burn Incense was within the Tabernacle at the Altar of Incense but this was an extraordinary occasion and a means enjoyned for the discovery of the Lords will whither these men or only Aaron and his Sons as formerly should enter into the Tabernacle to execute the Priests Office Corah having assembled his Confederates and the generality of the people before the Tabernacle and not finding Dathan and Abiram there as it should seem went to their Tents to talk with them see Ch. 26.10 and probably from them He went to his own Tent before Moses and the Elders came to the Tabernacle as presently they did In the mean time the 250 Conspirators on the one side taking fire from the Altar and putting it into their Censers and laying Incense thereon and Aaron near to whom Moses stood doing the like on the other God now signifies his approach and the actual manifestation of his Presence by the descending of the Cloud which used to hover over the Tabernacle to the door (x) See vers 42. of this Chap. and Ch. 12.5 thereof And the Lord spake to Moses and Aaron saying Separate your selves from among this Congreation that I may consume these Conspirators and all that joyn with them in a moment Then Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces before the Lord and said O God the God of the Spirits of all Flesh who formest the spirit of man within him Zach. 12.1 and seest and knowest the spirits and hearts of all men and art able to discern between those that sin obstinately and those that are only seduced by others and drawn hither only to see what would be done Shall one man sin viz. Corah the chief Incendiary and wilt thou be wroth with the whole Congregation Upon this intercession the Lord was pleased to spare the people that would depart from these Rebells And then imparting to Moses what He intended to do commands him to warn the Congregation to get away from the Tents of Corah Dathan and Abiram Moses accordingly rose up many of the Elders of Israel accompanying him to denounce the Judgment of God against these Conspirators and he warns the Congregation to depart from the Tents of these wicked men and to get far from them and to touch nothing of theirs as judging all that they have execrable and accursed lest they perish (y) V. 26. Lest you be consumed in all their sins that is lest you be destroyed in the Judgment that will fall upon them for all their sins the cause is here put for the effect in the Judgment which was ready to fall upon them for their great Sins and Provocations The people accordingly did so and fled from the Tents of these men but Dathan and Abiram impudently came out and stood in the doors of their Tents with their Wives and Children as if they intended to out-face Moses and scorned the Judgment he threatned against them Moses then sayed Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me and hath appointed me to take upon my self the Government of this people and hath conferred the Priesthood on Aaron and his Sons and that I have not done these things on my own head If these men die the common and ordinary death of other men then the Lord hath not sent me But if the Lord by his Almighty Power do work a new and hitherto-unheard of Miracle so that the Earth open her mouth and swallow them up quick then you must needs acknowledge that I am innocent and that these men have highly provoked the Lord. Moses having made an end of speaking the Earth immediately opened her mouth and swallowed up * An undoubted evidence of Gods concurrence with the ministry of Moses and withall an undoubted assurance of the divine truth of Moses's Writings these Rebels and all that appertained to them that were there present And the same it seems happened and probably at the same time to Corah and his Family as appeareth Numb 26.10 only some of his Children who as 't is like joyned not in their Fathers sin or if they did soon repented of it and gave over and departed from their Fathers Tent at Moses's warning were spared And of their Race came such as either composed some of the Psalms or at least were famous Singers in the Temple and Samuel also the great Prophet and Judge in Israel was of that Race see 1 Chron. 6.33 to 38. Thus perished the Ringleaders of this Rebellion All the Israelites that were near them fled at the Cry of them fearing lest the Earth should swallow up them also And as a further addition to the dreadfulness of this Judgment there came fire out from the Lord and consumed their 250 Confederates who had offered Incense and usurped the Priests Office They are punished with fire as by fire they had offended see Levit. 10.2 Moses now by Gods Command appointeth Eleazar the Son of Aaron to gather up the Censers from among the ashes of the dead bodies of these men that were burnt and consumed and to scatter the fire that was in them without the Court of the Tabernacle as shewing that God rejected it and their Service and abhorred their Sacrifice And he tells him That the Censers of these Sinners against their own Souls were now hallowed (z) Sanctificata dicuntur quia ex deputatione Dei servire deinceps debebant divina gloriae illustrandae having been presented before the Lord by his Commandment and he orders him to make broad Plates of them for a covering of the Altar (a) A parte anteriori altaris ponebantur ut a populo conspici possint of Burnt-Offerings which was covered with Plates of Brass before see Exod. 27.2 And the less need there was of them the fitter they were to be a sign of Gods Judgment against presumptuous Conspirators and of his vindicating and clearing the innocency of his faithful Servants and to be a Memorial to the Children of Israel that all Israelites and Levites excepting Aaron's Sons are to be reckoned as Strangers in respect of the Priests Office and may not aspire to it lest they perish as Corah and his Confederates did However the very next morning after those dismal Judgments had been executed all the Congregation of the people that were inclined to this Faction whose lives Moses had saved the day before by praying to the Lord for them murmured against Him and Aaron and peremptorily told them That they had killed the Lords people Moses and Aaron being thus injuriously charged looked up to God as having no other Refuge or Shelter to fly unto and immediately behold the Cloud descended upon the Tabernacle as a sign of the approach and actual manifestation of the glorious Presence of God and that he intended to speak something unto them Moses and Aaron presenting themselves before the Lord the Lord bad them get them up presently from among this rebellious Company that he might consume them in a moment But they fell
5000 dead upon the place and had the chase of the rest a great way Among others who were thus vanquished were the Merchants who nothing doubting of the victory followed the Kings army in hope to get a good bargain of the captives and now became a prey themselves and the Jews seized on their money which they brought to buy them And when they had had a long pursuit of them but being prevented by time they sounded a retreat for the evening on which the Sabbath began drawing on after they had gathered up the Armes of the vanquished Host and taken the spoils from them they composed themselves for the celebration of the Sabbath magnifying the mercy of God for this so marvelous a victory 2 Mac. 8. Gorgias returning from his fruitless expedition and perceiving by the smoke of the Tents set on fire that that other division of their army was routed and seeing Judas on the plain standing in Battalia with his forces ready to receive them they all shifted for themselves The coast thus cleared Judas returned to the spoil where he found plenty of gold silk and purple which the Phoenician Merchants had left behind them and much wealth all which the Souldiers shared among themselves having first deducted a portion for the maimed Souldiers widows and orphans Then with joint supplication they desired the Lord to continue still to be gracious unto them After this Judas overthrew Timotheus and Bacchides both of the Kings party and killed above 20000 men and made themselves masters of many strong holds and divided among themselves much spoil always admitting the maimed orphans widows and aged persons into equal portions with themselves Lysias was exceedingly vext that things fell out so contrary to his expectation and therefore the next year invaded Judea with an Army of 60000 choice foot and 5000 horse Judas having first implored the Divine assistance meets him with an army of 10000 men Lysias received such a blow that with the loss of 5000 men he was glad to retreat to Antioch intending greater preparations for his next expedition Judas and his Brethren having now some respite from their enemies march with all their forces to Jerusalem and recover the Temple and all the City except Sion-fort The Altars and Chappels which the enemy had built in the open streets they demolished And by the assistance of the Priests they cleansed the Temple built a new Altar repaired the holy and Holy of Holies hallowed the Courts made new holy Vessels brought into the Temple the Candlestick the Altar of Incense and the Table of shew-bread and so they burnt Incense upon the Altar lighted the Lamps which were in the Candlestick and placed shew-bread upon the Table and spread the Vails and finished whatever they had taken in hand Then on the 15th of the ninth month called Casleu two years after he had succeeded his Father in the Government but three years compleat since the Gentiles first sacrificed in that place having furnished themselves with fire by striking stones one against another they offered sacrifice according to the Law upon their new Altar of Burnt-offerings so that on the very same day of the same month on which the Gentiles profaned the old Altar Judas consecrated this new one This Dedication was celebrated with Songs and Hymns and Instruments of Musick very joyfully and all the people fell prostrate on the ground and worshipped the God of Heaven who had so prospered them beseeching him that he would not suffer them to fall again into such calamities but that if they offended him he himself would punish them and not suffer them to fall into the hands of the barbarous Gentiles They kept this feast of Dedication eight days and ordained that it should be kept yearly for the same space of time and should begin the 25th of the same month Casleu In the Gospel Joh. 10.22 't is called the feast of Dedication Whilst these things were doing Antiochus Epiphanes prospers in his wars against Artaxias King of Armenia and in the upper Countries though in his attempt to plunder the Temple of Venus or Diana at Elemais in Persia he was repelled by the inhabitants and caused shamefully to retreat In his return homewards hearing first of the overthrow of Nicanor and Timotheus and then of the defeat of Lysias and the throwing down of the Idol of Jupiter Olympius and fortifying of the Sanctuary he fell into an extream rage and resolved to be revenged on the Jews proudly vaunting that he would make Jerusalem the common burying place of them when he should come thither Scarce had he made an end of threatning when he was stricken with an extream torment in his bowels but being brought thereby to no better a temper of mind he breathed out menaces against the Jews still and calling to his Chariot-driver to make hast it hapned that in this his so furious career he fell out of his Chariot and was much bruised by the fall and his limbs put out of joint and after that being carried to and fro in a horse-litter worms bred so fast in his body that his flesh rotted so that none could endure to carry him for the noisomeness of the stench being forced to stay at Taba a Town in Persia in this pitiful plight despairing of recovery he openly acknowledged all those miseries to have fallen upon him for the injuries he had done to the Jews When he could no longer endure his own smell he said It is meet to submit to God and for mortal man not to set himself in competition with God He vowed if God would restore him to grant to the Jews a free exercise of their Religion and of their own laws and customs and that he would beautifie the Temple with most rare gifts and restore all the holy vessels and that with advantage and defray the charges of the Sacrifices out of his own Exchequer and that he himself would turn Jew and go through the whole habitable world declaring the power of God But when he saw his end to draw nigh he caused most kind Letters to be written to the Jews desiring them to stand faithful to his Son Then constituting Philip the Guardian and Protector of his Son who was but nine years old till he should come to age he died and that a miserable death in a strange land after he had reigned twelve years Antiochus his Son Sirnamed Eupator succeeds him Lysias who had brought him up would not part with the Government of him whereupon Philip who was appointed his Guardian by his Father fled into Egypt Gorgias who had the command of those parts about Judea fomented a continual war with the Jews and with him joyned the Idumeans who entertained all the Jerusalem-runagadoes and infested the Jews and did what they could to keep the war on foot against those therefore Judas Maccabaeus marches takes divers places and puts 20000 of them to the sword After which setting upon the Ammonites he overthrew them
Tent slew 4000 men and giving an alarm to the whole Army at break of the day safely retreated whereupon the King marched towards him next day and they coming to an engagement Antiochus lost several hundreds more but the Jews seeing themselves overpowered retreated The King then returned to the siege and they not being well stored with provision this being the Sabbatical year at last yielded up the Town upon composition Antiochus having herein placed a Garrison marched up to Jerusalem and there made all provision possible for the gaining of it all manner of Engines being raised for the casting of fire and stones but the besieged defended themselves bravely though provisions were very short with them and the famine prevailed so much among them that they were in danger of falling into the Kings hands but before he could finish his work news came that Philip whom his father had appointed to be Guardian being returned out of Egypt was coming with the forces that Epiphanes had left in Persia and Media to recover his right usurped by Lysias Hereupon both he and his Captains were presently perswaded by Lysias because the place was strong and provisions began to fail in the Leaguer and the affairs of the Kingdom required it to make peace with the besieged and with the whole Nation of the Jews upon such terms as they required Then returning to Ptolemais the inhabitants thereof being great enemies to the Jews stickled hard to perswade him to break the League but Lysias so well argued the matter among them that he quieted their minds and confirmed the peace so that the Investiture of the commanding power in the Hasmoneans took its rise from the time of this peace agreed on betwixt Antiochus Eupator and Maccabeus The King hasting thence towards Antioch brought along with him as a prisoner Menelaus the High Priest whom Lysias accused as an Incendiary and the cause of the war whereupon by order from the King he was let down into a Tower filled with ashes and there miserably ended his life ten years after he had first usurped the Priesthood Menelaus being thus taken out of the way the King substituted in his room one Alcimus a man every whit as bad as he Indeed he was of Aaron's progeny but not of the High Priests blood and Lysias perswaded the King to transfer that dignity into another family Onias the Son of Onias the third seeing the High Priesthood conferred on Alcimus went into Egypt and after he had well insinuated himself into the affections of Ptol. Philometor and Cleopatra his wife obtained of them leave to build a Temple to God in the jurisdiction of Heliopolis answering to that at Jerusalem and that they would constitute him High Priest there See more of this in Vsher p. 467. Antiochus coming to Antioch found Philip Master thereof but setting upon it he took it by force and taking Philip therein put him to death and so quickly quieted those stirs being reserved with Lysias his Guardian though but a little time for others more dangerous Demetrius Soter Son of Seleucus Philopator the right heir to the Kingdom now escaping from Rome quickly got the Kingdom and put to death Eupator and Lysias his Guardian Alcimus who had procured from Eupator to be made High Priest being not now receivâ—d nor owned by the people for that in the days of Epiphanes he had wilfully defiled himself came to Demetrius with other Apostates to get the Priesthood confirmed to him He accused his Countrymen especially the Hasmoneans viz. Judas and his Brethren as guilty of cutting off the Kings friends and banishing them out of the Country Hereupon Demetrius sent Bacchides the Governour of Mesopotamia his trusty friend with great forces into Judea and confirmed the High Priesthood to Alcimus whom he sent back with him All their design was being arrived there by fair speeches to get Judas and his Brethren into their hands but they gave no credit to them Many of the Scribes went out to them to seek peace expecting they should have obtained it of Alcimus who was of the seed of Aaron and had now great power in the army but having gotten them into his hands he most wickedly contrary to agreement and his oath put sixty of them to death all in one day by which perfidiousness many being terrified fled from the City Then Bacchides going from Jerusalem caused many that had fled from him and several others of the Jews to be slain and cast into a great pit and so committing the care of the Country to Alcimus for the defence of which he left him some forces he returned unto the King After his departure Alcimus striving all he could to confirm himself in the Priesthood made great havock of the people Hereupon Judas went out through the whole Country taking vengeance on such as had revolted from him and so terrified those that adhered to Alcimus that they were forced to keep themselves within their Garrisons and durst not make any more incursions into the Country Alcimus apprehending danger to himself from these proceedings goes once more to Demetrius carrying along with him a Crown of Gold to present unto him For Judas and his party increasing in power would not suffer him to come near to the holy Altar at which being enraged he eagerly accused them to the King as authors of all the commotions and disturbances in Judea further complaining that he was deprived of the Priesthood the honour as he said of his Ancestors and further affirmed that as long as Maccabeus lived the Kings affairs could not be secure This being seconded by some ill-willers to the Jews and his friends Demetrius was so inflamed that sending for Nicanor one of his chiefest Princes and a bitter enemy to the Jews made him General against Judea giving him order to destroy Judas and disperse his associates the Assideans and to settle Alcimus in the High Priesthood The Jews upon the report of Nicanors approach and the Association of several Gentiles with him cast dust upon their heads and made their Supplication to God And it so happened that after a short skirmish betwixt Simon Judas's Brother and a party of Nicanors near the Village Dessaro Nicanor understanding the Courage and Resolution of Judas and his Party in defending their Country he was unwilling to run the hazard of a Battel but sent to parle with the Jews and to make peace with them upon mutual engagements of fidelity each to other And Articles being agreed upon between them the two Captains met and the Conference proved very successful and closed in a League without the Kings Privity Nicanor after this abode a while in Jerusalem and dismissed the Companies he had collected and was so taken with Judas that he continued with him some time and loved him in his heart and lived so friendly and familiarly with him that he perswaded him to marry a Wife But when that wretched fellow Alcimus observed this Correspondence between them he addressed
into his Treachery there fell sick Herod visits him and seeks help for him but he died within a few days after whose body was brought to Jerusalem and there honourably buryed by Herod Pheroras dying in this sickness after his death his Wife was accused as if she had poisoned him Herod inquiring into this matter by little and little began to find out a treasonable Conspiracy of his Son Antipater against himself namely how that he going to Rome had delivered a deadly poyson to Pheroras that was sent by Antiphilus one of his Friends out of Egypt to be given to the King in his absence and that it was kept by Pheroras his Wife She being examined confessed the same that it was committed to her charge but added also how that her husband when sick and when Herod came so kindly to visit him was so overcome with his love that he forbad her to give it him Among the accessaries of this Conspiracy was Herods own Wife the daughter of the High Priest Hereupon Herod put her away which was a great favour he put others to death for a lesser matter and deposed her Father from the Priesthood and preferred Matthias the Son of Theophilus to his place and put her Son Herod out of his Will whom he had appointed his Successor and put Doris also Antipaters Mother out of the Court taking her Jewels from her Not long after Bathillus the freed man of Antipater coming from Rome being tortured confessed that he had brought with him a poison to deliver to Pheroras wherewith the King might be certainly and speedily dispatched in case the other should fail Antipater got some to write from Rome to his Father how Archelaus and Philip Herods two younger Sons that were at Rome to study often rub'd up the Sore of the Murder of Alexander and Aristobulus pitying the misfortune of their innocent Brethren and he when he wrote to his Father about them as it were excusing them would impute their speeches to their age During these things JESVS CHRIST the Son of God is born two years after the Wise men came to Herod to Jerusalem and there are taught that the Birth-place of Christ was at Bethlehem they return no more to Herod being so directed by God in a Dream Herod being thus disappointed killed all the Children that were at Bethlehem and in all the Coasts thereof from two years old and under according to the time of the Stars being first seen in the East which he had learned from the Magi. Among which Children 't is said that a young Son of Herods was one which when Augustus heard of he said 'T was better to be Herods Hogg than his Son for under pretence of Religion he would not touch an Hogg or eat Swines flesh but made it no great difficulty to destroy his own Children See Macrob. lib. 2. ch 4. Antipater all this while hears nothing of the death of Pheroras or of those things that were ready to be alledged against him but returns to Jerusalem ignorant of all these Passages When he came thither he entred the Palace in his Purple Garment which he was wont to wear but the Guards at the Gates suffered none of his followers to enter in with him When he addressed himself to his Father he thrust him away from him with indignation reproaching him with the murder of his Brethren and his intention to poison his Father It hapned that Quintillius Varus President of Syria was now at Jerusalem The next day therefore the King and Varus sitting in Judgment Antipater was brought before them and being not able to purge himself all things being made so clear and evident and the poison it self produced which being give to a condemned man dispatched him immediately hereupon he was committed to Prison and Herod signified to Cesar by Letters all these matters and also sent Ambassadors to him who by word of mouth might acquaint him more fully with this cursed Treason of Antipater Herod now falls sick and in his sickness was exceeding impatient but his Distemper was much encreased by this accident Judas the Son of Sariphaeus and Matthias the Son of Margalothus two of the most learned men among the Jews and the best Interpreters of their Law hearing that the Kings sickness was incurable perswaded some young men that were their Scholars to throw down the Golden Eagle that was set up by Herod over the great Gate of the Temple The young men accordingly went up at Noon-day and with Axes hewed down the Eagle a great multitude beholding it Immediately about forty of these young men were taken by the Captain of the Castle and together with their Masters brought before Herod where they confidently defending what they had done he calling the Rulers of the Jews together took away the High Priesthood from Matthias as not altogether a stranger to this business and put Joazar into his place the Brother of his Wife Mariamne the Daughter of Simon the High Priest But he burned alive the other Matthias that was a Promoter of this Sedition and his Companions Then Herods disease began to grow worse for he burned with an inward heat he was vexed with a ravenous and insatiable Appetite he was tortured with Vlcers in his Bowels and pains of the Cholick His Feet swelled and his Thighs his Body rotted and was full of crawling Worms to all which he was troubled with Convulsions and difficulty of breathing He used all means possible for his Recovery and was carried to the hot Baths beyond Jordan Thence he returned to Jericho Perceiving now that he must die and supposing that the Jews would much rejoyce in his death by Proclamation he calls together from every place to Jericho some of the most Noble of the Jews and shuts up those of them that came in the Hippodrome giving command to his Sister Salome and her husband Alexas that as soon as he was dead they should cause all those Jews to be killed that the people might have cause of Lamentation at his death which otherwise he thought they would rejoyce at Before his death he received Letters from Cesar that he might do with his Son Antipater as he pleased Being afresh tormented with his distemper he went to stab himself but was prevented by those about him Antipater thinking his Father had been dead began to tamper with his Keeper about his Liberty that he might seize upon the Kingdom But his Keeper went and revealed it to Herod who was thereupon so inraged that he commanded one of the Guard to go instantly and kill him and that he should be buried in the Castle of Hircanion without any honour which was done accordingly five days before Herod died To such an end came he who had wrought the ruine of his Brethren and had made such sad broils in his Fathers house Herod now makes a new Will in which he leaves the Kingdom to Archelaus his eldest Son by his second wife Mariamne Herod Antipas he makes Tetrarch of
Galilee and Petrea or the Country beyond Jordan Philip he makes Tetrarch of Trachonitis Gaulonitis Batanea that is the Land called Basan and Paneada nearer the heads of Jordan To Salome his Sister he gave Jamnia Azotus and Phasaelis and fifty thousand drachms to several of his Kindred he gave money and yearly Pensions and to Cesar and Livia his Wife he left great Legacies Herod having thus ordered matters five days after he had put Antipater to death he died himself about the 25th of our November having enjoyed the Kingdom 34 years from his Conquest over Antigonus but 37 years from the time he was first made King by the Romans and about the 70 year of his age Solome and Alexas before the death of the King was known discharged those Nobles that were shut up in the Hippodrome Then was the Kings death declared and all the Soldiers called into the Theater at Jericho and there they first read the Kings Letters to the Soldiers in which giving them thanks for their fidelity and love to him he desires them that they would do the like for his Son Archelaus whom he had appointed his Successor in the Kingdom Then the Kings Testament was read then was there a shout for joy that Archelaus was King the people praying God to prosper him A Royal Funeral was prepared by Archelaus for his Father The Body was carried in Funeral Pomp from Jericho to the Castle Herodion where he himself had appointed it to be buried they going each day but Eight Furlongs or an Italian Mile It was carried in a Golden Litter set with precious Stones Bearing-Cloth of Purple The Body also was cloathed with Purple and a Diadem on his head and a Scepter in his right hand and over his head hung a Crown of Gold His Son and Kindred marched about the Litter then followed the Soldiers marshalled according to their several Nations then 500 Servants bearing Perfumes The Ceremony of the Funeral being ended Archelaus coming to Jerusalem solemnized a Mourning for his Father seven days according to the Jewish Custom and at the end of the Mourning made a Funeral Banquet to the multitude After this going up to the Temple and there sitting on a Golden Throne he spake very graciously to the people but withal said He would not take upon him the name of King till Cesar had confirmed his Fathers Testament FINIS Some BOOKS Printed for and Sold by Thomas Simmons at the Princes-Arms in Ludgate-street 1. THE Lives of sundry Eminent Persons in this latter Age in two Parts I. Of Divines viz. Mr. Hugh Broughton Mr. Rob. Boid Dr. â—wiss Mr. Tho. Wilson Dr. Sam. Bolton Mr. Richard Vines Mr. Richard Blackerby Mr. Ralph Robinson Mr. John Janeway Mr. John Machia Dr. Sam. Winter Mr. Tho. Tregoss Mr. Rich. Mather Mr. Joseph Allein Dr. Staunton Mr. Sam. Fairclough Mr. Tho. Wadsworth Mr. O. Stockton and Mr. Tho. Gouge To which are added some remarkable passages in the Lives and Deaths of divers Eminent Divines in the Church of Scotland viz. Mr. John Scringer Mr. Rob. Blair Mr. Andr. Steward Mr. John Welch Mr. Hugh Kennedy Mr. Rob. Bruce Mr. Davidson and Mr. Patr. Simpson Together with an account of several Providences strange and extraordinary II. Of Nobility and Gentry of both Sexes viz. Sir Phil. Sidney Sir Charles Coot Mr. John Lamot Sir N. Bernardiston Mr. John Rowe Sir Mat. Hale Mrs. Mary Gunter Lady Alice Lucy Lady Mary Vere Mrs. Kath. Clark Countess of Warwick Mrs. Marg. Baxter Lady Armine Lady Langham and Countess of Suffolk by Samuel Clark sometimes Pastor of Bennet-Fink London To which is added the Life of the Author In Folio 2. Church-History of the Government of Bishops and their Councils abbreviated including the chief part of the Government of Christian Princes and Popes and a true account of the most troubling Controversies and Heresies till the Reformation By Richard Baxter a Hater of false History In Quarto 3. A Treatise of Episcopacy confuting by Scripture Reason and the Churches Testimony that sort of Diocesan Churches Prelacy and Government which casteth out the Primitive Church Species Episcopacy Ministry and Discipline and confounds the Christian World by corruption Usurpation Schism and Persecution Meditated in the year 1640 when the Et caetera Oath was imposed written 1671 and cast by Published 1680 by the importunity of our Superiors who demand the Reasons of our Nonconformity By Rich. Baxter In Quarto 4. Forgetfulness of God the great Plague of mans heart and Consideration of the principal means to cure it By W.D. M.A. and once fellow of Kings Col. Cambridge 5. Londinum Triumphans or an Historical Account of the grand influence the Actions of the City of London have had upon the affairs of the Nation for many ages past Shewing the antiquities honour glory and renown of this famous City the grounds of her rights priviledges and franchises the foundation of her Charter the improbability of its forfeiture or seisure the power and strength of the Citizens and the several contests that have been betwixt the Magistracy and the Commonalty Collected from the most authentick Authors and illustrated with variety of remarks worthy the perusal of every Citizen By Will. Gough Gent. In Octavo 6. The five days Debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum 1. Upon Comforts against Death 2. Patience under pain 3. The cure of Discontent 4. The Government of the Passions 5. The chief end of man Between Master and Sophister In Oct. 7. The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary Impositions are not the oyl that must heal the Church together with the way or means to do it By a Country-Gentleman who goes to Common-Prayer and not to Meetings In Octavo 8. A Private Psalter or Manual of Devotion composed by a Minister under the apprehension of the Stone which may serve for all Christians with the omission of any such petition which is peculiar or not suitable and the addition of others as are suitable to every ones proper condition In Octavo 9. Magna Charta made in the ninth year of King Henry the Third and confirmed by King Edward the First in the 28th year of his Reign With some short but necessary observations from the L. Chief Justice Cook 's Comments upon it Faithfully translated for the benefit of those that do not understand the Latin By Edw. Cook of the Middle-Temple Esq In Octavo 10. The Plea of the Children of Believing Parents for their interest in Abraham's Covenant their right to Church-membership with their Parents and consequently their title to Baptism The cause of publishing this Discourse after so many Learned men have laboured in this Province is declared in the Preface to the Reader By Giles Firmin In Octavo 11. The Traveller's Guide and the Countries safety Being a Declaration of the Laws of England against High-way men or Robbers upon the Road what is necessary and requisite to be done by such persons as are robbed in order to the recovering of their damages against whom
the days of Manasses and Josiah for he forewarns the Jews of their approaching destruction by the Chaldeans 9. Zephany in the days of Josiah 10. Jeremy began to Prophesie in the 13th year of Josiah and continued Prophesying till the final captivity of Judah and two years after in Egypt The Lamentations seem to be written by him upon Judahs Captivity 11. Ezekiel began to Prophesie in Babylon in the fifth year of Jehoiakin's captivity and continued Prophecying about two and twenty years 12. Obadiah seems to have been Contemporary with Jeremy and Ezekiel for he Prophesies against the Idumeans in almost the same words and phrases that they did Compare his Prophesie with Jer. 49. and Ezek. 25. 13. Daniel in the first year of Belshazzar had the Vision of the four Beasts and in his third year the Vision of the Ram and He-goat And in the first year of Darius the Angel Gabriel informed him concerning the Seventy Weeks These three last Prophesied after the return from Captivity viz. Haggai Zachary Malachi Thus having given a short account of this my undertaking and humbly desiring that God may have glory and my Reader much benefit and advantage thereby I shall conclude this Preface with that short but fervent prayer which that excellent person Nehemiah put up for himself when he concluded his Book and therewith the History of the Old Testament Remember me O my God for Good May 5. 1683. THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS Chap. I. From the Creation to the Flood Sect. 1. OF the Creation of the World in six days and Gods resting on the seventh and instituting the Sabbath Sect. 2. Gods Covenant with man in the state of Innocence Mans fall The Covenant of Grace Sect. 3. Adam and Eve cast out of the Garden of Eden Sect. 4. Cain and Abel sacrifice Cain kills Abel Cains posterity Lamech brings in Polygamy Sect. 5. Seth born to Adam His race carried on to the Flood Sect. 6. Noah born Enoch's Translation Sect. 7. Giants on the Earth The wickedness of the old World God determines to send the Flood Noah's Character Sect. 8. Noah's three Sons born Japhet Sem and Ham. Noah is commanded to build an Ark. Sect. 9. Noah with his Family enter the Ark. The Flood comes Sect. 10. The Ark rests on Ararat Chap. II. From the Flood to the Promise made to Abram in Ur of the Chaldees Sect. 1. NOah his Family and all living Creatures leave the Ark. Sect. 2. Noah builds an Altar The Rainbow a pledg of Gods Covenant Sect. 3. Noah plants a Vineyard His drunkenness C ham cursed Sect. 4. The Tower of Babel Confusion of Languages Assyrian Monarchy begun A Catalogue of the Kings thereof Sect. 5. The Earth divided among the Sons and Grandchildren of Noah The Original of Nations Sect. 6. Mans life shortened Sem's posterity Sect. 7. Abram and Sarai born Sect. 8. Chedorlaomer subdues the Kings of Pentapolis Sect. 9. Abram called out of Vr of the Chaldees and the great promise that the Messiah should spring from his loyns made to him Chap. III. From the promise made to Abram to the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt Sect. 1. ABram's removal from Vr to Charran from thence to Canaan Two Altars there built by him A promise of that land made to his posterity Sect. 2. Abram goes into Egypt His danger there upon the account of Sarai whom he calls his sister from Pharaoh King of Egypt Sect. 3. Abram Sarai and Lot return into the Southern parts of Canaan Abram and Lot part A new promise of that land made to Abrams posterity Sect. 4. The King of Sodom with the petty Kings of Pentapolis shake off the yoke of Chedorlaomer he comes with an Army to chastise them vanquishes the forces of the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah plunders those Cities and among other Prisoners carries away Lot who dwelt there Abram pursues Chedorlaomer defeats him rescues Lot and the rest of the Prisoners At his return he is met by Melchizedek and blessed by him Sect. 5. A Son promised to Abram he believes and is justified God makes a Covenant with him to give the land of Canaan to his posterity Confirms it by a sign and a vision Sect. 6. Abram takes Hagar Ishmael born Sect. 7. God appears again to Abram renews his Covenant with him changes his name into Abraham Institutes Circumcision Sect. 8. Abraham entertains three Angels Sarai's laughter Abraham intercedes for Sodom Sect. 9. Two Angels conveigh Lot out of Sodom His wife turned into a Pillar of salt Sodom destroyed Lot's Incest from whence issued Moab and Ammon Sect. 10. Abraham sojourns in Gerar is in danger there again upon the account of his wife from Abimelech King of the place He being punished by God restores Sarah to her husband Abraham prays for him whereupon he and his family are cured Abimelech dismisses him with presents Sect. 11. Isaac born Hagar and Ishmael cast out Abraham makes a Covenant with Abimelech Sect. 12. Abraham commanded to offer up Isaac The place called Jehovah-jireh The promise renewed to him Sect. 13. Sarah dies Abraham buys a burying place for her Sect. 14. Eliezer sent into Mesopotamia to provide a wife for Isaac His presents to Rebeckah Isaac's marriage Sect. 15. Abraham marries Keturah by whom he hath six Sons Sect. 16. Esau and Jacob born Sect. 17. Abraham dies Sect. 18. Heber dies Sect. 19. Esau sells his Birth-right Sect. 20. A famine in the land Isaac goes to Gerar. His danger there on the account of Rebeckah whom he also called his sister He and Abimelech make a Covenant Sect. 21. Esau's displeasing marriages Sect. 22. Ishmael's death Sect. 23. Isaac's dimness Jacob gets the blessing Esau's hating of him Jacob's vision and vow Sect. 24. Esau marries Mahalatha the daughter of Ishmael Sect. 25. Jacob meets Rachel Leah given him for a wife instead of Rachel Leah's four Sons Sect. 26. Rachels barrenness Jacob takes Bilhah and Zilpah Joseph born Sect. 27. Jacob's fourteen years service and great increase Sect. 28. Jacob leaves Laban Rachels Teraphim The Covenant between Jacob and Laban at Galeed Sect. 29. Jacob's vision of Angels His prayer and wrestling Sect. 30. He meets Esau They embrace each other Jacob builds an Altar at Sychar Sect. 31. Dinah ravished Simeon and Levi's revenge Sect. 32. Jacob goes to Bethel Deborah Rebeckahs nurse dies Rachel dies Reuben defiles his Fathers bed Sect. 33. Joseph's dream His Brethren sell him Jacob's mourning Sect. 34. Isaac's death Sect. 35. Judah's incest with Thamar Pharez and Zarah born Sect. 36. Joseph sold to Potiphar His Mistress's false accusation His Imprisonment Sect. 37. The chief Butler and Baker imprisoned Joseph interprets their dreams Sect. 38. Pharaoh's dreams Joseph's advancement and marriage The famine begins Sect. 39. Jacob sends his Sons into Egypt Simeon bound Sect. 40. Jacob sends his Sons into Egypt again Simeon released Benjamin's Mess Sect. 41. The Cup in Benjamin's Sack Judah's intercession for him Sect. 42. Joseph discovers himself
Jacob rejoyces at the sight of the Waggons Sect. 43. Jacob goes into Egypt His joy to see his Son Joseph Sect. 44. Joseph brings five of his Brethren to Pharaoh Obtains Goshen for his Brethren Introduces his Father Sect. 45. Joseph's prudent administration in the severe famine He is sent for by his Father Sect. 46. Ephraim and Manasseh blest Jacob's gift to Joseph Sect. 47. Jacob blesses his Sons in order His death Sect. 48. The mourning for and burial of Jacob. Joseph's death Sect. 49. The History of Job Sect. 50. Levi and Amram die Sect. 51. Israel increases Task-masters appointed Sect. 52. Aaron's birth Sect. 53. The Midwives commanded to destroy the Male-children Sect. 54. Moses born He is taken up and educated by Pharaoh's daughter Sect. 55. Moses after forty years leaves the Court and flys into Midian Sect. 56. Moses's marriage His two Sons Sect. 57. Caleb's Birth Sect. 58. The Lord appears to Moses commissions him to deliver Israel enables him to work miracles Sect. 59. Moses confirm'd and encouraged commanded to go to Pharaoh Sect. 60. Moses stopt in his journey His Son circumcised Sect. 61. Aaron meets Moses They declare their commission to the Elders of Israel Sect. 62. They go to Pharaoh The oppression of the Israelites increased Sect. 63. Moses and Aaron go again to Pharaoh The Magicians call'd in Sect. 64. The ten Plagues Chap. IV. From the Israelites departure out of Egypt to the laying the foundation of Solomon's Temple Sect. 1. THe Israelites depart out of Egypt Sect. 2. The Paschal Lamb and Passover appointed Sect. 3. The Lord conducts the Israelites by a Pillar of cloud and fire Joseph's bones carried with them Sect. 4. They encamp at Pihahiroth Pass through the Red-sea The Egyptians drown'd Sect. 5. Moses's Song Miriam a Prophetess Sect. 6. The people marching through Shur murmur for want of water Sect. 7. The twelve Wells and seventy Palm-trees Sect. 8. They turn from Elim to the Red-sea Sect. 9. The people murmur Quails given for one meal Manna falls Sect. 10. Water gushes out of the rock Sect. 11. Moses praying Joshua fights Amalek The Altar call'd Jehova-Nissi Sect. 12. Jethro's story defer'd to Sect. 51. Sect. 13. Moses call'd up to the top of Mount Sinai The terrible sight Sect. 14. The Promulgation of the Law Sect. 15. The people in fear Moses encourages them Sect. 16. Similitudes of God forbidden The Materials for Altars Sect. 17. The Judicial or Political Laws Sect. 18. The Angel of the Covenant promised to guide them The bounds of Canaan Sect. 19. Moses erects an Altar and twelve Pillars Sect. 20. Moses continues in the Mount forty days and forty nights Sect. 21. Directions concerning the Tabernacle and all its utensils and appurtenances Sect. 22. The Golden Calf Sect. 23. Moses comes down breaks the Tables Gods anger Moses intercedes for the people and sees the glory of God Sect. 24. Two new Tables of stone Sect. 25. God renews the Covenant upon Moses's prayer Moses's face shines Sect. 26. The Sabbath anew enjoyned Contribution to the Tabernacle Sect. 27. Bezaleel and Aholihab appointed chief workmen of the Tabernacle Sect. 28. The Tabernacle finished being set up is filled with Gods Glory Sect. 29. Laws given concerning the several sorts of sacrifices Sect. 30. Aaron and his Sons consecrated Sect. 31. Aaron enters upon his office Fire from the Lord. Sect. 32. Nadab and Abihu slain by fire from heaven Sect. 33. Of clean and unclean creatures Sect. 34. Womens separation Sect. 35. Laws concerning Leprosie Sect. 36. Ceremonial uncleanness in men Sect. 37. The Passover celebrated Sect. 38. Several sorts of Laws given Sect. 39. Blasphemy punished in the Son of Shelomith The Law of retaliation Sect. 40. Divers other Laws given Sect. 41. Promises and threatnings More Laws given concerning divers matters Sect. 42. The Book of Numbers Sect. 43. The Encamping of the Tribes Sect. 44. The Levites Charge Sect. 45. The Levites consecrated Sect. 46. The Offerings of the Princes Sect. 47. Laws concerning Jealousie Sect. 48. Concerning Nazarites Sect. 49. The solemn blessing Sect. 50. The Silver Trumpets Sect. 51. Jethro's story and advice Sect. 52. The Camp of Israel marches Jethro leaves them Sect. 53. Upon the moving of the Ark Moses pronounces the blessing Sect. 54. The people murmur at Taberah Sect. 55. Quails given for the space of a month A Plague follows Sect. 56. Miriams Leprosie Sect. 57. Spies search the land Sect. 58. Their different report Sect. 59. The ten Spies smitten Sect. 60. Israel defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites Sect. 61. The ninetieth Psalm composed Sect. 62. Some Laws explained Sect. 63. The Rebellion of Corah Dathan and Abiram Sect. 64. Aaron's Red blossoming Sect. 65. The work and portion of the Priests and Levites Sect. 66. Water of Purification Sect. 67. Miriams death Sect. 68. They murmur at Kadesh for want of water Moses strikes the Rock in anger is doomed not to enter into Canaan Sect. 69. The King of Edom refuseth them passage Sect. 70. Aaron dies and is buried upon Mount Hor. Sect. 71. Arad the Canaanite vanquished Sect. 72. The Brazen Serpent Sect. 73. Several stations of the Israelites Sect. 74. The Miraculous Well Sect. 75. Sihon slain Sect. 76. Og totally subdued Sect. 77. The Encamping at Abel-shittim Sect. 78. Balaam sent for to curse the Israelites His Ass speaks Sect. 79. Balaam attempts to curse Israel Sect. 80. The Idolatry and Whoredom of the Israelites at Mount Peor Sect. 81. Midian Conquered Sect. 82. Moses and Eleazar number the people Sect. 83. Zelophehad's daughters Sect. 84. Joshua appointed Successor Sect. 85. A repetition of the Law of sacrificing Sect. 86. Laws concerning Vows Sect. 87. The Reubenites and Gadites desire a possession on that side Jordan Sect. 88. The Journal of Israels Travels Sect. 89. The Limits of Canaan Sect. 90. The Levites Cities Sect. 91. Orders concerning the Marriage of Zelophehad's daughters Sect. 92. The Book of Deuteronomy containing Moses's dying speech to Israel Sect. 93. Moses's death Israels mourning for him Sect. 94. Joshua begins his Government Sect. 95. They come near unto and pass the river Jordan Sect. 96. Circumcision enjoyned them Sect. 97. The first Passover in Canaan Manna ceases Sect. 98. Jericho taken burnt and cursed Sect. 99. The Israelites defeated at Ai. Sect. 100. Joshua marches against Ai. Sect. 101. A Monument of stone and an Altar erected and Blessings and Cursings pronounced at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal Sect. 102. The League with the Gibeonites Sect. 103. Adonizedek and his allies besiege Gibeon Their discomfiture Prodigious Hailstones The Sun and Moon stand still at the prayer of Joshua Sect. 104. Several Kings vanquished and their Cities taken Sect. 105. The rise of the Sabbatical year Sect. 106. Joshua's war with the Northern Kings His victory over them Sect. 107. Joshua's rest from war Sect. 108. Joshua divides the land Sect. 109. Joshua and the Elders proceed to divide the land Ephraim and Manasseh complain Sect. 110.
Caleb's request to Joshua Hebron given to him Othniel's marriage Sect. 111. Seven Tribes desire a stop may be put to the division of the land Sect. 112. The first Sabbatical year Sect. 113. A solemn Feast of Tabernacles kept Sect. 114. The Camp and Tabernacle remove to Shiloh Sect. 115. The seven Tribes reproved Their lots Sect. 116. Joshua's Inheritance Sect. 117. Cities set apart for the Levites Sect. 118. Israel's possession of Canaan Sect. 119. The Reubenites and Gadites commended and blest Their Altar Ed. Sect. 120. The Elders of Israel called together by Joshua His speech to them Sect. 121. The Tabernacle removed to Sechem Joshua's Exhortation to the Israelites Joseph's bones solemnly inter'd Joshua's and Eleazar's death Sect. 122. The Book of Judges Sect. 123. Bezek taken Adonibezek's usage Sect. 124. The settlement of the Kenites Sect. 125. Hormah and other Cities taken Sect. 126. Bethel taken Luz built The Canaanites remain Sect. 127. An Angel appears to them in an humane shape and reproves them The people weep Sect. 128. Micah's Idolatry His Priest Sect. 129. The Danites carry away Micah's Idol Laish taken Sect. 130. The wickedness of Gibeah The Levites Concubine Sect. 131. A Convention at Mizpeh The War against Benjamin Sect. 132. Six hundred Benjamites in Rimmon The Virgins surprized at Shiloh Sect. 133. Israel for their sins given up into the hands of Cushan King of Mesopotamia Othniel delivers them His conquest of Cushan and death Sect. 134. Ehud kills Eglon. Shamgar delivers the people from the Philistines Sect. 135. The History of Ruth Sect. 136. Jabin oppresseth Israel Deborah and Barak Sisera slain Sect. 137. Deborahs Song Sect. 138. The Midianites oppress Israel Gideon's vision He throws down Baals Altar The Fleece dry and wet Sect. 139. Gigeon's army diminished The dream of the Barley Cake He destroys the Midianites slays their Kings Ephramites expostulate with him Sect. 140. The people offer Gideon to make him King His Ephod and death Sect. 141. Baal-berith Abimelech's Tyranny His death at Thebez Sect. 142. Tola's Government and death Sect. 143. Jair the Gileadite Sect. 144. Ammon invades Israel Jeptha's victory and vow Sect. 145. Jeptha subdues the Ephraimites His death Sect. 146. Ibzan judges Israel Manoah's vision Samson born Sect. 147. Elon and Abdon Sect. 148. Samson marries a Philistine Honey in the Lions Carcass Samson's Riddle He burns the Philistines Corn. Slays many of them Sect. 149. Breaks the bonds with which he was bound En Hakkore Sect. 150. Samson taken with Dalilah His locks cut and eyes put out He pulls down Dagons house and dies Sect. 151. Eli judges Israel Hannahs prayer Samuel born Sect. 152. Hannahs Song Samuel left with Eli. Sect. 153. The wickedness of Eli's Sons A Prophet comes to Eli. Sect. 154. Samuel call'd He denounces judgment against Eli. Sect. 155. The Philistines invade Israel The Ark of God taken Hophni and Phinehas slain Eli's death Sect. 156. The Ark carried in triumph Dagon broke The Philistines plagued The Beshemites smitten Sect. 157. The Ark at Kirjath-jearim The meeting at Mizpeh The Philistines overcome Sect. 158. Samuel made Judg. His Circuit He builds an Altar Sect. 159. Samuel's Sons very wicked The people desire a King Sect. 160. Kish sends his Son Saul to seek his Asses Samuel meets him Saul Prophesies Sect. 161. Saul taken by lot The manner of the Kingdom Sect. 162. Nahash besieges Jabesh-Gilead He requires to put out their right eyes The place relieved by Saul and the Kingdom renewed Sect. 163. Samuel shews the people their sin in asking a King Extraordinary Thunder Sect. 164. Saul raiseth forces to go against the Philistines He sacrificeth Samuel declares his rejection of God Sect. 165. The passage at Michmash Saul and his Armour-bearer take a fort of the Philistines The confusion of the Philistines Army thereupon Jonathan eats honey Saul's Sons Sect. 166. Saul sent to destroy Amalek He spareth Agag and the best Cattel Agag slain by Samuel Sect. 167. Samuel sent to Jesse the Bethlemite Jesse's Sons pass before him David taken and anointed Sect. 168. Saul's Phrensie David plays on his Harp to him Sect. 169. David leaves the Court. The Philistines invading Israel bring a Giant with them David visits his Brethren He slays Goliah Jonathan entirely loves him and makes a Covenant of friendship with him David is highly applauded Sect. 170. Saul's hatred of and designs against him David escapes to Ramah Sect. 171. David flies to Jonathan who intercedes with his father for him Jonathan and David renew their Covenant Sect. 172. David flies to Nob. He eats of the shew-bread given him by Ahimelech And takes Goliah's Sword His several removals Doegs malice Eighty five Priests slain by him David's Enterview with Saul Samuel's death Nabal's churlishness Michal being given to Phalti David marries Abigal He flies to Hachilah thence to Achish Achish going against Israel dismisseth him Saul and the Witch of Endor David defeats the Amalekites Saul and his sons slain Sect. 173. Mephibosheth's fall Sect. 174. David hath news of Saul's death He mourns The Amalekite slain Sect. 175. David's Funeral Elegy for Saul and Jonathan Sect. 176. David goes to Hebron Is there anointed Sect. 177. Abner makes Ishbosheth King Sect. 178. David marries the King of Geshur's daughter Sect. 179. War between David and Ishbosheth Abner's Challenge to Joab that twelve of a side might fight Asahel slain Sect. 180. The War continues David's six Sons Sect. 181. Abner strongly upholds Ishbosheth's side and Joab David's Michal returned to David Abner treacherously slain by Joab Sect. 182. Baanah and Rechab murder Ishbosheth Sect. 183. David made King of Israel A list of the Tribes Sect. 184. David takes Zion Hiram's Embassie to him Sect. 185. The Philistines encamp at Rephaim Their defeat Sect. 186. The Ark removed Vzzah slain Obed-Edom blest David removes the Ark to Zion and dances before it Michal scoffs Sect. 187. Levites appointed to attend the Ark. A Psalm appointed by David to be sung Sect. 188. David designs to build a Temple Nathan's message from the Lord to him about it Sect. 189. David's several wars with the bordering enemies His great Officers Sect. 190. David's kindness to Mephibosheth His orders to Ziba Sect. 191. David's Embassie to Nahash King of Ammon The base usage of his Embassadors The Ammonites and Syrians vanquished Sect. 192. Rabbah besieged David's Adultery Vriah slain Sect. 193. Rabbah taken David assumes the Crown His severe usage of the conquered Sect. 194. David's repentance His Child dies Solomon born Sect. 195. Ammon ravisheth Tamar Absalom murders him Sect. 196. The woman of Tekoa Absalom's return Sect. 197. Absalom's Conspiracy Sect. 198. David flies Several Remarkables during his absence from Jerusalem Sect. 199. A famine Saul's sons are hang'd Sect. 200. War with the Philistines Four Giants Sect. 201. David's Triumphant Song Sect. 202. David's Prophesie Sect. 203. David's Worthies Sect. 204. David's Militia Sect. 205. The people number'd Of three judgments propounded David chooses the Plague
the second Temple rejoicing exceedingly because God had turned the heart of the King of Persia towards them In the seventh year of Darius Esther made Queen Ibid. The History of Esther Ahasuerus dies Zerxes succeds him He makes wars upon the Grecians Artaxerxes succeeds him Ezra obtains a large Patent from him to settle the Jewish Commonwealth Liberty was also granted by him for such of the Jews as would to return Ezra with a great number returns having first kept a solemn Fast to seek a blessing from the Lord. They come to Jerusalem and present the Gold and Silver they had brought with them which was laid up in the Temple Ezra mourns and fasts because many of the people had married strange wives They are moved to put away their strange wives and the children they had by them which they consent to do In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Nehemiah his Cup-bearer hearing how things went at Jerusalem and that their walls were not built obtains a Commission from the King to be Governour of Judea and to build the walls of Jerusalem He comes thither and goes about it Sanballat and Tobiah at first scoffed at it but then grew very angry and conspired to fight the Jews and hinder the work But Nehemiah arms the people that so they might be in readiness for them Nehemiah redresses the oppressions among them viz. concerning Slaves Debtors and Mortgages Sanballat and Tobiah and their Accomplices strive now by false rumours and false Prophesies to terrifie Nehemiah from the work And some false Brethren at home seek to hinder the work also However the walls of Jerusalem in fifty two days were finished and the dedication solemnly performed Nehemiah appoints Hanani and Hananiah Governours over the City calls together the Princes makes a Collection for the rebuilding the City On the Feast of Trumpets the Law of God was by Ezra and others read and expounded to the people at which they were much affected Ezra is consulted concerning the Feast of Tabernacles They keep a solemn Fast and make a Covenant with the Lord and seal it Ezra's Prayer The matter of the Covenant and the persons that sealed it The chief heads of the people voluntarily offer to dwell in Jerusalem The rest cast lots about it Nehemiah goes back to his Master Artaxerxes He returns and governs Judea many years In the twelfth year of his Government and thirty-second of Artaxerxes he went to him again and soon after returned with a new Commission and then reformed those disorders in the State mentioned Chap. 5. and the disorders in Religion mentioned Chap. 13. The Prophet Malachi ERRATA THE most considerable faults of the Press are thus to be amended Page 14. line 11. read backward p. 16. l. 10. make the * at Pul. p. 17. l. 53. r. Rhoine p. 46. in last part of Marg. after 12. add children l. 6. r. fifth son p. 47. l. 30 r. freedom p. 57. l. 1. r. attended p. 59. l. 12. in Marg. r. Ch. 36. p. 63. l. 47. r. how violent the rage of jealousie is p. 69. in marg near bottom r. there is p. 80. l. 9. r. to any of l. 32. r. posterity p. 81. l 1. r. Gad. p. 85. l. 8. r. Ch. 12 13 14. p. 98. l. 30. r. every p. 124. l. ult r. slew p. 141. l. 36. r. vanity p. 144. marg a r. paschate p. 158. l. 5. r. fast p. 162. l. 1. r. new marg l. 12. r. hinc p. 166. l. penult r. for no man p. 170. l. penult of Sect. 41. blot out v. 30. to the end p. 171. l. 18. r. in all p. 188. l. 1. r. mutiny p. 197. l. 11. r. amicably p. 206. l. 5. r. infested p. 212. l. 10. r. alledging p. 231. l. 16. r. in a vision p. 278. l. 8. r. High-Priest p. 284. l. 23. r. at present p. 294. marg l. 4. at * r. arte susoria p. 313. l. 1. add them p. 328. l. 49. r. refuse p. 346. marg l. 7. r. damna p. 398. marg l. penult r. daemonum p. 412. marg a r. disoperiens p. 434. marg l. penult r. cogitat p. 447. marg fig. 3. r. in regard of the transcendent holiness p 448. marg l. 2. r. them p. 464. l. 12. r 1 King p. 478. l. 1. add know p. 474. near the bottom for A r. The. p. 476. l. ult for daily or weekly p. 478. l. 1. r. we do not find p. 480. l. 19. r. preserved p. 517. marg r. ob religionem p. 522. l. 16. r. fly not p. 543. l. 48. r. more p. 581. marg r. pollebat p. 598. l. 1. marg r. 26. p. 621. l. 33. after Captivity r. as some learned men conjecture though others assert the continuance of that Kingdom to have been only 254 years see pag. 605. There are some who begin these years at Jeroboam's setting up the Calves at Dan and Bethel when the Ten Tribes became Idolatrous and end them at the destruction of Jerusalem and they include the house of Israel in the house of Judah because many of them joined themselves to them and these the Prophet seems to mean by the house of Israel including also their predecessors who were dead long before p. 638. l. 29. r. This I find to be the opinion of the learned Willet and followed by Mr. Allein in his Chronology But for my part I cannot see that there were above twenty years from the laying the foundation of the Temple to the finishing of it as we have shewed pag. 650. Some learned men begin these seven weeks or 49 years at Cyrus's decree and end them when the walls of Jerusalem were finished by Nehemiah which interval of time they make 49 years But the holy Scripture having not set down expresly the number of the years of the Kings of Persia and profane Authors differing so much about them 't is a difficult thing to determine any thing certainly in this matter If any Errors have happened in the Continuation of this History the Reader is desired to mend them with his pen the Author not having had time to read those sheets over A Chronological Table of the Seven Ages of the World from the Creation to the Death of JESUS CHRIST The First Age of the World from the Creation to the Flood 1 ADam 130 Seth. born 235 Enos born 325 Cainan born 395 Mahalaleel born 0 Jared born 622 Enoch born 687 Methuselah born 874 Lamech born 1056 Noah born 1558 Noah's three Sons Japheth Shem Ham. The Ark built 1656 The Flood The Second Age from the Flood to the Promise made to Abraham in Ur of the Chaldees 1658 NOah and his Family come out of the Ark. Noah builds an Altar The Rain-Bow a Pledge of Gods Covenant Noah plants a Vineyard Arphaxad born to Shem. 1693 Salah born 1723 Eber born 1757 Peleg born 1787 Reu born Nimrod the Grandchild of Cham. The Tower of Babel The Confusion of Tongues The Assyrian or First Monarchy begun by
by his Horns in a Thicket which he took as sent by God to supply the room and place of Isaac and accordingly offered him up for a Burnt-Offering instead of his Son (a) The main thing hereby signifi'd was this That God the Father would in the fulness of time give his only begotten Son to be a Sacrifice for the sins of Men. And till that time came he would accept of Rams and Lambs and such like Sacrifices which should prefigure and typifie this death of his Son And Abraham called the Name of that place Jehovah-jireh that is the Lord will see or provide And thence came afterwards that Speech to be used proverbially In the Mountain of the Lord it shall be seen that is in due time God will provide help for his Children though they be for the present brought into great straits and difficulties and He will help them in such a manner that they shall plainly see his Hand therein After this the Angel of the Covenant called to Abraham a second time and said By my self have I sworn because thou hast done this thing for I accept of thy Will for the Deed I will greatly bless and multiply thy Seed even as the Stars of Heaven and as the Sand upon the Sea-shore and they shall possess the Gates of their Enemies that is shall subdue them and bring both their strength and policy under their Command the Gates of Cities being the places of greatest strength and places commonly of Consultation where the Magistrates used to meet see Deut. 32.15 Math. 16.18 and in thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth he blessed Then Abraham and Isaac and the Servants returned to Beersheba where Abraham dwelt a good while after Gen. 22. from 1. to 20. SECT XIII AFter this Sarah (b) As Abraham is Registred for the Father of the Faithful Rom. 4.11 So is Sarah for the Mother of them 1 Pet. 2.3 upon some occasion as it seems went to Kirjath-arba afterwards called Hebron (c) A City afterwards allotted to the Tribe of Judah not far from the Okefield of Mamre where Abraham had formerly lived being 127 years of Age and there she fell sick and died She is the only Woman whose full and intire Age is recorded in Scripture Abraham hearing of it came thither to weep and mourn for her and having sat sometime as 't is like on the Earth in token of the great sorrow and affliction he was under by reason of her death he at length rose up and took order to have her honourably interr'd Accordingly he applies himself to the Governors and Elders of the Hittites the Inhabitants of Hebron of the Progeny of Cham Gen. 10.6 15. and told them that he being a Stranger among them did humbly desire this favour of them that he might be permitted to buy of them a small piece of ground Namely so much as would make a burying-place that he might bury his dead out of his sight For though he had now liv'd 62 years in Canaan yet he never went about to purchase a foot of Land in it before The Children of Heth answer That he was a mighty Prince among them and he might freely make use of any of their Sepulchres even the choicest (d) Faviliis erant sua singulis distincta seorsim Sepulchreta Ita mortem in vita meditati sunt Ethnici simile quid est Math. 27.60 Anonym in loc of them upon this occasion (e) Abraham would not by any bounty of theirs injoy one foot of that Land which God had given him intire for his possession but the time of possession according to the grant and promise being not yet come without any distrust of Gods promise or renunciation of his own Right he buys a parcel of the Land for his own present necessity But Abraham being willing rather to pay for a piece of Ground that might be his own Propriety than to hold any in Common with the Heathens though it were but by burying his dead among them he humbly bowed himself to them as acknowledging their kindness and requested them that they would intercede with Ephron a chief person among them who sat at that time in their Assembly though Abraham knew it not that he might purchase of him the Cave of Machpelah for a burying-place and he was willing to give him as much money for it as it was worth Ephron being there present (f) V. 10. sic redde And Ephron sat among the Children of Heth. told Abraham in the audience of the Inhabitants of the City that he did freely give him that Cave and the Field belonging to it Abraham bowing himself again in token of thankfulness told him (g) The like striving in kindness is between David and Araunah 2 Sam. 24 21 c. That if he were that Ephron of whom he had before spoken he would willingly pay him for it and did not desire to have it on any other Termes Ephron told him the Land was worth about 400 Shekels (h) The common Shekel was about 1 s. 3 d. of our money amounting to about 25 l. of our money and that was but a trifle between them two Abraham however resolved to pay him a just value for it and accordingly paid him by weight not by tale as is now usual the 400 Shekels and so the Field with the Trees growing thereon and the Cave was made sure to Abraham by payment of the money the Inhabitants of the City being Witnesses without Deeds or Writings which were not then as afterwards in use See Jer. 32.9 10. Abraham having thus bought this Field and Cave he therein buried (i) Afterwards he himself was buried there and Isaac and Rebecca Jacob and Leah Gen. 25.9 Ch. 49.31 50.13 They testifying thereby their Faith in Gods Promises for the Inheritance of this Land and of the heavenly Canaan figured thereby This made Joseph also give charge to have his bones carried thither the body of his beloved Sarah Gen. 23. whole Chapter SECT XIV ABraham being now 140 years old and the Lord having blessed him in all things he began to think of providing a fit Wife for Isaac his Son who was at this time 40 years of age And understanding that his second Brother Nahor whom he had left at Haran in Mesopotamia when he first came into Canaan had by Milchah his Wife eighth Sons whereof one was Bethuel Father of Rebecca and four by Reumah his Concubine I say hearing these tyding of his Brother and of his numerous Off-spring he had a mind to send his chief Servant and Steward supposed to be Eliezer who had the Charge of all his Concerns to his Kindred there to seek a Wife among them for his Son Therefore calling him to him and acquainting him with the business he required him to swear (k) A practice used by Masters of Families in taking an Oath of any of their houshold in token of homage subjection and faithfulness
unto the Lord to prosper him in his business and that by such a sign he might know the Damosel God had appointed for his Masters Son and this sign he found pointed him clearly to Rebecca These things being all true and real he desired them that they would please to deal kindly and uprightly with his Master and to let him have a direct answer concerning this great and weighty matter that he might know whether to turn to the right hand or to the left that is that if they consented not he might somewhere else look for a Wife for his young Master Then Laban who as 't is like had the managing of all their affairs his Father being old spake in the Name of them all and told the Servant that the thing seemed to proceed from the Lord and from his all-wise Providence and therefore they could not speak unto him either good or bad Good reasons they had none against this motion and bad they would not urge so that they had nothing to say against it And therefore he should have their free consent to have Rebecca for his Masters Son provided she were willing seeing God had declared his good pleasure therein by pointing Her out to him by that sign When Eliezer heard this he worshipped God bowing himself to the ground Then he presented Rebecca with some rich picces of Gold and Silver plate and with rich Suits of apparel and presented her Mother also and her Brother with rich Gifts All things having thus prosperously succeeded Eliezer and his Company were now willing to eat and drink with Laban which having done they reposed themselves there that night Then rising early the next Morning Eliezer like a man that seriously minded his business desired them to hasten him away with his young Mistress Her Mother and Brother were not willing so soon to part with her but desired that she might stay with them at least ten days before she went But Eliezer was impatient of so long a stay and therefore intreated them that seeing the Lord had so eminently prospered him in his business hitherto he might now hasten home to his Master They replied They would call Rebecca and see what she said to it Rebecca expressing a modest willingness to go provided it might be with their good liking They said They saw the thing was of God and therefore she should go Then solemnly blessing her and praying that she might be the Mother of thousands of Millions that is of an innumerable Posterity who might possess the Gates of their Enemies they forthwith sent her away with Deborah her Nurse and some young Maids to attend her Rebecca with Her Attendants being thus committed to the Care of Eliezer they began their Journey towards Canaan and after some days travel they drew near to Beersheba where Abraham and Isaac dwelt It being now Eventide Isaac was walking in the Fields to pray and meditate His walk was in the way (n) Veniebat ea via qua itur ad puteum that leads to the Well Lahai-roi where on a sudden lifting up his eyes he saw the Camels coming towards him Rebecca seeing him at some distance ask'd Eliezer who He was and he telling her it was Isaac his young Master she immediately lighted off from her Camel and took a Veil and covered her face in token of modesty and subjection When they met the Servant told Isaac all that had happened and presented Rebecca to Him Isaac joyfully receiv'd and welcom'd Her and forthwith conducted her into his Mother Sarahs Tent (o) Women it seems had their Tents apart see Ch. 31.33 which it seems at her death about three years before had been reserv'd with its Furniture for his Wife And soon after He took her for his Wife by solemn marrying of her and loved her exceedingly and was highly pleased with Her So that the great grief he had before lien under for his dear Mothers death was now well mitigated and abated by the Comforts he had in his new Wife Ch. 24. whole Chapter SECT XV. ABraham having thus happily dispatched that weighty business of his Sons marriage he took to himself another Wife (p) Non libidine motus sed amore prolis ex divino instinctu ut ex eo semen inter gentes quoque multiplicaretur by name Keturah when he was about 140 years old For though forty years before that time his body was as it were dead Rom. 4.19 as to any humane likelihood of begetting Children yet God who strengthen'd him then to beget Isaac did it seems now renew that Masculine vigor and strength to him to make good his Promise of multiplying his Seed Ch. 17. 5. in others also though principally in Isaac that he inabled him to beget six Sons of Keturah in his old age To these he gave portions as he had done before to Ishmael the Son of Hagar being his Children by his Concubines (q) By this it appears that not only they were called Concubines who as Hagar were taken after a man was married to be as it were partner-wives or by-wives for the right of the Bed and propagation of Children though not solemnly betrothed nor taken with Dowry nor to be partners in the Government of the Family but to be subject to the lawful Wife and their Children were not to inherit except the Father pleased as Bilhah's and Zilpah's did extraordinarily becoming heads of Tribes I say not only such as these were called Concubines but second Wives taken after the first was dead were so called because their Children had no right of Inheritance and before his death sent them away into the East-Country into part of Arabia a good way off from Isaac the Heir of the Promise whom he made the sole and full heir of all his remaining Estate thus testifying his Faith that only Isaac and his Seed should enjoy the Land of Canaan Chap. 25. from 1. to 7. SECT XVI REbecca continued 19 years barren after her Marriage but at last upon Isaac's prayer who had prayed many years for her the Lord was intreated to bless her with power to Conceive and she conceived Twins who strugling in her Womb she said If it be so why am I thus that is if it be so that I am indeed with child why am I thus what is the reason I feel such a strange and extraordinary and painful strugling in my Womb more than other women do that are in my Condition Hereupon she betook her self either by her own private prayer or by some Prophet to inquire of the Lord what the meaning of it should be The answer she received was That she had two Sons in her Womb that should be the heads of two several Nations viz. Edomites and Israelites that these two Nations should differ very much one from the other They should be divided in habitation and should differ very much in their Laws Religion and Manners that Esau for some time should be greater than Jacob
see Ch. 27.43 Ch. 32. 33. and the Edomites should be more potent than the Israelites see Numb 20.18 yet in conclusion the Elder should serve the Younger that is the Israelites should subdue the Edomites 2 Sam. 8.14 1 Kings 22.47 Obadiah v. 17 18. And the younger should have a great preheminence above the Elder in respect of Spiritual priviledges he should have the Birthright and the Inheritance of the Land of Promise out of his Loins the Messiah should come and the blessing of the Adoption and Covenant should be conferred on him and his Posterity All these blessings seem contained in that Oracle v. 23. The Elder shall serve the Younger See Rom. 9.12 But yet 't is probable Isaac did not rightly understand this Prediction as Rebecca did which made the one seek so much to favour Esau the other Jacob. And 't is likely that this was the very reason why Rebecca believing it to be thus decreed of God did so confidently afterwards plot and contrive to have the blessing conferred on the younger contrary to the mind and intention of Isaac When the time of her delivery came the first that came forth was Red and all over hairy and they called his name Esau which signifies made or perfected as if he were born a Man rather than a Child Then came forth the other taking hold on Esau's heel Hosea 12.3 as if he would have pull'd him back that he might be born before him which was doubtless purposely so disposed by the Providence of God as a sign presaging what should afterwards come to pass to wit that he should overthrow and supplant his Brother and get the Birthright and Blessing from him and accordingly his Name was called Jacob that is an holder by the heel or a Supplanter Ch. 25. from v. 20. to 27. SECT XVII ABraham lived after the birth of Jacob fifteen years with whom he is said to have lived in Tents Heb. 11.9 By Faith he sojourned in the Land of Promise as in a strange Country with Isaac and Jacob the Heirs with him of the same promise And now being 175 years old an 100 years after his first coming into Canaan he gave up the Ghost and was gathered to his people that is the Society of the Just such as he was He was buried in the Cave of Machpelah with Sarah his Wife by his Sons Isaac and Ishmael which latter though never received again into his Fathers Family after his first dismission yet dwelt not so far off but that he heard of his Fathers death and came to his Burial Isaac after his death dwelt by the Well Lahairoi see Ch. 16.14 and there the Lord exceedingly blessed him Ch. 25. from 7. to 12. SECT XVIII ABout this time Heber the 5th from Noah died 430 years after the Birth of his Son Peleg Gen. 11.17 This man lived the longest of any that was born after the Flood and outlived Abraham himself and from him Abraham came first to be sirnamed the Hebrew Gen. 14.13 And in after-times all the Posterity of his Grand-Child Jacob were called by the same Name Gen. 40.15 I was stolen away says Joseph out of the Land of the Hebrews whence observe that Canaan was called the Land of the Hebrews while the Canaanite was still living in that Land SECT XIX ESau and Jacob being now grown up discovered themselves to be of very different tempers and different ways of life Esau was a cunning Hunter and a man of the Field like Nimrod or Ishmael valorous and fierce and following his Pleasure Jacob a good plain man dwelling in Tents living a plain Shepherds life keeping home and looking to houshold affairs a man of little Note in Comparison of his Brother Now Isaac's affection was most to Esau because he observ'd his officiousness care and diligence to please him and to provide such meat for him as he loved which he took as a sign that he did greatly reverence respect and love him And He thought of the Two He would prove the most able and active and fittest for great Imployments and the best and stoutest stay and support of His Family Yet in all this Isaac did not so well consider as he should have done the divine Oracle concerning Jacob recorded vers 23. And 't is like on this account Rebeccas affection was most to Jacob. But to proceed on in the story of these two Brothers Jacob one day had provided for himself red pottage made of Lentils a kind of pulse and possibly had put some Cordial Ingredients into it which not only coloured it but made it seem very desirable to the palat This though a small matter yet conduceth as we shall see to the fulfilling of a great Promise Ch. 27.29 Esau comes in from hunting with an Hunters stomach extreme sharp set and ready to faint and seeing this Broth and having a strong Appetite to it he earnestly desires Jacob to give him some of it Jacob as it seems apprehending the Birthright according to the Oracle vers 23. The Elder shall serve the younger to belong to him he makes use of this his Brothers present necessity and asks him to sell him his Birthright for the pottage Esau feeling himself faint and ready to die with hunger said What will my Birth-right with all the Priviledges belonging to it profit me if I instantly die Therefore relieve my present necessity and take it But Jacob would not take his bare word for it but requires that he should swear to him that He should have (r) The Priviledges of the Birth-right were these 1. Lordship over his Brethren Ch. 4.7 49.3 2ly A double portion of goods Deut. 21.17 3ly The right of Preisthood after the Fathers decease until the Preisthood was transferred on the Tribe of Levi Numb 8. from 16. to 20. it Esau does so and thereupon Jacob gave him bread and pottage And his so greedily desiring red pottage and so ungraciously despising and selling his Birth-right for it see Heb. 12.16 got him the Nickname and brand of Edom which signifies red And when he had eaten and drunk his fill he went away like one that had despised his Birth-right Yet possibly afterwards he did think of recovering it again by force or some other way from his Brother for we find him after this pleading his Birth-right to his Father Ch. 27.32 Chap. 25. from 27. to the end SECT XX. ABout this time there was a Famine or great scarcity of Provisions in that part of the Land of Canaan where Isaac dwelt and he had thoughts of going down into Egypt as his Father had done on the like occasion Gen. 12.10 But God appearing to him bad him he should not go thither but stay in Canaan and he would be with him and bless him and give to him that Land by way of Promise and to his Posterity by way of actual Possession and the Inheritance of all those Countries possessed by so many several Nations should be Theirs And He would
How old he was He humbly answered That the years of his Pilgrimage were an hundred and thirty (h) Abraham lived 175 years Isaac 180 Jacob died at the age of an 147. Few and evil says he have they days of the years of my life been and full of labour and toil trouble and vexation neither have I attained to the years of my Fathers And many more things 't is like He said to Him not here related and so humbly took his leave of Him And as He had blessed Pharaoh at his first coming to Him so He does now again at his departure from Him When Jacob was gone from the presence of Pharaoh Joseph gave to his Father and his Brethren Habitations in the best part of the Land of Egypt viz. in Goshen (i) Afterwards the Children of Israel multiplied and spread further and had Egyptian Families among them and about them so that their Doors were distinguished from the Doors of the Egpytians by the sprinkling of the blood Exod. 12.7 23. and vers 35 36. and being near them they soon borrowed Jewels of them where afterwards their Posterity built the City Rameses Exod. 1.11 And Joseph nourished his Father and all his Fathers Family with bread and other necessaries expressing all manner of love and kindness to them and a very great Care of them Gen. 47. from 1. to 13. SECT XLV THe Famine now grew very sore in the Land of Egypt and in the Land of Canaan also so that there was an extream want of all kind of sustenance especially among the common people who were forc'd generally to part with all the money they Had to buy Corn for themselves and their Families of Joseph These monies Joseph faithfully dispos'd into the Kings Treasury not inriching Himself thereby nor converting any part of them to his own use as some unfaithful Courtiers would have done When the Peoples money fail'd Joseph requir'd they should bring their Cattel to Him (k) Pecora alibant Aegyptii ut patet v. 16. Si non ad esum saltem ad utilitatem ex lacte lana labore venditione capiendam Janson and He would give them Corn for them And so for this year He fed them with Bread for their Cattel which He could maintain by the vast quantities of Straw and Chaff He had preserved When that year was ended which seems to be the sixth year of the Famine and second of their extremity they came to Him again viz. in the seventh and last year of the Famine and told Him they had parted with their Money and their Cattel they had now nothing left but their Persons and their Lands and why should they die and their Land become barren wast and desolate They desire him therefore to buy them and their Land for Food and for Seed to sow their Land with and they themselves would become Servants and their Lands should be tributary to Pharaoh So Joseph bought their Lands for Pharaoh's use Then he transplanted them from one Place or Town to another (l) Ut sese Pharaonis agnoscerent feudatarios not leaving them in that which was their own before to gain the right of Propriety and Possession from the People to Pharaoh The people mutiny not in all these Extremities nor break open the Granaries of Pharaoh but by Joseph's Prudence and God's over-ruling Providence keep themselves quiet But the Lands assigned for the maintenance of the Priests (m) Some by Priests understand Pharaoh's chief Officers of State See Ch. 41. 45. or such as were employed about their publick Heathenish Worship or were Professors or Teachers of Philosophy or of the Wisdom and natural Knowledge that then had the Vogue among them he bought not (n) Hinc elicit Bellarminus immunem a Vectigalibus esse clerum Exer. 7.24 Verum pro lege non est habenda Principum beneficentia For though those Lands in that extream Dearth fail'd of producing any thing as other Lands did yet those Priests having a Portion assigned to them out of the Kings Stores were not necessitated to sell their Lands as others were that had no such Provision Then Joseph told the People he had now bought them and their Land for Pharaoh But he would deal mercifully with them and not make his utmost Advantage of their Necessity He would therefore furnish them with Seed wherewith to sow their Land and of the increase they should pay only the fifth part to Pharaoh the other four parts should be their own And it is probable he restored to them their Cattel also else how could they have tilled their Land This being granted them with a great Acclamation they applaud his Generosity and Beneficence declaring That he had saved their lives and seeing they had found so much favour in his Eyes they would willingly serve Pharaoh and be his Farmers and Tenants on those conditions before mentioned Joseph hereupon setled it for a Law and Statute in Egypt which remained still in force among them when this was written That the Land should be all the King 's own excepting the Land of the Priests and that the People should pay a fifth part (o) Moderate quintam donat corporibus interim liberatio Regem prudenter locupletat ne Jacobi sumptus aegre ferat Anonym in loc of the yearly Increase constantly to him as a Tribute and Acknowledgment And thus Joseph shewed himself a Prudent Faithful and very profitable Servant to Pharaoh by so greatly increasing his Revenue and without the Regret or Murmuring of the People so that Pharaoh had no reason to think much of those Lands and Possessions he had given to Joseph's Brethren in Goshen Thus Jacob dwelt very comfortably in the Land of Goshen He and his Sons having Possessions therein and they grew and multiplied exceedingly And Jacob lived after his first settlement there seventeen years so that his whole Age was 147 years The time of his Death now drawing nigh which he perceived either by the decay of Nature in him or some Revelation from God he sent for his Son Joseph and desired him as he loved him to swear to him by putting his hand under his Thigh see Ch. 24. 2. that he would not bury him in Egypt but carry him and bury him in Canaan with his Fathers Abraham and Isaac in their burying place in the Cave of Macpelah in Hebron see Ch. 23. 19. and 25. 8. and 35 29. Whereby he testifi'd his Faith in God's Promises that his Seed should return thither and possess that Land (p) And for this reason Joseph also ordered his own bones to be carried thither Ch. 50.25 Joseph swears to him that he would perform his desire Then Jacob raising himself up and turning himself towards his Beds-head and to help himself herein possibly leaning upon the top of his Staff which he had in his hand see Heb. 11.21 (q) The LXX read it leaning upon the top of his Staff The Hebrew word without pricks may be read
granted they acquaint him that it was their Fathers Command before he died that they should humbly beg his pardon and forgiveness of them and accordingly they did earnestly beg it at his hands and they hoped he would not deny it them seeing they were his Brethren and served the same God that He did namely the God of his Father and were truly penitent for their former hainous Transgression against Him Then falling down at his Feet they told him They were his Servants Joseph could not forbear weeping at this their behaviour towards him and pittying their Perplexity and being grieved that they should in the least doubt of his kindness towards them He told them It was true He was in great Power there yet he was under God (g) Masius sic reddit v. 19. Annon sub Deo sum under His All-seeing-Eye and bound to give an account of his actions unto Him who had forbiden him all Revenge and had wonderfully raised him up not only that he might do good to the Egyptians but especially to them that were his own Flesh and Blood And he had no cause to be offended at what they had For whatever their intent was God meant it for good both to him and them And therefore bad them be of good courage and not at all to fear any hurt from him For he would be so far from hurting them that he would nourish them and their Children And accordingly He did so for 54 years after his Fathers death All which time even unto his own death he continued his kindness to them and continued in his Authority and Government and saw his Son Ephraim's Children to the third Generation (h) To wit Shutelah and Tachon the Sons of his Son Ephraim and Haden the Son of Shutelah Numb 26.36 And Machir the Son of Manasseh and Gilead Manasseh's Grandchild From whence it is that the Greek Expositors speaking of the Families of Jacob and Joseph which were said to consist of 70 Souls Gen. 46.27 Deut. 10.22 have added thereunto these five that were born to Joseph in Egypt 1 Chron. 7.14 which reckoning Luke follows Acts 7.14 reckoning them in all 75 Persons and the Children of Machir the Son of Manasseh his other Son were also brought up upon his Knees that is he took pleasure in their Infancy to let them sit upon his Knees and to dandle them see Ch. 30.3 Joseph having now arrived at the age of an 110 and having Governed Egypt under several Kings 80 years and finding his death approaching he told his Brethren That God would surely visit them in mercy and would bring them out of that Land into Canaan which he had promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob that He would give it them And therefore to testifie his Own and confirm their Faith concerning the Promises of Canaan which was a Type of Heaven he commanded that his body should be kept and carried into Canaan when God brought them out of Egypt and carried them thither see Heb. 11.20 He took also an Oath of them to perform it which Oath as 't is like was Recorded and transmitted to succeeding Generations that they in whose time that Deliverance should be brought to pass should perform it And accordingly his Body was embalmed and kept in a Chest until the time it might be carried into the Land of Canaan and was afterwards carried thither and buried at Shechem see Josh 24.32 Jacob's Purchase and Joseph's Inheritance And there also as 't is probable the Bodies of the other Patriarchs Jacob's Sons and Joseph's Brethren were buried see Acts 7.16 their Bodies being carried up into Canaan with His. Thus died Joseph in (i) Eusebius in his Chronicle hath this passage concerning Joseph Joseph says he was made Governour of Egypt in the 30th year of his age when his Father Jacob was 122 years old which Government he held 80 years After whose decease the Hebrews were held in Bondage by the Egyptians 144 years So that the whole time which the Hebrews spent in Egypt was 215 years reckoned from the time that Jacob and his Sons went down into Egypt the 2369th Year of the World 16 years before the Death of Levi 60 years before the Birth of Moses 140 years before the Israelites coming out of Egypt As may be gathered from Gen. 15.13 Exod. 12.41 Ch. 50. whole Chapter SECT XLIX WIth the Life of Joseph endeth the First Book of Moses's History called Genesis which containeth a space of Two thousand three hundred sixty nine years from the Creation of the World The next to it in order of time is the Book of Job as Learned Men conceive 'T is likely that Job lived when the Israelites were in Egypt and that he lived in the Land of Vz in Idumea or Arabia bordering upon it See Lam. 4.21 Where he had such bad Neighbours the Chaldeans on the one side and Sabeans on the other The Book of Job is undoubtedly a true History and accompanied fully with all the Circumstances requisite to a true History from first to last and attested so to be by the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 14.14 Though these three men Noah Daniel and Job were in it they should deliver but their own Souls by their Righteousness saith the LORD And by the Apostle James Ch. 5.11 Behold we count them happy which endure Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy This Book is written in the judgment of the Learned in Prose to vers 3. of Chap. 3. And in Verse from thence to Chap. 42. vers 6. and then it concludes in Prose The Penman of it seemeth to be Elihu one of the Speakers in it as may be gathered from Chap. 32. vers 15. They were amazed they answered no more they left off speaking Vers 16. When I had waited for they spake not but stood still and answered no more Vers 17. I said I will answer also my part I also will shew mine Opinion So that he seemeth here to speak of himself as the Writer of this History Job was the Son of Nahor Abraham's Brother descended from him by his Son Huz Gen. 22.21 Huz his First-born and Buz his Brother c. Three of his Friends most likely were of the Posterity of Abraham viz. Eliphaz and Zophar of the Posterity of Esau Gen. 36.10 These are the Names of Esau's Sons Eliphaz the Son Adah the wife of Esau Bildad of Abraham's Race by Keturah And Elihu the fourth of the Race of Nahor Abraham's Brother The Book consists of these general Parts 1. A Description of Job's Vprightness He was an upright man fearing God and eschewing evil Vers 3. Orientalium i. e. in genere neglecto Judaeae situ ad quam erat haec austrina Regio 2. Of his Prosperity 1. He had a numerous Issue seven Sons and three Daughters 2. For Estate He was the greatest man in the East having 7000 Sheep 3000
and it was given to Aaron and his Sons And 't is like that it was either decided by lot who among them should pay this Redemption-Money and who not or it was paid in common by them all The Levites being thus numbred and their Places and Order how they should pitch about the Tabernacle being prescribed now the time when they should enter upon their Office is appointed At the age of 25 years they were to enter as Novices and Subservients in some inferiour Offices and Ministrations of the Tabernacle Ch. 8.24 but they were not to enter into a full execution of their Office till the age of 30 and then they were to continue in it till 50 and though after 50 they were to be exempted from the harder and most laborious Services of the Tabernacle such as removing and carrying the holy things thereof yet still they were to be assistant to their Brethren as Overseers to see that the Work was done and besides they were still to be imployed in teaching and instructing the people And in their several Cities as being well experienced in the judicial Laws they Were to judge of matters brought before them See Numb 8. from 23. to the end The time of their entring upon their Office being thus ordered in the next place to prevent confusion and ambition among them each Family of the Levites hath its particular Service (c) V 3. All that enter into the Host i. e. qui ingrediuntur in coetum vel turmam mimistrantium in Tabernaculo nempe ut operentur in eo appointed 1. The Charge of the Sons of Gershon were 1. The ten Curtains of fine twined Linnen blue purple and scarlet 2ly The eleven Curtains of Goats hair that were laid over them 3ly The covering of Ram-skins died red 4ly The covering of Badgers-skins which lay over all and the Hangings for the door of the Tabernacle and for the Courts Ch. 3.25 26. and Ch. 4.25 26. 2. The Charge of the Sons of Kohath was the Ark (d) V. 6. Shall put in the staves thereof viz. into the Cases or Coverings prepared for them that so the Levites might not touch so much as the Staves of the Ark uncovered For the Staves were not to be taken out of the Rings of the Ark Exod. 25 15. and the Table of Shew-bread (e) V. 7. And the continual bread shall be thereon intellige cum ad quietem terrae promissionis pervenerint In deserto enim sicut non fiebant Sacrificia in Festis aut Sabbatis ut clare dicitur Acts 7.42 Amos 5.25 ita nec offerebantur panes quod erat genus quoddam Oblationis aut Sacrificij nec thus aut vinum quod adjungi solebat illa enim omnia deerant in deserto ut conqueruntur Numb 21.5 Nam multis annis manserunt in locis prorsus inhabitatis ab omnibus gentibus seperati Jansen and the golded Candlestick and the Altars and all the most holy things When the Tabernacle was to be taken down and removed the Priests only were to do it and wrap up the most holy things in coverings of blue or scarlet and to put coverings of Badgers-skins over them which are called the Clothes of Service Exod. 31.10 and then to deliver them to the Kohathites to bear them on their Shoulders (f) The Ark indeed was sometimes carried by the Priests see Deut. 31.9 so when they passed over Jordan Josh 3.6 and compassed the Walls of Jerico Josh 6.6 but ordinarily this Service was performed by the Levites see Deut. 31.25 especially till the number of the Priests was more increased who might not otherwise touch them upon pain of death So that though their Office was most honourable because they had the charge of the most holy things yet it was also perillous and burdensome Ch. 3.31 Ch. 4.15 3. The Charge of the Sons of Merari were the boards of the Tabernacle the Bars the Pillars the Scockets Pins Cords and Vessels thereof and the Pillars of the Court c. Ch. 3.36 37. Ch. 4.31 32. Eleazar the eldest Son of Aaron was to be Chief over the chief of the Levites viz. the Kohathites that had the Charge of the most holy things and his Brother Ithamar over the Gershonites and Merarites To the inspection and care also of Eleazar was committed the Oil for the Lights the sweet Incense the daily Meat-offering and the anointing Oil and the over-sight of the Tabernacle and to appoint the Kohathites every one to his several burden And Moses and Aaron are charged that all the holy things of the Sanctuary should be so covered that the Kohathites might neither see nor touch what they should not which if they should do they would be in danger of being cut off and to die for it (g) Uzzah though a Levite for such a transgression was smitten dead 2 Sam. 6.6 7. For the holy fire that was always to be kept alive upon the Altar 't is like when the Tabernacle was removed 't was put into some Pot or Vessel and so preserv'd still with supply of wood Numb Ch. 3. whole Chapter Numb Ch. 4. whole Chapter SECT XLV THe Levites thus set apart were with all due Solemnity consecrated to God and his Service But lest they should think themselves equal to the Priests they are neither Consecrated at the same time nor with the same Ceremonies The Consecration of the Priests took up seven days see Exod. 29.35 Levit. 8.33 but this of the Levites was done in one day The manner of it was thus 1. Moses was to take the Levites and to cleanse them which was to be done by sprinkling the water of purifying upon them which was made with the ashes of the red Heifer (h) Therefore directions for making this water were given before this time though not mentioned by Moses till the 19. Ch. of this Book mentioned Ch. 19. and then to shave off all their hair which was another sign of Purification see Levit. 14.8 9. Numb 6.9 and to wash their Clothes By which Rites was signified what great holiness and purity God requires in those that are to be imployed in Sacred Functions 2ly The whole Congregation being there assembled and the Levites being brought before the Lord some of the chief (i) Non omnes sed omnium nomine Principes vel sorte primo-geniti in quorum loco erant Levitae of the Children of Israel in the Name of the rest were to put their hands (k) Which Rite was observ'd in the Ordination of Officers both in the Old T. and the N. Numb 27.23 Act. 6.6 13.3 and in Benedictions Gen. 48.17 upon them thereby testifying that they did now freely offer them to the Lord to be wholly set apart for his Service 3ly Then Aaron was to present them * V. 11. And Aaron shall wave the Levites before the Lord Hac elevatione significabatur eos totius orbis Domino offerri a populo in munus ut scil loco
on their faces and interceeded with the Lord for them God by his Spirit informs Moses That he had sent a Plague among them and directs him what course to take for the stopping of it Hereupon he calls to Aaron to take his Censer and to put fire into it from off the Altar and to put Incense thereon and to run quickly and make atonement for the people and to stand between the living and the dead (b) Incense was only to be offered upon the Altar of Incense in the Tabernacle but this was done upon an extraordinary occasion and by an extraordinary warrant of divine Inspiration for he tells him Wrath was gone out from the Lord the Plague was begun And Aaron did as Moses commanded him yet the Plague ran so swiftly among the people like fire in a field of Corn that before Aaron could interpose himself to make atonement wherein he was a Figure of Christs Intercession there fell fourteen thousand and seven hundred of those rebellious Murmurers see 1 Cor. 10.10 and then the Plague was stayed and Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Tabernacle to acquaint him how he had sped and to return thanks unto the Lord who had so graciously accepted the work of his hands Numb 16. whole Chapter SECT LXIV THat none might for the future presume to usurp the Office of the Priesthood or aspire to it besides Aaron and his Sons God was pleased to enjoyn Moses to take of each Prince of the twelve Tribes a Rod or Staff such as they did usually carry in their hands which were it seems according to the Custom of those times made of Almond-Tree and to write every Princes Name on his Rod and to write Aaron's Name upon the Rod of the Tribe of Levi. He tells him That the mans Rod whom he did choose to serve him in the Priesthood should blossom and the rest remain dry And God orders Moses to lay all the Rods up in the Tabernacle in the most holy place before the Ark of the Testimony where the Lord did use by glorious signs to testifie his Presence and make known his Will unto them see Exod. 25.22 For upon such extraordinary occasions we need not doubt but Moses used to go into the most holy place Accordingly next morning Moses went in thither and he found that the Rod of Aaron had shot forth branches and some of them had buds on them and some blossoms and others yielded Almonds but all the rest of the Rods remaining dry as they were before Then Moses brought out all the Rods and shewed them to the Children of Israel and the Princes took every man his Rod and found them dry sticks as before but Aaron's Rod flourished and had brought forth Buds Blossoms and Fruit by which Miracle they were convinced that God had chosen Aaron and his Sons to be the only Priests that should serve Him at the Altar And hereupon God orders Moses to lay up Aaron's Rod again in the most holy place before the Ark to be kept there * See Apostol Hist on Heb. 9.6 as a Testimony against any such Children of Rebellion as should ever after presume to usurp the Office of the Priesthood And by this means also he might prevent the murmurings and complainings of the people which if they went on in they would thereby bring certain destruction upon their own heads The people hearing these things and being exceedingly terrified with this threatning and the remembrance of those late dreadful Judgments that had carried away so many among them they cry out unto Moses Alas we die we perish we all perish that is we see we are in continual danger of being swept away with terrible Judgments And as men terrified are wont to conceive their danger to be greater than indeed it is they now apprehend that it would be exceeding dangerous for them to come near the Tabernacle or to be present at any Worship or Service there performed and seem to fear that God would not withdraw his Indignation from them until he had destroyed and consumed them all Ch. 17. whole Chapter SECT LXV THe people being under such a fear and consternation the Lord hereupon takes order for the guard of the Sanctuary and injoyns that every one should remain within the Verge and Limits of his duty and so they should be safe and he tells Aaron That He and the Priests and Levites shall bear the iniquity of the Sanctuary that is if any pollution (c) Thus the Lord shews himself reconciled and makes the Priests watch a ground of appeasing both the fear and envy of the people came to it by the people they should answer for it and bear the punishment thereof if they did not take care to prevent it and the Priests should bear the punishment of all Iniquity committed about their Priests Office if they did carry themselves amiss in it or suffer a stranger or Levite to meddle therein He tells them he had joined * Here is an allusion to Levies name which signifies joyned the Levites to them to minister to them in the outward Services of killing and slaying the Sacrifices c. but they themselves only should serve at the Altar and within the holy place before the Ark of the Testimony and the Levites shall observe the Precepts and Charge which he hath given them concerning their Ministry and concerning the sacred things of the Tabernacle which are committed to their Care that so every one keeping his station and doing his duty there may be no wrath any more upon the Children of Israel only they shall not meddle with the Service of the Sanctuary and Altar lest they die And if the Priests did not endeavour to prevent any such Errour or Miscarriage in their Brethren the Levites they should also incur the like danger Thus he appoints the Levites to minister to the Priests and orders that he that is not of the Tribe of Levi shall not be admitted to serve and minister unto them For God having taken the Levites instead of the first-born of the Children of Israel to himself he had given them unto Aaron and his Sons for his own Service and the Service of the Tabernacle Therefore he and his Sons should exercise their Priests Office in all things that concern the Altar of Burnt-Offerings and in all things which are to be done within the outward Veil whereby the holy place is divided from the Court the High Priest in the most holy place and inferiour Priests within the Sanctuary or holy place And God tells Aaron and his Sons That 't is his free Gift and favour to them that he had made choice of them before others for the Priestly Office and that He had ordained That whoever is not of Aaron's Line and goeth about to meddle with the Priestly Office shall be put to death from vers 1. to 8. The Lord having thus set down the Office and Work of the Priests and Levites he
their Gods also He had executed Judgment causing possibly some such notable accident to befal the Egyptian Idols as did the Philistines Dagon which fell down before the Ark see Exod. 12.12 Their second Station was Succoth their third Etham where the Lord began first to go before them by day in a Pillar of Cloud and by night in a Pillar of fire From Etham they turned unto Pihahiroth a narrow passage between two ledges of Mountains into which being entred Pharaoh overtook them with a great Army and thought they could not have escap'd him but God divided the Red-Sea which the Israelites passing thorow the Egyptians assayed to follow them and there were miserably drowned The Israelites having past thorow the Sea went three days journey in the Wilderness of Etham without any water and pitched in Marah Here they found the Waters very bitter insomuch that they began to murmur against Moses but God sweetened the Waters by the casting in of a Tree Exod. 15.23 From Marah they came to Elim where were twelve Fountains of Water From Elim they encamped by the Red-Sea †See Sect. 8. of this Book and from thence removed to the Wilderness of Sin so called from Sin a City in Egypt over against which this Wilderness lay Hither they came just a month after their departure from Rameses Here they murmur grievously for want of Food and God gave them Quails for one meal and Manna from Heaven which was continued till they came into Canaan From Sin they came to Dophkah and from thence to Alush and from thence to Rhepidim * See Sect. 10. of this Book where wanting water again they were ready to stone Moses but water was fetched for them miraculously out of a Rock in Horeb. Here they had a Victory over the Amalekites who set upon them From Rephidim they came to the Wilderness of Sinai Hither they came at the beginning of the third month Exod. 19.1 and stayed till the second day of the second month of the second year Numb 10.11 12. Here the Law was given and the Tabernacle framed and the people punished for making and worshipping a golden Calf and Nadab and Abihu smitten dead for offering strange fire Here the people were first numbred and then ordered as to their Encampings about the Tabernacle and in their Journeys towards the Land of Canaan From Sinai they marched by Taberah signifying a burning because there the fire of God till quenched by Moses's prayer consumed the hindermost in the Camp for their murmuring and so they came to Kibroth-Hattavah Here the people fell a lusting for Flesh again And God now gave them Quails for a whole month together in great abundance whereon they surfeited and died miserably with the flesh between their teeth Then they came to Hazeroth Here Aaron and Miriam murmured against Moses and she was smitten with Leprosie Numb 12. Then they came to Rithmath in the Wilderness of Paran near Kadesh-barnea whence Spies were sent to search the Land Upon the evil report of ten of them the people horribly murmur God was very wroth with them for it and appoints Moses to return again to the Red-Sea and declares That not one of that Generation save Caleb and Joshua should enter into Canaan Then they came to Rimmon-Parez and from thence to Libnah call'd Laban Deut. 1.1 and then to Rissah then to Kehelatha thence to Mount Shapher thence to Haradah and pitched in Makheloth signifying Assemblies so called as some think because of the mutinous Assemblies of Corah Dathan and Abiram in that place Thence to Tahath and pitched at Tarah thence to Mithcah and pitched at Hashmonah and encamped at Maseroth and then came to Bene-Jaakan and incamped at Hor-gidgad from thence to Jothathah a Land of Rivers of waters Deut. 10.7 Here the Rock Rephidim-water as it seems stopped its course * See Dr. Fuller's Pisgah-sight God suspending Miracles when he affords means and as 't is probable the Israelites drank of the water of the Country till they came to Kadesh Then they encamped at Ebronah from thence they marched to Eziongaber a place by the Red-Sea where was a Harbour for Ships in Edom's Land 1 Kings 9.26 From thence to Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin Here Miriam died The people in this place wanting water murmur again and had water again given them out of a Rock Here God was very angry with Moses and Aaron for their unbelief and here they had the Sentence of Death passed on them though reprieved for a time and rendred uncapable of entring into Canaan They came hither in the beginning of the 40th year and hence they sent to crave a passage thorow Edoms Land but it was denied them God Commands them not to force it but to find another way From Kadesh they removed to Mount Hor in the edge of the Land of Edom where Aaron died Then they came to Zalmonah so called possibly of Zolom an Image For this is thought to be the place where the Israelites for murmuring again for want of water and loathing Manna were stung with fiery Serpents and the brasen Serpent was by God's direction erected for their Cure and help As for their five following Stages viz. Punon Oboth Jie-abarim and Dibon-Gad so called because it was repaired and possessed by the Tribe of Gad Ch. 32.34 and Almon-Diblathaim we find no memorable accident happening at them Thence they came to the Mountains of Abarim and then to the Plains of Moab And here God commanded Moses to charge the Israelites to drive out the Inhabitants of the Land viz. by destroying them Deut. 7.22 23. and to destroy their Pictures and molten Images and High Places and to divide their Land by lot among themselves But if they did not take care to drive them out then he declares The Canaanites should be pricks in their Eyes and thorns in their Sides and a continual Vexation to them and He would bring that destruction on them for their Disobedience which he thought to bring on the Canaanites viz. root them out of the Land Numb 33. whole Chapter SECT LXXXIX THe Lord now by Moses declareth unto Israel the Bounds (a) V. 3. The Wilderness of Zin lay at the very East-end of the South-border in the corner whereof it joyned with the East-border right against the South-end of the Salt-Sea that is the Lake of Sodom called also the Dead-Sea see Gen. 14.3 V. 7. This was not that Mount Hor where Aaron died which was South-wâ—rd in the edge of Edoms Land Ch. 33.37 38. but another Mountain on the North-side of Canaan by some supposed to be Libanus and by other Mount Hermon and Limits of the Land of Canaan lying within Jordan which he intended to give them that they might be assured they should possess it and might know how far they were to proceed in their Conquests and where to stay and according to these Bounds and Limits might make a division of the Land among the nine
epulis Deut. 12.12 17. praecipue 14. 22. 3. Decima de decimâ quae â—at sacerdotum 4. Decima trieterica tertio quovis anno from him which were to be the means of his livelihood all the time they should live upon the Land He shews they might kill and eat for their own refreshing whatsoever they desired at home and when they had a purpose to offer Peace-Offerings and by way of thankfulness to God for some eminent mercy to rejoyce together if the holy place were too far from them they might feast together upon their Cattel which they might kill for food only then they must be sure not to eat them as holy things but even as they would eat the Roe-Buck or Hart. Only says he as I said before be sure you eat not the blood for the blood is the vehicle of the animal life and therefore you may not eat it with the flesh And you must observe this Precept that it may go well with you and your Children (g) A man cannot better bless his Children than by his own Obedience to his heavenly Father after you continually As for their Burnt-Offerings He shews them they must offer the flesh and blood together upon the Altar and the blood of their other pacifick Sacrifices and Peace-Offerings must be poured out upon the Altar and then they might eat of the flesh of * For only the fl sh of these Sacrifices was to be eaten by the Owners Levit. 15. them Further he shews them That when the Lord their God shall have destroyed the Nations before them whose Land they go to possess then they must especially take heed that they be not insnared by following their Idolatry Therefore says He I advise you not to inquire after their gods or how they worshipped them thinking to serve the true God as they served their Idols For they use to perform such Rites and Services to their Idols which are most abominable to the Lord particularly they burn their Sons and Daughters * Of this abomination practis'd by the Heathâ—n and imitated by the backsliding Jews see Jer. 7.31 19.5 in the fire to their gods Take heed therefore of following them in these or any other of their abominations do what I command you from the Lord neither add it to it nor diminish from it 18. He comes now to expound and dilate upon the Third Commandment The Third Commandment by prohibiting Chap. XIII the abuse of the Lords Name which was profaned by false Prophets Revolters and Inticers to Idolatry Having given the people warning to take heed of being seduced to Idolatry by Strangers of other Nations here he gives them the like warning to take heed of being seduced by any that should arise among their own Brethren If there shall arise saith he among you any that shall pretend himself to be a Prophet and shall say that God hath appeared to him a Vision or a Dream and he giveth you a sign or wonder (h) Such as the cleaving Jeroboam's Altar which the Prophet told them of before hand 1 Kings 13.3 as a sure sign that God had sent him that is laboureth to confirm what he saith he had by Vision or Dream by foretelling some wonderful and supernatural thing that shall come to pass though this sign and wonder come to pass yet if withall he shall perswade you to worship false gods or to worship the true God in a false manner you shall not because of his signs and wonders regard what he saith if his Doctrine be not according to the truth which God hath taught you For the Lord may by the Spirit of Prophesie reveal things to come to wicked men and false Prophets as he did to Balaam and Caiaphas He knowing how thereby to bring Glory to Himself though they intend only to corrupt and seduce thereby For the Lord may suffer the Devil and false Prophets thus to abuse men to try and make known whether they love the Lord their God with all their Hearts and Souls and will cleave to him For those whose hearts are upright towards God will not be drawn away from the true Doctrine he hath taught them by such delusions see Gal. 1.8 Therefore he injoyns them to put to death every Dreamer or false Prophet that shall endeavour to seduce them from the true Worship and Service of God unto Idolatry and in so doing they shall not only justly punish evil doers but prevent the hurt which they would do among the people And He tells them That not only the false Prophet but all others whatsoever were to be put to death that should seduce them though secretly to Idolatry and they were not to spare those that were dearest to them in this case If thy Brother says he or thy Son or Daughter or the Wife of thy bosome or thy Friend which is as thine own Soul entice thee secretly saying Let us go and serve other gods of what Nation soever thou shalt not consent and hearken unto him neither shall thine eye pity him neither shalt thou spare or conceal him thou shalt certainly procure his death by declaring the thing to the Magistrate and informing and bearing Testimony against him and procuring justice to be executed upon him according to this Law and as his just Accuser thou shalt throw the first stone at him see Deut. 17.7 and then the rest of the people shall stone him And all Israel shall hear and fear and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you Further that he may manifest Gods extream hatred and detestation of Idolatry he tells them That if in any of their Cities they shall hear of the revolt of any other of their Cities through the instigation of some wicked men Sons of Belial that went out from among them separating themselves from Gods people in point of Religion they must first inquire diligently concerning the truth of the thing and if they find it certain that such abomination is wrought among them then they shall smite the Inhabitants of that City with the edge of the Sword destroying it utterly and all that is therein and the Cattel thereof and they shall gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof and shall burn with fire the City and all the spoil thereof every whit for the honour of God and in Obedience unto his Command thereby offering it up as a Sacrifice to Him and that City shall be a ruinous heap for ever and shall not be built again They must not take to themselves or their own use any part of the accursed goods of the City see Josh 6.17 that so the Lord may turn from the firceness of his anger which oftentimes is kindled not only against the Sinners themselves but all Israel for their sakes see Joshua 7.1 11 12. Chap. XIV 19. He comes now to give them some Precepts concerning their Conversation among themselves which he shews should be holy
pleased But this He speaks as taking it for granted that his Daughter would be guided by him that he that took it should have his Daughter Achsah to wife Hereupon Othniel the Son of Kenaz younger Brother to Caleb took it It was surely by some special instinct and direction of Gods Spirit that Caleb gave unto Othniel this occasion of innobling his Valour and Vertue in the sight of the people He intending afterwards to raise him up after Caleb's death to be their Judge and Deliverer see Judges 3.9 Othniel thus obtaining Achsah for his wife Caleb gave with her a good Dowry of Land 'T is true Caleb had Sons see 1 Chron. 4.13 and they might not give away any part of their Inheritance from their Sons to their Daughters see Numb 27.8 9. therefore the Land which Caleb now gave his Daughter was given her only as a Dowry for term of life or till the year of Jubilee But it seems she was not content with the portion her Father now gave her and therefore moved her Husband as they were riding away from her Father's house to make suit to her Father for another Field to be added to what he had already given her But when she perceived that he was loth to do it or perswaded her rather to do it her self she went back and alighting off from her Asse addressed her self to make that Request to her Father who ask'd her What she would have She answered Give me I pray thee a Blessing that is another Gift or Boon with thy fatherly blessing upon it Gen. 33.11 Thou hast given me a Southland give me also I pray thee Springs of Water intimating that the portion he had given her was dry and not well watered the Southern-parts of Judah's portion being dry and barren or at least the Southern parts of Caleb's portion were such And therefore she desires him to give her Springs of Water that is some portion of Land that was well watered Hereupon out of his great love to her He gave her some Springs or watered Grounds on each side of the Land he had before given her both above it and below it But though Caleb thus cleared his particular portion yet the Children of Judah though they took some part * The Northern and greatest part of the City of Jerusalem was in Benjamin's lot but the Southern wherein was the Fort Sion was in Judah's lot of the City of Jerusalem and burnt it Judg. 1.8 yet the Fort of Sion which was the chief strength of the City was not then taken by them but the Jebusites forced the Israelites to let them there dwell with them for a long time after and there they were when this story was written (r) Whereby it appears that this story was not written by Ezra seeing he lived many years after David and were not cast out till David's time 2 Sam. 5.6 7. Had the Children of Judah done their endeavour and not been wanting to themselves they might have cast them out sooner but failing in their duty and growing slothful and faint-hearted by these and their other sins they provoked God to withdraw his gracious assistance from them and so then indeed they could not drive them out according to that Judg. 2.20 21. because this people has transgressed my Covenant therefore I will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the Nations which Joshua left when he died And it was not only thus with the Children of Judah but the Ephraimites also did not drive out the Canaanites out of Gezer a City in their Tribe Josh 16.10 but suffered them to live there only paying them some Tribute expresly against God's Command Deut. 7.2 and there they continued till Solomons time when Pharaoh King of Egypt expelled them out and gave the City for a Present to his Daughter Solomon's wife 1 Kings 9.16 And thus it was also with the Manassites Ch. 17.12 13. who could not for the same Reasons drive out the Canaanites out of their lot but they would dwell with them yet they afterwards made them Tributary and with that they contented themselves through Sloth Cowardize and Covetousness as their Brethren the Ephraimites had done Josh Ch. 14. from 6. to the end Josh Ch. 10. vers 21 22. Josh Ch. 15. from vers 13. to 20. Josh Ch. 1. from vers 9. to 16. SECT CXI THe Israelites having drawn these three lots before-mentioned which fell upon Judah Ephraim and half the Tribe of Manasseh they drew no more at this time It seems the other seven Tribes that were yet to have their lots perceiving what a large circuit of Land was given to Judah they began to apprehend that there would not be left an equal share for them and therefore pretending there could not be any equal division made till the remote parts of the Land which were yet in the Enemies possession were better known to them they desired some stay of the Work till they had further prevailed and might know the Land they were to divide better then yet they could do SECT CXII THis Year being the seventh from the first wherein they began to till the Ground in Canaan was the first Sabbatical year which was kept among them they being by Joshua who was a Type of Christ now brought into this place of Rest which was a Type and Figure of that eternal Sabbath and Rest which the true Jesus was to bring the people of God into Heb. 4.9 And from hence also the Year of Jubilee which happened every fiftieth year is to be reckoned see Levit. 25. from 8. to 14. SECT CXIII UPon the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Israelites kept the Feast of Tabernacles in Booths made of boughs of Trees according to the Law Levit. 23.39 40. and much more solemnly than was afterwards used in the times of the Judges or Kings see Neh. 8.17 SECT CXIV HItherto both Camp and Tabernacle had remained at Gilgal Now by God's appointment they remove to Shiloth a City in the South of Ephraim's lot This was the Place that God chose to place his Name there Deut. 12.5 and from 8. to 12. Jer. 7.12 that is his Tabernacle where he would be worshipped and have his Name solemnly called upon And therefore marching to Shiloh there they fixed the Tabernacle of the Congregation after the Land thereabout was wholly subdued to them and the Canaanites that dwelt further off were so stricken with terrour from the Lord that they durst not molest them At Shiloth the Tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant continued 328 years till the death of Eli 1 Sam. 1.3 9 24. Joshua Ch. 18. vers 1. SECT CXV THere remained now among the Israelites seven Tribes which had not yet received their Inheritance and as it seems being weary of the War which had lasted long and being full of Spoil and wanting nothing they did not press to have their Inheritances allotted to them which negligence Joshua reproves them for shewing them there was no
let on God's part but they might enter into their Inheritances and those persons whom he had appointed to divide their Inheritances to them by lot were ready to do their duty therein He therefore requires them to choose out from among them three men of every Tribe that the matter might be carried on impartially and he would send them to go through the Land and to take a Survey not only of the parts of the Country already subdued but of those that remained yet in the Enemies hands that they might describe the largeness of every Region and Province and set down how many Cities and Villages were in each of them That so having as it were a Map of the Land that remained to be divided before them they might justly divide it into seven parts and so give proportionable Shares and Inheritances to every Tribe according as they were in number fewer or more He tells them That the Tribe of Judah and the Sons of Joseph Ephraim and Manasseh should continue seated the one in the South the other in the North according as their lots fell to them at Gilgal but yet he seems to intimate that if their Shares were found to be too large then some other Tribes might have a share with them as it afterwards happened for the Tribe of Simeon had their portion assigned to them out of that which was at first the lot of Judah Ch. 19.9 When these Surveyors had gone through the Land and divided it into seven parts for the Levites were to have no part among them the Priesthood of the Lord being their Inheritance and the other Tribes had had their lots before then He orders that the Description of it should be brought to him and he would cast lots for them before the Lord at the door of the Tabernacle The men thus appointed went out accordingly being secure and confident of Gods Protection and dividing themselves as 't is probable and going under pretence possibly of Negotiation or Traffick they spent seven months in this Survey as Josephus tells us Antiq. lib. 5. and so made a Description of it in a Volume or Map with all the Cities and Towns belonging to each Province and divided it into seven parts and so presented it to Joshua and the Elders at Shiloh Then Joshua cast lots for them according to the divisions of their Tribes And the first lot came up for the Children of Benjamin whose lot fell between the Children of Judah and Joseph and the bounds of their lot with the Cities belonging thereunto are described Ch. 18. from vers 11. to the end Thus Benjamin had the honour to have the first lot among the seven Tribes and was by providence seated the very next to his Brethren Ephraim and Manasseh and had also part of the Royal City of Jerusalem within his Borders whereby was fulfilled what Moses prophesied of this Tribe Deut. 33.12 And of Benjamin he said the beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him and the Lord shall cover him all the day long and he shall dwell between his Shoulders The next lot came forth for Simeon and their Inheritance was within the lot of the Tribe of Judah It seems they that were sent to search the Land not yet divided that they might part it into seven lots for the seven Tribes remaining found that the portion which Joshua and Eleazar and the other Commissioners for dividing the Land had formerly assigned to Judah was too large considering what was left for the other Tribes and therefore they agreed unanimously that a whole portion for one of the Tribes which had not yet their Inheritance assigned to them should be taken out of that which was formerly given to Judah and some Cities also they took from Judah to be as part of another lot see Josh 19 40 41. And thus by the Providence of God there being one Tribe to be provided for within the portion of the Children of Judah the lot fell upon this Tribe of Simeon that was fewest in number of all the Tribes see Numb 26.14 And by this Tribes being intermingled with Judah and not having a portion by themselves apart that Prophesie of Jacob was fulfilled Gen. 49. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel The bounds of this Tribes portion are not described only the chief Cities and Towns are named that were in their lot and that because their Inheritance was within that of Judah The third lot came up for the Children of Zebulun Their Borders are described Ch. 19. from vers 10. to 17. The fourth lot came out to Issachar Their Borders are described from vers 17 to 24. The fifth lot for the Tribe of Asher Their Borders are described from vers 24. to 32. The sixth lot came out for the Children of Naphtali Their Borders are described from vers 32. to vers 40. The seventh lot came out for the Children of Dan. Hence it appears that this Book was not written by Joshua except we shall say that some particulars in it were afâ—erwards inserted by some other holy men Their Borders are described from vers 40. to 47. Their lot fell to them in the Southern parts close by Judah's portion and they being not able to drive out the Philistines out of their Land in after-times viz. after Joshua's death they were streightned and so went out and took Laish a City in the North parts * Judg. 20.1 in Naphtali's lot see Judg. 18. though then in the Zidonians possession and transplanted a Colony thither calling it Dan from Dan their Ancestor Son of Jacob. Ch. 18. from 2. to the end Ch. 19. from 1. to 49. SECT CXVI WHen they had made an end of dividing the Land among all the Tribes and the distribution thereof was fully finished then the Children of Israel gave Joshua an Inheritance in Timnah-serah in Mount Ephraim And herein was the modesty of this great General remarkable that he was content to stay till all the other Tribes had their portion ere he made any motion for that which by special Prerogative was to be conferred on him according to the Word of the Lord spoken to Moses not only concerning Caleb but also Joshua Ch. 14.9 2ly He was content to receive what the Lord had promised him as by way of Gift from the people 3ly Whereas he might have chosen the fairest and goodliest City in all their Tribes He chose his Seat in a mountainous Country and it seems a City that was ruinated so that he was fain to build it ere he could dwell in it Josh Ch. 19. from vers 49. to the end SECT CXVII THe Levites now come to Joshua and Eleazar and the rest of the Commissioners for dividing the Land to receive from them the Cities which God appointed to be set apart for their dwellings And they accordingly set apart forty eight Cities for them as God had commanded Numb 35.7 The Commissioners 't is like chose these Cities out of each
tells them If they had been merciful to his Brethren he would have spared their lives which he might lawfully have done they being not Canaanites though they were Enemies But now he could not do it seeing by the Law of God he was bound being next of blood and also a Magistrate to punish them with death that had murdered his Brethren see Numb 35.19 31. Whereupon he bad his young Son Jether to rise up and slay them And he imposes this work on him rather than another that he might train him up from a Youth to draw his Sword against the Enemies of Israel and that he might avenge the death of his Vncles and that it might add if not to the pain yet to the dishonour of their death to die by so young an hand But this young Boy had scarce courage enough to look them in the face so far was he from drawing his Sword against them Zeba and Zalmuâ—na seeing this said to Gideon Rise thou up and fall upon us thy self For as the man is so is his strength Do thou slay us with thy own hand and dispatch us quickly and let us not fall ignobly by the hand of a Child So Gideon slew them with his own hand and took away the Ornaments that were on their Camels necks which were very rich being adorned with Gold-Chains and Jewels as Ensigns and Memorials of his Victory Now the Ephramites came over Jordan and brought the Heads of Orch and Zeeb and presented them to Gideon But then they highly expostulated †Thus they proudly quarrelled with Jephta Ch. 12. and upon the same account see the like 2 Sam. 19.41 42 43. with him that they were not called out as well as other Tribes when he first raised Forces to go against the Midianites They looked upon this as a great neglect and contempt of them that other Tribes that were not so nearly allied to him and the Manassites as they were being both of them of Joseph's Posterity should be called to the first On-set and they left only to snatch up here and there some of the flying Midianites So that he and his Souldiers had gathered in the main Vintage and they were called in only to gather up the Gleanings Gideon mildly answered That they had no cause to complain For what have I done says he in comparison of you Are not the Gleanings of Ephraim better than the Vintage of Abiezer * Gideon was of that Family Consider what vast multitudes of them you have had the killing and pillaging of at the Fords of Jordan whilst we went in pursuit of only fifteen thousand of them that fled with Zeba and Salmunna Consider you have had the Honour to take and kill Oreb and Zeeb and therefore what cause have you to murmur or repine This mild Answer of his abated their anger and so they rested satisfied Judg. Ch. 7. whole Chapter and Ch. 8. from 1. to 22. SECT CXL THe people of Israel were now so highly pleased with Gideon for delivering them out of the hands of Midian that they offered to make him their King and to settle the Kingdom successively upon his Posterity He told them He would not Rule over them as a King because the accepting of the Regal Power to Himself and his Family would seem as it were a taking of the Government out of God's Hand who set up whom He pleased to Rule over them The Lord saith he shall Rule over you Take ye heed of rejecting Him 1 Sam. 8.6 7. neither I nor my Son shall be your King Thus he would not give any consent to the Change of the Government without God's leave But though Gideon refused this profer of theirs yet he told them He had one Request to make to them which if they would grant him he would take it very kindly from them which was That every one of them would give him one of those Ear-rings * Or golden Ornaments whither worn in the Ear or on the Forehead For the Hebrew word is used for both see Gen. 24.22 35.4 which they had taken from the Ishmaelites who used to wear such golden Ornaments They told him They would willingly do it And accordingly spreading a Garment to receive them every one cast in one of those Ear-rings or golden Ornaments they had taken from the Ishmaelites and the weight of them came to a thousand seven hundred Shekels of Gold which according to our account comes to 2380 pounds And besides these they added some Chains and golden Boxes wherein the Ishamelites carried sweet Perfumes and purple Garments which the Kings of the Midianites had worn All these they added besides the Collars which had been taken from the Necks of the Camels which Gideon had taken to himself as his proper Prey Gideon of part of this Gold now given him made an Ephod like that of Aaron's with a Breast-plate set with many precious stones of great value see Exod. 28.15 16 17. and made of Gold Blue Purple Scarlet c. 'T is like his design in making this Ephod was that it should be a Monument of that great Victory he had obtained after he had offered Sacrifice to God over the Midianites the Monument being made of the Prey there taken and possibly his purpose was to make use of this Ephod to enquire by the Judgment of Vrim what the Will of the Lord was upon all Emergent Occasions not considering that this Priviledge was only annexed to Aaron's Ephod or possibly he made this Ephod that the High Priest being adorned with it should Sacrifice for him and the people at the Altar which he by the Command of God had erected in Ophrah But what-ever was his intention he seems herein highly to have sinned against God and to have ministred occasion to the Israelites to commit Idolatry to which they were before of themselves too prone For after his death the Israelites did grosly abuse this Ephod to Idolatry and Superstition either resorting to it to inquire concerning the Will of God in their Doubts and Difficulties or offering Sacrifices there by occasion of it or being taken with the glory of it falling down before it and worshipping it and at last abusing it to the grossest Idolatry and making use of as 't is probable in the Worship of Baal vers 33. Be sure some way or other they Idolatrously abused it and are therefore said to have gone a whoring after it and it became a Snare to Gideon and to his House that is it insnared his Posterity by degrees drawing them to do that which was very displeasing to God and at last became the utter ruine of his Family For all the Tragical Accidents that afterwards befel his House may be looked upon as the effects of God's Wrath for this Idolatry However the Midianites were now so vanquished that they lifted not up their heads any more to vex Israel Gideon therefore after this Victory went and dwelt quietly in his own house and judged
encouraged the Philistines to invade their Land soon after Jephtah's death At this time there was a certain man of Zorah of the Family of the Danites whose Name was Manoah and his Wife was barren (f) Sarah Rebecca Rachel the Wife of Manoah Hanna the Shunamite Elizabeth long barren Women had at last notable Children To her the Son of God (g) He is called by Manoah Elohim vers 22. by his Wife Jehovah vers 23. Himself saith his Name is Secret or Wonderful which is one of the Names given to Christ Isa 9.6 the great Angel of the Covenant appeared who in those times often appeared in humane shape and told her She should conceive and bare a Son but she must not drink Wine or strong Drink * Non tam ad robur haec spectant quam ad Sanctimoniam nor eat any unclean thing such as were forbidden to the Nazarites either while she was with Child of him or while she gave him Suck because all that time he was to have his nourishment from her and God appointed he should be from his Conception a Nazarite unto him and no Razour should come upon his head and he should begin h to deliver the Israelites out of the hands of their Oppressors The woman came and told her Husband That a Man of God had appeared to her whose Countenance was very Venerable and full of Majesty like that of an Angel and wrought in her a kind of astonishment and fear But he neither told her Whence he came nor what was his Name Manoah hearing this earnestly prayed unto the Lord that this Man of God might come to them again (k) The work of shaking off the Yoke of the Philistines was begun by Sampson and was carried on afterwards in the days of Eli Samuel Saul till at length they were perfectly subdued by David and might teach them what they should do unto the child that should be born to them Shortly after the Angel appeared again unto the Woman as she sate in the field She ran and call'd her Husband who coming to him askt him if he was the man of God that had before appeared unto his Wife and had told her those things concerning the child that should be born to them He said he was Manoah upon this crys out let thy words come to pass and if it will be so I pray thee shew us how we should order the child when he is born The Angel answers let thy wife abstain from all those things which I forbad her while she is with child and while she giveth suck viz. wine strong drink and eating any unclean thing and afterwards let her take care that her son refrain from them also seeing God hath extraordinarily called him and appointed him to be a Nazarite to himself to whom by the Law all these things are forbidden Therefore what hath forbidden to thy Wife thy Son must also abstain from seeing they are forbidden to her only for his sake Manoah not knowing he was an Angel desires him that he would please to stay a little while till they could make ready a Kid to entertain him and express their respects to him See Gen. 18.8 19.3 The Angel tells him he should not eat with him If he would needs be at that cost to provide a Kid he should bestow it in such a way as would be more acceptable to God and profitable to himself namely by offering it as a Sacrifice unto God to express his thankfulness for so great a benefit as God had now promised unto him Then Manoah humbly desires to know his name that when that which he had told them should come to pass they might do him honour and might make report to others concerning his skill in foretelling future things that so he might be highly honoured as a Prophet of the most High The Angel replies Why askest thou after my name seeing it is secret that is not to be search'd into or Wonderful and Incomprehensible Isa 9.6 My name says he is not to be too curiously inquir'd into but I shall make known my self presently to thee by my wonderful actions So Manoah took a Kid and a Meat-offering and offered it upon a Rock that was hard by to the Lord. 'T is true neither the person sacrificing nor the place where this Sacrifice was offered were warrantable by the Law but the Angels command was sufficient warrant for both And it came to pass when the flame ascended from off the Altar the Angel ascended up to Heaven in the flame which wonderful sight discovered to Manoah and his Wife that he was the Angel of the Covenant the Son of God who does present our prayers and services before the Lord and procures them to be graciously accepted by him Manoah and his Wife seeing this fell on their faces to the ground and he said to his Wife we shall surely die because we have seen God He fears according to an ancient opinion that ran among them see Judg. 6.22 Exod. 33.20 that they must die because they had seen such a vision of which they were most unworthy His Wife comforts him saying If the Lord intended to kill us surely he would not have received a Burnt-offering and a Meat-offering at our hands And he hath testified his acceptance of it by ascending in the flame of it to carry it up as it were to Heaven with him and to present it unto God for us Further she argues if God had intended to kill them he would not have promised them a Son who should begin to save Israel nor would he have given her directions how she should order her self and the child when he was born These arguments 't is like satisfied Manoah So shortly after the Woman conceived and bare a Son and called his name Sampson and the child grew and the Lord blessed him and indued him with admirable strength of body courage of mind and all other gifts requisite for those high services he intended him for And when he was very young in the Camp of the Danites which they had formed to withstand the incursions of the Philistines the Spirit of God began at times to move and excite him to strange and admirable exploits even beyond the ordinary courage and strength of man Ch. 12. from 8 to 11. Ch. 13. whole Chapter SECT CXLVII AFter Ibzan Elon a Zebulonite judged Israel ten years Elon 10th Judg. After him Abdon of Pyrathon * Benaiah Davids Worthy was born here 2 Sam. 23.30 Abdon 11 Judg. that lay Westward of Samaria and Sechem on a high Mountain formerly inhabited by the Amalekites and called by their name judged Israel eight years He had forty Sons and thirty Grandsons that rode upon Ass-colts which shewed them to be persons of Dignity and Estate Ch. 12. from 11 to the end SECT CXLVIII SAmson being now about twenty years of age Samson 12th Judg. goes down to Timnah a City in the Tribe of Dan but at
people that were therein and killed them and Samson himself with them So the dead which he slew at his death were more than those he slew in his life His Bretheren and all the house of his Father hearing of his death came down and took his dead body and brought it up and buried it in his Fathers burying place between Zorak and Eshtaol the Philistines by the over-ruling Providence of God not opposing it whose pride and power by this fatal blow given to their Princes and so many of their people was much abated and pulled down so that they thought this was no fit time to provoke the Israelites by denying them such a thing Judg. Ch. 16. whole Chapter SECT CLI First Book of Samuel WE are now come to the first Book of Samuel which contains an History of eighty years forty in the time of Eli in the four first Chapters and forty in the times of Samuel and Saul in the rest of the Book so that the History of these three persons together with some part of the History of David is the chief matter of this Book The two Books of Samuel are thought to be written by Samuel Nathan and Gad one after another 1 Chron. 29.29 yet some passages in these Books may seem to intimate that they were written in latter times as 1 Sam. 5.5 and Ch. 30.25 2 Sam. 6.8 These two Books of Samuel are stiled by the Septuagint and several others the first and second Book of the Kings the first containing all the History of King Saul and part of the History of King David both whom Samuel anointed by Gods appointment and the second the History of King Ishbosheth shortly and of King David at large After Samsons death Eli the High-Priest in whom the High-Priesthood was translated from the stock of Eleazar the Eldest Eli 13 Judg. to the posterity of Ithamar the younger Son of Aaron executed the Office of a Judg in Civil causes and judged Israel forty years He was extraordinarily both High-Priest (a) How he came to be High-Priest we cannot say that Eli was of the posterity of Ithamar Aaron's second Son appears from hence Abiathar who was deposed from being High-Priest by Solomon was of the posterity of Eli 1 King 2.27 and of Abimelech who was the Son of Abiathar it is expresly said 1 Chron. 24.3 that he was of the Sons of Ithamar How the High-Priesthood came to be transferred from the posterity of Eleazar to Eli who was of the house of Ithamar cannot be cleared by any place of Scripture we may conjecture that it so fell out because the High-Priests of Eleazars family had some way or other highly provoked God by their evil courses in the days of the former Judges This was the Series of the High-Priests as appears 1 Chron. 6.4 Aaron Eleazar Phineas Abishua Bukki Uzzi from Uzzi the High-Priesthood was translated to Eli to whom succeeded Achitob to him Achias to him Ahimelech to him Abiathar who was deposed from the Priesthood by Solomon 1 King 2.27 that he might perform the word of the Lord that he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh 1 Sam. 2.31.35 and Judg a good and famous man though faulty in being too indulgent to his Children as we shall see afterwards In his time and under his Government Samuel was born whose History we come now to describe His Father was Elkanah a Levite of the family of the Kohathites of the posterity of of Korah 1 Chron. 6.22 23. who dwelt in Ramathaim-Zophim in Mount Ephraim He had two wives probably Hannah was his first wife and she being barren he afterwards took Peninnah who was fruitful Though the Lord allowed not Polygamy yet he was pleased to tolerate it for a time and possibly the Jews did conceive that Gods promise to Abraham of multiplying his seed as the stars of the heaven did imply a dispensation for them to have more wives than one The Tabernacle was now at Shiloh and there had continued since the seventh year of Joshua Ch. 18.1 thither went Elkanah yearly that is at those three solemn Feasts wherein all the males were bound to appear before the Lord Deut. 16.16 He might possibly go at other times as a Levite to do service in his course but he failed not to go up at those great Solemnities and it seems several of his family used to go up with him yea the women also such was their devotion though not bound thereunto by the Law At those great Feasts he gave to Peninnah and all her Sons and Daughters portions of the Peace-offerings which he offered to the Lord according to the ancient manner of Feasts of which see Gen. 43.34 but unto Hannah who was his best beloved he gave a larger and better portion and possibly of the choicest and best of the Sacrifices Peninnah was angry at this and thereupon quarrelled with and provoked Hannah and upbraided her for her barrenness as an effect of the Lords displeasure against her and as Elkanah did thus continually express his great love to Hannah when he went yearly with his family to the House of God so Peninnah persisted from time to time to vex her with her provocations and possibly upbraided her with her fruitless seeking to God so earnestly at those times for a child this greatly troubled Hannah in so much that she mourned and wept and did not care to eat as others did especially not with any joy and chearfulness as they were bound to do at those solemn Feasts Elkanah perceiving it asked her why she so grieved and wept and so mourned in a time when she ought to have rejoiced 'T is true says he the Lord hath not afforded thee Children but am not I who love thee so dearly better to thee than ten Sons (b) In concorde matrimonio plus boni est quam in ipsa faecunditate Gr. But when Elkanah and his family had eaten and drunk together with whom Hannah sate she being in bitterness of soul went out and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore and she said O Lord of Hosts if thou wilt please to look on the affliction of thy hand-maid and wilt give unto me a man-child I will give him unto thee all the days of his life (c) As to the power of her Vow we must understand that she only vowed to do what in her lay that it might be thus if the Child had no defect either in body or mind and was willing when he came to the years of discretion to take upon him the Vow and provided that her Husband consented thereunto without which the Womans Vow was of no force Numb 30.8 Indeed it is evident in the sequel of Samuels story that he did not always continue in the Tabernacle see Ch. 7.16 but went from year to year in Circuit and judged Israel And hence it seems probable that after he became Judg in Israel he was by special dispensation from God freed from this Vow of
it were but in some of the meanest services of the Temple only that they may eat bread see Ezek. 44.13 14. 1 Sam. 2. from 12. to 18. and from 22. to the end SECT CLIV. THE impiety and wickedness of the times was now so great that the word of the Lord was precious there was no open vision that is there was not a man openly known to whom the Lord appeared in Visions or whom he sent forth among the people with a word of Prophesie in his mouth So that the Lord did not now reveal his mind to them by his Prophets as he used to do at other times See Psal 74.9 And this is mentioned probably for the honour of Samuel to whom the Lord was pleased to appear at such a time as this and to re-establish in him the Prophetick Office See 2 Chron. 35.18 and Act. 3.24 And the particular time when the Lord appeared to him is also set down which was when Eli being very old and his eyes dim was laid down in his place that is to take his rest in that place and in that lodging which belonged to him as High-Priest near unto the Court of the Tabernacle and it was towards the morning before the Lamps that were in the Golden Candlestick in the Tabernacle were gone out or the oyl spent See Exod. 30.7 Samuel being laid down to sleep in a Chamber near unto him the Lord calls him who awaking and supposing his Master Eli had called him ran to him but Eli told him that he did not call him and therefore bids him lye down again The Lord calls Samuel a second time and he runs again to Eli who tells him he did not call him and bids him go to his bed again Samuel was not yet acquainted with that way whereby the Lord did use to make known himself to his Prophets viz. by Visions neither had there been as yet any such revelation made unto him The Lord calls him a third time and he running again to Eli supposing that he had called him Eli then perceived that the Lord had appeared unto him he bids him therefore go and lye down again and if he heard the voice calling him any more he should say Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Samuel lying down again the Lord came and stood and called Samuel Samuel appearing possibly in a visible shape he answered as Eli had bidden him Speak Lord for thy servant heareth then the Lord said to him Behold I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle See 2 King 12.12 meaning the discomfiture of the Israelites the taking of the Ark the death of Eli's Sons and Eli's falling down backward and breaking his neck his daughter-in-law Phinehas's wife falling presently into the pains of Travel and dying Judgments so dreadful and hideous that every one that heard of them must needs be filled with horrour and astonishment And then will I perform against Eli all things that I have spoken concerning his house And though it may be some time e're I begin thus to visit him yet when I have once begun I will not cease till I have made an end For I have told him that I will judg his house for ever that is punish it till it be utterly ruined for the iniquity which he knew his Sons committed and yet he restrained them not neither chiding them severely as he was a Father nor deposing them from their office as he was the High-Priest nor punishing them corporally as he was a Judg. Therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli 's house shall not be purged with Sacrifice nor offering for ever that is that the temporal punishment denounced against them should not be kept off or averted by any Sacrifices or Oblations whatsoever though by their unfeigned repentance they may prevent their eternal misery Samuel having heard these sad words rose in the morning and opened the doors of the Tabernacle which seems at this time to be housed as we shewed before but he was affraid to acquaint Eli with the things revealed to him in this Vision because he knew that such tidings would wound his heart and he feared to offend him by bringing such a displeasing message unto him Eli therefore call'd him and charg'd him to declare all that the Lord had said unto him for being conscious of his Sons leudness and his own too great indulgence towards them he apprehended that some heavy sentence was denounced from the Lord against him and therefore he was so eager to know it that he said God do so to thee and more (a) See Notes on Ruth 1.17 also if thou hidest any thing from me Hereupon Samuel told him all Eli in an humble submissive manner replies It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good After this Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and suffered none of his words to fall to the ground but exactly perform'd what he had foretold by him and all Israel even from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a Prophet of the Lord and effectually call'd and sent to execute this office among them and that God had firmly setled him in it by making good his own word in his mouth So that after the long intermission and cessation of Prophetical Vision whereby the word of the Lord was become rare and precious as we have shew'd before the Lord renewed this gift of Prophesie by appearing in Shiloh unto Samuel and revealing his mind and will unto him by Prophetical Visions and Inspirations (b) v. 21. By the word of the Lord some understand that God did by his Eternal and Essential Word viz. Christ the Wisdom of the Father reveal his mind to Samuel that he might reveal it unto the people 1 Sam. Ch. 3. whole Chapter SECT CLV AS Samuel had before made known the word of the Lord to Eli so he does now to all Israel reproving them for their sins and telling them before hand what Judgments would fall upon them if they did not speedily repent but they not reforming the Philistines who it seems during the forty years of Eli's Government had been pretty quiet possibly because of the great slaughter Samson had made of their Lords and chief men at his death see Judg. 16.30 now begin again to invade their Land and being entred with an Army the Israelites gather themselves together to fight with them and pitch their Camp at a place which was afterward call'd Eben-ezer the occasion whereof we may see afterwards Ch. 7.11 and the Camp of the Philistines was in Aphek a City in the Tribe of Judah The Armies joining Battel the Israelites were smitten before the Philistines and lost 4000 men The Israelites having rallied their scattered forces the Elders of the people began to inquire with some astonishment why the Lord had thus left them and suffered the Philistines to prevail over them though
old heavy and corpulent and falling down backward he broke his neck and died having judged Israel forty years Samuel the 14th Judg. His daughter-in-law Phinehas's wife was with child and ready to be delivered who when she heard those dismal tidings of the taking of the Ark the death of her father-in-law and husband she bowed her self and the pains of travel came upon her and being delivered yet so as she was ready to expire the women about her sought to comfort her telling her that she had borne a Son but she regarded it not only named the child Iehabod that is where is the glory (c) v. 22. Quod capta esset Arca Dei illud imprimis eam cruciabat nam domesticam calamitatem publicae postponebat Eliciamus hinc documentum lamentandi potius spiritualia dona quam temporalia Mendoz. intimating that the Ark being taken b which was the sign of Gods presence the glory was departed from Israel and so she gave up the Ghost 1 Sam. Ch. 4. whole Chapter SECT CLVI THE Philistines having taken the Ark they carried (a) Illa lex de non tangenda Area ad solos Israelitas spectavit unde Philistini Arcam tangentes non dederunt poenas quia culpam non contraxerunt Mendoz. it undoubtedly with great Triumph to Ashdod since call'd Azotus Act. 8.40 and placed it in the Temple of Dagon their God presenting it as a captive before their Idol by whose help possibly they perswaded themselves they had overcome the Hebrews and their God yet possibly they had some kind of reverence for it and therefore feared to offer any violence to it or to open it or take forth the Tables of the Law that were in it but however that was they placed it near unto Dagon The Priests of Dagon rising early the next morning and coming to see how the Ark and their Idol had agreed together they found that Dagon was fallen on his face to the earth before the Ark whereby the Lord did discover to them what a vain Idol their Dagon was and that the God of Israel was the only true Almighty God and that he had cast down their Idol-god in his own Temple The Priests took their Idol and set it up again and no doubt used all their skill to fasten it and make it sure from falling any more But coming again the next morning they found their Dagon fallen again upon his face to the ground before the Ark and his head and both the palmes of his hands (e) Gravius secunda vice mutilatur Dagon ut sic intelligerent Azotii veri Numinis potentiam Idoli sui vanitatem Fag cut off and cast at the threshold of the House only the stump and lower part of him was left intire Their Dagon being thus broken to pieces the Priests could not set him up again nor conceal his ruin from the people as possibly before they had done they might see now that it was not by any Casualty but by the will and power of God that he was thus thrown down But though God had cast the head and hands of Dagon to the threshold that so they might as it were be despised and trodden upon by those that came into that house yet the Priests and the people of Ashdod were so superstitious (d) Nulla Miracula satis magna sunt ad animum impium emendandum citra Dei spiritum P. Martyr even to the time when this History was written that they would not so much as tread on the threshold of that Temple accounting it sanctified by the touch of the head and hands of their Idol And thus by the over-ruling Providence of God even their superstition became a means to perpetuate the memory of this wonderful work of God in confounding their Idol which otherwise might in some short time have been forgotten The Lord having thus clearly discovered to the men of Ashdod that their Dagon was a vain Idol and that the God of Israel whose Ark they had boldly surprized was the only true God which he had sufficiently demonstrated first by casting down their Idol before his Ark and at last by breaking it in pieces yet notwithstanding they continued as superstitiously devoted to their Idol as they were before and were not afraid still to detain the Ark of God in captivity Therefore the Lord resolved to punish them severely for it and accordingly his hand was heavy upon the City of Ashdod and upon the Coasts thereof and he destroyed and wasted their land by sending multitudes of Mice among them Ch. 6.5 and smote them with the Emerods a disease not only painful but as the Psalmist intimates Psal 78.66 disgraceful also and to many of them mortal as appears from v. 10. The men of Ashdod seeing in what a sad condition they were they openly said the Ark of the God of Israel should not abide among them for they plainly saw that his hand was heavy upon themselves by inflicting this strange disease upon them and that it had been heavy also upon Dagon their God wherefore they convened the Lords of the Philistines to consult together what course was fit to be taken in this case These Lords agreed that the Ark should be carried from thence to Gath another of their five principal Cities situate upon an hill near unto the Sea see Amos 6.2 resolving thereby to try whither it was the presence of the Ark that had caused those plagues or whither they came by any other accident The Ark being brought to Gath God smote the inhabitants thereof both small and great with Emerods in their secret parts hereupon they sent away the Ark to Ekron another of the principal Cities of the Philistines when it was come thither the Ekronites cry'd out they have brought the Ark of the God of Israel to us to bring upon us the same plagues that they have been plagued with because of it And it fell out accordingly for immediately there was a deadly destruction throughout the City possibly some mortal contagion reigned among them and the men that died not of that plague were yet smitten with the Emerods so that the cry of the city went up to heaven hereupon they also convened the Lords of the Philistines and desired them to send away the Ark to its own place viz. to the land of the Israelites that they might not be destroyed by reason of it But these Lords being very loth to part with so glorious a Trophie of their victory desired yet to try a little further and therefore sent it after this to Gaza and Askelon as appears Ch. 6.4 17. which Cities felt the same plagues by reason of the Ark which the other had done Thus the Ark of the Lord was in the Country of the Philistines seven months (a) Miruâ— hic stupor quod tam diu in suo consilio pertinaces haereant tot hominum funere suam insaniam tueri vellent Sanctius but they being at last
Dei dispositus hoc factum qui neque Davidi quicquam perire voluit neque aliis propter Davidem and Davids men took all the flocks and herds which the Amalekites had taken from other places besides Ziklag and drove them before those Cattel which they had taken from Ziklag which belonged to David and his followers extolling David and proclaiming this is Davids spoil that is which belongeth to him by the Souldiers free consent and gift and accordingly afterwards he bestowed it on whom he pleased David with his men now returning with the captives and spoils they had taken he came at last to the place where he left the two hundred weary men who came forth with great joy to meet David and the people that were with him When they came near him he spoke kindly and courteously to them that they might not be discouraged at the thoughts of their absence from the fight seeing it was occasion'd by their weariness They desiring to have a part in the spoils some of the four hundred who had with David vanquished the Amalekites being wicked men and sons of Belial exprest an unwillingness that they should have any share therein but only their wives and children again though it was not cowardize but meer faintness that made them stay behind and their staying behind with the carriages to defend the stuff and being in readiness to aid and assist their fellows if they had been forc'd to retire might be lookt upon as a good service David mildly speaks to these murmurers saying to them Ye shall not do so my Brethren with the spoil the Lord hath given us and which we have gotten not by our own valour and strength but by Gods gracious favour who hath preserved us and given our enemies into our hands the thing you propose is unreasonable and unjust therefore I shall decide the matter thus As his part is that goeth down to the battel so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff that is the men that tarried behind and abode with the baggage shall have their share of the prey as well as those that marched out with me unto the battel And so from that day he revived and ratified a statute formerly made by God Numb 31.27 Josh 22.8 that the spoil should be divided betwixt those that fought with the enemy and those that stayed with the stuff And when David was return'd to Ziklag he sent some of the spoils he had taken to the Elders of Judah his friends partly by way of restitution because the Amalekites had taken much of this prey from the South parts of Judah and partly by way of thankfulness for the many kindnesses he had received from them when Saul hunted him from place to place and partly in a way of prudence to make them hereby the more firm to him and more ready to give him their assistance when he should stand in need of it Thus as it is always darkest just before day dawneth so God useth to visit his servants with greatest afflictions when he intends their speedy advancement 1 Sam. Ch. 20. whole Chapter 16. We return now to the Philistines and Israelites whom we left nigh to each other Ch. 29. who joining battel at the very time as Josephus says when David was victorious over the Amalekites the Israelites were smitten and Saul's three Sons Jonathan (a) By Jonathan's death the Lord cleared the way for Davids advancement to the Kingdom For if Ishbosheth a worthless man found so many of the people ready to side with him against David what would they have done for Jonathan so brave and worthy a Prince if he had out-liv'd his Father And Jonathan was no loser by it for instead of an earthly God gave him an Heavenly Kingdom Aminadab and Melchishua slain And the battel went sore against Saul himself for the Archâ—rs hit him and sore wounded him he saw his Army routed his friends and followers slain his dear Sons killed before his face he found himself sore wounded and inviron'd with enemies and apprehending no possibility of escaping he bad his Armour-hearer take his sword and run him thorough lest the uncircumcised Philistines should take him and put him to some ignominious death but his Armour-bearer utterly refusing to do it he fell upon his own sword And thus Saul with the sword he had drawn against David slew himself and so concluded a wicked life with a desperate death the Lord in a just judgment giving him up to act this horrid murder on himself as a punishment of his former wickedness therefore 't is said 1 Chron. 10.14 that the Lord slew him His Armour-bearer seeing what he had done followed his wicked example and fell likewise upon his own sword and killed himself Thus died Saul and his three Sons and his Armour-bearer and most of his family and kindred most of his Courtiers and Commanders with a great part of his army see 1 Chron. 10.6 And when the Israelites who dwelt on each side of this valley of Jezreel where the battel was fought and they that dwelt in it 1 Ch. 10.7 saw that their army was routed and that Saul and his Sons were slain they forsook their Cities and Towns and fled for their lives and the Philistines entred into them and possessed them On the morrow after the battel was fought the Philistines coming to strip the bodies of the slain they found Saul and his three Sons fallen in mount Gilboa and they cut off Sauls head and stript off his armour His head they carried about as a Trophy and shewed it in all parts of their Country publishing their victory and the death of Saul and his Sons in a way of joy and triumph in the houses of their Idols (b) Heb. Terrors so called because they possess the minds and hearts of their superstitious worshippers with terrors and fears and do neither teach nor comfort them Hinc superstitio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur i. e. Daemonium pavor and afterwards set it up in the house of Dagon their God thereby ascribing to him the glory of their victory as appeareth 1 Chron. 10.10 so David had before served the head of Goliath which he carried to Jerusalem Ch. 17.54 They plac'd his Armour in the house of Ashtaroth see the Note on Judg. 2.13 his body and the bodies of his Sons they fastened to the wall of Bethshan (c) A Town that belonged to the lot of Manasseh but not recovered from the Philistines in the first conquest Judg. 1.27 nor to this day as was said before of Ziklag Ch. 27.6 viz. in a street that was by the City-wall see 2 Sam. 21.12 And when the Inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to the bodies of Saul and his three Sons in gratitude to Saul who had rescued them from Nahash King of the Ammonites when he had straitly besieged their City Ch. 11.11 all the valiant men of that City arose and march'd all night and
coming to Bethshan took and carried away their dead bodies and brought them to Jabesh and burnt them there that is burnt the flesh of them which having hung some days in the Sun was putrified and stinking and so could not be embalmed and the flesh being burnt from the bones they gathered up their bones and solemnly buried them under a Tree in Jabesh and there they continued till towards the end of Davids reign when he took them up and buried them in the Sepulchre of Kish the father of Saul 2 Sam. 21.12 14. Then the men of Jabesh-Gilead to express their sorrow for the death of Saul and his Sons and that they might implore mercy from God in behalf of the whole land which was now in a very sad condition they afflicted themselves with fasting for seven days together only taking still at night some small refreshment 1 Sam. Ch. 31. whole Chapter SECT CLXXIII MEphibosheth the Son of Jonathan being five years old at this time upon the dismal tidings of these disasters his Nurse catching him up and flying away with him in that great fright and consternation she let him fall out of her arms and he became lame of his feet ever after 2 Sam. 4.4 SECT CLXXIV WE are now come to the Second Book of Samuel The Second Book of Samuel so called because it containeth the History of David's reign who was chosen of God to succeed Saul in the Kingdom and anointed thereunto by Samuel and because it relates how those things which Samuel promised unto him from God were really made good unto him It contains an History of forty years from the death of Saul to the death of David As for the Author of it some think it was the office of the High-Priest to register the History of the Jewish Church and the remarkable occurrences that hapned in his time Others think it was pen'd by Nathan the Prophet and Gad the Seer as is intimated in the first of Chron. 29.29 Now the Acts of David the King first and last behold they are written in the Book of Samuel the Seer and in the Book of Nathan the Prophet and in the Book of Gad the Seer * See more concerning the Title of this Book Sect. 149. The first thing here related is how the tidings of the death of Saul and his Sons were brought to David whilst he was yet at Ziklag (a) Which was not as it seems so totally burnt down but that some of it was standing in which David thought better to remain with his men than to go to any other Town of the Philistines whether he was newly returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and had been preparing and sending away presents to his friends in Judah of the spoils he had taken in that Expedition on the third day after a young man came out of the Camp with his clothes rent and earth upon his head to testifie the dismalness of the tidings he brought and when he came to David he fell on the earth and did obeisance David understanding he came out of the Camp of Israel askt him how matters went He told him the Israelites were vanquished many of them killed and Saul and his Son Jonathan slain David astonisht at this askt him how he knew it to be so This young man to ingratiate himself with David who was by general fame known to be the man whom Samuel had anointed to succeed Saul and apprehending that if he should carry the first tidings of Saul's death to him he should not miss of a great reward he tells him that being on mount Gilboa he found Saul leaning on his Spear * The Reader may compare this whole narration with that he will find 1 Sam. 31 4. and then judg what truth there is in the thing as not being able to stand because of the deadly wounds the Archers had given him and the Chariots and Horsemen pursuing him so fast he call'd unto him and desired him to stand over him and slay him for he was in great anguish and trouble that his life was yet whole and intire in him and accordingly he dispatcht him as Saul desired of him for he was sure he could not live after he was fallen And he took off the Coronet he wore on his head and the Bracelets which he wore on his arm and here says he I present them unto my Lord the King David then took hold of his Clothes and rent them and so did all the men that were with him and they mourned and wept and fasted unto the evening for Saul and Jonathan his Son and for the people of the Lord that were fallen in the battel and that by the hands of the Uncircumcised Philistines which was an evidence of Gods wrath against the Land David angrily askt this young man how he durst presume to stretch forth his hand against the Lords anointed 'T is like the Amalekite thought David would have been highly pleas'd with him for doing it but David upon Saul's death being come into the actual possession of the Regal rights and this man having confest the crime himself David bad one of the young men about him to fall upon him and kill him which he accordingly did and David said thy blood be upon thy own head * See Josh 2.19 for thy own mouth hath testified against thee that thou hast slain the Lords Anointed 2 Sam. Ch. 1. from v. 1. to 17. SECT CLXXV DAvid now laments the death of Saul and Jonathan and the men of Israel in a Funeral Song having first given order that the children of Judah should be taught the use of the bow and the rather because Saul and Jonathan had been overcome by the Archers among the Philistines therefore he desired they should be expert in that Art that they might match their enemies in that military skill for time to come Which order is further recorded in the Civil Annals or the General Chronicle of the Memorable Acts of the Nation called the Book of Jasher * Which Book with divers others particularly some composed by Solomon were burnt in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans which was continued as is probable from time to time by the Prophets See Note on Josh 10.13 David begins his Funeral Elegy thus O how are Saul Jonathan and many other valiant men of Israel who were the beauty ornament and glory of the land fallen on the mountains of Gilboa O tell it not in Gath publish it not in the streets of Askalon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph as they us'd to do in their dances and songs see Note on 1 Sam. 18.6 O if it were possible that this thing might be conceal'd from the enemies of God and his people lest they triumph and insult over them see Judg. 16.23 Mich. 1.10 ascribing the glory of this victory to their Idol-gods to the great dishonour of the only true God
back from the Well Sirah situate on the North of Hebron Abner being returned Joab took him aside in the Gate (g) The place of Judicature and of their publick and solemn meetings Abishai being by who it seems was also in the Plot see v. 30. under pretense to speak with him peaceably and privately about the Kings affairs and on a sudden he little suspecting any such thing smote him under the fifth rib so that he fell down dead By this means though the fact in Joab was base and villainous God punished Abner for his rising up against David contrary to his own knowledg and conscience to compass his wicked end and for being the occasion of shedding so much blood in this war at which he so little scrupled When David heard of the murder of Abner he was extreamly surprized at it and cried out I and my Kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner let it rest on the head of Joab and all his Fathers house and let there not fail from the house of Joab as long as his family continueth one that hath a running issue for which persons were debarred from entring into the Congregation and partaking of the publick Ordinances Levit. 15.21 or a leper or one that leaneth on a staff by reason of feebleness and lameness or that falleth by the sword and so dieth an untimely death or that lacketh bread and so is brought to beggary let there be ever in Joabs family some person that is under one or more of these Plagues Then David commanded Joab and all the people that were with him to rend their clothes and gird themselves with sackcloth to intimate that their hearts were rent with grief for this horrid fact Then he made a solemn and publick Funeral for Abner and he himself followed the Bier with great expressions of grief So they buried Abner in Hebron and the King lift up his voice at his grave and wept and the people wept also And the King lamented over Abner and said Died Abner like as a fool dieth that is as a weak and cowardly man that yieldeth himself to be slaughtered by his enemy making little or no resistance No surely thou didst not die like a base weak captive taken in war nor as a malefactor bound in chains and fetters and so led out to execution no but thou wast basely and treacherously slain As a man falleth before wicked men so fellest thou as it might happen to the most wise and valiantest man in the world that hath to do with false cowardly and treacherous men so it hath happened unto thee And this David spake before Joab's face and branded him with dishonour and reproach before all the people as a part of his punishment for his wicked fact It seems it was the manner at solemn Funerals to have a Feast provided to refresh and cheer the guests in the time of their mourning see Jer. 16.7 8. Ezek. 24.17 And such a Feast was now provided But David to express his great and extraordinary grief for Abner refused to eat at it whereupon the Commanders of the Army and heads of the people came to him and intreated him not to lay the matter so much to heart as to forbear his food But David sware to them saying God do so to me and more also if I taste bread or ought else till the Sun be set The people observing his carriage therein were highly pleased with it and were glad to see him so much to resent the base murder of Abner and with so much earnestness to seek to clear himself thereof they saw plainly that it was not by Davids counsel or instigation either directly or indirectly that Abner was slain but it proceeded meerly from Joab's malice and revenge And not only David's carriage in this matter concerning Abner pleased the people but generally all things else that he did through his prudence and wise conduct were very pleasing to them Indeed whither they liked his not executing justice upon Joab at this time is uncertain but however he was fain to apologize for himself and he said to his servants about him You see there is Prince and a great man this day fallen in Israel whose blood I would revenge on him that shed it but that he and his Brother Abishai these Sons of Zerviah * Zerviah one of Davids Sisters was mother of Joab Abishai and Asahel and Abigail his other Sister was mother of Amasa 2 Sam. 17.25 1 Chr. 2.15 16 17. are at this time too potent for me they being in so great favour with the people and commanding the Army and I my self though anointed King yet am at present but unsetled in my Kingdom however the Lord will reward the evil doer at one time or other according to his wickedness But this excuse was below pious and valiant David and savoured too much of carnal fear worldly policy for he having Gods promise to establish him in the Throne he needed not to fear the executing of justice upon so heinous a malefactor as Joab was notwithstanding all his power and the power of his allies And if justice had been now executed on him Amasa's death had been prevented whom Joab afterwards slew in a like treacherous manner See 2 Sam. 20.10 But some will ask Why did not David execute justice upon Joab afterwards when he was established in his Throne Doubtless it was a great fault in him and before his death he seems to have repented of it which the charge given to his Son Solomon seems to imply 1 King 2.5 6. ziz That he should not let Joab's hoary head go down to the grave in peace 2 Sam. Ch. 3. from v. 6 to the end SECT CLXXXII Ishbosheth and the Israelites that adher'd to him were wonderfully perplex'd and dismaid when they heard of the death of Abner he being their General on whose counsel and conduct they had hitherto so much depended Things going thus badly with them two of Ishbosheth's Captains conspired against him whose names were Baanah and Rechab the Sons of Rimmon born in Beeroth a City of Benjamin but the inhabitants of that City after Saul's discomfiture fled out of it to Gittaim another Town of Benjamin and the Philistines possessed it and so they were still called Beerothites after the place of their former habitation and lived but as sojourners in Gittaim among their Brethren the Children of Benjamin And that which encouraged these Captains as it seems to conspire the death of Ishbosheth was because he being taken away there would be no legitimate issue of Saul's race but only Mephibosheth who being but a child of twelve years of age and withal lame in his feet was altogether unfit to succeed in the Kingdom Whence they imagined how advantageous their intended fact would be to David and how likely they were to be rewarded by him for it and lastly how safely they might do it because there would be none left of Saul's race
bound himself by a solemn vow that he would not rest till he had set himself upon the accomplishment of it as they gather from Psal 132.2 3 4. But God delayed not to bring David quickly out of his mistake and therefore that very night he spake to Nathan to go to him and to speak to him after this manner Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name thou didst well that it was in thine heart 1 King 8.18 but it shall not be done by thee but by thy Son 2 Chron. 6.7 8 9. it is not my pleasure that thou shouldest do it and that for these reasons 1. Because thou hast been a martial man and hast shed much blood (c) Haec verba non leguntur 2 Sam. 7. Ergo pertinent ad Paralipomena i. e. ad praetermissa unde hi duo libri nomen acceperunt which though it was the blood of mine and my peoples enemies and so was a service well pleasing to me yet the Temple being to be a Type of the Body of the Messias the Prince of Peace it shall be built by a Peaceable Prince 2ly Though thou enjoyest peace now yet thou hast many wars to wage with the Nations about thee that are not yet subdued and so canst not have leisure to go through with so great a work as that is 3ly I have not made choice of any standing permanent house wherein to manifest my gracious presence to this day but have manifested my self in a Tabernacle flitting and removing from place to place yet all that while I have been present with my people ever since coming out of Egypt as their God Alsufficient therefore there is no absolute need at present of building any other house for me which shall be done when my own time is come 4ly I did never speak to any of the Tribes of Israel or to the Judges whom I appointed as faithful shepherds to govern and provide for my people that an House of Cedar should be built for me Moreover do not think that my forbidding thee to do it proceeds from want of love to thee for thou maist remember how I have taken thee from the sheep-coat from following the sheep to be ruler over my people and have prospered thee in all thine enterprizes and have destroy'd all thine enemies that rose up against thee and have made thee famous and formidable to the Nations round about thee and have given thee a name like the name of the great Princes and Potentates of the earth And as I have already multiplied many blessings upon thee so I am still ready to do it for time to come Moreover I have not only blessed thee but I will bless the whole Nation under thy Government As I have appointed a place (a) V. 10. I have appointed a place for my people So the Dutch Annotations read it In the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 posui a good land for them so I will plant (b) How was this promise fulfill'd that the Lord would so plant them in a place of their own that they shouâ—d thence move no more and that the children of wickedness should not afflict them any more as in former times c. when after Solomons days both the Kingdom of Israel and Judah were often invaded and wasted by many of the neighbouring Nations and the people at last carried away captive to Assyria and Babylon Either this promise therefore must be restrain'd to the times of David and Solomon in whose days they did enjoy the land as their own without molestation from the neighbouring Nations or else it must be understood as a conditional promise viz. if they were obedient else God reserved liberty to himself to deal otherwise with them them there and so settle them in the land that they shall quietly enjoy it as their own lawful inheritance and not be dispossessed of it and tossed up and down as formerly they have been neither shall they be molested and vexed continually by their oppressing neighbours the children of wickedness as they have been ever since I appointed Judges to rule over them even unto this time that I have set thee over them and have given thee rest from all thine enemies round about And seeing thou hadst a purpose to build an house for me I will saith the Lord make thee an house that is I will establish and continue thy Kingdom in thy posterity and which is far more raise up out of thy seed the Messiah who shall be an everlasting King over his people And when thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy Fathers I will set up one of thy Sons viz. Solomon on the Throne after thee and will establish his Kingdom and he shall build an house for my name for my worship and service and I will establish the Throne of his Kingdom for ever (c) This is proper and peculiar to Christs Kingdom alone and cannot be literally understood of Solomons seeing the Kingdom continued in his posterity only to Zedekiah therefore the promises here are some peculiar to Solomon and some to Christ and some to both I will be to him a Father (d) This promise belonged both to Solomon and Christ to Solomon as we read 1 Chron. 28. to Christ as we read Heb. 1.5 To Solomon by grace and adoption to Christ by natural eternal generation and he shall be my Son and if he commit iniquity (c) This is to be understood of Solomon and not of Christ who committed no sin I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men that is I will correct him for his sin as a loving Father doth his beloved Son with Fatherly chastisements for his amendment and not in wrath for destruction but I will not quite cast him out of my favour and deprive him of his Kingdom as I did Saul And thine house and thy Kingdom shall be establisht for ever before thee that is thy Kingdom shall be establisht in thy self unto the day of thy death and shall in thy sight be setled upon Solomon thy Son 1 King 1.28 whence thou maist assure thy self of the continuance of it in thy posterity for a long time (f) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Hebraeos non semper significat tempus infinitum sed pro materia de qua agitur aliquando solum tempus bene longum Thus Nathan faithfully delivered unto David all that was revealed unto him in the vision he had from the Lord though it was contrary to the advice which he himself had before privately given him David having received this message went into the Tent where the Ark was and having for some time sat down and meditated on the great goodness and mercy of God to him he then addressed himself in prayer unto the Lord after this manner Who am I O Lord God and what is my Fathers house that thou hast brought me
were his own Son that by such an exemplary punishment others might be deterred from offending in the like kind But though he did not punish him yet his Son Absalom did as we come now to shew After two years were past Absalom had a sheep-shearing feast as the manner was in that Country to entertain his friends and encourage his servants To this feast Absalom invites David and all his Sons with their retinue to avoid all suspition of any ill intention against Amnon David tells him if they should all come they should be too chargeable to him and therefore he himself would not come however he blessed him and wished him much joy in his Feast Then Absalom ernestly intreated him that his brother Amnon being his Eldest Son might come and so representing his person might grace and honour his Feast This might considering former carriages have given both David and Amnon some suspition and jealousie that he intended some mischief but God intending to punish them both for their former sins hid this from their eyes Therefore upon his great importunity David consented that Amnon and all his Sons should go with him They being come Absalom gave command to some of his servants as evil masters are usually attended with such servants as will comply with them in any wickedness that when they saw Amnon merry with wine they should fall upon him and kill him he bids them be courageous and to do their work thoroughly seeing he had commanded them and would bear them out in it And though the revenging of his sister Tamars rape might be the chief thing he aimed at yet possibly an ambitious desire of the Crown might further this his resolution of cutting off his Elder Brother The servants did as Absalom commanded them and accordingly dispatched Amnon Upon this murder all the rest of Davids Sons got every one upon his Mule (a) Though the Israelites were forbidden to suffer Cattel of divers kinds to engender together Lev. 19.19 yet they might use the Cattel so engendred and such Mules were see Gen. 36.24 and fled not knowing how far Absalom's bloody treachery might extend This gave such a warm alarm to the Country round about that presently tidings came to David that Absalom had slain all his Sons The King upon this surprizing news tore his garments and fell upon the earth and his servants stood about him with their clothes rent Jonadab standing by desired the King not to believe that all his Sons were slain but only Amnon and he did suppose that he indeed was slain because Absalom had threatned to be reveng'd on him ever since he forced his sister Tamar Presently the Kings Sons that fled came to him and with many tears told him what Absalom had done to their brother Amnon and the King and all his servants wept very sore And David mourned for the death of his Son Amnon so treacherously slain very many days Then Absalom that he might escape the hand of justice fled to Talmai King of Geshur his Grandfather by the mothers side and there he remained three years 2 Sam. Ch. 13. from v. 1. to 39. SECT CXCV. It seems Chileab Davids second Son see Ch. 3.3 was now dead IN length of time Davids grief for Amnon by degrees wore off so that he began now to wish that he had his Son Absalom at home with him again and had it not been for shame he could have found in his heart to have gone himself and fetcht him Joab perceiving that the Kings heart was much towards Absalom and that he earnestly desired to have him brought back again if it could be done handsomely and without scandal he therefore that he might gratifie the King and ingratiate himself with Absalom now heir apparent (b) The City where the Prophet Amos lived Amos 1.1 to the Crown sets himself to contrive a way how it might be done Accordingly he sent to Tekoah c a City in Judah and fetched thence a woman that was famous for her wisdom and acquainting her with his design he put words into her mouth and directed her what she should say to the King in order to the bringing about his end she undertakes the business and being well instructed beforehand in a mourning habit and seeming very disconsolate she comes to David and falling down on her face before him cries out Help O King and succour thine afflicted handmaid The King asks her what ailed her she answers I am a widow and thy handmaid had two Sons who going into the field together and falling out they fought and none being by to part them the one of them happened to kill the other and now all my family and kindred are risen up to prosecute my remaining Son that he may be put to death and so the inheritance may come to them for so they give out that they will destroy the heir also and if they should be suffered to kill this surviving Son who is the only comfort that is left me in this world they will wholly extinguish my husbands name which by this Son as by one poor coal that lyeth hid under an heap of ashes can only be blown up again kept alive and preserved The King tells her that he would give order that her case should be heard and examined She desires him not to put her off or scruple to grant her request for if there were any iniquity or sin in sparing her Son she would take the guilt of it * See Gen. 27.13 Mat. 27.25 wholly upon her self the King and his Throne should be guiltless But therein she engag'd for more than she could make good for if it were unjust God would punish her for desiring and endeavouring it and David also for granting it see Numb 35.17 18 21 31 33. However the King seeing her so importunate he bad her go home and if any persons further troubled her she should bring them to him for as the Lord liveth saith he not one hair of thy Son shall fall to the earth Then the woman said let the King remember the word that he hath promised unto his handmaid in the presence of the Lord that he will not suffer the avengers of blood to destroy my Son And now having obtained my request let thy handmaid speak one word more to my Lord the King How comes it to pass that thou hast passed so favourable a sentence in reference to my Son and yet entertainest thoughts in thy mind against thy own Son which are far different and very prejudicial to the good and welfare of thy people Give me leave to say that the King doth speak this thing as one that is faulty he hath given a just sentence in the case of my Son but fails in giving the same sentence when it comes to the case of his own Son the King would have no rigor us'd against my Son for killing his brother because it would tend to my great grief and damage and yet can be content
back to Jerusalem with these men of Judah Shimei the Benjamite join'd himself who had before so unsufferably cursed and reviled David bringing with him a thousand Benjamites so that it seems he was a potent man in his own Tribe He took this opportunity of coming to reconcile himself to the King and obtain his pardon hoping to speed the better because the men of Judah also now came to make their peace with him Ziba also the treacherous servant of Mephibosheth who had so falsely accused his Master was very forward to come with his fifteen sons and twenty servants to meet the King hoping thereby to keep himself in the Kings favour though his falseness to his Master should be discovered All these went over Jordan to meet the King and to conduct him back And there went a Ferry-boat to bring over some of the chief of the Kings houshold as his wives and children and whom he pleased and to be imployed as he should appoint The rest passed over the fords on horses or as they could Shimei now coming before the King fell down on his face before him and said Let not my Lord impute iniquity unto me neither do thou remember what thy servant did perversely on the day that my Lord the King went out of Jerusalem neither let the King take it to his heart or regard it for thy servant doth acknowledg that he hath heinously sin'd against thee But I am come the first and before any others of the house of Joseph * The Scripture is wont ordinarily to divide the 12 Tribes into Judah and Israel Judah having Benjamin adjoin'd to it and Ephraim comprehending the other Ten Tribes which are all called by its name because it was the chief of them See Isa 7.2 Psal 80.1 Zach. 10.6 viz. of the Ten Tribes to meet my Lord the King And therefore as I have given a good example to others so if I obtain pardon others will be encouraged by my example to come in likewise to submit to the King Abishai standing by and hearing what he said What says he shall not Shimei be put to death who cursed the Lords anointed to his face If thou spare him spare all The King replied What have I to do with you ye Sons of Zerviah why should you advise me to that which is so prejudicial to me as if you were my very adversaries seeing God hath given me so signal a victory over my enemies and hath made this day a day of rejoicing to me I will not damp nor stain the joy of it by sheding any mans blood I am this day restored to my Kingdom again and as it were new-created King and what better becomes a King especially on the day of his Inauguration than clemency and mercy It will not be wisdom in me to discourage those that are willing to submit to me nor to endanger my yet unsetled State by exercising severity on them who stooped and acknowledged their faults Therefore as for Shimei I do here swear unto him before you all and pass my royal word that he shall not die (a) This must be understood in reference to his former faults if he committed any new offence this Oath did not bind to secure him from punishment therefore David 1 King 2.8 9. gave order to his Son Solomon to watch and observe him well that if his malice and wickedness did break forth any other way he should proceed against him in a way of justice Non morieris i. e. hodie vel jam vel manu mea meo jussu non propter hanc causam Nec praecepit Solomoni ut propter eum puniret eum sed solum dicit noli pati eum esse impunitum sed eo modo quo juste poteris Id ergo committit prudentiae Solomonis Among others that met the King Mephibosheth the Grandson of Saul was one who had neither washed his feet as in publick mournings they used not to do nor trimmed his beard nor wash'd his linnen from the day the King departed from the City to that day but had behaved himself as a true mourner for the Kings long absence and sore afflictions The King asks him why he came not to him sooner he answers My Lord O King my servant deceived me for I said I would have the asses sadled that I might ride to the King and behold he went away secretly with them leaving me behind a poor lame man unable to help my self And besides this he hath also horribly slandered me to the King and hath thereby as I understand gotten a grant of my lands I do protest I never spake those words he hath accused me of but my Lord the King is wise even as an Angel of God to discern between truth and falshood therefore let him do unto me what seemeth good in his eyes for I acknowledg all my fathers house were but as dead men before my Lord the King we were all in thy power thou mightest have put us all to death if thou hadst so pleased for the attempt made upon thy Royal dignity by Ishbosheth and therefore what cause have I to complain if that which was freely given me by thee be now taken from me David tells him he was full of weighty business at that time and therefore he would not have him for the present trouble him any further about that matter I have said says he and my sentence shall stand Thou and Ziba divide the land It may seem strange that so wise and just a King as David was should pass so unjust a sentence against Mephibosheth the Son of his dear friend Jonathan with whom he had made a solemn Covenant to be kind to him and his seed after him and the poor pitiful plight and condition Mephibosheth was now in might have induc'd David to think that he was far from aspiring to the Crown Besides Ziba did not offer now to justifie to his masters face what he had before accused him of But it seems David was loth to displease Ziba who had lately brought him relief in his distress and was not willing to take back from him all that he had given him especially at such a time as this when he so much desired to endear himself to all his subjects and therefore he appointed Mephibosheth and him to divide the land between them But notwithstanding the hardness of this sentence honest Mephibosheth was so far from being displeased at it that he said Nay let him take all seeing my Lord the King is come to his house in peace Besides these Barzillai the Gileadite a man of eighty years of age who had supplied the King with Provisions while he was at Mahanaim see Ch. 17.27 being a very rich man came from Rogelim the City where he lived to conduct the King over Jordan The King received him very kindly and invited him to go along with him to Jerusalem where he would entertain him as his friend Barzillai told him he was at
He smote the Philistines till his hand was weary and clave unto his sword and was as it were glueed to the hilt of it with blood The third of the first three was Shammah He defended a field of lentils against a Troop of the Philistines when the people fled from them and the Lord wrought a great victory by him 'T is probable that this exploit against the Philistines was jointly performed by both these Captains at one and the same time and therefore 't is said 1 Chron. 11.14 That they set themselves in the midst of that parcel of ground and delivered it and slew the Philistines there being both barley and lentils in the same field Eleazar it seems beat the Philistines from the barley-field and Shammah from that part of it that had lentils These three Worthies also ventured their lives to fetch David water from the well of Bethlem of which before at Ch. 5.18 Of the second three Abishar the Brother of Joab was chief he lift up his spear against three hundred and slew them Other valiant deeds he did besides as when he went with David into the midst of Sauls Camp 1 Sam. 26.6 and his killing the Giant Ishi-benob whose Spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass 2 Sam. 21.16 17. he was the most honourable of this three but he attained not unto the first three The second of this three was Benaiah the son of Jehoiadah he slew two Lion-like men of Moab and he slew a Lion in the midst of a pit into which it had casually fallen in the time of the snow where the room being straight he knew he must either kill or be kill'd and this he enterpriz'd not out of a vain mind to shew his valour but Heroically to destroy a noxiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 that had done so much mischief to the Country He slew also an Egyptian a 〈◊〉 of great stature five cubits high whose Spear was like a weavers beam he went down to 〈◊〉 only with a staff and pluckt the spear out of his hand and slew him with his own spear He was also Captain of the Kings guard The third of this three seems to be Asabel who was above the thirty (a) V. 24. Supra Triginta istos as all those before mentioned were there being thirty named after him This second three attained not unto the first three but yet were superior to all others 2 Sam Ch. 23. from v. 8 to the end SECT CCIII DAvid having vanquished his enemies abroad and suppressed sundry insurrections at home yet knowing that new wars or conspiracies might be rais'd against him therefore in this time of peace he thought fit so to settle his Militia and Souldiery that they might be in a readiness on all occasions to defend the Kingdom In order hereunto he divided them into twelve courses twenty four thousand in each course who in their turns one month in a year were still in arms ready to be imployed in any service for the State as the King should appoint by which means all the able men in the Kingdom were still trained up in the use of their Armes and there was always a sufficient number ready in arms if on a sudden there should be any occasion for them Jashobeam who it seems was of the posterity of Perez or Pharez the son of Judah Gen. 46.12 had the preeminence of being Commander in chief over the first course for the first month Over the course of the second month was Dodai and Mikloth was the Captain of this course after his death The Captain of the Host for the third month was Benaiah a principal Officer The Captain of the fourth course was Zebadiah the son of Asahel who was kill'd in the beginning of David's reign by Abner 2 Sam. 2.23 but being a valiant man and brother to Joab and Abishai and of kin to David his name is put both into the Catalogue of David's Worthies 1 Chron. 11.26 and here into the Catalogue of chief Commanders the course possibly bearing his name though his son was Captain of it The names of the other Captains that were over the other courses are here also set down as also the Princes and Rulers of the Tribes who had the chief power in the Civil Government where thirteen are mentioned of whom one is said to be of the Levites and another of the Aaronites one of the half Tribe of Manasseh and another of the other half the Princes of Gad and Asher are not here named possibly they might be join'd with those Tribes that bordered upon them Then are set down who was over the Kings Treasure and over his store-houses in the Fields Cities and Villages and over the Tillage and over the increase of the Vineyards for the Wine-cellars and over the Olive-trees and Cellars of Oyl and over the herds in Sharon and over the herds in the vallies over the Camels over the Asses and over the Flock and in sum all the Officers belonging to the King 1 Chron. Ch. 27. whole Chapter SECT CCIV. THE Lord being again angry (a) God is said to be angry when he doth that which men use to do when they are angry that is to punish those that have offended with the Israelites for their wickedness possibly for their pride carnal security and confidence in their number and strength he moved David against them that is he let Satan loose to tempt him to pride and carnal confidence in the multitude and strength of his subjects and left him to himself that he might be foil'd by Satan And accordingly Satan stirred up David in the pride of his heart (b) Otherwise to number the people was not in it self unlawful when done upon good grounds and for good ends Yea God himself commanded it Exod. 30.12 and Numb 1.3 26.1 2. And Solomon and Amaziah practised it 2 Chron. 2.17 25.5 But here was now no necessity of doing it either upon an Ecclesiastical or Civil account to number the people that God might take occasion thereby to bring upon them that judgment which he intended and which both King and people for their sins deserved and hereby wrath came upon Israel upon the King in the loss of his people and upon the people in the loss of their lives And the King not inquiring of God as he should have done in a matter of such moment spake to Joab and the Rulers of the people to go through all the Tribes of the children of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and to number the people viz. all that were fit for war and to bring their number to him Joab civilly addressing himself to the King The Lord thy God add unto thy people an hundred fold how many soever they be and if it be agreeable to his holy will maist thou thy self live to see it But give me leave humbly to ask thee why hast thou set thy heart upon this thing There is no necessity at all to inquire how many thy people be seeing how many
manner and in the sight only of a few who did it hastily to prevent Adonijah from making himself King and therefore this second anointing was done more publickly and more solemnly in the sight of the Princes and Rulers and in a great Assembly of the people And they anointed him unto the Lord that is devoted him solemnly unto the Lord and to be the Ruler of his people under him Then they anointed Zadok to be High-Priest instead of Abiathar who had joined with Adonijah and this was the rather done as we may suppose because the High-Priesthood was now translated into another Family For Abiathar was of the race of Eli and descended from Ithamar second Son of Aaron and Zadok was descended from Phineas who was descended from Eleazar his eldest Son and so the High-Priesthood reverted from the family of Ithamar to that of Eleazar as was foretold by God it should come to pass 1 Sam. 2.33 35. After this Solomon sat on the Throne of the Lord viz. on that Throne to which God had by his especial Providence advanced him and the disposal of which the Lord in a more peculiar manner challenged to himself See Deut. 17.15 And Solomon after this was very prosperous and all Israel obeyed him and all the Princes and mighty men and all the rest of David's Sons submitted themselves unto him And the Lord magnified him exceedingly in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty and greatness as no King of Israel either before him or after him ever had 1 Chron. Ch. 28. whole Chapter 1 Chron. Ch. 29. from v. 1 to 26. SECT CCXII. NOW the days of David's departure out of this life drew nigh therefore calling for his Son Solomon he said to him I am going the way that all men living upon the earth must go Be thou therefore couragious and though thou be young in years yet shew thy self a man in understanding and keep the charge of the Lord thy God to wit the commandments which he hath given in charge to be kept and walk in his ways and keep his statutes his judgments and testimonies whereby he testifies what he would have done and observed according as they are written and prescribed in the Laws given by Moses that so thou maist prosper in all that thou dost and in all businesses thou settest thy self unto And so the Lord may be pleased to confirm his word which he spake unto me saying If thy children take heed to their way to walk before me in truth and sincerity with all their heart and all their soul there shall not fail thee a man on the Throne of Israel that is there shall not fail a man of thy posterity to sit upon thy Throne (a) Notandum duo fuisse Davidi promissa Primum absolutè nempe Messiam ex ipso oriturum licet filii ejus mali fuerint Secundum conditionale scil regnum in ejus familia conservandum si posteri se sancte gerant P. Martyr I have now only three things more to give thee in charge before I die The first is concerning Joab thou knowest how insolently he carried himself towards me and how treacherously he slew those two great Capteins Abner and Amasa after I had engaged my faith to them both that they should be safe which wicked practice of his was enough to make the people think that I had secretly an hand in it though I can truly say my soul abhorred it Nay he shed the blood of war in peace that is when there was peace made with these two great men he slew them as if they had been in open hostility against me And he put the blood of war upon his girdle that is He put up his sword all bloody into its scabbard that hung at his girdle and the very shoos on his feet were stained with their blood so impudently he carried out those base murders therefore I charge thee wisely to observe him He is of a turbulent spirit and in all likelihood thou wilt have at one time or other just occasion against him And though he hath been General of my Army almost all my reign yet let not his hoary head go down to the grave in peace but when thou findest just occasion against him cut him off by the sword of justice and so let the blood of Abner and Amasa be revenged upon him 2ly I would have thee to shew kindness to the Sons of Barzillai the Gileadite for they came and brought provisions for me and my followers when I was forced to fly from thy brother Absalom and therefore let them be of the number of those that eat at thy Table 2 Sam. 17.28 29. 3ly Thou hast with thee Shimei the Benjamite who reviled me and cursed me with a bitter curse when I was in great distress flying towards Mahanaim and called me a bloody man and did in effect say I had been the cause of the death of Saul and all his Sons and charged me with crimes I never was guilty of yet afterwards he met me at Jordan and humbled himself and acknowledged his fault and I sware to him by the Lord that I would not put him to death But though I for my time pardoned him yet if he shall attempt any thing against thee after my decease hold him not guiltless Thou art a wise man and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him and if he trespass again and thou findest any other just occasion against him bring down his hoary head to the grave with blood and cut him off by the sword of justice * See 2 Sam. 19.23 David having thus instructed his Son in a short time after departed this life and slept with his fathers that is died as his fathers and predecessors had done before him having reigned in Hebron seven years and six months and thirty three years in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years in all and having made his Son Solomon King in his stead about half a year before his death He died in a good old age full of days riches and honour he died in the seventieth year of his age no King in Israel or Judah after him attaining to his age †Only Uzziah and Manasseh came very nigh it He was buried in his own City of Zion viz. in that part of Jerusalem where he had built a Palace for himself 2 Sam. 1.2 and kept his Court and which he had taken out of the hands of the Jebusites and had built and enlarged and from thence was called after his name the city of David His Sepulcher it seems was made of such durable materials and so well kept and repair'd time after time by his posterity that it was strangely preserved notwithstanding Jerusalem was so often sackt and burnt for it continued unto the Apostles times as the Apostle Peter tells us Act. 2.24 Men and Brethren let me freely speak to you of the Patriarch David that he is both dead and buried and his
she to avoid that came secretly as I have reason to believe in the dead of the night and took my Son from my bosom whilst I was fast asleep and laid her dead child in my bosom in the room of it for she had rather I suppose have a living child though anothers than her own dead and had rather nurse up my child instead of her own than have it said that by her own carelesness and negligence she had been the cause of the death of her own Son And when I arose in the morning to give my child suck behold I found it dead but when I had better considered of the matter and laid circumstances together I found it was not my Son that I did bear and I hope I shall find so much justice from the King as to return my own child to me again Then the other woman spake for her self and said Nay but my Lord O King let this woman say what she will I do peremptorily affirm that the living child is my Son and the dead is hers Thus they contested before the King both the one and the other challenging the living child for hers the case was very difficult for first both the children were almost of an age 2ly Their features in their infancy might be something alike 3ly No body was by when this fact was done that might give evidence on either side 4ly The mother that challenged the living child confessed she was asleep and so did not see when her child was stollen away 5ly The parties contending for the child were of a like reputation the one deserving no more credit than the other All these things considered the case seem'd so difficult that one would have thought the wit of man could not determine it Solomon having heard what they said on both sides according to the wisdom that God had given him presently call'd for a sword and bad one of his servants take the living child and divide him in twain and give half to the one and half to the other But the woman whose the living child really was found her bowels so yerning upon this that she cried out O my Lord give her I pray thee the child let her take him whole in no case divide him I had rather she should have him whole than that he should be slain But the other woman being of an envious disposition and not willing that her neighbour should enjoy what she wanted she cried out For my part seeing the King hath so determined the matter let the Kings sentence stand let it be neither mine nor hers but let it be divided The King by the different affection that he discerned in these two women quickly perceived which was the true mother and accordingly gave the living child unto her And all Israel heard of the judgment the King had given in this case and all sorts of persons highly honoured him for it for they saw that an extraordinary measure of the wisdom of God was in him that enabled him to give righteous judgment 1 King Ch. 3. from v. 16 to the end SECT CCXIX. HIram King of Tyre as also of Zidon for the Sidonians likewise were his subjects v. 9. had been always a great lover of David and hearing that Solomon his Son was advanc'd to the Throne of Israel he sent his Ambassadours to congratulate him Solomon receiv'd them very kindly and having entertained them for some time by them he sent a message to their Master to this effect He acquaints him that his Father David by reason of the many wars wherein he was almost continually engaged could not build an house for the Lord as he really intended and he supposed his Father had acquainted him with that his intention there being so great a friendship between them but the Lord having now advanc'd him to the Throne in his Fathers room and having given him rest on every side so that he had neither adversary nor evil occurrent to hinder him he resolv'd to fall upon the work and to build an house for the glory of the Lord his God as the Lord had promised unto his Father he should do he therefore requested this favour of him that as he had helped his Father to Timber (a) It seems most of Lebanon was in the land of Tyre though it were the Northern bound of the land of Canaan and though David in his life-time had provided many materials as Cedar-trees and many workmen yet it seems more were wanting which Solomon now takes care to provide wherewith to build his own Palace so he would please to help him also to Timber to build the house that he intended to build for the honour of God For the house says he that I intend to build must be great and magnificent the God for whose Worship I intend it being great above all Gods And indeed who is able to build an house for him seeing the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him It were a vain thing for me to think of building an house for him who is infinite except only to worship him in and that is the end I aim at Send me therefore I pray thee a man skilful to work in Gold and Silver in Brass and Iron in Purple Crimson and Blew and one that can grave that he may join with the cunning men that are here with me in Judah and Jerusalem whom my Father did provide for this purpose See 1 Chron. 22.15 And I pray thee grant me Cedar-trees Firr-trees and Algum-trees for this work and command thy servants to cut them down and hew them for me and I will send my servants to help and assist them therein and I will give thy servants twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat * That is of wheat beaten out of the ear and severed from the chaff we call it clean wheat and as many of barley and twenty thousand baths of wine and as many of oyl for their wages and provision or if this do not like thee I will give whatsoever thy self shall appoint Hiram sent an answer to Solomon and writ to him after this manner It is a great sign and evidence to me that God loves that people because he hath made thee King over them And blessed be the Lord God of Israel who made Heaven and Earth for giving to David such a wise Son and for enduing him with so great a measure of prudence and understanding that he might build an house for the honour of God and for the honour of his Kingdom As for thy request to me concerning Cedar-trees Firr-trees and Timber for that great work behold all thy desires are granted My servants shall cut down and hew out sufficient Timber for thee and I will convey it to thee by Sea in flotes to Joppa or any other place thou shalt appoint I have also sent thee a very skilful and expert artificer whose name is Hiram whose Father was of the Tribe †He is called a Tyrian because he lived there
and the Ass and the Lion standing by it so that the Lion had neither eaten the carcass nor torn the Ass The Lion it seems ran away immediately upon the old Prophets coming as having now done what he stayed for and so the old Prophet took and carried the dead body of the other Prophet to be buried and laid it in his own sepulcher which he had prepared for himself and he and his sons mourned over him and said alas my brother See Jer. 22.18 And the old Prophet further spake unto his Sons saying When I am dead bury me in the sepulcher wherein this man of God is buried lay my bones by his bones that so my bones may lye at rest and not be digged up and burnt by Josiah And for the accomplishing of this end he caused a superscription to be engraven on the Sepulcher whereby it might be known who was buried there and herein he had his desire as we may see 2 King 23.17 18. He further declared that the saying of the deceased Prophet which he uttered by the command of God against the Altar of Bethel and against all the houses of the high places which were in the cities of the Kingdom of Israel afterwards call'd the Kingdom of Samaria shall surely come to pass But notwithstanding this fair warning Jeroboam returned not from his Idolatry and evil ways One would have thought that his hand being miraculously stricken dead and as miraculously healed upon the prayer of the Prophet he should presently with that hand have plucked down his Idolatrous Calves and Altars but neither that nor the cleaving of the Altar asunder nor the strange death that befell the young Prophet whereby the truth of what he had spoken was mightily confirm'd could prevail with him to forsake that Idolaty whereby he sought to assure the Kingdom to himself and his posterity but therein he was miserably deceived for this Idolatry was not only the ruin of his own house but of the whole Kingdom of Israel at last and the cause of their captivity And possibly from the violent death of the Prophet that came from Judah he took occasion to harden himself in his evil ways and not to regard his threatnings And thereupon being obstinate in his Idolatry he cast off the Priests that were of the lineage of Aaron and the Levites and made of the lowest of the people Priests of the High-places even whosoever would offer himself he consecrated him and made him a Priest of that order Whereupon many Priests and Levites leaving their possessions which they had in those parts retired into Jury and were followed by all such out of every Tribe of Israel who set their minds upon the true worship of God Some years after his Son Abijah fell sick at Tirzah for though Shechem was at first the Royal City of Jeroboams Kingdom yet afterwards as it seems he built some stately Palace for himself at Tirzah a goodly and pleasant City to which Solomon alludes Cant. 6.4 and so both Jeroboam and the other Kings of Israel that succeeded him did usually keep their Courts there till Samaria was built by Omri From thence therefore he sends his wife to Shiloh to the Prophet Ahijah who first told him he should come to the Kingdom and was now blind with old age He appoints her to go disguised lest if the Prophet knew her he should either refuse to answer her being offended with their Idolatry or else give her such an answer as they should be loth to hear he enjoins her therefore to go to him in this manner and to carry a small present to him viz. ten loaves and cakes and a bottle of honey that by so small a present she might be thought to be only the wife of some poor Country-man and only came to ask him what should become of her Son that was sick 'T is to be observ'd that he sends her not to him to beg his prayers for the child though he had had experience of the efficacy of a Prophets prayers in the miraculous restoring of his own hand It seems his obstinacy in his Idolatry discouraged him from seeking such a favour from him His wife going accordingly to Shiloh the Lord by the secret inspiration of his Spirit inform'd Ahijah of her coming and that she would feign her self to be another woman and tells him what he shall say to her Accordingly when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came into the door of his house he said to her Come in thou wife of Jeroboam why feignest thou thy self to be another woman I am sent from the Lord to thee with heavy Tidings go tell Jeroboam thus saith the Lord God of Israel I exalted thee from among the people and made thee King over Israel and rent ten of the Tribes away from the house of David and gave them unto thee and yet thou hast not been as my servant David who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart and as to my worship did only that which was right in my sight But thou hast done evil above all that were before thee Saul though a wicked man was no Idolater Solomon though by his wives instigation he permitted Idolatry yet he was not an Idolater himself but thou hast made thee other Gods * Representations of God are accounted as Gods and molten Images to provoke me to anger and hast cast my Law behind thy back therefore behold I will bring evil upon thy house and will so utterly destroy it and all that belong to it that I will not leave in it so much as a dog to piss against the wall and will destroy both him that is shut up at home or left abroad in the field and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam as a man taketh away dung till it be all removed for being a noisome and filthy thing he will take it every whit away (a) The accomplishment of this see Chap. 15.29 Furthermore let thy husband know that him of the house of Jeroboam that dieth in the City the dogs shall eat and him that dieth in the field the fowls of the air shall eat (b) Intimating they should die unhappy deaths and not have the honour of burial for the Lord hath spoken it Arise therefore and go thy ways home and as soon as thy feet enter into thy house which is in the City Tirzah thy Son shall die and this judgment is the beginning of your sorrows But all Israel shall mourn for him and he shall be buried with lamentation and he only shall come to the grave because of all Jeroboams family in him only there is found some good thing some seeds of piety and the fear of the Lord and consequently some regard to the true worship of God Moreover I must tell thee the Lord will raise up a King (c) Viz. Baasha who made a conspiracy against Nadab Jeroboam's Son and slew him in the second year
of his reign and destroyed all the house of Jeroboam Ch. 15.27 over Israel that shall cut off the house of Jeroboam If thou askest when or at what time this shall come to pass I answer very quickly and sooner than you do expect And the Lord will smite Israel as a reed is shaken in the water He will afflict both Prince and people with uncessant wars and troubles both intestine and forreign so that they shall never abide long in any setled condition but as reeds that grow in the water are continually shaken so shall it be with this Kingdom partly by the frequent transferring the Crown from one family to another and partly by the frequent invasions of the men of Judah or some other neighbouring Nation And the Lord will root up (b) First by Tiglath-pilesar in the days of Pekak King of Israel 2 King 15.29 the greatest part after by Salmanassar in the days of Hoshea 2 K. 17.6 Israel out of this good land which he gave to their Fathers and will scatter them beyond the river to wit Euphrates into the land of Assyria Mesopotamia and Media whither they shall be carried captive because they have made Groves for Idols thereby provoking him to anger And he will give up Israel into the hands of their enemies because they consented to the Idolatry of Jeroboam who did sin highly against God and made Israel to sin by causing them to leave the Temple of the Lord and to worship the calves he hath set up Ahijah having thus spoken Jeroboam's wife departed and as she came to the door of her house her Son died And they buried him and all Israel lamented for him as God had foretold by the ministry of his Prophet There were many bickerings and continual hostility between Jeroboam and Rehoboam all their days and the borderers on both sides did continually invade one another but after Rehoboam's death Jeroboam in the eighteenth year of his reign gathered together a vast army of eight hundred thousand men to set upon Abijah Rehoboam's Son newly come to the Crown and Abijah met him with four hundred thousand and with them discomfited his mighty Army and slew five hundred thousand of them and pursuing his victory took from him Bethel and two other Cities as may be more fully seen in the life of Abijah Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again during Abijah's reign Jeroboam at last was stricken with some extraordinary sickness or disease from the Lord in the days of Abijah but he died not till the second year of Asa Son of Abijah and it seems he died not an ordinary death He reigned 22 years and Nadab his Son succeeded him 1 King 12. from 12 to the end 1 King 13. wh Ch. 1 King 14. from 1 to 21. 2 Chron. 13. wh Ch. NAdab began his reign in the second year of Asa Second King of Israel Nadab and reigned only two years namely in part of the second and third year of Asa He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his Father Gibbethon a City belonging to the Tribe of Dan Josh 19.44 was in the days of David and Solomon in the Israelites possession but now it seems the Philistines had gotten it Nadab therefore and all Israel with him went and laid siege to it to recover it and here during the Siege he was treacherously slain by Baasha of the Tribe of Issachar and so the siege as it seems was raised for twenty six years after or thereabouts the Son of Baasha did again lay siege to this City as we may see Chap. 16.15 Baasha now setting up himself in the Throne he smote all the house of Jeroboam according to the Prophesie of Ahijah 1 King 14.10 Behold I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall and him that is shut up and left in Israel and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam as a man taketh away dung till it be all gone So with Nadab the Regal power in Jeroboam's house ended And thus the Idolatry wherewith Jeroboam thought to have established the Kingdom to himself and his posterity was the very cause of the ruin of his family and the transferring the Kingdom to another 1 King 15. from 25 to 32. BAasha the Son of Ahijah of the Tribe of Issachar began his reign in the third year of Asa Third King of Israel Baasha and reigned twenty and four years He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of Jeroboam In the thirty sixth year of Asa's Kingdom as it stood divided from the Kingdom of Israel but in the sixteenth year of Asa's own reign and about the fourteenth of Baasha's he perceiving Asa to grow potent and that many of his subjects fell off to him he began to arm against him and never ceased from henceforward to make war upon him all his days and he went up to build Ramah which lay between Samaria and Jerusalem that he might suffer no man to come out from or go unto Asa King of Judah but he was fain to give it over being recalled by an invasion made into his Country by Benhadad King of Syria hired thereunto by Asa 2 Chron. 16. from 1 to 7. and 1 King 15.32 Jehu the Son of Hanani the Prophet delivers him a sad message from the Lord concerning the destruction of his house for his Idolatry and killing of Nadab (a) For though Baasha did herein what God had decreed yet he had no command from God to do it but did it only to serve his own ends and to get the Kingdom Saepe Deus decreta sua exequitur per malos homines qui longe aliud agentes sua quaerunt ideoque poena digni sunt Impii saepe imprudentes serviunt voluntati Dei quam in lege patefactam scientes oppugnant This Jehu was that Prophet that was sent afterwards to Jehoshaphat to reprove him for his league with Ahab 2 Chr. 19.2 and he that wrote the Chronicles of those times 2 Chron. 20.34 And his father Hanani was the Prophet that reproved Asa for seeking to Benhadad for aid against Baasha so that both Father and Son were eminent Prophets of the Lord at the same time and both sent to the Kings of Israel to whom the Lord was pleased to send many Prophets to reclaim them Jehu coming to Baasha tells him Thus saith the Lord forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust and from a mean condition made thee Prince (b) For it was the Providence of God that made Baasha's attempt against Nadab so successful Collatio regni Deo doll vero parricidium Baasae attribuuntur over my (c) They were Gods people by Covenant and outward profession and they retained still Circumcision and the Laws of Moses and there were many pious Prophets and some good people among them people Israel and thou hast walked in
the ways of Jeroboam and hast made my people to sin by thy example and hast provoked me to anger behold I will cut off thy posterity and will make thy house as the house of Jeroboam And as this judgment was pronounced against Jeroboam 1 King 14.11 viz. that such of his house as died in the City the dogs should eat and such as died in the fields the fowls of the air should eat that is they should die unhappy deaths and not come to an honourable burial the very same judgment must I pronounce against thee and in the same words see v. 4. because thou persistest in the same sins Baasha died in the twenty fourth year of his reign and was buried in Tirzah and his Son Elah reigned in his stead 1 King 15.33 34. 1 King 16. from 1 to 8. ELAH began to reign in the 26th year of Asa Fourth King of Israel Elah and reigned two years though not compleat Being upon the Throne his servant Zimri Captain of half his Chariots conspired against him and as he was drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza his Steward he slew him in the second year of his reign his forces lying then encamped against Gibbethon and then Zimri immediately by the assistance of the Souldiers that were under his command slew all his kindred and near relations and so destroyed all the house of Baasha he left him not one that pisseth against a wall by which Proverbial speech an utter destruction of all that belonged to him is to be understood Thus the Lord dealt with the house of Baasha For as Baasha slew Nadab when he had reigned two years and that whilst he was laying siege to Gibbethon and then immediately destroyed all the rest of his family so Zimri slew Elah the Son of Baasha in the second year of his reign and then immediately cut off the rest of his family and friends and that whilst his army lay encamped against Gibbethon And thus God destroyed both the house of Baasha and Elah for their great sins and transgressions whereby they had provoked him and particularly by their vanities that is Image-gods and Idols 1 King 16. from 8 to 15. ZIMRI having thus wickedly made himself King Fifth King of Israel Zimri his reign continued but a week for notice that the King was slain coming to the Camp at Gibbethon all the host of Israel that were there encamped presently made Omri their General King over Israel Omri hastens with his Army to Tirzah to besiege Zimri and so the siege of Gibbethon was a second time raised Zimri when he saw the City was taken by storm betook himself to the Kings Palace and burnt himself with it that he might not fall into the hands of his enemies Thus those that are cruel to others are oftentimes given over to be cruel at last to themselves But though Zimri reigned but seven days before Omri was proclaimed King by the Soldiers yet perhaps it was longer e're he was forced to burn himself And besides within the space of those seven days he might by his Edicts make known to the people his resolution to continue the worship of Jeroboam's Calves and might destroy the family of Baasha 1 King 16 v. 17 18 19 20. Things being now at this pass the people of Israel were much divided some of them misliked that the Souldiers should choose a King for them and they chose Tibni for their King Between Tibni and Omri there were continual wars for about four years till at last Omri prevailed and Tibni dying Omri reigned alone 1 King 16. from 15 to 23. OMRI reigned twelve years Sixth King of Israel Omri reckoning from his first election whereof six years in Tirzah Zimri having burnt the Royal Palace in that City he removed the Seat of his Kingdom from thence to Samaria which he built in the hill which he bought of Shemer for two Talents of Silver * A Talent of Silver was reckoned at 375 l. sterling but a Talent of Gold at 3750 l. so he paid 750 l. sterl for the Hill and so made that his Royal City and the Metropolis of his Kingdom He did evil in the sight of the Lord and worse than all that went before him For it seems he did not only obstinately continue in the Idolatry of Jeroboam himself but with violence forced and pressed the people thereunto notwithanding all the judgments he had seen on all the former Kings of Israel for that sin In Micah 6.16 we read of the Statutes of Omri to wit concerning their Idolatrous worshipping of the Golden Calves He was buried in Samaria and Ahab his Son succeeded him 1 King 16. from 23 to 29. AHAB in the thirty eight year of Asa began to reign Seventh King of Israel Ahab and reigned two and twenty years over Israel He did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that went before him and as if it had been a small thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam he took to wife Jezebel * Who was a most wicked woman Jehu complain'd of her Witchcrafts and Whoredoms 2 King 9.22 and she is often mentioned as a great persecutor of Gods Prophets and a great promoter of the Idolatry of Baal and therefore St. John calls that false Prophetess who in his time had seduced many to Uncleanness and Idolatry in the Church of Thyatira Jezabel Rev. 2.20 the daughter of the King of the Sidonians and served Baal the Idol-god of that people and built an house and an Altar for him in Samaria Now this Idolatry was far worse than that of Jeroboam's for in that though they had Idols to wit the Golden Calves yet they pretended still to worship the true God but in this they worshipped Baal as their God In his days did Hiel the Bethelite which shews the horrible prophaneness and contempt of God at this time adventure to rebuild Jericho which though belonging to the Tribe of Benjamin yet it seems was at this time under the power of the King of the Ten Tribes notwithstanding Joshuah's curse pronounced against any that should attempt it and therefore it had continued a heap of rubbish from that time till this but now that bold wretch Hiel that dwelt at Bethel undertook the work and paid dear for it as Joshua had threatned for it cost him the loss of all his sons of the first-born when he began it and of some more of them as he went forward with the work and of the youngest when he finished it and hung up the Gates of it Josh 6.26 And Joshua adjured them at that time saying Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this City Jericho he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born and in his youngest Son shall be set up the gates of it Though the Israelites were at this present fallen to the horrid Idolatry of worshipping Baal †〈◊〉 was the God of the Sidonians Ahab
Joram to fly drew a bow with his full strength and smote him in the back between his shoulders and the arrow went out at his heart and he sank down in his Chariot and died Jehu â—hen call'd to Bidkar his Captain to take and cast his body in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite for remember says he when thou and I being Commanders under his Father and following him as his attendants at that time when he took possession of Naboths vineyard * Which was the day after his death heard this dreadful judgment (c) The Lord laid this burden on him v. 25. Onus Vocat Prophetiam gravem onerosam denounced against him by Elijah from the Lord Surely I have seen the blood of Naboth and the blood of his Sons who it seems were put to death with him that none of them might afterwards challenge the inheritance †Filii ejus contra legem Deut. 24. una interfecti erant licet nulla hujus caedis mentio facta est 1 Reg. 21.13 Sic multa a sacâ—is historicis omissa videmus que ab aliis per occasionem dicta sunt Sanctius and I will requite thee in this plat now therefore cast him into that portion of ground according to the word of the Lord that the dogs may lick his blood see 1 King 21.19 When Ahaziah King of Judah saw this he fled but they pursuing him first wounded him and afterwards killed him in Megiddo as may be seen more fully in his life Then Jehu march'd into Jezreel and Jezebel hearing of his coming painted her face and tired her head thinking possibly by her Majestick bravery to daunt him and looking out of the window when Jehu entred the Gate of her Palace she cried out Had Zimri peace who slew his Master see 1 King 16.10 as if she should have said Remember what he did and fear the like event Jehu looking up to the window askt who is there on my side who Two or three Eunuchs (a) Such were Chamberlains of Queens and Princesses for the most part in those times attendants on the Queen looking out he call'd to them to throw her down which they God so working upon their hearts and possibly fearing Jehu immediately did And he and his followers trod her under their horses feet and so pash'd her to pieces that some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses Jehu having done this great work and having taken much pains in this expedition from Ramoth to Jezreel and seeing all was quiet in the City and that none oppos'd him he went now to refresh himself After a little time he bad some about him to go look after the body of that cursed woman Jezebel and to take it up and bury it for says he she was a Kings daughter viz. the King of Zidon's This order 't is like he gave on the sudden not remembring the Prophecy of Elijah nor what the Prophet that anointed him said unto him ver 10. but they bringing him back word that the dogs had eaten all but her scull and feet and the palms of her hands then he said this is the word of the Lord which he spake by Elijah saying Near * â— Reg. 21.23 In pro juxta In eo territorio in quo injuste damnatus est Naboth the portion of Naboth in Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel and so much of her body as is left by the dogs shall be as dung upon the face of the field and shall lye and rot in the open air so that none shall be able to say of it this is Jezebel 2 King 8.28 29. 2 King 9. wh Ch. JEHV being thus come to the Crown The 10th King of Israel JEHU and having already executed his Commission on Jehoram Ahaziah and Jezebel he now proceeds on to root out the house of Ahab It seems Ahab had many Sons born to him of several wives and many grand-children in all about seventy who were bred up under several great men and some of them Rulers in Jezreel who upon these distractions fled with them to Samaria a well fortified City to secure them there Jehu understanding this wrote a Letter to those who had the tuition of these children and to the Elders of Samaria which spake after this manner Seeing your Masters Sons are with you and there are with you chariots and horses and you are in a fenced City and have arms look out therefore the best and meetest of your Masters Sons and set him on his Fathers Throne and fight for your Masters house This he wrote in an Ironical way but gave them thereby an intimation that if they stood out against him or offered to oppose him he doubted not but he should easily subdue them And indeed the Lord having appointed him to destroy the whole stock of Ahab did in order thereÌ„unto put such a fear into the hearts of these Rulers that they said among themselves Behold two Kings could not stand before him how then shall we be able to deal with him Hereupon he that was chief over all those that appertained to Ahabs house and the chief Magistrate of Samaria and the Senators of the City and the Governours of the Kings childreâ— returned this tame answer to Jehu we are thy servants and will do whatever thou commandest us they interpose no such condition as this if the thing be honest and just or the like so slavish does fear make men we will make no King nor set up any to oppose thee thou maist do what thou pleasest as for us we are ready to obey thee in every thing Jehu then wrote another Letter wherein he told them that if they were his servants in reality and would be obedient to him as they professed then he required them forthwith to cut off the heads of those seventy Sons and Grandchildren of Ahab and to bring them to him to Jezreel the next day This was indeed a very severe command and 't is strange they did not utterly refuse to obey it but they â—â—garding more their own safety then either humanity or the charge and trust committed to them without any more ado complied with it and cutting off the heads of these young Princes put them in baskets and sent them to Jezreel and followed after them themselves When they were come thither a messenger acquainted Jehu that these Rulers of Samaria had brought the heads of the Kings Sons unto him according to his command It being as it seems late Jehu ordered that they should be laid in two heaps at the entring of the Gate till the morning certainly a most sad and ruful spectacle it was to see so many young Princes heads lying on heaps together but this seems so ordered by Providence that all the people might see the dreadful judgment of God upon the house of Ahab for his cruelty and Idolatry and might be deterred from going on in it In the morning Jehu went out
himself to see these heads and abundance of people being gathered together to gaze on this lamentable spectacle he there took occasion before them all to justifie himself and his proceedings speaking to them after this manner As for you says he that are here spectators of this woful spectacle I do pronounce you all clear and innocent touching the death of these Sons of Ahab But possibly you will say that I my self am not innocent and that I have conspired against the King my Master and have slain him and you will say also tha I have slain all these whose heads lye here for who else hath slain them but my self seeing they were put to death by my command I do therefore declare before you all that all these strange things which I have done I have not done them on my own head but by the command of God and only to execute what he had determin'd should be done against the house of Ahab and which he threatned against it openly and publickly by his Prophet Elijah 1 King 21.21 And you may plainly see that these seventy persons could not so easily have lost their lives nor those that have cut off their heads been so easily drawn to do it seeing they had many ways to have avoided it if there had not been an extraordinary hand of God therein to accomplish his own purposes Therefore neither they nor I have done ought herein but what God would have done and that is abundantly sufficient to excuse both them and me 2 King 10. from 1 to 11. Jehu in the next place falls upon Ahab's great men in Jezreel that is such as he had raised to great places and offices and upon his kinsfolk and his houshold-Priests and cut them off v. 11. Having setled things at Jezreel he goes now to Samaria and in the way unexpectedly meets forty two Sons of the brethren of Ahaziah whom he slew because they were of the cursed stock of Ahab v. 12 13 14. See more hereof in the life of Ahaziah When he was gone a little further he met Jehonadab Son of Rhecab who was coming to meet him This Jehonadab was a Kenite of the stock of Jethro 1 Chron. 2.55 and either now or afterwards impos'd upon his Sons an austere rule of life as we read Jer. 35.6 viz. That they should drink no wine nor build houses nor sow seed nor plant vineyards nor have any and that they should all their days dwell in tents and that as 't is probable the better to secure them from being corrupted with the growing luxury of those times and to inure them beforehand to hardness that they might be the better able to endure the misery he foresaw the sins of the people would bring upon them This pious and good man coming to meet him he kindly saluted him and blessed him for Jehu was now the greater man and the less was to be blessed of the greater Heb. 7.7 He asks him Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart that is Is thy heart faithful towards me as mine is towards thee Jehonadab answers It was If it be says Jehu give me thy hand and he gave him his hand as a further assurance thereof Then Jehu to testifie his high esteem of him as a person of great piety and prudence took him up into his chariot and said to him Come along with me and see my zeal for the Lord and when he came to Samaria he slew all that he found were allied or any way appertained to Ahab and destroyed all that might be any way accounted his according to the saying of the Lord which he spake to Elijah v. 15 16 17. Jehu having thus destroyed the posterity of Ahab who had been always the great promoters of the Idolatry of Baal 't is like the Baalites in all places began to shift for themselves and to hide their heads in corners as fearing what he would do to them therefore that he might catch them all in a trap together he now pretends himself to be altered in his judgment from what he was lately and to be for the worship of Baal * Mendacium hoc erat perniciosum quia erat simulatio professio Idololatriae ideoque scandalum publicum A Lapide yea to be very zealous for it declaring that Ahab served Baal but a little to what he would do and that he would serve him much more and knowing the people to be much addicted to this Idolatry he called them together to make this profession before them His end might possibly be good to destroy the worshippers of Baal but his lying and dissembling was very evil for he ought not to have done evil that good might come thereby After this he proclaimed a solemn Assembly for the worship of Baal and required all the Priests and Prophets of Baal to be present at it and that none should be absent upon pain of death Hereupon they all came apprehending no cause to distrust the reality of the Kings intentions †As for his cutting off the Priests of Ahabs family before possibly they thought that the cause of that was their special relation to that family so that Baals house or Temple in Samaria was full from one end to the other God suffering them thus to be beguiled that they might be destroyed for their Idolatry Jehu now gave order to him that had the keeping of all such things as appertained to the worship of Baal that he should bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal which was accordingly done Then Jehu and Jehonadab went into the house of Baal and bad them search diligently whether there were none there that called themselves Prophets of the Lord for he would not have the worship of Baal prophaned as he pretended by the presence of any that were not cordial to his service These things being done when the Priests of Baal were gone in to offer sacrifice Jehu appointed fourscore of his Souldiers to stand at the doors of Baals house and charged them to keep them all in and declared that he whoever let any man among them escape his life should go for his that escaped As soon as Baals chief Priest had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings to Baal Jehu commanded those Officers and Souldiers to enter in immediately into the house of Baal and to destroy all they found there and not to spare a man which they did accordingly and then cast out their dead bodies out of the house that it might be seen what a slaughter they had made Then this guard went to some City near Samaria which was particularly dedicated to Baal and where his chief Temple was and brought forth the Images out of it and burnt them and broke down the Image of Baal and brake down this house of Baal and made it a draught-house or jakes thereby to express their great detestation of that vile Idolatry wherewith the Kingdom of Israel had been so long defiled Thus Jehu
destroyed the worship of Baal out of all the Ten Tribes but though he overthrow this Idolatry yet he departed not from the Idolatry of Jeroboam viz. that of the Golden Calves of Dan and Bethel He also rooted out the house of Ahab yet it seems he had a greater zeal for the establishing the Kingdom to himself than purely to execute the command of God therefore Hos 1.4 God threatens to revenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu However for these acts God sends a Prophet to him to tell them that because he had done well as to the matter of what he had done though not as to the manner his seed to the fourth generation should sit on that Throne which accordingly they did as we shall see afterwards But Jehu took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel sincerely and with all his heart but followed the Idolatry of Ieroboam by which God was so provoked that even in his days he did begin to cut Israel short that is to abate their power by Hazael King of Syria especially in the two Tribes and an half beyond Iordan For Hazael made sore havock among the people there and 't is like he did then or afterwards in the days of Iehoahaz exercise those inhumane cruelties upon the Israelites which Elisha had foretold 2 King 8.12 Jehu reigned twenty and eight years which was the longest time that any of the Kings of Israel had hitherto reigned whereof six years Contemporary with Athaliah and the remaining twenty two with Ioash Son of Ahaziah and they buried him in Samaria and Iehoahaz his Son reigned in his stead 2 King 10. from 11 to the end IEHOAHAZ Son of Iehu The 11th King of Israel JEHOAHAZ and first of his race reigned seventeen years All which time Ioash the Son of Ahaziah reigned in Iudah He did evil in the sight of the Lord and he and his people followed the Idolatry of Ieroboam and continued the Grove in Samaria which Ahab had planted 1 King 16.33 and did not destroy it as he should have done Hereupon the Lords anger was kindled against Israel and he delivered them into the hands of Hazael King of Syria and into the hands of Benhadad his Son all the days that Iehoahaz reigned alone for two years before his death he took his son Ioash into copartnership with him in the Government Hazael had invaded and destroyed Israel beyond Iordan before and threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron see Amos 1.3 And now he cometh on this side Iordan and oppresseth the Israelites so sore there that he left them but fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen and broke them to pieces and scattered them as corn is scattered with overmuch threshing insomuch that they had scarce any where an army together and they were brought to be a people of no power or esteem And though Iehoahaz resisted them with all the valour and might he could yet still they prevail'd against him Which is the rather noted to make it appear that the calamities that befell the Israelites in his time were rather from Gods hand and just judgment because of their sins than from any want of courage or conduct in their King Jehoahaz in these distresses seeks to the Lord for help and God afterwards gave Israel a Saviour to wit Joash his Son who in his time mightily prevailed against the Syrians And after him he raised up Jeroboam his Son Chap. 14.27 who was also very successful against them So that afterwards the children of Israel dwelt in their houses quietly and peaceably as in former times Jehoahaz dies and is buried in Samaria and Ioash his Son succeeds him 2 King 13. from v. 1 to 10. JOASH the second of the race of Iehu reigned sixteen years The 12th King of Israel JOASH He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the ways of Ieroboam who made Israel to sin Elisha being now sick of his last sickness Ioash came to visit him and wept over him saying O my Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof Elisha bids him take bow and arrows he did so and Elisha puts his hands on the Kings hands to signifie perhaps that God would fight with him and that no action of ours without Gods assistance and blessing can prosper and bidding him to open the window Eastward towards Syria and to shoot he said This is the arrow of the Lords deliverance from Syria that is by this arrow is signified that the Lord by thee will certainly deliver his people from the Syrians for thou shalt smite them as they were smitten in Aphek 1 King 29.26 or mightily * Fortiter vehementer sic aliqui reddunt till thou hast consumed those particular Armies which they shall have at that time Then he bids the King take arrows and smite on the ground which he supposed he might easily understand to be a sign that he should smite the Syrians and thereupon would have been eager to give many strokes on the ground as a sign that he should often conquer them but he smote only thrice whereupon the man of God was wroth with him and told him he should have smitten five or six times and then he should have smitten Syria till he had consumed them and utterly ruined the whole power of their Kingdom whereas now he should smite them but thrice only Elisha now dies and is laid in his sepulchre he had been a famous Prophet about sixty years God had manifested that the spirit of Elijah did rest upon him by enabling him to do the same kind of miracles that Elijah had done Elijah divided Jordan with his mantle 2 King 2.8 so did Elisha v. 14. Elijah multiplied the widow of Sarepta's oyl 1 King 17.14 and Elisha did as much for a poor Prophets widow 2 King 4.2 Elijah brought rain from Heaven after a time of great drought 1 King 18.41 and Elisha supplied three Kings and their armies with water when they were ready to perish for want of it 2 King 3.16 Elijah cursed the Captains and their fifties that came to apprehend him and they were presently destroyed with fire from Heaven 2 King 1.10 and Elisha cursed the children that reproached and mocked him and they were presently torn in pieces by two she-bears 2 King 2.24 Elijah raised the Sareptans son to life 1 King 17.22 and Elisha the Shunamites 2 King 4.35 Nay as Elisha desired that a double portion of the spirit of Elijah might be given him so some observe that Elisha wrought as many more miracles as Elijah did Sometime after Elisha's funeral some Israelites that were going to bury a dead man espied a band of Moabites near them that were broken into their land to rob and spoil and so through fear not daring to carry him to the place prepared for his burial they removed the stone that covered Elisha's sepulchre and in hast cast him in
residue of the Prophesie A third eminent Prophet whom the Lord raised up at the same time was AMOS The Prophesie of AMOS sent principally to the people of Israel He was an Herdsman and taken from following his herd in Judea and sent to Prophesie to the people of Israel Amos 1.1 The words of Amos who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa And Chap. 7.14 Then answered Amos and said to Amaziah I was no Prophet nor Prophets Son but I was an herdsman and a gatherer of Sycamore fruits And the Lord took me as I followed the flock and said unto me Go prophesie unto my people Israel Amaziah the Priest of Bethel would have stirred up Jeroboam against him for Prophecying against his house Amos 7.10 Then Amaziah the Priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam King of Israel saying Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel the land is not able to bear all his words For he saith Jeroboam shall die by the sword and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land Also Amaziah said unto Amos O thou Seer go flee away into the land of Judah and there eat bread and prophesie there Amos being thus ill used by him pronounceth a heavy judgment from the Lord upon him ver 17. Thy wife shall play the whore and thy sons and daughters shall fall by the sword and thou shalt die in a polluted land viz. that of Assyria when Israel shall be carried away captive out of her own land Amos began to Prophesie two years before the Earthquake and foretold it before it came which happened as 't is thought about two years before Jeroboam's death He Prophesied against six Nations besides Israel and Judah First he declares Gods judgments against the neighbour Nations that were enemies to the Jews viz. 1. Damascus 2. Gaza and other adjacent places of the Philistines 3. Tyre 4. Edom. 5. Ammon 6. Moab Then he threatens the Jews for their sins speaking sometimes to Judah but principally to Israel against whom he Prophesies first in plain terms secondly in types and visions First in plain terms he threatneth them for their ingratitude and idolatry Ch. 3. Their violence and incorrigibleness Ch. 4. Their injustice and oppression of the poor their slighting Gods threatnings and their hypocritical worship Chap. 5. Their putting off the evil day and their wanton voluptuousness Ch. 6. Then his threatnings are delivered in visions and types 1. Of grashoppers and locusts signifying famine 2ly Of fire devouring the great deep signifying war 3ly Of a plum-line signifying the overthrow of the Kingdom and of the Kings house and that the Lord would deal with them according to the strict rule of justice and not in mercy as he had formerly done and he further denounces particular judgments against Amaziah the Priest and his family who accused him of conspiracy of which we have spoken before Ch. 7. 4ly Of a basket of Summer-fruits representing the ripeness of their sins and of Gods judgments * Poenae tempue maturum significat finem i. e. ultimam vindictam instare Significat populum qui velut fructus terrae est ab ea terra velut ab arbore auferendum 5ly Of smiting the lintel of the door of the Temple till the posts upholding it did shake signifying not only the destruction of the Temple but the cutting off of great and small of the people Lastly he sweetens and moderates these severe and hard Prophesies with a twofold promise 1. That God would spare a remnant in the midst of these calamities though he destroyed the prophane body of the Nation 2. That in due time he would recollect and restore the Church of Israel and would raise up a Gospel-Church from among them under Christ which he would enlarge by the addition of the believing Gentiles to it Jeroboam now dies and is buried with his predecessors 2 King 14.28 29. After Jeroboam's death under whom that Kingdom came to its full height of glory all things declined and those tumults arose which were the forerunners of the destruction not only of Jeroboams own house but also of the whole Kingdom as was foretold in Chap. 7 8. of Amos. In which troubled and tempestuous state of things they fell into a plain Anarchy which lasted about eleven years and an half For if we compare the times of these two Kingdoms together we must be forc'd to grant such an Interregnum or vacancy of a King in the land of Israel that the six months of Zachariah the Son of Jeroboam * For Jeroboam reigned 29 years in the days of Uzziah then add eleven years of vacancy till Zachariah began to reign and it will fall in with the 38 of Uzziah may fall even with the thirty eighth year and the one month of Shallum †In the space of one year viz. from 38 to the end of the 39 of Uzziah there were four Kings in Israel Jerâ—boam Zachariah Shallum Menahem who slew him with the thirty ninth year of Vzziah King of Iudah according to what we find recorded 2 King 15.8 In the thirty eighth year of Azariah King of Iudah did Zachariah the Son of Ieroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months and v. 13. Shallum the Son of Iabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Vzziah King of Iudah and he reigned a full month in Samaria The occasion of this Interregnum or vacancy * To this time Hosea seems to point Hos 10.3 For now they shall say we have no King because we feared not the Lord what then should a King do to us might possibly be the great dissentions and divisions in Israel upon the death of Ieroboam or some mislike of Zachariah his Son that was to succeed him THE Subjects of the Kingdom of Israel being wearied out as it seems with their dissentions at last setled Zachariah The 14th King of Israel ZACHARIAH the Son of Ieroboam the fourth and last of the race of Iehu in his Fathers Throne as God had promised 2 King 10.30 after eleven years vacancy as has been shewed before He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and departed not from the Idolatry of Ieroboam who made Israel to sin and reigned only six months At the end of those six months Shallum who was as it seems some great Commander in the Army such an one as Omri 1 King 16.16 first secretly conspired against him but then having got many to side with him he slew him openly and publickly in the very sight of the people they not at all opposing it or endeavouring to hinder it After whose death followed those direful calamities which were foretold by Amos Ch. 7.9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate and the Sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword And thus Jehu's race ended In the continuance of it so long we may
in the enterprize But Amaziah was nothing mov'd with what he said for whom God intendeth to destroy he usually first hardens and God intended to punish him for his abominable Idolatry into which he had lately fallen Joash understanding this would not stay till Amaziah came to him but he enters Judah with a strong Army wisely resolving to make his Enemies Country the stage of the war So they met in a pitcht field at Bethshemesh which belongs to Judah and Judah was worsted before Israel and Amaziah himself taken prisoner and brought in Triumph * Thus in this Amaziah the Son of Joash King of Judah God did yet further revenge the death of Zachariah the Son of Jehniada who was most inhumanely and ungratefully murdered in his fathers days according to what he said at his death the Lord will look upon it and require it and withall Amaziah himself was severely punished for his Apostacy to Idolatry to Jerusalem by Joash which City as it seems standing out against him he battered down that part of the wall by the North-gate which was towards Ephraim even four hundred cubits in length and so took the City by force then he seized upon all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord with the posterity of Obed-Edom who were porters and keepers of the treasures in the Temple 1 Chron. 26.15 as also the treasures of the Kings house And having made what spoil he thought fit in Jerusalem he set Amaziah free upon certain conditions imposed upon him and his subjects and for the surer performance of the Covenants on Judah's part he took hostages of him viz. some noble mens children whom he carried along with him to Samaria And he chose rather to go away with his present spoil than to hazard all by endeavouring to conquer the Kingdom of Judah which he was not like to hold if he did obtain the subjects thereof being so greatly addicted to the house of David Amaziah lived after this fifteen years but a very miserable life for his subjects were so disaffected to him for the Idolatry he had brought in that from that time they began to conspire against him though it broke not forth openly till by his rash unadvised and unprosperous war with Joash he had brought so many miseries upon his Kingdom The conspiracy now breaking forth he fled to Lachish and possibly there hid himself and lived in obscurity so those that had conspired against him as it seems governed the affairs of the Kingdom in his absence About twelve years after these conspirators being men of power in the Kingdom upon some new occasion were so enraged against him that they sent some to Lachish to slay him Amaziah being dead they brought him from Lachish in a Chariot drawn with horses and buried him in Jerusalem with his fathers 2 King 14. from v. 1. to 21. 2 Chron. 25. wh Ch. Tenth King of Judah UZZIAH VZZIAH or Azariah as he is called 2 King 15.1 Son of Amaziah was the next that reigned in Judah In Mat. 1.8 't is said that Vzziah succeeded Joram And Joram begat Ozias whereas there were four that reigned in Judah between Joram and Vzziah viz. Ahaziah Athaliah Joash and Amaziah Some think that these were omitted because of their evil Government and unnatural deaths each of them being slain one after another or because by the mother-side they descended from the stock of wicked Ahab whose house the Lord doomed to be rooted up Vzziah when his Father was slain was about four or five years old and there seems to have been a kind of Interregnum or vacancy in the Throne of Judah for about twelve years viz from the 15th to the 27th year of Jeroboam the second King of Israel at which time Vzziah being sixteen years of age was setled in the Throne by the general consent of the people and not till then And this possibly may be intimated to us by that unusual phrase And all the people of Judah took Vzziah being sixteen years old and made him King instead of his Father 2 King 14.21 And this might happen partly by reason of his minority and partly through the prevalency of some powerful men who perchance had had a hand in putting his Father to death or possibly the Government of the Kingdom might be carried on in his name all that time though he came not to the full exercise of his Regal power till the 27th year of Jeroboam So that the twelve years from his Fathers death which happened in the 15th year of Jeroboam see 2 King 14.23 unto the 27th of Jeroboam when he was put into full possession of the Crown are to be accounted into the number of the fifty two years he is said to have reigned and according to this account in the 26th year of his reign Jeroboam died After which it seems there was an Interregnum or vacancy in the Kingdom of Israel also for about eleven or twelve years viz. to the 38th year of Vzziah's reign After which Zachariah reigned in Israel six months Shallum one month Menahem ten years Pekahiah two years and Pekah had reigned a year or something more before he died which was in the fifty second year of his reign 2 King 15.27 so that he lived in the times of six Kings that sat on the Throne of Israel In the beginning of his reign he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and maintained the worship of God uncorrupt as his Father had done save that the high places were not removed but the people still offered sacrifice and burnt incense on them And during the life of Zachariah Son of that Zachariah that was stoned in the Temple who was an eminent Prophet and had understanding in the visions of God that is was accustomed to see visions and had a singular understanding in ancient Prophesies and so was able to counsel and instruct Vzziah in matters that concerned the knowledg of God and his Laws and possibly was skilful to interpret the dreams and night-visions of others as Joseph and Daniel were I say during the life of this Prophet Vzziah sought the Lord and so long the Lord made him to prosper He recovered Elath a City near the Red-Sea which had been taken from the Crown of Judah by the enemies bordering upon it and repair'd and fortified it In Ahaz's time it was lost again being taken by the Syrians see 2 King 14.22 He was a great warrior he had under his command three hundred seven thousand five hundred fighting men under two thousand and six hundred Captains all which were dispos'd into Regiments and companies and registred that they might be in readiness against any urgent occasion And he furnished all these with Shields and Spears Helmets and Habergeons * Armour for Back and Brest and Bows and Slings to cast stones He was very victorious against the Philistines of whose Towns he brake down the
did but in the good only Howbeit the people did yet very corruptly and by their Priests who too much complied with them therein offered sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places which had Jotham removed he might have prevented the people's corrupting themselves in that thing and therefore his not doing it is noted as a blemish of his government About this time namely in the year wherein Vzziah died the Prophet Isaiah saw that glorious vision of the Lord sitting on his throne and compassed about with his holy Angels singing Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath And he foresaw the people of the Jews from this time forward growing more and more obdurate and blind every day than other resisting the counsel of the Prophets and so obstructing the means God afforded them for their conversion and healing Isa 6. Jotham was a great builder he built or renewed and repaired the high-gate of the house of the Lord which was as it seems the Gate whereby they went into the Kings Palace 2 Chron. 23.20 And on the wall of Ophel * Ophel was a Tower on the outside of the City and was the place where in those times the Nethinims dwelt Nehem. 3.26 he built much He built also divers Cities in the hills of Judah and in the Forrests he built Castles and Towers to prevent incursions of enemies He subdued the Ammonites and forced them to pay him tribute by the space of three years viz. an hundred talents of silver and of wheat and barley ten thousand measures of each So he became mighty because he ordered his counsels and actions as in the sight of the Lord and so as he might please him The Prophet MICAH In his days the Prophet Micah began to Prophesie and under him and his two next successors he executed his Prophetick function together with Isaiah and Hosea He prophesied a great while as appears Jer. 26.18 He is very like the Prophet Isaiah both in matter and loftiness of stile He prophesied both against Judah and Israel He declareth Gods wrath against them he laments their condition and foretells their destruction and captivities by the Assyrians and Babylonians for the manifold sins that all sorts had committed viz. Princes Prophets and people Ch. 1.2 3. Then he comforteth those that repent with promises of temporal blessings and deliverances from their enemies but chiefly with promises and predictions of Christ foretelling the place of his nativity and the manifold blessings of his Kingdom Ch. 4. 5. In the next place he expostulates with all sorts for their so ill requiting Gods great kindness and mercy to them and provoking him so highly by their manifold sins Ch. 6. Then he complains of the paucity and scarceness of good men and he endeth his Prophesie with consolations to the Church exhorting her to expect Gods time to plead her cause to the shame of her insulting enemies and her own marvellous comfort Ch. 7. Towards the latter end of Jotham's reign Rezin King of Syria and Pekah King of Israel began to conspire against Judah but they did not invade the land till his Sons days the Lord therein shewing mercy to him in taking him away before those heavy calamities fell upon Judah He was buried in the City of David and Ahaz his Son reigned in his stead 2 King 15. from 32 to the end 2 Chron. 27. whole Chapter The 12th that reigned in Judah AHAZ AHAZ succeeded his father Jotham in the very end of the seventeenth year of Pekah He was twenty * Object If he was only 20 years old when he began to reign and reigned only 16 years then how could his Son Hezekiah be 25 when he began to reign 2 King 18.2 for then he must be born when Ahaz was but 11 years old Ans Ahaz was 20 years old when he was first designed King in his Fathers life time it being the manner of Kings in those troublesome times to set up their Sons in the Throne with themselves in their life time that they might hold it the more sure after their death But when he began to reign by himself alone after his fathers death from which the 16 years of his reign must be reckoned he might be 24 or 25 and so his Son Hezekiah might well be 25 at his death years old when he began to reign and reigned sixteen years He did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God like David his Father The Lord was his God as to outward profession and David was his Father by lineal descent but he would neither faithfully serve God nor imitate David Soon after his Father was dead Rezin King of Syria and Pekah King of Israel confederated together and conspired against him intending with their joint forces to go up and besiege Jerusalem and to depose him and to make the Son of Tabeal probably some eminent Syrian King in his stead The King and people of Judah were exceedingly startled at these tidings as apprehending a sudden and final destruction of their Kingdom God hereupon sends the Prophet Isaiah to Ahaz to comfort him and bids him take his Son Shear-jashub along with him whose name intimated that though the Jews should be brought low yet a remnant of them at least should return to their former condition again and should encrease and enjoy the happiness of being a people and a Commonwealth of themselves It seems the names of Isaiahs Sons (a) The Sons of Isaiah were for signs and for wonders C. 8. 18. by reason of the signification of their names which presignified the goodness of God to the Jews were imposed upon them by a spirit of Prophesie and so they were for signs and significations of the goodness of God which he intended to the Jews see Isa 8.18 And thus Isaiah brought his Son Shear-jashub to Ahaz to confirm him and his people with this sign that they should not utterly be destroyed by these two confederate Kings Therefore he advises him to take heed of distrusting God and to be quiet and not to be afraid of those two Tails or ends of smoking fire-brands viz. Rezin and Pekah whom he so calls because they should soon be extinct and their attempts vanish into smoke though they thought to have burnt up all before them For within the compass of 65 years reckoning from the Earthquake in the 22 year of Vzziah's reign * See more hereof in the life of Uzziah the Kingdom of Syria shall be swallowed up by the Assyrian and Ephraim shall be broken †This was brought to pass by Salmanassar 2 King 17.6 that it be not a people But Ahaz seems still incredulous and believed not the Prophets words Isaiah therefore tells him if he doubted of the truth of what he had said to him in Gods name he might freely ask a sign of the Lord to be shewn him either in the heaven or in the earth for the confirmation of his faith But he
begun in Manasseh his Son's time 2 Chron. 33.11 and further accomplished in Jehoiakims and Zedekiahs time as we shall see more afterwards and they shall be ministers and servants in the Palace of the King of Babylon 2 King 24. 25. Hezekiah was wounded to the heart with this dreadful message however he meekly replied Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken that is it is just and righteous and no more than what I and my people had deserved Then humbling himself for his pride and vanity and the people joining with him therein 2 Chron. 32.26 it pleased the Lord by the Prophet to declare to him that the judgment denounced should not come in his days Whereupon he said that though it was a grievous thing to him to think of those judgments that should befall those who were to come after him yet he acknowledged it as a great mercy of God that there should be peace and truth in his days 2 King 20. from 12 to 20. 2 Chron. 32.31 Isa 39. wh Ch. Hezekiah three years after his recovery had his Son Manasses by Hephzibah twelve years before his death 2 King 21.1 In the days of Hezekiah as 't is thought lived NAHVM the Prophet he Prophesied of the destruction of Nineveh and the Assyrian Monarchy and comforted the Jews with a promise of deliverance from the Assyrian Tyranny He mentioneth the evil counsel of Sennacherib against the Lord and foretelleth his death in his Idol-temple Nahum 1.11 There is one come out of thee that imagineth evil against the Lord a wicked counsellor and ver 14. The Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee that no more of thy name be sown Out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image I will make thy grave for thou art vile This Prophet denounceth destruction to Nineveh in very plain terms They had repented formerly at the Preaching of Jonah but now had relapsed to their former wickedness The Israelites had been much oppressed by them First by Pul 2 King 15.19 then by Tiglath-pileser 2 King 16. at last by Salmanassar who carried away the Ten Tribes captives 2 King 17.18 After this Sennacherib invaded Judea and besieged Jerusalem and grew to be like a great cedar in Lebanon Ezek. 31.3 and now the Prophet Nahum declares Gods great power and the furious revenge he would take upon his enemies and that he would make an utter end of Nineveh Affliction should not rise up the second time and no more of the name of the Assyrian should be sown and this should be for Iudahs consolation His Prophesie contains first a general denunciation of Ninevehs destruction and consequently of the Assyrian Monarchy He shews their destruction shall be sudden total irresistible Chap. 1. and the effect of it shall be that the people of Iudah hearing these glad tidings of her destruction proclaimed openly as upon the tops of mountains shall exceedingly rejoice at them as at tidings of peace to them and shall then without disturbance keep their solemn feasts and perform their vows unto the Lord their enemies who disquieted them being cut off Chap. 1. Secondly He gives a particular description of the destruction of Nineveh and lively sets it forth by the dreadful approach of the enemy the terror of their army the taking of the City and the captivity of Huzzah the Queen and her maids and their mournful deportment under their captivity groaning and bemoaning their condition with the mournful voice of Doves and Tabering or beating upon their breasts to express their sorrow Then he describes the spoiling and plundering of the City the astonishment of the inhabitants and how their faces would gather blackness Also the insulting of the enemy at the desolation of this City which had been an habitation of Lions that is of cruel oppressors Ch. 2. Thirdly He sets forth the causes of Ninevehs ruin the Lord setting himself against her for her great sins viz. her cruelty and blood-guiltiness her falshood her robbery and oppression and her filthy Idolatries for all which she should be made a shameful spectacle And lest Nineveh presuming upon her own strength should think these calamities should not befall her he shews she was not comparable to populous No or Alexandria in Egypt which yet was ruined and so should she notwithstanding all her strong holds her numerous inhabitants strong gates repaired towers multitude of Merchants and her many Counsellors Princes and Commanders So that her bruise should be incurable and her wound mortal Chap. 3. Hezekiah now dies his acts were written by Isaiah and by those that wrote the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah He was buried in the chiefest of the Sepulchres of the Sons of David and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him all the honour they possibly could at his death he having been so pious and good a King and Manasseh his Son reigned in his stead 2 Chron. 32.32 33. 2 King 20.20 21. The 14th that reigned in Judah MANASSEH MANASSEH was twelve years old when he began to reign about twenty four years after the ruin of the Ten Tribes and he reigned fifty five years and so longer than any of the Kings of Judah He did worse than all the Kings that went before him being carried away as 't is probable by such Nobles about him as did not in their hearts approve the reformation of his good Father He again set up the high places which his Father had pulled down he reared up Altars for Baal and made a grove as Ahab had done 1 King 16.33 to the honour of Idols he built altars to all the host of heaven to the Sun Moon and the rest of the Planets in the two Courts of the Lords house where God had said that he would put his name that he alone might be there worshipped He made one of his Sons pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom sacrificing him to Molech so that it seems he continued long in his Idolatry for he could not have a Son in the beginning of his reign being but twelve years of age He observed times esteeming some days as lucky others as unlucky he used enchantments and dealt with such as had familiar spirits and with wizards he set up a graven image in the Temple containing a representation of the Idolatrous grove he had made * See 2 King 23.6 where 't is said Josiah brought out the grove from the house of the Lord unto the brook Kidron and burnt it though God had said to David and Solomon that he had chosen that house to put his name there and would have his name alone there worshipped as long as that dispensation should last and promised upon their obedience that he would not suffer them to be carried away captive to other lands But they obeyed not and Manasseh seduced them and made Judah and Jerusalem go astray and do worse than all the
for the correction only and not destruction of his people v. 12. Then after an humble expostulation with the Lord that he should use such wicked instruments as executioners of his judgments upon his own people that were more righteous than they He expresses his resolution to wait with patience for the Lords answer from v. 13. to the end and Ch. 2. v. 1. 4ly We have Gods answer to the Prophets replication which he commands him to publish expound and make plain to his Auditors telling him that the accomplishment of the vision should not be presently but in Gods due time and therefore it would be a sign of a proud and impatient heart in them not to wait for it whereas 't is the duty of the godly to live by faith in the worst of times Then the Lord shews that he will punish the Chaldeans for their intemperance pride and insatiableness for their covetousness haughtiness and bloody cruelty for their drunkenness and notorious gross Idolatry The Prophet acquiesces in this answer from the Lord and testifies his submission in an holy prayer which he thereupon makes wherein having shew'd how much he was affected at the hearing of Gods decree to punish the Jews by the Chaldeans he prays notwithstanding that the Lord would please to revive his Church in their troubles and make known his love and favour to them in the midst of their punishment and in wrath remember mercy He urges his petition with arguments taken from Gods bringing Israel out of Egypt from the glorious manifestation of himself at Sinai at the giving of the Law from his active power and strength metaphorically set forth by his having horns coming out of his hands from the effects of his power having variety of plagues at his command and from his ruling over all Nations and setting them their bounds and giving Canaan to Israel making a path for them thorough the Red-sea and the river Jordan giving his people water out of the rock and destroying the Canaanites to give them possession of their land giving mighty victories to his people when their enemies were strong and confident Hereupon he expresses that Gods judgments now threatned against his people being so different from his former dealings with them were matter of great astonishment to him yet he must rest satisfied that the day of their trouble would come and could not be prevented In the conclusion of his prayer for a pattern to the faithful he elegantly sets forth the triumph of his own faith in and over all those sad calamities Though the fig-tree should not blossom neither should fruit be in the vine though the labour of the olive should fail and the fields should yield no meat though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there should be no herd in the stall yet he would rejoice in the Lord in the God of his salvation Ch. 3. Manasseh dying was buried in the Garden of his own house called the Garden of Vzzah 't is like this was done by his own appointment after his repentance as judging himself unworthy to be buried in the sepulchres of the Kings of Judah because of the abominations of his younger years 2 King 21.17 18. 2 Chron. 33.20 The 15th King that reigned in Judah was AMON AMON was one and twenty years old when he began to reign and reigned two years He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the evil ways his Father had walked in and served the Idols his Father had served and worshipped them and forsook the Lord God of his Fathers and walked not in his ways He renewed such Idolatrous carved images as his Father had made and sacrificed to them He did evil as his Father had done but he repented not nor humbled himself before the Lord as his Father had done but trespassed more and more 2 King 21 from 19 to 23. 2 Chron. 33. from 21 to 24. This impious King was at last slain by his own servants in his own house and his death was revenged on those servants by the people of the land who made his Son Josiah King in his stead He was buried in the same Garden his Father Manasseh was buried in 2 King 21. from v. 19. to the end 2 Chron. 33 from v. 24 to the end IOSIAH The 16th King that reigned in Judah was JOSIAH was eight years old when he began to reign the youngest King that ever sat upon the Throne of Judah and reigned thirty one years in Jerusalem He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of David his Father In the eighth year of his reign and sixteenth of his life he began to seek after the God of David his Father and to inquire how he might serve the Lord aright and did openly declare and manifest his Religious care to set up and further the true worship of God and in the twelfth year of his reign and twentieth of his life he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the groves and the carved and molten images and from all that filth of Idolatry wherein they had so long lain which he did with a great deal of zeal and fervency of spirit 2 Chron. 34.1 2 3. 2 King 22.1 2. In the thirteenth year of his reign the Prophet Jeremy began to Prophesie Jer. 1.2 by whom doubtless Josiah was much encouraged in the ways of Piety The Collector of his Prophesies did not set down all things in the order of time as they were done but possibly as they came to his hands Jeremy Prophesied eighteen years in Josiah's time eleven in Iehoiakim's and eleven in Zedekiah's so that he bore the iniquity of the house of Iudah forty years see Ezek. 4.6 In the eighteenth year of his reign and twenty sixth of his life he began to set upon repairing of the Temple and sent Shaphat the Scribe and Maaseiah and Ioah great officers of State 2 Chron. 34.8 to Hilkiah the High Priest that the money that had been collected for that use might be delivered into the hands of the overseers of the work who were faithful men therewith to buy materials to repair the Temple (a) We do not read of any solemn repairing of it since the days of Joash 2 King 12.2 5. and now above two hundred years had passed between Joash and Josiah So that the Temple might well stand in need of repair at this time See 2 King 12.15 and the Chambers of the Priests and Levites which some of the Idolatrous Kings of Iudah had suffered to run to decay and to pay the workmen that so the work might go on Hilkiah doing accordingly and going in hand with the work as he was searching into those parts of the Temple that needed repair he found the original copy of the Law written by Moses which was at first laid up in the side of the Ark of the Covenant Deut. 31.24 25 26. which
this place And so that came to pass which God threatned Levit. 26.34 35. Then shall the land enjoy her Sabbaths as long as it lyeth desolate it shall rest because it did not rest in your Sabbaths when ye dwelt upon it * See Pag. 169. Hereupon many begin the seventy years captivity from the destruction (c) Here many begin the Seventy years captivity though some begin it from the carrying away of Jeconiah 2 King 24.12 of Jerusalem which are called the seventy years of the desolations of Jerusalem Dan. 9.2 Now the desolation of that City was not till the last fatal destruction of it And the same term also of seventy years is set for the subjection of the neighbouring Nations as we find Isai 23.15 And it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years according to the days of one King after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot c. CHAP. VI. The sixth Age of the World containing the space of time from the carrying of Judah into Captivity unto the liberty granted by Cyrus for their return and consists of seventy years ending in the 3478 year of the World THE City of Jerusalem and the Temple being thus destroyed and burnt down to the ground by Nebuzaradan he left only a few and those of the poorer sort of the people there to dress the Vineyards and to be husbandmen over whom Gedaliah the Son of Ahikam a man of the same Nation was placed Governour but as a Provincial Governour only without any badg of Regality or Kingly Title 'T is like this Gedaliab was one of those that followed the advice which the Prophet Jeremy gave both to Zedekiah and the rest Jer. 21.8 9 10. And unto this people thou shalt say thus saith the Lord Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death He that abideth in this City shall die by the sword and by the famine and by the pestilence but he that goeth out and falleth to the Caldeans that besiege you he shall live and his life shall be unto him for a prey For I have set my face against this City for evil and not for good saith the Lord it shall be given into the hand of the King of Babylon and he shall burn it with fire 'T is like therefore that upon this account he was made Governour by Nebuchadnezzar's command Jer. 39.10 Jer. 40.5 2 King 25.12 22. Seraiah the chief Priest and Zephaniah the second Priest and the three Keepers of the Gate of the Temple and other principal men by whose counsels Zedekiah had been much led to resist the King of Babylon contrary to Jeremy's warnings Nebuzaradan took and carried them to Riblah to Nebuchadnezzar and there they were put to death But Jehozadak the Son of Seraiah who after him came to be High Priest was carried away prisoner to Babylon 2 King 25. from 18 to 22. Jer. 52. from 24 to 28. 1 Chron. Ch. 6.15 The Prophet Jeremy being bound with chains was carried with the rest as far as Rama towards Babylon and had there his irons knocked off and was set at liberty and had his choice given him whither he would go on to Babylon and there to be honourably treated or stay in Judea with those poor people that were there left And he choosing to stay was sent back with money in his purse to Gedaliah the Governour who made his residence at Mizpeh in the Tribe of Benjamin Jer. 39. from 11 to 15. Jer. 40. from 1 to 7. Some of those Captains and Souldiers which upon the taking of Jerusalem had fled away by night and were scattered over the Country and some of the Jews that had fled to the Moabites and Ammonites and other neighbouring Nations returned after a while to Gedaliah into their own Country where they had good provision of wine and oyl and other summer-fruits to subsist withal Gedaliah made his residence at Mizpeh in the Tribe of Benjamin leaving the rest of the Jews that were with him to live in such Towns as they thought fit Jer. 40. from 7 to 13. 2 King 25.23 24. Ismael the Son of Nethaniah of the race of the Kings of Judah had it seems during the siege of Jerusalem kept himself out of the storm with Baalis King of the Ammonites Jer. 40.14 and being of the Royal seed he envied that the Government of the Jews should be committed to Gedaliah who seems to have been but of private condition and being stirred up likewise as 't is probable by the King of Ammon he made a conspiracy with some few more to slay him Johanan of whom mention is made 2 King 25.23 came and discovered this conspiracy to Gedaliah and offered his help to dispatch Ismael to prevent it but Gedaliah would not believe it but thought he spake falsely of Ismael and would by no means consent he should be taken off Not long after Ismael came to him with ten resolute fellows to Mizpeh where Gedaliah friendly entertained him giving no credit to such as informed him of his treacherous intentions against him and in the seventh month Ismael with his associates taking their opportunity wickedly murdered Gedaliah and such Jews and Caldeans as he had then about him And a day or two after fourscore Jews coming from several places of the Kingdom in a most sad and mournful manner with their beards shaven and clothes rent and having cut themselves deploring the desolation that was fallen upon Jerusalem and bringing certain offerings and incense with them which they purposed to offer to the Lord in the place where the Temple before stood now lying in its dust Ismael having notice of their coming went out to meet them and with counterfeit tears making shew that he also bore a part with them in their sorrow he invited them to go with him to Gedaliah feigning himself to be one of his friends thereby to try how they stood affected to him and having gotten them within the City of Mizpeh he and his companions slew them all there in the open streets ten only excepted whom he spared because they promised to discover to him some treasure hid in the fields during the war and the bodies of the slain he threw into King Asa's pit * In the days of King Baasha Asa King of Judah it seems made a pit in Mizpâ—h for a hiding place in case of danger of which we find no mention but only here which he made in Mizpeh for fear of Baasha See 1 King 15.22 Jer. 40. from 13 to the end Jer. 41. from 1 to 10. 2 King 25.25 Ismael having now taken the Kings daughters whom the Caldeans had left behind being hidden possibly at first and afterwards coming forth had committed themselves to the care of Gedaliah and many others of the people captive he was returning with them as his prisoners to the King of Ammon but Johanan meeting him with a band of men
purple and the inhabitants of Shushan not only Jews but many others also greatly rejoyced at this change of affairs The Jews had now light and gladness joy and honour most men having them in high esteem and account And in all the Provinces and Cities where this new decree came they greatly rejoiced and feasted together and kept a good day And many of the people of the land became Proselytes and embraced the Jewish Religion seeing the wonders God had done for his people and God struck the hearts of the Heathen with such a fear of the Jews that they durst not execute Hamans Edict against them Esther Chap. 8. In the next place we come to describe the full deliverance of the Jews and the destruction of their enemies and how they exprest their thankfulness for so great a mercy The 13th day of the month Adar being come the enemies of the Jews hoped to have had power over them but it turned quite contrary through the gracious Providence of God and the assistance which the Rulers of Provinces afforded the Jews through the dread they had of Mordecai the new and great favourite and through the fear that seized on the hearts of such as bore them ill will For the Jews in all the Provinces gathered themselves together to resist those that sought their hurt and none of them could stand before them In Shushan some of Hamans faction combined together to revenge his death being possibly put on by his ten Sons but they being suddenly daunted the Jews slew of them five hundred and among them Hamans ten Sons but on the spoil though the King permitted it they laid not their hands to shew that what they did was not out of covetousness but for their own defence The number of those that were slain in Shushan by the Jews was that day brought to the King and he acquaints the Queen with it himself knowing it would be acceptable news to her And says he if they have slain so many in Shushan what have they done in the rest of my dominions Thou seest what I have done for thee and yet I am ready to do more therefore tell me what thou dost further desire of me Esther replied If it please the King let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according to what thy decree allows them to do this day For though 500 were slain in the City yet she understood as it seems that many had escaped who bare a deadly hatred to the Jews and might seek an opportunity another time to be revenged on them for the death of Haman and his Sons therefore to prevent that mischief she desires leave for the Jews to destroy such of their enemies as had escaped She further desires that the bodies of Hamans ten Sons that had been newly slain by the Jews might be hanged on the same Gallows that Haman himself was hanged for their greater reproach and for terror to others The King consented to both her desires and so Hamans ten Sons were accordingly hanged on the same Gallows and the Jews in Shushan gathered themselves together on the 14th day of Adar and slew 300 more of their enemies in that City but on the prey they laid not their hands The Jews also in the other Provinces gathered themselves together on the 13th day of Adar and slew their enemies that assaulted them and then rested and kept a day of feasting and rejoycing on the 14th day whereas those at Shushan slew their enemies both on the 13th and 14th days and so kept not their day of feasting till the 15th day And Mordecai wrote * V. 20. And Mordecai wrote these things c. It may possibly be extended to the whole Book of Esther of which Mordecai in probability was the Penman unto the Jews scattered abroad in all the Provinces and gave them an account concerning the two days which the Jews at Shushan had spent in destroying their enemies and shewed them that that was the reason of their keeping the 15th day as a day of feasting So that though for this time the Jews in the Country kept the 14th day and those at Shushan the 15th day yet in succeeding time year after year Mordecai orders them all to keep both days shewing them that they ought to rejoyce in one anothers welfare and to keep both days as days wherein the Lord gave them rest from their enemies and to remember that month above all months wherein their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into gladness and that they should constantly observe them year after year as days of feasting and rejoycing and of sending portions one to another and gifts to the poor and that they should keep those feasts in remembrance of Purim or the lots that were cast for their destruction and fell in that month and how God turned those lots or divinations to contrary issues and made them vain The Jews accordingly as well for the words of Mordecai's letter as also for what they had seen of those things with their own eyes and what had been related to them by others as of Hamans casting lots c. they ordained it for a law and engaged for themselves and their children and such proselytes as should joyn themselves to them that they would keep those two days yearly according to the writing they had received from Mordecai which was registred And lest they should not hold on in their yearly observing this feast Queen Esther and Mordecai wrote a second letter to enjoyn the continuance of this anniversary feast and authoritatively to press upon them the observance of it And in thesâ— letters he enjoyned them to live peaceably among themselves and with others also and to hold fast to the truth Those days therefore were first enjoyned and afterwards the observance of them confirmed by Esther and Mordecai as the Jews had formerly decreed for themselves and for their seed the matter of the fastings and their cry that is to keep certain days of publick humiliation with fasting and prayer in remembrance of the desolation of Jerusalem and burning of the Temple of which fasts the Prophet Zachary speaks Ch. 7.5 Esther Chap. 9. Ahashuerus now laid a tribute upon all parts both Continent and Islands that were under his dominion which is here set down as an evidence of the good offices that Mordecai did for the Jews for whom he got an exemption as it seems from this tribute so that he sought the weal of his people neither did his greatness though advanced to be the next man to Ahashuerus make him forget them but he was always ready to speak to the King for them and to do whatever might be for their peace and welfare Esther Ch. 10. Ahashuerus having reigned thirty six years dies and leaves the Empire to his Son Zerxes the fourth King of Persia after Cyrus who trusting in his riches as they were indeed exceeding great stirred up his own subjects
time the Kingdom of Syria was miserably shaken by intestine Wars raised by the children of these two last Kings that strove for the Kingdom so that it became a prey to Tigranes King of the Parthians 20. Tigranes King of Armenia major with the help of the Parthians gets the Kingdom of Syria He was conquered at last by Pompey and the Kingdom of Syria taken away from him but that of Armenia was restored to him And so the Kingdom of Syria was reduced under the Roman power and made a Province by Pompey 260 years after Alexanders Death KINGS of ASIA minor 1 ANtigonus Bastard to Philip King of Macedon He succeeded Alexander in the Kingdom of Asia and reigned Eleven years 2. Demetrius son of Antigonus he brought almost all Greece under his Power Afterwards by Seleucus Nicanor King of Syria his Son-in-Law he was overcome when he had reigned Thirteen years and being imprisoned Two years he there died And so the Kindgom of Asia came into the power of the Kings of Syria and was joyned to that Kingdom A. M. 3683. KINGS of Egypt or KINGS of the South 1. PTolemeus Lagi son of Lagus a Macedonian called Soter He conquered Palestine and took Jerusalem used the Jews cruelly at first but afterwards was more kind to them He carried a great many of them into Egypt and let them live there with the same freedom as his other Subjects And hereupon many others of the Jews went down into Egypt and lived there Daniel speaks of him Chap. 11. v. 5. 2. Ptolemeus Philadelphus so called because he married his sister Arsinoe He was son of Ptolemaeus Lagi by Bernice his 2d Wife Ptolemaeus Ceraunus eldest son of Ptolemaeus Lagi by Euridice his first Wife being put by He was a very learned King and a great lover of Learned men He married his Daughter Bernice to Antiochus Theos 3d. King of Assyria Dan. 11.6 He founded the famous Library at Alexandria He procured the Translation of the Septuagint He was after this a great Friend to the Jews He redeemed a vast number of them that were Servants from their Masters with his own Money and made them Free and was otherwise very munificent to them 3. Ptolemeus Euergetes son of Philadelphus and his Sister-wife Arsinoe This King carried himself commendably but all the Egyptian Kings after him were debauched persons He led a great Army into Syria against Seleucus Callinicus and overcame him of which Daniel speaks Ch. 11. v. 7. He was poisoned by Ptolemaeus Philopator his son 4. Ptol. Philopater son of Ptol. Euergetes called Philopator per antiphrasin He kill'd his Mother also and his Brother married his Sister He waged War against Antiochus Magnus 6th King of Syria and overcame him After the Victory he would needs offer Sacrifices to God at Jerusalem but he was forbidden by the High Priest to enter into the Temple Hereupon being enraged against the Jews he carries multitudes of them into Egypt to be destroyed of Elephants of him Daniel speaks Chap. 11.11 5. Ptol. Epiphanes son of Ptol. Philopator He was but 5 years old when he began to reign Antioch Mag. hearing of his Fathers death and taking advantage of his Childhood and procuring Philip of Macedon to joyn with him comes against Egypt with a great Army He is met by a great Army of the Egyptians under Scopas their General in the North part of Palestine where the Egyptians are beaten He takes the Tower of Sion and so became Lord of Judea He afterwards marries his Daughter Cleopatra to Ptol. Epiphanes and gives her for Dowry Coelosyria and Judea Of these things Daniel speaks Ch. 11.13 14 15. 6. Ptol. Philometor son of Ptol. Epiphanes he married his own mother Cleopatra and had a Daughter called Cleopatra by her Antiochus Epiphanes 8th King of Syria his Vncle brings a great Army into Egypt against him and takes many of his Cities He marries his Daughter Cleopatra to Alexander Bala the 11th King of Syria The Nuptials were celebrated at Ptolemais to which Jonathan the High Priest was invited by Alexander and gave great Presents to both Kings Ptol. Philometor afterwards finding his Son-in-law treacherous he took his Daughter from him and gave her to Demetrius Nicanor who overcoming Bala by the help of Philometor got the Kingdom of Syria 7. Ptol. Physcon 2d son of Ptol. Epiphanes He married Cleopatra his Neice who whas first married to Alexander Bala then to Demetrius Nicanor 8. Ptol. Lathurus eldest son of Physcon he married first Cleopatra his Sister and then by the perswasion of his mother putting her away he married his younger Sister Salone Afterwards he was driven out of the Kingdom by his mother and fled to Cyprus when Alexander Jannaeus King of the Jews besieged Ptolemais the besieged called Ptol. Lathurus out of Cyprus to their aid He fights with Alexander and overcomes him and slays 30000 of the Jews and used his victory cruelly 9. Ptol. Alexander 2d son of Physcon was set up by his mother whilst his brother Lathurus remained in Cyprus He killed his mother and then was driven out of the Kingdom by the Egyptians and flying to the Island Coos there lived privately to his death 10. Ptol. Lathurus is now called back out of Cyprus and enjoys the Kingdom of Egypt again 11 Ptol. Auletes son of Ptol. Lathurus by Salonice his Sister-Wife he used to contend for mastery with Fidlers thence called Auletes He buys the Friendship of the people of Rome with great gifts which he exacts from his Subjects and so is hated by them and ejected out of his Kingdom He flies to Rome for help but not obtaining it after a long waiting he goes to Ephesus where he carried Letters from Pompey to Gabinus Praefect of Syria that he should use his endeavour to restore him which Gabinus effected yet this Auletes's Son afterwards destroyed Pompey 12. Ptol. Dionysius junior son of Ptol. Auletes his Sister was Cleopatra last Queen of Egypt whom he marries and joyns with himself in the Government by the command of Julius Caesar who had conquered Alexandria and all Egypt He kill'd Pompey flying to him from the Pharsalian Battel Julius Caesar coming with his Army into Egypt this Ptol. Dionysius strives to fly away by Sea and is there drowned 13. Cleopatra daughter of Auletes and Sister and Wife to Ptol. Dionysius After his death Antonius was so enamoured of her that putting away his former Wife Octavia Augustus's Sister he married her whereupon he was engaged in a War with Augustus and being conquered by him in a Naval Fight at Actium he flies into Egypt with Cleopatra where he kills himself and Cleopatra lest she should be carried in Triumph kills her self with Asps and so Egypt was reduced into the Form of a Province by Augustus 3ly We are to shew who were High Priests among the Jews from their return out of the Captivity to Christs time The Catalogue of them follows 1. Joshua the Son of Jozedeck who returned out of Captivity
where his Father died with Zerubbabel and began and forwarded the building of the second Temple and the settlement of the people He was High Priest all the time of Cyrus and Ahasuerus and some part of the time of Darius The High Priesthood was now grown poor and low but was restored to its dignity with the renovation of the Covenant to that office Zach. Ch. 3. and Joshua being a Type of Christ both he and the people were comforted with a promise of his Incarnation 2. Joiakim the Son of Joshua 3. Eliashib the Son of Joiakim Nehem. 12.10 4. Joiada the Son of Eliashib 5. Jonathan or Johanan the Son of Joiada Nehem. 12.11 22. Josephus calls him John Antiq. Lib. 11. C. 7. and relateth how he slew his own Brother Jesus in the Temple whom Bagosis the chief Commander for Artaxerxes Mnemon would have made High Priest for which foul fact Bagosis broke into the Temple and laid a Tax of forty drams upon every lamb that was sacrificed in the daily Sacrifice 6. Jaddua Son of Jonathan Neh. 12.11 22. He had a Brother call'd Manasses who had married Sanballat's daughter and for that was driven from the Priesthood which occasioned the building of the Temple on mount Gerizim as we have shewed before This Jaddua met Alexander in the High Priests Vestments when he marched in fury against Jerusalem and the very sight of him appeased him 7. Onias the Son of Jaddua 8. Simon or Simeon the just of him the Jewish writers speak many excellent things 9. Eleazar Simeons Brother this was he that sent the seventy two Elders to Ptolemaeus Philadelphus to translate the Law into Greek 10. Manasses Eleazar's Uncle Brother to Onias the first 11. Onias the second Son of Simeon the Just a covetous wretch who brought the displeasure of Ptolemaeus Euergetes upon him by his covetousness and refusing to pay a moderate tribute of twenty Talents used to be paid by them to the King of Egypt 12. Simon the second Son of Onias the second 13. Onias 3 us the Son of Simon the second 14. Jesus the Brother of this Onias 3 us his Brother leaving a Son behind him but very young this Jesus who called himself Jason was by Antiochus Epiphanes made High Priest but Antiochus being afterwards offended with him set up his Brother Menelaus 15. Onias the Brother of Jason Jason by the assistance of the people drave him out of the High Priesthood whereupon he flies to Antiochus and forsakes his Country's Laws and Religion to procure his favour and Antiochus coming in to restore him brought in such trouble as Israel had never seen since they were a Nation to that time See Dan. 11.30 31. Dan. 12.1 16. The woful pollution Antiochus had brought into their Religion and the Temple causeth Mattathias a Priest of the course of Joiarib the first of the twenty four though he was now old to stand up for the maintenance of their Religion and for the deliverance of his Country Here began the name and renown of the Asmonean * Josephus says that Mattathias was the son of Asamonaeus or rather the Grandson of Simon Sirnamed Asamonaeus David in Psal 68. v. 32. useth Hasmonim to express Princes and great men family Mattathias not living long after his first appearing a Champion for his distressed Country he left the charge of that war to his Sons after him among whom 17. Judas his Eldest Son Sirnamed Maccabeus from these four Acrostick Letters in his Ensign 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exod. 15.12 Lord who is like thee among the mighty was chosen High Priest by the people and the first on whom they conferred the honour both of Prince and Priest He undertook the quarrel of his people and their Religion and was very victorious in many battels but at last was slain In these times of confusion one Alcimus was put in High Priest by Demetrius Soter and bare the name a mischievous wretch and one that came to a fearful end See 1. Mac. 7.12 13 14. and Ch. 9. v. 55 56. 18. Jonathan succeedeth his Brother Judas as chief Commander he was made High Priest by Alexander Bala Son of Antiochus Epiphanes He was very valiant and successful and at last was slain by Tryphon see 1 Mac. Ch. 9. Ch. 10. Ch. 11. 12. 19. Simon his Brother succeeds him he was also valiant and successful in the quarrel of his people like his Brethren but slain at last treacherously by his own Son-in-law Ptolemaeus at a Feast 20. Johannes Hircanes the Son of Simon he sacked Samaria destroyed the Temple on Mount Gerizim in the 200th year after it had been built by Sanballat In his latter days he grew much offended with the Pharisees whom at first he much favoured and fell to the Sadduces The people enjoyed much tranquility under him 21. Aristobulus his Son he first took upon him the stile of King he kill'd his second Brother Antigonus famished his Mother and died vomiting blood 22. Alexander Jannaeus Brother to Aristobulus and third son to Hircanus he took also the Title of King he waged war against Ptol. Lathurus He was hated of his own people and much vexed with their insurrections against him He died at last of a Quartan Ague which held him three years 23. Hircanus his Son is made High Priest but his mother Alexandra by the help and assistance of the Pharisees swayed the Kingdom 24. Aristobulus younger Brother to Hircanus after the death of their mother Alexandra maketh war upon his Brother Hircanus and drives him from his Kingdom to a private life and takes both Kingdom and Priesthood upon himself They both desire help from Pompey Aristobulus by some misbehaviour provoking Pompey occasioneth the sacking of Jerusalem and the subjecting of the Jews to the Roman yoke from under which they were never after delivered Pompey restoreth the High Priesthood to Hircanus and carrieth Aristobulus and his Son Antigonus and his two daughters prisoners to Rome Julius Caesar after Pompey's death being assisted by Antipater an Idumaean but of the Religion of the Jews in his Egyptian wars against the Pompeyans the war being ended Caesar made him Procurator of all Judea and confirmed Hircanus in the Priesthood Antipater makes Phasaelus his Elder Son Governour of Jerusalem and Herod his Younger Governour of Galilee 25. Alexander the Son of Aristobulus escaped out of the hands of Pompey when he carried his Father and his Brother Antigonus to Rome In Judea he raises divers stirs and tumults and affecting the Kingdom is twice suppressed by the Roman Gabinius 26. Antigonus Aristobulus's other Son escaping from Rome into Judea first by the help of the King of Tyrus and after by the help of the Parthians he striveth to get the High Priesthood and Kingly dignity from Hircanus In order hereunto taking Hircanus prisoner he causeth his ears to be cut off and by that blemish or maim he makes him uncapable of the Priesthood and delivers him to the Parthians to be
place intending there to expose them to be destroyed by Elephants And accordingly the Elephants being prepared and fill'd with wine mingled with myrrh that so they might be the more mad and fierce it so happened that they instead of falling upon the Jews ran upon the Kings Souldiers and trod them under foot whereupon the King began to relent towards these poor prisoners and not only saved them but feasted them for seven days together Vsh p. 371. Ptol. Philopator had by his Wife-sister Euridice a son called Ptol. Epiphanes who at the age of five years succeeded him in the Kingdom of Egypt whose birth-day was first solemnly celebrated at home by all the great men and others of that part of Syria and the Country thereabouts that was under his dominions and then many of them made a journey to Alexandria there to wish him joy of his young son among the rest Josephus the Jew of whom before Collector of his Tribute in Syria Phoenicia and Palestine sent his youngest son Hircanus to kiss his hand and with Letters to his Agent at Alexandria to furnish him with moneys to buy the most rich and precious present for the King that the place did afford After Simon the second succeeded his son Onias the third in the High Priesthood a good man of a venerable aspect meek in his carriage and very advised in his words and one who from his youth framed himself to a virtuous life Pt. Philopator dying left his son Pt. Epiphanes but five years old Antiochus M. taking occasion herefrom confederates with Philip King of Macedon that with their united forces they should set upon the Kingdom of Egypt Dan. 11. v. 14. and each should enjoy those parts of that Kingdom if they conquered it which lay next to them Antiochus at last got Judea from Epiphanes and Epiphanes by his General Scopas recovered it from him again and shortly after lost it again so that Antiochus being now Lord of Judea he grew friendly and kind to the Jews who voluntarily submitted to him and assisted him in the siege of the Castle of Samaria into which Scopas had put a Garrison One Simon a Benjamite chief Keeper of the Temple falling into a contention with Onias the third now High Priest when he could not get his will of him went to Apollonius the Governour of Coelosyria and Phoenicia for Seleucus Philopator who succeeded Antioch Magnus and informed him that there was a vast sum of money in the Treasury of the Temple of which the Priests made no use and therefore it would do well in the Kings coffers which when the King was made acquainted with he presently sent away his Treasurer Heliodorus to Jerusalem to fetch him that money from thence but when he came Onias the High Priest told him that it was true there were some moneys in the Temple but they were the moneys of Widows and Orphans and were there deposited only as in a place of safety part of which also was the proper goods of Hircanus a very honourable person and that all there amounted not to above 400 Talents of Silver and 200 of Gold and that such was the holiness of the place that it ought not to be violated Heliodorus nothing perswaded by this enters the Temple and was smitten by an Angel dead for the present but being restored by the prayers of Onias he returned to his Master Seleucus declaring the holiness of the place and the power of God 2 Mac. Ch. 3. Simon after this calumniated Onias as if he who had so well deserved of his Nation had been the cause of this mischief and had forced Heliodorus to do what he did Upon this matters proceeded so far that many murders were acted by Simon and his party in the City and Apollonius waxed mad withal and backt him in what he did so that Onias was forced to go to Seleucus Philopater and as some say got him banished Antiochus Epiphanes * The beginning of Antiochus Epiphanes and the History of the Maccabees An. M. 3829. Ant. C. N. 175. now obtains the Kingdom of Syria putting by his Brothers son Demetrius and the true heir to the Crown who by reason of his mad and wild conversation was by some called Epimanes He is stiled by the Angel in the 11th of Dan. a vile person and the little horn Dan. 8.9 Jason son of Simon the second being weary of the continued High Priesthood of Onias the third his Brother goes to Antiochus and of him purchases the High Priesthood to himself for 360 Talents of Silver and a rent of eighty Talents and not satisfying himself with wronging his Brother in this manner he promised a 150 more for a license to set up at Jerusalem a place of exercise for the training up of youth after the fashion of the heathen and so the Greek rites and heathenish fashions were introduced whereby an inlet was made not only to Idolatry and profaneness but also to that cruelty and bloodshed which after ensued Jason three years after he had bought the High Priesthood of Antiochus sent Menelaus Brother of Simon the Benjamite that Arch-Traytor to his Country of whom we have before spoken to the King to carry the moneys he had promised him and to solicite his affairs Menelaus making use of the opportunity serves Jason in the same kind that he had served Onias and promising to the King 300 talents of silver more than Jason paid procured the High Priesthood for himself and having thus gotten it by the Kings Mandat he expelled Jason into the Country of the Ammonites but took no care to pay any of the moneys he had promised to the King 2 Maccab. 4.25 c. Antiochus having seized on Caelosyria Ptol. Philometor who claimed it as belonging to him being passed over to his Father as his Mothers portion sought to recover it out of his hands Antiochus marching down towards Egypt overthrew Ptolomy's forces and quickly got Egypt into his power pretending nevertheless to have a kindness for young Philometor and a care of his affairs Menelaus taking the opportunity of the Kings absence took divers golden vessels out of the Temple at Jerusalem some of which he gave away and some he sold to Tyre and other places for which being accused of Sacriledg by Onias the true High Priest who had betaken himself to Sanctuary he procured him to be taken out from thence and put to death Going on in such mischiefs he was accused to the King but bribing Ptolomy the son of Dorimenes who had revolted to Antiochus and was in great favour with him he procured the death of his accusers About this time Antiochus went down a second time into Egypt with a great power which he recovered again the King thereof flying before him and getting the fortified Towns into his hands there staid till the Jews procured his return to their own destruction A false rumour of Antiochus's death being spread abroad in Judea Jason having got a thousand men
himself a third time to Demetrius and accused Nicanor as having some treacherous Design in agitation against the King who was so inraged by those Calumnies that he sent Nicanor word That he took very ill those his Intercourses with Judas commanding him forthwith to send him to him bound to Antioch Nicanor was very loath to do this because it was a violation of the Articles of Peace between them which Judas had not in the least manner broken yet because he knew not how to resist the Kings command he watched a convenient time to do it by a Stratagem Judas observing how Nicanor was grown more reserved to him than formerly and that his dealings were more rough than usually they had been began to suspect something and gathering together many of his Associates he withdrew himself Nicanor following him with a great party to Jerusalem under pretence of a Parle with him had prepared some to seize upon him which Judas having notice of got away and would see him no more When Nicanor saw his design was discovered he marched with his forces against Judas and fought with him near Caphersalama in which Encounter Nicanor lost near 5000 of his men and the rest fled to the City of David After this Nicanor came up to Mount Sion and some of the Priests with the Elders of the people went forth of the Sanctuary to salute him peaceably and shew him the Burnt-Offering that was offered for the King But he jearing and scoffing at it demanded Judas to be delivered unto him And they affirming with an Oath that they knew not where he was he stretched out his hand against the Temple and swore that except Judas and his Associates were delivered up unto him he would when he should return in peace set the Sanctuary on fire demolish the Altar and build there a stately Temple to Bacchus The Priests hearing this went in and standing before the Altar with Tears begged of God That he would frustrate this wicked mans intention and avenge his Blasphemies on him and his host Nicanor hearing that Judas was gone from Jerusalem into the parts of Samaria he went and pitched his Tents in Bethoron where he met new supplies out of Syria But Judas pitched in Hadasa with only 3000 men Nicanor did what he could to engage in battle on the Sabbath-day vvhich the Jews vvho vvere constrained to follovv him friendly dehorting him from out of reverence to the day and to God the Institutor thereof he with most horrid Blasphemy slighted what they said As for Maccabaeus he encouraged his Party recalling to their minds their former Encounters and declaring unto them a Dream of his wherein there was represented unto him Onias the 3d. praying for the people and the Prophet Jeremy reaching unto him a golden Sword whereby he much cheared their Spirits The Jews being now well armed with Prayers and a sure confidence in God on the 13th day of the last month Adar fell upon the Enemy Nicanor himself was one of the first that fell in the fight which when his Army saw they cast away their Arms and fled and the Israelites following the chase slew 30000 of them Then they fell upon the Spoil and finding Nicanors Body they cut off his head and hands and carried him to Jerusalem where they hung his head upon an high Tower with his right hand which he had stretched out so proudly against the House of God and his blasphemous Tongue Judas commanded should be chopp'd in pieces and given to the Birds of the Air. In commemoration of this Victory it was Enacted That the 13th day of the month Adar the day before the Feast of Mordecai should be yearly kept as a day of thanksgiving and publick rejoycing as the Author of the second Book of Maccabees tells us who with this story finished his Work being the Epitome of the Five Books of Jason a Jew of Cyrene After Nicanor's death Judea for a while had rest from Wars During which time Judas hearing of the great power of the Romans and their Humanity towards such as were in distress understanding also in what great fear Demetrius stood of them he sent Eupolemus the son of John and Jason son of Eleazer as Agents to the Senate of Rome in the name of himself his Brother and the Common-wealth of the Jews to negotiate an Alliance and Association with them hoping thereby to free their necks from that heavy yoak of Demetrius and the Empire of the Greeks After Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his Army were cut off in the late fight with Judas he dispatch'd Bacchides and Alcimus a second time into Judea and with them the right wing and better part of his Army who marching on the way that leads to Galgala took in their march Massadath which is in Arbela and put multitudes to the Sword From thence they removed to Jerusalem and from thence to Berea with Twenty thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse to seek out Maccabaeus Judas pitched in Eleasa having only 3000 men with him The Jews seeing the number of the enemy so great began to be afraid and many of them fled away in so much that all forsook Judas save only 800 with these he charged Bacchides's great Army and fought from morning to night and routed the right wing in which Bacchides himself was but they on the left wing perceiving this and pressing hard upon Judas and those that were with him slew him fighting valiantly and as soon as he fell the rest of his men fled and shifted for themselves Judas was slain in the 6th year after he had led the people from the death of his Father and A. M. 3844. After the death of Judas wicked men discovered themselves in all the Coasts of Israel who before play'd least in sight for fear of Him And by reason of the great Famine that hapned in those days almost the whole Country joyned with them and submitted themselves to Bacchides that they might the more commodiously be supplied with provision Bacchides advanced those wicked men to be Governours in the Country who when they lighted upon any of Judas's Friends brought them to him who reviled them and revenged himself upon them so that there had not been so great an Affliction since the days that the Prophets ceased from among them 1 Mac. 9.23 27. But such of the Jews as could do it assembled themselves together and chose Jonathan Judas's Brother Captain in his room which Bacchides hearing of sought to kill him but he understanding thereof fled into the desert of Tekoa and sent his Brother John with a bâ—â—d of Soldiers to desire the Nabathites that were Arabians that they might leave their Carriages with them But the Children of Iambri out of Medaba met with them upon the way and slew John and his Company and having seized upon the Spoil went their way But no great joy had they of their Booty for Jonathan and his Brother Simon hearing they were about to make
himself and forbad by Proclamation any to speak against him or molest him in any matter The King also did him a great deal of honour by listing him among those that were esteemed his most intimate Friends After this Alexander gave himself up to Idleness and Luxury and permitted the affairs of his Kingdom wholly to be managed by one Ammonius who carried himself insolently and made slaughter of the Kings friends and among the rest put to death the Lady Laodice Daughter of Epiphanes These things coming to the notice of Demetrius eldest son of Demetrius Soter he procured out of Crete a considerable force of Mercenary Soldiers and with them sailed into Cilicia At the notice of which Alexander being affrighted hasted to Antioch to secure his affairs there before Demetrius should come where he made Hirax and Tryphon Governours With Demetrius joyned Apollonius the Governour of Coelosyria who was ordered by him to go against those Jews that adhered and continued firm to Alexander Apollonius having gotten together a great Army encamped at Jamnia and sent a proud challenge to Jonathan to come and meet him if he durst and to fight with him in the plain field Jonathan enraged hereat marched from Jerusalem against him with 10000 men In his way he took Joppa which Apollonius understanding marched to Ashdod and left an Ambush in the way to intrap him but he getting clear of it engaged Apollonius and put all his Forces to flight whereof many fled to the Temple of Dagon which Jonathan set on fire and so what with the Sword and what with Fire destroyed about 8000 of Apollonius his men This coming to the ears of Alexander he honoured Jonathan more than ever and sent him the Golden Buckler which was usually given to those of the Blood Royal and gave him Accaron a City of the Philistines with its Territories for an Inheritance to him and his Heirs for ever Ptol. Philometor now comes out of Egypt with great forces both by Land and Sea under pretence of aiding his Son-in-law Alexander but indeed with an Intention to seize upon Syria He fell out with Alexander because he would not deliver up Ammonius to him who he alledged had plotted his Destruction Hereupon taking his Daughter Cleopatra away from Alexander her Husband he gave her to Demetrius promising to assist him in the recovery of his Fathers Kingdom The Antiochians also deserted Alexander because of Ammonius who had used them so hardly Hereupon Ammonius endeavoured to make an Escape in Womans apparel but was taken and slain Ptolemy went to Antioch and being there saluted as King was crowned with two Diadems the one for Syria the other for Egypt But at last perswaded the Antiochians to receive Demetrius for their King Alexander was at this time at Cilicia whereupon consulting the Oracle of Apollo 't is said he received for answer That he should take heed of that place that had brought forth a double formed Spectacle which semed to point out the City Abas in Arabia where a certain Woman as 't was thought named Herais being married to one Samias was found to be a man into which City he went not long after For invading and wasting of Syria with Fire and Sword Ptolemy and Demetrius his new Son-in-law met him and overthrew him at the River Oenopara whereupon he flying to Abas his Head was cut off by Zabdiel the Prince of the place and sent to Ptolemy who though he received it with much joy yet having in the Fight received a great hurt in his head he died of that Wound three days after Demetrius now obtaining his Fathers Kingdom was called Nicanor About this time Jonathan besieged the Castle at Jerusalem and did all he could with his Engines to reduce it This being made known by some wicked Jews to Demetrius he in great anger sends to him to raise his siege and appear before him at Ptolemais Jonathan would not draw off his siege but taking with him the Elders and Priests he ventured to go to the King and by the Presents he brought and other ways so appeased him that the King rejecting his Accusers confirmed the High-Priesthood upon him and counted him one of his chief Friends And upon promise to pay to him 300 Talents he procured from him an immunity from Tribute for all Judea and the three Seigniories thereunto annexed Demetrius seeing all in peace at home disbanded his old Soldiers which bred great discontents among them Diodotus afterwards called Tryphon one of Alexander Bala's Captains laying hold on this opportunity went to Elmacuel the Arabian with whom Antiochus Alexander Bala's young Son was brought up and acquainting him how matters stood with Demetrius obtained of him to have the young Child delivered up to him undertaking to settle him in his Fathers Kingdom Demetrius in this tottering condition of his affairs sends to Jonathan for a supply who sent him 3000 men which stood him in good stead For he going about to disarm the Antiochians they rose up in Arms and many thousands of them assembling together they attempted to surprize the King himself insomuch that he was forced to retreat to his Palace but the Jews hastning to his relief overcame this Rabble and slaying a great number of them set the City on fire whereupon the Citizens were glad to submit Tryphon now bringing Antiochus the young son of Bala from Arabia into Syria he there set the Crown upon his head calling him Theos Hereupon all the disbanded Soldiers flocked unto him so that Tryphon grew strong enough to fight with Demetrius and overthrowing his Army forced him to fly to Seleucia Then Tryphon in the name of Antiochus sent Messengers to Jonathan to draw him to his party And in order thereunto confirmed the High-Priesthood to him sent him also chargers of Gold and gave him leave to drink in vessels of Gold to be clothed in Purple and to wear the Golden Buckler Jonathan was easily drawn to be for Antiochus because Demetrius had for some time past falsifyed his word and dealt very ungratefully with him Jonathan now having gotten leave of Antiochus to wage War against Demetrius his Captains gathered his men together and reduced the Country beyond Jordan as far as Damascus and overthrew a party which there met him killing to the number of 3000 men Jonathan observing now how his affairs were in a good condition sent Ambassadors to Rome to renew the Allyance made with them by Judas Maccabaeus And he gave them Instructions that in their return homeward from Rome they should visit the Lacedemonians and to mind them of the Alliance and ancient League with Onias the third sending a Letter to the same purpose wherein the people of Judea among other things signified how that as a Testimony of their continued affection towards them they constantly remembred them as their Brethren in their solemn Sacrifices and Devotions These Ambassadors were very honourably received both by the Romans and Lacedemonians and effected what they were sent
Cleopatra his Brothers wife all the Armies of the Syrians except a few revolted to him so that Tryphon seeing himself thus forsaken fled to Dora a Maritime City of Phoenicia whither he was straight pursued and blocked up both by sea and land Simon sent 2000 choice men to Sidetes at the siege of Dora but he to Simons great astonishment refused them all and brake whatever Covenants he had made with him And further sent Athenobius to him complaining of his holding Joppa Gazara and the Castle at Jerusalem and destroying the borders and holding the Government of divers places of his Kingdom requiring of him the tributes of those places beyond the bounds of Judea which were possessed by him or else in lieu thereof to pay 500 Talents and for the tribute of the other places held by him 500 Talents more menacing war against him except all things were performed that he demanded To these things Simon answered that he held no Towns belonging to any other Prince but had recovered by his sword some Towns of his own held back from him by his enemies as for Joppa and Gazara though they had done much harm to his people yet he was willing to pay an hundred Talents At this answer Sidetes was exceedingly enraged In the mean while Tryphon escaped away from Dora to Orthosias another Maritime City of Phoenicia Antiochus himself pursuing Tryphon left Cendebaeus to take care of the Sea-coasts and to build up Cedron and to deal with the Jews He being come as far as Jamnia began to make inroads into Judea and to take the people prisoners and to kill and slay such as he pleased John the Son of Simon then lying at Gazara and understanding how things went gave notice thereof to his Father who being now decrepid committed the managing of the war to him and his Brother Judas John therefore with 20000 Foot and some Horse marched against Cendebaeus who met them with a powerful Army and marshalling his body in such wife that the Horse and Foot might mutually protect each other and then sounding with their holy Trumpets they engaged the enemy and overthrew him and put his whole Army to the rout some betook themselves to the Fort newly built and others flying away he pursued as far as the Towers of Azotus and having slain about 2000 men in the pursuit he burnt those Towers and returned safe into Judea Tryphon at last fled to his own Country-men at Apamea and in the way as he went he scattered money on purpose to retard Antiochus's Souldiers in the pursuit of him and so escaped out of their hands but at last he was taken by Antiochus and put to death Simon traversing the Cities of Judea and providing for their orderly government came down with his Sons Mattathias and Judas to Jericho there Ptolemy the Son of Abubus his Son-in-law who was by him set over the Province of Jericho entertained them in Doc-castle which he had fortified but designing to get the Government of the Country to himself whilst he was treating them at a Banquet most treacherously and barbarously slew Simon with his two Sons and some of his servants after he had discharged the office of High Priest for the space of eight years and three months Ptolemy immediately acquaints Antiochus Sidetes with this villany desiring him to speed an Army for his assistance promising to deliver the Cities and Country of Judea into his hands So that it seems more than probable that this villany was not transacted without the privity of Sidetes and that the honour and reward which the Traytor so much aspired unto was before promised him by the King upon his performance of it This perfidious Ptolemy also sent other cut-throats to murder John Simon 's other Son but he escap'd them He dealt also with the Colonels of the Jewish Militia to draw them over to himself promising them great rewards And moreover sent some to seize upon Jerusalem and the mountain of the Temple John having received information of the murder of his Father and Brethren and that some were sent to do as much for him prevented his enemies by falling upon them first and so was made High Priest in the room of his Father 1 Mac. 16. And here the Author of the first Book of Maccabees concludes his work having therein delivered the History of forty years which Josephus continues on Antiochus Sidetes taking the opportunity of Simon 's death entred Judea with an Army and having wasted the Country forced John Sirnamed afterwards Hircanus to retire into the City of Jerusalem and then laid a close siege to it the siege was prolonged through the strength of the walls and valour of the defendants Antiochus built many turrets about it out of which he attempted the walls and begirt it so straightly with a double Trench that there was no getting out for the besieged any way Hircanus seeing a great and useless multitude in the City which consumed the victuals put out the more infirm out of the walls but Antiochus would not suffer them to pass so that they wandered about the walls almost famished till at last out of pity they were taken in again At this Feast Hircanus sent out to Antiochus to desire a truce for seven days for their Feasts sake which Antiochus not only granted but also brought in great pomp to the very gates of the City bulls with guilded horns and gold and silver cups filled with all manner of spices to be offered to the God of Israel and delivered sacrifices to the Priests of the Jews so easily can God change the hearts of Princes Hircanus was so taken with this great act of piety in Antiochus that from thence forward he gave him the title of Pius and sent to him to request terms of peace of him and that he would give them leave to live according to the Laws of their forefathers Many of those that were about the King pressed him not to make any peace with them but to demolish their City and destroy the whole Nation of the Jews as being a people severed from all other Nations by their peculiar laws and customs or if he would not do so at least to abrogate their Laws and force them to change their manner of living But God so over-ruled the Kings heart that he utterly rejected this counsel and approving the piety of the Jews offered them peace upon condition that they should pay him tribute for Joppa and other Towns without Judea and receive a Garrison They yielded to the former but not to the last in regard they would avoid all commerce with strangers in lieu of that they chose rather to give hostages for their fidelity amongst whom Hircanus's own Brother was one and to pay 500 Talents whereof 300 at present These terms being agreed unto by Antiochus the siege was immediately removed Hircanus opening the Sepulcher of David found there 3000 Talents wherewith he not only paid Antiochus his 300 but feasted him and his
Army in Jerusalem and also filled his coffers so that he began to entertain forreign Auxiliaries which never any of the Jews did before Antiochus Pius three years after his departure from Jerusalem marched with a great Army against Phraates who succeeded his Brother Arsacidas in the Kingdom of Parthia his design being to fetch back his Brother Demetrius Nicanor kept there still in free custody In this Expedition John the Jews High Priest followed him with his Auxiliaries Antiochus much prevailed upon the Parthians at first in so much that the King of Parthia sent Demetrius into Syria with a party that he might seize upon that Kingdom in Antiochus's absence and so divert him And John having overthrown the Hircani in battel from thence obtained the name Hircanus and returned home with a great deal of honour But Antiochus his army being grown dissolute and debaucht was at last overthrown by the Parthians falling upon them at a time appointed as they lay dispersed in their quarters and Antiochus himself was slain Demetrius now recovers his Kingdom of Syria again Hircanus the High Priest and chief Magistrate of the Jews taking this occasion leads down his Army into Syria supposing as indeed it happened that he should find the Cities thereof unmanned he took Medeba and Samega and Sicima the Metropolis of the Samaritans so that after the death of Antiochus Sidetes the Jews wholly shook off the yoke of the Syrians and never after sent them any supply either as subjects or as friends Hircanus also took Gerizim and demolished the Temple of the Cuthites in the two hundredth year after it had been built by Sanballat Demetrius having recovered his Kingdom was outed of it again by his own subjects and was slain at Tyre Zabinas a counterfeit Egyptian Sirnamed Alexander pretending to be the adopted Son of Antiochus Balas is now set up King who entred into league with Hircanas so that things went well with the Jews during his reign which was but four years Hircanus now subdues Idumea the Inhabitaats whereof he put to their choice Whether they would be Circumcised or quit their Habitations They chose the former and now began to be reckoned among the Jews submitting to all their Rites and Ordinances Hircanus also sent Ambassadours to Rome to renew their friendship and amity with the Romans And it was ordered by a Decree of the Senate That Joppa Gazara and other Towns that Antiochus Sidetes had taken from them should be restored It was further ordered That the King of Syria should notpass through their Country with his Armies The Fathers also renewed the League with them according to their desire and promised to take order they should be no more wronged and then dismissed the Ambassadors with money out of the Common Bank to provide necessaries for their return homeward and gave them Letters Commendatory to those Kings and free People through whose Countries they were to pass Many changes now happened in the Assyrian Kingdom For after Demetrius's death notwithstanding the usurpation of Alexander Zabinas Seleucus his eldest Son put on the Diadem but at the years end his Mother slew him with a dart by her own hand because he took the Government upon him without her permission She sets up Antiochus Gryphus his younger Brother who being assisted by Ptol. Physcon whom Alexander though set up by him had disobliged defeats and kills Alexander the usurping counterfeit He reigned securely for some years but then Antiochus his half Brother begot on his Mother by Antiochus Sidetes his Vncle and from Cyzicus the place where he was brought up called Cyzicenus began to be his Emulator for the Kingdom and between them there were great Contestings The civil Broils in Syria diverted the several Princes from medling with the Jews so that they were glad of their Friendship and this gave opportunity to Hircanus to establish his affairs and injoying quietness he got together a great mass of money and then went and besieged Samaria the Inhabitants of which he was sorely displeased with for some injuries offered by them to the Marisseni though the King of Syria's Subjects yet now his Friends and Allies He cast a Trench about it and committed the care of the Siege to his two Sons Antigonus and Aristobulus The Samaritans in this distress sent to Antiochus Cyzicenus imploring his aid He coming to their relief was routed by Aristobulus's Soldiers and persued as far as Scythopolis hardly escaping The besieged now reduced to great necessities sent once more to Cyzicenus who obtaining 6000 men of Ptol. Lathurus made an inrode into Hircanus's Dominions and made great havock thereby hoping to constrain him to raise the siege But having lost many of his men who were intercepted by the enemy he himself went to Tripolis committing the managing of the War with the Jews to two of his Commanders Callimander and Epicrates Callimander encountering the Jews with greater resolution than discretion had his party routed and was himself slain Epicrates being corrupted betrayed Scythopolis and other Towns to Hircanus who then after a year lying before Samaria took it and rased it to the very ground After this Hircanus being both a Disciple and a great Favourer of the Sect of the Pharisees invited some of the most Eminent among them to a Feast He there laboured to approve his sincerity to them and desired that if any of them knew any fault by him they would tell him plainly of it All approved of his manners but only one Eleazar a seditious and bad man who told him if he would be accounted good he must devest himself of the Priesthood and be content with the Principality for that as he heard his Mother was a Captive in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes and was fain to serve for a Lively-hood This being utterly false and the Scandal not being so deeply resented by the rest of the Pharisees there present as he expected it should have been he grew enraged against the whole Sect of them by the Instigation of Jonathan a Sadducee who perswaded him that this affront came from all the Phariseeâ— and so deserting them he turned Sadducee Hereupon he abrogated the constitutions of the Pharisees and punished their followers A sedition arose hereupon but he soon quieted all and having governed the people 31 years he dyed being honoured with three especial dignities namely the soveraign Authority over the Nation the High-Priest-hood and the gift of Prophesie as Josephus tells us who relates how he foretold that his two eldest sons should neither of them long enjoy his Principality After Hircanus's decease the stones which were set in the High-Priests Breast-plate and the Onyx-stone upon his right shoulder by whose radiation the will of God was wont to be intimated to the people of the Jews upon Gods displeasure for their sins grew dim and lost their lustre as Josephus reports lib. 3. Ant. c. 9. Hircanus left five Sons whereof Aristobulus the eldest sirnamed Philellen for his love to and
being gone to Cyprus and his Mother to Egypt he fell upon Gaza for calling in Lathurus to their help against him In the mean time Apollodorus their General broke out into his Camp by night with a very strong party and as long as night lasted had the better of it but as soon as it was day the Jews uniting themselves charged the Gazaeans so stoutly that they slew a thousand of them The City held out a good while but was at last taken by the treachery of Lysimacus Brother to Apollodorus whom out of envy for being in so much favour with the people he murdered and then getting a party about him delivered up the place Alexander at first marched in very calmly and peaceably but after a while let loose his Soldiers to fall upon the Citizens without controul who sold their Lives as dear as they could destroying many of the Soldiers He cut the Throats of many Senators who were met in Apollo's Temple and after he had sack'd the City he returned to Jerusalem Alexander was hated by his own Subjects and being injuriously used by them on the Feast of Tabernacles he is reported to have slain six thousand of them having furnished himself with Guards hired out of Pisidia and Cilicia for the purpose He overthrew the Arabians and imposed Tribute upon the Moabites and Gileadites He was troubled with intestine Broils from his own Subjects stirred up principally by the Pharisees who had been provoked by his Father Hircanus which Broils continued six years during which time they fought often but he usually had the better of it 'T is said that in that time he destroyed no less than fifty thousand of them It troubled him thus to destroy the strength of his own Kindom therefore he endeavoured to compose matters with them and asked them Wherewith he should appease them They answered If he would kill himself for scarce could they pardon him tho' he were dead At last they called in Demetrius Encaerus son of Antiochus Gryphus made King of Syria by Ptol. Lathurus to their assistance and by the help of his Army overthrew Alexander But many of them being touched with compassion towards their King after this defeat about 6000 of them went over to him which so discouraged Demetrius that he thereupon retired into his own Country The Pharisees being thus left by Demetrius forthwith waged War with Alexander by themselves but still had the worst of it and many of them being taken by him were nailed to Crosses and their Wives and their Children slain before their faces During these stirs he lost all that he had got in the Arabian and Moabitish Regions Yet afterwards gathering together his forces he wan divers Towns and reduced under his power the valley called Antiochus's Valley and the Fort Gamala and outed Demetrius Lord of those places and then returned home and was joyfully received by his Subjects for the good success he had had in that Expedition At this time the Jews possessed many Cities in Syria Idumaea Phoenicia and other Countries a Catalogue of which Josephus hath left us among which Pella a Town of Moab being one they destroyed it because the Inhabitants refused to receive the Jewish Rites Anna a Prophtess Daughter of Phanuel her Husband being dead went not out of the Temple but served God day and night for 84 years together until she saw Christ in the Temple Alexander towards his latter end giving himself to intemperate courses contracted a quartan Ague which held him three years Yet for all this he followed on his Wars and laid siege to Ragala Castle beyond Jordan but being at last overcome by the force of his disease he died there before the Walls of that place in the 27th year of his reign about 76 years before the birth of Christ Alexander a little before his death when he saw he must die advised his Wife to keep close his death till the place should be gained and then going victoriously to Jerusalem to send for the chief of the Pharisees whom both he and his Father had grievously offended and to express kindness to them and give them the disposal of his Corps and to assure them that she would not act any thing in State matters but by their advice This advice she punctually followed and thereby so gained the love of the Pharisees that they cryed up Alexander for a good King among the people and bewailed his death and provided a more stately and sumptuous funeral for him than they had made for any King before him Alexander left two Sons Hircanus and Aristobulus but to his Wife he left the management of the Kingdom Hircanus was of a dull and heavy temper Tho' therefore she made him High-Priest yet she kept the Government in her own hands tho' indeed all things were ordered at the will and pleasure of the Pharisees whom the people were commanded to obey and against whom whatever Ordinances were made by Hircanus were now abolish'd The Queen kept in pay a great number of Foreigners and so increased her Power that she became formidable to the neighbouring Princes and took Hostages of them yet no great matters were done by her abroad but sufficient stirs happened at home For the Pharisees knowing no moderation in the prosecution of their ambitious and envious designs procured the Queen to put to death many of those who had counselled her Husband to deal so cruelly with their adherents Hereupon those of them who were most obnoxious being backed by Aristobulus made their Address to the Queen beseeching her that either they might be all slain there or else that they might be dispersed severally into Castles where they might pass the remainder of their lives in some security from the Treachery of their Enemies The Queen not well knowing what to do in this Exigent resolved at last to intrust them with the command of all the Castles excepting Hircania Alexandrium and Machaerus After this Alexandra falling grievous sick Aristobulus judged that now or never was the time for him to do some thing for the setting up of himself Whereupon departing privately by night with only one Servant to attend him he went to those Castles which his Fathers Friends had the command of and in a short time got them into his power The news of this being brought to the Queen she and the Pharisees were exceedingly troubled at it knowing that if he had got the Kingdom into his hands he would call them to a strict account for the hard usage of his Friends Hircanus the High Priest and the Elders of the Jews having secured Aristobulus's Wife and Children in the Castle at Jerusalem make their Address to the Queen desiring her speedy direction what they should do in these State Emergencies She told them They might do what in their Judgments they thought fit and most conducing to the publick good and might imploy the Arms and Treasure of the Kingdom as they saw occasion But for her part she was in
Affairs of Government Antipater made his Son Phasaelus Captain of Jerusalem and the Country adjacent and committed Galilee to the Custody of his second Son Herod being then about 25 years of Age. Herod at the very first gave evidence of what Spirit and heigth of courage he was For there being at that time one Hezekias a notable Thief who with a great company of followers used to infest the Country of Syria he took him and put him to death with many others of that Rout which thing much endeared him to the Syrians and thereby he became known to Sextus Cesar the President and Kinsman to the Dictator Phasaelus his Brother was hereby much stirred up to Emulation and carryed himself very obligingly and honourably towards those of his Jurisdiction so that their Father was honoured by the people as a King and yet preserved his fidelity intire to Hircanus But divers of the Nobles and chief men of the Jewish Nation understanding how he flourished both upon his own account and that of his Sons inwardly fretted at it and the rather because he made use of Hircanus for his own ends as they conceived having contracted friendship with the Roman Generals and perswaded him to send money to them yet got to himself the credit of the President But especially the forward and bold disposition of Herod affrighted them whom they looked upon as a young and growing Tyrant They make their Addresses to Hircanus complaining to him bitterly against Antipater as one who carried away all the profit of the Kingdom They further complained of that bold act of Herods in putting to death Hezekias with many others without any Commission received from Hircanus in contempt of the Laws by which no man is to suffer tho' he were never so wicked till he had a legal Tryal and were condemned by the Sentence of the Judge Hircanus being at last wrought upon by these complaints summoned Herod to Jerusalem to give an account of these his actions before the Council Herod having settled the affairs of Galilee appeared at Jerusalem but with a Guard as his Father had advised him by Letter yet a moderate one lest he should affright Hircanus When he appeared before the Sanhedrin in his Royal Robes and with his Guard no body had the courage to say any thing to him or accuse him till one of the Council called Sameas a just man and yet no hot-spirited man as the Jewish Proverb shews Be thou humble as Hillel and not angry as Sameas rising up inveighed against him for the manner of his Appearance not suitable to the condition of a person summoned to answer for his faults and blamed both Hircanus and the Council for their too great Indulgence which he feared they would afterwards pay dearly for And the event proved his words true that very Council and Hircanus himself being afterwards put to death by Herod when he was King The Council being inflamed with Sameas's words had certainly now condemned him had not Hircanus foreseeing it put off the business till the next day and in the mean time privately advised Herod to shift for himself Herod thereupon retired to Damascus and visited Sextus Cesar who loved him as his own Son and then gave out That he would no more appear though he were cited at which they at Jerusalem fretted and perswaded Hircanus That all these things tended to his ruine Herod having purchased of Sextus Cesar the Government of Coelosyria disdaining now that he had been commanded to come and plead his cause at Jerusalem marches towards the City with an Army and if his Father and Brother had not met him and otherwise perswaded him he had made mischief enough Having therefore made a shew of his power he retreated About this time Caelicius Bassus in favour of Pompey made away Sextus Cesar and got his Army to submit to him but divers of Cesars party came to revenge his Kinsmans death and a War ensued about Epamea whither Antipater mindful of the Benefits he had received from Cesar sent his Sons with aid to assist Cesars Captains The War being drawn out in length Statius Marcus was sent to succeed Sextus and in the mean time Julius Cesar was stab'd in the Senate-house which as it bred trouble and disturbance to the whole Roman Empire so neither did Judea escape without its share thereof A Civil War insuing the chief Captains on both sides ran up and down to provide themselves for it Cassius one of them that slew Cesar came into Syria where raising the Seige before Apamea he drew both Marcus and Bassus to his Party and then taking upon him the Power of a General and Title of Proconsul he reduced to his obedience all the Cities of Syria and levied men and exacted grievous Contributions But especially he afflicted Judea levying a Tax of above 700 Talents upon it Antipater seeing the Commonwealth in trouble and fearing Cassius's Threats appointed his two Sons to gather part of the money and Malichus a Jew that was an enemy of his to gather another part and some others another part But Herod bringing first of all an 100 Talents which were imposed upon Galilee which belonged to his Government became thereby much in Cassius's favour But under the other Governours divers Cities were set to Sale to make up the Sum. And the Tax as it should seem came in so slowly that Cassius was exceedingly enraged and was about to put Malichus one of the Collectors to death had not Hircanus by sending to him a 100 Talents of his own money by Antipater appeased his fury But Antipater was ill requited by Malichus for this For as soon as Cassius left Judea Malichus practiced to take away Antipaters life thinking that he being removed out of the way they should better provide for the security of Hircanus's Government Antipater having an inckling of it passed over Jordan and gathered an Army intending to revenge the Treachery but Malichus being a crafty Dissembler so denyed the matter with Oaths to his two Sons that they reconciled him to their Father who by his Intercession saved him out of the Hands of Marcus President of Syria who understanding that Malichus attempted some Innovations in Judea had resolved to put him to death But Antipater preserved him to his own Destruction Cassius and Marcus having gathered an Army made Herod for his good services Governour of Coelosyria and gave him forces both of Horse and Foot and also Ships at Sea and promised to make him King of Judea if they got the better against Anthony and young Cesar Antipater not long after being feasted by Hircanus at Jerusalem Malichus corrupting the Kings Butler poisoned Antipater and gathering a Band of Soldiers seized on the Government of the City Antipaters Sons having notice of their Fathers death Herod would have revenged it out of hand and that by open force but Phasaelus thought it better to circumvent the Murderer in some more private way lest they should seem the beginners
the establishing Antigonus At last their number increasing they came to Jerusalem they assault the Palace but the two Brothers with their Friends beat them back Many Skirmishes between them ensue Antigonus whiled off the time as well as he could staying for the Feast of Pentecost at which he expected multitudes of the Jews would come up from whom he hoped for assistance And accordingly multitudes came to the Feast and so assisted him that he got all but the Palace which Herod and his Brother manfully defended and made Sallyes out to the great hurt of their Enemies At last Antigonus desired that Pacorus the General of the Parthians might be admitted to be a Mediator between them The Proposal being accepted Pacorus perswades Phasaelus to go as an Ambassador to Barzaphernes to treat with him about those matters having a design to entrap him Phasaelus suspecting nothing went contrary to the mind of Herod and with him went also Hircanus an unheard of employment for the Prince himself under the conduct of Pacorus As soon as they came into Galilee they were met by the Governours of the Towns there and Barzaphernes entertained them very civilly but shortly after they were both secured in vain upbraiding the Barbarians with Perjury and an Eunuch was dispatched to Jerusalem to get Herod by some means or other out of the City if he could and to apprehend him But Herod presently hearing of his Brothers Captivity resolved to shift for himself and taking the opportunity of the Evening got away with his Relations and Friends that night without the knowledge of the Enemy And making all speed he could to get into Idumea his Mothers Litter was overthrown in the way by which she was in danger of death Herod was so disturb'd at this accident fearing lest the enemy should overtake them whilst they stayed there that he was ready to kill himself with his own Sword but being restrained by those about him he went on to Massada a strong fortifyed place in the Country of Arabia A Party of the Parthians first and then another of the Jews pursued him but he beat them off When he was come into Idumea his brother Joseph came to him and perswaded him to dismiss many of his followers because the Castle of Massada would not maintain them all which he accordingly did giving them money to bear their charges But calling out the ablest Soldiers from among them he with them and his Relations marched on to Massada and there disposed of the Women and most of his Companions there being plenty of all sorts of Provisions in the Castle But he himself held on for Petra in Arabia the Metropolis of that Kingdom hoping from that King who was such a Friend to his Father to obtain help for the recovery of his Brothers Liberty The Parthians after his departure from Jerusalem plundred the City and Palace and wasted the Country and destroyed the rich Town of Morissa and so reducing Antigonus into Judea delivered up Hircanus and Phasaelus into his hands he fearing that Hircanus by the favour of the people might again be restored to the Kingdom he cut off his ears making him thereby uncapable of the Priesthood which by the Law was not to be given to any one that wanted any member But Phasaelus knowing that he was destined to death seeing that he could not otherwise kill himself by reason of his chains dashed out his brains against a stone The Parthians having thus setled Antigonus when they departed took Hircanus along with them Prisoner into Parthia Herod knowing nothing of his Brothers death was going as fast as he could to the King of Arabia hoping to get money of him either upon free gift or trust to ransome his Brother and he carried with him Phasaelus his Brothers Son a Child of seven years old to leave him with him as a Pledge But the Arabian being perswaded by his great ones to return the Treasure which Antipater had deposited with him and not to afford Herod any Succour he sent some to meet him and to command him to depart from his Borders pretending the Parthians had so commanded but afterwards repenting of this ingratitude he sent after him but could not overtake him for hearing of his Brothers death posted towards Egypt as fast as he could where coming to Pelusium the Mariners that were to sail to Alexandria denyed him passage but the Magistrates of the place honourably entertained him and brought him to Cleopatra the Queen who kindly received him intending to use him in her Wars But nothing could hinder him from hasting to Rome though it was then the Winter season and though great stirs were reported to be in Italy He came thither at last though he had been grievously tossed with tempests in his passage and he came thither at a time when not long before there had been an Agreement made betwixt Anthony and Cesar the former having married Octavia the Sister of the latter and another betwixt them two and young Pompey who then held Sicily which was a time very convenient for his affairs He made his Application first to Anthony of whose favour he had formerly tasted declaring to him the whole story of the Parthians overrunning Judea of his Brothers death and the misery of his Family now besieged in a Castle and how through great Tempests both at Sea and Land he had ventur'd to come to him as his only harbour and refuge and withal did not spare to promise him a large Reward if he would procure him to be declared by the Senate King of Judea Anthony being moved partly with pity and partly by the memory of me former Friendship that had been between him and Antipater and also highly displeased with Antigonus whom he looked upon as a turbulent man and an enemy to the Romans was much inclined to favour Herod Octavius Cesar also because Antipater had done good service for Julius Cesar in Egypt and because he was willing to gratifie Anthony and out of a peculiar phansie he had to the man for his courage did willingly joyn with Anthony in his promotion The Senate therefore being called first Messala then Atratomus brought forth Herod and commended him to the Fathers relating what good services both his Father and himself had done for the Commonwealth and withal they inveighed against Antigonus as a bitter enemy to the Romans and that he had not only shewed himself so before but of late more especially in calling in the Parthians Then Anthony rose up and declared to them how much it would conduce to the ending of the Parthian War which was now on foot if Herod were made King So that without any more a do he was so declared by the unanimous suffrages of them all Then Anthony and Cesar leading him between them being accompanied with the Consuls and other Magistrates went up into the Capitol to do sacrifiec and to place there the Decree of the Senate according to custâ—me And this done the new King
had spies that mingled themselves in all companies yea he would sometimes go himself disguised among the people to hear what they said of him and his Government The disaffected to him he took a course to punish and the rest he bound unto him by an oath which he exacted of them After this in the eighteenth year of his reign taking down at least for the most part the old Temple at Jerusalem as Josephus reports Lib. 14. Ch. 14. he built another much more stately and magnificent having provided very great white stones * See Mark 13.1 whereof some were 25 cubits long twelve broad and eight in height and other materials for the work in the space of two years He began to build it forty six years before the first Passover of the Ministry of Christ see Job 2.20 where we may read the words forty and six years reckoning to this time hath this Temple been built The building the Temple under Zerubbabel began in the first year of the Monarchy of Cyrus and was after twenty years time finished in the sixth year of Darius the Son of Histaspis But this magnificent building of Herod's was finished in nine years and an half The inward Temple containing the Holy and Holy of Holies was finished in a year and an half In all which time it 's reported that it never rained in the day-time but only in the nights Then in the eight years following the Porches the Ranges and the rest of the building about the Temple were all finished He celebrated the Dedication of the Temple on his own birth-day sacrificing three hundred Oxen to the great joy of the people These things done Herod sets sail for Italy to salute Caesar and see his Sons and passing by Greece was not only present but made Judg at the Olympick Exercises and bestowing some Annual revenue upon them that they might be the more splendid for this bounty he is declared perpetual Judg of those Exercises Coming to Rome Caesar courteously received him and deliver'd to him his Sons well educated and instructed in all the Liberal Arts and Sciences Being returned home with his Sons Alexander and Aristobulus they being grown to mans estate he provided them wives for Alexander Bernice the daughter of Salome for Aristobulus Glaphira the daughter of Archelaus King of the Cappadocians These young men gained the love and affection of the people exceedingly but Salome and her followers feared they would sometime or other revenge their Mothers death and therefore she and Pheroras Herod's Brother practic'd against them infusing into their father suspition of them as if they were not well affected towards him but exclaimed greatly against the Authors of their Mothers death Herod troubled hereat called to Court Antipater his eldest Son begotten by him when he was a private man whom he had banished the City in favour of these two Sons only giving him liberty to come thither on Festival days that setting him up against them he might make them more careful of their behaviour But they were thereby the more incensed and Antipater making use of his time got more and more into his Fathers affections and at his intreaty brought to Court also his mother Doris whom being a woman of mean parentage Herod put away when he married Mariamne Herod hearing that Agrippa Caesar's great friend and Son-in-law having married Julia his daughter was come into Asia he went to him and invited him into Judea and entertained him magnificently in all the Cities and Castles he had newly built shewing him his buildings and presenting him and his friends with all the delights he could Then conducting him to Jerusalem all the Citizens met him in their best habit with joyful acclamations Agrippa having sacrificed an Hecatomb to God feasted the people and the winter drawing on he made hast to sail to Ionia As soon as it was spring Herod hearing that Agrippa was going with an Army to Bosphorus made hast to go to him he overtook him at Sinope a City in Pontus bringing some Auxiliaries with him for his service Agrippa embraced him with singular affection and made him partaker of his Counsels And afterwards in their return Agrippa was ready to gratifie Herod in any thing and at his intreaty relieved the necessities of many that made use of his Intercession He procured for the Iews that dwelt in Jonia a â—onfirmation of the priviledges formerly granted them which the Grecians would not suffer them to enjoy and that none should molest them for living after their Countries Laws Then with mutual embraces they took their leaves each of other Herod in few days arrived at Caesarea and thence came to Jerusalem where calling the people together he gave them an account of his journey and how he had procured liberty for the Ionian Jews and to ingratiate himself the more with them he declared he was willing to remit unto them the fourth part of their Tribute The people exceedingly pleased herewith wished all happiness to the King Agrippa after ten years Government in Asia being now to return to Rome Herod went again to salute him and take leave of him and taking of all his Sons only Antipater with him he delivered him to Agrippa to be brought to Caesar that he might by his means obtain the Emperour's favour Antipater accordingly was much honoured at Rome being commended to several friends and great persons by his Fathers Letters From thence he was not wanting by his Letters to whet his Fathers displeasure against his Brothers the Sons of Mariamne and seemed very sollicitous of his Fathers safety though aiming at the succession thereby Herod being by these artifices exceedingly incensed against his two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus sailed with them to Rome to accuse them before Caesar and carried with him Nicholas Damascene in the same Ship with whom he studied Philosophy Augustus being gone to Aquileia thither Herod went to him and the young men being there accused before Caesar of an intention to poyson their Father they so cleared themselves and by their tears and other evidences so manifested their innocency that Caesar reconciled them to their Father Then after thanks returned to the Emperour they departed and Antipater with them feigning himself glad that they were received again into favour Herod having given three hundred Talents to Caesar and been very liberal as his custom was in all places to the people of Rome Caesar bestowed on him half the profits of the Mines of Cyprus and gave him liberty to make which of his Sons he pleased his Successor or if he would to distribute his Kingdom among them all which Herod presently would have done but Cesar would not allow that he should part with the Government during his life In Herods absence the Inhabitants of Trachonitis a considerable part of his Kingdom rebelled but were reduced again to obedience by his Captains But some of them leaving their Country fled into Arabia Nabataea where they were entertained by Syllaeus the
Administrator of the Kingdom who was an enemy to Herod because he denyed him his Sister Salome to Wife and he granted them a place well fortified Herod being returned into Judea he called the Chief men of the Jews together and told them what had passed in his late Voyage and declared unto them that his Sons should reign after him first Antipater then Alexander and then Aristobulus whom he had by Mariamne Caesarea Stratonis was now finished in the 28th year of his reign for the Dedication of which there were very solemn and most pompous Preparations Musicians and Wrestlers and Sword-Players and Wild Beasts and whatever was in account of that kind either at Rome or in other Nations being now brought thither These sports were consecrated to Cesar and to be renewed every fifth year The day he spent in Sports and the night in Banquets and Revellings and so between both he spent his time very well After this he began to build another Town in a Field called Capharsala which after his Fathers name he called Antipatris and a Castle which after his Mothers name he called Cyprus In honour also of his dead Brother he built a fair Town which he called Phasaelus in the valley of Jericho from whence the Country thereabouts is called Phasaelis Having wasted his wealth by his extravagant expences and now wanting money after the example of John Hircanus by night without the knowledge of the people he opened Davids Sepulchre in which he found no money but store of costly attire and Ornaments of Gold which he took away After this 't was observed that his Family was grievously afflicted nothing being heard among them but Broils and Accusations one of another As for Antipater he accused and calumniated his Brother Alexander insomuch that his Father committed him to Prison Those of Trachonitis who had fled to Syllaeus being encreased in number infested not only Judea but Coelosyria also with Inrodes and Incursions Syllaeus is hereupon complained of by Herod to Saturnius and Volumnius Presidents of Syria Herod requires the 60 Talents which he had lent Obodas King of Arabia under Syllaeus's Security and demands also That the Plunderers protected by him should be delivered up The matter being debated before the Presidents they determined that Herods demands were reasonable and that Syllaeus should perform them Syllaeus unwilling to stand this their Determination went to Rome The Presidents therefore gave Herod leave to enter Arabia with an Army and to prosecute those obstinate people there which he accordingly did and suddenly took the Castle which those Plunderers kept But an Arabian Captain with his forces coming to their aid Herod joyns Battel with him and overthrows him the Captain himself being slain and his forces routed But Letters were speeded to Rome to Syllaeus which represented things far otherwise and aggravated every thing in so odious a manner that Cesar by those Lyes and such false representations as Syllaeus had made unto him was so incensed against Herod that he wrote to him menacing Letters because he had presumed to march with an Army out of his own Kingdom and thrice denyed his Ambassadors audience that were sent by him to acquaint him with the true State of things The Rebels and Arabians taking hold of this occasion did him much mischief which he was glad to put up for the present for fear of further provoking Cesar but sent Nicholas Damascenus to Rome to plead his cause who so laid open Syllaeus's Forgeries and how he had circumvented the Emperor in the cause of Herod that Cesar condemned Syllaeus remanding him again into the Province that when he had satisfied the Debt before mentioned he might be punished and was perfectly reconciled to Herod Whilst Herod was thus out with Cesar the former discords in his Family were exceedingly heightned by the Artifices of Eurichus a Lacedemonian who winding himself into Alexanders acquaintance betrayed him first to Antipater and then to Herod himself Herod making inquiry into his Sons actions put to death by the vehemency of Tortures many both of his own and his Sons Friends Alexander being examined denyed all Accusations except that he intended with his Wife to fly to Archelaus King of Cappadocia her Father Herod sends Letters to Cesar complaining of his Sons and desires his Imperial Majesty to give him direction what to do in that difficult affair The Emperor returns answer That he should call a Council at Beritus and joyn with them the Presidents of Syria and Archelaus King of Cappadocia and other Noble men his Friends and that they should together determine concerning that matter Herod hereupon convened all those Cesar had appointed except only Archelaus to Berytus and in an Assembly of 150 Men declaimed most furiously against his Sons not producing any Proof at all more than that they intended to fly and not suffering them to be present to answer for themselves Saturninus who had been Consul and had run through all honours gave his opinion that the Sons of Herod were to be condemned but not to be put to death and his three Sons were of the same opinion But Volumnius declared that they ought to be punished with death whose opinion the major part followed Then the King took his Sons along with him to Tyre where an old Soldier named Tyro smartly reprehended him for the severity intended towards his Sons Alexander and Aristobulus being led to Sebaste were there strangled by their Fathers command and their bodies buried in the Castle Alexandrion where Alexander their Grandfather by their Mothers side and many others of their Progenitors were buried Antipater after the death of his Brothers began now to plot the Destruction of his Father and drew Pheroras the Brother of Herod to his side and some of the Kings Women that were most addicted to the Sect of the Pharisees but not Salome who constantly adhered to her Brother Herod The Pharisees had refused to swear fealty to the King who being for this fined the Wife of Pheroras paid their Fine to whom in requital they being accounted wise to know things to come they foretold that the Kingdom should be taken from Herod and his Children and should be transferred on her and that her Husband and their Children These things Salome made known to Herod and they had sollicited and corrupted many of his Courtiers with Bribes in which fault Herod having taken some of the Pharisees he put them to death and some others also whom he found had conspired with them Then he urged Pheroras to put away his Wife which he refusing to do he forbad Antipater Pheroras's company Antipater that he might remove all suspicion of his Father from him procured by his Friends at Rome to be sent for thither by Cesar He accordingly going Herod sent by him great Presents and his Will in which he declared that Antipater should be King but if he died then Herod his Son by Mariamne daughter of Simon the High Priest Pheroras being banished
a deadly hatred as appears Joh. 4. 9. the main difference between them in point of Religion is briefly and clearly stated in those words of the woman of Samaria to our Saviour Our Fathers viz. Samaritans worshipped in this mountain viz. Gerizim but ye Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship Joh. 4.20 And observable it is that whereas Moses appointed an Altar to be built on Mount Ebal which Joshua accordingly afterwards erected in that place Josh 8.30 Yet the Samaritan Penteteuch maketh the same to be built on Mount Gerizim in the very place where afterwards this mock-temple stood to gain thereto the greater reputation of holiness and so they wilfully depraved the original vide Samarit Pentet in Deut. 27.4 But if besides the five Books of Moses these Samaritans had received the Books of the Prophets their testimony would have overthrown their cause for the Psalmist says expresly Psal 78. 67. He refused the Tabernacle of Joseph and chose not the Tribe of Ephraim but chose the Tribe of Judah the mount Sion which he loved But to return this Temple on mount Gerizim Antiochus Epiphanes afterwards turned into the Temple of Jupiter who is celebrated for hospitality and it was destroyed something before the time of our Saviour by John Hircanus after it had stood above two hundred years But though the Temple was taken away yet the mountain remained still in which the Samaritans continued their adoration and false worship Here Ends the Reigns of the KINGS of ISRAEL Kings of Judah The first King of Judah REHOBOAM SOlomon being dead some of the Heads and Officers of Israel immediately sent into Egypt for Jeroboam to come to them and it seems they contriv'd among themselves that before they would Crown Rehoboam King they would petition him to be eased of the Taxes his Father in the latter part of his reign had imposed on them For though he made not the Israelites bondmen Ch. 9.22 yet we read of large provisions that were gathered in the land to maintain the royalty of his Court Ch. 4.7 22 23. and of levies made for his buildings Ch. 9.15 and in his declining age especially when he was carried away by his Idolatrous wives and concubines undoubtedly heavier Taxes were laid on the people and it may be Hadad's and Rezons enmity against him might also occasion some impositions These Taxes they resolved to be eased of before they admitted him to the Government And it seems they met at Sechem a City in the Tribe of Ephraim to consult of these matters and from thence sent to Rehoboam that there they were convened to Crown him Rehoboam accordingly going thither Jeroboam and the heads of the people came to him and spake to him saying Thy Father made our yoke grievous now therefore we pray thee ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy Father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us and we will serve thee Rehoboam took three days time to consider of the matter of their petition in which alone he shewed himself wise Solomon's Son and during that time he consulted first with the old men that had been Counsellors and servants to his Father and askt them what answer he should return to the people They told him if he would be kind to them and please them for this once and yield to them and speak good words to them they would be his servants and obedient subjects for ever but if he did otherwise they would be in danger to revolt from him Rehoboam liked not their advice and therefore advised with the younger men that had been brought up with him and now attended on him and they told him that this people were not to be pleased or humoured but to be ratled and rigorously dealt with and therefore advised him to tell them that if they complained of his fathers taxes and impositions he would give them more cause to complain of his They should find that his little finger would be thicker than his Fathers loyns If his Fathers yoke that he laid upon them was heavy he would add to their yoke If his Father chastis'd them with whips he would chastise them with scorpions This is the answer they advise him to give them Accordingly on the third day Jeroboam and the heads of the people coming again to him he forsaking the counsel of the old men answered them roughly according to the words which the young men had put into his mouth Thus Rehoboam regarded not the desire and petition of the people but utterly rejected it for the thing was of the Lord who with-held the spirit of wisdom and counsel from him else he might easily have discerned what the event would be and gave him over to be misled by rash and evil counsellors and thereupon alienated the hearts of the people from him intending thereby to perform the word that he spake by Ahijah the Shilonite concerning Jeroboam This sharp and rigorous answer of the King gave such a general distaste to the people that they would no longer stay to advise upon it but ten of the twelve Tribes unanimously manifested a present and peremptory resolution to fall off from him and muttered after this manner What portion say they have we in David * See the like speech of Sheba 2 Sam. 20.1 to which possibly they allude that is What good can we expect from Davids stock or what inheritance have we in the Son of Jesse What advantage or profit can we expect from any of his posterity To your Tents †Because they of old dwelt in Tents this phrase is still continued in use among them O Israel let us no longer stay here to make our selves slaves to this Tyrant but every man look to his own house and out of our own Tribes let us choose us a King and look thou to thy own house Rehoboam who art descended of David and make much of thy own Tribe for beyond their bounds thy Kingdom is not like to extend We are resolved to take care of our selves and to choose a King from among our own Tribes Rehoboam seeing the people in such a mutiny and distemper he sends Adoram who was over the Tribute to pacifie them hoping no doubt but they would reverence so venerable an old man as he was who was not much short of an hundred years of age having enjoyed that office above sixty years viz. from the midst of David's reign see 2 Sam. 20.24 and all Solomon's until now But he being one of those who they thought promoted the laying of Impositions upon the people the very sight of him did so enrage them that in a mutinous and outragious manner they fell upon him and stoned him to death Upon this Rehoboam thought it high time for him to be gone and therefore speedily getting into his Chariot he fled to Jerusalem Things being now come to this desperate pass immediately ten Tribes fell off from Rehoboam and chose Jeroboam the
Son of Nebat for their King But the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin stuck fast to Rehoboam In memorial of this sad rent the Jews afterwards kept a solemn Fast yearly upon the three and twentieth day of the third month called Sivan Rehoboam being come to Jerusalem forthwith raises an Army of an hundred and fourscore thousand valiant men out of Judah and Benjamin to reduce the Ten Tribes back to his subjection but is forbidden to proceed on in that enterprize by the Prophet Shemaiah who told him that the thing was of God who had so ordered it for the punishment of his Fathers defection from him and so the people returned to their own homes But though for the present that design was laid aside yet there followed continual bickerings between the two Kings all their days and the borderers on both sides did continually make inrodes one upon another see Ch. 14.30 Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built and fortified fifteen Cities for the defence of Judah and made great warlike provisions and put Garrisons into the Cities and placed Captains and Commanders over them some whereof it seems were his own Sons for 2 Chron. 11.23 't is said He dealt wisely and dispersed all his children thoroughout all the Countries of Judah and Benjamin into every fenced City And in that it must be acknowledged he dealt prudently for in his own Sons he might most securely confide And he stored those Garrisons with plenty of victuals and with wine and oyl and in every Garrison he put Shields and Spears and other Warlike ammunition and made them exceeding strong And many Priests and Levites that were cast off by Jeroboam and his Sons * They probably were placed as Captains in the Cities of Israel as Rehoboam's Sons were in the Cities of Judah who would not suffer them to execute the Priests office in their Cities and many people out of all the Ten Tribes who set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel resorted unto him whereby his Kingdom was much strengthned For three years he and his people walked in the ways of David and in the ways of Solomon viz. his first ways before his fall but afterwards they forsook the Law of the Lord though some particular persons among them undoubtedly remained faithful to God and made themselves High-places Images †So that none of the twelve Tribes at this time continued faithful to God the Ten revolted with Jeroboam and these two with Rehoboam and Groves doing according to all the abominations of the Heathen And they did evil in the sight of the Lord and provoked him to jealousie with their sins insomuch that in none of their Fathers days there was such a general apostasie And it seems there were among them some that practised that abominable sin of Sodomy so that they did after all the abominations of the Heathen whom God cast out before their Fathers As for the Domestick affairs of Rehoboam we find that he took eighteen Wives and sixty Concubines and begat twenty eight Sons and sixty Daughters and dispersed his Sons through all the Countries of Judah and Benjamin into the several fenced Cities and there gave them liberal and Princely allowances and sought out many Wives for them out of Noble Families to strengthen their interest by their alliances Of all his Wives he loved Maachah best the daughter of Absalom who was a great Idolatress see 1 King 15.13 and he made Abijah her Son to be chief ruler over his brethren intending he should succeed him in the Throne In the fifth year of his reign because he had so heinously transgressed against the Lord Shishak King of Egypt invited possibly thereunto by Jeroboam who had lived there and been kindly entertained by him before he was made King came up against him with twelve hundred chariots and threescore thousand horsemen and people without number Some of them were Lybians a people in Africa bordering upon Egypt some Suckites otherwise call'd Troglodites a people dwelling in Caves of Rocks and some of them Ethiopians With this great Army invading Judea he took the fenced Cities that were in his way to Jerusalem and then came before that City also The people of Judah being now in great distress Shemaiah the Prophet came to Rehoboam and the Princes * Ver. 6. Princes of Israel that is the Princes of Judah who were Israelites that were gathered together in Jerusalem and spake to them after this manner Thus saith the Lord ye have forsaken me and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak Rehoboam and the Princes upon this humbled themselves and confest their sins and said the Lord is righteous in all the judgments he hath brought upon us Hereupon the Lord spake to Shemaiah again saying They have humbled themselves therefore I will not utterly destroy them but grant them some deliverance and my wrath shall not be poured forth upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak nevertheless they shall be his servants and shall yield to such terms as he shall put upon them that they may know my service and the service of the Kingdoms of the Countries That is that they may know by the hard conditions Shishak will put upon them how much better it had been for them to have served me than by their sins to have brought themselves into bondage to other Nations See Isa 26.13 So Shishak being come before Jerusalem to save the Temple and City from plunder and to regain the Cities he had taken as he came up to them they were forc'd to give him the Treasures †This was the first spoiling of the Temple of the Temple not the holy vessels but such gold and silver and other precious things as were laid up for repairing the Temple and other holy uses as also the Treasures of the Kings house as also the Golden Shields that Solomon had made 1 King 10.16 Instead of these Rehoboam made Shields of Brass and committed them to the hands of the chief of the Guard that kept the door of the Kings house And when the King entred into the house of the Lord the Guard came and fetched them and carried them before him and when he was come back returned them again into his Guard-chamber Thus Rehoboam humbling himself the wrath of God turned from him so as he would not destroy him altogether And after this things began to go well again in Judah for they enjoyed their liberty of serving the true God the benefit of their own Laws and had for the most part peace and prosperity So Rehoboam recovered strength again and repaired and fortified the Cities of his Kingdom yet he did not sincerely set and fix his heart to seek the Lord that is did not endeavour to know him aright to worship him purely to call upon him fervently and to obey him faithfully and in all these to persevere constantly Now the Acts of Rehoboam first and last namely such as were done in his