greater difference in the rest which cannot be ascribed to the long abstinence from Marriage upon Religious respect as we see in holy Enoch Noah's Brethren perished in the Flood and so might some unnamed Children begotten before the three named being 500 Years old before § 5. The Patriarchs Years have been questioned some holding them Lunary or Egyptian but that cannot be for then some should beget Children at 6 7 or 8 Years old and the Eldest should live not 100 Years which is short of many after the Flood yea long since Pliny witnesseth under Vespasian in a search many were found above 120 and some 140 Years Old Simple Diet and temperate Life made the Essaeans Egyptian Priests Persian Magicians Indian Brachmans live long saith Iosephus Pliny reports Nestor's 3 Ages Tyresia's 6 Sybils 300 Years Endymion's little less Ant. Fumea a good Historian reports of an Indian above 300 Years Old and my self knew the old Countess of Desmond An. 1589 who lived many Years after who had been married in the Reign of King Edw. 4. To conclude there are three things not to speak of Constellations which are natural Causes of long and healthful Life Strong Parents pure Air and temperate use of Dyet Pleasure and Rest all which excelled in the First Ages And though the Flood infused an impure quality into the Earth to hurt the means of Man's Life yet Time hath more consumed Natures Vigour as that which hath made the Heavens wax old like a Garment Hereto add our strange Education of Children upon unnatural Curiosity nourished by a strange Dugg Hasty Marriage before Natures Seed be ripe or Stock well rooted to yield a Branch fit to replant But above all the Luxury of latter Ages which wilfully oppresseth Nature and then thinks to relieve her with strong Waters hot Spices Sauces c. § 6. The Patriarchs knowledge of the Creation might well come by Tradition from Adam to Moses seeing Methusalem lived with Adam 243 Years and with Noah 500 Years and he with Abraham 58 Years from whom it was not hard to pass by Isaac Iacob and his Posterity to Moses Yet for the more certainty of the Truth it was undoubtedly delivered to Moses by immediate Inspiration of the Holy Ghost as his many Miracles do prove Questionless also Letters were from the Infancy of the World as Enoch's Pillars and his Prophecy witness of which part was found in Saba saith Origen and Tertullian read some Pages neither can it be denyed there was such saith Augustine § 7. The Patriarchs Lives were lightly passed over 'till Enoch whose Piety is commended and his leaving the World not by Death Whether his Change were such as shall be at the last day let Divines judge Lamech's Prophecy of his Son Noah is touch'd upon but Noah's Life is handled more amply The Wisdom Policy and Wars of that World were no doubt great as may be gathered Gen. 5.4 but the Universal Impiety which brought the Universal Destruction deserved that the Memory of their Actions should be drowned with their Bodies It were madness to imagine the Sons of God spoken of Gen. 5.24 were good Angels which begat Giants on Women as Iosephus dreamt and deceived Lactantius Confuted by Augustine and Chrysostom § 8. The Giants spoken of Gen. 5. Becanus strains his Wit to prove they were not such properly but so called for their Oppression But Moses calling them Mighty which argueth extraordinary Strength and Men of Renown and great undertaking there is more Reason to hold them Giants in a proper sense especially considering what Scripture Reporteth of such in the Days of Abraham Moses and Ioshua David c. yea of whole Kindreds and Countries If such were found in the Third and Fourth Ages of the Worlds decay there is no Reason to doubt thereof in the First and Second flourishing Ages From this Story grew the Conceit That Giants were the Sons of Heaven and Earth And from Nimrod grew the Tale of Giants casting up Mountains to the top of Heaven CHAP. VI. The Original of Idolatry and Reliques of Antiquity in Fables §. 1 THE Greeks and others corrupting the Story of the Creation and mingling their Fables with them suppos'd that After-Ages would take those Discourses of God and Nature for Inventions of Philosophers and Poets But as skilful Chymists can extract healthful Medicines out of Poison and Poison out of wholsome Herbs c. so may much Truth be found out of those Fables §. 2 The Antiquity of Corruption was even from Noah's Family For the liberal Grace of God being withdrawn after Man's Fall such a perpetual Eclipse of spiritual things follow'd and produc'd such effects as the general Deluge could not cleanse them even in the selected Family of Noah wherein were found those that renewed the Defection from God for which they had seen the Worlds destruction Hence the Caldeans Egyptians and Phaenicians soon after became Idolaters and the Greeks received their 12 Gods from Egypt and erected to them Altars Images and Temples saith Herodotus §. 3 As Men departed out of the way of Truth stray on in unknown Vices to Eternal Perdition so these blind Idolaters being fallen from the God of Heaven to seek God's on Earth to Worship beginning with Men they proceed to Beasts Fouls Fishes Trees Herbs the Four Elements Winds Morning Evening Stars Yea Affections Passions Sorrow Sickness besides Spirits infernal and among Terrestrials even the basest wanted not divine Honour as Dogs Cats Swine Leeks Onions c. which barbarous Blasphemy Iuvenal thus derided O happy Nations which of their own sowing Have store of Gods in every Garden growing § 4. Of Iupiter and other Gods That Egypt had knowledge of the First Age by Misraim the Son of Cham who had lived 100 Years in it we doubt not Having therefore learned that Cain did first build Cities they made him ancient Iupiter whom the Athenians also called Pollyeus and Herceios Founder and Fortifier of Cities This Iupiter married his Sister as did Cain His Father Adam they made Saturn and his Sons Iubal Tubal and Tubal-Cain were made Mercury Vulcan and Apollo Inventers of Pastorage Smiths-craft and Musick Naome Augustine expounds Venusta which was Venus Vulcan's Wife and Eva was Rhea the Dragon which kept the Golden Apple was the Serpent that beguiled Eva. Paradise was the Garden of Hesperides So Saturn's dividing the World between Three Sons came of Noah and his Sons and Nimrod's Tower was the attempt of Giants against Heaven The Egyptians also Worshipped Seth as their most Ancient Parent from whom they called their chief Province Setheitica and in Bithinia we â—ind the City Cethia § 5. Of the Three Chief Iupiters the First was Son of Aether Dies the Second of Coelum an Arcadian and King of Athens the Third Famous in the Greek Fables was of Creet or Candia as some say but there is no certainty c. § 6. Iupiter Chammon more Ancient than all the Grecian Iupiters was Cham Father
Heathens concerning God 31 8. Heathenism and Iudaism when destroy'd 32 9. Satans last Refuge 33 CHAP. VII Of Noah's Flood § 1 2 3. God's forewarning of it neither Ogyges's Flood nor that of Ducalion nor that of the Umbri was Noah's 34 35 3 4. Some Records of the Vniversal Island Noah's Flood supernatural ibid. 6. No need of new Created Waters What the Chataracts of Heaven are ibid. 8 9 10. Noah's Memory among the Heathen His Ark was of sufficient capacity rested upon the Hills Taurus 36 37 38. CHAP. VIII The Planting of Nations Noah's Sons which the Eldest 45 § 1. Whether Shem or Ham Elder than Japhet ibid. 2. All Histories must yield to Moses Lords of the first Ages were of the Issue of Ham. 45 3 4. Of the Isles of the Gentiles Of Gog Magog Tubal and Mesech 46 5 6 7 8 9 Berosus's Fiction Gomer and Togarma setled in the East Of the other Sons of Japhet Of Ascanes and Riphath Gomer's Eldest Son Of the four Sons of Javan 47 48 49. 10. Cush the Eldest Son of Ham was in Arabia 50 11. Mizraim chief Planter of Aegypt 52. 12. The Bounds of Canaan his Eleven Sons where situated ibid. 13. The Sons of Cush 54 14. The Issue of Mizraim 55 15. Sem's Posterity 56 CHAP. IX The Beginning and Establishment of Government 58 Sect. 1. Of Regal Absolute and Regal tempered by Laws 59 2. The approved sorts of Government 60 3. The good Government of the first Kings ibid. 4. The Original of Nobility 61 CHAP. X. Of Nimrod Belus and Ninus 62 Sect. 1 2 3 4. Nimrod first Sovereign after the Flood Built Ninive Established the Babylonian Monarchy 63 5 6 7 8. Of Ninus and Belus in whose time Image-Worship began The first Idolater 64 65 CHAP. XI Of Ninus Semiramis and Belus ibid. BOOK II. From Abraham's Death to the Destruction of Solomon's Temple which was 1525 Years 67 CHAP. I. The time of Abraham's Birth and Order of the Assyrian Empire ibid. Sect. 1 2 3. Some Successors of Semiramis and of the Birth of Abraham 68 4. Terah begat Abraham in his 130th Year 69 5 6 7. Answers to several Objections about Abraham's Age. 70 71 8. The Assyrian times regulated by Abraham's History ibid. 9. Amraphel probably was Ninias 72 10 11. Arioth King of Alassar Tidal King of Nations 73 12. Chedorlaomer chief of the Four 74 CHAP. II. Of the Kings of Egypt from Cham to the Delivery of the Israelites 75 Sect. 1. The Kings of Egypt and the causes of the uncertainty of the History ibid. 2. C ham began his Reign in Egypt after the Flood Anno 191. ibid. 3. The Dynasties were not Kings but Vice-Roys 76 4. Cham and Mizraim or Oris ibid. 5 6. Osiris's Reign guess'd at Typhon and Hercules their Reigns 77 7 8. Busiris or Orus's Reign Rathoris succeeded his Sister 78 CHAP. III. Israel's delivery out of Egypt 79 Sect. 1. Israel's Captivity and Moses's Birth ibid. 2. Cities of Egypt in Scripture ibid. 3 4 5. Moses's Preservation and Education Pharaoh and his Army drowned and Moses's Passage Miraculous 80 81. CHAP. IV. § 1. The Israelites Journey from the Red Sea to Sinai 83 2. Of the Amalekites Midianites Kenites and of Jethro ibid. 3. When the Law was given 84 CHAP. V. §. 1 The Story from receiving the Law to Moses's death 84. 2. The Offering of the Twelve Princes The Passover and Jethro's departure 85 3. Israel's Iourney from Horeb to Kades 86 4. Their unwillingness to return they remove to Zin 87 5 6. They turn to the North. ibid. 7. Of the Book of the Lord's Battels and other lost Books 88. 8. Moses sparing Lot's Issue 89 9. The Midianites and Moabites corrupt Israel ibid. CHAP. VI. Of the Bordering Nations Of other Renowned Men and of Iushua's Acts. 90 Sect. 1. How the bordering Nations were prepared to be Enemies to Israel ibid. 2 3. Of the Kings of the Canaanites and Moabites Of the Midianites Amalekites and Ismaelites 91 4 5 6 7. Prometheus Atlas Pelasgus Ducalion Hermies Aesculapius when they flourished 92 93 94 95. 8. Of Joshua Othoniel and his Cotemporaries 96 CHAP. VII Sect. 1 2. Of the Phoenician Kingdom and the Invention of Letters 99. 3 4. The Kings of the Ten Tribes from Jeroboam to Achab. 101. CHAP. VIII The History of the Syrians bordering their Tribes on Jordan 103 CHAP IX Memorable things from Joshua to Jeptha 107 CHAP. X. The War and Destruction of Troy 114 CHAP. XI Of Samson Eli and Samuel 117 CHAP. XII Of Saul the First King of Israel 120 CHAP. XIII Of David and his condition under Saul his Reign overthrows the Philistins and Hadadezar his Troubles last Acts his vast Treasure his Cotemporaries 126 CHAP. XIV Of Solomon Anno Mundi 2991. His Building and Glory sends a Fleet to Ophir his Fall Writings and Cotemporaries 133 CHAP. XV. Solomon's Successors to Jehoram Rehoboam's Impiety Punishment End and Cotemporaries Abija succeeds Rehoboam Asa succeeds Abija Israel unhappy under her Princes Jehosaphat succeeds Asa. His Cotemporaries 136 CHAP. XVI Of Jehoram and Ahaziah Jehoram's Reign alone Ahaziah perished with the House of Ahab 143 CHAP. XVII Athaliah's Vsurpation and Government for 6 Years 149 CHAP. XVIII Of Joash Amaziah and their Cotemporaries the Death of Jehojada and Apostacy of Joash Zachariah murdered by Joash The Death of Joash who is succeeded by Amaziah who is overthrown by Joash and afterwards slain An interregnum in Iudah Of Amaziah's Cotemporaries and of Sardanapalus 153 CHAP. XIX Of Uzziah and his Cotemporaries the end of his Reign and Life Of the Olympian Games Jothan and his Cotemporaries Achas and his Cotemporaries 165 CHAP. XX. Of Italy and Rome's Foundation The Aborigines The Latin Kings 'till Aeneas a Trojan of the Blood Royal The beginning of Rome Romulus's Birth and Death 171 CHAP. XXI Of Hezekiah and his Cotemporaries his Deliverance his Sickness and Recovery Kings in Media in his Reign 175 CHAP. XXII Egyptian Kings from Moses to Hezekiah many of which were only Regents or Vice-Roys 177 CHAP. XXIII Of Manasses who succeeded Sethon and his Cotemporaries his Bondage and Enlargement The Messenian Wars 181 CHAP. XXIV Of Ammon Josiah and the rest to the Destruction of Jerusalem 187 BOOK III. From the Destruction of Ierusalem to Philip of Macedon 197 CHAP. I. From the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Assyrian Fall The Connection of Sacred and Prophane History The Babylonish Captivity several Opinions concerning it Nebuchadnezzar's Victories and Actions 197 CHAP. II. The Persian Greatness how it grew 204. CHAP. III. Cyrus the first Persian Monarch He takes Babylon His last Wars His Decree for Building God's Temple His two Sons and three Daughters 206 CHAP. IV. The Persian Affairs from Cyrus to Darius 110 CHAP. V. Darius the Son of Histaspes his Actions and Death 212 CAHP. VI. Xerxes Emperour of Persia his vast Army Opposed by Leonidas burnt the Temple of Athens The Peloponesians beat his Fleet. His Army is soon after Vanquish'd
expulsion of Natives and that every Man began to desire a distinct place and disliked to live in Common Phaleg Son of Heber in whose time fell the division of Tongues which the Hebrews refer to his Death Anno 340 after the Flood for at his Birth Anno 101 there could be no multitude to divide They say farther that Heber gave Phaleg his name by Prophesy foreseeing the division to come But Heber might without Prophecy foresee the division of Families would grow upon the encrease of the World besides Phaleg might change his Name upon that occasion as Iacob into Israel long before he died For his death fell in Ninus's days but 12 Years before Abraham whereas the division had been long before and the Multitudes were infinite in Ninus's days Ioctan Heber's other Son had thirteen Sons all inhabiting from Copuz or Coas a Branch of Indus into the East saith Ierom but their particular places are uncertain Sheba or Seba one of them may be he of whom Dionysius Apher writing of East India saith The Sabaei and Taxili do dwell in the midst of them As for the Sabeans which sprang of Chush we found them in Arabia and many will place Shaba Abraham's Grand-Child there in Arabia Deserta where Ptolomy places a City of his Name whose Inhabitants pillag'd Iob. Iob 1.15 Opher another of Ioctan's Sons Ierom placeth in an Island of East India and indeed Opher is found among the Molucks Ar. Montanus and Diessis seek it in Peru of America and Iunius taketh Barbatia in Characene a Province in Susiana to be it corrupted from Parvaim to Barbatia As for Peru Iucatan c. in America they are late mistaken Names Havilah another of Ioctan's Sons is thought to Inhabit the Continent of East-India watred by the River Ganges as the Country of Havilah the Son of Chush was watred by Pison West of Tygris or rather to Shur But if the common Opinion of Ierom be true Ioctan and his Posterity setled about Mesech or the Hill Masius between Cilicia and Mesopotamia And that these Three Sons or their Issue went afterwards into East-India As for Sepher a Mountain of the East as Ierom looks for it in East-India so Montanus in the West maketh it Andes in America But for Moses Sepher we find Sipphora placed by Ptolomy on the East side of Masius neither is it strange to say Mesopotamia is in the East Numb 23.7 This Order of Plantation which I have followed doth best agree with the Scripture Reason and Probalities which Guides I follow little esteeming Mens private Opinions CHAP. IX Of the Beginning and Establishment of Government § 1. GOvernment hitherto in the World was only Paternity and Eldership from which the word Elder was used as well for Governours as the Aged to shew that the Wisdom of Years should be in Governours the first Government being from the Father to the Elder Son Hence grew Segnour and Segnourie for Lordship and Dominion which is Puissance in Property and Power Power having command of Subjects as Property hath Mastership of Servants Caesar hath Power to Command whatever a Man possesseth but Property only in his own When Paternal persuasion grew too weak to resist Inclination to Evil and to Correct it when it grew Habitual Necessity which bindeth all Mortals made both the Wise and Foolish at once to perceive that the Estate of Men would prove more miserable than that of Beasts if a general Obedience to Order and Dominion did not prevent it and that licentious Disorder promising Liberty upon Tryal would prove no less dangerous to all than an intolerable Bondage Necessity propounds and Reason confirms this Argument All Nations were persuaded to submit to a Master or Magistrate in some degree which Change was pleasing when compared with former Mischiefs in want of Government Yet Time brought out therein some Inconveniences which Necessity also sought to avoid and thereupon thought upon some equal Rules to limit Dominion which before was lawless Laws being then set for Government acquired the Title of Regal Power or Government and want thereof was known to be Tyrannical the one Ordained by God for his People's good the other permitted to afflict them In this Infancy of Regal Authority Princes Iust and Religious were esteemed Gods said Fabius Pictor And though Necessity and Reason seem Authors of Government yet God kindled this Light in the Minds of Men and set them a Pattern in the Law of Nature wherein they see Bees Cranes Deer c. to follow a Leader and God in his Word taketh it upon him to appoint Government Prov. 8.15 Dan. 2.21 and 5.21 Iohn 19.21 § 2. What was the Government before the Flood more than Paternal is uncertain or from what better kind of publick Government the Tyranny of that Age did grow After the Flood Three sorts of Government are found approved 1st The Government by one Ruling by Just Laws called Monarchy opposed to Tyranny 2 dly The Government by divers principal Persons Established by Order and Ruling by Laws call'd Aristocracy opposed by Oligarchy in Usurpation of a few 3. The Government of the People called Democracy opposed to Ochlocracy which is a tumultuous Will of a confused Multitude without Law The Eldest of every Family at the first set Order to his Issue and upon increase planted them about him in one Field of which grew Villages then followed Society by divers Villages called Pagus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a Fountain for that all these Villages drank of the same Fountain like our Hundreds And when Malice Pride and Emulation set one Race against another Men joined divers Villages which had Banks and Ditches for defence calling it Oppidum as opposed to their Enemies Vrbs ab Orbe a Circuit first made with a Plough said Varro which word was first used for the Walls and Buildings as Civitas for the Inhabitants but were after confounded yet every Inhabitant is not properly a Citizen but he which hath the Freedom and Priviledges of it and is capable of bearing Rule in it And as Cities grew by Association of Villages so did Common-Weals by Association of Cities § 3. The First Age after the Flood was called Golden while Ambition and Avarice c. were in the Blade Men being more plain simple and contented yet in respect of Government they were as the following Ages in which as good Kings made Golden times so the contrary yea Princes Beginnings are commonly Golden in which their Game is commonly smoothly plaid but Time shrinks their Hearts and small Errors at first breed greater as it is also in every Man's Life his Youth is Golden which when Time hath eaten up and bred such alteration we praise what is past It is the Vice of our Malignity to extol the past and loath the present such inquire not wisely said Ecclesiasticus Our Ancestors have we and our Children will make the same Complaints and what is new shall be old saith Arnobius The Virtue of Kings
Sophocles And though Papists say that Heathen Images are instead of Letters yet as Heathen Pictures proved notorious Idols so those Stocks Stones c. called Pictures of Christ our Lady c. were by the Ignorant not only Worshipped but thought to live It is safest then for Christians to believe Gods Commandments directly against Images and that which the Prophets and St. Paul speak plainly and convincingly § 8. Ninus the first Idolater an Invader of others and publick Adulterer Of whom nothing is certain which is written for Berosus who chiefly followed him in the Assyrian Succession from Nimrod to Ascalodius in the days of Ioshua is disproved by many Ctesias who lived with Cyrus the Younger a gross flatterer of Princes speaks of incredible numbers in Ninus and Semiramis's Wars He with the help of Aricus King of Arabia subdued Syria Barzanes of Armenia and Zoroaster of Bactria at his second Expedition by the Valour of Semiramis whom he took from Menon her Husband who for Grief drowned himself CHAP. XI Of Ninus Semiramis and Belus § 1. NINVS finished Ninive as Semiramis did Babel began by Nimrod Ninive Four Hundred Forty Furlongs in Circuit the Wall an Hundred Foot high and had One Thousand Five Hundred Towers yet Semiramis exceeded him in Babylon § 2. Ninus Dyed after 52 Years Reign Anno Mundi 2019. Plutarch Reports he gave Semiramis one days absolute Rule as she desired in which she commanded his Death She saith Iustin was so like Ninias her Son as that she took upon her to Personate him but it is highly improbable considering she Reigned 42 Years and used her own Name § 3. Semiramis as to her Parentage and Education is variously Reported but not determined by any Author § 4. Her Indian Expedition if Ctesias were worthy of Credit would yet burthen any Mans faith to believe she had Three Millions of Foot One of Horse Two Hundred Thousand Charets and Camels Mounted All which Power perished with her by the hand of Stenobates § 5. Belus's Temple Built by her Four Square a Mile high by Eight Ascents each a Furlong high and of lesser Circuits on whose top the Chaldean Priests observed the Stars Many take the Ruins of it made by Xerxes for Nimrod's Tower c. See Pyramids of Egypt THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK II. Part I. FROM Abraham's Birth to the Destruction of Solomon's Temple which was 1525 Years CHAP. I. Of the time of Abraham's Birth and Order of the Assyrian Empire NINEAS or Zameis succeeded Semiramis in the Empire altogether Effeminate and unlike to Conquer Bactria as Berosus reports contrary to Diodorus Iustinus Orosius and all others He changed Governours Yearly out of Jealousie of them Arrius succeeded whom Suidas calls Tâ—uras He only reduced the Revolted Bactrians Aralius succeeded sumptuous in Jewels and the Inventer of some Warlike Engines Baleus Xerxes succeeded The Date and Term of these Assyrian Kings Reigns are best found out by the times of Abraham and his Posterity set down by Scriptures which are only void of Errors whereto all other Writings are subject No marvel then if in the Ancient Affairs History want assurance said Plutarch Abraham's Birth Year is therefore forc't to be ascertained all agree it was in the 43 d of Ninus but the Disagreement between Chronologers is about the Year after the Flood in which he was Born Archilochus de Temporibus in Annius maketh but 250 Years from the Flood to Ninus whereto add 43 which make 293 Years at Abraham's Birth Others do accompt 352 from the Flood to Abraham In this Labyrinth and unresolved Question I chuse rather the scandal of Novelty than sluggishly to proceed in that easie way of Ancient mistaking seeing to be Learned in many Errours or to be ignorant in all things hath little advantage of each other § 2. Arguments for the First Date of 293. § First they Argue from Scripture Secondly from Authority of Iosephus Augustine Beda Isidore and others First The Scripture is Gen. 11.26 when Abraham is first Named the Worthiest and Son of the Promise therefore First-born Secondly Moses respected the History of Abraham not Nahor Thirdly If Abraham were not the First-born his Birth is uncertain Fourthly Unprobable Terah had a Child at 130 Years of Age. § 3. Answer to the Objections § Leaving what Divines have Answered to scan this Question we are to consider whether Abraham made two Journies from Charran unto Canaan the former before the latter after his Fathers Death as some conceive upon what is said Heb. 11.3 Against this fancy Martyr Stephen Witnesseth that God brought him into the Land after his Father was Dead This can be no other than that of which Moses writ Gen. 12. as Beza proveth on Act. 7.2 c. For as Stephen had none of whom to Learn the Story of Abraham's Life but Moses so he would not give so great a scandal to the Iews therein to disagree with Moses Secondly Consider the Journey from Charran to Canaan distant Three Hundred English Miles unknown to him and tedious over Mountains and Desarts which he must pass three times in two Journies and so make Nine Hundred Miles besides his Travel from Vr to Charran as much more And consider the Train Abraham had with him Gen. 12.5 which shew no inclinations of returning to Dwell at Charran till his Fathers Death as 't is plain Act. 7.4 when also by their account Abraham must be about 135 Years Old and Isaac also must be about 35 When he might well have Married him and not send 5 Years after thereabout on such a Journey Neither can this Opinion agree with that which Abraham's Servant Reported to Laban touching his Master which he could not be ignorant of if he had been so lately there Moses hath carefully set down all Abraham's Journies most of them of less importance than this neither can any reason be given why Abraham did return this second time to Charran but only to support their Opinions § 4. To the Objection of Terah's Age unâ—it for a Child as Abraham was at One Hundred Gen. 18 11. it is hardly worth answering but if they consider Sarah's the wonder was in her own disability not Abraham's who had divers Sons 37 Years after yea many Ages after that Boaz Obed and Iesse Begat Sons at 200 Years or there about § 5. To the Objection of making Abraham's Age uncertain and so the succeeding Times I Answer Abraham's Age is as certain as any other from his Father's death as if his Birth had been dated For as St. Stephen tells us his departure followed his Father's death so Moses recordeth his Age to be 75 Years and his Father's 205 at his Death To the Objection that Moses respected not Nahor and Haran to set out their Age as he did Abraham's I Answer There were great Reasons to respect them also considering the Church of God was to spring out of them by Abraham Isaac and Iacob's Marrying with them And though they had Worshipped
strange God's as Terah himself Ios. 24. Yet after Abraham's being called their willing departure with him from their Country and ordinary reverend Speeches of Iehova prove they were no Infidels and without Faith Gen. 24.31 50. I dare not therefore pronounce them out of the Church who I am sure were in the Faith § 6. Abraham's being first named proveth him not the Eldest § If in Scripture it appear not that God made especial choice of the First-born as it is in Seth Isaac Iacob Iuda David c. the being first named can prove no Birth-right Shem is first named among the Sons of Noah whereof said Augustine Order of Nativity is not here respected but signification of future Dignities in Gen. 25. And he rather judged Abraham the Youngest of the Three Piety saith he or rather Divine Election which draweth with it Piety and the Fear of God gave precedence to Shem among the Sons of Noah and to Abraham among the Sons of Terah Again Moses testifies Abraham was 75 Years old when he left Charran Stephen saith it was after Terah's death at 83 he rescued Lot at 86 Ismael was born and Isaac at 100 and all in Canaan But if he begat Abraham at 70 Abraham must be 135 Years old when he entred Canaan c. Moreover by this Accompt Isaac must be 35 years Old and Ismael 49. at Terah's death and Born in Mesopotamia contrary to Scripture Thirdly by this reckoning Terah should be but 145 Years Old at his Death when Abraham was 75. Fourthly Sarah being within Ten Years of Abraham her Unkle Haran her Father being his younger Brother must beget her at Nine Years Old which Reason Lyra useth The like Reason is taken from the Age of Lot the Son of Haran called an Old Man at Abrahams's Eighty third year § 7. The Conclusion noting the Authors on both sides § It agreeth with Scripture Nature Time and Reason that Haran was Terah's Eldest Son Augustin was herein uncertain and what he saith in his City of God lib. 16.15 is answered in his 52d Question on Gen. And as he follow'd Iosephus so Isidore and Beda follow him The Hebrews and generally the Romanists following the first Opinion allow but 292 Years from the Flood to Abraham But Theodoret and divers later Beroald Codornan Beucer Calvin Beza Iunius c. hold Abraham begotten in the 130 th Year of Terah Scaliger Seth Calvisius c. to the contrary call it Heresy in Chronology Bucholcreus Chitreus Functius and others follow them yet Torniellus in his Annals confutes them But if we advisedly consider the state of the World in Abraham's days we shall rather increase the time from the Flood to Abraham as the Septuagint did to 1072 than shorten it to 292 For such paring of Time to the quick draws the Blood of the Story if Scripture's Testimony were not supreme Seeing then we know the World was so peopled and Kingdoms so furnished with Cities of State and Strength more time is required for it than many imagine c. § 8. The Assyrians Times order'd by Abraham 's History § Thus Abraham's Birth being 352 Years after the Flood and so the 2009 th Year of the World bringeth Ninus's 43 to the same date of the 352 Years we must consider what probably was spent before the coming to Shinar admitting Chus were born the Year after the Flood His youngest Son Nimrod Founder of the Empire born after Dedan Son of Raamah the fourth Son of Chus could not according to the ordinary course of those Times be esteemed Born 'till 65 Years after Chus allowing 30 Years to Chus before his first Son and 30 Years to Raama Father of Dedan born before Nimrod and 5 Years for his five Elder Brethren Allow 60 Years after for two Generations before their setting forth before Shinar and six Years for their Travail with Wives Children and Cattel out of the East through over-grown Countries and Mountains Thus 131 Years are spent before Babel is taken in hand the 221 Years which remain of 352 are divided to Ninus 42 before Abraham's Birth 65 to Belus and 114 to Nimrod yet this maketh Nimrod in all not above 180 Years old which was not much for that Generation Gen. 11.3 in which they lived yea 400 Years Ninus lived 9 Years after and Semiramis suceeded 42 Years when Abraham was 52 Years old Ninias or Zameis succeeded 38 in whose 23 d Year Abraham at 75 years old came to Canaan and 10 years after Abraham over-threw Amraphel King of Shinar which may seem to have been Ninias in whose 33 d year it happen'd though the Reasons to the contrary are not easily answer'd § 9. Amraphel King of Shinar probably was Ninias § Ninias was King of Babylon at that time in the 85th year of Abraham It is objected that Chedorlaomer was greater now than Amraphel who therefore was not like to be Ninias To this it may be answered under Ninias the Babylonian Command was fallen and the Persian his Neighbour King of Elam was enlarged § 10. Arioch King of Ellassar § This Country can neither be Pontus nor Hellespontus as some think being so far out of the way to be drawn by the Persian who little needed to seek such aid against such petty Kings which had not in all so much ground as Middlesex of which sort Canaan had 33 destroyed by Ioshua And the whole Country these four Kings subdued was no more than the two little Provinces of Traconitis or Basan and the Region of the Moabites Stephanus a Grecian Cosmographer de Vrbibus findeth Ellas in the Border of Coelosyria and Hierom calls it the City of Arioch This City was also in the Borders of Arabia of which Arioch indeed was King and Confederate with the Assyrian Kings as in Ninus's Life c. § 11. Tidal King of Nations § There were divers petty Kingdoms adjoining to Phoenicia and Palestine as Palmirenia Batanea Laodicene Apamena Chalcidice Cassiotis Chalibonitis having Mesopotamia on the North and Arabia on the East It is probable these were joined together under Tidal § 12. Chedorlaomer the chief of the Four § He was not King of Assur and the other three Vice-Roys as Pererius judgeth for Moses never useth Elam for Assyria or Babylon Neither do I believe the Assyrian or Babylonian Kingdoms were very large at this time 1. From Example Things hastily set up with violence last not as Alexander's Conquests and Tamberlain's whose Empires dyed with them neither had they time to review what they had done God adjoining short life to asswage Fury and Nature cares least for what she doth in hast Ninus persued boundless Dominion with Violence Semiramis exceeded him c. 2. Ninias having changed Nature and Condition with his Mother preferring Pleasure and Ease before Honour and Greatness as he indured his Mother's Reign so wanted he Spirit to maintain what she left him against Neighbouring Princes whose Wounds and Wrongs from his Parents put them in mind to cure the one
and revenge the other 2 And it was God's will when he would impose that long and tedious Journey upon Abraham that the Countreys should be in Peace through which he wandred to which end those Millions of Warriours and Engins perished with Semiramis to make the Recovery of lost Liberty the more easy Lastly Histories report that Arrius who succeeded Ninias recovered Bactria and Caspia and Baleus or Xerxes reduced the rest even to Egypt which argueth their former Revolt § 13. Consent of Writers almost forceth us to think as I have delivered touching the Four Kings yet if we take them rather for Four petty Kings which in that sluggish Reign of Ninias had gathered Colonies out of those Four Countries and Planted themselves elsewhere we shall remove some difficulties For if Chedorlaomer were King of Persia it self beyond Babylon what a Journey were it to come so far and gather such Forces which must pass so great Countries as Assyria Chaldea Mesopotamia Syria and part of Arabia to Conquer five small Cities and leave all the rest of Canaan yea to come in Person and that the second time But the Scripture maketh this Invasion no great matter but as matching four Kings to five as if the five were not so unequally matched though petty Kings as of necessity they had been if these four had been absolute Kings of the Kingdoms whose Names they bear If then the former Conjectures cannot agree to the Text to the Authority whereof all Human Reason must subscribe let the received Opinion stand that Amraphel was Ninias who was become inferiour to Chedorlaomer of Persia. From the Assyrian the History of Abraham leadeth us to the Egyptian Kingdom then also flourishing CHAP. II. Of the Kings of Egypt from Cham to the Delivery of the Israelites THE Kings of Egypt 'till Israel 's Deliverance and the causes of the uncertainty of the History § Cham after Babel's Confusion having known Egypt's Fertility Planted it Anno 191 after the Flood Osiris succeeded Anno 352. Typhon or Hercules Anno 603. Orus 620. Sesostris the Great 735. Sesostris the Blind 786. Busiris or Oris 2 d. Anno 782. Acenchere or Thermutis or Meris 820. Rathoris 832. Chenchrese 841 drowned Augustin a diligent searcher of Antiquities omitted the Succession of Egyptian Kings finding no certainty of them through the Ambition of their Priests who to magnify the Antiquities which they only kept filled the Records with Romances and Names of Kings which never Reigned Other good Authors were over-credulous of what they found so Recorded Published the same in their own Names Of these Annius finding some Fragments and adding what he would is no farther to be Credited than where approved Writers Confirm his Assertion Herein the Old Christian Writers follow Eusebius but the Modern Annius and Prophane Authors follow Diodorus Herodotus c. § 2. C ham began his Reign in Egypt after the Flood Anno 191. § This is gathered from the Dyanasties of Egypt whose 16 th began in the 43 d. year of Ninus The 12 first under their 12 great Gods lasted 84 Years seven a-piece the 13 indured 14 years the 14 lasted 26 the fifteen was 37 which three last were under three younger Gods All the 75 added together make 161 years which being deducted out of 352 the remainder is 191 the beginning of Government there after Cham's arrival The same also is probable from their coming to Babel which being after the Flood Anno 131 and Forty years according to Glicas spent in Building we can allow no less than Twenty years for the slow passing such a Company through such a difficult long way which Sums being added make up 191 years when the first Dynasty began for to begin them sooner were either to plant Egypt as soon as Babel or with Mercator to make them before the Flood which their number exceeding the number of those long-liv'd Fathers will not admit § 3. The Dynasties of Egypt were not absolute Kings but Vice-Roys under Kings § The probability of this will appear by the custom of Kings governing by Great Men as of old the Kings of France by the Master of the Palace the Turk by a Grand Visier the Philistin Kings which came out of Egypt had a Captain as Abimelek had Phicol the Kings of Israel as Saul had Abner David had Ioab And Cham's lend disposition to follow Pleasure might breed the Custom which continued even to the days of Ioseph advanced to the place by Pharaoh from which Example William Arch Bishop of Tyre affirms the same Form of Government continued in Egypt in his days when the Sultans govern'd under the Calif as Lieutenants under a King How these Dynasties succeeded and how long they continued is uncertain § 4. Cham. and Mizraim or Oris § Of C ham the Scripture calls that Country the Land of Ham not for being Peopled by his Sons for so were other Countries which yet are never so called but for that himself planted it Osiris called himself the Eldest Son of Saturn as in Diodorus lib. 1. which Saturn of Egypt was Grand-father of Ninus as in his Monument Of Cham came the Temple of Hammon near Egypt And in Ierom's days the Egyptians called their Country Ham so Ortelius saith out of Plutarch that Egypt was called Chemia That Cham reigned 161 years is not improbable considering Sem his Brother lived 600 years Mizraim or Osiris according to Diodor succeeded of whom the Land also took its Name and by the Natives is yet called Mezre as Reineccius sheweth How long he Reigned is hard to determine but that he began at Abraham's Birth is probable when the Dynastie of the Thebaei began according to Eusebius § 5. Osiris Reign is guessed at by his Son Lebabim or Hercules Lybeus his Warring with Typhon and the Giants his Associates in Revenging his Fathers Death His Egyptian Wars he ended and begun his Italian in the 41 Year of Baleus King of Assyria according to Berosus when he left the Kingdom to his Brother Orus To this Egyptian and many other Wars before his Italian Krentzhemius alloweth but 6 Years which draweth Osiris Death to the 34 th Year of Belus and so makes him Reign 297 Years and so should end 7 Years after Israel came into Egypt This cannot be for the King under whom Israel came out-lived Iacob and had Reigned from before Ioseph's standing before Pharaoh yea we may give 13 Years more of Ioseph's Bondage to him This King then could not be Osiris who lived not so long as Iacob nor Typhon nor Hercules but Orus Son of Osiris advanced by Hercules § 6. Typhon and Hercules their Reigns are not distinctly defined only Orus is placed 7 Years after Osiris by Krentzhemius and whose Reign seemeth to last 115 Years and from whose Death to the Israelites Departure are 122 Years Sesostris or Sesonchosis succeeded according to Scholiast Apollonii He was a great Conquerour in Asia even into India and Europe Whom Iustin erroniously maketh Vexoris saith
Reineccius some Ages after Ninus This Sesostris some think is Besak but it is not so as divers differences in setting out their Wars do manifest Whereas after Orus Menas is Reported by Herodotus and Diodorus Reineccius noteth that Osiris was so called by way of Dignity Krentzhemius probably gathers that Menas was Mercurius Ter-maximus Conquerour Philosopher and Benefactor to Mankind giving good Laws and teaching profitable Arts to his Conquered People After 33 Years he fell Blind as did Pherones his Son whom 14 Years after Orus the Second or Busiris succeeded 75 Years before Israel's Departure out of Egypt § 7. Busiris or Orus the Second whom Reineccius judgeth to have been a new Family though according to all Mens computation he began 5 Years after Moses's Birth yet might he be first Author of the Israelites Misery Ruling as Vice-Roy under the blind King whom he might easily draw to that Oppression of Strangers so to ease the Subjects and to win their Favour to promote his Off-spring to the Crown which he attained and held 30 Years according to Eusebius After him Thermutis Pharaob's Daughter which took Moses out of the Water succeeded Eusebius calls her Acencris but placeth Amenophis next before Busiris Herodotus and Diodorus call Sesostris Son Pheron so it may be she was his Daughter who Marrying Busiris Reigned after him 12 Years § 8. Rathoris or Athoris succeeded his Sister 9 Years and after him Chencris who perished in the Red Sea and Achencris succeeded 8 Years and Cherres 15 in whose 15 Years Epaphus Son of Teligonus Rathoris Brother Reigneth in the lower Egypt and Built Memphis Epaphus had Lybia which had Agenor Belus and Busiris Belus had Ameus or Danaeus who Reigned 4 Years after Cherres and then by Egyptus or Ramesses his Brother expelled who Reigning 68 Years he had Fifty Sons Danaeus had Fifty Daughters He began the Kingdom of Argos in Greece CHAP. III. Of Israels Delivery out of Egypt § 1. OF Israel's Captivty and Moses Birth § L. Vives on Augustin cites divers Opinions of Moses Birth but to me it is most Probable that he was Born while Saphrus called Spherus and Ipberus Govern'd Assyria Orthopolis Cicyonia and Criasus the Argives and Sesostris 2 d. the Egyptians For according to Augustin he led Israel out of Egypt about the end of Cecrops King of the Athenians which falls about the 9 th Year of Ascatades of Assyria who Ruled 41. Sparetus his Predecessor 40. Mamelus before him 30. And Saphrus 20 before So that from the 19 th of Saphrus to the 9 th of Ascatades which was the 46 th of Cecrops are 80 Years which was Moses Age when he brought Israel out of Egypt There being then 64 Years between Iosephs ' Death and Moses's Birth the Israelites Oppression seemeth to begin some 8 or 9 Years before Ioseph Dyed Anno Mundi 2370. Moses 80 th Year of Age was 2514. § 2. Of the Cities of Egypt mentioned in Scripture § Zoan Num. 13.23 called Taphnus Ier. 2.43 c. Ezek. 30. The Septuagint calls it Tanis c. This was near Gosen and chief City of the lower Egypt On or Heliopolis in the South of the lower Egypt Gen. 41.45 after Iunius Here Onias Built a Temple for the Jews under Ptolomy Philopater which stood till Vespasian's time Noph the City Esa. 19.13 Hos. 9.6 is called Mopb or Memphis by the Septuagint Pelusium which the Septuagint calls Sois. Montanus Lebna Iunius Sin Belbeis after now the Septuagint calls Diospolis and was afterwards called Alexandrina by Ierom. Moses 's Preservation and Education § Pharaoâ— having by Oppression discontented the Israelites and then doubting what a Poor Oppressed Multitude might be provoked to by suggestion of the Devil resolved the Slaughter of the Male Children in their Birth giving Order to all their Midwives by Two of the Chief of them But being by their Piety disappointed he Commanded all his People to perform his Bloody Decree which yet his Beloved Daughter finding Moses in an Ark of Reeds in Nilus was so far from Executing that she took him out of the Water and gave him Princely Education as her own Whose Excellent Learning testified by Pâ—ilo and Iosephus Martyr Stephen Confirmeth Leaving Iosephus's Fancy of Moses Besieging Saba of Ethiopia which he won by the means of the Kings Daughter whom he Married c. Moses in Rescuing an Israelite having slain an Egyptian fled into Arabia Petrea in whose Mountainous Desarts apart from the Glory of the World the Glory of God covered him over being from an Honourable Adopted Son of a Kings Daughter turned into the Condition of an humbe Shepherd In this Country lying between Iudea and Egypt he lived 40 Years skilful in the ways of the Wilderness through which he was to lead Israel and by exercise in a Pastoral Life he was prepared to Principality and perfected his Learning gotten in Egypt by Meditation in the Wilderness From Government of gentle Cattel Kings are called Shepherds to teach them to rule Men. Moses being called back into Egypt is Taught a Name by which he Describes God to the Hebrews setting out his ever only Being there being nothing â— that hath being of it self but that Eternal One of whose being all other things are but shadows Of all the Ten Plagues the last only brought that Tyrant Pharaoh to an absolute submission when he began to fear his own Life The Paschal Lamb was a Sacrament of our spotless Saviour § 3. Pharaoh seeing the Israelites departure with the Spoil also of the Egyptians bethought himself and pursuing them with all his Power Exod. 14.7 over-took them after Three Days March And though Moses knew he went out with the mighty Hand of God yet he neglected nothing becoming a Wise Man and a Valiant Conductor So he removed from Ramases in Goshen whither the dispersed Hebrews were gathered as to their Rendezvous and Marched Eastward toward Etham and Encamped at Succoth the Fifteenth Day of Abib which thenceforth was accounted the first Month of their Year for Religious Occasions leaving another for Politick which they distinguish from Sacred in Recording things Transacted § 4. Israel passing from Succoth kept Mountainous rough Ground on his left-hand to Etham that Pharaoh's Chariots should not compass him From Etham the next day he Marched South Eight Miles and on the Third day he came to Pihachoroth between the Mountains of Etham on the North and Baalzephon on the South and Encamped upon the wash of the Sea § 5. Moses who feared nothing but God himself comforting the fearful Multitude Exod. 14.13 called on God and putting in practice his Direction safely passed over the Foord which the Lord had made and left their stupified Enemies to the merciless Waves which returned upon them This Sea called Chencrese in which Pharaoh Perished the 16 th Year of his Reign is commonly called the Red Sea though of the Colour of other Waters It seemeth to me that Name grew from the Clifts Sands Islands and
much of the Bordering Continent which being Red by reflection makes the Water seem Red also The Greeks call it the Erythrean Sea of King Erythreus and for that Erythros signifies Red some think it was so called The Portugals Report that store of red Stones are found in it on which store of Red Coral groweth At Pihachoroth which is from Ramases not above Thirty Miles the Sea is about Four Miles broad to Arabia where Moses passed over and not at Elana For that part of Egypt which is opposite to Elana is from Ramases Eighty Miles which Moses with his Multitude unfit for such Marches could not pass in three days § 6. This Passage proved Miraculous and not an Ebb as the Egyptians and other Heathens object for had it been an Ebb all that part from Sues at the end of the Sea unto the place of Moses's passage and further which exceeded Ten Miles must have been dry and so have served Pharaoh and his Men to have fled from the flowing of the Water Neither could an East Wind make an extraordinary Ebb seeing that Sea lyeth North and South And why should Moses whom they Honoured as a great Captain against the Ethiopians leave this passage over the Mountains and venture a Foord upon an Ebb which he knew not whether Pharoah would prevent him of And who will think that the Egyptians were so ignorant of their own Sea and Havens as to be overtaken in the Ebbing and flowing thereof Lastly If the ordinary flowing had drowned the Egyptians their Carcases had been carried up to Sues and cast upon the Arabian Shore where the Hebrews then lay CHAP. IV. The Israelites Iourney from the Red Sea to Sinai § 1. MOSES having recovered the Arabian Banks proceeded to the Desart of Arabia Petraea called Sur And from thence for want of Water came to Merah in Etham Desart which is also called Sur Exod. 15.22 from the Sea Twenty Five Miles where he made the bitter Waters sweet by casting Branches of a Tree therein A plain Type of our Saviour who upon the Cross changed the Bitterness of everlasting Death into the sweetness of Eternal Life From thence he removed to Elim which by all probability was a City it being so well watered of whose Ruins William Tyre Reports In Bello Sacro From thence he returned to the Sea and so to the Desart of Zin then to Daphca and next to Alus and so to Raphidim § 2. Of the Amalekites Midianites and Kenites and of Jethro § The Amalekites at Raphidim setting upon the Israelites were overthrown by the Efficacy of Moses's Prayers which were more prevalent than all the resistance of the Bodies of Men. Here Iethro Moses Father in Law came to him with his Wise and Sons He was a Kenite Iudg. 4.11 17. which was a Nation of the Midianites which came of Midian a Son of Abraham by Keturah 1 Sam. 15. with Gen. 25. There were others also which bare the same Names like to spring from Chus Gen. 15.19 As for the Midianites which came from Midian the Son of Abraham they were divided into Five Families Gen. 25.4 of which some were Planted near the Red Sea with whom Moses matched himself as not corrupted with Idolatry Others corrupted with the Idolatry of the Canaanites joined with them and lived near the River Zered tributary to the Amorites and after their overthrow joyned with Moab and were destroyed by Moses for their Practices against Israel Num. 22.31 Ios. 13.21 § 3. When the Law was given § The Twelve Tribes of Israel were in the Wilderness of Sinai near the Mountain of Sinai or Horeb which are the same Exod. 3.1 and 24.16 though parted in the top in two of which Sinai is highest but Horeb sendeth a fair Spring into the Valley where now stand two Monasteries furnished with pleasant Gardens of Fruits and Wine It was like to be so in Moses's days who continued thereabout almost a Year where he had Water Exod. 32.20 Hither being arrived about the Forty Fifth Day the First Year he received the Law the Fifthieth Day and removed the Twentieth Day of the Second Month of the Second Year CHAP. V. The Story from Receiving the Law to the Death of Moses § 1. MOSES having Received and Published the Law and finished the Tabernacle of the Ark he Mustered the Tribes to see what number of Men were therein from 20 Years Old and upward over whom by the Lords direction he placed Leaders the most Eminent Men in every Tribe The whole Army was 603550 able Men for War c. and was divided into 4 Battalions of which each contained Three Tribes The first containing 186400 consisted of Three Regiments Iuda 746000 Issachar 54400 Zabuloâ— 574â—0 all under the Standard of Iuda who held the Vaungard Marched first and Quartered at the general Incamping on the East side of the Army as in the chief place The Second containing 151450 consisted of Reuben the Leader and Simeon and Gad. The Third containing 108100 under Ephriam whom Manasse and Benjamin followed The Fourth containing 157600 Led by Dan and followed by Naphtali and Asher Besides the Twelve Princes of the Twelve Tribes they had Captains over Thousands over Hundreds over Fifties and over Tens as appears by the Insurrection against Moses In the midst of these Four Armies was the Tabernacle or Portable Temple carried surrounded by the Levites to the service whereof Twenty Two Thousand Persons were Dedicated of which Eight Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty had peculiar Charge All these Incamped within the general Armies next the Tabernacle in Four Quarters Moses Reverend care about the least part of the Tabernacle did Witness his inward humble Zeal to God The industry in Framing curiosity in Working charge in Provision observance in Preserving Solemnity in removing c. all Ages have in some sort imitated yet our Age hath bred up many Familists Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries which esteem all Cost bestowed upon the Church wherein God is Worshipped to be a kind of Popery c. § 2. The Offering of the Twelve Princes the Passover and Jethro's Departure § The Twelve Princes Offered Six covered Chariots and Twelve Oxen for carrying the Tabernacle which were delivered to the Sons of Gershom and Merari As for the Sanctuary the Koathites bare it on their Shoulders when it was taken down Each of the Princes also offered a a Charger and a Bowl of Silver and an Incense Cup of Gold the weight was after the Shekel of the Sanctuary which contained Twenty Gerahs every Gerah worth Three-half-pence Sterling after which rate all the Plate came to Four Hundred and Twenty Pound Sterling The common Shekel was but Ten Gerahs This done the Passover was Celebrated the Fourteenth of the Second Year and upon the Twentieth the Host removed from Sinai to Paran Marching in their prescribed Order At this time Iethro the Father in Law to Moses called also Hobab left Moses and returned to Midian but it seemeth either
and Children It endured many changes Shishak of Egypt Sackt it so did Ioas of Israel but Nebuchadonozor fulfilled all Gods Judgments threatned and made way to Seventy Years Desolation and Captivity of City and People After the restoring by Cyrus Bagòses Lieutenant and Artaxeres spoiled it and after Alexanders Empire was divided Ptolomy the First pretending to Offer Sacrifice then Antiochus Epiphanes and Apollonius his Lieutenant after him spoiled it and Pompey long after took it But after all Repairs that wicked Herod did so Reedifie and Adorn both Temples and Cities that it far exceeded what Solomon did continuing in this state about Forty Years after our Saviour's Death Titus invested it till it was taken and Demolished it in which by Famine Pestilence Sedition and Enemies Sword 1100000 were consumed 65 Years after being in part repaired Elius Adrian for a new Revolt Overthrew all and Built another which he called Elia Capitolia and Decreed that never Iew should dare after to enter or from high place look to behold it Yet after the Christian Religion flourished in Palestine it was Inhabited after by Christians 500 Years and then it was taken by Egyptian Sarazens and held 400 Years and then regained by Godfrey Bouillon and so continued 88 Years when the Souldan of Egypt won it but lastly Selim the Turk took it and called it Cusunbaris § 6. Malicious Reports of the Heathen as Quintilian Diodor Strabo Iustin Tacitus touching the Iews Original answered by Iosephus against Appion and Tertullian in his Apologet. CHAP. IX Memorable things from Joshua to Jeptha and the Destruction of Troy § 1. IVDA by Gods Directions took the Management of the War after Ioshua was Dead Caleb with Phineas and the assistance of Seventy Elders were in Ioshua's time Commanding in Chief Their Achievements we read Iudg. 1. as also of the other Tribes which sought to establish their own Territories What befel them after upon their making Peace with the Canaanites and their affliction 8 Years and how Othniel the Son of Cenas Younger Brother to Caleb delivered them from Chushan a King of Mesopotamia who Oppressed them we read in Scripture How long it was between the Death of Ioshua and Othniel is uncertain though it could not be a short time considering what Wars followed and the Surprize of Laish by the Danites and their Warring with Benjamin are thought to be in this interim which War so weakened them that they could not so strongly resist their Bordering Enemies § 2. Othniel Governed 40 Years in whose 20 th year Pandarius Fifth King of Athens entred and Reigned 40 Years Father of Erictheus and Progne and Philomela in the Fables Cadmus about this time obtained Thebes which Amphion and Zethus Governed after Triptolâ—mus is placed first by Augustine of whom and the rest Authors so disagree that I desire to be excused if I Err with better Judgments whereto I submit For if the first Authors had but a borrowed uncertain light from other Conjectures all our labour in Example to uncover the Sun is for ought I see a more over-shading § 3. Ehud was next who Delivered Israel from Eglon King of Moab after 18 Years Misery Samgar his Successor freed them from the Philistins so from Othoniel's Death 8 Years expired Elimelek went to Moab in Ehud's days and Ruth's Story is referred hither Adoius King of the Molosseans in Epirus had by Ceres his Wife a Fair Daughter called Proserpina a common Name of such whom Peritheus intending to steal drew Theseus into the attempt which being discovered Aidonius surprized them cast Peritheus to Cesarus his Mastive and kept Theseus Prisoner till Hercules delivered him by a strong hand Pindus's Mountains in Epirus of which Oeta is Chief whence Acheron springeth Erictheus was King of Athens whose Daughter Orythia Boreas King of Thrace Forced Tereus King of Phocis in Greece Inhabited by Thracians Married Progne the Daughter of Pandarius and Ravished her Sister Philomela and cut out her Tongue for which Progne killed his Son Itys and made Meat of him for Tyrus and fled to Athens Tros began to Reign in Pardania the 47 th Year of Ehud about which time Tantalus was King of Lydia not Phrygia whose study of Wisdom made him neglect the Pleasure of Riches of which he had great Plenty Others said his covetous Mind made him miserable whereof grew that Fable c. Here the Author is out Taxing the unfolding of Secrets to Vulgars perverting Mar. 4.11 Cecrops 2 d. 7 th King of Athens and Arrisius Thirteenth King of the Argives now Reigned the first 40 Years the other 31 toward the end of the 8 Years Pelops lived of whom Peloponesus took Name Titius Tyrant of Panopea in Phocis slain by Apollo Admetus King of Thessaly Perseus of Peloponesus and Medusa slain by Perseus Souldiers of whose Blood sprang Pegasus Belerophon's Horse with which he slew Chimera a Pyrat of of the Lycians Ion of whom the Athenians are called Iones or rather of Iovan c. § 4. The former 80 Years of Peace and Plenty having bred security it brought forth neglect of Gods Commandments and their ripe Sins called for God's Judgment who raised Iabin King of Hazor who laid an heavy yoke on Israel 20 Years keeping his chief holds even in Naphtalim and reduced them to such a weakness as among Forty Thousand a Weapon was not seen But as Volumes may be gathered of Examples proving all Power is the Lords how impotent soever his means be so now the Lord set it out in delivering Israel two Women Deborah and Iael striking the chief stroke Thus Forty Years were expired under Iabin Deborah and Barac Argos's Kingdom which had continued 544 Years was Translated to Micenae Built by Perseus Son of Danae Daughter of Acrisius King of Argos The King of Argos The King of Argives we find Inachus whose Daughter Io was the Egyptian Isis Phoronius Apis Argus Pirasus Phorbas Triops Crotopus Sthelenus Donaus Lynieus Abas Acrosius Pelops After the Translation to Micenae Perseus Sthenelus Eurystheus Atreus Son of Pelops Agamemon Egypthus Orestes Tisamenus Penthilus and Cometes Midas now King of Phrygia and Ilus who Built Ilium Contemporaries with Debora § 5. Barac was no sooner dead but Israel returned to their impious Idolatry and God raised up the Midianites assisted with the Amalekites to infest them yet his Compassions which never fail raised them up a Deliverer Gideon the Son of Ioash whose story is largely set down in Holy Scripture His severities in the revenge upon Succoth and Penuel his own Sons found shortly after his death For the debts of Cruelty and Mercy were left unsatisfied And because he Converted the Gold into an Ephod a Garment proper to the High-Priest and set it up in his City Ophra as it drew Israel to Idolatry so was it the destruction of his own House Aegeus Son of Pandeon now reigned in Athens Euristheus in Micenae whom Atreus succeeded who killed Thyestes his Brother's Children and feasted
who slew in that Encounter 42000 which so weakened the Land that way was thereby made to their future Calamities and most grievous slavery under the Philistins that ever they indured Ibzan succeeded and judged Seven years Elon after him Ten. The Seventy and Eusebius hath him not CHAP. X. Of the War of Troy § 1. HAbdon Succeeded and Judged Israel 8 Years The Philistines 40 Years Tyranny cannot be from the 9 th of Iair to the end of Abdon as some would have it for then Ephraim's strength had been so diminish'd as not to have quarrel'd with Iephtha or being able to bring 24000 Men into the Field they would not have neglected a common Oppressor to fight against a Brother those 40 Years must therefore be supplied elsewhere as from the death of Abdon 'till after Sampson Troys Destruction seemeth to fall upon the 3 d Year of Abdon after 10 Years Siege began about the 3 d of Elon The Original and Continuance of the Ancient Kings are uncertain but it is commonly held that Teucer and Dardanus were the first Founders of that Kingdom of which Teucer the first according to Virgil Reigned before Dardanus built Troy and came out of Crete though Reineccius following Diodorus think him a Phrygian and Son of Scamander Dardanus Son of Electra Daughter of Atlas and Wife of Iupiter had for his second Wife Boetia Daughter or Niece of Teucer As for this Atlas I take him rather for an Italian than African and Iupiter to be more ancient than he whose Children liv'd about the Trojan Wâ—r Touching the Destruction of Troy Diodorus maketh it to be 780 Years before the 94 th Olympiad which is 408 before the first Dionysius Halicarnassus agrees hereto placing Rome's Foundation in the first of the seventh Olympiad which is 432 after the fall of Troy Solinus also makes the Institution of the Olympiads by Iphitus 480 years later than Troy's Destruction the Destruction then being 408 Years before the Olympiads Eusebius leadeth us from Dardanus through 4 Kings Reigns by the space of 225 Years For Laomedon's time he takes it upon trust from Annius out of Menetho § 2. Helen's Rape by Paris Son of Priamus all agree to be the Cause of the Greeks taking Arms but what mov'd him to that Undertaking is doubted Herodotus's far-fetched Cause hath no probability as have they which say he enterpris'd this Rape to procure the Re-delivery of Hesione King Priamus's Sister taken away by Hercules and given to Telamon yet I do not think this was the ground of Paris's attempt but rather his Lust which was an usual incitement in those days as Thucydides sheweth whereupon none durst dwell near the Sea-Coast Tyndarus also the Father of Helen remembring that Thoseus had Ravished her caused all her Wooers which were most of the principal Greeks to Swear that when she had chosen an Husband they should joyn in seeking her recovery if she were taken away which Oath taken she chose Menelaus Thus the Grecian Princes partly upon the Oath and upon the Reputation of Agamemnon and Menelaus were drawn into this business of the Trojan War The Fleet was 1200 Sail of small Ships meet for Robbing the greatest carrying but 120 Men so that the Army might be 100000. which argueth the Trojan Power able to hold out against such Forces so many Years But their aids out of Phrygia Lycia Misia Amazonia Thrace yea Assyria were great § 3. The Greeks being prepared sent Menelaus and Vlysses Embassadors to Troy to demand Helen and as Herodotus from report of an Egyptian Priest makes it probable were answer'd that Paris in return being driven by storm into Egypt Helen was taken from him which Report Herodotus seeketh by Reason to confirm But whatsoever the Answer was the Greeks incensed set forward to Troy notwithstanding Chalchas the Soothsayer objected great difficulties c. Their Names under the Command of Agamemnon were Menelaus Achilles Patroclus c. § 4. After their Landing in the first encounter Patroclus was slain by Hector and others but want of Victuals soon distressed the Greeks who were forced to imploy a great part of their Men to and fro in seeking relief for the Camp by Sea and Land And Herodotus Report is credible that after the first Year 'till the tenth the Greeks lay little before Troy but rowed up and down by Sea and Land for Booties and Victuals wasting the Country round about But being all returned to the Camp the tenth Year a Pestilence fell among them and a Dissention about dividing their Captive Virgins which made Achilles refuse to Fight because Agamemnon had taken away his Concubine But after his Friend Patroclus to whom he had lent his Armour was slain by Hector and pillag'd of his Armour as the manner was Achilles desirous of Revenge was content to be reconcil'd upon Agamemnon's seeking to give satisfaction by Gifts and Restitution of his Concubine Briseis After this in the next Battel Achilles slew Hector though Homer's Narration of his flying about the City thrice be unprobable and drew him at his Chariot about the Field and then sold his Body to Priamus at a great rate Not long after Paris reveng'd that Cruelty and slew Achilles though Authors differ in the manner § 5. Troy at length was taken either by the Treachery of Aeneas and Antenor opening the Scaean Gate whereon was an Image of an Horse or that the Greeks by an Artificial Engine like to an Horse batter'd the Walls as Romans did with a Ram or scal'd the Walls at that Gate suddenly while the Trojans slept securely upon the departure of the Greek's Fleet to Tenedos the day before c. The Wooden-Horse fill'd with Armed Captains is unprobable The numbers slain on both sides 600000 Trojans and 800000 Greeks is Fabulous so is the report of many Nations in those parts striving for a descent from the remainders of Trojan Princes though it be probable the Albans and from them the Romans came from Aeneas and first Padanus from Antenor § 6. The Greeks after their Victories tasted no less Miseries than the Trojans by division of Princes separating in return Invasion of Borderers and Usurpation of Domesticks in their absence and Tempests at Sea so that few returned home and of them few joyned their own The rest driven on strange Coasts gladly planted where they could some in Africk some in Italy Apulia Cyprus c. CHAP. XI Of Sampson Eli and Samuel § 1. OF Sampson read Iudges 13 14 15 and 16. In whose Story observe 1. His Mother is forbidden all strong Drink and unclean Meat as that which weakneth the Child conceived 2. The Angel refused Divine Worship which proveth the Diviners Angels which accept Sacrifices are Devils 3. Whom no Force could overthrow Voluptuousness did 4. Though he often revenged Israel yet he delivered them not Chap. 15.11 Lastly his Patience was more provok'd by Contumely than Pain or Loss § 2. Of Eli see the First Book of Samuel He was the first of
attempted it in Iephtha's days finding Israels weakness by long oppression of the Philistins who had disarmed them had also slain 34000 of them and that 50000 perished about Bethshemes and their King was not yet so acceptable to all his Subjects who were encouraged to begin with Iabesh Gilead so near unto them Saul to shew himself King being proprobably descended of one of the Four Hundred Virgins taken from the Gileadits undertook the relief of Iabesh assembling 330000 Men and Defeated the Ammonites Hence Samuel drew them all to Gilgal where Saul was again Confirmed King where also Samuel exhorted them to fear the Lord and rehearsed his own Justice After a Years Reign Saul chose him a strong Guard of Three Thousand 1 Sam. 13.2 § 4. Saul 's Disobedience and Rejection § Ionathan with his Regiment of 1000 surprised a Garrison of the Philistins which some judge was in Careatjearim where was the Ark but Iunius taketh it to be Gebah in Benjamin near Gibha where Ionathan stayed with his Thousand so that though the Philistins were much broken under Samuel yet they held some strong places in Israel of which this was one whose Surprise so enraged them that they gathered together the greatest Forces mention'd 1 Sam. 12. while Saul was at Gilgal expecting Samuel as he had been required 1 Sam. 10.8 But because Samuel came not so soon as Saul expected he hasteâ—ed to Sacrifice taking the Office of a Priest on him as some think or as others judge he in diffidence and distraction upon the Philistins Power and his Peoples deserting him attended not the Prophet's coming to direct him and pray for him For Samuel had sharply reproved and threatned him with great Indecency had he not had extraordinary warrant from the Lord. So they departed each from other Saul being come to Gibeah his own City being of strength his Forces were but 600 between him and Ionathan and of these not one had Sword or Spear of which the Reason is rendred in the Text. The like Policy Nebuchadonozer us'd in the Conquest of Iudaea and Dyonisius in Sicily It may be the other Israelits had some though these Six hundred had not for they might gain some at the overthrow of the Philistins and Ammonites As for the Weapons the Israelites used in these Wars they were Clubs Bows and Slings wherein they were expert 1 Chr. 12.2 and their Victories were rather extraordinary as by Thunder or Astonishments sent from God as in this next Overthrow by the hand of Ionathan and his Armour-bearer wherein God set them at dissention cap. 14.10 So that the Israelites needed no Swords when every Philistin's Sword supplyed the want After this Victory Saul undertook by turns all the bordering Enemies and by special Commandment the Amalekites in Arabia Petraea and the Desart ravaging from Havila to Shur But for presuming contrary to God's express Charge to spare Agag c. he was utterly rejected of the Lord for all his pretence of Sacrifice and Samuel never after visited Saul § 5. Samuel fearing to Anoint another King as God willed him is directed how to do it safely So that by cautious care to avoid danger he did no way derogate from God's Providence seeing the Lord himself tho' All-sufficient instructed Samuel to avoid Saul's Fury by the accustomed cautions ways of the World and therefore Men neglecting of Prayer to God and exercise of that Wisdom he hath indued the Mind of Man with for his preservation are stupified with the Opinion of Fate c. Iesse having presented all his Sons but David to Samuel he only whom the Father neglected is chosen of God and anointed by Samuel The Philistins in the mean time considering how Saul's Power increased while they sat still and doubting least Israel might become able to revenge themselves if they were suffer'd thus to encrease thought it good to offer a new Check presuming of their own Abilities and former Successes as for late Disasters they might suppose the one was by a casual Tempest and the last by a mistaken Alarum which wrought needless fear and put the Army to Rout. Having therefore taken the Field Encamping near Saul's Army and both keeping their ground of advantage they maintained some Skirmishes not joining in gross which the Philistins had cause to fear considering their late Success and thereupon perhaps provoked to single Combat with their Giant upon Condition of a general subjection of the vanquished Nation in their Champion This gave occasion to David now to make a famous entrance into the publick notice of the People with the success Recorded in Scripture By this Victory David fell under the heavy displeasure of Saul by reason of his great Merits whereupon he became a Convert Tyrant faithless to Men and irreligious to God as the History sheweth which brought him to the end we read of § 6. Of such as lived with Samuel and Saul § Aeneas Sylvius began to Reign over the Latins in Alba about the 11th year of Samuel and Reigned Thirty one years The same year Dorcillus began in Assyria being the Thirty first King and Reigned Forty years The Dores which came with Heraclides obtained Peloponnesus in this Age. Here follows the Account of the First Planters of Greece from Iopetus Father of Prometheus Father of Deucalion and Pyrrha King and Queen of Thessaly of whom came Helen Father of Xuthus Dorus and Aeolus Xuthus fled to Erictheus of Athens of whose Daughter came Achaeus and Ion. Achaeus for a slaughter fled to Laconia in Peloponnesus and gave it his Name and after recovered Thessaly Ion was made Governour of Attica which he brought into a civil Course and Planted Syciona then called Aegiolio and Married Helice the Kings Daughter of whom also the Land took Name Dorus second Son of Helen Planted about Parnassus and Lacedemon but when the Heraclides Nephews of Hercules Invaded Peloponnesus the Dores assisting they expelled the Achaeans in Laconia who seeking Habitation drove out the Ionians who failed into Asia on whose West Coast they Built Twelve Cities Hercules Ancestor of the Heraclides and his Twelve Labours of Fabulous Poets rehearsed Sure it is Greece was oblig'd to him for freeing it from many Tyrants and Thieves which oppressed the Land in the Reign of Euristheus who employed him therein being Jealous of him for his Virtue and Descent from Perseus His Children after his Death fled to the Athenians who assisted them against Euristheus whom they slew but upon the death of Hillus Son of Hercules slain in Combat by Echenus King of Tegeates in Arcadia who assisted Atreus Successor of Euristheus they were to leave the Country for one Hundred years now expired when they returned under Aristodemus when Tisamenus was King of Achaea § 7. Homer the Poet seemed to live about this time but the diversity of Mens Opinions and curiosity about this Age is so Ridiculous that I would not offend the Reader therewith But to shew the uncertainty of Historians as well in
visit those parts in Rehoboam's days before they were sent for Thadimor Ioseph held to be Palmyra in the Desart of Syria to the North-East of Libanus the utmost Border of Solomon's Dominion which Ierom calls Thermeth and by Adrian Rebuilt and called Adrianopolis He also Repaired and Peopled the Towns Hiram refused and made his first and only Journey in Syria Zobah to establish his Tributes and then visited all the Borders of his Dominions from Palmyrena in the North to Eziongaber and Eloth in the South upon the Red-Sea § 3. Solomon from Eziongaber sent a Fleet to Ophir an Island of the Molucca's in East-India from whence he received 430 Talents of Gold all Charges defrayed Of the word Tharsis see before lib. 1. c. 8. § 9 10. Pineda dreamt Ophir was in the Cades or Calis-Malis his Country in Spain of old called Turtessus whereto the next way by the Mediterranean was hindred by the great Atlantick Island exceeding all Africa swallowed up and choaking the Streights with Mad like his Dream of Ionas's Whale which in 3 days swam about all Africa into the Red-Sea to cast him up 12000 Miles in compass Solomon's Chariots Horsemen daily Provision Wisdom c. See 1 Kings 4.10 with 2 Chron. 9. § 4. Solomon 's Fall and term of Life § Solomon forgetting what the Lord Commanded as he had plenty of all other things so of Wives even of Idolatrous Nations 1 Kings 11.1 2. prohibited whereupon they turned his heart after other Gods for which the Lord punish'd him with Enemies in his Age and rent his Kingdom from his Son as he threatned 1 Kings 11. Touching his Age it is conjectur'd by his Father's Actions whose Conquests were ended before he wan Rabba when Solomon was not Born So that half of David's Reign being spent at the time of vanquishing the Ammonites Solomon's Birth must fall after David's 20 Years and above a Year it could not be seeing Rehoboam's Age at Solomon's death compared with the many heavy things which befell David after and that David in his Charge to Solomon speaketh as to a Man grown though Solomon at Nineteen Years old speaking to the Lord about his weighty Charge might well call himself a Charge Some time after Ammon forced Thamar and two Years after was slain by Absolom who fied to Geshur where he abode three Years yet saw not his Father's face for two years How long after he brake into Rebellion is uncertain which seemeth to be the 30 th Year of David's Reign but the 40 th Year after his Anointing as those words 2 Sam. 15.7 may well be taken Which 40 Iosephus Theodoret and the Latin Translation read 4 Years to wit from Absolom's Return § 5. Solomon's Writings In his Proverbs he teacheth good Life and correcting the contrary In Eccles. the Vanity of Humane Nature In the Canticles he singeth the Epithalamion of Christ and his Church The Book of Wisdom the best Learned make us think it none of his and Kimchi ascribeth the 3 other to Isaiah the Prophet Iosephus also tells us of his own Invention rather than truly that Solomon wrote Books of Enchantments But certainly so strange an Example of Human Frailty was never read of that a Man endowed with Wisdom by God himself in honour of whom and for his Service he built the first and most glorious Temple of the World was made King not by Law but the Love of God and became the Wisest Richest and Happiest of all Kings did in the end by perswasion of weak wretched Idolatrous Women forget and forsake the Lord of all the World and giver of all goodness of which he was more liberal to him than to any that ever the World had § 6. Solomon's Contemporaries were Agelaus in Corinth Labotes in Lacedâ—monia Silvius Alba over the Latins Leosthenes in Assyria Argastus and after Archippus in Athens Baliastrus succeeded Hiram in Tyre others put Bozorius between Sesac after Vaphres in Egypt whom Eusebius calls Smerides and others by other Names CHAP. XV. Solomon's Successors to Jehoram The Kingdom divided REhoboam succeeded his Father but was not so Wise as to resolve the People's Petition without Counsel nor yet to discern of Councils which is the very best of Wisdom in Princes and all others for though he consulted with grave advised Men yet he was Transported by his Favourites who ignorant of the nature of Severity which without the Temper of Clemency is Cruelty it self thrust him on to threaten an Increase of what was unsupportable already ignorant also that Severity is to be used for the Help and not for the Hurt of Subjects These foolish Parasites could better judge of the King's disposition which Learning was sufficient for to enable them to the Places they held This Answer of Rehoboam set forward Ieroboam's designs and the Prophecie of Ahijah as the sequel shewed for the People at once chose Ieroboam and after the manner of all Rebels forgetting Duty to God and Bonds of Nature renounced all interest in David the Honour of their Nation and murder the Officers sent to appease them After this Rehoboam intended Wars upon them but was stayed by the Prophet from God Ieroboam fortified himself and to prevent re-uniting by communion in Religion impiously set up a new Worship learn'd in Egypt expelling the Levites Thus by irreligious Policy he founded that Idolatry which rooted Israel out of the Land at last neither could he be stayed by the Prophet that foretold his Advancement nor Miracle upon his own hand This point of Policy must be made good though it cast off God and the Religion of his Fathers Whereunto an Italian Historian compares the Policy of his Nation in making good the State they have gotten by what means soever as if God would not oppose it Upon this ground Amos must not Prophecie at Bethel it is the King 's Court. Iehu will upon this ground maintain the Worship of Calves and Hen. IV of France change Religion c. whom yet the Protestants whom he forsook never hurt as the Papists did whom he followed But of the wretched end of such Policy all these are notable Examples § 2. Rehoboam 's Impiety Punishment End and Contemporaries § Rhehoboam Fortified his Cities as well against Egypt as Ieroboam and then forsook the Lord 1 Kings 14. and 1 Chron. 11. But in his Fifth Year Sesac of Egypt who favoured Ieroboam taught him how weak Fortifications are where God watcheth not the City Sesac brought with him the Lybeans Cusits of Arabia and Succaeans which were not the Troglodits spoken of by Pliny and Ptolomy as Iunius judgeth These were 600 Miles from the best of Egypt and were in the 22 d degree North from the Line too far for such an occasion The Succaeans were rather Arabian Egyptians as the Ichthyophagy in Ptolomy between the Mountains Alabastrine and the Red-Sea when this powerful Sesâ—c wan Ierusalem and other Cities of Iuda and added to the Spoil of them the Temple and
in largeness This number may be thought strange in so small a Territory being far greater than any Muster ever taken of that Country Ioab had found 500000 Rehoboam 180000 Abia 408000 Asa 580000 Amazia found 300000 Uzziah 307000 and surely if Iehosophat had 1160000 Men he would not have feared Moab and Ammon c. I am therefore of Opinion submitting to better Judgments that the numbers spoken of 2 Chron. 17. were not all at one time but that the two first numbers under Adnah and Iehobanan were after Mustred and Commanded by Amasia Eliada and Iehosabad yet this Mighty Prince made a League with Ahab and matched his Son Ioram with his Daughter and assisted him at Ramoth-Gilead for which he was reproved by Iehu the Prophet as he was a second time by the Prophet Eliezer for joyning with Ahab's Son in preparing a Fleet. So he joyned with Iehoram against Moab and had perished by Famine if Elisha had not relieved them from God whose Goodness was ever prone to save the Evil for the sake of the Good but never destroyed the Good for the Evil. Ophratenes now Reigned in Assyria Capetas and Tiberinus at Alba in Italy Atazedes in Athens Agesilaus in Corinth Archilochus in Lacedemon Badesorus in Tyrus Achab Ochozias and Iehoram in Israel CHAP. XVI Of Jehoram and Ahazia JEhoram the Son of Iehosaphat being thirty two Years old began to Reign and Reigned 8 Year of which 4 was in his Father's Life who at his two Journeys with Ahab and Iehoram Kings of Israel left him Viceroy 'till his return The first was in Iehosaphat's 17th Year when also Ahazia Son of Ahab began to Reign whose Brother Iehoram the 2 d year after succeeded K. of Israel in the 2 d year of Iehoram King of Iuda that is of his Reign when his Father Iehosaphat took the sole Government again upon him 'till the Fifth year after when he reassumed his Son Ioram into the Government 2 Kings 8. two years before his death in the fifth year of Iehoram King of Israel So that Iehosaphat Reigning Twenty five years 2 King 22.42 it is evident his Son Iehoram could not be King of Iuda 'till the Eighth year of Iehoram King of Israel The like regard is to be had in accounting the Reigns of other Kings of Iuda and Israel whose years are sometime to be taken compleat current or confounded with other Kings preceding or succeeding as the comparing of their Times together shall require In this History consider that Iehosaphat a Religious King is the first of Rehoboam's Issue that entred a League both Offensive and Defensive with the Kings of Israel with whom his Predecessors had tyred themselves in vain with continual Wars This Confederacy with one which hated the Lord could not long prosper not issuing from the true Root and Fountain of all Wisdom yet as a piece of sound Policy it wanted not fair Pretences of much common good as mutual Fortification of both Kingdoms against Uncircumcised Ancient Enemies For confirmation of such an apparent Good unto Posterity therefore the Bond of Affinity was knit by Marriage of Iehoram with Athalia a Lady of a Masculine Spirit who had learned so much of Iezabel her Brother's Wife that she durst undertake more in Ierusalem than the other in Samaria as a Fire-brand ordained by God to Consume many Nobles in Iuda and perhaps some whose Worldly Wisdom regardless of God's pleasure had brought her in The Syrian Wars at Ramoth-Gilead were the first Fruits of this League undertaken upon equal Adventure but upon the hope of Benefit only to Ahab As godly Princes seldom thrive by matching with Idolaters but rather serve the Turns of those false Friends who being ill-affected towards God cannot be well affected to his Servants At this time also as Ahaziah was designed King by Ahab his Father so was Ioram by Iehosaphat after the others Example without Example in any of their Predecessors § 2. Iehoram's Reign so diversly dated in Scripture argueth that Iehosaphat having taken him into the Government as Ahab had given Example found cause after to recall that Power Probable it is that his Insolent Idolatrous Wife having corrupted him was the cause that the Government both for Religion and Justice grew so far out of order that Iehosaphat was forced to the Reformation we read of and sequestred his Son from the Government 'till it were setled again and so after five years called him to it the second time which bred a new Date as did his Father's death two years after breed a third Many things might move Iehosaphat to Iehoram's second calling to Govern him as to try what Wisdom his restraint had wrought or to prevent his Brethrens Insolency against him if Iehosaphat had at his Death left him in disgrace which might be the cause of great Tumults it may be also Iehoram by dissimulation had won the good Opinion on of his â—ather and Brethren formerly offended it being usual in violent fierce Natures to be as abject and servile in their Adversity as insolent and bloody upon Advantage Howsoever it was this is manifest that his Father at his death doubting his Affection to his Brethren for their better Security besides great Riches gave them the custody of strong Cities and unusual means against unusual Perils § 3. Jehoram 's Reign alone in which Edom and Libna Rebel § Iehosaphat's providence for his younger Sons availed nothing against the determination of an higher Providence for these strong Cities were a weak defence for the young Princes against his Power to whom the Citizens were obedient If they came in upon the King's Summons he had them without difficulty if they refused they were Traytors yet could not hold out when all would fail them for fear of a Potent King However it was all were slain and many great Men with them who had any way offended the Tyrant either formerly or in behalf of his Brethren Iehoram after this made innovation in Religion not only incouraging the People prone to Idolatry of all other sins detested of God but using Compulsion also and was the first we read of that inforced Irreligion Edom in the mean time revolted and made themselves a King having from David's days been Tributaries and govern'd by Vice-Roys Now Isaac's Prophecy began to take effect that Esau should break the Yoke of Iacob for after this Edom was never subject to the Kings of Iuda Yea in process of time Antipater and Herod Elumeans Reigned as Kings in Ierusalem Lybna also a City of the Levites in Iuda rebelled against him because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers In defence of whose Worship these Levites thought themselves bound especially against his inforcement to the contrary Wherein also they might take Incouragement for Iehosaphat's Charge 2 Chron. 29.8 But as Iehoram had left Edom in their defection so he attempted nothing against Libna which seemeth to proceed from a doubtful Mind whether to put Weapons into the Hands of his
Subjects against their Fellows whose Cause might well be favour'd by many who yet durst not discover themselves being unarmed as they might when Weapons were put into their Hands So desperate is the Condition of Tyrants who think it a greater Happiness to be Feared than Loved yet are oblig'd to fear those whose Love would make them dreadful to others § 4. Iehoram taking no notice of God's displeasure by these Afflictions was threatned by a Prophetical Writing sent to him being such a Tyrant as the Prophets durst not reprove him to his Face as they had done many of his Predecessors bad as well as good but they writ to him keeping themselves from him Elias being Translated might have left this Writing or as some conjecture by mistaking in Writing one Letter for another Elias is put for Elisha c. The Accomplishment of the Prophecy proved as terrible as the Sentence when the Philistins which from David's days durst never look out brake in upon him c. with the Arabians a naked People on Horse-back of no Force dwelling in a Barren Desert So that the one quarter of those whom Iehosaphat Mustered had been able to repel greater Forces than both these Enemies could raise had the Iudean People been Armed as by their Prince's Jealousy they were not according to the Policy of the Philistins in the days of Saul The House of Iehoram which they surprised seemeth rather a Country House than in Ierusalem considering they made no further Ravages It is probable all Iehoram's Children were not now slain considering the Slaughters made after by Iehu and Athaliah within two years Lastly himself after two years Torment voided his Guts c. And as the People had small cause of comfort in his Life so they observed not the decency of pretending Sorrow for his Death neither had he the Honour of his Ancestors Burial though his Son Succeeded and his Wife did all Athaliah busie in Plotting her own Greatness and providing trusty Counsellors for her Son thought it unreasonable to offend the Eyes of the People with a magnificent Funeral of a Man by them detested and chose rather to let the Blame of past Actions lie upon the Dead than by doing him Honour to procure an ill Opinion of her self and Children which it now concerned her to avoid Such is the quality of Wicked Instigators to charge the Man whose Evil Inclination they corrupted by sinister Counsel not only with his own Vice but with their Faults also when once he is gone and can profit them no longer Thus we may clearly see how the corrupted Affections of Men impugning the Revealed Will of God accomplish nevertheless his hidden Purpose and without miraculous means confound themselves in the seeming Wise Devices of their own Folly All Men may likewise learn to submit their Judgments to the Ordinance of God rather than to follow Worldly Wisdom contrary to his Commandments § 5. Ahaziah succeeded his Father in the Twelfth year of Iehoram King of Israel and was guided by the same Spirits that had been his Father's Evil Angels Touching his Age 2 Chron. 22.2 a Point more difficult than important I see not a more probable Conclusion than that of Torniellus's mentioning an Edition of the Seventy at Rome Anno. 1588 which saith he was Twenty years old when he succeeded and the Annotations thereon which cite other Copies which give him two years more c. He accompanied Iehoram King of Israel to Ramoth Gilead and returneth home after the Battle and presently took a new Journey to visit Iehoram It seems his speedy return to Ierusalem was not pleasing to Athaliah as interrupting her in her Plots who therefore sought to oblige him abroad if it were but in a vain Complement to visit one whom he had seen but yesterday But however these things may seem accidental yet all concurred as disposed at this time to fulfil the high pleasure of God yea Athaliah's secret Plots which intended nothing less § 6. Ahaziah and that Family perished with the House of Ahab § Iehu is anointrd King and made Executioner of the Sentence of God against the House of Ahab according to the Prophecy of Elias and is proclaimed by all the other Captains He having this Honour upon the sudden thrown upon him was not slow in the heat of their Affections to put himself in possession and to set on foot the Business which so nearly concerned him and not to be retarded being no more his own than God's Ahab's House never so flourished having Seventy Princes of the Blood a valiant King honoured with the Victory of Ramoth Gilead so deeply Allied with Iudah and Courted by the King and so many Princes of his Blood that it might discourage all common Enemies and make Rebellious Enterprises hopeless In this Security and Joy of the Court for the King's Recovery and Entertainment of the Princes of Iudah the King his Court and Friends are suddainly surprized and slain neither could Iezebel's Painted Majesty nor Man-like Spirit with untimely brave Apothegms terrify her Adversary who of her Servant became her Lord at whose Command her base Grooms feared not to violate her affected Majesty Ahaziah is also wounded to Death CHAP. XVII Of Athaliah and Ioash that succeeded her § 1. AThaliah Vsurpeth and upon what pretences § Ahaziah being dead after one Years Reign his House was not able to retain the Kingdom 2 Chron. 22.9 which Speech hath bred the question of Ioash's Pedigree Athaliah having Reigned under her Sons Name had laid the Plot to play the Queen under her own Title if her Son fail'd and to that end had furnished the King Councel and Places of Chief Command with Men fittest for her purposes And though Ambition be violent yet seldom is it so shameless as to neglect Beauty It is not therefore improbable to think that Athaliah seeing the Royal Blood so wasted in her Husband and Son's days had by some means drawn her Husband or Son to make her Heir if the King's Blood should be extinct considering that without some such order taken when the King's Blood fail'd the Kingdom were like to be torn in sunder by Competitors or some Popular Seditious Man should be chosen that would subvert all regularity and exercise his Cruelty on such as they loved most and cast aspersions on the Royal House Pretence of Testaments to thrust out true Heirs is no new thing Yea what is new under the Sun To prefer a younger before the natural Heir hath proof in David and for State-Policy to slay a Brother by example of Solomon c. And though these had ground of their doings yet they which follow Examples which please them will neglect the Reasons which please them not Solomon slew Adonijah which had Rebelled and was entred a new practice Iehoram slew his Brethren better than he David purchased the Crown yet he gave it by God's direction when as Ahaziah sought to cut off David's Issue which the Lord had appointed
moved disdain that they could not agree to submit unto him 'till some principal of them were dead every Man of them in the mean time holding what he could c. This Anarchy lasted about 23 Years from the 11 th Year of Vzziah when Ieroboam died unto the 38 th of the same Vzziah in the which Zechariah entred and sate 6 Months And though some suppose Ieroboam to Reign 11 Years with his Father and to cut off so much of this Inter-regnum yet they leave 12 Years but I prefer the former as best agreeing with the Reign of other Princes and not extend Ieroboam's Reign and Life as this doth Zechariah the Son of Ieroboam the last of Iehu's Line after 6 Months Reign was by Sallum slain fulfilling the 4 Generations following to Iehu yet not warranting Sallum to slay him as Iehu had been against Iehoram Thus Ieroâ—oam's Captains were grown so headstrong that they neither indured his Son nor one another so that in 14 Years their Reigned five Kings Sallum after 1 Month's Reign in Samaria was slain by Menahem Mâ—nahem of Tyrza Reigned 10 Years a Cruel Persecutor of Sallum's Friends In his time came Pull the Assyrian whom he pacified with a Thousand Talents of Silver and so was confirmed in his Kingdom against such as opposed him Pekahiah succeeded his Father 2 Years in the Year of Azariah King of Iudah Peka the Son of Remaliah slew Pekahia and Reigned 20 Years § 2. Vzziah whose Succession had been endangered by the hatred to his Father but by Holy Men brought up and advanced as was Ioash and had his Holy Zechariah under whose direction he prospered as Ioash under good Iehojada But as Ioash after his Tutor's death so Vzziah after his Zechariah forgetting the Law of God which had separated the Priest's Office from the King 's would needs usurp the same for which presumption being reprov'd by Azariah the Priest the Lord seconded the just reprehension and struck the King with Leprosie Thus he which presumed to draw near the Holiest was cast from among common Men. Iosephus enlargeth this History and reports of an Earthquake which some mistake for that in Amâ—s which was in Ieroboam the 2 ds days long before Vzziah § 2. Contemporaries with Vzziah Among the small Prophets Hosea Ioel Amos Obadiah and Ionas lived with Uzziah if Hierom's Rule hold to range a Prophet whose time is not expressed with the next before then Ioel and Obadiah are of this time Ionas seems to me the first that foretelleth Ieroboam's Victory and Prophecied of Christ rather by Sufferings than Writing now extant whereas all the other Prophets have express Promises of the Messias Esaiah also now prophecied writ much with excellency both of Stile and Argument foretelleth the Birth Miracles and Passion of our Saviour with calling of the Gentiles more like an History of things past than a Prophecy of things to come as Hierom saith Bochoris had Reigned in Egypt 10 Years when Vzziah entred Asychis succeeded then Anysis whom Sabacus succeeded 50 Year of which the 10 first were with Vzziah Ariphron's 2 last Years of 20. Thespeus 27. Aganestor's 20. and Aeschylus's 3 first of his 23 in Athens ended with Vzziah so did the 7 last of Sylvius Aventinus's 37. with 23 of Sylvius Procas and the first of Sylvius Amulius 22 in Alba. In Media Arbaces began his new Kingdom with Vzziah and held it 28. and Sosarmus his Son 30 Year § 4. Arbaces having taken Ninive utterly ruined it to transfer the Empire to the Medes as he had promised he also made his Partakers Rulers of Provinces retaining only the Sovereignty yet with such moderation as neither offended the Princes his Assistants nor the generality of the People For calling Belosus into question for Embezling the Treasure he referred his Condemnation to the Captains and then pardoned him and gave him the Province of Babylon with the Treasure He also â—â—eed the Persians and Bactrians as he promised and so weaken'd his Sovereignty so that in time the Assyrian incroached upon some Towns of the Medes and extended it self to Israel but when the Assyrian cast off the Mede's Yoak is uncertain As also when Babylon and Ninive became subject to one The Opinion current 'till of late is according to Metastenus in Annius That â—elosus called also Phut Belosus and in Scripture Pul or Phul Reigning 42 Years in Babylon got part of Assyria into his hand and left it to Tiglaâ— Pileser his Son and his Posterity 'till Merodach prevailed This Tradition though Annius's Authors be suspected is justified by Circumstances in other Authors as Belosus enjoying Babylon Dâ—â—dorus relates and no Authors speak of any special Governour of Assyria neither stood it with Policy to set a particular King in Assyria whâ—n to prevent the riâ—ing again thereof Ninive was ruined and the Inhabitants transplanted Upon the like Considerations Roâ—e destroyed Carthage and Capua being Towns Capable of Empire c. It is not then to be thought that Ninive and the Assyrianâ— could rise in three or four Years by any oâ—her tâ—â—n Beâ—osus so near a Neighbour and of so rich a Province for Hâ—rodotus esteemed it for Richâ—s and Powâ—r as the third part of the Perâ—iâ—â— Empire who aâ—so joyned the Treasure found in the Palace of Ninâ—ve § 5. The Olympian Games were restored by Iphylus in the Fifty fiâ—st of Vzziah The first Founder of them was Hercules and were so called of the City Olympia or Pisa near Elis a City in Peloponesus near the River Aâ—pheus where Iupiter had a Temple reputed one of the Worlds Wonders These Games were exercised after every Four years end which were discontinâ—ed loâ—g until the days of Iphitus when Lycurgus lived and continued in Greece 'till the Reign of Theodosius saith Cedrenus or to Constantine after others Varro held all Grecian Stories Fabulous before these but Pliny esteemeth none true before the Fifty fifth Olympiad when Cyrus began to Reign Many seek to find the Years of the World when they began but can set down no certainty others seek it from Troy's Fall more uncertain than they The certainty of things following the Olympiads teacheth to find their beginning to which use Eratosthenes hath set down the years ensuing unto the death of Alexander from the Olympian Institution Four Hundred fifty three years So for placing their beginning the 51st of Vzziah we have Cyrus's Reign to prove it being the first of the Fifty fifth Olympiad So Alexander's death the First year of the 144 th Olympiad So the Eclipse when Xerxes mustered at Sardis the last of the Sixty fourth Olympiad or the Two Hundred Sixty Seventh year of Nabonassar which leads us back to Xerxes and so to Cyrus whence we have Seventy Years to the destruction of Ierusalem and so through the Reigns of the Kings of Iudah to Vzziah's 51st The Solemnity was such by concourse from all the Greeks their Exercise was all bodily Feats and the Reward a Garland of
vain to be curious about these Kings seeing Diodorus varies from Herodotus and Eusebius from both neither do late Writers know whom to follow The Kings from Chencres or Tuoris or Proteus are agreed upon of which according to Eusebius Acherres was next whom Reyneccius thinks to be Vchoreus in Diodore Founder of Memphis but then Timaus cannot be the great Osymandias as he also judgeth for there were more than Eight Generations between them contrary to Diodorus Touching Osymandais Mercator makes him the Husband of Acencâ—eres Daughter to Orus Second and finds Vchoreus the Eighth from him But I will pass over these inextricable doubts c. § 3. Cherres after Eight years of Acherres succeeded Fifteen years Armeus five years Ramesses Sixty Eight years which two last are the Danaus and Egyptus spoken of by the Greeks who make Danaus expelled Egypt become King of Argos in Greece But Reyneccius believes not Armeus to be Danaus though their time agree but rather thinks he was Meris which made the great Lake Myris 3600 Furlongs compass and Fifty Fadoms deep to receive Nilus over-flowing for store when Water was scarce § 4. Ameraphis succeeded his Father Forty years then Sethosis Fifty years to whom some ascribe improbably the famous Acts of Great Sesostris In him began the Dynastie of the Zarths or Generals which Title Five only held Ramases succeeded Sixty years mistaken for Sesostris the 2d Amenophis succeeded Forty years Andemenes Twenty six years Tâ—uoris the last Zarth Seven years whom some make Proteus whose Son Remphes succeeded but I doubt neitâ—er Father nor Son were Kings § 5. Many other Names of the Egyptian Kings are found scattered as Tonephersobis Senemues or Senepos Banchistis Thulis in Suidas who asking Seraps the Divel who was or should be so mighty as he was answered First God and then the Word and then the Spirit which Three be One and join in One all Three whose Power is endless Get thee hence frail Wight the Man of Life unknown excelling thee Cedreus hath the same and gives this King as great Antiquity as the Indies citing a Book called Little Genesis which word little alone argues Impostor besides the Frierly stuff he cites out of it His List of Old Egyptian Kings here set down are not worth writing out neither the Kings named by others Vaphres and Sesac will lead us into a fair way a while the first was Solomon's Father-in-Law according to Clemens Alexandrinus and Eusebius the second Eusebius calls Smendis with whom he begins the Twenty First Dynastie whose Entrance is found about the Twentieth of Solomon reckoning from Neco's death in the Fourth of Iehojakim King of Iudah upward as from the Fifth of Rehoboam wherein he plunder'd the Sanctuary but injoyed that Sacriledge as did Ioas and Craseus not one Year For the Kings from Sesac to Necho I chose the Greek Historians for Eusebius is out by failing to keep the reckoning between the Kings of Iudah and Israel § 6. Chemmis or Chembis succeeded Sesac Fifty years and built the great Pyramid whose Base was Seven Acres square and Six high which Diodore saw One Thousand Years after in Augustus's days Câ—abreus or Cheops succeeded Fifty years and then Cephrenes Fifty six both Builders of Pyramids for their Sepulchers Mycerinus his Son Six years as the Oracle had threatned for his opening the Idols Temple which his Predecessors had shut It may be Chemmis had learned their Vanity at Ierusalem and thereupon shut the Temple up Reyneccius gives him Fifty years Bochoris or Banchyris by Suidas succeed Forty four years Then Sabacus an Aethiopian But Herodotus omits both and hath Asychis who decreed the Debtors dead Body should be given to the will of the Creditor 'till the Debt were payed Anysis succeeded him and both could be but Six years Then came the former Aethiopian who Reigned Fifty years Scripture calls him Zonaras Sua with whom Hosea King of Israel made a Vain League against Salmanassar They say he left his Kingdom and returned into Aethiopia to avoid his God's Commandment to kill all the Priests of Egypt such was their Zeal to their Priests § 7. Sethom succeeded in the Twelfth of Hezekiaâ— and Fifth of Senacherib when Assur and Egypt contended which should Rule or serve Hezekiah though fixing special Confidence in God held it fit to make a League with Egypt by his People relying more on Egypt than on God Egypt promiseth much but only furnished him with some Treasure sent to hire Arabians which was intercepted Herodotus tells us a Tale of Sethom's Praying to Vulcan his God for Aid against the Assyrians who lay before Pelusium and he sent Mice which gnawed their Bow-strings and Straps of their Armour which made them depart His Reign Functius resolves to be 33 years giving no Reason yet upon search I find it within One Yeâ—r by dividing the years from Rehoboam's 5th to Iehâ—jakims 4th among the Kings of Egypt giving each his set time and the Remainder to Sethom CHAP. XXIII Of Manasses and his Contemporaries § 1. MAnasses Son of Hezekiah succeeded being Twelve Years Old and Reigned Fifty Five Years of whose Idolatry and extraordinary Wickedness see 2 Kings 21. and 2 Chron. 33. Of his putting the Reverend Prophet Isaiah to death with a Wooden Saw being Eighty years old Eusebius Epiphanius Isidore and others confirm His Captivity in Babel his Repenting Prayer Reformation and Death see 2 Chron. 33. Merodach having loved his Father might more easily be perswaded to restore him § 2. Aegypt after Sethom was miserably distracted with Civil dissention two Years then ill reform'd by a Government of 12 Princes of which 11 falling out with the 12 th were by him subdued and the Kingdom Usurped which Anarchy Diodore put after Sabacus omitting Sethom contrary to Herodotus These Twelve for a Monument of their Government made a Labyrinth near the Lake Maris which Heroclus prefers to the Chief Pyramid which excelled Diana's Temple Diodorus reports it the work of Marus or Menides five Generations before Proteus or the Trojan War and Reyneccius takes him to Annemenes as he doth Amenophis to be Amasis and Sethom to be Actisanes But he was deceived for the times we are now in shew us Amasis was Anisis Actisanes Sobacus and Marus one of the 12 Governours which made this Work Whereto serve the 12 great Halls in it c. Psamniticus one of the 12. cast out by the rest upon an Oracle as Herodotus tells the Tale which Diodore believes not hired Power out of Caria and Ionia with which he overthrew his Fellows and Ruled alone 54 Years saith Hierom which Mercator divides 44 alone and 10 before according to Eusebius And to make the reckoning fall even with the years from the 5 th of Rehoboam and the 4 th of Iehojakim we must confound the last of the 15 ascribed to the 12 Governours with the first of Psamnitius He first entertained Amity with the Greeks displeasing his Souldiers â—ith preferring his Mercenaries
as Numa in Peace He made breach with the Albans but doubting the Tuscans their common Enemies would make advantage of the Dissention they put it to a Combate of three Brethren on either side Cousin Germans and of equal years and strength but the Horatij of Rome prevail'd against the Curatij and Alba where the Latins submit to Rome and Alba not long after was demolished Hyppomanes had Ruled seven years in Athens in the entrance of Manasses and the three last Governours for ten years were in his time In whose times ◠follow Halicarnasseus who professing care in matching the Grecian years with the Roman Occasions beginneth with Rome's Building the first year of the seventh Olympiad and the first of Cecrops in Athens Midas now Reigned in Phrygia c. The Scythians invaded him Syracuse in Sicily Founded by Archias Miscellus and other Corinthians Nicomedia formerly Astacus in Propontis enlarged by Zipartus's Navy of Thrace Sybilla of Samus now lived according to Pausanias Croton on the Bay of Tarentum built by Miscellus Gela in Sicily Phaselis in Pamphylia Chalcedon in Asia built by the Magerenses The Parthians expelled Lacedemon were Conducted by Phalantus into Italy where they took Tarentum CHAP. XXIV Of Ammon Josiah and the rest to the Destruction of Jerusalem § 1. AMMON Twenty two years old Succeeded two years and was as Wicked as his Father had been his Servants slew him Iosiah Eight years old succeeded Thirty one Years He sought after the God of his Father David and at Twelve years old made a worthy Reformation fulfilling the Prophecy delivered at Bethel to Ieroboam By which History it appears that Bethel and some parts of the Ten Tribes were come under the Power of Iudah either taken in by Hezechiah upon the death of Assurhaddon while the Babylonians who loved him were busie in Assyria or at Manasses's Inlargement The Babylonians not yet fit to deal with the Egyptian so far off to oblige Iudah to them were content with this Inlargement as necessary against the Egyptians This may be the Reason Manasses Fortified himself after his return which was not against the Babylonians but the Egyptians as appeared in Iosiah his opposing Necho with such earnestness as argueth a firm League with the Babylonians That Egypt's Friendship was little worth Iudah had oft found and payed for by the Assyrians and Babylonians displeasure for adhering to Egypt yet had it been a small matter upon his earnest Request to let him pass if Iosiah had not been obliged to the Babylonians by his Ancestors Covenant to Offend and Defend neither had it been Wisdom to Encounter such an Army offering no Violence Whatever moved Iosiah it is likely he forgot as the best do sometimes to ask Counsel of God and depended on the Babylonians too much which could not please God The Conclusion was that God for the Wickedness of the People took away that good King who had stayed his Hand from Revenging himself upon them whose Miseries presently insued his Death so much bewailed of all § 2. Neco Son to Psamniticus following his Fathers designs who had made entrance into Syria being assisted by the extraordinary Valor of the Greeks and knowing how Assyria stood in danger by the Power of the Medes intended with a Powerful Army to visit Euphrates and strengthen the Passages about Carchemish or further to Invade Syria Having therefore over-thrown Iosiah in his way not intending to stay the Conquest of Iudah he proceeded and took Cadytis perhaps Carchemish and became in a manner Lord of all Syria saith Iosephus particularly of the Phoenicians whom he set to Sail from the Arabian Gulf round about Africa by the Cape of good Hope In his return from Euphrates he took Ieboahaz the younger Son of Iosiah whom Ieremy calls Shallum whom the People had made King and put him in Bonds and put Eliakim in his place calling him Iehojakim and layed a Tribute on the Land but forbore the Conquest Iehoahaz was King but three Months Iehojakim the Elder Son of Iosiah Reigned Ten years he was of the Egyptian Faction and of the behaviour of the worst of his Ancestors which had so Infected the Land that the Chief Priests also were defiled therewith Yet the Lord raised up Prophets which reproved him among whom Vriah flying from the Tyrant which sought his Life is from Egypt sent back to death contrary to the Custom of Nations § 3. Of the Kings of Media and Babylon § Merodach Son of Baladan taking advantage of Senacherib's Misadventure and Death with the Assistance of his Sons made himself King of Babylon but kept in Action 'till Assurhaddon's death Eleven years so that he could not intend Syria but was well rewarded then by a great part of Assyria if not by all as some less probably think Yet his little concern with the Assyrian Affairs all his long Reign argues him busied at Home in setling his Purchases there and having Amity with Hezekiah Ben. Mirodacb his Son succeeded Twenty one years whose Governours as I take it captivated Manasses in whose time Psamniticus with his Greek Mercenaries prevailed in Syria which might procure Manasses his release and it may be a part of the Kingdom of Samaria which the Babylonians could not now intend Nabulassar his Son succeeded Thirty five years whose works at home kept him from looking abroad for Phraortes King of the Medes Invaded Assyria and Besieged Ninive which it seems was not yet subject to Babylon for Nabonassar repelled him not but the Scythians Invaded Media and forced him thence Phraortes Son of Deioces King of Media having inlarged his Dominions attempted Ninive which yet remained of her self well enough saith Herodotus Custom of Danger hardened the Un-war-like whom sudden unknown Dangers amaze Ninive had now been long exercised so that Phraortes and his Family perished there Cyaxares his Son a braver Man of War won in Lesler Asia all from Halis Eastward He Besieged Ninive and took it saith Eusebius whom I rather believe than Herodotus saying the Scythians came upon him which is not likely for we cannot think him so improvident but rather hearing they were to guard Media he left the City which about this time was destroyed as we read in Tobit a Book of sufficient Credit for the Story of those Times And sure we are the Prophecy of Nabum was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar and probable it is that Nabulassar after Cyaxares left it in weak case might seize upon it easily and put a Vice-Roy in it which upon their Rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar were utterly destroyed § 4. The Scythians about this time made a great Expedition into Asia of which Herodotus speaks much and many Fabulous things ill agreeing with the time Their first Eruption must needs be within the Reign of Psamniticus King of Egypt who met with them in Palestine and got them by intreaty and gifts to leave the Country Before this they had wasted Media and molested Assyria Babylonia c. and◠are said to have
be attended with more than one Woman abroad except they were drunken which Dispensations Women were ashamed to claim § 6. Ierusalem in the third year of Iehojakim is Besieged by Nebuchadnezzar the second year of his Reign with his Father and notwithstanding the assistance of Neco King of Egypt forced Iehojakim to become his Vassal and took Daniel and his Fellows Hostages but hasted home not intending there to stay Neco coming with such disadvantage so far from home in a Country which loved him not Besides his Father's death called him to possess his own before he sought other Mens But the next year which was Nebuchadnezzar's first and Neco's last they fought on the Bank of Euphrates where Neco Fought his last and Nebuchadnezzar recover'd all Syria Pausanius succeeded Neco but inferiour in Valour he thought to restore Iehoahaz his Prisoner and cast out Iehojakim but the Lord said to the contrary Iehojakim also rely'd on the Egyptians 'till Nebuchadnezzar forced a Tribute on him so he submitted quietly three years in his fourth year it seemeth that Ieremiah was first Imprisoned Tyrus holding out against Nebuchadnezzar was in his seventh year Besieged and in his fourteenth year taken for her Captivity was limited to seventy years and her Siege was thirteen It was divided from the Main by a deep broad Channel excelled in store of Ships which Nebuchadnezzar wanted and every Wind brought supply from Foreign Parts so that it feared neither Force nor Famine But God that had threatned Tyre sent a King impatient of resistance to undertake such a piece of work to stop a vast Channel in the Sea using thereto the Wood of Libanus not far off and the Ruins of old Tyre with the toilsom labour of many thousands of Men wherewith he prevailed at length But the wealthy Citizens fled by Sea to Creet and left little Wealth for Booty therefore the Lord promised them Egypt see Ezek. 29.18 19. Iehojakim upon what occasion is uncertain whether Mutiny among the Souldiers or Rumour of the Egyptians coming against Nebuchadnezzar renounced his Subjection but was presently subdued by Nebuchadnezzar and slain and his Son Iehojakim or Ieconias put in his place and after three Months removed to Babylon and Mattanias his Uncle established in his stead and called Zedekiah who took an Oath of subjection In his fourth year he went to Babel about some business wherein it seems he was not satisfied for upon his return he began to practice with the Neighbouring Princes of Moab c. what year Iohanan the False Prophet opposed Ieremy Nebuchadnezzar hearing of Zedekiah's practice came in the dead of Winter and Besieged Ierusalem and though the year following he raised his Siege to meet Hophra yet upon the Egyptians abandoning his Enterprize he returned and gave the City no rest 'till he brake it up Zedekiah escaping in the Night through a Vault under the Earth is yet overtaken c. and his Eyes being put out he was carried into Babel but saw it not as Ezekiel foretold Ch. 12.13 This was the eleventh year of Zedekiah and eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar the year after the Temple was burnt the four hundred thirty first year after the Building What followed is written 2 Kings 25. Ier. 39. 52. THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK III. Part I. FROM The Destruction of Ierusalem unto Philip of Macedon CHAP. I. The time from the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Assyrian Fall § 1. THE Connexion of Sacred and Profane History § Before the Grecian Olympiads and the Eastern Date from Nabonassar the Course of Time had no beaten Path as after it had more certain Marks yet from Ierusalem's Destruction the former with the succeeding Ages are more clearly discern'd in their Connection The harm which some have found in the years of the overgrown Monarchies doth preserve their Names which otherwise might have been forgotten but cannot shew the Year of such a King in which any thing expressed in Scripture was done Neither could any certainty be gathered from the late Kings of the Assyrians c. if Nebuchadnezzar's Reign had not been precisely applied to the years of Iehojakim and Zedekiah Hence have we the first light to discover how to connect Sacred and Profane Histories for Iudah's Seventy years Captivity begin under Nebuchadnezzar and ending the first of Cyrus directs us backward and forward This first year of Cyrus is joyned with the first of the fifty fifth Olympiad And that he Reigned twenty three year before his Monarchy and seven after is apparent and giving them four hundred and eight year between Troy's Fall and Iphetus's restoring the Olympiads we may arrive to the knowledge of the true Grecian Antiquities For other Nations let St. Augustine be trusted § 2. The Seventy Years of Babylonian Captivity being our chief mark of direction we are to inform our selves truly therein Some begin from Ieconias's Captivity eleven year before Zedekiah citing Ezek. 40.1 Beraldus judgeth that it began the first of Nebuchadnezzar and fourth of Ioakim citing 2 Chron. 36. and Dan. 1. Matth. 1.11 but cannot thus make it good Wretched Porphyrie scoffeth at St. Matth. 1.11 not knowing Iosias's Sons had divers Names as Epiphanius shewed The Wretch affirmeth the Book of Daniel was written long after his death at or near the time of Antiochus Epiphanes whom Eusebius Apollonius c. have answered And the Seventy Interpreters Translated it out of Hebrew one hundred year before that Iaddus the High-Priest also shewed the Book to the Great Alexander c. True it is the Iews ascribe it to Esdras and equal it not to the Prophet but put it among the Hagiographs or Holy Books which are Daniel Psalms Iob Proverbs Canticles Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Hester Nehemiah and Chronicles Our Christian Councils and Fathers acknowledge it Canonical and our Saviour who cited no Apocrypha cited it as a proof exceeding all § 3. That the Seventy Years Captivity began at Ierusalem's destruction not Ieconias's Captivity is clear Ieremiah himself explained himself and Daniel cited by some to the contrary Compare Chap. 25.9 11 12. with Chap. 29.10 where in the first place he expresly beginneth the Captivity of Seventy years at Ierusalem's Destruction and thereof certifies the Captivity in the second place So also it is understood by themselves 2 Chron. 36.19 20 21. So Dan. 9.2 the Seventy years referred to Ierusalem's Desolation § 4. Touching the King's Reigning in Babylon those seventy Years and the time of each help us a little to the times before or after neither it seems were most of their Acts worth Recording For as Nebuchadnezzar's latter times were either in delights or madness so his Posterity grew slothful as Sons whose Fathers have purchased enough to their hands yet let us consider of Men's Opinions therein and judge as we see cause The surest Opinion is theirs which follow the Scripture which Name only Nebuchadnezzar Evilmerodach and Balthasar and Ieremy which seemeth to limit the Dominion of Babel to Father Son
whose Brother he was Cyrus ever after so trusted him that in his Journey to Scythia he left him to advise Cambyses his Son § 5. Cyrus after the Conquest of Lydia as it seems Invaded Scythia and taking Amorges whose Wife Spartha renewing the War took Cyrus and so by exchange recover'd her Husband He also reduc'd the Phocians and Greeks in lesser Asia being fallen off and having setled all his Provinces prepared to attempt Babylon as the height of his Designs whereto he inforced Head and Hand Cyrus having spent ten years in ordering former Purchases and preparing for Babylon knowing the strength of it being treble Walled of great heighth and surrounded with Waters unfordable and victualled for twenty years despaired to carry it by Assault or to Famish it in short time or without great and assur'd Guard considering the vast circuit of the Wall above forty eight Miles of thirty two Foot thickness and one hundred Cubits high Cyrus having considered these difficulties with the inconveniency of lying long at the Siege with such a Multitude and the doubtful Terms of Conquer'd remote Provinces with the dishonour of making shew to attempt what in probability could not be compassed contrived how to turn aside Euphrates by many Channels Balthazar in the mean time secure of any thing the Enemy could do fell to Feasting c. when the Lord of Heaven against whom he exalted himself sent a Message by a Divine Hand-writing which marred all their Mirth The execution of that fearful Sentence came on as fast when in the same night Cyrus causing the Dams between the River and his Trenches to be cut down Euphrates suddenly fail'd the City and left the Besiegers a ready entrance upon a secure People drowned in their Cups No Historian if he had been present could have better set out Babel's Calamities in that surprize than did Isaiah two hundred years before and Ieremy above seventy years whose Prophecies were now accomplish'd § 6. Cyrus his last Wars and End are diversly reported Herodotus and Iustin tell us of his Wars with the Massagets and his death by Queen Tomyris But I believe with Viginier that War was rather that which he had before with the Scythians and that Tomyris was Sparta Ctesias reports he was wounded in his War with Derbician Scythians and died three days after and by Strabo's Report he was buried in his own City Pasagardes whose Tomb Alexander the Great opened saith Curtius There is no likelihood of any such overthrow of the Persians in Scythia considering Cambyses's present Journey into Egypt and therefore I believe he died at home as Xenophon reports setting down his Oration to his Son c. § 7. Cyrus his Decree for building God's Temple was in true consideration the noblest of all his Acts as a Service to the Author of all goodness accomplishing what the Lord had promised seventy years before touching the return of the Iews c. restoring the Vessels of the Sanctuary and re-building the House of God Yet was the Work hindred all the days of Cyrus by the Samaritans and Governours of the Provinces who wrought upon Cambyses in his Father's days and after upon suggestion that it was a Rebellious City c. He Reigned thirty or one and thirty Years § 8. Cyrus had two Sons Cambyses and Smerdis Three Daughters Atossa and Meroe whom Cambyses their Brother Married and Aristona Wife to Darius Hystaspes as was Atossa after Cambyses's death Codman mistakes her for Hester because she was called Hadasa but nearness of Names confounds not the Person where the one was the known Daughter of Cyrus the other a Iew who though a while she concealed her Kindred yet she after discovered it c. CHAP. IV. Of the Persian Affairs from Cyrus to Darius § 1. THE Persian Kings are diversly numbred but Eusebius and most Latin Authors follow the Greeks Krentzheim hath refelled all the other and Beucer maketh it good by Scripture Cyrus Reign'd in all thirty years nam'd 2 Chron. 36. and Ezra 1.1 and elsewhere Cambyses with the Magi eight years named in Daniel 11.2 Darius Hystaspes Ezr. 4.5 he Reigned thirty six then Xerxes twenty one years plainly set out Dan. 11.2 Artaxeres Longintanus forty years Ezr. 4.7 called also Artasta Ezra 4.7 and 7.7 Darius Northis nineteen years Ezra 4.24 and 5.6 Nehem. 12.22 Artaxeres Mriemon forty three years Nehem. 2.1 Father to Artaxerxes Octius and Arsames in whom the Line of Cyrus ended Octius Reigned twenty two years Arsames three Darius the last was of another Family and Reigned six years All these are by Eusebius fitted to the Olympiad § 2. Cambyses succeeded his Father like him only in desire to increase the Empire In the fifth year of his sole Reign the third of the sixty third Olympiad he Invaded Egypt for that Amà sis denied him his Daughter but Psamneticus Reigning after is slain by Cambyses six Months after Amasis's death others give him six years § 3. Cambyses also forced Evelthon King of Cyprus to submit he destroyed the Egyptian Images and Temples and sent to do the like to Iupiter Ammon in Lybia but the Devil by a Storm oppressed them with Sand yet himself attempted it after in vain he also slew Apis the Egyptian Bull. But shortly after upon a Dream that his Brother sate upon his Throne he procured Praxaspes his Favourite to kill him Intending to Marry his Sisters he asked his Judges what Law permitted it who answered Persian Kings are Lawless Yet he caused Sisanus a Corrupt Judge to be flaied alive covering the Judges Seat with the Skin and put his Son into the Office He shot Praxaspes's Son in the Heart to shew his Father the Wine he delighted in had not taken away his Wits Mounting his Horse in haste to Persia hearing of Semendis a Magus upon likeness to his Brother usurped the Crown his Sword falling out gave him his death's wound He Built Babylon in Egypt where Latopolis had stood and Meroe in Nilus by his Sisters Name whom he slew for weeping for Smerdis § 4. The Seven Princes descend from Achaemenes's discovering the Fraud of the Imposture with joyned Forces rooted him out and after Consultation whether Popular Government or a few Choice Men or Regal were best the Resolution was to make him King whose Horse should Neigh first after the Sun-Rising Darius one of them Consulting with Oebarus Master of his Horse caused his Horse to cover a Mare in the Suburbs the Night before who coming the next Morning by that place with the rest made Darius Emperor by his Horse Neighing first CHAP. V. Of Darius the Son of Hystaspes § 1. DArius came of the second Race of Achaemenes thus Cyrus the First begat Teispius who begat Arianes Father of Arsanes who accompanied Cyrus in Scythia where Cyrus upon a Dream grew Jealous of Darius but afterwards he followed Cambyses into Egypt Married two of Cyrus's Daughters Reyneccius gives Hystaspes five Sons Herodotus four § 2. Darius made many
five thousand more § 9. Mardonius's Army of thirty thousand was increased to fifty thousand with the Macedonians Thaebans and Thessalians against which the Forces of Greece were One hundred and ten Thousand of which forty thousand were weightily Armed All these comfronted one another in a convenient place belonging to the Plataeans who gave it to the Athenians upon the Oracles promise of Victory if the Battle were fought on Athenian ground In the end the Armies encounter each other Mardonius is slain his Army destroyed and Artabasus with three thousand flyeth to Byzantium and so Shipped into Asia § 10. Xerxes being at Sardis committed Sixty thousand to Tygranes to keep Ionia and the Coast where his two Admirals lay at Mycale who perceiving the Grecian Fleet was coming drew their Ships on ground and fortifyed the places and disarmed the Samians among them and set the Miletians far off to keep the Streights doubting them The Greeks resolutely â—orce them and the Samians in the Fight get what Weapons they can and play the Devil against the Persians whose Example the Ionians follow so that the Persians are overthrown and of those that fled the Milesians had the slaughter this was the Evening of that Day the Battel was at Plataea which was the last that was heard of this mighty Army levied against Greece § 11. Xerxes not regarding these Losses was engag'd in the love of his Brother's Wife who rejected him and after of her Daughter Wife to his Son whereof did follow the Salvage Cruelty of Amestris his Wife on his Brother's Wife and his Murther of his Brother Masistes her Husband CHAP. VII The Greek Affairs from the Persian Wars to the Peloponesian of Twenty Seven Years § 1. THE Greeks having utterly defeated that Persian Army of Seventeen Hundred Thousand and left a few thousands of them that the Peloponesians sent home leaving Xantippus and his Athenians assisted with the revolted Ionês who took Sestos in the Streight of Hellespont between which and Abidos Xerxes's Bridge had stood and in the Spring return'd home taking their Wives and Children with them out of the Islands where they had left them The Athenians neglecting their private interest fell presently to fortifie their City which the Lacedemonians doubting the Athenians power at Sea dissuaded but in vain being held in suspence with fair words till the work was ended and then were answer'd That Athens knew what belonged to her safety as they had shewed in the Persian War without direction from others § 2. The Athenians sent out Thirty Ships the Lacedemonians Twenty the rest of Greece adding thereto Pausanias of Lacedemon having the Conduct who having possess'd themselves of many Principal Places in Cyprus went from thence to Thrace and recovered Bizantium now Constantinople from the Persians After this Pausanias beginning to play the Tyrant is called home and Docres put in his Place who is also misâ—iked as indeed a good Commander might be in comparison of the Wise and Virtuous Aristides Commander of the Athenians much more Men of ill desert The Lacedemonians being weary of following the War of which the Athenians were eagâ—r return home and take their easâ— while the other got Honour and had all the rest of the Greeks willing to be Commanded by the Athenians and to bear what Charge they lay upon them for the common defence of Greece gladly referring themselves to Aâ—istides But just Aristides could not prevent the Athenians making Slaves of their Fellows in short time imposing Thirteen Hundred Talents a year upon their Confederates Timon Son of â—â—â—â—iades was General who brought many Inhabitants 〈◊〉 Greece into the Athenian Servitude while neglecting to follow the Wars chusing rather to bear the Chaâ—ge than seâ—ve grew weak as the other became strong Timon having taken Phaleis entrâ—d Erquidom in Pamphiâ—ia overthrew the Persian Army at Land and took two hundred Ships and forced Eighty Sail of Phaenicians to râ—â— on groâ—nd and perâ—â—â— This forced the Persians to an honourable Peace with the Athenians § 3. Xerxes becomes cruel to his Kindred and those about him which made hiâ— Uncle Artaâ—â—â—â—â— to repose less safety in his Fidelity thaâ— in the hope of a Crown by destroying a Cruel Cowaâ—dly and Hated Prince Thus by means of Millorldatus an Eunuch the King is murther'd and his Son Darius charg'd with it and put to death But Artabanus is surpriz'd by Artaxerxes and slain § 4. Artaxerxes making Peace with the Athenians Themistocles seeking to check the Peoples insolency in their Democratical Government is Banished Ten Years who for safety fled to Persia where to avoid leading Forces against Athens he Poisoned himself § 5. Athens contrary to the Peace with the Persians measuring Honour by profit thought to Surprize Cyprus a convenient Seat for any State which would Trade with Syria Egypt Cilicia c. But Timon with two hundred Sail solicited by Icarus King of Lybia to joyn in Conquest and shewing him Egypt accepted the motion succeeded in the Attempt to the taking two parts of Memphis 'till Magabazus sent Forces to assist the Persians there by which means the Athenians were forced to Prosopotes and there slain with loss of all their Gallies and fifty more sent to their assistance § 6. The Athenians in these six years of Egyptian War held their own with advantage winning the Aegyptian Phocis Tanagra c. spoiled the Sea-Coast of Peloponesus and then made a Peace with them § 7. Artaxerxes Longimanus to whom most good Authors give forty and some forty four years was he which so much favoured the Iews as we see in Esdras and Nehemiah which was that Ahasuerus who Married Hester lived in Susa and Reigned from India to Aethiopia and therefore a Persian Now as Darius Hystaspes his many Wives the Honour he left Atossa in Iojachim's being High-Priest in the days of Artaxerxes prove he was not Hesters Husband so much less was Xerxes and Mordocha proveth he could be none of the succeeding Kings of Persia. § 8. The Greeks prosecute their Civil-War leaving the Persians in Peace for many Ages Their Egyptian Expedition being come to nought the Lacedemonians recover Delphos which the Athenians regain and commit to the Phocians But the Baeotians recover their Liberty against the Athenians as did Eubaea and Megaras and Athens seek Peace with Sparta for thirty years but after six years Invaded Samos CHAP. VIII Of the Peloponesian War § 1. GReece was never under the Government of one Prince 'till Philip of Macedon and Alexander his Son and by them rather United than Subjected as they were by the Kings following who brought all Greece into servitude except those Two which deserved it most Athens and Lacedemon which distracted all by their private quarrels drawing all the rest to side with them Lacedemon having lived under one form of Government four hundred years used only to War as glorying only in Valour The Athenians to the contrary measured Honour and all by Gain The Lacedemonians were
having been trained up in the Art of War by Cyna a Warlike Woman The Souldiers disappoint her and Pithon who hoped to have been intreated by them to hold and chose Antipater who in a few days arrived at the Camp with his Army and took it upon him as the only powerful Man then living of all Alexander's Captains whom all acknowledge their Superior Antipater taketh the King Queen and Princess into Macedon leaving Antigonus General of the Royal Army against Eumenes and Ruler of Asia during the War and besides his former Provinces gave him the Rule of Susiana § 11. Antigonus Lieutenant of Asia being to subdue Eumenes Alcetus and Attalus began with Eumenes seeking to Corrupt his Army by Letters but failed therein by Eumenes's cunning who made shew as if he writ them to try their faith to him Then Antigonus dealt with the Captains of which one brake out untimely and another called Apollonides held close 'till the Battle and then turned to Antigonus with such of the Horse-men as he could persuade being their General but Eumenes overtook him and cut him off though he lost the Battle Eumenes not able to keep the Field wished his Men to shift for themselves and retained only five hundred Horse and two hundred Foot with which he tired Antigonus in following At last he entred Nora a strong and well provided Fort bordering on Cappadocia where they parted without agreeing so Antigonus leaveth Nora besieged and with his other Forces entred Pisidia and overthrew Alcetus § 12. Ptolomy while other Princes were quiet in their Government sent an Army and won Syria and Phaenicia and took Laomedon the Governour thereof Prisoner Antipater being Eighty Years Old reposing great Confidence in Polyspercon one of Alexanders most Ancient Captains committed to him the Protectorship and Government of Macedon doubting his Son Cassander's sufficiency he also gave charge that no Woman should be admitted into the Administration of the Empire and so dyed § 13. Polysâ—ercon's skill was greater in War than in the high Office he now undertook being a man of an Inferior Wit fitter to assist than command in Chief The better to Countenance his Injunctions to the Governours of Provinces he and his Council thought fit to call the Queen of Olympias to Court whom Antipater suffered not in Macedon But Cassander Son of Antipater who thought himself the better Man was not satisfyed with the Captainship of a Thousand his Ambition soared high when he considered the Love of those which commanded the Garrisons and all the Rulers in the Cities so of Greece so placed by his Father Besides he had that Interest in Queen Euridice that was due only to her Husband all which would not serve to bear out an open Rebellion Cassander therefore finding what Ptolomy had done in Syria and what Antigonus aimed at since Antipater's death for whose sake he presumed upon them and seeing their occasions needed a Civil War he went to Antigonus in Asia and writ to Ptolomy § 14. Polyspercon upon Cassander's departure to disappoint him of his hopes from Greece decreed in Council to restore the popular Government in their Cities and discharge the Garrisons and Banish or kill the Governours placed by Antipater Thus he dishonours the Man that raised him overthrew worthy Men placed as Friends to the State of Macedon and gives away Macedon's Command of Greece if he means as he pretends c. § 15. Athens by this Decree in all haste cast out their Governours Phocion and others who fly for their Lives but cannot remove the Garrison commanded by Nicanor a trusty Friend to Cassander He possessing one of the Havens found means to take the other called Paraeus to their great discouragement but by Alexander the Son of Polyspercon coming with an Army are wholly misled as if he came to aid them whereas he came to get what Nicanor held if he could persuade him thereto Phocion and his Fellows fly to Polyspercon for Patronage but he finding he could not get the Key of Athens as he fought without offending the other Towns of Greece to cover his intent as meaning well to Athens he sent Phocion back into Athens who wickedly put him to death being above Eighty Years old who had been chosen forty five times Governour without seeking it whose Integrity was approved whose Counsel the City never repented nor private Man for trusting him Philip and Alexander honoured him but could fasten no Gifts upon him Athens never after bred a worthy Man § 16. Cassander with such Forces as Antigonus lent him entred Pireus which drew Polyspercon headlong into Attica with an Army but for want of Victuals departed leaving Alexander with some Forces to hindeâ— Nicanor 'till he in Peloponesus attempted Megalopolis which affected Cassander But the Town furnished with Fifteen thousand able Men was so defended and his Elephants so galled in their Feet with Nails driven through Boards laid and lightly covered in the Way that he prevailed not and wanting Provision to stay long he forsook the Siege After this his Admiral Clitus after an Overthrow given to Nicanor in Propontis is in the second Encounter Antigonus having furnished Nicanor utterly defeated which made Athens submit to Cassander as did other Cities § 17. Antigonus lying before the Fort Nora when he heard of Antipater's death knowing Eumenes's sufficiency and fidelity to Perdicas thought no Man fitter to be employed in his designs He sent therefore a Friend to them both to deal with him to take an Oath of Fidelity to Antigonus which he refused except Olympias and the Children of Alexander were put in which was yielded to so he departed Antigonus had before this taken on him as Lieutenant of Asia to remove Governours of Provinces as Aridaeus of Phrygia and Clitus of Lydia which repaired to the Court for Relief but all failed in Clitus's overthrow at Sea § 18. Antigonus now commanding the most of the Lesser Asia was able to enter Macedon and seize the Court but doubted the Reconciliation of Cassander and Polyspercon thereby he also knew Eumenes's fidelity to the Royal Blood Against him therefore he bent with Twenty thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse hoping to surprize him in Cilicia Eumenes a Thracian of all the old Souldiers was only faithful to the Royal Blood the Court therefore gave him Commission to raise an Army against Antigonus requiring the Provincials to assist and the old Silver-shield-bands to follow him § 19. Olympias the Old Queen intending to remove Aridaeus and place Alexander Son of Roxane joining with Polyspercon enters Macedon taketh Euridice and Aridaeus forsaken of all that followed her at the sight of Olympias both are Murdered and a hundred of Cassander's Friends with Nicanor his Brother § 20. Cassander lying at the Siege of Tegea in Peloponesus hearing these ill Tidings compounded with Tegea and shipt his Army into Thessaly the Aetolians keeping the Streights of Thermopylae by Land in favour of the Queen Cassander leaveth Callas with part
and took an Hundred private Hostages The Rhodians presently erect Statues for Lysimachus and Cassander and make a God of Ptolomy § 3. Demetrius chaseth Cassander beyond the Straits of Thermopilae and recover'd all that Cassander held there the like he did in Peloponesus setting all Free and translateth Sicyon to anâ—ther place and called it Demetrius Then he was proclaimed General of all Greece and Athens decreed all his Commandments should be held Sacred and just with God and Men Cassander's Case now oblig'd him to seek Peace for Macedon but Antigonus will have absolute submission which made Cassander sollicit the Confederates Lysimachus Ptolomy and Seleucus who apprehending the common danger agree to joyn Forces against a common Enemy Lysimachus with part of Cassander's Forces begins and passeth the Hellespont makes hot War in Asia which Antigonus hasteth to oppose but cannot force Lysimachus home who stayed for Seleucus's coming and made him send for Demetrius c. § 4. Seleucus is come and joyned with Ptolomy's Forces and Lysimachus making Sixty four Thousand Foot Ten Thousand Five Hundred Horse Four Hundred Elephants and One Hundred aâ—med Carts Antigonus had Seventy Thousand Foot Ten Thousand Horse and Seventy Five Elephants they met at Ipsus near Ephesus where the only memorable Thing was that Demetrius encountred young Antiochus Son of Seleucus and so pursued him in flight that Seleucus interposeth his Elephants between Demetrius and Antigonus's Phalanx and with his Troops of Horse so forced it that many soon revolted and left him to death Thus Princes commonly succeed who are more fear'd by their Enemies than lov'd by Friends § 5. Demetrius finding all lost made a speedy retreat to Ephesus with Four Thousand Horse and Five Thousand Foot thinking long to be at Athens the Worshippers of his Godhead not knowing they had repealed his Deity 'till he met their Messengers not as Theories to Consult at their Oracle but as Officers to prohibit his entring their City which shameless Ingratitude more afflicted him than all the rest yet he spake them fair 'till he recovered his Ships out of their Haven In the mean time the Confederates are dividing his Father's Provinces of which Seleucus seised on Syria and part of Asia the less whereat the rest repined and consulted to oppose his Greatness in time whereof he was not ignorant knowing the Law of Sâ—â—te ought not to permit the over-growing of Neighbours Therefore to serve his turn of Demetrius against Lysimachus he Married his Daughter Stratonica but to save the life of his Son Antiochus who was passionately in love with her he gave her to him The like Alliance was between Ptolomy and Lysimachus Demetrius and Cassander Demetrius and Ptolomy yet not bound to each other but for the present as it hath been with Christian Kings whom neither Bed nor Book can make faithful in their Covenants Yet Demetrius had this advantage by Seleucus's Affinity that he got Cilicia from Plistarchus Brother to Cassander who yet was pacified by Phila their Sister Wife to Demetrius who also about that time married Ptolomy's Daughter yet Seleucus had rather have Demetrius further off having a mind to Cilicia as Ptolomy had to Cyprus and offered ready mony for it but in vain for Demetrius had already found there Twelve Thousand Talents of his Fathers § 6. Demetrius with Three Hundred good Ships entreth Attica besiegeth the City of Athens which Ptolomy sought to relieve but could not so by extream Famine it was yielded but was spared notwithstanding all their unthankfulness yet he put a Garrison in it to keep them honest by force Then he went to Peloponesus against Lacedemon but was hastily called away into Asia where Lysimachus had won many Towns from him and Ptolomy besieged Salamis in Cyprus where his Mother and Childrâ—n reâ—ained Yet hearing of Cassander's death and that his Sons Antipater and Alexander fought for the Kingdom and that Antipater had furiously slain their Mother Thessalonica for affecting his Brother he chose rather to go to assist Alexander who desired aid of him and Pyrrâ—us King of Epirus § 7. Pyrrhus Son of Aeacides an Infant at his Father's death was conveyed unto Glaucias King of Illyria who at Twelve Years old set him in his Kingdom out of which six years after he was forced and went to serve Demetrius who married his Sister and after the Overthrow at Ipsus became Hostage to Ptolomy upon his reconciliation with Demetrius In Aegypt he got the favour of Berenice Ptolomy's principal Wife and Married her Daughter and was restored to Epirus He being requested of Alexander to aid him against Antipater for reward took Ambracia by force Acarnania and much more leaving the united Brethren to divide the rest Demetrius also bâ—ing come after all was done is discontented and pretending Alexander had plotted his death slew him at a Feast and seized on his part of the Kingdom At which Antipater who had Married Lysimachus's Daughter was so inraged that his Father-in-Law to quiet him took away his troublesome life Thus the House which Cassander had raised with so much Treachery and Royal-Blood fell on his own Grave before the Earth was throughly setled Demetrius after this access of Dominion grew to such dissoluteness in Wine Women and Idleness that he would not endure the trouble of Petitions and doing justice so that the People grew weary of his idleness and the Souldiers of his vanity Having lost all he had in Asia and Cyprus but his Mother and Children which Ptolomy honourably sent him home he went against Thebes and won it twice then he went against Pyrrhus with two great Armies of which one led by Pentauchus was overthrown and he beaten by Pyrrhus upon Challenge hand to hand which loss offended not the Macedonians so much as the young Princes behaviour pleased them seeming to see a lively figure of Alexander in his best qualities This esteem of Pyrrhus was increased by the dislike which he had of Demetrius for his Insolency and Cruelty to his Souldiers of whom he said The more of them died the fewer he had to pay In the end he grew sensible of their general hatred which to prevent he intended a War in Asia with a Royal Army of almost One Hundred Thousand Foot and Twelve Thousand Horse and a Navy of Five Hundred Sail of which many exceeded all former greatness Seleucus and Ptolomy doubting the issue are earnest with Lysimachus and Pyrrhus to joyn against him who accordingly invade Macedon Lysimachus entring that part next him and when Demetrius went against him Pyrrhus broke in on his side and took Berrhaea which News put all the Camp in a consternation few forbearing seditious Speeches and many desiring to return home But he perceiving their design to go to Lysimachus their Countryman led them against Pyrrhus a Stranger thinking so to pacify them wherein he was deceived For though they were as hasty as he to meet with Pyrrhus yet was it not to fight with him but to
Scipio took it who carried off One Million Four Hundred and Ten Thousand Pounds besides the Souldiers part It was oft Rebuilt and Invincible while it Commanded the Sea which almost compass'd it 't was Twenty Miles in Circuit and a treble Wall Without the Walls and between them were Streets with Vaults for Three Hundred Elephants and Stables for Four Thousand Horse with room for Provender and Lodging for the Horse-Men and Twenty Thousand Foot which never troubled the City as it is at this day in China The Castle of Beyrsa in the South-side was two Miles and a half in compass with an Arsenal under which the Ships and Gallies did Ride The Form of the Common-Wealth was like that of Sparta having Titular Kings and Aristocratical Senators but in latter times the People usurpt too much which confusion in Government with their too great trust to Mercenaries together with Avarice and Cruelty occasion'd their ruine They exacted from their Vassals one half of the Fruits of the Earth besides Tributes made merciless Officers by exactions to augment the Treasure and put to death without Mercy him who offended ignorantly nay even their Captains upon ill Success which made them often desperately to hazard all The Year after Tarquin's expulsion Rome sought a League with Carthage agreed the Romans should Trade in no part of Africk but no Haven in Italy to be shut against Carthage c. Their Care was to keep the Romans in continual War in Italy that Sicily destitute of aid from thence might more easily be brought under by them This made them offer Succours to Rome against Pyrrhus to prevent his interrupting their attempts in Sicily at which time the League was renewed especially against Pyrrhus who then defeated the purposes of Carthage for that time Some time before a Troop of Campanian Souldiers who had served under Agathâ—cles and were entertained in Messana as Friends with persidious Cruelty slew those that had trusted them and possessed their Cities Wives Lands and Goods and called themselves Mamertines who afterwards molested the Neighbours but were opposed by the Syracusians and Besieged But unable to hold out and being divided one side resolves to give themselves to Carthage the other to Rome The Carthaginians readily lay hold of the Offer send Forces and had the Castle surrendred But the contrary Faction drawing that side to agreement expelled the Captain for which he was Crucified at home as a Coward and Traytor Carthage hereupon besieges Messana and the Syracusians joyn with them by Sea and Land while Appius Claudius the Roman Consul with an Army passing the Streights of Sicily by Night put himself into Messana sending to the Carthaginians and Hierom King of Syracuse requiring them to depart from their Confederacy which Message being slighted occasion'd the Punick War § 2. Rome's undertaking the defence of Rhegium with a Legion of Four Thousand Roman Souldiers whom they had requested for their defence against Pyrrhus and the Carthaginians prov'd basely treacherous for these Confederating with the Mamertines plunder the City even as the Mamertines had formerly done at Messana The Romans upon Complaint hereof sent Forces which vanquished them and put all to death restoring Rhegium to its former Liberty to the high commendation of their Justice but when the Mamertines came to be consider'd tho' they had given example and aid to their Legion at Rhegium yet Profit prevailed against Justice which they used to pretend and their care to hinder Carthages further footing in Sicily persuaded them to defer the punishment of the Villains whose Fellows they had destroyed Appius Claudius being sent unto them of Messana sally'd out on that side Hierom kept and worsted him and the Syracusians who had foolishly joyned with Carthage against whom they must have sought aid at Rome if Messana had been won Hierom knowing such another Bargain would have made him Bankrupt departed and the next day the Carthaginians succeeded so ill that they left Camp and Country to the Romans who Confederated with this Nest of Thieves and Murderers with whom no League was just § 3. Sicily's Dominion is now become the Prize for which Rome and Carthage contend concerning which Island the general Opinion of Antiquity is that it was a Demy Island adjoyning to Italy near Rhegium and separated by Tempests others say by Earthquakes others by Tides It excells all the Islands of the Midland Sea in bigness and fertility and is formed like the Greek Δ Delta or a Triangle For Fertility Cicero calls it the Granary of the Commonwealth and Nurse of the vulgar sort furnishing their greatest Armies with Leather Apparel and Corn. About Leordium and other parts Wheat groweth of it self It had Six Colonies and Sixty Cities it bred Archimedes the Mathematician Euclid the Geometrician Empedocles the Philosopher and Diodorus the Historian It was Peopled by Sicans out of Spain after the first Inhabitants which were Giants and the Sicans were cast out by the Siculi from Italy driven out from the place in which Rome stands by the Pelasgi from these Siculi it beareth the name After them came the Morgetes out of Italy who were expelled by the Oznotrians c. The Trojans came after and then the Phenicians which built Parormus or Palmero The report of Giants which first Inhabited the Island I could reject did not Moses make us know that such were the first Planters of the Countries about Israel and did not other Authors confirm it as Augustine Tertullian Procopius Isidore Nicephorus Pliny Diodorus c. yea Vespusius in his second Navigation into America saw the like there And I wonder at this the less seeing the same is written of all Nations that is written of one touching their simplicity of Life mean Sustenance poor Cottages Cloathing of Skins Hunting Arms manner of Boats in all which as we are altered from the first Simplicity to extream Curiosity and excess in Building Diet Apparel so have we as monstrous Persons for Oppression and all Vices all which as Time bred and increased so shall it overthrow all Flesh at last The Greeks Plantation in Sicily was by Theocles who being driven upon it by an East Wind at his return reported to the Athenians the excellency of the place and upon their neglect persuaded the Chalcidians that were needy and industrious who sent a Colony of Eubaeans which built Naxus Archias with his Corinthians followed and built a part of that which was after called Syracuse adding three other parts as they encreased and possessing most of the Sea-Coast forced the Siculi into the Mountains at Trinacia The Chalcidians also got Leontium Catana and Hybla which they called Megara as the Rhodians and Cretians did Gala and their Postedid built Agrigentum The Syracusans also built Arra Casemeria Camerina Enna c. as the Messanians took Zancle changing the Name Agrigentium from popular Government was by Phaleris brought to Tyranny who after Thirty One Years was stoned to death and their liberty was recovered 'till
Condition should run the Fortune of the Common-wealth which if once ruin'd in vain could any particulur Man hope to injoy the benefit of his proper substance Upon this Marcellus was sent against Hannibal and Livinus into Sicily where he finished what Marcellus left Hannibal by long hard Service and wanting Supplies from Carthage grew unable to keep the Field and sufficiently to Garrison his Towns this made him Demolish the places he could not Defend which aleniated many so that Salapia yielded to Marcellus and betrayed a Regiment of Hannibal's best Numidian Horse Hannibal in this strait hears of Masanissa with five Thousand Numidians sent to Spain and Asdrubal's coming to Italy which News made Hannibal then keep what he could and the Romans to recover â—hat they can Hannibal by great Marches came unlook'd for to Fulvius a Roman Praetor at Hardonia slew him Twelve Tribunes or Colonels and seven Thousand more others say thirteen Thousand burnt the Town and removed the Inhabitants Afterwards Marcellus who thought himself the only Roman fit to Incounter Hannibal met with him and lost six Ensigns and three Thousand Men but the next day Marcellus slew eight Thousand Carthaginians lost three Thousand and had so many wounded that he could follow Hannibal no further Quintus Fabius Maximus now Consul besieged Tarentum Garrisoned with Brutians whose Captain in Love with a Woman in the Town was drawn by a Brother of the Woman 's to betray it so all were put to the Sword even the Brutians contrary to his word that it might be thought he won the Town by Assault not by Treason But it saved not his Reputation Claudius Marcellus and C. Crispinus Consuls the next Year whom Hannibal entertained with many Skirmishes declined a set Battle till he might join with his Brother Asdrubal but watching all advantage he took them in his Ambuscade as they came to view a place with small Forces where they intended to Incamp Here Hannibal had placed in Covert some Companies of Numidians who incompassed them slew Marcellus wounded Crispine to Death and giving honourable Funerals to Marcellus sent his Ashes in a Silver Pot to young Marcellus Crispine considering that Hannibal had Marcellus's Ring with which he might deceive some Cities sent warning all about thereof even as a Letter in Marcellus's Name came to Salapia to prepare for his coming thither which Hannibal followed with Romen Fugitives which spake Latin to the Watch and bad them open to the Consul The Gate was opened and when six Hundred Men were entred the Port-Cullis were let down and Hannibal out-witted in his own Stratagem After Crispinus death Claudius Nero and M. Livius succeeded Consuls Of which two Livius had been many Years before condemned and expelled by the People for which indignity he refused the place till with much imporunity he was overcome Thus as Men in fair Weather break the Branches of the Palm Tree under which they shelter themselves in Storms so do the ungrateful with Men of Merit as Themistocles reprov'd the Athenians The two Consuls take their way Livius to meet Asdrubal Nero to follow Hannibal to hinder their Marches knowing the mischievous effects of a Conjunction of two Malevolent Planets It seemed that Livius was too weak to oppose Asdrubal and therefore Nero took six Hundred Foot and one Thousand Horse and in six Days long Marches came to him But Asdrubal perceiving the increase thought to decline a Battle by removing over the River Metaneus had not Nero followed and forced him to it in which Asdrubal was slain and fifty six Thousand with him saith Livy but Polybius numbers but ten Thousand After this Victory Nero hasted to his Camp with Asdrubal's Head which he threw before the Carthaginians and freed some Prisoners which might make Report of the Victory in Hannibal's Camp so to strike a terrour into it Here the Tide began to turn on the Romans side and so increased that no Bounds could contain it and Hannibal's hopes decayed daily From this thirteenth Year of the second Punick War unto the eighteenth in which it ended little is delivered worthy of Memory § 17. Publius Cornelius Scipio after Asdrubal's departure into Italy had to do with Hanno lately sent to succeed Asdrubal whom M. Syllanus shortly after took Prisoner Asdrubal Son of Gesco and Mago left by Asdrubal Son of Amilcar remained to make head who prepared seventy Thousand Foot four Thousand Horse and thirty two Elephants to keep the Field Scipio makes up his Legions with some Auxiliary Spaniards and seeks out the Enemy with forty five Thousand Foot and three Thousand Horse whom he fed well the day before and early next Morn provoked the empty Carthaginians to Battle as Hannibal had served his Father at Trebia Asdrubal wholly depended upon this Battle in which he was worsted whereupon Artanes with his Turdetans fell to the Romans and the other Spaniards being confirmed in the Report of the Carthaginians ill success at Metaurus in Italy never did them good service after Asdrubal perceiving this hasteth toward the Sea but is overtaken by Scipio and charged so furiously that he with seven Thousand took themselves to a strong piece of Ground from whence himself stole by Night to the Gades whither Mago and Masanissa followed and their Army dispersed So all the Towns except three submitted to Scipio who the Year after took them only Astapa was burnt with all the Riches therein by the Inhabitants who slew themselves except such as desperately broke out upon the Romans Camp and so were slain Asdrubal leaves Mago at Gades and Saileth to Syphax King of the Masaesili a People of the Numidians hoping to perswade him to be a Friend to Carthage but Scipio meeting him there drew him to the Roman side which he soon forsook Scipio returns to Spain and having taken Revenge of the three Cities which held out he celebrated Funeral Games at New Carthage for his Father and Unkle which was performed by Duels of Slaves as also such as had Quarrels for Title of Land which Friends could not compose Scipio being dangerously sick is reported Dead whereupon Mandonius and Indibilis two Spanish petty Kings rebel hoping to make themselves great and part of the Roman Army discontented with the little benefit they had got by the Roman Conquest fell to spoil drive away their Colonels choosing two base Leaders Scipio sent new Colonels which with fair words and promise of Pay brought them to Carthagenia where exemplary Justice is done upon the two Leaders and their Accomplices the rest having sworn Obedient receive Pay Mandonius and Indibilis pursued by Scipio submit and are pardoned but their former Power lessened Masanissa promiseth to serve the Romans and Mago by direction from Carthage leaveth Gades when he had Robbed it to go to Hannibal in Italy having Treasure sent to raise an Army So Gades presently yielded to the Romans and Scipio gives up the Province to a Successour and is chosen Consul § 18. Publius Cornelius Scipio
performance he had already given his Son Demetrius an Hostage and four Hundred Talents Great was the joy at the conclusion but the Aetolians are dissatisfied and the Baeotians still favour the Macedonians Some also fear the Romans will prove the worse Neighbours not knowing the Romans design against Antiochus But to prevent all bad Rumours Quintius at the Istinian Games Proclaimed freedom from Garrisons and Liberty of their own Laws to the Corinthians Phocians Locrians Eubaeans Achaeans of Pithiotis Magnetians Thessalians and Perrhubians which the Greeks applauded with exceeding Thanks He also sent to Antiochus by his Embassadour then present requiring him to keep from the free Cities of Asia and restore to Ptolomy and Philip what he held of theirs and not to pass into Europe with an Army CHAP. V. Of the Roman Wars with Antiochus and his Adherents § 1. SEleucus Nicanor slain by Ptolomy Cerannus Anno 4. Clymp 124. Antiochus Soter his Son succeeded Nineteen Years to whom Berosus the Chaldaean Dedicated his Assyrian-History which is notoriously falsified by Fryar Annius He neglected revenging his Fathers Death who had so loved him that he gave him Stratonica his own Wife being sick for her Antiochus the God as the flattering Melesians called him for freeing them from Timarchus the Tyrant succeeded Fifteen Year His first Wife was Laodice to whom he took also Bernice the Daughter of Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt and so compounded the War between them but falling into the hatred of Laodice she Poisoned him for it when her Son Seleucus Callinicus was ready to Reign She also murthered Bernice and her Son two or three Years after Ptolomy's Death but the Brother reveng'd it Ptolomy Philodelphus Son of Ptolomy the first King of Egypt after Alexander began to Reign with his Father and continued Forty Years He was first derived from Alexander's Successours which made League with Rome and his Off-spring the last of those Royal Families they rooted out He set at Liberty all the Iews which his Father made Slaves in Egypt and sent rich Gifts to God's Temple in Ierusalem and requested of Eleazer the Books of Holy Scripture and seventy two Learned Hebrews to Translate them into Greek to furnish his Library in Alexandria of which Genebrard thinks Iesus Sirach was one whom Iansenius proveth then living Iosephus Antiq. li. 12. c. 2. reports one Aristaeus writ the History thereof Seleucus Callinicus began his Reign with his Father's Murder which cost his Mothers Life she being slain by Ptolomaeus Evergetes in revenge of his Sister who Invaded Seleucus but was called Home by Domestick Troubles Seleucus perceiving himself not beloved of his Subjects sought not to gain them by merit but by force prepares a great Fleet against them whereon all his hope relyed which God overwhelmed in the Sea and himself hardly escaped His Subjects hoping he would become a new Man in Commiseration offer him their Service which so revived him that he raised an Army against Ptolomy who overthrew him which made him send for aid to his Brother Antiochus Hierax or Hawk for he cared not on whom he Preyed who was but fourteen Years Old and was extream Ambitious Before he came Seleuchus made Peace with Ptolomaeus but had no Peace of his Brother who overthrew him But shortly after overthrown himself by Eumenes King of Pergamus Son of Attalus and forced to flye away was taken up in Capadocia by Artamenes who designed to betray him which made him take his Wings to Egypt where Ptolomy knowing his persidious Nature imprisoned him whence escaping by means of a Harlot he fell into the hands of Thieves who murthered him Seleuchus at this time going to subdue the Bactrians and Parthians was taken Prisoner by Arsaces Founder of the Parthian Kingdom who yet released him but returning Home he broke his Neck by a fall from his Horse after twenty Years Reign Seleuchus Ceraunus succeeded his Father Three Years and was slain by Treason leaving Antiochus his Brother to succeed and Achaeus to Govern the Army § 2. Ptolomaeus Evergetes who suceeded Philadelphus yet Reigned having Married Berenice Daughter of Magas King of Cyrene added it to his Kingdom and as he thought the Countries of Coâ—losyria Palestine c. His and his Successours Wars with the Seleucidae were Prophecied of by Daniel Onias the High Priest had provoked him by detaining covetously twenty Talents Tribute but was pacified by Iosephus a Iew and having Reigned Twenty six Years Dyed in the 139 Olympiad Antiochus scarce Fifteen Years Old when he began his Reign which lasted Thirty six Years in his Minority was wholly Governed by one Hermias an Ambitions Man who incited him unseasonably to War against Ptolomaeus for recovery of Coelosyria c. while Molo the Kings Lieutenant in Media Rebelled Xenaetas is sent with Forces into Media which are overthrown while Antiochus lay in the Valley of Marsyas between Libanus and Antilibanus seeking to pass into Coelosyria Hearing therefore the News of Xenaetas he hastens into Media which he recovered from Molo whose left Wing Revolting to the King Molo with divers of his Friends to shorten the work killed themselves and so prevented the Hangman with their own Swords After this came the joyful News of his Queen's being Deliver'd of a Son Fortune being thus bountiful Antigonus Marches against Artabanes King of the Atropians who being very Old and Timerous yielded to whatever he Propos'd Antiochus in the East thought good to visit his Borders between the Caspian and Euxine Sea in which Journey his Physician informed him against Hermits of whom himself was grown Jealous and therefore consented to his killing About these times Achaeus rebelled in hope the King would perish in his Expedition yet Antiochus more intending the recovery of Coelosyria neglected him till he had gotten Seleucia first called Antigonia founded by Antigonus and after won by Seleuchus and then by Ptolomy Such is the vanity of Men who think to eternize their Names not by works of Vertue but of Greatness which never lasteth long Theodotus the Aetolian Ptolomy's Mercenary which formerlâ— dâ—fended Caelosyria agâ—inst Antiocâ—us now weary of his former Faithfulness Mercenary like sells it to him who took possession of Tirus and Ptolomais with the Aegyptian Fleet there Antiochus herewith emboldned aims at Egypt it self ruled by Agathocles and Sosibius whilst Ptolomy himself minds only his Pleasure These two make secret preparation but openly solicite Peace by themselves and several of their Allies and Antiochus willing to rest this Winter agreeth on a Truce for four Months to Treat of Peace which he designed only to lull his Enemies asleep who watched him better than he did them During the Truce Embassadours from Egypt are heard and both sides plead their right to Coelosyria and propound Covenants but both would have it or nothing The Truce ended Antiochus takes the Field presuming his ordinary Power will serve against his unprovided Enemies but was deceived and well beaten for it at Raphia losing Ten Thousand
Foot out of Seventy Thousand and Four Hundred Horse out of Six Thousand â—n which Ptolomy exceeded as Antiochus did in Elephants After which he seeks Peace though what he had gotten in Syria was fallen from him Antiochus after this followed the suppression of Achaeus whom he soon penn'd up in Sardis which yet he could not take in two Years till a Cretian observed by Ravens which continually pitched upon part of the Wall where Carrion waâ— cast into the Ditch that there it was unguarded as indeed it was being thought unapproachable yet here though with difficulty the Town was won and he driven into the Castle out of which also he was drawn by a Cretian trick of one Bolis a Cretian which knew all the difficult passages of the Rocks on which the Castle stood Ptolomy desiring to deliver Achaeus out of his danger hired this Cretian who undertook it with Cambysus his Country-man as very a Cretian as himself that is as false a Knave and brought him out but betrayed him to Antiochus who seeing him could not refrain Tears considering the Calamities incident to great Fortunes but Condemned him to a cruel Death Antiochus some Years after made an Expedition against the Hircanians and Parthians a little Nation subject to the Median Government which was now in the hand of Antiochus's Lieutenant whose Insolency provoked Arsaces a Noble-man to Rebel and made himself King He succeeded so well that he withstood Seleucus Callinicus and took him Prisoner but entertained him nobly and released him his Posterity increased the Dominion Arsaces the Second now Reigned against whom Antiochus led such an Army as he could not encounter till Antiochus had pass'd through the Country and won Tambrace in Hyrcania by which time he had gathered such Forces as enabled him to try Battel After this he sought Peace which Antiochus granted making him a Friend whom he could not force to be a Subject The like Expedition made against the Bactrians Governed by Euthydemus with whom also he made Peace and went over Caucasus to review the Old League with the Indians § 3. Ptolomoeus Philopaâ—er so called by derision as having made away Father and Mother as it is thought though he began to Reign young after the Battâ—l at Raphia gave himself over to Sensuality and by the instigation of Agathoclea his Strumpet Sister to Agathocles murdered his Wife set his Sister which was Arsinoe by whom he had Ptolomaeus Epiphanes which he left but five Years Old unto the tuition of Agathocles He Assembled the Macedonians which were the Kings ordinary Forces in Pay Not all Born in Macedon but of the Posterity of them which Planted in Egypt with Ptolomaeus Lagus and would not be called Egyptians as neither would the Kings To these he made an Oration with Tears intreating their Fidelity to the King whom he shewed in his Sister's Arms and accused one Tlepolemus of Treason but finding himself deceived he departed and upon his taking one of them upon suspicion of Treason against himself they rose in Arms took away the King slew him dragged the Strumpet his Sister naked through the Streets of Alexandria as also her Mother the Bawd and tore them in pieces Antiochus and Philip of Macedon thought to make advantage of these troubles in Egypt and to divide the Orphans Estate between them But the Romans whom Philopater had obliged in the Punick War being Solicited were easily persuaded to protect the Child The Macedonian was imployed at Home Antiochus having recovered his losses in Syria the Iews were civilly treated by him And he suffered himself to be persuaded by the Romans to forbear the Egyptians He also sent to make League with the Romans who applyed themselves to give him all satisfaction though they secretly intended otherwise till they had effected their design for Macedon Antiochus dealt after the same manner with Philip and with Eumenes Son of Attalus King of Pergamus offering either of them a Daughter and yet endeavour'd to destroy them Eumenes excuseth his refusal and tells his Brethren who wondred at it that in taking the Offer he should fall into the Quarrel against the Romans who would surely make War upon him The Rhodians also had the prudence to foresee that Storm when they threatned to set upon his Fleet if it did pass a certain Promontory in Cilicia Thus seeking to keep him fâ—om joyning with Philip their Enemy and molesting the South of Asia belonging to Pâ—olomy the next Spring he passed over Hellespont into Europe and re-edified and peopled Lysimachia § 4. Rome having temporized with Antiochus till the War in Macedon was ended and most of Greece become little better than Clyents L. Cornelius is sent unto Antiochus in more plain Terms urging his restoring to Ptolomy what he had lately taken from him and the like also to Philip and to let the free Cities in Asia rest quiet and requiring a Reason for his bringing such an Army into Europe Antiochus wonders the Romans should trouble themselves with Asian matters more than he with Italian and answers the rest so as Cornelius replyed not but upon false rumours of Ptolomy's Death he hasteth thither having Commission for that purpose Antiochus also hasteth thither with all his Sea-Forces to take possession but hearing Ptolomy was alive he took another way and after a dangerous Shipwrack recovered Seleucia and so went to Antiochia where he was secure for that Winter Rome in the mean time is careful to secure Greece and Macedon against the Asian War the Fame whereof coming to Carthage gave Hannibal's Enemies occasion to contrive his Expulsion He had of late put on the long Robe being chosen Praetor and reformed the Treasurers who Robbed the Treasury and brought the Judges to be Annual who had been for Life which inflamed their Envy Rome is informed his Faction was strong and will be in Arms suddenly for preventing whereof three Embassadours are sent pretending his well-wisheâ—s as also other business about Masanissa for Rome is glad of such an occasion against him though P. Scipio dissuaded that dishonourable course and Hannibal for all the pretence knew their meaning and having shewed himself in the Assembly and in the Evening walking out with two Friends took Horse where he had appointed them and that Night came to a Tower of his own where he had a Ship always furnished for such purpose and so Sailed to Tyre and thence to Antiochus at Ephesus who is exceedingly rejoyced at his coming But what could this great General do in the Asiatique War He could not make such Souldiers of base Asiatiques as of hardy Spaniards Gauls and Africans c. Nâ—y could he do it yet the Pride of Antiochus's Court the Baseness of his Flatteries and a Thousand Vexations would make his Virtues unprofitable being a banished Desolate Man wanting his Brethren to assist him But Antiochus was more careful of Peace with Rome sending to Quintius to require the Faithful keeping of it though the Romans intended nothing
unprosperous than that of Generals besides the Rapes Slaughters Devastations c. which are so hateful to God That were not the Mercies of God infinite as Monluc Marshal of France confessed it were in vain for those of his profession to hope for any portion thereof such Cruelties being permitted or committed by them And true it is that as the Victories obtained by so many of the greatest Commanders are commonly ascribed either to Fortune or to their Followers or Cowardize of the vanquished so the most whose Virtues have raised them above all Envy have in the end been rewarded either with Disgrace Banishment or Death as Examples both of the Romans and Grecians Witness § 3. Philip well perceiving the Romans aimed at his Kingdom repented himself of his Obsequiousness to them Yet was in ill Condition to help himself having been beaten by them his People unwilling to deal with them and no Friends to assist him Yeâ— Necessity the Mother of Invention made him resolved to remove the Inhabitants of his Maritime Towns to Emathia and people them with Thracians that feared not the Romans He also designed to draw the Bacternae an hardy Nation beyond Danubius into Dardania and to root out the Dardanians always troublesome to Macedon But this device took slow effect and was hindred divers ways His Subjects removed against their Will broke into words which his cruel Nature seeking to repress by putting many unto Death increased to exclamation which inflamed him barbarously to Massacre their Children After this the Furies enter his own House and Vengeance was poured upon him from Heaven in his own Children as was thought by the jealousie he had of Demetrius his Younger Son and the fear Prusius had of him for his Interest in the Romans Affections Wicked Instruments are not wanting who counterfeit a Letter from Quintius to Philip intreating for Demetrius with an intimation of his ambitious Desire against his Brother Prusius One Didas also to whom he was committed by Philip pretending Friendship to him sounded him and told the King that he meant to flye to the Romans who would not fail him So the Father without any examination commanded his unhappy Son to be Murdered and after upon his Cousin Antigonus his searching found out the Contrivance too late Hereupon he intended to confer the Kingdom upon Antigonus but Death prevented it § 4. Perseus succeeded his Father who had Reigned Forty two Years he thought it not expedient to imbroil himself so soon with the Roman War but to settle his Dominions and therefore to prevent danger slew Antigonus Then to get his Subjects Affections he sate in Judgment and made them many publick Shows and to win the Romans he sent and renewed the League Masanissa had heretofore taken the Country of Emporia from Carthage and about this time he took other Land from them by force about Seventy Towns and Castles of which when the Carthaginians complained by their Embassadours prostrate with Tears before the Senate desiring Right or Liberty to defend themselves against him or at least to know how far Masanissa should be allowed to proceed And if none of these would be granted that then the Senate it self would inflict upon them what they thought meet rather than to keep them in continual fear of this Numidian Hangman See the fruits of their Envy against that valiant Family of the Barchines and of the Roman Peace desired by Hanno which hath made them Slaves to the Servants of the Numidian whose Fathers they had used to sell over Africk and Greece Their Answer was gentle but without effect and Masanissa hath a mild rebuke Perseus is not yet brought into such a Yoke but must be for he is questioned for taking up Arms without their leave though to subdue his own Rebels After the same manner they dealt with Greece And of all others with the Achaeans who presumed most on their Favour So that all saw that the Roman Patronage tended to nothing but the bondage of Greece This gave Perseus hopes to find a Party there as indeed he did though it little availed him § 5. Eumenes King of Pergamus hated Perseus exceedingly not only for an Hereditary quarrel with Macedon but for that he perceived the Greeks began to favour him more than himself whom they seemed to neglect for being over serviceable to Rome For Redress hereof he thought it not hard to induce the Romans utterly to overthrow the Macedonian Kingdom which the Greeks now adored to which end he took a second Journey to Rome where he laboured to provoke the Fathers against Perseus which needed not though yet they heard him willingly that their Pretence of War might have the fairer shew as proceeding from the information of such a King come on purpose so far as out of Asia The Rhodians also were there with the Macedonian Embassadours to answer with matter of recrimination that Eumenes had provoked the Lycians to Rebel against the Rhodians Careless Audience was given to the Rhodians for their Friendly Office in conveying Laodice the Daughter of Antiochus to Perseus and their Answer is that the Lycians were assigned to Rhodes not as Vassals but Associates Thus their Subjects are become their Fellows Masanissa and the Aetolians whose Subjects were not increased by the Romans or by the Cities and Peo +ple bestowed upon them after Antiochus's Overthrow but their Friends had cause to resent this Decree The Macedonian Embassadours were heard not so carelesly as angerly being glad that Harpatus the chief Embassadour had by violent Speeches given them cause of anger And though Perseus his faint Heart was not sit to threaten Yet now he might think to get more by a little Bravery than submission seeing the Eyes of all Greece were set upon him for a Delivery from the Roman Servitude And it seems Perseus was not very cautious of offending them when he hired three or four Ruâ—â—ians to Murder Eumenes in his return from Worshiping at Delphos whom they had left for Dead though he recovered The Report of his Death made Attalus his Brother to take upon him as King and would have taken Stratonica his Wife as a matter of State had not Eumenes's coming home put a stop to it All which Eumenes only checked with wishing him not to Marry with the Queen till he was sure the King was Dead who then bequeathed her to him The Senate upon these occasions Decree War and send Embassadours to require satisfaction or to denounce it which Perseus slights calling the Romans greedy and insolent commanding them to depart This present heat was too much he wanting constant resolution which he neglected in hope of Peace § 6. Rome had now fair occasion of War with Macedon which though it had been long sought yet the preparation for War was to seek and the want of it helped to sound the disposition of Greece which they solicite by Embassadours with better terms than Threatnings though they durst not but promise aid to them
Passage over Olympus was as difficult now as then So that Aemilius fell to enquire and found a Passage over Olympus but narrow leading to Perrabia difficult of Ascent but slenderly Guarded either not found or not attempted by Martius whose Men being tryed in getting over Ossa would hardly adventure such another But Paulus was a far more able Commander and had Taught them better than to question a Generals Command and made choice of five Thousand for the Enterprize whom he committed to his two Adopted Sons Scipio Aemilianus and Quintus Fabius Maximus These two the better to conceal their Journey over the Mountains Marched out another way till Night came and the Consul made shew as if he would have set upon Perseus and gain a Passage over Enipeus to divert him from the business intended so that Scipio and Fabius having forced the small Guard got in three Days over and were not discovered till the Guard which fled were come to the Camp Then was all in a Tumult and the King most of all amazed hasteth to Pydna where he consults whether he should Fortifie some Town or put all to the hazard of a Battle which latter though the worst is resolved upon and that which the Consul wished The King chose the place near Pydna whither the Consul came but made a stand till a place for the Camp were Intrenched and the Souldiers refreshed after Marching though both sides thought it long especially the Romans feared lest the King should remove further off That Evening was the Consul told by a Tribune of an Ecclipse of the Moon that Night and the Natural cause of it who was contented it should be Published in the Camp to prevent their Fear Superstition captivates the Wise where the help of true Religion is wanting Aemilius as soon as the Moon recovered her Light Congratulated her with a Sacrifice for which Plutarch calls him a Godly Man And the next Morning he made another to Hercules about which much of the Day was spent before the Grecian partial God gave a good sign to the Entrals of the Sacrifice so that on Day neither side had any great desire to Fight Yet after ten of the Clock upon a light occasion of watring of Horses two or three of each side fell to Blows and Parties came in so fast that both the Generals were forced to put their Men in order of Battel and after an Oration set them together But Perseus used the shift of a Coward to leave his Men and withdraw himself to Pydna pretending Sacrifice which being unseasonable proved him an Hypocritical Coward He sped accordingly for returning he found it little better than lost but got the Honour to be present that he might run away with his Men leaving Twenty Thousand Foot slain in the Field while he recovered Pella from which he fled in â—he Night for fear of his own Peopâ—e and came to Amphipolis but was glad to beâ— gon by Sea with his Treasure to Samothrace The Head having forsaken the Body little Sense was left or Strength to stand all the Kingdom fell presently into the Conquerours hand â—â—ile the King taketh Sanctuary with his Treasure Wife and Children in Samothrace and after base Suit to the Consul endeavours to escape in a Cretian Ship which having taken in much of his Treasure set Sail and left him in the lurch in the end he was forced to yield himself and all into the Consuls hand and so made the Conquest compleat Being before the Consul he meanly prostrated himself so that he seemed to dishonour the Victory as obtained upon a Man of so base a Condition Thus ended the Macedonian Kingdom after a War of Four Years and the Glory of the World was Translated to Rome § 9. Gentius King of Illyria with fifteen Thousand Men at Lyssus ready to assist Perseus upon Receipt of the Mony promised was attack'd by Anicius the Roman Praetor who drove him into Scodra or Sutary where after a while he yielded himself and all his Men to the Roman Praetor who ended that War in Thirty days § 10. Rome swelling with the Pride of her Fortune called the Rhodian Embassadours whom they threaten as Parties with Macedon whose Cause they had presumed to undertake And though they Congratulated the Victory Deprecated their Folly and their Citizens had put to Death or sent Prisoners to Rome all the chief Men of the Macedonian Faction yet War had been Proclaimed against them but for Cato who said it would be judged rather a Quarrel at their Wealth than any just cause considering also what Friends they had been to Rome in former Wars Macedon was divided into four Quarters and each prohibited Commerce with other Their Laws abrogated new given and all the Nobles sent into Italy and the Tribute lessened by half which was the best part of the Liberty Rome used to give Greece must now bear her Yoke and all that can be found not only Associates with Perseus but good Patriots which were not held serviceable to Rome were sent to Rome and there clapt up of which sort a Thousand were sent out of Achaea and Polybius among them This was the Virtue of the Roman Oath and League Epirus was more barbarously dealt with and given to the Souldiers to Plunder for their Pay to save the Macedonian Treasure whole So in one day seventy Cities of the Roman Confederates were Plundered by the Companies put into them in Peace only to Quarter and One Hundred and Fifty Thousand made Slaves which act of Aemilius stained his other Virtues § 11. Antiochus the Great dyed in the Thirty sixth Year of his Reign Seleuchus his Eldest Son succeeded Twelve Years whom Daniel described Three Hundred Years before Onias being then High Priest Mac. 3. The First Book of Maccabees ends An. 167 of the Syrian Kings the Second Book ends the 151 Year Antiochus Epiphanes succeedes his Brother in Syria An. 137 whose death he procured Ptolomeus Epiphanes after twenty four Years left Egypt to his Son Ptolomeus Philometor so called by the Rule of contraries for Murdering his Mother he was hated by his Subjects and rebelled against by his Brother Ptolomy Phiscon who got possession of Alexandria upon which contention Antiochus Epiphanes his Uncle thought to possess that Kingdom under pretence of protecting the Young Prince Antiochus's proceedings herein and at Ierusalem are Recorded 1. Mac. 1. About the beginning of the Macedonian War when besides the Spoil of Egypt he took all Coelosyria and sold the High Priests place to Iason thrust out Onias and after sold it to Manelaus who procured Onias being fled into the Sanctuary at Daphus by Antioch to be Murdered 2 Mac. 4. Onias his taking protection of Apollo and Diana seemed allowed by the Author which argues the Book to be Apocryphal His Second Expedition into Egypt 2 Mac. 1. was foreshewn by prodigious Signs in the Air for forty days together and was occasioned by the unexpected agreement of the Brethren which
this as other Questions of Time c. Eusebius in his Evan. praepar out of Tatian nameth many Greek Writers more Antient than Homer Hesiodus's Age is also questioned some hold him Elder some Younger than he But Varro leaves it uncertain finding that both the Fathers lived some Years together Senyes or Senemyres seemed to have Ruled Egypt at this time For Tenefersobris his Successor preceded Vaphres Father-in-Law to Solomon About the end of Saul the Amazons and Cymmerians Invaded Asia After the Fall of Troy Six Kingdoms grew up as the Latins in Italy Lacedemon Corintâ— and Achaia in Greece Syria Soba and Damascus under the Adads in Arabia of which were Ten Kings which began and ended in effect with the Kings of Israel which now changed their form of Government into a Monarchy CHAP. XIII Of David First of his Estate under Saul § 1. DAvid's hazards after he was designed King were many first with Goliaâ— which won him Fame with all Love with Ionathan like that he bare to his own Soul and a ground of deadly Hatred in Saul though it brake not out 'till he had entertained him to play on his Harp and had made him his Son-in-Law when in a raving Fit he threw his Spear at him Censorinus speaketh of Esculapius a Physician and Seneca of Pythagoras's Curing Frenzie by Musick but Saul's Madness arose from the Cause of Causes and therefore incurable and the ease he had God ordained for the Musician's good more than the King 's Saul after this fearing to trust David about his Person imploy'd him against the Philistins hoping of his Fall by them And being disappointed therein he moved Ionathan and his Servants to kill him but in vain From many other desperate Perils the Lord delivered him at home and abroad yea in a Mutiny of his own c. as the History of this part of his Life witnesseth Saul being slain the Philistins Victory was such as some Towns even beyond Iordan were abandon'd and left to their Oppression without resistance It is therefore to be wonder'd at that they being Warlike and Ambitious did not follow the Victory to make the Conquest entire But it may be that the Civil Wars between David and the House of Saul immediately breaking out gave them hope of an easie Victory over both whereas their farther Pursuit might inforce an Attonement against a common Enemy § 2. David's beginning of his Reign was opposed by Abner who sought to advance Ishbosheth the Son of Saul yet without right while Mephibosheth the Son of Ionathan lived The first War was defensive in David when Abner fought it upon a Challenge of twelve Combatants on either side which slew each other like the Combate between 300 Lacedemonians and as many Argives wherein three survived and between the Horatii and the Curatii for the Romans and the Latins The Text Chap. 3.1 makes it probable The Wars between David and Ishbosheth lasted longer than two years so that those two Years mentioned Chap. 2.13 some Rabins refer to the time when this was written § 3. Abner being reconciled to David was murthered by Ioah in revenge of Asael and in jealousie of his Place and Dignity which admitted of no Companion much less a Superiour as he doubted Abner would prove being General of Ten Tribes Upon like jealousie he also murdered his own Kinsman Amasa The death of Abner might greatly have endanger'd David's Condition if any thing could withstand God's Ordinance therefore he wisely bewailed it so openly complaining of Ioab's Greatness which makes Princes oft put up Wrongs at their hands yet he publickly Cursed him c. § 4. David's Reign over all Israel after Ishbosheth's death being confirmed his first Enterprize was against Ierusalem the Center of the Kingdom held by the Iebusites from Ioshua to that day whose strength was such that in derision they Manned the Wall with Blind and Lame Men but lost it The Pâ—ilistins hearing of David's Anointing thought it good to try him before he was warm in his Seat but were overthrown twice David after this brought the Ark to the City of David after which he intended to Build a Temple but was forbidden because he was a Man of War The Wars which he had made were just yet God refused to have the Foundation of his Temple to be layed by his hands whereby the damnable Pride of Princes appeareth who by terrours of Wars think to grow to Greatness like the Almighty not caring to imitate his Mercy and Goodness or to seek the blessed Promise by our Saviour to Peace-Makers yet God so accepted his Religious intent that his Kingdom was confirmed to him and his and a Promise is made of that Everlasting Throne to be Established in his Seed § 5. David after this overthrew the Philistins and demolished their strong City of Gath which was their Frontier Town at the entrance into Iudah and Ephraim from whence they made their incursions and thither retreated and was therefore called in the Text the Bridle of Amgar After this he gave them 4 Overthrows of which see 2 Sam. 21.17 But the Conquest of Moah and the Arabian Wars came between Of Moab he slew two parts and saved a third to till the ground yet the occasion is uncertain only Moses for bad them to seek their peace From thence to Syria Zoba against Hadadezer § 6. David overthrew Hadadezer going to inlarge his Borders to Euphrates which purpose for Euphrates cannot be understood of David who upon this Victory and winning of Damascus upon it had a fair way and help of Chariots and Horses now won sit for such a Journey if he had intended it all which notwithstanding he returned to Ierusalem This purpose is better referred to Hadadezer Next hereto followed the Victory against the Ammonites and their Confederates with the severe Revenge David took for the Affront Hanun shewed his Ambassadors But before Rabba afterwards called Philadelphia was Besieged David gain'd another great Victory over the Aramites brought to Helam by Adadezer out of Mesopotamia from whence yet David proceeded not to Euphrates § 7. David 's Troubles in his Reign § As Victories beget Security and Prosperity Forgetfulness of former Misery and many times of God himself the giver of all Goodness so it fell out with this good King For being free from dangerous and apparent Enemies he began to indulge Human Affections as we see in his Carriage towards Vriah and his Wife forgetting the zealous care which formerly he had to please God in the precise keeping of his Commandments After this he fell by degrees from the highest Happiness and his Days were filled with inter-changeable Joys and Woes and the Sword never departed from his House Then followed the death of the Adulterous Child Incestuous Rape of Thamar Murder of Amnon Insurrection Usurpation Incest and Death of Absalom the Treachery of Ziba the Affront front of Shimei the Insolence of Ioab the Rebellion of Sheba the Murder of Amasa c. The
Land also indured three Years Famine for Saul's wrong to the Gibeonites which was relieved by the death of Seven of Saul's Issue of which Five were the Sons of Michoâ—'s Sister as by an Elipsis the Hebrew will bear as in the like ver 19. As the Lord by this Execution secured David's House from Competitors so was the Nation strengthened by the valour of many brave Commanders of which Six Colonels under the General had Thirty Captains of Thousands among whom the difference of place and Honour grew by meer consideration of Virtue as we see Abishai Brother of Ioab and the King's Kinsman short in Honour of the first Three David thus Established in ostentation of his Power provoked the Lord to punish his People with Pestilence for his numbring of them and slew Seventy Thousand § 8. David's last Acts. § Abishag in his impotence keepeth him Warm c. Adonijah aspireth which causeth David publickly to declare Solomon his Successor and to set him in his Throne whereupon Adonijah and his Associates were scattered After this David having two especial Cares remaining of which he desired to discharge his Thoughts one concerning Solomon's peaceable holding his Crown the other about building the Temple he called a Parliament of all the Princes c. In this Assembly he signifieth his purpose and the approbation of God chargeth all and Solomon by Name v. 9. and produceth the pattern of the Work according to the Form which God himself had appointed laying down his own preparation whereto the Princes and others added their free-will offering This being done David made a solemn Feast at which time Solomon was again anointed King and received Fealty of the Princes People and the King's Sons After all this David as upon his Death-Bed again with powerful words giveth Solomon the Charge of the Lord his God and then adviseth him concerning Ioab who otherwise tho' of exceeding desert yet for his intolerable Insolence came to such an end by Justice when time served as many worthy Men had done for acts of the like presumption David after Forty Years Reign died being Seventy Years old having been a Man of small Stature exceeding Strength and for internal Gifts and Graces passing all others and putting his Human Frailty apart commended by God himself to be according to his own Heart Being a Prophet as well as a King he fore-told Christ more lightsomly and lively than all the rest and writ many Psalms but whether all the Book is disputed though Chrysostom and Augustin hold it Christ and his Apostles cite him § 9. David and Solomon's Treasures § David's Treasure exceeded as appeareth by what he gave toward the Temple 1 Chron. 22.14 which amounteth to 3333â— Cart loads of Silver or 6000 l. sterling to every Cart-load and 23 Millions and 1000 l. in Gold a matter incredible but for Testimony of Scripture where consider how such a Treasure could be raised by Parcimony Eusebius cites Eupolemus for a Navy which he sent from Melanis or Achanis to the Isle Vpher or Opher by Ortelius then his Husbandry which was great his Presents Tributes Taxations Capitations his Spoils the Riches of the Sanctuary long increasing by large Gifts and the Portion out of all Prizes from Enemies even from Ioshua's days Of Solomon's Treasure see 1 Kings 9.20 and 10.14.29 See Iosephus of the Treasure he hid in David's Sepulcher out of which Hircanus took 3000 Talents and Herod more § 10. David's Contemporaries § Achis a Philistin King of Gath and another in Solomon's days Latinus Sylvius King of Alba. Cedrus the last King of Athens after whom they changed the Government into a Principality for Life without Regal Title This change was made in honour of Codrus voluntarily slain for their sakes in a War with the Dores to disappoint the Oracle Eupalus the Third King of Assyria sate 38 Years Ixion the second King of the Heraclids in Corinth Son of Eurythenes Agis the second King of the Heraclids in Lacedemon he restored the Laconians and made the Citizens of Helos Slaves for refusing Tribute as at length all the Messenians were and thereof called Helons that is Slaves Slave came from Sclavi which were Samaritans now Russians which Conquering Illyria would be called Slaves which with them signifieth glorious but when the warm Clime had thawed their Northern hardness but not ripened their Wits the Italians which made many of them Bond-men used their Name in Reproach calling all Bond-men Slaves Achetratus succeeded Agis in whose time Androchus the Third Son of Codrus assisted by the Iones built Ephesus in Caria and was slain of the Carians He also held Erithrae famous for Sybyls which writ Verses of Iesus Christ Son of God the Saviour reported by Augustine who saw them Vaphres King of Egypt began to Reign when David Besieged Rabba Magnesia on Meander in Asia founded now and Capua Campania CHAP. XIV Of Solomon Anno Mundi 2991. § 1. SOlomon began to Reign in the 2991 st Year of the World and was first Congratulated by Hiram King of Tyre according to the Ancient Custom of Princes Though his Reign were peaceable yet his beginning was with the blood of his Brother Adonijah without warrant either from his Father or the Law of God The occasion was his desire of Abyshag but being his Elder Brother who also had sought the Kingdom it was enough as a word is to the Wise and he which seeth the Claw knows whether it be a Lyon or no. Solomon took the motion as a demonstration of a new Treason such was the jealousie of seeking a King's Widow or Concubines as Absolom's taking his Father's Concubines was a taking possession of a Royalty so it was applied to David by Nathan c. 2 Sam. 12.8 Birth-right pleaded by Adonijah was according to God's Law and of Nations but the Kings of the Iews were more Absolute and not without Example in Iacob for private Inheritance As for what we read of Peoples Elections it was but an acknowledging him whom the Lord chose and not to frustrate the Elder 's Right Solomon also executed Ioab deposed Abiathar and put Shemei to death He Married the Daughter of Vaphres as Eusebius calls him King of Egypt and according to his request to God obtained extraordinary Wisdom especially for Government as appeared in the Example purposely set down of his judging the two Harlots yet did he excell in all other Knowledge § 2. Solomon's Building and Glory § Renewing the League with Hiram of Tyre he had much of his Materials for his Buildings from him Of the Glorious Temple and parts of it many Learned Men have Written as Salmeron Montanus Bibera Barradas Azorius Villalpandus Pineda c. The Letters which passed between Solomon and Hiram Eusebius sets down out of Eupolon which Iosephus also Records in his Antiquities Lib. 8. § 2. Besides the matchless Temple he made many other Magnificent Buildings of which Gerar on the Border of Ephraim taught the Egyptians to
Thoro long after Usurped Gela forced Naxos Zancle and Leontium and giving aid to the Magistrates of Syracuse against the People was chosen Prince in the Second Year of the Seventy Second Olympiad He aiding Thoro his Father-in-Law of Agrigentum against Terillus of Himera slew One Hundred and Fifty Thousand led by Amilcar in defence of Terillus The Carthaginians well beaten seek his Peace which is granted on Condition no more to Sacrifice Children to Saturn but to pay Two Thousand Talents and Two Armed Ships whereto they added a Crown of Gold worth One Hundred Talents of Gold so much are some Natures improv'd by hardship His Subjects loved him exceedingly yea his Dog burnt himself with his Body at his Funeral Hierom his Brother succeeded a Cruel Rude Covetous Man but improv'd by Simonides became a Studier of good Arts. His Brother Thrasibulus succeeded who after Ten Months Tyranny was forced by the Citizens to restore their Liberty and was Banished so Syracuse kept her Liberty almost Sixty Years and was in some manner acknowledged of all the Greek Cities by freeing them from Ducetius King of the Sicilians except Trinacia But Leontium being oppressed by Syracuse sought aid from Athens the Sixth year of the Peloponesian War which sent One Hundred Gallies and other Forces which invaded Syracuse winning and losing 'till both sides wearied agree and Leontium is admitted into equal Fellowship and the Athenian Captains sent home whom their City banish for gaining nothing in Sicily as they expected Shortly after fell out the most memorable War that ever Greece made there Athens aided Egesta oppressed by Seleucus and Leontium and Catana wronged by Syracusa whom the Lacedemonians succoured Alcibiades Nicias and Lamachus are sent from Athens but did little the first Summer and Alcibiades is discharged and new Supplies on both sides are sent the next Spring but Syracuse is almost blocked up yet with Lamachus's death before the Succors from Sparta and Corinth led by Glippus and Pitbon came But after their coming Nicias was broken and forced to write for new Supplies which were sent with Euremedon and Demosthenes who the same day invaded the Syracusians with more hast than Success having such loss as they determined to return to succour Athens then in distress Nicias on the contrary persuaded them to stay upon intelligence the Town could not hold out long but had not the Moon been Eclipsed the suspicion whereof caused them to defer it they had departed But their Superstition cost them dear even the utter loss of all in two Sea-Fights in the great Haven and in their retreat by Land toward Camerina in which Forty Thousand are overthrown Nicias and Demosthenes taken and miserably murder'd for contrary to the Endeavours of Glippus and Hermocrates the Syracusian Commander to save them they were barbarously murdered by the cruel Multitude c. The Egestanes now fearing the Syracusians apply themselves to Carthage to whom they ofâ—er their City and Hannibal with Thirty Thousand Men is sent who in revenge of his Father's and Uncle's Death won and sack'd Himera and Seleucus and buried Three Thousand Himerans where Amilcar was slain Hermocrates after his good Service is by malice of his Enemies Exiled by the ungrateful Multitude being in Greece who being returned began to repair Silenus but upon persuasion of his Friends in Syracuse attempting to take a Gate was slain Dionysius Son-in-Law to Hermocrates being made Praetor and Commander of the Syracusian Armies behav'd himself so well that he got the good will of the People and Men of War and began early being but Twenty Five Years Old that he might play the Tyrant long He obtain'd his first Favour by accusing the Noblemen whom the baser sort desire to reign over then he got of them Six Hundred Men to guard his Person as Pisistratus at Athens had done against the malice of his Enemies and to gain the Souldiers he gave them double Pay and procured the restoring of many Banished Men who thereby were made his own Then he made himself absolute Lord by possession of the Citadel in which was great Provision and under which the Gallies Moored what he design'd by this the Chief Citizens discerned it though the People would not see Yet after a Foil given at Gela by the Carthaginians which the Men at Arms thought he was willing to they left him and hasting to Syracuse in hope to free the City of him they forced his Palace ransaked his Treasure and abused his Wife all which he revenged being at their heels sparing none that he suspected Then he grew so doubtful being the greatest Robber that ever State had that he trusted not a Brother to enter his Chamber unsearched yet being at the War the Citizens rebell at home so that with much difficulty he recovered the Citadel and so the Command of the City and when the multitude were gathering in Harvest he disarmed the Citizens Afterwards he went into the Field with Eighty Thousand Foot and Three Thousand Horse and sent his Brother Leptines with Two Hundred Gallies to Sea and Five Hundred Ships of Burthen which overthrew Fifty Ships of War Five Thousand Souldiers and many Ships of burthen brought by Himilco from Carthage while many Cities also yielded to Dionysius who yet lost a great part of his Army at Egesta Himilco finds half his Army with Mago by Sea which met again with Leptines and slew Twenty Thousand and took One Hundred Gallies which made Dionysius hasten home whom Himilco follows with speed besieging him by Sea and Land but the Plague having taken away One Hundred Thousand of his Men and other numbers slain by the City with the Lacedemonian aid he craved Peace which the other sold for a great Summ and on Condition to leave such as were not Carthaginians but when he was out at Sea the Tyrant followed and slew many Mago who stayed behind to strengthen the Carthaginians in Sicily received Supplies of Eighty Thousand Men which did nothing but make Peace with Dionysius who march'd into Italy where he took Rhegium and used much Cruelty therein Afterwards in another Battle with Mago he slew him and Ten Thousand Africans but Mago's Son slew his Brother Leptines and Fourteen Thousand Men which made him now buy his Peace Shortly after he died after Thirty Eight Years Tyranny and his Son Dionysius succeeded with his Father's disposition tho' to gain favour he dissembled freed many Prisoners and remitted many Taxes but slew his Brethren by another Mother the Sister of Dionysius a Valiant Just Man This Man had so prevail'd with him as to hear Plato whom he had sent for by whose Wisdom he began to be reform'd but continu'd it not After this his Flatterers procure Dionysius's Banishment persuading the King Dionysius sought to weaken his Mind by Philosophy and by offer which he had made to furnish the King with Fifty Gallies to make himself Master of the Kingdom Dionysius was well beloved in Greece where he gathered Eight