herod's Son Who dying without Children Aristobulus married her who was I Herod's Son and Agrippa's Brother They had three Sons Herod Agrippa and Aristobulus See here the Posterity of Phasaelus and Salampson Antipater by Cypros had a Daughter that likewise was called Cypros which was married to Alexas Selcius the Son of Alexas of whom he begat a Daughter called likewise Cypros As for Herod and Alexander who as I said were Antipater's Brothers they died without Issue Alexander Herod's Son who was killed by his Father begat Alexander and Tigranes on the Daughter of Archelaus King of Cappadocia Tigranes being King of Armenia died without Issue after he had been accused at Rome Alexander had a Son called Tigranes after his Brother's name who was sent by Nero to reign in Armenia who had a Son called Alexander who married Jotape the Daughter of Antiochus King of Comagena K This Alexander by Vespasian was elected King in Lesis a City of Cilicia As soon as Alexander's Posterity began to multiply they fell from their Countrey-Religion to â—â—llow the customs of the Greeks All the rest of King Herod's Daughters died withâ—â—â— issue Having after this manner reckoned up Herod's Posterity which continued â—â—â—il such time that Agrippa the Great began to reign It remaineth at this time to declare what adventures befel this Agrippa and how he escaping his dangers obtained at last so great Power ad Dignity 〈…〉 â—tained great Dignity and Power CHAP. VIII L By what several Accidents of Fortune Agrippa surnamed the Great who was Aristobulus's Son and Herod the Great 's Grand-child and Mariamne's was made King of the Jews by the Emperour Caius Caligula as soon as he had succeded Tyberius SOme little time before the death of King Herod Agrippa living at Rome through his lavish Liberality groweth into Necessity Agrippa was gone to Rome where he came very well acquainted with Drusus Tyberius the Emperour's Son and was beloved of Antonia the Wife of Drusus the Elder by the means of his Mother Bernice whom Antonia held in great esteem and to whom she had recommended M her Son And whereas by nature he was of a liberal and generous spirit as long as his Mother lived he would not discover his inclination lest he should provoke her displeasure against him But immediately after Bernice was dead and he became his own Master partly by his daily and bountiful entertainment and living partly by his immoderate Liberalities but especially by his lavish Prodigality towards Caesar's Free men whose favour he hunted after he was brought into extream Poverty and could no more live at Rome the rather for that Tiberius having lost his Son forbad his friends to come into his sight lest their presence should refresh and encrease the sorrow he conceived for the loss of his Son For these causes he returned back into Judaea having but badly ordered his Affairs Agrippa bethinketh himself how he might shorten his miserable life spent his money and left himself no means to satisfie N his importunate and many Creditors For which cause uncertain how to dispose of himself and ashamed of his present estate he withdrew himself into a Castle called Malatha in Idumaea to pass away obscurely and miserably the rest of his time Which purpose of his Cypros Agrippa's Wife certifieth Herodias his Sister of his Poverty and requireth her assistance when Cypros his Wife perceived she endeavoured by all means to prevent his resolution She wrote to Herodias his Sister who was married to Herod the Tetrarch acquainted her both what Agrippa had decreed as also by what necessity he was enforced thereunto and she exhorted her that in regard of affinity she would assist him and imitate her in this who as much as in her lay relieved his misery although her Fortunes were far weaker than hers Being therefore sent for by his Sister and Wife Agrippa dwelleth at Tiberias he was commanded to dwell in Tiberias and had a certain Summ of Money O assigned him for his maintenance and for his greater honour was appointed Magistrate of
saluted in the Theatre for a God and spieth the Owl which the German foretold him of that five days after he should die Whereupon a company of base Sycophants whose flatteries do usually poyson the hearts of Princes cried out thus Be merciful unto us hitherto we have feared thee as a man but hence-forward we will confess and acknowledge thee to be of a Nature more excellent than Mortal Frailty can attain unto Agrippa reproved them not for using these words neither rejected he their palpable and detestable Flattery as he ought to have done But not long after he looking upwards perceived an Owl over his head pearched upon a cord and knew presently that he was but I a messenger of his misfortune whereas formerly he had denounced unto him his felicity and conceived thereupon a most hearty and inward grief And suddenly he was seized with a terrible griping in his belly which began with very great vehemency For which cause turning his eyes towards his friends he spake unto them after this manner Behold him said he whom you esteem for a God condemned to die and destiny shall apparently convince you of those flattering and false speeches which you have lately used in my behalf For I who by you have been adored as one immortal am under the hands of death But I must willingly entertain that which God pleaseth to send me For I have 〈◊〉 lived in obscurity but in so great and wonderful felicity that each one of you have held me happy K Whilst he spake thus his griefs augmented in such sort that he was brought almost to his last for which cause he was with all expedition conveyed into his Royal Palace and the rumour was spread in every place that very shortly he would be dead For which cause the people with their Wives and Children put on Sack-cloth according to the custom of the Countrey to the end they might solicit God's Mercy on the King's behalf and all the City was filled with tears and lamentations The King that lay in an upper Chamber and looking down into the Court saw them lying thus on the earth could not refrain from tears And after he had for the space of five days without ceasing been tormented with griping in his belly he gave up the Ghost in the fifty fourth year of his Age and the seventh year of his Reign for he had reigned four years under the Empire of Caius Caesar having first of all governed Philip's Tetrarchy I three years to which was added the Segniory of Herod in the fourth year and three years under the Empire of Claudius Caesar during which time he governed over the above-named Countreys and moreover over Judaea Samaria and Caesarea His Revenue amounted to twelve hundred Myriades The year of the World 4009. after Christ's Nativity 47. besides which he made many Loans For in regard he was very liberal in giving he spent far more than his Revenue and spared not any thing to shew himself magnificent Before the people knew of his death Herod his Brother Prince of Chalcis and Chelcias the King's Lieutenant and Friend agreed between themselves to send Aristo 1200 Myriades amount to 15 Tuns of Gold one of their trustiest Servants to kill Silas who was their enemy as if they had been commanded by the King M Thus died King Agrippa leaving behind him a Son called Agrippa seventeen years old Herod the Prince of Chalcis and Chelcias kill Silas and three Daughters one of which that was called Bernice was married to Herod his Father's Brother when she was sixteen years old The two other were Mariamne and Drusilla this Mariamne being of the age of ten years was promised in marriage by her Father Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. alias chap. 9. to Julius Archelaus Chelcias's Son and Drusilla which was six years old was promised also to Epiphanes Son to the King of Comagena After Agrippa's death Agrippa's Children alive they of Caesarea and Sebaste forgot those benefits they had received from him and used him no less despightfully than as if he had been their utter enemy The Caesareans and Sebastians revile Agrippa being dead For they reproachfully abused him after his death and reviled him in such sort that it is unseemly to report the same Moreover all the Soldiers who were at N that time many in number went into the King's Lodging and with one accord seized the Statues of the King's Daughters and carried them to the Brothel-house where after they had placed them they uttered all the indignities they could possibly practising such shameful matters as they may not be expressed Besides this resting themselves in the publick places they banquetted in the open Street wearing Chaplets of Flowers on their heads and perfuming themselves with Odours to sacrifice to Charon drinking to one another for joy that the King was dead Thus they expressed their ingratitude not only towards their King Agrippa who had bestowed so many Liberalities on them but also towards Herod his Grand-father who had builded their Cities and to his extream charge Agrippa Agrippa 's Son erected their Ports and Temples At that time Agrippa the deceased Agrippa's Son was at Rome and was brought up under the Emperour Claudius O When Caesar understood how those of Caesarea and Sebaste had injuriously dealt with A Agrippa he was highly displeased and moved with their ingratitude And his purpose was to send the younger Agrippa with all expedition to take Possession of the Kingdom of his Father and therewithal to discharge him of his Oath but divers of his Free-men and Friends who were in great credit with him disswaded him from it alledging that it would be a dangerous thing to commit the greatness of such a Kingdom to a young man Claudius intendeth to send young Agrippa into his Father's Kingdom but is disswaded and sendeth Caspius Fadus for President into Judaea and those parts who scarcely had as yet attained to the age of eighteen years and for whom it was impossible to support the care of so great a Kingdom considering that if he were at man's estate he should find himself over-burthened with the charge of a Kingdom This advice of theirs was approved by Caesar and for this cause he sent Cuspius Fadus to govern Judaea and the whole Realm honouring his dead Friend in B this in that he would not suffer Marsus who had been his Enemy to enter into his Kingdom He gave especial Commission also that Fadus should sharply punish those of Caesarea and Sebaste for the injuries they offered to his deceased Friend and the excess that was committed against his Daughters who were yet living commanding him to transport the Companies of the Caesarians and Sebastens and the five Roman Legions into the Countrey of Pontus to serve in that place and to take those Roman Soldiers that bare Arms in Syria to serve there Yet notwithstanding this Command they were not displaced
due justice on those whom he found guilty of that sedition Claudius favourably gave ear to this request and hearing the whole matter he found that the Samaritans were the first Authors of all those mischiefs and caused them to be put to death who came before him to plead and banished Cumanus he gave order also that Captain Celer should be sent back to Jerusalem and that there in sight of all the people he should be dragged about the City until he died He sent Claudius E Foelix Pallas Brother to govern Judaea In the twelfth year of his Reign Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. aliàs 13. he gave Agrippa Philip's Tetrarchy with Batanea and besides that added thereunto Trachonitis and Abila which in time past appertained to Lysanias Tetrarchy Claudius Felix Governour of Judea taking from this the Province of Chalcis which he had governed for the space of four years After that Agrippa had obtained this gift at Caesar's hands he married his sister Drusilla to Azizus King of the Emessenians who consented to be circumcised Drusilla because Epiphanes King Antiochus Son would not give ear unto the marriage for that he refused to entertain the Religion of the Jews although in times past he had promised his Father no less Mariamne He gave Mariamne to Archelaus Chelcias Son who by her Fathers consent was formerly promised him on whom he begat a F Daughter called Bernice A little after this the Marriage of Azizus and Drusilla was broken off on this occasion following Felix getteth Drusilla from her husband When Felix governed Jewry he saw Drusilla and fell in love with her she surpassing all other women in Beauty He therefore sent a certain Magician called Simon who was born in Cyprus and one of his greatest friends among the Jews who perswaded her to forsake her first Husband and to marry Felix giving her to understand that she should be happy if she refused not this match She unadvised and resolved to rid her self from the hatred which her Sister Bernice bare towards her who hated her in regard of her beauty and for this cause ceased not to injure her condescended to forsake the Religion of the Jews and to marry Felix by whom she had a Son called Agrippa whose death hereafter I will G declare and how in the Emperour Titus's his time he died and was burned in the fire of the Mountain Vesuvius with his Wife Bernice remained a Widow very long after Herod's death who was both her Uncle and her Husband and the report was that she had the company of her Brother At length she wrought so much that H Polemon King of Cilicia caused himself to be circumcised to the end he might marry her purposing by that means to make it known how falsly she had been accused Whereunto Polemon gave ear because she was rich But this Marriage continued not any long time Polemon King of Cilicia marrieth Bernice For Bernice through her impudency as it is reported abandoned Polemon who giving over that Marriage forsook also the Religion of the Jews At the same time Mariamne having forsaken Archelaus her Husband married Demetrius one of the chiefest Jews that were in Alexandria Mariamne scorning Archelaus marrieth Demetrius both in regard of his descent as also his riches who at that time also exercised the office of Alubarcha that is to say the Governour of Arabia She caused the Son she had by him to be called Agrippinus But of all this I will speak more exactly hereafter I The Emperor Claudius died after he had reigned thirteen years Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. aliàs 15. eight moneths and twenty days Some say that he was poysoned by Agrippina his wife the daughter of Germanicus Claudius's Brother She was first married to Domitius Aenobarbus one of the greatest men of Rome after whose death and long Widowhood she was at length married to Claudius Agrippina Messalina and Paetina Claudius 's Wives into whose house she brought her Son called Domitius by his own Fathers name Claudius had put Messalina his wife to death for the jealousie he had of her although he had had children by her namely Britannicus and Octavia And for his daughter Antonia who was eldest of all his children and begotten on Paetina one of his former Wives she was married to Nero whom Claudius so named and adopted for his Son Agrippina fearing lest Britanicus growing to mans K estate should succeed his Father in the Empire and desirous to make her own Son Emperour as is reported she left nothing unattempted that might bring her Husband to his death an presently sent Burrus who was General of the Army with some other Captains Nero Emperor and those of the greatest power among his free-men to bring Nero into the field and to proclaim him Emperour He being thus established in the Empire caused Britannicus to be secretly poysoned and not long after this he openly caused his Mother to be put to death yielding her this recompence not only for that she had born him in her womb but also because by her means he had obtained the Empire The year of the World 4019. after Christ's Nativity 57. He likewise murthered Octavia his wife the Emperor Claudius's daughter and divers other Noble men under colour of some Conspiracy intended against L him But I will not prosecute this matter for that there are divers who have writ Nero's History Nero a tyrant of whom some have no regard of the truth but have spoken at their pleasure Nero's tyranny for that he had been their Benefactor others transported with hatred and despite against him having not been ashamed to punish such impudent lies against his renown that they deserve to be condemned Neither do I wonder that they have invented so many lyes against Nero considering that in those Histories which they wrote of the former Emperours they have not studied to speak truth although they had not any occasion to hate them considering that they lived a long time after their death For my own part I am resolved never to deviate from the truth contenting my self to touch only by the way those things that concern my M purpose neither will I treat in particular but of what relateth to my Country without dissembling our own faults any more than the afflictions that they brought upon us I will therefore return to the discovery of our affairs Azizus King of Emesene being dead the first year of the Emperour Nero's reign his Brother obtained the Kingdom Aristobulus the son of Herod King of Chalcis had the Government of the lesser Armenia from Nero who gave Agrippa a certain portion of Galilee commanding those of Tiberias and Tarichaea to live under him Besides this he gave him Julias situate beyond Jordan with fourteen Burroughs near adjoyning thereunto N CHAP. VI. Foelix Governour of Judaea causeth Eleazar the High Priest to be murthered and his
was said he mocked So that in every thing he found his Father's affection turned from him and that he was only favourable to Antipater so that he would die with all his heart if he failed of his purpose If he killed him his Father-in-law Archelaus would afford him safety to whom he might easily flee And after he would go to Caesar who as yet knew not Herod's manners and he would not stand before him then as he did L before terrified because his Father was present neither would he only speak of his own wrongs but of the wrongs of the whole Nation who were oppressed by exactions even to the death And then he would lay open on what pleasures and after what sort the money gotten with Blood was consumed and who and what kind of men they were that were thereby enriched and what was the cause of the affliction of the City and there he would bewail the death of his Unkle and his Mother and unfold all Herod's wickedness which being once made manifest to the World no man would account him a Murtherer of his Father Eurycles having falsly reported this of Alexander to Herod fell presently to praise and extol Antipater affirming that he only loved his Father and hindred such practices M The King Another false Accusation of Alexander and his Brother moves Herod to indignation yet not throughly appeased for that which was past grew into exceeding fury and Antipater again suborned other false Witnesses against him who affirmed that they were wont to have secret talk with Jucundus and Tyrannus who sometimes were Officers of the King's Cavalry and now displaced for some offence they had committed Whereupon Herod being very angry presently tortured them and they affirmed Diophantus the King's Notary writeth feigned Letters in Alexander's name that they were ignorant of all that which was laid to their charge But there was found and brought to the King a Letter pretended to be written by Alexander to the Governour of the Castle of Alexandrium requesting him that he would receive him and his Brother Aristobulus into the Castle when he had killed his Father and to assist them both with Arms and other Necessaries Alexander affirmed N that this Letter was counterfeited by Diophantus the King's Secretary who was both malicious and could counterfeit any one's hand and who afterwards having counterfeited many was at last for the same put to death Herod caused the Governour of the Castle to be tortured but he confessed nothing that was laid against him and although he had no good proof of any thing yet he commanded his two Sons to be kept in hold He likewise termed Eurycles who was the Incendiary of his house and the breeder of all the mischief Author of his safety and one who had well deserved at his hands and gave him fifty Talents Who departing from Judaea before matters were well known went to Archelaus and feigning that he had reconciled Alexander and Herod he received there a piece of money O From thence he went into Achaia and spent that which he had evilly got in as bad manner as he had got it Lastly he was accused to Caesar that he had caused dissension A in all Achaia and spoiled the Cities for which cause he was banished And this was the punishment that was inflicted upon him for his treachery to Alexander and Aristobulus It is not amiss here in this place to compare Avaratus of Cous unto this Eurycles who being a dear friend to Alexander Cous Evaratus and arriving about the same time that Eurycles did being put to his Oath sware that he heard the young men say nothing though indeed his Oath nothing prevailed nor profited them for Herod would only hear and give ear to Accusations and he highly esteemed them that would believe them with him and shew themselves moved thereat Moreover Ant. lib. 16. cap. 12. Salome encreased his rage against his Sons for Aristobulus minding to B engage her to assist him being his Mother-in-law and his Aunt sent to her to look to her self as though the King was minded to put her to death because it was reported to him that she purposed to marry with the King's enemy Syllaeus the Arabian to whom she privily revealed the King's Secrets This was the utter ruine of the young men Herod by Salome's counsel imprisoneth his Sons wherewith they were overthrown as it were with a violent Tempest For presently Salome went to the King and told him of what Aristobulus had admonished her And he becoming outrageous caused both his Sons to be bound and imprisoned in several places Then he he sent Volumnius General of his Army and Olympus one of his familiar Friends The year of the World 3961. before Christ's Nativity 1. to Caesar to carry the Informations against his Sons in writing who sailing to Rome after their arrival delivered the King's Letters And Caesar was very sorry C for the young men yet he permitted the Father to do what he would to his Children and so writ to him that he should have license to do what he thought good Yet he signified to him that he should do better to call his Nobles together and let them make enquiry concerning the Treasons and then if he found them guilty of those things whereof they were accused to put them to death Hereupon Herod Ant. lib. 16. cap. 13. according to Caesar's direction went to to Berytum and there gathered an Assembly to sit in Judgment Herod gathereth a Council against Alexander and Aristobulus the chief in that Judgment were the Governnours that Caesar in his Letters appointed Saturninus and Pedanius presided and with them Volumnius Intendant of the Province next the King's Kindred and Salome and Pheâ—oras and then the Nobility of Syria Archelaus only excepted who D because he was Father-in-law to his Son Herod suspected him to be partial But he suffered not his Sons to come into Judgment for he knew that the very sight of them would have moved all men to compassion And moreover if they were permitted to speak for themselves that Alexander would easily have acquitted them both For which cause they were kept in Platan Herod accuseth his Sons in open Judgment a Village of Sidonia The King beginning his Oration was as vehement as though they had been present against whom he spake But he was half afraid to object any Treason against them because he had no proof thereof and therefore he aggravated their opprobrious words injuries and offences which they had committed against him which he affirmed to be more unsufferable than death E At last when no man contradicted him he began to complain of their silence Herod's sentence against his Sons which seemed to condemn him and thereupon requested every one to give their verdict And first of all Saturninus condemned his Sons but not to die saying that he had three Sons present and he
could not be so severe as to judge other men's Sons to death The two other Delegates also affirmed the same and some others followed their advice But Volumnius was the first that pronounced the sorrowful Sentence after whom all the rest followed some to flatter Herod some for hatred they bare him but none for any indignation against the young men Then all Judaea and Syria expected an end of this Tragedy yet no man thought Herod such a Tyrant as to put his two Sons to death Herod caused his Sons to be brought to Tyre and from F thence by Ship he conveighed them to Caesarea bethinking himself what death he should put them to Tyro an old Soldier exclaimeth against Herod's cruelty In the mean time there was an old Soldier of the King 's named Tyro who had a Son belonging to Alexander and highly in his favour and he himself greatly loved the two young men who being very much grieved in mind at that which had past went about crying that Justice was trodden under foot Truth opprest the Sentiments of Nature extinguished and the Actions of Men full of iniquity and whatsoever else grief could put into the mind of a man who nothing esteemed his own life At last this Tyro came boldly to the King and said unto him O King thou seemest to me most unhappy who givest credit to wicked and vile persons against thy dearest Sons for Pheroras and Salome thou believest before thine own Children whom G notwithstanding thou hast often sound to have deserved death and thou perceivest not that they do this to the intent to make thee want lawful Successors and leave thee none but Antipater whom in their hearts they would have King because they can rule him as they list But bethink thy self O King how all thy Soldiers will hate him for the death of H his two Brethren for there is no man that doth not pity the two young men and many of the Nobility are displeased hereat After he had spoken this he named them who were displeased Whereupon the King commanded them and him and his Son to be laid hold on Tyro with his Son are by the King's Command laid hands on And presently one of the King's Barbers named Tryphon shewing himself to be in I know not what fury came forth and said to Herod Tyro perswaded me to kill thee with my Razor promising me that if I would so do Alexander would give me a great reward Herod hearing this caused Tyro and his Son and the Barber to be tortured Ant. lib. 16. cap. 13. the two former denied all and the Barber affirmed nothing more than he had already said Then he commanded Tyro to be more tormented whereupon Another false Accusation against Tyro his Son moved with compassion towards his Father promised to disclose all I the matter to the King if he would pardon his Father and being released of his torments presently declared that his Father through Alexander's means and procurement was purposed to have killed him Many that were present thought it was a device of the young man to free his Father from torments but others were perswaded that it was true Upon this Herod made a speech unto the people wherein he inveighed against the Officers of his Army and Tyro and made the people arm themselves Herod commandeth his Sons to be strangled and to be buried with Alexander their Mother's Uncle and kill them with staves and stones After which he sent his Sons to Sebaste which was not far from Caesarea and there he caused them to be strangled and having quickly dispatched the matter he ordered them to be brought to the Castle Alexandrium there to be buried with their Mother's Uncle And this was the K end of Alexander and Aristobulus CHAP. XVIII Of Antipater's Conspiracy against his Father Herod ANtipater now hoped without all controversie to succeed in the Kingdom Ant. lib. 17. cap. 21. but he became generally hated of the whole Nation for it was openly known that he by false calumniations had caused his Brethren's death And on the other side L he stood in no little fear of their Children whom he perceived to begin to grow to years For Alexander had by Glaphyra two Sons Tygranes and Alexander and Aristobulus had by Bernice Daughter to Salome five Children to wit three Sons Herod Agrippa and Aristobulus and two Daughters Herodias and Mariamne Herod after he had put Alexander to death sent away Glaphyra with her Dowry into Cappadocia and married Bernice Aristobulus's Wife to Antipater's Uncle for Antipater had devised this Match to become friends with Salome whom before he hated and envied Antipater striveth by Gifts and Bribes to creep into men's favours He also by his great Gifts sought to get Pheroras's favour and the Friendship of such as were Friends to Caesar sending to that end great summs of money to Rome He gave Saturninus and all the rest great Riches in Syria But the more he M gave the more he was hated of all men for every one considered his Presents not as proofs of his Liberality but as effects of his Fear so that he got not the love of them upon whom he bestowed them and they to whom he gave nothing were so much the more his enemies Yet he continued his bounty rather than diminished it when he saw against his expectation Herod made much of these Orphans whose Parents he had slain Intending to shew how much he repented their deaths by the pity and compassion he took of their Children For assembling together his friends he caused the Children to be placed by him and the tears standing in his eyes he said Since my ill Fortune hath taken away from me the Fathers of these Children Herod grievously bemoneth his Sons expressing the same by his commisseration towards their Children there is no care so great which Nature and my compassion of their present condition obligeth me not to N take of them Wherefore I will endeavour that seeing I have been a most unfortunate Father I may be a most affectionate Grand-father and leave them who are most dear unto me to reign after me In order whereunto Brother Pheroras said he I betroth your Daughter to Alexander 's eldest Son to the end that this Alliance may oblige you to serve in stead of a Father to him and to your Son Antipater said he I assure the Daughter of Aristobulus Herod betrotheth his Nephews that so you may be the same to her and my Son Herod Grand-son by his Mother to Simon the High Priest shall marry her Sisster This is my will and pleasure touching this matter and let no man who loveth me seek to alter it And I beseech Almighty God to prosper these Marriages to the good of my Countrey and of these my Nephews and to look upon these Children with a more favourable eye than he did upon their Fathers O Having thus spoken
he wept and joyned the Children's hands and courteously saluting every one dismissed the Council A At this action Antipater was so amazed that all the Orphans well perceived it For now he thought himself dishonoured by his Father and that he stood in great danger seing that Alexander's Son was like to have both Archelaus and Pheroras the Tetrach to protect him Moreover he considered how he was hated and how the people compassionated the children that were fatherless and look'd upon him as the murtherer of their fathers Wherefore he resolved by all means possible to break these Marriages Yet he feared to insinuate any thing to his father cunningly who was now very suspicious and mistrustful and therefore went openly unto him to make his humble sute and request to him that he would not leave him without honour nor deprive him of that Succession which before he had judged him worthy B of by giving him only the bare Title of King and leaving the authority of the Kingdom in other mens power For it would be impossible for him to obtain the Kingdom if Alexander's Son were besides Archelaus his favour made Son-in-law to Pheroras Herod's children by his seven wives Wherefore he earnestly pray'd him that seing he had many daughters he would change these Mariages for the King had nine Wives and by seven of them he had children Antipater by Doris Herod by Mariamne daughter of Simon the High Priest Archelaus by Malthace the Samaritan and a Daughter call'd Olympias whom his brother Joseph married and by Cleopatra of Jerusalem Herod and Philip and by Pallas Phaselus he had two other Daughters also Roxane and Salome one of them by Phaedra and the other by Elpis He had likewise two wives by whom C he had no issue his Cousin and Niece and beside these he had two Daughters by Mariamne Sisters to Alexander and Aristobulus Wherefore Antipater seeing his Father had such choice of Daughters requested the marriages to be altered The King Herod is perswaded by Antipater's flatteries to break off the marriages well perceiving his mind and purpose towards the Orphans and calling to remembrance the misfortune of his Sons whom he had put to death he judg'd that if ever he found occasion he would be as industrious to destroy the children by calumnies as he had done their fathers and so falling into great anger with sharp words he drove him out of his presence yet afterward he so flattered Herod that he got the marriages to be altered And first of all he joyned Aristobulus's Daughter with Antipater himself and his Son to Pheroras's Daughter Here one may see what D Antipater could do by flattering speeches for Salome in the like matter could not speed although she was his Sister and procured many times the Emperours Wife to speak for her that she might marry with Syllaeus the Arabian yet was she not permitted so to do But Herod swore that he would account her as an utter enemy except she would desist from that purpose and afterward against her will he married her to Alexas a friend of his and one of her Daughters to Alexander's son and the other to Antipater's maternal Uncle As for Mariamnes Daughters Ant. l. â—7 c. 3. one of them was married to Antipater his Sisters Son the other to Phasaelus Antipater buildeth upon the Kingdom his Brother's Son When Antipater had quite overthrown the hope of the Orphans and joyned affinity as he thought good he now held himself on E sure ground and adding confidence to his malice he became intolerable to all men And seing he could not avoid their hatred he now sought by fear to work his own safety and so much the more because Pheroras now assisted him as one that was confirmed and established for King A debate betwixt the Ladies in the Court. Also the women in the Court fell at variance and raised a new broil for Pheroras's Wife with her Mother and her Sister and the mother of Antipater did behave themselves very insolently in many things towards two of the Kings daughters of which Antipater who hated them was very glad none of the other women except Salome daring to oppose this Cabal But Salome went to the King and told him that their meetings were not for his service F The women understanding how she had informed the King and that he was offended thereat they met no more together openly but abstained from their wonted familiarity and in the Kings hearing feigned to fall out one with another Antipater also made the same shew so that he stuck not openly to affront Pheroras notwithstanding they had meetings and banquets in the night and the unity was the more confirmed the more they perceived themselves to be noted for Salome knew all this and told it to the King The King was very angry and especially against Pheroras's wife whom chiefly Salome blamed and having called together all his kindred and friends Ant. lib. 17. cap. 4. he accused her before them amongst other things that she had behaved her self contumeliously towards his daughters and that she assisted the Pharisees G against him and that by a poysonous drink she had made his Brother hate him And turning himself unto Pheroras he asked him whether he had rather renounce the friendship of him his King and Brother or abandon his Wife And he answering that he had rather die than lose his Wife Herod doubtful what to do turned him to H Antipater and commanded him to have no commerce with Pheroras or his wife or any one belonging to them after that time He obeyed this command openly in shew but secretly went to their house and fearing that Salome might perceive it he by his friends in Italy procured himself to be sent for to Rome Herod forbids Antipater of his Brothers company or to have conference with his wife by Letters brought to Herod wherein it was commanded that shortly after the receit thereof Antipater should be sent to Caesar Wherefore Herod using no delay sent him presently furnishing him with all things necessary and a great sum of money giving him likewise his last Will and Testament to carry with him to Caesar wherein was written that Antipater should be King and after him Herod the Son of Mariamne Daughter of the High Priest But Syllaeus the Arabian neglecting Caesar's commandment at I the same time sailed to Rome there to contend with Antipater about matters which were before in controversie between him and Nicholaus He had also a great contention with Aretas his King whose friends he had slain and amongst others Sohemus the most wealthy man in all the Country of Petra and Fabatus Caesar's Procurator whom he had corrupted assisted him against Herod But Herod afterwards giving Fabatus a greater sum of money alienated him from Syllaeus and by this means dispatched that which Caesar commanded and because Fabatus restored nothing he accused him that he was
of the Garrisons mindful of the charge which Archelaus had given them refused him entrance affirming that they kept them more for Caesar than Archelaus Antipas elected King by Herod's former Testament striveth with Archelaus for the Kingdom At this time also Antipas one of Herod's Sons went to Rome with a design to obtain the Crown alledging that Herod's first Testament was of more force than the last and that he in the first was declared King and both Salome and divers others of his Kindred who sailed with Archelaus promised him their aid He took with him his Mother and Ptolomey Brother to Nicholaus in whom he had great confidence because he had been always faithful to Herod and was held by him in great credit But none had so much encouraged him as Irenaeus the Orator who had an excellent faculty of speaking Trusting to these he refused L the counsel of them who sought to perswade him to yield to Archelaus both as the elder and appointed by the last Testament of his Father Now when they were all arrived at Rome those of the Kindred that hated Archelaus and especially those that looked upon it as a sort of Liberty to be governed by the Romans favoured Antipas in hope that if their design of being freed from the Rule of Kings did not succeed they should at least have the comfort to be commanded by him and not by Archelaus Antipas accuseth Archelaus by Letters to Caesar And to further him the more he obtained Sabinus's Letters to Caesar wherein Archelaus was accused and Antipas commended Salome and the rest of the Complices presented Accusations against Archelaus to Caesar who after them delivered also his Justification in writing and withal his Father's Ring and an Inventory M of his Treasure Caesar calleth a Council of Roman Nobility by Ptolomey Caesar pondering with himself what both Parties alledged and the greatness and large Revenues of the Kingdom and the number of Herod's Children and having also read the Letters of Varus and Sabinus he called the chief of the Romans to Council where Caius the Son of Agrippa and his Daughter Julia whom he had adopted by his assignment sate in the first place and so he licenced the Parties to plead their Rights Antipaters's vehement Accusation against Archelaus Antipater Salome's Son being the greatest of all Archelaus's Adversaries spake first and said that Archelaus now only for form disputed for the Kingdom of which he had already possessed himself without waiting to know Caesar's Pleasure and that he did now strive in vain to render Caesar favourable to him whom he would not attend to judge of his Lawful Succession That after Herod's N death he suborned some to offer him the Diadem And that sitting on a Throne of Gold in Kingly manner he had changed all Orders of the Soldiers disposed of Offices and granted unto the people their Requests which could not be effected but by a King That he had also set at liberty many men who for great Crimes were imprisoned by his Father And having done all this he came now to Caesar to crave the shadow of the Kingdom the substance and body whereof he already possessed so that herein he left nothing to Caesar to dispose of but the bare Title Moreover he alledged that Archelaus did but counterfeit sorrow for his Father's death feigning himself to mourn in the day time Antipater 〈◊〉 to vehemency in accusing Archelaus and in the night he would be drunk and Riotous By which carriage he said that he had caused the Sedition of the people and incurred O their hatred After these Accusations he insisted upon the horrid slaughter of the multitude about the Temple for he said that they only came against the Festival Day to A offer Sacrifice and that they themselves were sacrificed as they were offering the Sacrifices which they brought And that there were such heaps of dead bodies in the Temple as never in any Foreign War the like had been seen That Herod foreseeing his cruelty never judged him worthy of the Kingdom till such time as his Understanding failed him The Will changed during Herod's Sickness when being more sick in mind than body he knew not whom he named his Successor in his last Will whereas he had nothing whereof he could blame him whom in his former Will he had appointed his Successor when he was in health Antipater against Archelaus both of mind and body Yet said he put the case Herod in his extremity knew what he did yet Archelaus hath rendred himself unworthy of the Kingdom by having committed many things against the Laws For said B he what will he be after he hath received Authority from Caesar who before he received any hath murthered so many Antipater having spoken more to this effect and at every Accusation taking Witness of his Kindred that stood by ended his Speech Then Nicolaus stood up Nicolaus defendeth Archelaus and first of all shewed that the slaughter of them in the Temple was necessary and unavoidable for they for whose death Archelaus was now accused were not only enemies of the Kingdom but also of Caesar And for other Crimes objected he shewed how that they were done even by the counsel and perswasion of the Accusers He also urged that the second Testament might be of force for that therein Herod had referred it to Caesar to confirm his Successor And C he who had such remembrance as to leave the Arbitriment of his Will to him who is Lord of all could not be thought to mistake himself in appointing his Heir nor yet deprived of his Senses Archelaus humbleth himself at Caesar's feet seeing he knew by whom he should be established When Nicolaus had ended his Speech and declared all that he thought might make for Archelaus Archelaus coming into the midst of the Council prostrated himself at Caesar's feet Caesar's Bounty and Humanity towards him Augustus courteously raised him from the ground and declared him worthy to succeed his Father Yet did he not pronounce a definitive Sentence but the same day the Council being dismissed that he might deliberate with himself at more leasure whether any one single person of those nominated in the two Wills should succeed their Father in the Kingdom or that the Kingdom should be divided amongst the D whole Family because they were many in number and had all need of Estate to support themselves with honour CHAP. II. Of the Fight and Massacre at Jerusalem between the Jews and the Sabinians BEfore Caesar determined any thing concerning this matter Ant. lib. 17. cap. 14. Malthace the Mother of Archelaus Sedition in Jerusalem fell sick and died and many Letters came out of Syria signifying E that the Jews had rebelled Which Varus foreseeing after the departure of Archelaus from thence had gone to Jerusalem to repress the Authors of that Sedition And because the multitude
at Caesarea and in all Syria AT the same hour on the self-same day it happened as it were by God's Providence that the Inhabitants of Caesarea massacred the Jews that dwelt among I them so that at one time above twenty thousand were slain and not one Jew left alive in all Caesarea For those that escaped Florus took and brought them forth bound to the people The Jews spoil the Villages and burn the Cities of Syria After this Massacre done at Caesarea the whole Nation of the Jews was enraged And dividing themselves into Companies they wasted and destroyed in short time all the borders of Syria and the Cities thereabout to wit Philadelphia and Gebonitis Gerasa Pella and Scythopolis Also they took by force Gadara Hippon and Gaulanitis pulling down some places and firing others From thence they marched towards Cedasa a City of the Tyrians and Ptolemais Gaza and Caesarea and neither Sebaste nor Ascalon could resist them but they also were consumed with fire Likewise they destroyed Anthedon with Gaza And most places belonging to K these Cities were sacked to wit the Fields and Villages and a mighty slaughter was made of them that were taken in these Towns The Syrians made as great a Massacre of the Jews as this among them for all the Jews inhabiting among them were murthered not only for an old grudge but also to render their own danger less by diminishing the number of their enemies By this means all Syria was in a most deplorable condition and every City was exposed to the disorders and violences of two several Armies each of which placed their safety in making a great Effusion of Blood The days were spent in blood-shed and the nights in fear worse than death it self For though they only pretended to destroy the Jews yet were they drawn to suspect other Nations that followed the Jews Religion and because they were as it were L Neuters the Syrians thought it not good to destroy them but on the other side for their agreeing in Religion with the Jews they were constrained to hold them as enemies Many of the contrary part who before seemed modest were now through Avarice incited to meddle in this Murther so that every one took the Goods of them that were slain All Syria full of miserable calamities and carried them to other places as Conquerors He was most renowned that had stolen most or killed most There might you see in several Cities the dead bodies of all Ages unburied old men and children and women lying in most shameful manner their secret parts being uncovered Briefly all the Countrey was filled with exceeding great calamity and the fear of yet greater misery to come was unspeakable M These were the Conflicts between the Jews and Strangers Jews against Jews But afterwards making incursions upon the Borders of Scythopolis the Jews there dwelling became their enemies For they conspiring with the Citizens of Sythopolis and preferring their own Commodity and Security before Kindred and Consanguinity joyned with the Gentiles against the Jews and yet for all that they were suspected for their forwardness For the Scythopolitans fearing that they would assault the City by night and excuse their revolting by their great misery commanded all the Jews that if they would shew themselves trusty to the Gentiles they with all their Children should go into a Wood hard by The Jews forthwith did as they were required suspecting nothing and the Scythopolitans were quiet for two days after and did nothing But the third N night they sent forth Scouts to see what they were doing The Scythopolitans kill thirteen thousand Jews who finding most of them asleep they surprized them in a moment and killed them all who were in number thirteen thousand and afterwards took their Goods Here I think it not amiss to speak of the death of Simon who was the Son of Saul whose Race was very Noble He was a man of great courage and strength of body both which he used to the great hurt of his own Nation Simon daily killeth many of his Countrey-men in Scythopolis for he daily killed many Jews who dwelt near Scythopolis and often scattered divers Companies and put whole Armies to flight but at length he had an end worthy of his deeds and the murther of his Countrey-men For when the Scythopolitans had compassed the Wood about so that none could escape their hands they killed the Jews in every part thereof Simon not drawing his Sword made O no resistance to any of his enemies for he saw that it was bootless to strive against such a multitude But pitifully crying out I receive O Scythopolitans a worthy reward for A that which I have done who to shew my fidelity towards you have killed so many of mine own Countrey-men And it is a just Plague that a strange Nation should be false to us who impiously forsook our own Brethren I am not worthy to receive death from the hands of my enemies and therefore I will kill my self with my own and this death will be a sufficient Punishment for my Offences and a full Argument of my magnanimity that none of my enemies may boast of my death nor insult over me When he had thus said he beheld all his Family with compassion and rage mixt together as his Wife and Children and aged Parents Simon kills his Parents his Wife and Children and at last himself And first taking his Father by the hair of the head he stood upon him and thrust him thorough after him he killed his Mother who was willing to die after them his Wife and Children every one of them as it were offering their bodies to the B Sword and desirous to prevent the enemies When he had slain all his Kindred himself remaining alive he stretched forth his arm that they might see what he would do and thrust his Sword into his own body up to the Hilts. A young man who for his magnanimity and strength of body was worthy to be pitied yet he had a just and deserved end for uniting himself to Strangers against his own Countrey CHAP. XX. Cruelties exercised against the Jews in divers other Cities and particularly by Varus C AFter this so great A Massacre of the Jews at Scythopolis Another Slaughter of the Jews other Cities also where they inhabited rose against them and two thousand five hundred were slain at Ascalon The Cities in Arms against the Jews and two thousand at Ptolemais and the Tyrians killed divers and put more in Prison Likewise they of Gadara and Hippon slew the most valiant and those of least courage they cast into Prison Also all other Cities who either feared or hated the Jews rose up against them Only they of Antioch Sidon and Apamea spared those that dwelt with them and neither killed nor imprisoned any of them perhaps they stood in no fear of them if they should have risen because their City
as the Archers Quivers were emptied and if so be that the Romans should offer to make bridges then they employ all their courage to repel them and now fight not to defend but as it were to revenge their Country being in a manner already lost and make those feel the effects of their just fury The cries of Women and Children in the Battle whose cruelty would doubtless after the taking of the place shed the blood of their Fathers Children and Wives such were the orders which Joseph gave In the mean time the weaker multitude Women and Children seeing the City compassed about with three ranks of Horsemen and the Romans with their Swords drawn pressing against the breach and all the Mountains about shining K with their enemies weapons and the Arabians ready to let fly a Shower of Arrows they cried out as though the City were already taken so that a man would have judged them already under their Enemies Swords and not only in danger to fall into their hands Wherefore Joseph commanded the Women to their houses lest their cries should dismay his Souldiers willing them likewise to keep silence and threatned them if they did not and so he marched to the breach which place fell to his lot He gave not much heed to them that sought to scale the Walls but only minded what effect the terrible Storme of the Enemies Arrows would produce As soon as the Trumpets began to sound the Air became obscured with the multitude of Arrows Josephs Companions remembring the charge given them stopped their L Ears The War of the Romans with the Jews upon the Bridge and cover'd their bodies against the shot of arrows And as soon as the bridges were set against the Wall presently they fell on and before the Romans could enter upon them they repell'd them back with great prowess and courage which the greatness of the danger did not abate but increase so that they did not give one foot back till either they kill'd or were killed But the Jews had not any fresh men to second those that were tired and the Romans still as they were wearied sent fresh supplies and joyning together their long shields exhorting one another they became as it were a wall of defence invincible and the whole Army like one body beat back the Jews The Jews pour scâ—lding Oyle upon the Romans and so set foot on the Walls Joseph in this desperate case devised a new way to repel this present danger he commanded the Jews to fetch scalding Oyl which M they had ready and pour it upon the Romans and also cast the Pans upon them This device broke the body of the Romans so that through great pains they fell from the Wall for the Scalding Oyl easily got between their flesh and Armour and scorched them like fire being easily heated and long continuing hot by reason of the fatness The Romans being loaden with Helmets and Breast-plates could not retire so nimbly as was requisite so that some leapt down off the bridg and others died of the pain others would fain have retired themselves but could not because their Enemies followed them so hard But neither the Romans wanted vertue and valour in adverse fortune nor the Jews prudence For the Romans notwithstanding they were in intolerable pain being Scalded with hot Oyl yet they freshly assaulted them that hurt them N desirous to shew their courage Then the Jews used another device to make them retire for they poured boyled Fenigreek upon the bridge so that they slid down and neither they that would have fled nor they who strove to assault the Jews could stand upon their feet it was so slippery and many falling down upon the bridge were by their own Company trodden to death others slid down upon the Rampier and always as they fell the Jews struck them and when the Romans were retired from the place The Romans retire 〈◊〉 hout obtaining thâ—ir purpose so that now they were not forced to handy blowes they had leisure to shoot Arrows and Darts against them When Vespasian saw that his men in the fight endured much misery towards evening he caused them to retire many being slain and more wounded only six men of Jotapata were slain but above 300 wounded this fight O was upon the 20. day of June But after Vespasian had comforted his Souldiers for A that which had hapned perceiving that they were enrag'd and desired to fight to revenge themselves so that they needed no exhortation he raised the Rampier higher and erected three Towers 50 foot high covering them aloft with Iron that so by reason of their weight they might stand stedfast and not be consumed by fire these he placed upon the Rampier Vespasian erecteth higher Platforms and Towers and in them Archers and men that cast Darts and such like who not being perceived of them that were upon the Walls by reason of the highness of the Towers and the covering thereof easily wounded them who stood thereon So the Jews when they could not avoid the Arrows nor be revenged upon them whom they could not see The Citizens of Jotapata valiantly sustain the siege nor yet fire the Towers being covered with plates of Iron forsook the Walls yet they always encountred with them who sought to enter Thus the B people of Jotapata resisted notwithstanding that many every day were slain and that they did their Enemies no harm without great danger to themselves CHAP. XI How Japha was taken by Trajan and Titus AT this time Vespasian understood that Japha a City neer Jotapata minded to rebel C encouraged thereunto for that they heard how they of Jotapata had held out contrary to all expectation The taking in of Japha by Trajan wherefore he sent thither Trajan Governour of the tenth Legion and with him two thousand Foot and a thousand Horse who finding the Town able to resist and the Inhabitants prepared for fight and marched out to meet him for the Town being by situation strong enough was also compassed with a double Wall he fought with them and after a while put them to flight and in the pursute entred with them at the first Gate which the Citizens perceiving shut the second Gate not suffering their own Citizens to enter in lest the Enemies also should rush in with them as they had done into the first Gate Truly God gave this Victory unto the Romans and his will it was that most of the Valiant men of the City should D have their own Gates shut upon them and so fall into their Enemies hands who were most greedy to destroy them The Jews shut up by the Romans between two Walls are slain Many of them came to the gates and called those that kept them by their names pitifully intreating that they might come in which whilest they were kept out were butchered like Sheep being inclosed between two Walls their own Citizens having shut
others burnt others halfe eaten of wild Beasts were reserved alive for the second meal The calamity of those Jews who were taken by the Romans the most miserable of all are those that are yet alive who often wish for death and cannot find it Where is now that potent City that was once the Capital City of E all our Nation so strengthened with Walls so fortified with Towers Castles to defend those Walls scarcely able to contain the provisions for War having in it so vast a multitude of men to fight for it Jerusalem the Metropolitan City razed from the foundations wherin God himself was thought to dwell What is now become of it It is razed down even to the very foundations and scarce any memory â—r reliques thereof left standing the whole people destroyed only a few old and unhappy men survive who sit among the Ashes of the Temple and a few Women whom the Enemies reserved to satisfie their filthy lust And will any amongst us considering all these things desire to behold the light of the Sun although he could live without molestation who is such an Enemy to his Native soil who is so effeminate or desirous of his life that he doth not grieve to have lived till this time would God we had been all in our graves before we had seen that sacred City fired by a hostile hand before we beheld F the Holy Temple destroyed by impious fire and seeing that the hope we had to be revenged on our Enemies is now vanished and that we are left alone in misery and necessity let us hasten to die well and take compassion on our selves our Wives and Children and that whilst we have time For we are all born to die and all that are begotten by us and the strongest men living cannot avoid it but injury and bondage and to see our Wives and Children abused before our faces is no necessity proceeding from Nature but they only are forced to endure it We are born to die and the strongest cannot avoid the same who when they might have died without it did refuse for fear We first of all trusting to our strength rebelled against the Romans afterwards they exhorted us to obedience but wee denied which of them then will not be enraged against us if they can take us alive Most miserable shall those young men be whose strength will endure many torments and those G old men will move compassion whose aged years cannot suffer tortures one shall see his Wife carried away from him and another his Son having his hands bound behind him cry out to his Father for help who now whilst they are free from the thraldom of their Enemies may H gloriously assist us with their Swords Let us with our Wives and Children die Freemen let us together depart out of this life This our Religion commandeth this our Wives and Children perswade God himself hath driven us to this necessity for this purpose The Romans would have it otherwise Eleazar tells the Jews of the Romans Tyranny who fear lest any of us should perish and not fall into their hands alive Let us therefore hasten that instead of their hope whereby they verily perswaded themselves to take us alive we may contrary to their expectation daunt them with sudden admiration of our glorious deaths It is a happiness among the Jews to die fice Whilst Eleazar was yet speaking and desirous still to continue his exhortation they interrupted him every one now in a fury bent to follow his advice made haste to effect it and as though they had been urged by some Spirit thereto one laboured to prevent I another in the execution thereof judging him to shew most valour and fortitude that first dispatched himself They were also desirous to kill their Wives and Children with themselves And which is most strange their minds were nothing altered when they came to effect this bloody work but with the same resolution they had when they heard Eleazars speech every one retained his good affection towards his Friends yet permitting reason to take no place and perswading themselves that thus they had well provided for their Children they embraced their Wives and Children for their last farewel and took their leaves of them kissing them with Tears and then all at once slew them as though it had been done by the hands of other men and not their own comforting themselves in being forced so to do and that hereby they should escape the tyranny and K cruelty of their Enemies Finally no man was so cowardly who durst not venture on this action so every one of them killed his dearest friends O miserable people whom necessity forced to slay their Wives and Children and to account this action the very least of all their miseries After which not enduring the grief that ensued upon this fact and thinking that in living any while after them they should injure those whom they had slain they with all speed possible gathered all their riches together and set them one fire which done they elected ten by lot who should kill the rest and every one prostrating himself upon his Wife and Children and embracing them in his Arms was slain willingly by those that executed that wrethched office who having without fear dispatched them they cast lots whose fortune it should be to kill all the L rest The Jews gathering all their goods together cast them into the fire and he upon whom the lot should fall was to kill the other nine and lastly himself upon them all and every one so encouraged one another that there was no difference between those that were to be killed and those that were to kill and so the rest offered themselves to death which done he who was the last of all being yet alive went amongst the dead bodies and searched to see if any still lived that needed his hand in so great a multitude of slain people Ten chosen by lot to kill the rest of the Jews and finding all of them dispatched he went and fired the Palace which done he with all his force thrust his Sword into his own body up to the Hilts and so fell down by his dearest Friends In this manner they perished with a belief that they left not one person alive to fall into the Romans hands but a certain old Woman and another who was Eleazars Cousin M who in learning and wisdom surpassed all other Women and fiue Children hid themselves in a Cave wherein Water was reserved to drink whilst the rest were busied in this Massacre the slain were in number nine hundred and sixty accounting Women and Children The Romans expect the fight This calamity hapned the fifteenth day of April In the morning the Romans expecting that the Jews would encounter them made Bridges from their Mounts to the Walls and so assaulted the Walls and seeing none of the Enemies appear but all the Walls
and esteemed that only their felicity to do and endure any thing so that they might prevail against those against whom they enterprized Wars And that they failed also herein I omit to rehearse For not only one or two of them at once but oftentimes whole Companies of them forgetting their own Laws yielded themselves to their Enemies And can any one tell of I say not many but of one or two of us that ever was treacherous to his own Laws or that feared to dye for them I mean not a common death such as Souldiers are subject unto but such a death as is effected by all torments and tortures that can be devised Which I think those that prevail against us imposed upon us not for hatred but that they desired G to see so admirable a matter and to see we being but men and such who esteemed it the greatest impiety possible to do it could be compelled by them to speak or do any thing contrary to our Laws The strict Laws of the Jews Yet it is no wonder that we for our Law do dye with H such constancy rather than any other Nation For other Nations cannot abide to endure that which we account a trifle to wit labour and simple fare abstinence from our Wives and observation of our days of rest and we are always careful that when we fight against our Enemies we observe our Laws concerning our Meats And thus we take pleasure to observe and keep our Laws and to exercise fortitude in obeying them Let now Lysimachus or Molonus pass and all such as they be wicked lying Writers and Sophisters deceivers of young men and detracters of our Nation as though we were the wickedest People living As for me I will not examine the Laws of other Nations Moses forbideth to deride and blaspheme false gods only for the name of God imputed unto them for it is our Custom to keep and observe our own not to detract others yea and our Law-maker openly prohibited us from blaspheming such as other Nations I hold for gods only for the Name of God attributed unto them yet may we not leave the Objections of our accusers unanswered seeing that which we are to speak against them is not our own device but many before us have spoken it Who then of all the wise Greeks will not condemn the most famous Poets and especially the Law-makers who at first brought and setled such vain opinions of the gods among the common People The number of gods amongst the Gentiles 〈◊〉 affirming the number of them to be as many as they thought good and that they were born at divers times allotting to every one his proper place as unto other living Creatures some to be under the Earth others in the Sea and the ancientest amongst them in Hell fettered and bound and those whom they place in Heaven in words they do term him a Father but in deeds they shew him to be a Tyrant and for this cause they K report that his Wife his Brother and his Daughter whom they affirm to have been born of his Brain conspired against him to bind him and hang him as they report him also to have dealt by his Father The Fable of Jupiter and â—allas Against these vanities all excellent and wise men do worthily inveigh who beside this already rehearsed in derision add how some of the gods are young some are old some infants others are gods of Arts and Sciences and one is a Smith another a Weaver another a Pilgrim and at variance with mortal men others delight in Musick others in Shooting Moreover that they are at variance one with another amongst themselves and that they fall out one with another in mens behalf and that not only one of them layeth violent hands upon the other but that also they are wounded by mortal men and sorrow and grive for the wounds and that which L is most abominable of all do use carnal Copulation with mankind and that most undecently that their unbridled lust is extended both to men and women Then that their chief god Jupiter whom they call Father contemned and drowned certain women whom he himself had deceived and gotten with Child and that he could not deliver the Children born of these Women from calamity for that destiny had obliged him nor see their deaths without tears This is all good stuff as also is that which followeth to wit Adulteries committed in Heaven so openly and impudently among the gods that some profess themselves to envy their fellow gods and goddesses tied together in such filthiness And what should the rest of them do when as their King the most antient amongst them could not refrain M his lustful licentiousness and debauchery Moreover Some of them became servants unto men some built houses for money and others became Shepherds others like malefactors were chained in Hell What man then that ever was accounted wise would not blush at these follies and reprove the inventors hereof and the foolish believers also Others made them subject to terrour and fear and madness and such simplicity as that they might be deceived and all other naughty passions to be found in the nature of their gods and have perswaded whole Cities to offer sacrifice to the most noble amongst them And they are in great perplexity thinking that some of the gods are the givers of all good things others again to be their enemies and so seek to please them with gifts as they would do wicked men and they are verily perswaded that they shall N sustain great dammage by their means except they do daily pacify their wrath by frequent gifts What is the cause of this shameful ignorance What is the cause of such error concerning God and erroneous iniquity concerning God Truly I am perswaded For that their first Law-makers were themselves herein to seek and ignorant of the nature of God or else that they did not faithfully deliver unto their Common-wealth so much as themselves knew concerning this point but as though it had been a thing of least moment did willfully let it pass giving licence to Poets and permitting them to deifie and make gods whom they pleased and that the Orators should write of the Common-wealths affairs and tell what them liked of strange gods O Moreover the Painters and Image-makers amongst the Greeks had a great hand in A making of gods Poets and Painters cause the multitude of gods it being lawful for them every one to frame what shape he list and how he list some of Earth others of Colours and the chiefest god-makers amongst them used Ivory and Gold to make their god of a true argument of their mutable novelty And then the ancient gods whom at first they honoured and reverenced as much as they could possibly devise being now withered with Age are out of credit and other youngsters possess their places and honours their Temples
it came to pass that none of them offended but each one resolute in his Religion took example of the virtue courage and constancy of their fore-father Isaac who understanding that it was God's will that he should be Sacrificed refused not to submit his body to his Fathers Sword Let us said they yield our Souls to him of whom we receied both Soul and Body It is a small matter for us to suffer loss of these members seeing that we shall in lieu of them receive everlasting bliss Abraham Isaac and Jacob do joyfully expect us as L Co-heirs of their Kingdom let us glorifie that womb wherein we were for ten months space let none of us be more coward than the other nor none of us degenerate from the other True brotherhood we that were all begotten of one Father and sucked of one milk must in all things resemble one another we had one teacher and one law inviolate And in this golden bond of concord were these brethren linked together and none of them mourned to see the other tormented but all rejoyced at the others death O Children whose dignity surpasseth the Royalty of Kings and Princes whose glory and virtue is unspeakable None of you were terrified with fear but you so hastened to your deaths as though you had been to go to bliss and felicity you were truly brethren who even by death were linked together A pledge and sign of brotherly amity God hath greatly in you magnified our Nation in you M shewed us all an example of fortitude whom therefore I think he caused to be so many in number as were the days wherein he created the World so that these seven brethren may resemble the seven days wherein all things were made And why should we so admire this fortitude in these young men when a woman armed her self with contempt of death Who indeed is not to be called a Mother but to be honoured with a higher title than humane frailty can afford who bare into this World so many triumphs For the Mother seeing her Children dead was with a kind and godly zeal inflamed also to suffer The mothers grief and no marvel seeing that the very brute beasts if they perceive violence offered to their young do expose themselves to perils in their defence and protect them with their wings teeth and tallons yea and every one that is any way able to N make resistance opposeth herself to the Enemy to defend her young And not only brute Beasts do this but even Bees do defend their young and their honey threatning their Stings to them that offer to tast thereof and more esteeming the good of their young than their own lives But this zealous mother directed by the Spirit of God and the dictates of reason incouragd her Children to dy and being to dy after them chose rather to be a spectator of their death than otherwise When all her family had suffered she as the last and glory of them all came to execution despising the Tyrants threats offering her motherly brest to those torments which her Children had suffered O blessed stock and blessed increase of the self same womb Why should I not affirm that in all lineaments and feature of O the body you are like your mother and if this be a commendation in them that beside A features of the body receive nothing of their Mother I will say more of you that you are like your mother in Fortitude Vertue and Religion and that you so in all things resemble her that you are every way equal unto her save only herein that she with her Eyes beheld the immanity of your torments and was afterward as constant in her own Martyrdom as you in yours She therefore herein excelled you that she suffered seven torments before she came to suffer in her own person The mother suffereth seven torments before she was tormented feared in every one of them lest she should be overcome But O thou example of all women I cannot tell whether thou barest these Children in thy womb or createdst them who couldst with dry Eyes look upon them whilst they were torn in pieces yea I say little affirming that thou B patiently didst behold those sights for even thou thy self didst exhort them thereunto thou rejoycedst to see one of them torn in pieces with Flesh-hooks the other to be racked upon the Wheel the third to be bound and beaten thou joyfully admiredst the others burning and exhortedst the rest not to be terrified here with and although whilst thou beheld'st their torments thy grief was greater than that which thou hadst in Child-birth yet didst thou bear a lightsome and chearful countenance as though it had been one triumphing While they were a killing thou didst laugh and seeing only one of all thy Children left hereat thou didst nothing relent Can I describe how every one perished seeing thou their mother didst laugh at their deaths and when their sinews were cut in two their heads flaid their tongues pulled forth by the Roots their C hands broken their bodies in the fire and cast upon Iron plates red-hot and upon Wheels and their ribs pulled in sunder and many other torments for which we want names Never was any Swan which if you will believe antiquity Sings sweetest before her death comparble to the Funeral notes of thy dying Children And you blessed ofspring were not overcome by that Syren's enchantments but to honour God scrupled not to leave your Mother without Children And she being as pious brave on her side chose rather to want you for a time than to incur eternal damnation wishing rather that the bodies of her Children should be tormented than their Souls Well she knew that nothing was more frail and infirm than our bodies which though persecution be wanting are often killed with Agues and other Maladies Who is D ignorant that shipwrack is incident to Sailers disasters to them that travel sudden death to those that live at ease sudden casualty by fire and by the hands of Theives and a thousand other ways to dispatch our lives Seeing then that our mortal bodies are subject to so many miseries to bring us to our end who would not make choice of a quick dispatch A similitude from the Deluge whereby we lose goods of this World and gain life everlasting O thou most reverend of all women the credit of thy Nation and honour of our Religion who like the Ark of Noe didst persist inviolate amongst such stormy Waves for as the Arke withstood the force of the deluge and being built strongly with firm boards did not suffer any thing within it to perish so thou sufferedst not the Tyrant to overcome the holy Ghost which thou hadst received in thy heart Behold of what force and efficacy Reason is which oftentimes maketh men inferiour E to women For neither was Daniel so tortured at the sight of the Lions nor
the three Children with the fiery Furnace as this woman was afflicted at the death of all her Children before she came to her own Agony What would another woman and Mother have done in this Case but wept and with pitiful lamentations have cryed Ah wretch thas I am most unhappy and miserable of all that breath who therefore bare so many Children into this World that their several deaths might be so many several occasions of my grief and sorrow she would have commemorated her frequent labours the pains she endured in her ten Months bearing them she would have bewailed her ill fortune who brought forth her sons to so many deaths and dangers she would have recounted the milk wherewith she fed them and their meat she had prepared for them the F pains she had taken with them how she had carried them in her Arms and sung to them and taught them to speak her cares her watchings her fear lest any mis-hap should betide them and with weeping tears would have said Shall I never be a Grandmother and embrace your Children who a while ago was a fruitful mother my self but am now deprived of you all If this day I dy I have none to bury me But this handmaid of God forgot all these complaints that another mother would have made and with an Adamantine sence more impenetrable than the never-yielding Rocks did neither forsake her Children in their torments nor in their death but rather compelled them to perish and never sorrowed thereat For being apprehended together with her seven Sons she considering Eleazar's Martyrdom did thus exhort them in the Hebrew G tongue O my most dear and loving Children The mothers speech exhorting her seven Sons to suffer let us hasten to that Martyrdom which may make us a H credit to our Nation and gain of God an everlasting reward let us without fear present our selves unto those torments which Eleazar's aged body endured calling to mind our Father Abraham of worthy memory who having but one only Son did sacrifice him being willed by God so to do and seared not to bring him to the Altar though he was the fruit and only comfort of his age Isaac also was willing to be sacrificed by his father knowing that God was to be obeyed in all things the like may be said of Daniel and the three Children believe me we are rather tried than tormented For whatsoever this World affordeth is mortal and transient Thus did this mother arm her Childrens minds with fortitude A Golden saying of the mother of her seven Children and though a woman infused courage and constancy into men And when her Children were all dead she I a worthy mother of so many Champions kneeling down in the place of torment be sought God to put an end to her life protesting that she had not for love of life so long deferred to dye The mother followed her Sons in torments but only for her Childrens sake and that now she had seen them all seven triumphing Whereupon the rage of Antiochus grew hot and he commanded this noble person to be tormented and accordingly as the Tyrant willed she was striped naked and hanged up by the hands and most cruelly whipped her dugs and paps were pulled off and she put into the red-hot Frying-pan being most willing to follow her Childrens steps in torment and lifting up her Eyes and hands to Heaven she prayed for all women with Child and so yielded her chast Soul to God But Antiochus was striken with fire from Heaven O thou mistress of justice who followed'st K thy triumphing Children O Conquerer of Tyrants and a Looking-Glass for all Martyrs O example of patience not only to women but to all men that shall be after thee reverenced of them that now are and to be worshiped of them that are to come and to be admired not only of our Nation The light of the just but of all other people Thy light obscureth the bright shining Moon 1. Cor. 15. and though she fill the World with her brightness yet is she not comparable to thy shining light Seven lights inviron thee about dazling the brightness of the seven Planets Could any Painter express or any hand in writing declare the torments which you suffered none could with dry eyes read or behold them All people would flock about to see it All people would praise and esteem him to have offered a great gift who to God's glory had painted so incomparable a picture L And if any skilful workman should engrave this Tragedy upon a Sepulchre or in his house doubtless he should be freed from all plague and misfortune But where could a stone be found able to contain so many torments Therefore the old man Eleazar the Mother and her seven Sons are for their Nobility graced with a Sepulchre and a great reverence is done unto them of all men yea even by men that are not of our Religion and there is a constellation of eight stars ordained as an argument of their justice and Angels did execute their Funerals The Tyrant himself was astonished to see the constancy of such godly minds And thus have they found such favour in the sight of God that they have obtained remission of the sins of our Nation For presently after the Tyrant was destroyed and Israel was freed from his Tyranny M But Antiochus Antiochus leavied an Army of Footmen from amongst the Hebrews seeing the greatness of their Faith and their contempt of death gathered an Army of Foot out of the Hebrews by whose help he terrified his Enemies and got great Renown O blessed seed of Abraham behold what benefit the Sufferings of the Mother and her seven Sons brought to us their Country-men let us persist in this piety that so we may be like our Forefathers behold the death of a few did end all the miseries and sins of our whole Nation and you by your Country-mens hands vanquished their persecutors Enemies Antiochus died stinking exceedingly after that victory our sins were remited last of all Antiochus being mad and his entrails devoured with Worms he smelling like Carrion gave up the Ghost 2. Mac. 9. and was ever after death punished for his offence For when he could not make the Citizens of Jerusalem to forsake their Law he made War against N the Persians and there received that which he deserved It now remaineth An Epitome of the life of the seven Sons and their mother that we briefly repeat all that is before said For in her Agony this sacred mother said thus unto the standers by Whilest it was lawful for me I kept my self a Virgin and then I married and lived a Chast Wife and forsook not my own house I brought forth such Sons as I need not be ashamed of and though dounted with my Husbands death yet I did not forsake my Faith This and many things else she recounted And
to manage the Helm It is your office to look to the good conduct of this incomparable vessel fraughted with the welfare of all mankind and as so noble an office is aboue all estimation you ought not to take pleasure in any thing so much as in rendring so many Nations as are under your dominion happy by your benefits 'T is true they may be oblig'd by particular persons but it is from their Prince only they are to expect L this excellent conduct by which he showrs down his bounty upon them with full hands reserving only such things as in prudence are necessary for the remedying of such accidents as cannot be foreseen Thus it was that this unfortunate Counsellor advis'd Caius with designe to have made him better But his wicked nature turned his remedies into poison made a mock of his counsel and became much worse in so much as when Macro came towards him one time he said to those who were then about him Do you see that impertinent Schoolmaster that ridiculous Pedagogue he would take upon him to give instructions not only to a Child but to a person wiser than himself He prates as if a subject was to command an Emperour and an Emperour that is not ignorant in the art of Governing and he M believes himself excellent in that science But I would fain know where he learned it For my part I was brought up to it from my Cradle receiving continual instructions from my Father Brothers Uncles Cousins Grand-Father great-grand-Great-Grand-Father and many other great Princes from whom I am descended both by the Father and Mother without so much as mentioning the seeds of vertue which Nature mingles with the blood of those she designs shall command For by the same reason as Children are observed to resemble their Parents not only in the lineaments of their face and the qualities of their mind but in their very gestures inclinations and actions by the same reason those who proceed from a Race accustomed to dominion do receive with their existence a disposition that makes them capable of all the impressions necessary for the formation of a great Prince I therefore may say that when my Mother N carried me in her womb and even before I was brought into the World I was instructed in the art of Governing and yet a private person whose thoughts have nothing in them that is noble and sublime has the confidence to give me Counsel in the Conduct and Regiment of my Empire which to him is an impenetrable mystery In this manner Caius conceiv'd every day more and more aversion to Macro endeavouring to charge him with false crimes but such as might at least carry in them some appearance of truth and of this sort he believed he had found one by these words which fell from Macro upon a time The Emperour is of my making and has no less obligation to me than to those who brought him into the World Three times by my prayers and contrivances have I rescued him from the O fury of Tiberius who would have put him to death and when Tiberius who would have A put him to death and when Tiberius dyed I caus'd him to be declared Emperour by the Guards which were under my Command remonstrating and inculcating to them that the only way to keep the Empire entire was to pay obedience but to one person Many people approved this discourse in Macro as knowing it was true and not yet understanding the inconstancy and dissimulation of Caius But not many days after the unfortunate Macro and his wife were put to death which was all the recompence that the ingratitude of Caius afforded to the fidelity of his servant for having secur'd him against death and advanc'd him to the Empire Some say Macro was compelled to kill himself and that his wife did the same though it was more than suspected Caius B had been kinder to her formerly But what is more unconstant than love by reason of the frequent exceptions and disgusts that happen where the affection is irregular Nay so insatiable was the cruelty of Caius that he put to death the whole family of Macro leaving not so much as one of his Servants alive CHAP. V. Caius caused his Father in Law Marcus Syllanus to be slain for giving him wise Counsel and the Murder of him was followed by the Execution C of several others WHEN this perfideous Prince had in this manner quitted himself of his Competitor in the Empire and of a person to whom he ought both his authority and life there was a third design that remained to be executed to the perpetration of which he imploy'd his utmost address His Father in Law Marcus Syllanus who was a person of great Generosity and of illustrious extraction after the death of his Daughter who died very young continued to Caius the affection of an own Father rather than of a Father in Law believing that though the D Princess was dead he could not but have the same sentiments for him Upon this score he spake to him with great liberty about the measures which he was to take by his actions to answer the hopes which were conceived of him But Caius being so vain an Opiniaster that instead of owning or mending his faults he flattered himself with a Fancy that he was excellent in all kinds of virtues look'd upon those as his Enemies who gave him good counsel he perverted the good Counsel of Syllanus reputed it an insolence grew insupportable towards him and could not endure any longer to have him an impediment to the irregularity of his passions After this he banish'd as well out of his thoughts as his heart the remembrance of his wife and by more than barbarous Cruelty caused him to be put to death for Treason from whom she had received life and who ought to have been respected by him as an own Father The noise of E this murder which was followed by the execution of several others the most considerable in the Empire was spred all over the World every body spake of it with horrour but in private their fear obstructing the publication of their resentment Nevertheless the people being easily deluded and not without difficulty to be perswaded that a Prince who had appeared so good and so gentle should be so suddenly changed it was said in his excuse That as to the death of the young Tiberius the Soveraign power could not admit of a Partner That he was only prevented by Caius for if his age would have permitted he would have treated him in the same manner That it was perhaps by the Providence of God and for the benefit of the whole World that Tiberius lost his life to secure the Empire from Civil and Forreign Wars which would have devided into factions F by the several great persons who would have espoused the interest both of the one and the other That nothing is more disirable than peace That
Peace cannot subsist but by good conduct in the Provinces and that a Province canot be well govern'd unless the Government be in a single person whose authority maintains all things in quiet and repose That as to Macro he was grown so sawcy and proud that in appearance he had quite forgot that excellent direction of the Oracle at Delphos Nosce teipsum which is a thing so necessary that with the knowledg of ones self one cannot fail to be happy nor avoid being unhappy when it is not attained That it was insupportable for Macro to set himself up above the Emperour as if it was not his office to command and the subjects to obey In this manner it was that the ignorant either out of flattery or folly interpreted the wholesome counsels of Macro and as for G Syllanus it was said that it was ridicuculous in him to pretend to as much power over his Son in Law as a Father has over his own Son seeing those Fathers who are but Citizens do submit without trouble to their own Children when they are advanced to any dignity or office and H that it was imprudently done in him to imagine that being but his Father in Law he should have a right to interpose in publick affairs without considering that his allyance with the Emperour was extinguished by the death of his Daughter Marriages being but outward ligaments which though they joyn Families together at present yet they are broken upon the death of either of the parties This was the discourse which was used in some of their assemblys to excuse the Emperour's cruelty for there having been none of his predecessors of whose meekness and bounty they had conceived a better opinion they could not as I have said imagine he should be so changed in a Moment I CHAP. VI. Cains requires the veneration of one of the Gods THese horrid and criminal actions passed in the mind of Caius for so many victories obtain'd against the most considerable person of his Empire For his fury had extinguished the lustre of the Imperial Family in the blood of his Cousin young Tiberius whom he ought in justice to have taken into the partnership of the Government His K abominable inhumanity had exasperated the Senat by the death of Syllanus his Father in Law who was one of their greatest ornaments and his horrible ingratitude had taken away the life of Macro a person of the first Rank in his Court and to whom he was oblig'd particularly for the Grandeur to which he was advanc'd Having perpetrated these great things he believed that there being no body left who durst oppose himself against his pleasure he ought not to be satisfied with the greatest honors that could be confer'd upon man but that he might expect and challeng what was given to the Gods and it is reported that to perswade himself to so strange an extravagance his argument was thus As those who conduct and have the care of Heards of Cattel whether Oxen or Sheep or L Deer are neither Oxen nor Sheep nor Deer themselves but men of a nature infinitely more excellent than the nature of those animals so they who have the command of all the men and Creatures in the World ought to be considered as more excellent than men and receive reverence like Gods Having admitted this ridiculous fancy into his head and taken the boldness to publish it he came by degrees to the effects He began first to desire to be reverenced as one of the demy-Gods such as Bacchus Hercules Castor and Pollux Tryphon Amphiarus Amphilocus and others but he laugh'd at their Oracles and Ceremonies and ravish'd them from them that they might be attributed to himself He changed his habit and dress like a player Sometimes to personat Hercules he wore M a Lions skin about his shoulders and a Club in his hand sometimes he wore a Hat like Castor and Pollux and sometimes in imitation of Bacchus he wore the skin of a young Hind But in this point he differed from those pretended deities that whereas they were contented with their respective and particular Ceremonies without envying what was confer'd upon the rest he required them all that he might be accounted above them Nevertheless that which contracted the great throng of spectators was not that he had three bodies like Gerion but because he transformed himself into as many different shapes as Proteus who as Homer describes changed himself into several Elements Animals and Plants N But Caius this vain resembance with these Demy-Gods was not the thing you ought to have affected you were rather to have imitated their actions and virtue Hercules by his glorious labours delivered both Land and Sea from such Monsters as troubled the repose of mankind Bacchus who was the first that planted the Vine brought a liquor into the World so pleasant and comfortable both to the body and mind of man that it made them forget their sorrows exhilarated and fortified their hearts in such manner that the effects of it are still seen in the dances and festivities not only of the most civiliz'd but of the most barbarous Nations As to Castor and Pollux the two Sons of Jupiter is it not said that one of them being immortal and the other mortal he who had the advantage of immortality not being able to think that his brother should O die would needs equal and debase himself to the condition of his Brother by communicating A to him part of his immortality and in some measure subjecting himself to death which was the greatest expression of kindness that could be imagined These Heros then who were the admiration of their own ages and are still the wonder of ours were not adored and reverenc'd as Gods but for their benefits and good actions to man But Caius what have you done in imitation that may in courage you to such an exaction To begin with Castor and Pollux have you imitated the perfect friendship that was between those two Brothers and made them so glorious you without compassion to the youth and tenderness of him who ought to have been to you as a Brother and with whom you were in justice obliged to have shar'd the whole Empire you I say have cruelly embrued your hands in his blood and sent his sisters B into Exile to reign with the more security and quiet your self Have you imitated Bacchus and diffus'd an universal joy and chearfulness over the whole Earth by any admirable invention you who being to be considered no otherwise but as a publick Plague have found out nothing but new inventions to turn that joy into sorrow that chearfulness into sadness and make peoples lives a burden You who in recompence of the infinite wealth and advantages which flow in to you dayly from all parts of the World do with your insatiable avarice crush aâ—d depress your people with the weight of so many new Tributes and Impositions that you
the Israelites 77. C. spoiled and their utter ruine foretold ibid. and 118. N. overcome the Israelites 135 B. are destroyed 156. O. burnt Siceleg 173. A. Amarames Moses Father See Amram Amasias K. of Juda 246. E. revengeth his fathers death 247. M. overcometh the Amalechites ibid. O. reproved and why 248. A. commandeth Joas to yield him homage ibid. D. his army flies and he taken prisoner ibid. E. is slain ibid. F. Amasa slain 194. O. Amazement of the seditious 775. G. Ambition 177. E. of Adonias 199. D. of John 698. M. of Eleazar 711. F. An Ambush laid for the Ainites 124. I. Ambushes of Saul for David 167. E. c. of Adad for Joram 238. A. Amnon deflowreth Thamar 186. L. M. Ammonites oppress the Israelites 138. M. and are overcome 139. A. injure Davids Embassadours 183. C. revenge wrought on them ibid. F. War against Josaphat 234. G. kill one another 235. K. Amorites overcome 104. M. their Country possessed by the Hebrews 105. B. Amos a wicked King 258. D. is slain ibid. Amphitheater built by Herod 410. G. 415. L. Amram Moses father 63. B. prayeth to God 63. B. casts Moses into the river and why 63. G. Amri King of Israel 225. M. slew Thaman ibid. his impiety and death ibid. N. Ananias death 631. C. Ananus High Priest 539. B. Ananias High Priest slain 736. N. Ananus stoneth James 539. C. Ananus Governour of Jerusalem 637. F. his invective against the zealous 689. A. disposeth his souldiers ibid. slain 694. K. Ananus a cruel souldier 636. K. Achimelech entertaineth David 165. B. delivers him Goliabs sword ibid. C. accused to Saul 166. I. and slain 166. K. Ancestors conceal not honest things 25. G. Angels guarded Elizaeus 238. C. Angels i. sons of God 30. L. Angel resisteth Balaam 105. F. Angels promise Abraham a son 39. A. enter Lots house ibid. foretel the destruction of Sodom ibid. Angel appeared to Agar 38. I. 40. K. to Jacob 45. B. 48. M. to Manaach his wife 139. F. foretelleth her Samâ—oâ—s birth ibid. F. worketh a miracle 140. K. 238. C. Anger See Wrath. Anilaeus receiveth charge from Artabanus 499. E. killeth a noble man 500. I. reproved and accused ibid. M. taketh Mithridates prisoner 500. O. Anna wife of Elcana prayed to God for a son 143. G. bare Samuel and consecrated him to God 144. I. Annius taketh Gerasa 702. N. Answer of Simon to Jesus Oration 691. A. Answer of Isaac 41. C. of Balaam to Balac 106. M. of God to Joshuah 124. H. of Achab to the Syrians 229. O. of Caesar to Herod 582. H. of Antipater to Herod 600. L. of John 684. M. of Eleazar to Antiochus 818. I. of Alexander 295. K. Antaeus against whom Hercules made war 42. I. Antigonus copartner in the Kingdom 349. D. his death complotted ibid. F. effected 350. H. 561. C. Antigonus accuseth Hircanus and Antipater 370. D. 568. H. promiseth the Parthians money and why 380. F. restored to the Kingdom 383. H. cutteth off Hircanus ears ibid. H. declared an enemy to the Romans 384. C. 577. E. upbraideth Herod 385. N. getteth Massada 575. A. repulseth Herods power ibid. surpriseth Herods victuallers 386. B. cruelly handleth Josephs carcass 577. O. submitteth himself to Sosius 391. H. put to death ibid. L. Antiochus the Great vexeth the Jews 305. E. recovers Cities of Coelosyria ibid. F. his Epistle to Ptolomy 306. his Edict in honour of the Temple 306. his Epistle to Zeuxis 307. I. Antiochus Epiphanes departeth Egypt 313. L. spoileth the Temple of Jerusalem ibid. N. abrogates Gods Laws 214. G. inforceth the Jews to Idolatry ibid. tortureth Eleazar 818. M. slayeth him 819. H. forbiddeth the Jews to use their Laws 314. G. c. invades Judaea again 317. I. departeth into Persia ibid. besiegeth Elymas 321. I. falleth sick and dieth ibid. K. Antiochus Eupater created King 321. N. marcheth into Judaea 312. B. fighteth with Judas Macchabeus ibid. C. marcheth against Philip ibid. E. entreth a league with Judas 323. I. slayeth Philip ibid. K. displaceth Onias ibid. is slain ibid. M. Antiochus son of Alexander 337. I. crowned King ibid. discomfited Demetrius 338. A. favoureth Jonathan ibid. Antiochus marrieth Cleopatra 343. K. putteth Triphon to flight ibid. L. warreth against Hircanus 345. I. permitteth a truce ibid. K. slain 346. A. Antiochus Gryphus overcometh Alexander 347. I. his War against his brother ibid. slain 353. M. Antiochus Cyzicenus warreth against his brother 347. K. 351. B. put to flight 347. N. slain 353. M. Antiochus Eusebius puts Seleucus to flight 353. N. slayeth Seleucus brother ibid. dieth ibid. O. Antiochus Seleucus slayeth his Uncle 353. M. burned ibid. N. Antiochus Dionysius King 355. K. thrust out of his Kingdom ibid. slain 345. M. Antiochus perfidious to his Citizens 762. M. N. Antiochus King of Comagena accused 77. O. his choice c. ibid. M. reconciled to Caesar ibid. N. Antipas Herods son 606. K. claimeth the Kingdom ibid. accuseth Archelaus 606. L. hath part of the Kingdom with Archelaus 471. D. Antipater the Idumaean 360. K. incenseth the Princes against Aristobulus 360. M. relieveth Gabinius 367. M. his wife and children 369. A. c. gathereth souldiers for Caesars service ibid. E. made a citizen of Rome and Governour over Judaea 370. C. D. E. 567. F. makes his sons Governours 372. B. perswadeth Hircanus to flye 564. N. his exploits 567. C. poisoned 377. H. 570. K. Antipater banished 585. G. advanced 426. M. inciteth his father against his brothers 426. N. his congratulation 429. F. plotteth against his brethren 433. E. 588. L. cause of mischief 436. M. governeth the Kingdom c. 448. L. practiseth his fathers death ibid. M. 598. M. could not deceive his Aunt 448. N. hateth his brothers children 449. C. his treasons 599. F. accuseth Syllaeus 598. L. 452. K. studieth to win favour 594. M. conspireth against his father 594. L. accused by Herod 455. E. 599. F. answereth his fathers objections 456. H. hated of all 599. B. 457. G. hath liberty to justifie himself ibid. D. put to death 461. G. 603. A. Antipater accuseth Antipater 453. E. Antipater accuseth Archelaus 465. E. 606. L. M. Antipatris built 430. N. burned 635. C. Antiphilus letter to Antipater 456. M. blamed 459. B. Antiquity of the Jews proved 784. M. See Arguments Antiquities when written 543. B. Antonia described 722. A. not unlike a City ibid. C. Antonius writeth to Hircanus 378. G. writeth in the Jews behalf 379. K. maketh Tetrarchs 380. C. loveth Herod 384. B. maketh Herod King ibid. C. requireth Aristobulus 394. B. giveth Cleopatra a portion of Judaea and Arabia 399. H. conquereth Armenia ibid. M. Aphrica once called Lybia 42. I. Apollonius accuseth the Jews 806. M. Apollonius sent to rob the Temple 417. B. acknowledged his offence ibid. C. General of Antiochus army 316. E. discomfited and slain ibid. E. Apollonius Davus put to flight 334. E. Apology of Achimelech 166. K. of Aristobulus 363. H. Apostacy of the Priests 294. A. Apostates
Herod 462. N. O. Burning of the Temple 265. I. 476. M. 750. M. Burthen required to be eased 218. D. Bush of fire about Moses 66. O. Bushel of Corn sold for a Talent 738. M. Business of Moses 77. G. Butlers dream expounded 54. M. Butchery of the thieves 537. B. C. C. CAecinna perswaded the souldiers to revolt 309. E. F. apprehended 710. H. freed and honoured ibid. I. Caerealis conquered the Samaritans 670. B. C. Caesar confirmeth Hircanus in the Priesthood 370. D. departeth out of Syria 371. L. his testimony of the Jews 373. N. slain 569. D. 376. C. delivereth Aristobulus 567. A. Caesar slayeth Cassius 368. G. Herods friend 384. B. overcometh Antonius 403. M. confirmeth Herod in the Kingdom 405. N. giveth him 800 talents 406. G. Lord of Egypt 407. I. enlargeth Herods dominions ibid. 415. M. 583. B. made Pheroras Tetrarch 416. G. gave Herod revenues 416. F. offended with Herod 439. G. alloweth Herod to punish Malefactors 443. F. maketh Archelaus King 466. N. confirmeth Herods testament 471. D. calls a Council 606. M. makes Archelaus an Ethnarch 471. D. Caesarea built by Herod 414. G. was called Stratous Tower ibid. G. a great City 584. M. 674. H. Caiu Adams first son 29. B. slew his brother ibid. C. not bettered by Gods chastisement ibid. E. builded a City ibid. F. invented the use of the plough 29. B. father of hypocrites 30. H. Caius succeedeth Tiberius 485. C. certifieth the Senate of Tiberius death 492. L. maketh Agrippa King ibid. 616. H. banisheth Herod 493. E. usurpeth divine honour 493. G. 616. K. his Statue c. ibid. K. writeth letters to Petronius 493. C. calleth himself Jupiters brother c. 504. H. c. causeth many to be murthered 509. B. sacrifieth 509. A. builded a haven 516. L. slain 520. E. Caleb and Joshuah appease the people 96. M. Calimander slain 347. O. Calling of Moses 67. A. of Elizaâ— 228. E. Calamity of the Israelites 62. O. 73. D. E. F. 74. I. 129. B. 130. L. M. 133. B. foretold 261. L. and 262. E. Calamity of Herod 580. A. of Syria 632. L. M. Calamity in Jerusalem 738. K. L. M. c. Calamity of the Romans 747. E. of the Jews recounted to the Romans 749. B. Calamity of the Jews at Antioch 762. N. O. Calamity of the Jews taken by the Romans 775. D. Calumniation 435. B. Calves of Jeroboam 219. K. L. Caâ—byses inhibiteth the building of the Temple 275. N. O. 276. B. Camp of the enemies spoiled 240. D. Camp of the Romans how ordered 660. N. Three Camps of the Jews 607. F. Candlestick of Gold 84. O. 211. I. Capharis submits to Caerealis 705. F. Captain over a thousand 160. O. Captains of Solomon 206. H. Two Captains of Ochozias destroyed and why 236. B. the third preserved 236. C. Captain trodden to death 240. E. Captivity of Babylon fore-prophecied 257. I. 260. D. effected 265. L. 729. F. Carcasses hinder the passages 578. N. Carcasses innumerable 108. N. Carcasses cast out of the City how many 738. M. Care of God for the Israelites safety 67. F. for his servants 228. C. D. Carthage built 787. C. Carelesness of Abner touching Sauls safety 169. G. Carpenters how imployed 207. D. Cassius resisteth the Parthians 368. G. exacteth of the Jews 700 talents of silver 376. D. Cassius Longâ—â—â—â— Governour of Syria 527. C. Castle fortified 328. F. 362. L. razed ibid. F. Castle of David 717. F. Castor a subtil Jew 726. K. Catalogue of Jacobs sons and nephews 61. B. C. D. Catalogue of Gods benefits on Israel 74. I. K. Catalogue of the Commandments 79. F. G. Cattel gotten in War 124. L. 127. A. Catallus slayeth three thousand Jews 778. M. Cause of errour concerning God 812. N. Causes of discord 781. E. 782. H. Causes of malice between Egyptians and Jews 792. I. Causes of the Israelites ruine 62. M. Causes of the Wars of the Jews 622. K. Causes of Vespasians election 707. F. Causes of writing the Antiquities 25. D. E. 780. M. Caves of the thieves described 576. O. Ceasing of Manna 122. N. Celebration of the Passover 260. A. 281. K. Cells about the Temple 208. N. Candebaeus put to flight 343. N. 559. D. Cenizus delivereth the Israelites 133. C. vanquisheth Schisar ibid. G. judged Israel forty years ibid. O. Censors affixed to the brazen Altar 102. L. and why ibid. Censors of Gold 210. C. Centurion of Florm 623. A. Ceseâ—â—ius President of Syria 77. O. accused Antiochus ibid. H. I. Cestern digged to be enclosed 117. C. Cestiâ—â— G. appeaseth the people c. 622. I. burnt Zabulon and Joppe 634. N. consulteth with the Princes c. 625. B. his siege against Jerusalem 635. G. Châ—â—â—us and his compliâ—â—â— conspire Caius death 504. O. why incited against Caius 505. C. conferreth with Clement c. 506. I. intends to kill Caius ibid. expecteth occasion to assail Caius 508. I. slayeth Caius 510. L. honoured 515. A. sendeth Lupus to kill Caius wife ibid. E. executed 518. O. Challenge of a single combat 159. C. Chaldeans mutiny against Abraham 36. H. Cham Noahs son 31. O. his progeâ—y 34. K. discovereth his fathers nakedness 34. O. Chambers of pleasure 213. C. Champions of David 196. D. Canaan Jacobs inheritance 50. K. Canaanites put the Israelites to flight 98. N. wholly to be extinguished 118. M. 129. E. ten thousand slain 129. B. made Tributaries 215. B. Charges of the Temple to be supplied 281. N. Chariots of Jabin 134. K. of Solomon 206. K. Chariots armed seen in the air 753. D. Chastisement bettered not Cain 29. E. Chastity of Joseph 53. A. B. C. 816. K. Chance-medley 109. D. Change of the Jews Government 567. G. Change of names whence 34. I. Cherubin 84. H. in the Temple 209. I. Chetura Abrahams second wife 41. G. bare to Abraham six children ibid. O. Chieftains of Achis 172. N. cause David to be dismissed ibid. O. of Solomon 206. H. I. Children are to learn the Law 112. K. Seventy children of Achab slain 243. L. Children of Herod 595. B. C. Children not to be punished for the fathers offence 117. E. Children male put to death 62. O. Children of Canaan 34. N. Children of Abraham 40. I. M. of Jacob 47. N. O. Children of Roboam 221. B. Children unlike their fathers 149. B. 257. O. 241. I. K. Chodollogomor an Assyrian Captain 37. B. overthrew the Sodomites ibid. Choice of the Esseans in compassion and helping 613. C. Chorab mutineth against Moses 99. D. E. affecteth the Office of High Priest ibid. F. he and his company consumed with fire 102. L. Cosby a daughter of Midian 107. F. enticed Zambrias to Idolatry ibid. O. slain with him 108. K. Christ crucified 480. M. Chronicles of the Tyrians 254. A. Churlishness of Nabal 168. N. Chusais opposition to Achitophel 188. O. his counsel accepted 190. L. certified David of the victory 192. I. Chuthites removed unto Samaria 254. A. plagued and why 254. B. claim kindred of the Jews ibid. G. Circumcision commanded
E. 263. H. L. c. 264. D. E. c. 265. H. I. Imprecation for building Jericho 123. D. Imprecation of Saul 155. D. Incest 94. H. of Lot 39. D. of Ammon 183. C. Inchanters banished 171. B. Inclosure before the Temple 210. D. Inconstancy of fortune 682. I. Inconveniences under a King 149. F. G. Incouragement of Moses 67. C. of Joshuah 119. D. Incredulity punished 240. E. Incursions of the Amalechites 135. B. of the Philistines H. of Adar 217. M. Indebted acts and devices 763. B. Indulgence cause of sin 157. D. Industry of the Romans 660. N. Ingratitude of the Sichemites 137. B. of the Israelites 153. D. of Nabal 168. N. of Demetriâ—â— 336. B. of Malchâ—â— 574. H. Inhabitants of Nob slain 166. K. Inhabitants of Countries 33. F. 34. L. Inheritance of Jacob and Esau 50. L. M. of Salpades dauthters 113. E. Inhibition of Cambyses 276. B. Iniquity 577. B. of the Jews 740. H. Injuries of Florus 477. F. Injury to Davids Embassadours 183. C. to Thamar 186. L. Injustice of Law-makers 814. I. Innocency of David 168. I. 170. L. Insolence 248 A. B. 250. B. 250. D. 733. D. Institution of Circumcision 38. L. 70. L. of the Passover Instruments of Musick 210. C. Interpretation of Josephs dream 51. C. of the Butlers 24. M. of the Bakers 24. O. of Pharaoâ—s ibid. E. F. of Nebucâ—odonosors 269. O. of the hand-writing 271. N. Interpreters royally entertained 302. O. Intent of Florus manifested 624 M. Intention of Saul against David 160. I. M. 163. B. 164. M. Intestine discord 686. I. Invective against murtherers 178. M. against the Zealous 687. F. of Joseph against the Jews 730. K. Inventor of Musick who 29. G. Inventor of the Art of Forging ibid. First Inventors of Letters 781. A. Invocation of God in trouble 74. O. Joab General of Davids Army 176. H. discomfiteth Abâ—er ibid. I. slayeth Abâ—er 177. D. discomfiteth the Syrians 189. F. reconcileth Absalon to his father 188. H. â— Joab and the Army enter the City mournfully 192. M. his Oration unto David c. ibid. C. sent out against Siba 194. M. killeth Amaza ibid. N. rebuked proposeth conditions of peace 194. L. one of Adoâ—iâ—â— coadjutors 199. D. slain 204. L. Joachas King of Israel subdued 246. F. G. and why ibid. his repentance and prayer ibid. Joachim King of Juda 260. E. paid tribute ibid. 261. I. revolteth and is slain 261. I. not buried 261. M. Joachin King of Juda 261. N. See Jechonias Joas King of Israel 247. H. called Elizaeus his father ibid. H. his treble victory ibid. K. Joas saved and how 244. D. created King of Juda 244. E. his piety during Joiadas time 245. L. repaireth the Temple ibid. N. his impiety after Joiadas decease 246. E. stoneth Zacharias ibid. G. bought his peace 246. D. dieth ibid. Joatham his works about the Temple 250. F. acts of War ibid. K. 251. I. Joaz King of Juda taken prisoner 260. E. his impiety and death ibid. F. Jobel a Maker of Tents 29. F. Jochabel Moses Mother 63. E. secretly hid him three months ibid. F. appointed to be his Nurse by Pharaohs daughter 64. K. Jodes killeth Eglon 133. F. subdueth the Moabites and ruleth Israel ibid. 134. I. K. Joel and Abia govern the Commonweal 149. B. Joiada High Priest 240. C. createth Joas King 240. D. sweareth King and people to serve God ibid. L. deceaseth 246. B. John releaseth Ismaels captives 267. R. refuseth counsel ibid. I. John High Priest slayeth his brother 293. I. punished 293. K. John Jonathans brother slain 328. D. John Baptist slain 485. B. Johns acts in Gischalis 5. M. his treason 6. I. seeketh to murther Joseph 5. M. he and the Embassadours resort to Jesus 15. A his followers forsake him 21. F. a trecher and murderer 639. B. flieth into Gischala 641 A. perswadeth the Tyberians to revolt 641. N. moveth to rebellion 684. I. reserved to be at the siege of Jerusalem 685. A. sweareth to the people c. 689. E. breaketh his oath ibid. G. assaulted on both sides 712. M. putteth the Zealous to flight 714. I. seizeth the Temple ibid. raileth upon Joseph 744. I. apprehended 759. E. is condemned to perpetual prison ibid. F. John Captain of the Idumaeans 724. M. slain ibid. M. Jonas cause of a tempest and why 249. I. devoured of a whale and cast out 249. K. preacheth to the Ninevites ibid. K. Jonathan Sauls son 154. I. entred the enemies camp and slew them 155. B. C. breaketh the Edict ibid. D. counselleth David to flie 162. I. pacifieth Sauls displeasure and certifieth David thereof 162. L. M. discovereth Sauls hatred to David and how 164. L. reneweth his covenant 167. C. Jonathan Governour of the Jews 328. B. revengeth his brothers death 328. K. assaileth Bacchides by night 329. I. putteth Apollonius to flight 334. E. appeaseth Demetrius 336. C. putteth Demetrius to flight 339. H. reneweth friendship with the Romans ibid. I. c. fighteth with Demetrius 340. A. repaireth Jerusalem c. ibid. G. taken by Triphon 340. F. 559. B. slain 342. C. 559. C. Jonathans letters to Joseph 13. C. Jonathan challengeth a combat 747. B. slayeth Pudens 747. C. Joppe a retreat for thieves 674. K. taken ibid. N. Joram King of Juda 237. N. served Idols 241. I. murdereth his brethren ibid. I. dieth miserably 241. M. Joram King of Israel an impious man 236. D. asketh aid ibid. E. in distress with two other Kings ibid. E. F. relieved and how 237. H. overcame the Moabites ibid. L. besieged 238. F. threatneth Elizaeus 239. K. certified of the enemies flight 239. O. his expedition to recover Ramath 241. O. Jordan yieldeth the Israelites passage 190. N. his fountain 680. L. Jehosophat King of Juda his piety 311. M. his expedition with Achab 232. B. M. reproved 234. E. reneweth the true service of God ibid. E. prayeth and why 235. I. obtaineth victory and how 235. K. L. his ships cast away ibid. M. aideth Joram 236. E. dieth 237. M. Joseph son of Jacob 47. A. envied of his brethren 50. O. dreamed a dream 51. O. sold by his brethren 52. L. resisted his mistriss twofold temptation 53. A. E. accused and cast into prison 54. H. K. expounded dreams 54. M. O. counselled the King how to prevent famine 55. F. advanced to honour and married a wife ibid. G. sounded his brethren and why 56. M. sent them away but detained Simeon 57. B. C. banqueteth them and Benjamin 58. H. slayeth their journey and accuseth them ibid. I. K. I attacheth Benjamin ibid. N. maketh himself known to his brethren 60. I. K. resorteth to Pharaoh with his brethren c. 60. burieth his father 62. I. giveth charge concerning his bones ibid. dieth ibid. I. Joseph preventeth calamity and how 308. I. c. Embassadour to Ptolomy ibid. N. tributes of Coelosyria committed to him 399. I. his wealth and children ibid. N. sendeth his son Hircanus to Ptolomy 310. C. his death 311. F. Joseph Herods brother slain 388. C. D.
Joseph Herods Uncle 397. C. slain and why 388. I. K. L. Josephus of the Priestly line 433. D. 543. A. studious from his infancy 1. E. expert in the Greek and Hebrew tongues 542. O. a Pharisee 1. F. his shipwrack 2. H. dehorteth the Jews from sedition ibid. K. remaineth in Galilee 4. N. procureth the safety of the Kings goods 5. C. would not be bribed 5. F. surprizeth Jesus 7. D. his care of Religion 7. D. transporteth Corn into Galilee 8. H. laboureth to restore Ptoâ—omies goods 8. M. moveth the people to compassion 9. B. his Oration ibid. C. escapeth from danger 9. D. dismisseth the Tarichaeans 9. G. politickly taketh Tiberiâ— 10. L. dismisseth the Tiberians 11. B. his dream 12. N. his answer to Jonathan 13. F. besetteth the ways of Galilee 14. M. objecteth treachery to the Embassadours 15. C. pacifieth sedition 16. I. sends 100 Embassadours to Jerusalem ibid. B. certifieth the Galilaeans of Jonathans treachery 18. K. taketh Simon 19. C. surprizeth Tiberias ibid. D. prosecuteth his History 21. D. assaileth the walls of Sephoris 22. O. putteth the Kings souldiers to flight 23. C. his accident 23. D. dischargeth captives 24. I. entertained by Vespasian 24. K. envied c. ibid. maketh seventy Elders Rulers in Galilee 638. I. fortifieth the City with walls 638. K. instructeth the Galilaeans in War ibid. cometh to Jotapata 663. E. defendeth Jotapata 663. G. 664. E. F. 665. C. burneth the engines 666. M. leapt into a trench 671. L. consenteth to Nicanor ibid. m. his speech to his fellows 672. H. resorteth to Vespasian 673. D. foretelleth Vespasian of his future honours 673. F. rewarded by Vespasian 674. H. imprisoned ibid. delivered 109. C. wounded in the head 737. B. his speech to the people 744. I. present at the Wars of the Jews 783. D. sold his books to many 738. E. Josias restored Gods Service 258. E. rooteth out Idolatry ibid. F. causeth the book of the Law to be read 259. L. burneth false Prophets bones ibid. M. celebrateth the Passover 260. A. is slain ibid. B. Joshuah Captain over the Israelites 76. N. with Caleb appeaseth the people 96. M. appointed the successour of Moses 109. B. passeth over Jordan 122. L. buildeth an Altar 122. M. compasseth about the City of Jericho 122. O. burneth the City 123. C. pronounced them accursed that re-edifie it ibid. D. prayeth unto God 123. F. taketh and burneth Ainan 124. K. maketh a covenant with the Gibeonites 124. O. slayeth five Kings 125. C. slayeth the Kings of Canaan and their Army 125. D. sendeth men to measure the Land 126. K. divideth it by lots 126. K. c. his Oration to the two tribes and half 127. D. exhorteth the people to keep the Law 128. M. dieth ibid. N. Jotapata besieged 663. E. 664. G. valiantly defended 665. B. C. 666. H. c. 667. A. c. 668. O. 669. A. B. c taken 670. F. 671. H. Jotham son of Gedeon 137. B. upbraideth the Sichemites ibid. B. adviseth them to reject Abimelech 137. C. Journey of the Hebrews 70. L. 71. B. 72. K. N. 73. B. Joy of Jacob 61. D. of the Egyptians 62. H. of Anna 144. I. of the Jews 278. C. D. c. Ipsan governed Israel 139. D. his children ibid. E. Iron bed of Og 105. B. Iron work forbidden 136. I. Isaac promised 38. L. and ibid. O. is born 39. G. why he was called Isaac ibid. G. legitimate son of Abraham 40. I. maketh a covenant with Abimelech 44. I. should have been offered 41. B. marrieth Rebecca 43. C. dieth 49. F. Isachar son of Jacob 47. A. what it signifies ibid. A. his sons 61. C. Isboseth Sauls Son proclaimed King 176. H. his army discomfited ibid. I. reproved Abner and why 176. N. traiterously slain 138. L. M. Isha what it signifies 28. I. Isis Priests hanged 481. C. D. Islands c. called Cethim 34. I. Ismael slew Godolias 266. E. taketh many prisoners 266. F. Ismael Abrahams son 34. K. circumcised ibid. L. his state and progeny foretold ibid. L. his name what 36. K. banished and why 40. K. his sons 40. L. Israel a name given to Jacob and why 48. M. Israelites servitude 62. M. their male children put to death 62. O. grievously afflicted 67. E. and 68. L. celebrated the Passover 70. I. K. departed out of Egypt 72. O. are exhorted to put their trust in God 71. F. gothorow the Red Sea ibid. sing songs of praise to God 72. M. distressed in the desart 78. A. murmur and why ibid. E. fed with Manna forty years 75. D. incensed against Moses and why ibid. E. F. wander in the wilderness forty years 97. A. assail their enemies 98. L. war against the Amalachites 76. I. and get great spoils 77. C. come to Sinai ibid. D. hear God speaking to them 79. E. builded the Tabernacle 80. L. assail their enemies and are overcome 98. M. N. put the Amorites to flight 103. B. slay Seâ—on and Og 103. A. B. C. serve strange gods 107. D. commanded to destroy their enemies 111. A. B. H. bound to keep the Law 119. B. enjoyed the fruits of the earth 122. N. took Jericho 123. B. also Ainan 124. K. overcame the Chanaanites 125. E. divided their land amongst them 126. K. c. reproved for sparing the Chanaanites 129. G. twice overthrown 131. D. slay all the Benjamites save six hundred 131. F. give them four hundred virgins for wives 132. I. their punishment prayers and fast 148. I. K. L. their report to Samuel of his sons 149. D. desire a King ibid. rescue Jonathan 156. I. spare the cattel of the Amalechites 157. B. revolt from Roboam 219. I. the godly return to him 221. B. their translation 250. E. 253. N. dispossessed of their Country and why 253. N. Issue of Isaac foretold 38. L. what should effect ibid. L. of Abraham by Chetura 41. G. of Jacob 46. N. O. Issue of the war 608. O. Ittam a place of recreation 216. M. Jubal Inventer of Musick 29. G. Juda the son of Jacob 46. N. his counsel to sell Joseph 52. L. urgeth his father to send Benjamin 57. D. maketh a speech before Joseph 59. B. his children 61. B. Judaea made tributary 260. E. described 659. F. length and breadth thereof ibid. G. desolated 740. I. Judas Maccabaeus 316. C. slayeth Apollonius and discomfiteth the Syrians ibid. E. F. his Oration to his Souldiers 317. M. twice discomfiteth Lysâ—â—s 318. B. C. D. purged the Temple 318. E. 319. H. warreth with the neighbouring nations 319. I. K. succoureth the Jews in Galaad 319. C. 320. D. his admirable victory ibid. D. besiegeth the Castle in Jerusalem 321. N. and why ibid. his league with Antiochus 323. I. slayeth Alchimus partakers 325. K. putteth Nicanor to flight 325. H. covenanteth peace with the Romans 325. K. abandoned of his men ibid. N. is slain 326. C. 559. B. Judas the Essean a Prophet 350. H. 561. D. Judas the Arch-thief 468. L. Judas Galilaeus sect 476. M. Judge