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
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.
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
9. 9ly Concerning the daily Sacrifices to be offered on this Altar constantly besides all other occasional Sacrifices which were to be two Lambs of the first year one to be offered in the Morning (g) A Pattern for our Devotion Morning and Evening the other in the Evening (h) Or between the two Evenings see Ch. 12.6 that is from the beginning of the declining of the Sun viz. three in the Afternoon to Sun-setting Hoc juge Sacrificium singulis diebus nullo intermisso sive Sacro sive prosano osserebatur scil agnus unus mane ante omnia Sacrificia alter vespere post alia Sacrificia for a Burnt-Offering to the Lord with an Omer or Pottle (i) See Notes on Exod. 16.36 of Flour mingled with the fourth part of an Hin (k) An Hin containing six Pints so the fourth part of an Hin is a Pint and half or a Pint and half of pure Oil and a Pint and half of Wine (l) Which was to signifie that Christ by the Oblation of Himself for Us becomes not only Redemption but also Food Gladness and chearing Comfort to be poured upon it and all to be consumed by fire upon the Altar Upon their performance of these things God promises to meet with them there at the door (m) Duobus ergo locis Deus loquebatur primo super Arcam in Sto Storum secundo ad ostium Tabernaculi Utrique loco propinquum erat altare illi thymiamatis huic holocausti In utroque offerebatur juge Sacrificium mane vespere ad colendam illam dignationem praesentiae divinae Jans of the Tabernacle before which the Altar stood and to manifest his gracious Presence and reveal his will to them And by such manifestations of his Glory He would declare that He had made choice of the Tabernacle and Altar for holy Services to Himself and that He had set apart Aaron and his Sons to minister to Him in the Priests Office And He would by such evident Tokens of his Presence dwell (n) Quia Tabernaculum erat quasi tentorium Dei tanquam Principis in medio populi sui habitantis among them and would be their God and manifest his especial Favour to them in directing and protecting them Exod. 29. from vers 38. to the end 10ly Concerning the brasen Laver which was to be made with a foot or base of Brass (o) This was made of the Womens brasen Looking-glasses Exod. 38.8 'T is like the Women did set a piece of shining Brass or burnish'd Metal before their Faces when they dress'd themselves on which it was to stand and Aaron and his Sons before they ministred were to wash their Hands and Feet (p) Hence some collect that the Priests ministred in the Tabernacle being bare-foot or in slight Sandals out of it Probably it had spouts for the water to issue forth at and at the bottom some Vessel to receive the water which the Priests made use of For being lifted up upon its Foot or Base the Priests could not put their Feet into it but probably they were to wash in the water drawn from it and they were to be careful constantly to do it being threatned in case they omitted it with destruction by the Hand of the Lord. Exod. 30. from vers 17. to 22. 11ly Touching the setting apart of Aaron and his four Sons for the Priests Office and concerning the particular Ornaments and Vestments they were to use in their Ministration for their Glory and Honour and to make them more Venerable among the People and to be a sign of their Consecration and Sanctification unto God And these Garments were to be made by such as were wise-hearted and whom God had filled with the Spirit of Wisdom for such a purpose And first Concerning the sacred Attire and Ornaments of the High Priest which are methodically ranked Levit. 8.7 8 9. 1. Linnen Breeches or Drawers next his Flesh 2. A Coat of fine Linnen embroidered over them 3. An embroidered Girdle to gird it withall 4. Over this Coat and Girdle a Robe all of blue which was to have Bells and artificial Pomegranates intermingled in the hem of it that the sound of all the Bells being heard when he went into the holy Place to minister the people might second him with heart and mind in his Sacred Offices and the Lord threatneth death to him if he should enter otherwise into the most holy Place then thus apparalled and so through his disobedience and neglect of Gods Command should be an occasion of the peoples Irreverence and want of Devotion towards God 5. Upon this Robe He was to wear the Ephod which was to be made of Gold of Blue of Purple of Scarlet of fine twined Linnen and to have on the Shoulders thereof two Onix Stones set in ouches of Gold and graven with the Names of the twelve Tribes of Israel to intimate to them that God seeing their Names upon the Shoulders of the High Priest would remember the Covenant He had made with their Fathers and accordingly would do them good 6. To the Ephod with Chains of Gold and golden Rings was to be fastned the Breastplate of Judgment (q) So called because the High Priest did put it on when he inquired of the Lord for the people in doubtful cases to give a right judgment and he could not give Sentence in Judgment without that on his Breast and the Judgment given thereby was called the Judgment of Urim Numb 27.21 wherein were to be set four rows of precious Stones three in a row in which were to be ingraven the Names of the Tribes of the Children of Israel which Aaron was to bear upon his Breast when he went into the Sanctuary and in this Breast-plate was to be the Vrim and Thummim signifying Light and Perfection * Ut significarent in Doctore duo requiri Scientiam vitae puritatem Grot. by which some understand those rows of precious Stones in the Breast-plate before mentioned and so called not only in regard of their brightness and perfection but with respect unto their use which was that by them the High Priest might inquire of God for the people in doubtful Cases and might by the special Inspiration of the Spirit of God be inabled to return them an answer from God (r) Hence it is they say that in the 39. Ch. of Exod. where Moses doth exactly relate how all things were made according to Gods appointment there is no mention made of Urim and Thummin but only of the twelve precious Stones set in the Breast-plate because those Stones were usually called by the people the Urim and Thummim For 't is thought that he earnestly looking upon those rows of precious Stones with respect to the Divine Institution and thereby inviting the Spirit to come upon him his understanding was suddenly so illuminated that he gave a satisfactory Answer in all particulars to the Question propounded and in doubtful
their Bodies nor their Clothes were burnt to ashes vers 5. Moses justifies God before Aaron in this his severe and tremendous stroke declaring that He will be sanctified by them that come nigh him and before all the people He will be glorified see Exod. 19.22 thereby presenting unto Aaron two arguments against Murmuring 1. Because the punishment was just 2. Because God would be glorified thereby and both the people in general and Aaron's Posterity in particular should thereby receive great good and benefit Hereupon Aaron held his peace and laying his hand upon his mouth gave a notable instance of his Piety and quiet submission to the holy will and pleasure of God Then Moses commanded Mishael and Elzaphan Aaron's Cosin-Germans to carry forth their dead Bodies without the Camp and to bury them there And He charges Aaron and his two surviving Sons Eleazer and Ithamar not to mourn for them nor uncover their Heads by taking off their Miters or Bonnets which they wore in the execution of their Priestly-Office nor rend their Clothes nor go out from the door of the Tabernacle upon this sad occasion lest they die for it and thereby also bring wrath upon the people For this was an extraordinary Judgment of God that had befallen their Brothers and they were to testifie their submission thereunto by not openly lamenting their death And they being newly anointed and now at this time prepared for their first entring upon the execution of their Priestly Office they might not break off their Service to attend the burial of their Brothers Yet the whole House of Israel were commanded to lament and bewail this burning which the Lord in consuming Nadab and Abihu had kindled among them and thereby threatned them all if they sinned presumptuously Moses upon this occasion gives to Aaron and his Sons and their Successors a Command to abstain from Wine and strong Drink when they went to minister before the Lord lest they should thorow any distemper or indisposedness (o) From this Ordinance made on this occasion some conclude that Nadab and Abibu were raised up to this presumption thorow the fume of Wine or strong Drink that might arise therefore be disabled from the execution of their Function in the two main parts of it viz. in discerning betwixt Holy and Vnholy Clean and Vnclean and in teaching the Law to the people And that this severe stroke (p) Non satis probari potest eos aeternum damnatos Peccatum enim ipsum quod attinet ex infirmitate videtur commissum non prae ebrietate ut vult R. Solomoh Quicquid igitur peccati huic inadverientiae inerat id omne temporali poena plectitur ut post nihil poena id propter iis luendum restare videatur Freidlibius upon Nadab and Abihu might not so cast down Aaron and his Sons as to make them neglect their meat or intermit their Service or be less lightsome in it then before Moses encourages them to their duty by inviting them to participate of the Provisions of the Lords Table and to eat of the Meat-Offerings and of the Shoulder and Breast of the peoples Peace-Offerings according to the manner that God had prescribed It so happened at this time that Eleazar and Ithamar upon the suddain and dreadful death of their two Brothers had as it seems being under extremity of grief and sorrow burned the Goat of the Sin-Offering mentioned before Ch. 9. vers 15. without the Camp which should not have been done the blood thereof not being carried into the Tabernacle see Levit. 4.16 17. but it should have been eaten by the Priests see Levit. 6.26 30. Moses not knowing what was become of it diligently sought after it out of a care that Gods Ordinance should be exactly observed and the Priests Rights duly maintained and understanding what Eleazar and Ithamar had done He chides them for their failing therein But Aaron extenuates his own and his Sons fault as occasioned thorow grief and the pressure of those doleful things that had befallen them intimating that if they had then eaten of the Sin-Offering it would not have been acceptable to the Lord For that great heaviness and sorrow they were now under made them unfit to eat those holy things as the Lord required who would have them eaten with joyfulness in his Presence see Deut. 12.7 and Moses allows their excuse and so passes the matter by Levit. Ch. 10. whole Chapter SECT XXXIII HItherto we have seen the Laws that concerned the Sanctification of the Priests and the Rites and Ceremonies of the Sacrifices Now general Laws are given concerning the Sanctification of the people and first for avoiding that uncleanness which they might contract from things without them And in giving these Laws God spake both to Moses and Aaron because it belonged both to the Magistrate and the Priest to see them put in execution the Priest being to teach the difference between things clean and unclean see Ezek. 44.23 and the Magistrate to take care that this difference be observed and hence is that Numb 9.6 And certain men that were defiled by the dead body of a man that they could not keep the Passover on that day came before Moses c. First Then here are Laws given what Creatures were to be accounted clean and unclean and how they must not defile themselves either with eating or touching (q) As a moral admonition that they ought to refrain from all fellowship in evil see Isa 52.11 any unclean thing but must walk as an holy people of the most holy God The Laws concerning Creatures which are to be accounted clean (r) No doubt but this distinction of clean and unclean Beasts was by revelation made known to the Fathers from the first whence that direction is given to Noah immediately before the Flood Gen. 7.2 but this seems only in respect of Sacrifices for as to eating or not eating it seems they had no distinction then of clean and unclean Beasts Gen. 9.3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you even as the green herb have I given you all things But now by this Law the Israelites are forbidden the eating of divers meats both Flesh and Fowl and Fish as unclean and that possibly to inure this stubborn people to an absolute dependance on Gods Word and Will in all things as also to restrain them from that which was usually eaten among the Gentiles and to mind them of the difference God had put between them and all other Nations and the special purity He requir'd of them above all other people see Levit. 20.25 26. And therefore the Apostle reckons this among the the legal shadows Acts 2.16 17. Let no man judge you in meat or drink c. which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ See also Acts 10.15 or unclean as to Food may be reduced to these three heads First Concerning fourfooted-Beasts Those are to be accounted clean
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
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
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
that oath so long as Darius lived Alexander being very angry hereat swore that as soon as he had taken Tyre he would march against that City Accordingly as soon as he had taken Tyre he marched forthwith into Judea going in person against those places that would not of themselves submit But when he was upon his march to Jerusalem Jaddus the High Priest terrified with his former threats and now more especially fearing his rage betakes himself to God by prayer and was by him warned in a dream that he should make Holy-day in the City and set wide open the Gates and that he and the rest of the Priests every one in his Priestly Vâ—stments and the people all cloth'd in white should go forth to meet him Alexander seeing this company coming meets them and lighting from his horse prostrates himself before the High Priest and adores that God whose name he saw engraven on the golden plate of his Miter At which all his followers being amazed Parmenio askt him the reason thereof to whom he answered That he worshipped not the Priest but the God whom he served for that whilst he was in Greece and consulted about his Expedition into Asia such a man as this and so attired appeaâ—â—d to him and advis'd him to it and promis'd him success Then going up to the City he ascended to the Temple and sacrificed to God as the Priests directed him There they shewed him the Prophesie of Daniel wherein was foretold that a Grecian should obtain the Empire of the Persians he accounting himself the man exceedingly rejoyced thereat and the next day offered the Jews whatsover they would ask of him They requested that they might live after their own laws and customs and that on every seventh year in which they sowed not they might pay no tribute All which he readily granted them He offered them also if they would follow him the free exercise of their Religion whereupon many presently listed themselves to serve him Then leading his forces to the neighbouring Cities he was friendly received by them Having now got all the Towns of Palestine into his hands except Gaza which held out against him he came with his forces and sat down before it after two months he took it himself having received two wounds during the siege The men were slain to the number of 10000 the women and children made slaves furnishing the City with a new Colony gathered out of the places adjacent he made it a Garrison and Magazine for himself Curtius Lib. 4. C. 10. After this he marches for Egypt subdues it builds Alexandria goeth to the Temple of Jupiter Hammon and at his return the war yet depending with Darius he removed to Tyre from thence he passes Euphrates to meet with Darius and beats him again at the Battel at Arbela or Gaugamela and so was declared King of Asia Darius thus vanquished was forced to fly and wandring up and down at last was betrayed by his own servants among whom Bessus was chief and being ignominiously bound with fetters and mortally wounded by them he died after he had reigned seven years And thus the Persian Empire was dissolved when it had lasted about 203 years A. M. 3675. ante C. N. 328. Alexander reigned six years and ten months after the death of Darius as Emperour of the East and then falling into a Fever at Babylon drawn upon himself by intemperate drinking He died A. M. 3681 ante C.N. 322 * About this time and something after flourished many Schools of Greek Philosophers viz. the Academicks Peripateticks Stoicks Epicureans Cynicks Scepticks of whom it is not our business now to speak After Alexander's death his Empire was shared among his great Commanders and was divided for the main into four Kingdoms viz. 1. the Kingdom of Macedonia 2. of Asia Minor 3. of Syria 4. of Egypt These two last the one lying North of the other South of Judea did often grievously afflict that poor people lying between them After Jaddus his Son Onias succeeded him in the Priesthood at Jerusalem Ptolemaeus Lagi the first King of Egypt after Alexander's death subdued Palestine and got Jerusalem by a slight * Viz. He entreth Jerusalem on a Sabbath-day under pretense to sacrifice and then surprizes the City and carried thence a vast number of Jews into Egypt out of which he selected many and took them into his army upon greater pay than ordinary And finding that the Jews were most strict observers of any Oaths they had taken he committed many of his Garrisons and Castles to their custody And he placed many of them in Alexandria suffering them to enjoy the same priviledges with the Macedonians He sent many of them also to inhabit Cyrene from whom 't is probable Simon the Cyrenian who bare the Cross of Christ descended Mat. 27.32 And other Cyrenian Jews of whom mention is made Act. 2.10 and Ch. 6.9 Others of the Jews whom he brought out of Judea with him into Egypt he gave away for slaves among his Soldiers not so much of his own inclination as upon their importunity who desired to have them rather than any other for their necessary uses and attendance in things belonging to the war Simon or Simeon the Just succeeded Onias in the Priesthood he was so called because of his great zeal and servency in the worship of God and the exceeding love he ever exprest to his Country-men the Jews About this time as 't is probable arose those three famous Sects of Pharisees Sadduces and Essenes †Among the Jews there were some who thought they ought only to live by the prescript of the Law neither above nor below it Others thought they were not to act according to the bare letter of the Law but according to such consequences as might be deduced from it and accordingly performed over and above what the Law required in the service of God Those that stood to the letter of the Law were called Kerraim Those that besides the letter of the Law did works of Supererogation were named Hasidim or Sancti and afterwards they grew into a body call'd Hasidaeans As long as this voluntary and supererogatory service was free and spontaneous there was no schism but when this Doctrine of the Hasidaeans came to be digested into precepts and Canons many doubts and disputes daily arose whence two Sects had their original One which allowed only the Law it self and another which embraced the glosses and interpretations of it From the latter being that of the Hasidaeans sprang up some who called themselves Peruschim or Separate as those who by reason of their holiness were not only distinct and separated from the vulgar but from others also who would not come up to their strict rules and injunctions These Peruschim came by Greek writers to be called Pharisaei Now as out of the Hasidaeans arose the Pharisees so from among the Karraim the Sadduces so named from Sadoc Antigonus the Master of this Sadoc and Scholar
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
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
own Country he presently found some who out of desire of Innovation sided with him among whom was Pitholaus the Governour of Jerusalem who left the Romans and revolted to him with a thousand men He quickly got together 8000 men well armed so that when the Romans followed him he gave them Battel in which he fought stoutly till his men being over-powered 5000 of them were slain upon the place near 2000 fled to a certain Mountain from whence they got away and provided for their own safety as well as they could The rest with Aristobulus fled to Machaerus and began to fortifie the Castle but being not able to hold out the siege above two days having received many wounds he was taken Prisoner with his Son Antigonus and brought to Gabinius who sent them both to Rome The Senate kept him Prisoner but sent his Son immediately back again into Judea because they understood by Gabinius's Letters that he had promised his Mother so much for the delivery of the Castles Gabinius now prepared an expedition against the Parthians but passing over Euphrates was hired by Ptol. Auletes who brought Letters to him from Pompey to reduce him into his Kingdom In this expedition he made use of Hircanus especially Antipater who furnished him with Supplies both of men and Provision and prevailed with the Jews inhabiting about Pelusium to give him passage and so he presently became Master of Egypt which he delivered to Ptolemy During his absence and tarrying in Egypt Alexander the Son of Aristobulus seized upon the Government and having gotten together a great number of the Jews he put to death all the Romans he could meet with and besieged all those that fled to mount Gerizim Gabinius sent Antipater before knowing his great Wisdom to see if he could reduce the people to obedience and he effected it with many But Alexander having gotten together an army of 30000 Jews he came out and gave battel to the Romans near the mountain Isabyr in which Fight the Jews lost ten thousand men Then Gabinius having ordered the affairs of the City of Jerusalem by Antipater's advice went against the Nabathaeans whom he overcame in one Battel Then returning to Rome he left his Province to Crassus his Successor Crassus intended first an Expedition against the Parthians but hearing of the Riches of the Temple which Pompey like a brave and gallant man had left untouch'd he turned aside into Palestine and came to Jerusalem and spoiled the Temple not only of those 2000 Talents which Pompey had spared but of all the Gold which he found there besides which amounted to the Sum of 8000 Talents more tho' Eleazer the Treasurer had given him a Beam of Gold weighing 750 common pounds as a ransom for all the rest and he had bound himself by an Oath therewith to be satisfied and not to meddle with any thing else but going against the Parthians he received the reward of his Sacriledge and Perjury for there he lost his life Crassus being dead one Head of Varro's three-headed Faction was cut off and a Foundation laid of the Civil Wars between Pompey and Cesar Cassius who was Treasurer to Crassus and he that together with Brutus afterwards killed Julius Cesar now took on him the Government of Syria He being come to Tyre visited also Judea and therein took Tarichaea and led from thence many of the Jews Prisoners and slew Pitholaus who had assisted Aristobulus at the desire of Antipater who now grew very considerable having entred into Confederacy and Allyance with divers Princes especially with the Arabian out of whose Country he had married a Wife of Noble Extraction by name Cypris by whom he had four Sons Phasaelus Herod Joseph and Pheroras and a Daughter named Solome His Sons he sent into Arabia and committed them to the Custody of the King thereof whilst he was engaged in the War with Aristobulus The Civil Wars between Pompey and Caesar now beginning and Pompey being driven beyond the Ionian Sea and Cesar having got Rome into his power he set Aristobulus at liberty and with two Legions sent him back into Syria hoping that all that Country round about Judea might be brought under by him yet he was frustrated of his hopes Aristobulus being poisoned by the Pompeians in the way and buried after by the Cesareans in the Sepulchre of his Ancestors This Expedition proved fatal not only to Aristobulus but to his son Alexander also who was beheaded by Scipio at Antioch by order from Pompey beig first arraigned and condemned for what he had done against the Romans Ptolemy Mennaeus the Governour of Chalcis under Mount Libanus sent Philippio his Son to Ascalon to Aristobulus's Wife for her Son Antigonus and her two Daughters and courteously entertained them the youngest of which named Alexandra Philippio fell in love with and married But Ptolemy's Passion overcoming both Reason and Nature he killed his Son and took the Lady to himself Pompey being now murdered on the Egyptian shore Antipater betook himself to Cesar as his Interest led him and by his great services purchased his favour Cesar Warring with young Ptolemy in Egypt after the death of Pompey Antipater joyned with Mithridates of Pergamus who went down thither to him with supplies and brought a supply of 3000 Jews for his assistance At Pelusium he did special service being the first that broke down the Wall and entred And whereas the Jews inhabiting the Country of Onias hindred them from going any further he prevailed with them not to oppose Cesar yea to furnish his Army with Provisions At the Battel at Delia he recovered the Battel almost lost by Mithridates and afterwards behaved himself very gallanty for Cesar having received many wounds as the tokens of his valour Antigonus the Son of Aristobulus coming unto Cesar complained to him of the hard Fate his Father had met with for taking his side that he was poisoned by the Pompeians and his Brother beheaded by Scipio he desired him that he would have pity on him being cast out of his Fathers Kingdom He also accused Hircanus and Antipater that they had by force got the Government But Antipater so pleaded his cause and indeed the Wounds he had received and the pains he had taken in Cesars service so pleaded for him that Cesar confirmed Hircanus in the High-Priesthood and offer'd Antipater what Government he would desire and made him Procurator of Judea and gave him leave to re-build the walls of Jerusalem thrown down by Pompey and caused these Grants to be registred in the Capitol and seconded them with divers decrees made both by himself and the Senate in favour of him and the Jews Antipater then bringing Cesar on in his Journey as far as the borders of Syria returned and fell to building up the walls of Jerusalem and going about the Country by threatnings and other Policy contained the people in obedience otherwise ready to Rebel Hircanus being heavy and dull and unfit to manage the
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