was sometimes called Herod of Palestine or Herod Archelaus which is nothing strange because others of the same stocke had the like Praenomen or forename As for Example his name who was the Tetrarch of Galilee when the Baptist was beheaded and under whom our Saviour suffered was Antipas howbeit he was also called Herod Luke 23.8 Also Agrippa sonne of Aristobulus had not only the name of Agrippa but of Herod Act. 12.19 and so I do not doubt but that Archelaus was also sometimes called by the name of Herod Secondly Josep an t lib. 18 cap. 6. Philip dyed in the twentieth year of Tiberius and in the seven thirtieth year after his Father The twentieth of Tyberius began in the 78 Iulian year on the nineteenth day of August and ended not until the same time in the next year the death of Philip therefore was in the 79 Iulian yeare before the nineteenth of August and consequently the death of Herod in the three and fortieth yeare as at the first was proved Scaliger did somewhat sticke at these things whereupon his conjecture was that there might be some fault in Josephus and that for the 20 yeare of Tyberius we ought to read the 22 which he found warranted by Ruffinus an ancient interpreter of Josephus Kep Silva Chronol But Kepler answereth that the Greeke Copies of Iosephus are of better credit and that the fault therefore is in the Latine which we may not preferre above the Greeke because the one is the Translation the other the Originall Thirdly after Philip had gotten the Tetrachship of Galile Iosephus telleth us that he built a Towne and in the honour of Iulia the Daughter of Augustus called it Iuliada which certainely he did whilst Iulia was in favour otherwise he had transgressed against the Emperour but Iulia was out of favour and banished for her foule adultery in the foure and fortieth Iulian year And therefore Herod could not be alive in the beginning of the next year as Scaliger would have him because this Towne was not built by Philip till after his Fathers death And as for the banishment of Iulia Dion lib. 48. that it was in the yeare aforesaid is thus proved She was born saith Dion when Marcus Censorinus and Calvisius Sabinus were Consuls and from thenceforth flourished and lived in her Fathers favour and in the favour of the people of Rome Macrob. Sat. lib. 2. cap. 5. untill as saith Macrobius the eighth and thirtieth yeare of her age These men were Consuls in the seventh Iulian year the eight and thirtieth from whence was sure enough the foure and fortieth in which year Cesar himselfe was the thirteenth time Consul Fourthly Iosephus also testifieth that after Herod was dead the sonnes of Herod contended before Augustus concerning their Fathers Heritage and then Cajus was at Rome and sat in judgement but Cajus was absent and gone into Syria in the same year that Iulia was banished And therefore Herod must needes be dead before that time And that Cajus went so soone into Syria may thus be proved He was borne as Dion sheweth in that year when Apuleius and Nerva were Consuls which was in the six and twentieth Iulian year in the nineteenth year after he went into Syria and afterwards into Armenia returning no more for he died in the 49 Iulian year when Sex Aelius and Sentius were Consuls as is testified by Paterculus Tacitus saith Quirinus was made an Overseer to Cajus Cesar not being twenty yeares old when he went to Warres in Armenia Ovid de Arte amandi lib. 1. Ovid gives him the same age which his Father had when he also began to be famous and enter into the Warres which was about nineteene according to what is found in an old Monument recording the famous deeds done by Augustus Annos undeviginti natus exercitum privato concilio privataque impensa câ—mparavi Where the word undeviginti sheweth that he wanted one of twenty But what need I urge these two last proofes thus far seeing those before them are sufficient I conclude therefore that Herod dyed in the forty three Iulian yeare about the six and twentieth day of February which was three and thirty dayes before Easter for that he dyed so long before Easter appeareth by the great Pompe and State at his Funerall together with some other circumstances mentioned by Iosephus Three and thirty dayes before that 's the least it might perhaps be forty which will therefore make his death to be on the nineteenth day of February feria tertia that being the fift day of the twelfth Moneth Adar thirty seven yeares compleat from his first beginning to reigne and thirty four current from the death of Antigonus when he and Socius tooke Ierusalem There is no objection of moment that can be made against it howbeit because something is objected I shall not be wanting to give an answer Our Country-man Lydiat hath greatly taxed Iosephus as if herein he had reckoned amisse but it was an unjust censure For questionlesse those things wherein he blameth him and would make the world thinke him to be faulty would never have been forgotten by his adversarie Apion if in them he had been worthy of blame The greatest Cavill which I suppose can be urged is out of the fourteenth booke of his Antiquities at the beginning of the seventeenth Chapter where Herod is said to be of the age of fifteene yeares in the time of the Pharsalian battell which was in the year of the City 705 and yeare of the Iulian Period 4666. from whence he lived untill he was about seventy yeares old testified also by the same Author in the 17th Booke of his Antiquities at the eight Chapter and in his first Booke De bello Iudaico at the last Chapter From whence it followeth that Herod dyed not till the year of the Iulian Period 4720. which was the 52 Iulian year when A. Licinius and Q. Caeeilius were Consuls Which if it be true then must not the beginning of his reigne be untill the first year of the Actium fight where Iosephus setteth the seventh yeare of his reigne and not the first even the seventh of his 34 yeares accounted from the taking of Ierusalem by him and Socius Some indeed and among them Cardinall Baronius and our Country-man Lydiat begin the thirty seven years of his reigne but then grounding chiefly upon this That that fight being ended and the Victory falling on the side of Augustus Herod who had taken part with Antonius against him came as a suppliant laid downe his Crowne and had never more taken it up if Augustus the Conqueror had not been favourable and given him leave againe to weare it so that receiving his Crowne at that time from the hands of Augustus he at that time began the 37 years of his reign A weake argument I dare boldly say for this at the most was but the pardoning of his offence and thereupon the confirming of him in his
8 F Sabbath day  15 1 9 G Dies Dominicus The Lords day  16 2 10 A  17 3 11 B  18 4 12 C  19 5 13 D  20 6 14 E  21 7 15 F Sabbath day  22 1 16 G Dies Dominicus The Lords day  23 2 17 A  24 3 18 B  25 4 19 C  26 5 20 D  27 6 21 E  28 7 22 F Sabbath day  29 1 23 G Dies Dominicus The Lords day  30 2 24 A  FINIS Laus Deo CALVMVS MENSVRANS The Measuring Reed OR The Standard of Time CONTAINING The chiefe and principall Kingdomes of the WORLD both before and after CHRIST to the Destruction of JERVSALEM by the ROMANS Wherein the names of the KINGS and years of their reignes are noted and set down in their right times with other things well worthy of Observation The second PART By JOHN SWAN Remember the dayes of old consider the years of many generations Deut. 32.7 I have considered the dayes of old the years of ancient times Psa 77.5 LONDON Printed for John Williams at the signe of the Crowne in St. Pauls Churchyard 1653. The Contents of the Second PART CHAP. I. OF Peleg and Jocktan the two Sonnes of Heber and of Nimrod the beginning of whose Kingdome was at the building of Babel from whence he went into the Land of Assyria and founded Niniveh c. Page 1. CHAP. II. Of Ninus and his Successors p. 7. CHAP. III. Of the Kingdome of Egypt and of the Kings that reigned there p. 15 CHAP. IV. Of the Kingdome of Sycionia and of the Kings that reigned there p. 24. CHAP. V. Of the Kingdome and Kings of the Argives and of the Mycenae that succeeded them p. 34. CHAP. VI. Of the Kingdome and Kings of Athens the first whereof was Cecrops p. 45. CHAP. VII Of the Kings that reigned in the Kiagdome of Troy before the Greekes destroyed it p. 54. CHAP. VIII Of the Kingdome of the Aborigines p. 55. CHAP. IX Of the Kings of Italy after Latinus p. 56. CHAP. X. Of the British Kings that reigned in England from Brute to the time of Julius Caesar and after p. 59 CHAP. XI Containyng the Dynasties of severall other Kingdomes p. 64. CHAP. XII Of the Kings and other Governours of Rome from the founddation thereof by Romulus to the Destruction of Hierusalem by Titus p. 75. CALAMVS MENSVRANS OR The Measuring REED The second Part. CHAP. I. Of Peleg and Jocktan the two Sons of Heber and of Nimrod the beginning of whose Kingdome was at the building of Babel from whence he went into the Land of Assyria and founded Niniveh c. OF Heber it is said in Gen. 10.25 And unto Heber were borne two Sonnes the name of the one was Peleg for in his dayes was the Earth divided and his brothers name was Jocktan Now this Jocktan had thirteene sonnes men growne at the confusion of Tongues as the verses following make apparent and therefore that division of the Earth which was made at the birth of Peleg if the text be so to be understood as that there must be a division then could not be the same with that which was at the confusion of Tongues for Heber was but 34. yeares old when Peleg was borne Gen. 11.16 and Jocktan though he were borne before could not be old enough to have any of his Sons either born or if borne of age sufficient at their Vncles birth to be Conductors of Colonies from Babel to other Countries The confusion of Tongues was therefore long after the birth of Peleg and yet at the time of his birth there might be a division made of the Earth by Noah who when he saw his Sonnes and their Children begin to increase might take in hand to divide the Earth among them appointing to the head of each Family his place and portion but they loath to breake company and not willing to separate themselves each from other departed away together from the East where the Arke rested to the Land of Shinar where they found a Plain that pleased them and for a time they dwelled there Gen. 11.1 2. This time of their dwelling there before they began to build the Tower of Babel might end about fourteen yeeres after the birth of Peleg for so long time I find between his birth and the beginning of of the Chaldaean date which at the time when Alexander the great took Babylon as was observed by Calisthenes the Philosopher then present was running on in the yeare thereof 1903. which was also the yeare of the Julian Period 4484. out of which if we take 1902. compleat the beginning of the said date will be in the year of the Julian Period 2482. There therefore upon this ground I justly fix it and doe there also for the reasons aforesaid concerning Jocktan and his Sonnes place the beginning of that Tower whose top they intended should reach unto Heaven Perhaps they might begin the City before but not the Tower This Tower as Michael Glycas saith was forty yeares in building which will therefore make the confusion of Tongues to be 54. yeares after the birth of Peleg by which time the very yongest of Jocktans Sons might be of age sufficient to conduct a Colonie from thence according to the division of his Tongue This I find to be 155. yeares after the Flood was ended in the yeare of the World 1813. and in the year of the Julian Period 2522. And now had Nimrod reigned forty yeares from the beginning of the Chaldaean Date or at least had been a mighty man among them that built this City and Tower of Babel for so long a time The Scripture saith he began to be a mighty one in the Earth Gen. 10.8 thereby declaring that he was the first who had others under him Which if he began to have when the Nations first began to build the City and Tower of Babel as we find in Josephus then had he more under his command at that time then when Languages were confounded And for that cause perhaps it was that afterwards he ranged further like a mighty Hunter to inlarge his Dominions For after he had builded and gotten to himselfe Babel Erech Accad and Chalne in the Land of Shinar he went out of that Land saith Moses into Assiria and builded Niniveh and the City Rehâ—both and Chalah and Resen between Niniveh and Chalah Gen. 10.11.12 Some I know read that text otherwise as thus Out of that Land went Ashur and builded Niniveh Concluding hereupon that Ashur of Sems race being wearied with Nimrods cruelty went out of Shinar into another Country which he called after his owne name and there built Niniveh with the three other Cities aforesaid But of this there is little probability more like it is that Nimrod as I said before having gotten Babel Erech Accad and Chalne in the Land of Shinar was not therewithall content but coveting more and larger territories advanced
 In this yeare Troy was taken and destroyed 408. yeares before the Olympiads of Iphitus and 432. before the building of Rome began as is witnessed by Diodorus lib. 14. CHAP. VIII Of the Kingdome of the Aborigines THis Kingdome was in Italy and began in the year of the Julian Period 3385. Janus was the first King he reigned 33. yeares In his time Saturn fled out of Crete into this Country as both Poets and Historiograpers witnesse The time when he came was in the 17. yeare of Janus after which he and Janus reigned about 17. yeares accounting the yeare when he came to be the first yeare of his reigne Scal. Euseb These people were called Aborigines at the first because their Originall was unknowne and yet * Dionys Hal. some say they were formerly Arcadians and came with Oenotrius Sonne of Lycan into Italy But Scaliger saith their right name was Aberrigines a multo errore from their much wandring The next King after those two before mentioned was Picus the Sonne of Saturne he reigned 37. yeares Euseb Saint Austin speaking of Picus saith that he was the Son of Saturn and first successor in the Kingdome of the Laurentines For Laurentium was the eldest City of Latium the seat of the Aborigines and the place where their Kingdome after they came into Italy was founded called Laurentum of the Laurell Wood that grew neere it Moreover it is said of Picus that he was turned into a Pye because being a great Sooth-sayer he kept such a Bird alwayes for his Augury Of which see more in Saint Aug. De civit lib. 18. cap. 15. together with the notes of Ludovicus Vives thereupon Faunus the Sonne of Picus succeeded and reigned 44. years Euseb Vives ex Dionys Helvic Dionisius saith that some held Mars to be his great Grandfather and that the Romans worshipped him with Songs and Sacrifices as their Countries Genius Latinus reigned after Faunus 36. yeares in the latter end of his reigne Aeneas came into Italy and when Latinus was dead reigned after him three years But of Aeneas more shall be spoken afterward And now see all these in their right times Yeares of the Julian Period when they beg A List of the ancient Kings of Italy before Aeneas rightly fixed 3385. Janus and Saturne 33. 3418. Picus the Sonne of Saturne 37. 3455. Faunus the Sonne of Picus 44. 3499. Latinus after Faunus 36. 3535. In this yeare Latinus dyed and Aeneas began to reigne CHAP. VI. Of the Kings of Italy after Latinus PEtavius gathers out of Dionisius that Aeneas the Successor of Laâ—inus began to reigne in Italy in the fift yeare after the destruction of Troy The first year therefore of his reigne was in the yeare of the Julian Period 3535. and yeare of the World 2826. This was about three yeares after he came into this Country for he came hither about the second or third year after that City was destroyed Soon after his comming he married Lavinia Daughter to Latinus and built Lavinium Then when Latinus was slaine in the Warre with the Rutili and leaving no issue Male behind him he succeedeth in the Kingdome but is warred against by Turnus formerly betroathed to Lavinia but in this Warre Turnus is slaine by Aeneas and hee also slain afterward in another Warre with Mezentius King of Tuscanie after he had reigned three yeares Ascanius was his Successor with whom also Mezentius waged Warre and besieged him so streightly in Lavinium that he was glad to crave for peace but could not have it unlesse upon hard conditions whereupon he sallied out suddainly and slew Lausus the sonne of Mezentius which put that Army into such a feare that Mezentius not only condiscended to peace upon equall termes but ever after remained a true friend to Ascanius His Father was Aeneas and his Mother not Lavinia but Creusa For though Lavinia were with child by Aeneas yet she was not delivered till after her Husbands death And indeed being left alone without either Father or Husband she much feared his Son Ascanius and thereupon betooke her to the chiefe Herdsman of her deceased Husband by whom she had an house built her in the Woods and was there delivered of a Sonne whom she called Silvius Posthumus Now the People knew nothing of this save onely that she was with Child Ascanius therupon is suspected to have murthered her but he to clear himselfe causeth them to be both brought from thence and provideth carefully for them For in the seven and twentieth yeare of his reigne he leaveth the City Lavinium to his Step mother and built Alba longa where he reigned to the end of 38. years from the death of Aeneas and at his death neglecting his Sonne Julus he constituted * From him all the Albanian Kings were called Silvii Silvius Posthumus for his Successor Howbeit Julus was honorably provided for and from him discended the Family of the Julii This Sonne then of Aeneas by Lavinia succeeded Ascanius and reigned after him twenty nine yeares who because he was born in a Wood and after his Fathers death had this name of Silvius Posthumus The next after him was Aeneas Silvius he reigned one and thirty yeares After him was Latinus Silvius who reigned 51. yeares For if that which was the first year of Numitor was also the first yeare of Romulus as Saint Austin saith it was then must the time of this mans reigne be rather 51. then 50. yeares And note that of him the people were called Latines Alba Silvius succeeded and reigned 39. yeares Then Silvius Athys 24. Capis Silvius 28. Calpetus Silvius 13. Tiberinus Silvius 8. Of him the River came to be called Tiber because it was his hap to be drowned in it Agrippa Silvius succeeded and reigned 40. yeares After him was Aremulus otherwise called Alladius Silvius who having reigned 19. yeares was with Palace wherein he lived swallowed up because he strived to imitate the Thunder Next after him was Aventinus Silvius 37. Then Proca Silvius 23. Amulius Silvius 44. And last of all Numitor one which was also the first yeare of Romulus And now see them in their right times Yeares of the Julian Period when they beg A Catalogue of the Kings after Latinus ex Eusebio all of them fixed in their right times 3535. Aeneas 3. 3538. Ascanius 38. 3576. Silvius Pasthumus 29. 3605. Aeneas Silvius 31. 3636. Latinus Silvius 51. 3687. Alba Silvius 39 3726. Silvius Athys 24. 3750. Capis Silvius 28. 3778. Calpetus Silvins 13. 3791. Tiberinus Silvius 8. 3799. Agrippa Silvius 40. 3839. Aremulus sive Alladius 19. 3858. Aventinus Silvius 37. 3895. Proca Silvius 23. 3918. Amulius Silvius 44. 3962. Nunitor 1. Which was also the first yeare of Romulus and yeare when the foundation of Rome was laid CHAP. X. Of the British Kings that reigned in England from Brute to the time of Julius Caesar and after BRute the first King of the Brittaines arrived here in this Iland according to the common
magnus the Grecian Monarchie was divided and came at last to be in foure chiefe darts viz. Syria Macedon Egypt and Asia the lesse as before in the first Part may be seene CHAP. XII Of the Kings and other Governours of Rome from the foundation thereof by Romulus to the Destruction of Hierusalem by Titus I Shewed before in the end of the ninth Chapter of this second Part that when Romulus began to reigne the foundation of Rome was laid viz. in the yeare of the Julian Period 3962. at the Summer time whereof the first year of the seventh Olympiad began 432. yeares after the Destruction of Troy This was in the yeare of the World 3253. the sixth year of Jotham King of Judah and the seventh of Paka King of Israel before which time that which now began to be a City was but an ordinary Village The first Government whereof was by Kings which lasted 244. yeares as in the following Catalogue may be seene Yeares of the Julian Period when they beg A Catalogue of the Kings of Rome fixing them all in their right places 3962. Romulus 37. 3999. An Interregnum 1. 4000. Numa Pompilius 43. 4043. Tullus Hostilius 32. 4075. Ancus Martius 24. 4099. Tarquinius Priscus 38. 4137. Servius Tullius 44. 4181. Tarquinius Superbus 25. 4206. Here was the end of the Goverment by Kings The next Government was of Consuls who began in the year of the Julian Period 4206. There were other alterations afterward but that which was most eminent was the Government of Emperours The first whereof in some sort was Julius Cesar by whom the Brittains were made tributary in the ninth of Cassibelan but not till Augustus was Rome fully brought under the command of one Soveraigne Imperiall Monarch He therefore properly was the first Emperour whose death did so much greive the people that they wished either that he had never been borne or else that he had never dyed Tiberius succeeded him and began in the Julian Period 4727. after his Predecessour forementioned had reigned 57. years five moneths and foure dayes for Cesar was slaine in the Senate house receiving there three and twenty wounds in the year of the Julian Period 4670. on the fifteenth day of March and Tiberius began on the nineteenth day of August when Augustus dyed even in the year of the said Period 4727 aforesaid not long before that Eclipse of the Moon which Tacitus mentions This Tiberius dyed on the sixteenth day of March in the year of the Julian Period 4750 after he had reigned 22 years six moneths and 28 dayes His successour was Caligula who reigned three years ten moneths and nine dayes He was so prodigall that he spent an hundred Millions of money in three years He deflowred his three fisters and one of their daughters and was also so cruell that he wished all the people of Rome to have had but one neck that he might cut it off at one blow Finally he dyed being slaine by Cassius Cherea and Sabinus the Tribune on the 24 day of January in the year of the Julian Period 4754. His Unckle Claudius succeeded him and reighed thirteene years eight moneths and ten dayes In his time was that Famine which Agabus foretold Acts 11.28 He commanded all Jewes to depart from Rome Asts 18.2 And made Felix Governour of Judea who was made to tremble in the presence of his Minion Drausilla at Saint Pauls Sermon of Temperance and Judgement to come Acts 24.24 25. Simon Magus lived in his time and so played his pranks in Rome that he got to be honoured as a God After Claudius that cruell monster Nero began to reigne in the year of the Julian Period 4767 on the thirteenth day of October at which time the aforesaid Emperour dyed being poysoned by his wife Agrippina through the helpe of a Physician whose name was Xenophon This Nero was a most notorious wicked man he reigned thirteen years seven moneths and 28. dayes dying by his owne hand on the ninth of June in the year of the Julian Period 1681 one year and 20 dayes before Vespasion was made Emperour Galba succeeded in the year aforesaid whose whole time was but seven moneths and eight dayes He was slain by Otho who after three moneths and foure dayes killed himselfe being overcome by Vitellius who also after nine moneths is slain and Vesprtian thereupon sole Emperour In the second year of whose reigne that stately City and Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus the gallant and brave son of this Emperour in the year of the Julian Period 4783 as more at large in my first Part and last Chapter I have declared to which I now send you For here I intend no more but shall put an end now even to this Part also giving thanks unto God who hath brought me unto it Laus Deo FINIS Errata PAge 5. for evolvendo read revolvendo page 9. line 24. for be the best read be in the best p. 12. l. 27. read excerptis p. 14. l. 21. r. course of the Sun p. 15. l. 1. f. no other r. no moneth p. 16 l. 2. for twentieth r. two and tweitieth and l. 4. f. been r. but p. 17. l. 4. r. spoken of p 25. cap 5. f. October r. Aprill p 29. f. a Quartaine r. that a quartaine p. 31. l. 8. for of the Rest r. of Rest p. 33. l. 3. r. enough p. 36. l. 18. r. is concluded p. 37. l. 1. f. to r. in l. 14. f. on r. of p 38 l. 1. r. had not been l. 27. f. to r. on f. a Sabbath r. Sabbath l. 34. r. as I said l. 37. r. as we are pag. 39. l. 11. r. on Ararat p. 40. lin 32. for thirteenth read thirtieth page 42. line 42. for Egypt read out of Egypt page 49. line 9. for to read not page 70. line 13. r. of the Chaldees and l. 20. f. 57 r. 75. p. 71 l. 23 r. was his house p. 72 l. 3 r. goe on p. 75 l. 17 f. sed r. blessed p. 76 l. 27 r. which was 137 p. 77 l. 17 r. how to account p. 83 lin 36 r. Danites p. 91 l. 14 r. Jehoahaz 3 months In the Table of the Kings of Judah in Joash his reign f. the seventeenth of Jehu r. the seventh p. 108 l. 37 r. Zacharia p. 110 l. 32 r. Zorobabel p. 112 l. 24 r. as Ezra sheweth c. 4. An Hebrew and Julian Calender for the Year of the Vniversall Deluge or Flood The twelfe Moneth MARCH The twelfth Moneth Anno Mundi 1657. Â Â 1 12 Â A Â 2 13 Â B On this day a third Dove is sent and she returns no more howbeit Noah did not open the covering of the Ark untill the first day of the next Moneth Gen. 8.12 13. 3 14 Â C 4 15 Â D 5 16 Â E 6 17 Â F Â 7 18 Â G Â 8 19 Â A Â 9 20 Â B Â 10 21 Â C The first day of the Week 11 22
then Abraham For at the destruction of Sodome Abraham being then * At which time Abrahams body was said to be dead but was revived by the power of God not onely for the generation of Isaac but for further procreation as appeareth Gen. 25. 99 years old when the daughters of Lot lay with their Father they said of him that he was an old man Set then the birth of Abraham before Harans and how can any of these things be Beside the time from the Flood to Terah's seventieth year was too short to have the world so full of People and Kingdomes as it was in Abrahams time Hist of the World lib. 2. page 190. For in Abrahams time and long before as it is excellently observed by Sir Walter Raleigh all the then known parts of the World were peopled All regions and countries had their Kings Egypt had many magnificent Cities and so also had Palestine and all the bordring Countries yea and all that part of the World beside as farre as India And those not built with sticks but of hewen stones and defended with wals and Rampires Which magnificence needed a Parent of more Antiquity then they have supposed who place the birth of Abraham so near the Flood as Terah's seventieth year For that time even in reason is not sufficient being * It was no more then 292 lesse then 300 years All therefore considered doe make me conclude that Abraham undoubtedly was borne when Terah was 130 years old For though some frivilous objections may be made to the contrary yet it is in vaine to object against such testimonies and proofes as will passe for current any where but among the Singular and inconsiderate who are rather willing to wrangle for the upholding of their opinions then to yeeld or give over from what they first tooke up to be true For as there be some who love to keep to that which best fits their fancy so there be others who think it a discredit to let goe what they at first maintained SECT III. Of the third Period from the Promise at Abrahams departing out of Haran to the comming of the Israelites out of Egypt that it was a Period of four hundred and thirty years THis is proved by texts and testimonies out of Scripture For first Saint Paul saith expresly That the Law began * There were some odd moneths more But the Apostle leaveth out the moneths as an imperfect number 430 years after the Promise Galat. 3.17 Which that it was the same promise of Christ that Abraham had in Gen. 12. is manifest by what the same Apostle said before at the eighth verse viz. That in thee shall all the Nations of the Earth be sed agreeing therein to Moses Gen. 12.3 Now this directeth to the right reckoning but is not altogether so precise as that which we have in Exod. 12.40 For there we may perceive that the precise and exact ending of these years was not on the day that the Law was given but on the day that the Israelites came away out of Egypt The words of which Text be these And the sojourning of the Children of Israel whereby they sojourned in Egypt 30 years and 400 years which speech is altogether Elliptica oratio or a defectve speech and is thus to be supplyed namely And the sojourning of the Children of Israel whereby they sojourned in Egypt was to the end of 430 years Not that they were in Egypt so long but that they were a sojourning Nation so long the beginning whereof was in the dayes of Abraham at the time when he received the Promise as by that of the Apostle before mentioned may be seen The word Sojourning therefore here used by Moses hath relation to that time of the Promise when Abraham left his Fathers house and became a sojourner in a strange Land even the Land which God had promised to shew him and which he afterwards gave to him to be possessed by his posterity in the fourth generation after him Gen. 15.16 And now that these years are precisely and exactly so many and no more appeareth by what followeth in the next verse viz. Exod. 12.41 wherein it is said That when the 430 years were finished even on the same day all the hosts of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt They therefore that begin this reckoning at Jacobs going thither are deceived For first Koath was one who went when Jacob went Gen. 46.11 His son was Amram Exod. 6.18.20 and Amrams son was Moses Num. 26.59 Wherefore seeing Koath was the enterer and Moses the departer the time from thence could not extend to 430 yeares for Koath lived but 133 years Exod. 6.18 Amram but 137 vers 20. and Moses was but 80 at the departure Exod. 77. All which added together make but 350. and yet some of those years must be deducted because they were not born one at the just end of anothers life but lived some while the father and the son together which deduction being made the years remaining will be yet fewer and want still more of 430. Secondly Jochabed was the mother of Moses and immediate daughter of Levi born to him in Egypt as it is Num. 26.59 Take then for a tryall the age of Moses at the departure which was * Exod. 7.7 80 years and the whole age of Levi was * Exod. 6.16 137. years and add them together so shall you have 217. Unto which number must be added 213 for the age of Jochabed or else there cannot be 430. But that this should thus hang together is impossible for Levi was born 43 years before he came into Egypt and living but 137 in all there can be but 94 taken from him and but 80 from Moses which added together make but 174. Now then supposing that the abode in Egypt from Jacobs going thither was fully 430 years it must needs be that Jochabed lived 256 years although her age be accounted but from the day of her fathers death unto the day of her sons birth But to say there is likelyhood in this were extreme madnesse For who thinks it probable that a woman in those dayes could be 256 years and yet bear a childe or that a Kings daughter would make choyce of one so old to be her Nurse Beside this womans age must be yet longer for it is not like that she was born just at her fathers death neither is it true that she dyed at her sons birth because she was chosen by Pharaoh's daughter to be his Nurse And as for Levi to prove that he was 43 years old as hath been mentioned this is well known viz. that Joseph was but four years younger then he and when Iosephs brethren came into Egypt Ioseph then was but 39 years old Levi therefore must needs be 43 at the same time because four and 39 make 43 and not live his whole time after the descending of Iacob thither Se Gen. 41.46 and compare it with Gen.
violence being assisted by Cyrus kinsman to Darius as Josephus writeth And good reason had Josephus for it Joseph antiq lib. 10. ca. 12. For the fall of Babylon was by the joynt forces of two as in another Chapter of the same Prophecy may be seen For thus hath the Lord said unto me Goe set a whatchman let him declare what he seeth And behold he saw a Charet with a couple of horses Esa 21.7 and at the ninth verse And behold here commeth a Charet of men and a couple of Horsemen and he answered and said Babylon is fallen is fallen But by whom is it fallen this the second verse sheweth in these words Goe up O Elam besiege O Media By which we see that the Elamites and Medians or the Persians and Medes united into one body but under two Commanders were the people foretold to come with joynt forces for the destruction of Babylon these being that Ram with two hornes in the eighth of Daniel For the Ram which thou sawest having two hornes are the Kings of Media and Persia Dan 8.20 And hereupon it came to passe that at the taking of Babylon and death of Belshazzar the Kingdome was divided among the Medes and the Persians Dan 5.28 Howbeit the chiefe authority and power might be in the Medes and therefore saith Jeremy Make bright the arrows gather the shields the Lord hath raised up the Spirit of the Kings of the Medes for his device is against Babylon to destroy it Jer. 51.11 Which though it were yet the dexterity in expediting this businesse and in using that Stratageme of * See Xenoph. in his Cyrop li. 7. and Jer. 51.36 dividing the great river Euphrates is ascribed by Xenophon unto Cyrus Nor doth Herodotus but name him the onely authour and beginner of this War the reason whereof is because by his valour and skill the victory was gotten Which being obtained Cyrus forthwith intitles Darius to the Kingdome both because he was his Uncle and also his Elder as Saint Jerom observeth and as Xenophon likewise gives a touch at telling us what Cyrus first said to Cyaxares after the taking of Babylon namely that there was provided for him in Babylon a choyce Palace with stately Edifices that if he come thither he might keep his Court there as in his owne Xenoph. lib. 8. Which is as if it should be said he had now conquered it for him and he might if he pleased freely receive it agreeing therein with the Prophet Daniel who saith that when Belshazzar was slain Darius Medus received the Kingdome being about threescore and two year old Dan. 5.30.31 But then again because at this victory there were Parsin parters to share the Empire not of Madai onely but also of Elam we must know that Cyrus King of Paras or Elam excluded not himselfe but was fellow in Empire with Darius and so the Kingdome was divided between the Medes and the Persians as in the hand-writing upon the wall was declared And so likewise the Jews which were to serve the Chaldeans during the time of their Kingdome which hath been already proved tobe 70 years served them till the reigne of the Persians 2 Chron. 36.20 Nor was this uniting but known to those Greeks in whom the Persian Armies are called Medes as I shall afterwards mention To whom the seventy Translaters applyed themselves when they put for the Hebrew text Paras the terme Medes in this text of the Chronicles And further as for Nabonidas formerly mentioned questionlesse he was the same with Belshazzar for neither doth Josephus nor Berosus attribute to either of them more then 17 years Nor doth Josephus tell us any other thing then that Belshazzar was by the Babylonians called Naboandel as before was noted a name not far differing from Nabonidus in Berosus but differing far enough from Darius Medus To which Josephus doth once again bear witnesse in saying that Darius together with Cyrus his allie destroyed the state of the Babylonians as before was also noted affirming moreover that he was the son of Astyages and is otherwise called by the Greeks And therefore in very truth Darius Medus was not Nabonidus but Cyaxares the second as Xenophon plainly and perspicuously hath related Beside all which this also may be added That the Babylonians would not be so simple to deliver their Empire to a man who was a Mede seeing they thought not so well of the Medes as of other Nations because the bounds of their Kingdome were enlarged far and trenched much upon the Chaldean greatnesse which made them therefore fearfull and suspicious over them To which opinion as saith Pererius Herodotus addes no little force Perer. on Da. Herodot lib. 1 writing that Nitocris Queen of Babylon and mother to Labynitus did greatly fortifie the City of Babylon against the forces and invasions of the Medes Nay more when the Lord rendred unto Babylon and to all the Inhabitants of Chaldea all their evill that they had done in Sion he then stirred up the Nations with the Kings of the Medes and the Captaines thereof and all the Land of his Dominion Jer. 51.24 28. and Esa 13.17 There is therefore more in it I see then the bare delivering of the Kingdome to a man born in Media and brought up in Babylon Hist World lib 3 cap. 2. sect 2.3 for as Sir Walter Raleigh truely gathered from hence the Medes were cheife actors in the subversion of the Babylonian Empire And though the Greeks saith he ascribe the conquest of Babylon to Cyrus alone yet the Scriptures teach uss that Darius was not onely King of Media and had the Persians to be his followers but that the Army victorious over Belshazzar was his being compounded of the strength of both Nations to wit the Medes and Persians with other the vassals of Darius which were all led under the conduct of Cyrus who was cheife General of the Army and had the honour of the victory wholly given to him who was the instrument preordained and forenamed by God himselfe for this action even for the sake of his Church Esa 45.1 2 3 4. And againe It is not saith he more certaine that Belshazzar Iost his life and Kingdome Ide lib. 3. ca. 1. sect 5. then that his Kingdome was divided and given to the Medes and Persians Neither did the Medes and Persians fall out about it as by supposing Nabonidus to have been Darius they should be thought to have done but these two Nations did compound the body of the Empire and were accounted Lords of the subject Provinces insomuch that the Greek Historians did commonly call those Wars which Darius and after him Xerxes made upon Greece The Wars of the Medes Dan. 8.20 yea to cleare this point saith the same authour still even Daniel himselfe resembles that King with whom Alexander fought unto a Ram with two hornes calling him the King of the Medes and the Persians Wherefore saith he the whole Nation of Chronologers were not