THE HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT METHODIZ'D ACCORDING To the Order and Series of Time wherein the several things therein mentioned were transacted IN WHICH The difficult passages are Paraphras'd The seeming Contradictions reconcil'd The Rites and Customs of the Jews opened and explain'd To which is annex'd a SHORT HISTORY OF THE Jewish Affairs FROM THE End of the Old Testament to the Birth of our Saviour And a Map also added of Canaan and the Adjacent Countries very useful for the understanding of the whole History By SAMVEL CRADOCK B. D. Psal 77. v. 5. I have considered the days of old the years of ancient times Sint Castae deliciae meae Scripturae tuae Nec fallar in eis nec fallam ex eis August Confess Lib. 11. Cap. 2. Manifestis pascimur obscuris exercemur Idem Tract 45. in Joh. LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Princes-Armes in Ludgate-Street M.DC.LXXXIII THE PREFACE HAving formerly written the History of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and of his holy Apostles and a Paraphrase upon all the Apostolical Epistles I thought it would be a work not only profitable to my self but useful also to others if I should write the History of the Old Testament Accordingly humbly imploring the Assistance of God I set upon it and my design therein was as follows 1st To Methodize that Sacred History according to the order and series of time wherein the several things therein mentioned were transacted 2ly To Paraphrase and explain the difficult places and passages thereof 3ly To reconcile the seeming contradictions which are not a few 4ly To open the Jewish rites and customs which are very necessary to be known in order to a clear and full understanding thereof Lastly to add a Map of Canaan and those other adjacent Countries which were the stage on which the great things mentioned in the Old Testament were acted Pursuant hereunto I have digested the whole work into seven Chapters containing an History of the Seven Ages of the World from the Creation to the death of our Saviour The first Chapter contains the History of the first Age of the World from the Creation to the Flood comprehending a space of 1656 years The Second Chapter contains the History of the Second Age of the World from the Flood to the Promise made to Abraham in Vr of the Chaldees comprehending a space of 422 years and ending in the 2078 year of the World The Third Chapter contains the History of the Third Age of the World from the Promise made to Abraham in Vr of the Chaldees unto the Israelites departure out of Egypt comprehending a space of 430 years and ending in the 2508 year of the World Within the compass of this Age falls the History of Job whereof I have given a brief Analysis The Fourth Chapter contains the History of the Fourth Age of the world from the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt to the laying the foundation of Solomons Temple in the fourth year of his reign comprehending a space of 480 years and ending the 2988 year of the World The Fifth Chapter contains the History of the Fifth Age of the World from the laying the foundation of Solomons Temple to the destruction of it and Captivity of Judah in the 11th year of Zedekiah containing a space of 420 years Some make this space 424 years vide usserii Annales and ending in the 3408 year of the World The Sixth Chapter contains the History of the Sixth Age of the World from the destruction of Solomons Temple and the Captivity of Judah unto the liberty granted them by Cyrus for their return containing a space of seventy years and ending in the 3478 year of the World The Seventh Chapter contains the History of the Seventh Age of the World from the return of the Jews out of Babylon and the end of the seventy years Captivity to the death of Christ containing a space of 490 years signified by Daniels seventy Weeks Dan. 9. v. 24 25 26 27. and ending in the 3968 year of the World Now though this Age as to the first part of it belongs to the Old Testament yet it extends much further even to the death of Christ which takes up about 33 years of the New Testament-story for the History of the Old Testament reaches no further than the end of the Book of Nehemiah which ends in the 32th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus so that the History of the Old Testament extends but 99 years in the compass of this Age and ends 358 years before the Birth of Christ who being Crucified in the 33th year of his age those three sums viz. 99 358 and 33 make up the 490 years of this interval Now because some may be desirous to know what was the state and condition of the Jews after the end of the Old Testament during those 358 years to the Birth of Christ I have thought fit to set down 1. What Persian Kings succeeded Artaxerxes Longimanus till that Kingdom was Conquered by Alexander the Great in whom the Grecian or Third Monarchy began 2 To shew how after Alexander's death his Empire was divided into four Kingdoms viz. 1. that of Macedonia 2. of Syria 3. of Asia the less 4. of Egypt and to give a Catalogue of the several Kings that reigned successively in those Kingdoms till they were all Conquered by the Romans in whom the Fourth Monarchy began 3 To shew who were High Priests among the Jews after their return from the Babylonish Captivity wherein we have occasion to give a short History of the Maccabees till their power was swallowed up by Herod made King by the Romans in the 35th year of whose reign Christ the Saviour of the World was born As we go along in the History of the Kings we meet with several eminent Prophets whom God raised up both in Judah and Israel after the division of the Kingdom and by considering the temper and condition of those times and the several vices and disorders that then reigned and prevailed we may the better discern the scope and drift of their Prophesies And for the clearer understanding of them I have set down the time wherein they lived and prophesied and have given a brief Analysis of their Prophesies They seem to have Prophesied in this order 1. Jonah in the days of Jeroboam the Second who was Contemporary with Amaziah King of Judah 2 King 14.25 2. Isaiah who Prophesied in the days of Vzziah Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah Kings of Judah 3. Joel in the days of Vzziah 4. Hosea in the days of Vzziah Jotham Ahaz and Hezekiah Kings of Judah and seven Kings of Israel viz. from Jeroboam the Second to Hoshea who was Contemporary with Hezekiah He was sent chiefly to Israel 5. Micah in the days of Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah Kings of Judah 6. Amos lived in the same time with Hosea and was sent principally to the people of Israel 7. Nahum seems to have Prophesied in the days of Hezekiah 8. Habakkuk in
granted they acquaint him that it was their Fathers Command before he died that they should humbly beg his pardon and forgiveness of them and accordingly they did earnestly beg it at his hands and they hoped he would not deny it them seeing they were his Brethren and served the same God that He did namely the God of his Father and were truly penitent for their former hainous Transgression against Him Then falling down at his Feet they told him They were his Servants Joseph could not forbear weeping at this their behaviour towards him and pittying their Perplexity and being grieved that they should in the least doubt of his kindness towards them He told them It was true He was in great Power there yet he was under God (g) Masius sic reddit v. 19. Annon sub Deo sum under His All-seeing-Eye and bound to give an account of his actions unto Him who had forbiden him all Revenge and had wonderfully raised him up not only that he might do good to the Egyptians but especially to them that were his own Flesh and Blood And he had no cause to be offended at what they had For whatever their intent was God meant it for good both to him and them And therefore bad them be of good courage and not at all to fear any hurt from him For he would be so far from hurting them that he would nourish them and their Children And accordingly He did so for 54 years after his Fathers death All which time even unto his own death he continued his kindness to them and continued in his Authority and Government and saw his Son Ephraim's Children to the third Generation (h) To wit Shutelah and Tachon the Sons of his Son Ephraim and Haden the Son of Shutelah Numb 26.36 And Machir the Son of Manasseh and Gilead Manasseh's Grandchild From whence it is that the Greek Expositors speaking of the Families of Jacob and Joseph which were said to consist of 70 Souls Gen. 46.27 Deut. 10.22 have added thereunto these five that were born to Joseph in Egypt 1 Chron. 7.14 which reckoning Luke follows Acts 7.14 reckoning them in all 75 Persons and the Children of Machir the Son of Manasseh his other Son were also brought up upon his Knees that is he took pleasure in their Infancy to let them sit upon his Knees and to dandle them see Ch. 30.3 Joseph having now arrived at the age of an 110 and having Governed Egypt under several Kings 80 years and finding his death approaching he told his Brethren That God would surely visit them in mercy and would bring them out of that Land into Canaan which he had promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob that He would give it them And therefore to testifie his Own and confirm their Faith concerning the Promises of Canaan which was a Type of Heaven he commanded that his body should be kept and carried into Canaan when God brought them out of Egypt and carried them thither see Heb. 11.20 He took also an Oath of them to perform it which Oath as 't is like was Recorded and transmitted to succeeding Generations that they in whose time that Deliverance should be brought to pass should perform it And accordingly his Body was embalmed and kept in a Chest until the time it might be carried into the Land of Canaan and was afterwards carried thither and buried at Shechem see Josh 24.32 Jacob's Purchase and Joseph's Inheritance And there also as 't is probable the Bodies of the other Patriarchs Jacob's Sons and Joseph's Brethren were buried see Acts 7.16 their Bodies being carried up into Canaan with His. Thus died Joseph in (i) Eusebius in his Chronicle hath this passage concerning Joseph Joseph says he was made Governour of Egypt in the 30th year of his age when his Father Jacob was 122 years old which Government he held 80 years After whose decease the Hebrews were held in Bondage by the Egyptians 144 years So that the whole time which the Hebrews spent in Egypt was 215 years reckoned from the time that Jacob and his Sons went down into Egypt the 2369th Year of the World 16 years before the Death of Levi 60 years before the Birth of Moses 140 years before the Israelites coming out of Egypt As may be gathered from Gen. 15.13 Exod. 12.41 Ch. 50. whole Chapter SECT XLIX WIth the Life of Joseph endeth the First Book of Moses's History called Genesis which containeth a space of Two thousand three hundred sixty nine years from the Creation of the World The next to it in order of time is the Book of Job as Learned Men conceive 'T is likely that Job lived when the Israelites were in Egypt and that he lived in the Land of Vz in Idumea or Arabia bordering upon it See Lam. 4.21 Where he had such bad Neighbours the Chaldeans on the one side and Sabeans on the other The Book of Job is undoubtedly a true History and accompanied fully with all the Circumstances requisite to a true History from first to last and attested so to be by the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 14.14 Though these three men Noah Daniel and Job were in it they should deliver but their own Souls by their Righteousness saith the LORD And by the Apostle James Ch. 5.11 Behold we count them happy which endure Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy This Book is written in the judgment of the Learned in Prose to vers 3. of Chap. 3. And in Verse from thence to Chap. 42. vers 6. and then it concludes in Prose The Penman of it seemeth to be Elihu one of the Speakers in it as may be gathered from Chap. 32. vers 15. They were amazed they answered no more they left off speaking Vers 16. When I had waited for they spake not but stood still and answered no more Vers 17. I said I will answer also my part I also will shew mine Opinion So that he seemeth here to speak of himself as the Writer of this History Job was the Son of Nahor Abraham's Brother descended from him by his Son Huz Gen. 22.21 Huz his First-born and Buz his Brother c. Three of his Friends most likely were of the Posterity of Abraham viz. Eliphaz and Zophar of the Posterity of Esau Gen. 36.10 These are the Names of Esau's Sons Eliphaz the Son Adah the wife of Esau Bildad of Abraham's Race by Keturah And Elihu the fourth of the Race of Nahor Abraham's Brother The Book consists of these general Parts 1. A Description of Job's Vprightness He was an upright man fearing God and eschewing evil Vers 3. Orientalium i. e. in genere neglecto Judaeae situ ad quam erat haec austrina Regio 2. Of his Prosperity 1. He had a numerous Issue seven Sons and three Daughters 2. For Estate He was the greatest man in the East having 7000 Sheep 3000
either to Man or Beast And when all this shall come to pass then says he you shall know how great a difference the Lord doth put between the Israelites and the Egyptians And then shall these thy Servants and Courtiers be sent by thee unto me and shall bow themselves unto me saying Go forth thou and all the people that follow thee over whom thou hast the Government and after that I will go forth with all the people of Israel with me and with all that we have Moses having thus spoken went out from Pharaoh in a great anger i his zeal for the Glory of God heightening his indignation against the obstinacy of Pharaoh Ch. 10. from vers 21. to the end Ch. 11. from vers 4. to the 9. (l) See Numb 12.3 Eph. 4.26 Tenth Plague The destruction of the First-born 10. The Israelites when they first came down down into Egypt being but few part of the Province of Goshen was sufficient for them but afterwards they multiplied so much that they spread all over that Country and besides had many mixed Habitations in other parts of Egypt (m) Habitant Egyptii Hebraeis permixti The evening therefore of this 14th day of this Month being come Moses called for the Elders of Israel to draw out their Lambs according to their Families and to kill the Passover and to sprinkle with a bunch of Hyssop the Door-posts of their Houses with the bloud of the Lamb and that none of them should stir out of the doors where they did meet to eat the Passover till the morning The Children of Israel doing as the Lord had commanded them by Moses at Midnight the Angel of the Lord smote all the First-born (n) Ica nullus Pater alii possit esse solatio cum clades omnibus communis esset in the Land of Egypt from the First-born of Pharaoh that sat on the Throne to the First-born of the Captive that was in the Dungeon and all the First-born of their remaining Cattel Pharaoh upon this and his Servants and the Egyptians rose up in the night and there was a great and hideous Cry thorow out all the Land for there was not an house in Egypt which had a First-born in it where there was not one dead and in houses where there were no Children probably the eldest and chief of the Family was slain Pharaoh hereupon presently sent his Servants that were about him to Moses and Aaron and commanded them to speak to them in his Name That they should presently go away and should take their Wives and Children Herds and Flocks and all that they had along with them and he desires they would bless him and pray for him at their departure that He might not perish by this Plague (o) He had desired their prayers for him several times before Exod. 8.8 9.28 10.16 17. And the Egyptians were very urgent with the Israelites and used humble and earnest Intreaties to them to be gone see Exod. 11.8 saying among themselves that if they did not hasten them away they were all dead men that is in extream danger of death and like to perish The Egyptians being in this dreadful Consternation the Israelites as Moses had commanded them borrowed of them Jewels (p) Solebant Idololatrae in colendis idolis se gemmis in auribus decorare Credebant autem Egyptii hoc petentes Israelitas suis Diis sacrificaturos prout antea fecerant ideoque nec abituros è terra Nam Moses hactenus tridui tantum itineris mentionem fecerat and Vessels of Silver and Vessels of Gold and fine Raiment (q) V. 35. Et Vestem i. e. pretiosiores vestes tapetes similia Jans and rich Furniture and such like precious things for their use in keeping the Festival And God thus disposed their hearts thorow the great and pannick fear they were in For it seems they thought that if the Israelites were not sent away presently the next Plague would destroy them all And besides that the Lord gave the Israelites favour in their eyes so that they very readily lent them and furnished them with any thing they desired of them And possibly they thought the Israelites intended only a three days journey into the Wilderness there to sacrifice unto the Lord and then would return and so they should have their rich things again And that which in likelihood inclined their hearts the more to favour the Israelites was the high opinion that both Pharaoh's Courtiers and the people of Egypt had generally of Moses For him they much honoured and feared in regard of his Wisdom and Conduct and the manifold Miracles that had been wrought by his Ministry both in bringing Judgments and removing them So that whasoever he should ask or require of the Egyptians for himself or the people of Israel was not like to be denied him And thus was fulfilled that which God promised to Abraham Gen. 15.13 14. Thy Seed shall be a stranger in a Land that is not theirs 400 years and that Nation whom they shall serve will I judge and afterwards they shall come out with great substance And the same was also promised Exod. 3.22 and all now exactly performed For now the Israelites carried away a great deal of the riches of the Egyptians and that not only by Gods permission but express Command Ch. 11.2.3 who is the Supream Lord of all and all that is in the World is his and He may do what he will with his own Mat. 20.15 And just it was with the Lord thus to recompence the Israelites for the hard Service Injuries and Oppressions they had suffered in Egypt and as it were to pay them their wages which the Egyptians had most unjustly detained from them Exod. 12. from 29. to vers 37. CHAP. IV. The Fourth Age of the World from the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt to the laying the Foundation of Solomon's Temple in the Fourth Year of his Reign containing a space of 480 Years and ending in the 2988th Year of the World SECT I. THe Egyptians being now in great distraction and fill'd with sorrow for the death of their First-born pressed the Israelites to depart The very next day therefore after the Passover (a) See Numb 33.3 the term of 430 Years from the first Promise made to Abraham and his removing from Vz of the Chaldees being just now compleated (b) See Gal. 3.17 the Israelites carring away with them their unleavened Dough which was not well seasoned nor made up by reason of their hast even lumps of Dough bound up in Cloaths upon their Shoulders together with the Spoils of the Egyptians began their Journey and marched away with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians Numb 33.3 from all Quarters to Rameses their general Rendezvous and there they all met who either dwelt mix'd among the Egyptians see Exod. 3.22 and were scattered up and down in Egypt or else dwelt in
third Section is of one week which is the last of the seventy wherein the Messiah was to be cut off This week the Angel seems to divide into two halves intimating some special thing that was to happen about the middle of it and that might possibly be the Baptism of Christ and his entring on his Prophetick office to preach and work miracles and then that in the end of that week which was the other half he should be slain and cut off and so by his death cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease And that space of three years and an half from the Baptism of Christ to his death may be gathered from the four Passovers which he celebrated after his Baptism Now in the compass of these seventy weeks or 490 years there flourished 1 the Persian Monarchy 2 the Grecian or Macedonian and 3 the Roman was begun Dan. 9. whole Chapter About this time Cyrus his own Father Cambyses being dead in Persia and Darius his Father-in law and Vncle in Media had all the Empire and Monarchy of the East in his hands and this the Scripture reckons as the first year of his reign namely as absolute Monarch It seems by Daniel or some other of the Jews it was discovered to him that many years before God had revealed to his Prophet Isaiah see Ch. 44.28 and Ch. 45 1 2 3 4 5. v. 14. that he was ordained and appointed by God to vanquish Babylon and to deliver the Jews out of their captivity and to cause their City and Temple to be rebuilt This Prophesie they shewed him as Josephus reports Lib. 11. Antiq. Ch. 1. And when he had read it he was much affected with it and God stirred up his spirit to deliver the Jews and set them free Accordingly in this year came forth that renowned Edict of his mentioned 2 Chron. 36.23 of which we shall speak more afterwards And in this year the seventy years of the Babylonish captivity being expired Cyrus gave leave to all the Jews dwelling any where in his Dominions to return into their own Country The end of the Seventy years Captivity and commanded such as did return to fall in hand with reedifying of the Temple And he allowed the charge thereof out of his own Treasure and restored to them all the Vessels of the Lords house which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from thence Dan. 9. whole Chapter 2 Chron. 36.22 23. Ezra 1. from 1 to 5. CHAP. VII The seventh Age of the World from the return out of Babylon and the end of the Seventy years Captivity to the death of Christ containing a space of Four hundred and ninety years signified by Daniel's Seventy Weeks mentioned Chap. 9. v. 24 25 26 27. THE Jews had now free leave by Cyrus's Royal Proclamation given them to return to their own Country * The first year after the conquest of Babylon was reckoned at the first year of Cyrus for he was esteemed as Monarch of those Kingdoms though he was not absolute Monarch till the death of his Uncle Darius in which he speaks after this manner That God having given all the Kingdoms of the Earth that were near him or round about him into his hands and having charged him as he understood from the Prophesie of Isaiah Ch. 44.28 Ch. 45.13 to build a Temple for his Worship at Jerusalem he was willing to do it and therefore declares that whoever among his people the Jews were willing to return to their own Country and to build an house for their God who is the only true God he gave them free leave to do it and desired the Lord to prosper them therein And as for all such Jews as were not house-keepers but strangers and sojourners in any part of his dominions and had a mind to return to Jerusalem he gave license to the men of that place where they were sojourners to furnish them with silver and gold and all necessary provisions and horses to carry them and their goods and declares that they shall have free liberty to carry away these things and if any other persons have a mind to send by them a freewill offering for the building of the Temple they may freely do it The Jews upon this gracious Proclamation being well accommodated with Necessaries †They had Horses 736 Mules 245 Camels 435 Asses 6720. See Ezr. 2.66 67. for their journey by those among whom they lived prepare to return unto their own Country namely all such among them whose spirit God raised to go up for some of them being well setled there were loth to remove and over them that were minded to return Cyrus made Zerubbabel the Son of Salathiel and Grandchild to Jechoniah being the chief Prince of the Tribe of Judah Governour and Chieftain and his Lieutenant so that the Government was still in the Tribe of Judah see Gen. 49.10 And into his hands did the Kings Treasurer by the Kings command consign all the vessels belonging to the Temple the whole number of which reckoning the vessels here named and others added thereunto amounted to four thousand and four hundred to be carried back to Jerusalem Ezra Ch. 1. Ch. 5. v. 13 14 15. 'T is like they began their return in the first month of the year which was in the spring-time and they might be about four months in their travel as Ezra and his company were Ch. 7.9 The number of those that returned with Zerubbabel their Captain and Joshuah their High-Priest we have set down in the second Chapter of Ezra and the seventh of Nehemiah (a) There is some difference between the Catalogue in Nehemiah and this set down here as at Ezra 2.5 775 of the children of Arah and Neh. 7.10 652 only are mentioned 'T is like so many gave up their names in Babylon that they would return but only 652 mentioned in Nehemiah came up into Judea the rest either changing their mind or dying by the way So 2.6 compared with Nehem. 7.11 there are found six more when they came into Judea than had given up their names in Babylon The like must be understood concerning ver 10 11 13 14 15 17 19 35 41 65. At v. 55. there is mention made of the children of Solomons servants that is the strangers and proselytes that were imployed by Solomon in the building of the Temple and having lived long among the children of Judah were now reckoned among them At v. 61. there is mention made of the children of Barzillai Some conceive that these Priests marrying into the noble family of Barzillai and disregarding the honour of the Priesthood because in the Captivity they were not imployed as Priests neither had profit or honour by being Priests did therefore choose to be called after the family of their wives but now being returned to Judea and the Priesthood growing into request again these degenerate Priests would fain have taken place among the Priests of the Lord but not being able to prove
together set upon Jerusalem and getting the City into his hands forced Menelaus into the Castle and then made slaughters not as if he had been among his own Countrymen and kindred but among enemies and forreigners yet he got not the Priesthood but was forc'd to betake himself back again into the Country of the Ammonites where being accused before Aretas King of the Arabians he fled from place to place like a Vagabond hated of all men as a forsaker of the Law and publick enemy to his Country and died at last at Lacedemon Antiochus hearing in Egypt that the Jews rejoyced at the report of his death and suspecting by the sedition stirred up by Jason that Judea would revolt in a great rage departed thence and came and sat down before Jerusalem and took it by force and giving no quarter for three days space there were forty thousand slain and as many more taken prisoners and sold and not contenting himself with this he presumed to go into the Temple having that Arch-Traytor Menelaus for his guide and rifled it of the holy vessels particularly he took away the Golden Altar of Incense and the golden Candlesticks with all the vessels belonging to them the Table of the Shew-bread and the Vail and the Crowns and the golden Ornaments that were fastned to the Temple-doors he pulled off the gold from every thing that was covered with it and likewise took the silver vessels and all the hidden treasure which he could find He also killed swine upon the Altar and with the broath of the flesh of them he sprinkled the Temple And having taken 1800 talents out of the Temple he speedily went to Antioch leaving behind him to afflict the people Philip a Phrygian by Nation but by manners a Barbarian and Andronicus and besides them Menelaus more grievous unto and more spightful against his own Countrymen than either of the other Two years after he sent Apollonius a cruel man with an Army of 22000 into Judea commanding him to put to death all the young men he could meet with and to sell the women and children for slaves Apollonius coming to Jerusalem kept himself still until the Sabbath and then taking the opportunity of the solemnity of the day he destroyed all that came to perform Religious duties and marching with his forces about the City he put to death a great multitude and plundering the City he set it on fire in several places destroying the houses and demolishing the walls round about and led away many women and children into captivity seizing on their cattel whilst Antiochus his Master was busie again in his attempts upon Egypt During these horrid outrages Judas Maccabeus departed with some others and liv'd in the mountains three years and six months for which space of time the daily sacrifice ceased and the Sanctuary lay desolate and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled and their City became an habitation of strangers The Samaritans seeing the Jews so miserably handled professed themselves to be by descent Sidonians and thereupon obtained Letters from Antiochus to Apollonius his President that they should not be involved in the calamities of the Jews and that their Temple on Mount Gerizim as yet not honoured with the title of any God should from thenceforth be called the Temple of the Grecian Jupiter After this in the year of the World 3837 Antiochus by a publick Edict commanded all Nations that were subject unto him to observe the same way of worship that he did and laying aside their peculiar customs to profess the same Religion with the Greeks and to conform thereunto threatning death to all such as should be found unconformable And he appointed Overseers over every people and Nation who should compel them to uniformity 1 Mac. 1.41 c. Into Judea and Samaria he sent an old man of Athens that he should force the Jews to depart from the observation of the Divine Law and defile the Temple at Jerusalem and impose the name of Jupiter Olimpius upon it And upon the Temple of Gerizim he imposed the name of Jupiter Hospitalis or Protector of strangers He also commanded the sacrifices to be left off he prohibited the Sabbath he commanded them to defile the Sanctuary to erect Altars Groves and Chappels to Idols and that they should sacrifice swine and other unclean beasts and should suffer their children to remain uncircumcised and should forget the Law and the Ordinances of God and made it a crime to profess the Jewish Religion Moreover order was sent to the Neighbouring Cities of the Greeks that they should compell the Jews to partake of their sacrifices and kill those that would not come over to their rites so that many of the Jews for fear obeyed and sacrificed to Idols The Temple was now filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles who within the circuit thereof defiled themselves with women and committed other abominations And on the 15th day of the month Casleu they erected the Abomination of Desolation that is the detestable Idol of Jupiter Olympius upon the Altar and built Idol-altars throughout the Cities of Judah and burnt incense at the doors of their houses and in the streets and some were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus carrying Ivy they cut in pieces the Books of the Law which they found and burnt them in the fire and with whomsoever they were found or whoever approved of them they were by the Kings command to be put to death Yet notwithstanding there were many that stood out and would not conform to the Kings Edict nor defile themselves at which the King being enraged he caused divers to be brought before him resolving to inforce them by torments to taste impure meats and to abjure Judaism and upon refusal he racked them and put them to death Among others Eleazar of the Priestly family an eminent Scribe and expert in the knowledg of the Law of ninety years of age was very eminent for his courage who neither yielding to eat swines flesh nor dissembling to have eaten it chose rather to undergo the most cruel torments than to violate the Law After him seven young men that were Brethren together with their most courageous Mother were brought before Antiochus at Antioch who refusing to eat swines flesh after they had been exquisitely tortur'd with new-invented torments rendred their pious souls unto God The Martyrdom of those persons is described in the seventh Chapter of the second Book of Maccabees The rage of this persecution coming to Modin a Town situate between Rama and Emmaus it there found some opposition Mattathias the Son of Jonathan a Priest of Jerusalem of the family of Joarib which was the first among the 24 courses 1 Chron. 24.7 dwelt here at this time with his five Sons among whom his Son Judas was called Maccabeus and Josephus says their Father Mattathias was the son of Asamoneus * Or rather the Grandâ—on of Simeon Sirnamed Asomonaeus and from him that Sirname descended
5000 dead upon the place and had the chase of the rest a great way Among others who were thus vanquished were the Merchants who nothing doubting of the victory followed the Kings army in hope to get a good bargain of the captives and now became a prey themselves and the Jews seized on their money which they brought to buy them And when they had had a long pursuit of them but being prevented by time they sounded a retreat for the evening on which the Sabbath began drawing on after they had gathered up the Armes of the vanquished Host and taken the spoils from them they composed themselves for the celebration of the Sabbath magnifying the mercy of God for this so marvelous a victory 2 Mac. 8. Gorgias returning from his fruitless expedition and perceiving by the smoke of the Tents set on fire that that other division of their army was routed and seeing Judas on the plain standing in Battalia with his forces ready to receive them they all shifted for themselves The coast thus cleared Judas returned to the spoil where he found plenty of gold silk and purple which the Phoenician Merchants had left behind them and much wealth all which the Souldiers shared among themselves having first deducted a portion for the maimed Souldiers widows and orphans Then with joint supplication they desired the Lord to continue still to be gracious unto them After this Judas overthrew Timotheus and Bacchides both of the Kings party and killed above 20000 men and made themselves masters of many strong holds and divided among themselves much spoil always admitting the maimed orphans widows and aged persons into equal portions with themselves Lysias was exceedingly vext that things fell out so contrary to his expectation and therefore the next year invaded Judea with an Army of 60000 choice foot and 5000 horse Judas having first implored the Divine assistance meets him with an army of 10000 men Lysias received such a blow that with the loss of 5000 men he was glad to retreat to Antioch intending greater preparations for his next expedition Judas and his Brethren having now some respite from their enemies march with all their forces to Jerusalem and recover the Temple and all the City except Sion-fort The Altars and Chappels which the enemy had built in the open streets they demolished And by the assistance of the Priests they cleansed the Temple built a new Altar repaired the holy and Holy of Holies hallowed the Courts made new holy Vessels brought into the Temple the Candlestick the Altar of Incense and the Table of shew-bread and so they burnt Incense upon the Altar lighted the Lamps which were in the Candlestick and placed shew-bread upon the Table and spread the Vails and finished whatever they had taken in hand Then on the 15th of the ninth month called Casleu two years after he had succeeded his Father in the Government but three years compleat since the Gentiles first sacrificed in that place having furnished themselves with fire by striking stones one against another they offered sacrifice according to the Law upon their new Altar of Burnt-offerings so that on the very same day of the same month on which the Gentiles profaned the old Altar Judas consecrated this new one This Dedication was celebrated with Songs and Hymns and Instruments of Musick very joyfully and all the people fell prostrate on the ground and worshipped the God of Heaven who had so prospered them beseeching him that he would not suffer them to fall again into such calamities but that if they offended him he himself would punish them and not suffer them to fall into the hands of the barbarous Gentiles They kept this feast of Dedication eight days and ordained that it should be kept yearly for the same space of time and should begin the 25th of the same month Casleu In the Gospel Joh. 10.22 't is called the feast of Dedication Whilst these things were doing Antiochus Epiphanes prospers in his wars against Artaxias King of Armenia and in the upper Countries though in his attempt to plunder the Temple of Venus or Diana at Elemais in Persia he was repelled by the inhabitants and caused shamefully to retreat In his return homewards hearing first of the overthrow of Nicanor and Timotheus and then of the defeat of Lysias and the throwing down of the Idol of Jupiter Olympius and fortifying of the Sanctuary he fell into an extream rage and resolved to be revenged on the Jews proudly vaunting that he would make Jerusalem the common burying place of them when he should come thither Scarce had he made an end of threatning when he was stricken with an extream torment in his bowels but being brought thereby to no better a temper of mind he breathed out menaces against the Jews still and calling to his Chariot-driver to make hast it hapned that in this his so furious career he fell out of his Chariot and was much bruised by the fall and his limbs put out of joint and after that being carried to and fro in a horse-litter worms bred so fast in his body that his flesh rotted so that none could endure to carry him for the noisomeness of the stench being forced to stay at Taba a Town in Persia in this pitiful plight despairing of recovery he openly acknowledged all those miseries to have fallen upon him for the injuries he had done to the Jews When he could no longer endure his own smell he said It is meet to submit to God and for mortal man not to set himself in competition with God He vowed if God would restore him to grant to the Jews a free exercise of their Religion and of their own laws and customs and that he would beautifie the Temple with most rare gifts and restore all the holy vessels and that with advantage and defray the charges of the Sacrifices out of his own Exchequer and that he himself would turn Jew and go through the whole habitable world declaring the power of God But when he saw his end to draw nigh he caused most kind Letters to be written to the Jews desiring them to stand faithful to his Son Then constituting Philip the Guardian and Protector of his Son who was but nine years old till he should come to age he died and that a miserable death in a strange land after he had reigned twelve years Antiochus his Son Sirnamed Eupator succeeds him Lysias who had brought him up would not part with the Government of him whereupon Philip who was appointed his Guardian by his Father fled into Egypt Gorgias who had the command of those parts about Judea fomented a continual war with the Jews and with him joyned the Idumeans who entertained all the Jerusalem-runagadoes and infested the Jews and did what they could to keep the war on foot against those therefore Judas Maccabaeus marches takes divers places and puts 20000 of them to the sword After which setting upon the Ammonites he overthrew them
the second Temple rejoicing exceedingly because God had turned the heart of the King of Persia towards them In the seventh year of Darius Esther made Queen Ibid. The History of Esther Ahasuerus dies Zerxes succeds him He makes wars upon the Grecians Artaxerxes succeeds him Ezra obtains a large Patent from him to settle the Jewish Commonwealth Liberty was also granted by him for such of the Jews as would to return Ezra with a great number returns having first kept a solemn Fast to seek a blessing from the Lord. They come to Jerusalem and present the Gold and Silver they had brought with them which was laid up in the Temple Ezra mourns and fasts because many of the people had married strange wives They are moved to put away their strange wives and the children they had by them which they consent to do In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Nehemiah his Cup-bearer hearing how things went at Jerusalem and that their walls were not built obtains a Commission from the King to be Governour of Judea and to build the walls of Jerusalem He comes thither and goes about it Sanballat and Tobiah at first scoffed at it but then grew very angry and conspired to fight the Jews and hinder the work But Nehemiah arms the people that so they might be in readiness for them Nehemiah redresses the oppressions among them viz. concerning Slaves Debtors and Mortgages Sanballat and Tobiah and their Accomplices strive now by false rumours and false Prophesies to terrifie Nehemiah from the work And some false Brethren at home seek to hinder the work also However the walls of Jerusalem in fifty two days were finished and the dedication solemnly performed Nehemiah appoints Hanani and Hananiah Governours over the City calls together the Princes makes a Collection for the rebuilding the City On the Feast of Trumpets the Law of God was by Ezra and others read and expounded to the people at which they were much affected Ezra is consulted concerning the Feast of Tabernacles They keep a solemn Fast and make a Covenant with the Lord and seal it Ezra's Prayer The matter of the Covenant and the persons that sealed it The chief heads of the people voluntarily offer to dwell in Jerusalem The rest cast lots about it Nehemiah goes back to his Master Artaxerxes He returns and governs Judea many years In the twelfth year of his Government and thirty-second of Artaxerxes he went to him again and soon after returned with a new Commission and then reformed those disorders in the State mentioned Chap. 5. and the disorders in Religion mentioned Chap. 13. The Prophet Malachi ERRATA THE most considerable faults of the Press are thus to be amended Page 14. line 11. read backward p. 16. l. 10. make the * at Pul. p. 17. l. 53. r. Rhoine p. 46. in last part of Marg. after 12. add children l. 6. r. fifth son p. 47. l. 30 r. freedom p. 57. l. 1. r. attended p. 59. l. 12. in Marg. r. Ch. 36. p. 63. l. 47. r. how violent the rage of jealousie is p. 69. in marg near bottom r. there is p. 80. l. 9. r. to any of l. 32. r. posterity p. 81. l 1. r. Gad. p. 85. l. 8. r. Ch. 12 13 14. p. 98. l. 30. r. every p. 124. l. ult r. slew p. 141. l. 36. r. vanity p. 144. marg a r. paschate p. 158. l. 5. r. fast p. 162. l. 1. r. new marg l. 12. r. hinc p. 166. l. penult r. for no man p. 170. l. penult of Sect. 41. blot out v. 30. to the end p. 171. l. 18. r. in all p. 188. l. 1. r. mutiny p. 197. l. 11. r. amicably p. 206. l. 5. r. infested p. 212. l. 10. r. alledging p. 231. l. 16. r. in a vision p. 278. l. 8. r. High-Priest p. 284. l. 23. r. at present p. 294. marg l. 4. at * r. arte susoria p. 313. l. 1. add them p. 328. l. 49. r. refuse p. 346. marg l. 7. r. damna p. 398. marg l. penult r. daemonum p. 412. marg a r. disoperiens p. 434. marg l. penult r. cogitat p. 447. marg fig. 3. r. in regard of the transcendent holiness p 448. marg l. 2. r. them p. 464. l. 12. r 1 King p. 478. l. 1. add know p. 474. near the bottom for A r. The. p. 476. l. ult for daily or weekly p. 478. l. 1. r. we do not find p. 480. l. 19. r. preserved p. 517. marg r. ob religionem p. 522. l. 16. r. fly not p. 543. l. 48. r. more p. 581. marg r. pollebat p. 598. l. 1. marg r. 26. p. 621. l. 33. after Captivity r. as some learned men conjecture though others assert the continuance of that Kingdom to have been only 254 years see pag. 605. There are some who begin these years at Jeroboam's setting up the Calves at Dan and Bethel when the Ten Tribes became Idolatrous and end them at the destruction of Jerusalem and they include the house of Israel in the house of Judah because many of them joined themselves to them and these the Prophet seems to mean by the house of Israel including also their predecessors who were dead long before p. 638. l. 29. r. This I find to be the opinion of the learned Willet and followed by Mr. Allein in his Chronology But for my part I cannot see that there were above twenty years from the laying the foundation of the Temple to the finishing of it as we have shewed pag. 650. Some learned men begin these seven weeks or 49 years at Cyrus's decree and end them when the walls of Jerusalem were finished by Nehemiah which interval of time they make 49 years But the holy Scripture having not set down expresly the number of the years of the Kings of Persia and profane Authors differing so much about them 't is a difficult thing to determine any thing certainly in this matter If any Errors have happened in the Continuation of this History the Reader is desired to mend them with his pen the Author not having had time to read those sheets over A Chronological Table of the Seven Ages of the World from the Creation to the Death of JESUS CHRIST The First Age of the World from the Creation to the Flood 1 ADam 130 Seth. born 235 Enos born 325 Cainan born 395 Mahalaleel born 0 Jared born 622 Enoch born 687 Methuselah born 874 Lamech born 1056 Noah born 1558 Noah's three Sons Japheth Shem Ham. The Ark built 1656 The Flood The Second Age from the Flood to the Promise made to Abraham in Ur of the Chaldees 1658 NOah and his Family come out of the Ark. Noah builds an Altar The Rain-Bow a Pledge of Gods Covenant Noah plants a Vineyard Arphaxad born to Shem. 1693 Salah born 1723 Eber born 1757 Peleg born 1787 Reu born Nimrod the Grandchild of Cham. The Tower of Babel The Confusion of Tongues The Assyrian or First Monarchy begun by
it may be had in higher honour and esteem than any other building in the world And therefore though I may not build it my self yet I will provide materials for the building of it And so he did in great abundance before his death 1 Chron. Ch. 22. from v. 1 to 6. SECT CCVI. IN the next place by the advice of Gad the Seer and Nathan the Prophet see 2 Chron. 29.25 and calling the Princes and Governours of the people to be present to observe the order he set up he appoints the several Officers for the service of the Temple and ranks them into their several Orders and Divisions 1. He distributes all the Priests that were the Sons of Aaron into two parts viz. all the Priests descended either from Eleazar or Ithamar Aarons two Sons All that were of the Sons of Eleazar over whom Zadock was the chief into one and all that were the Sons of Ithamar over whom Ahimelech was chief under Abiathar the High-Priest into the other And there were more Heads of Families found among the Sons of Eleazar than among the Sons of Ithamar Then he divides all these Priests into twenty four courses in each of which there was one to be the chief or Head of the rest And therefore he appoints sixteen of these courses among the Sons of Eleazar and but eight among the Sons of Ithamar Then he orders lots to be cast amongst these divisions promiscuously not preferring those of the one lineage before those of the other to determine which of these courses should first serve and which should be second and so in order each company being to serve a week and then to go out as also to shew which of these that were Heads of Families in each company should be the chief of that company (a) 1 Chron. 24. v. 19. under Aaron their Father that is under the High-Priest who is here called Aaron because he held the same place that Aaron formerly did And so the first company was chosen by lot and the lot fell upon Jehojarib to be Head of that Course which was from thence call'd the Course of Jehojarib and so after the same manner in the rest 2ly He numbers the Levites from thirty years old and upwards and their number arose to 38000. This numbring was not like the numbring of the people 2 Sam. 24.2 out of pride and curiosity but out of piety and prudence and that by a Divine command that knowing the number of the persons he might better distribute them into several Orders These Levites he thus distributes 1. Twenty and four thousand he appoints to attend upon the Priests in the service of the Temple viz. to prepare the Sacrifices and oyl for the lamps and other things belonging to their office These were divided into twenty four Courses as were the Priests David also gave order before his death v. 27. that in each Family of the Levites all of twenty years old and upward should be taken into the service of the Temple because they were not any longer to carry the Tabernacle and vessels thereof and therefore such strength of body was not now necessary as was formerly required and the service of the Temple would now one way or other imploy them all see 1 Chron. 23.24 David therefore guided by the Spirit of God saw cause now to admit them into the Temple at that age and possibly at first they were only as Novices and Learners admitted to behold the service of God that they might be the better acquainted with it and after twenty five years they were to assist the Elder Levites in their particular services and after thirty to bear offices themselves These Levites also were to take care of the measures viz. that the fine flowre and wine and oyl for the Meat-offerings should be given to the Priests according to the just weight and measure appointed by the Law For to some Sacrifices there was a greater measure of these required and to some less See Numb 15.4 5 6. and Levit. 23.13 And some think they had the overseeing of all publick measures and kept the patterns or standards of them in the Temple whence the just shekel was call'd the shekel of the Sanctuary These Levites being cast into twenty four Courses or Divisions there were lots cast who should be the first Course coming in and going out with the first Course of the Priests and so who should be the second c. 2. Six thousand he appoints for Officers and Judges these were to be dispersed into several places of the land to judg of causes that were brought before them according to the Judicial Laws of Moses which the Levites were best skilled in They were also to take care of the outward business See 1 Chron. 26.29 viz. of those things which were to be done abroad out of the Temple as to give judgments in doubtful matters to train up younger Levites in the knowledg of the Law to look to the gathering and receiving such monies as were to be gathered of the people for the service of the Temple and some of them had their charge on the West-side of Jordan and some on the East and more on that side than the other because they being divided from their brethren by the river there was the more care requisite to retain them in their obedience to the Law and to prevent any back-sliding or remisness in the Worship of God or departure from his Law 3. Four hundred were to be Porters (a) So many were at this time set apart by David for this imployment but at their return from the Captivity of Babylon there were of these only found two hundred and twelve 1 Chronic. 9.22 to open and shut the Gates of the Temple at seasonable times and to watch at the Gates thereof to keep out all unclean persons and things These were also divided into twenty four Courses to attend in their turns weekly according to their courses and the order of their courses was determined to them by lot and by lot also were the Heads of their courses or companies appointed And some of these had also the custody of the Sacred Treasures viz. of the holy vessels and vestments and the dedicate things see 1 Chron. 26.27 28. Obed-Edom was one of these Porters 1 Chron. 15.18 and God exceedingly blessed him because he received the Ark into his house 1 Chron. 13.14 not only with a numerous off-spring but with great prosperity in all other respects and hence it was that eight of his Sons besides his Grand-children by Shemaiah were Heads of the twenty four Courses of the Porters And they were mighty men of valour their work being not only to keep unclean persons from entring the Temple but to prevent all confusion and disorder at the resorting of the people on their solemn Festivals to the Temple and to be a Guard unto the holy place upon all other occasions and therefore it was requisite they should be men of might
and thirty years he died He was about ten or eleven years old at Solomons death and lived in the reigns of eight Kings of Judah It was a great blessing to that Kingdom that he lived so long And they buried him in the City of David among the Kings which was an high honour to him because he had done good in Israel both towards God in restoring his worship and towards his house in causing it to be repaired Now after the death of Jehoiada that wise godly and zealous Governour several of the Princes of Judah who as it seems had concealed their impious mind and hollow heartedness in Religion before came now to Joash and making a low obeisance to him and presenting unto him a flattering address they petitioned him as appears by what follows that they might have leave to set up the Idolatry of Baal again in the land and to worship God in the high places after the manner of their fathers because it was burdensome to go up from all parts to the Temple The King being prevailed upon by their flatteries * Multorum Principum aures nihil accipiunt nisi jucundum lâ—surum Tacitus granted their request and so they left the Temple the house of the God of their Fathers and served Idols in Groves and thereby brought the wrath of the Lord upon Judah and Jerusalem by this their great trespass For shortly after Hazael King of Syria see 2 King 12.17 invaded the land and took Gath (a) This City David recovered from the Philistines 1 Chr. 18.1 and the Kings of Judah held it to this time It was one of the Cities Rehoboam fortified 2 Chr. 11.8 and was preparing to go against Jerusalem So formidable to Joash was this approach of Hazael that he was forc'd to purchase his peace with him by making him a present of all the hallowed things and of all the gold that was found in the Treasuries of the Temple and in his own house (b) 2 Chron. 24.27 The greatness of the burdens laid upon him may hereby be meant which are mentioned in some Civil Records Sundry Prophets and extraordinary messengers God sent to them one after another to reclaim the King and his people from those evil ways and to bring them again to the Lord. And these Prophets (c) So the Lord dealt with the Ten Tribes 2 King 17.13 and with the men of Judah after this 2 Chron. 36.15 16. did faithfully declare their sin to them even to their very faces and foretold them of the judgments God would bring upon them if they did not repent however they would not hearken to them but by an obstinacy in sin pull'd down vengeance on their own heads At length Zachariah the Son of Jehoiada was by the Spirit of God stirred up to admonish them of their wickedness who accordingly did it with great boldness and courage and standing up in an high place in the Court of the Temple and speaking to the King his Nobles and people he told them Thus saith the Lord why do ye so transgress the commandments of the Lord that ye cannot prosper because ye have forsaken the Lord he hath forsaken you and given you over into the hands of the Syrians Hereupon these Idolatrous Princes and the people that were like them being enraged immediately consulted together to destroy him and probably complained grievously to the King of him representing him as the manner of such persons is as a man highly disaffected to the Kings person and government and an enemy to the State And having by this means inflam'd the King against him they askt him if they should presently stone him which he agreeing to and commanding they furiously rushed into the Priests Court whither Zachariah had betaken himself and with most daring impiety stoned him between the Temple and the Altar * See Mat. 23.35 But before he expired he said The Lord will look upon it and require it that is he will severely avenge my blood upon you Thus Joash remembred not the kindness which Jehoiada the Father of Zachariah had done for him who had nourished him in the Temple in his infancy and with extream hazard to himself set him upon the Throne and instructed him in the ways of God and had been his most faithful counsellor and a means of procuring many blessings to him and yet notwithstanding all this he now cruelly consents to the murdering of his Son and that only for giving him faithful counsel But though Joash was thus abominably ungrateful yet the Lord would not let it so pass For before that year was expired the Syrians invaded the land again and executed the judgment of God upon them with great severity For though they came only with a small company of men intending possibly to pillage rather than to perform any great action and Joash went out against them with a very great army yet this small band of the Syrians overthrew that great host of Judah because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers The Syrians being highly encouraged with this victory they went up against Jerusalem and destroyed all the Princes of the people on whom they could lay their hands who had been the great instruments to draw away their King from the worship of the true God to Idolatry and they sent the spoil of them to the King of Damascus And when they departed they left Joash in sore diseases perhaps by reason of some wounds he had received in the fight which advantage two of his own servants laying hold upon slew him in his bed and thereby avenged the blood of the Son * V. 25. For the blood of the Sons of Jehoiada i. e. one of his Sons the Plural numâ—er for the Singular of Jehoiada the Priest he was slain in the beginning of the fortieth year of his reign And they buried him in the City of David but not in the Sepulchres of the Kings He reigned twenty two years with Jehu the rest in the time of Jehoahaz Jehu's Son and Jehoash his Grandchild and Amaziah his Son succeeded him 1 King 11. wh Ch. 2 King 12. wh Ch. 2 Chron. 23. wh Ch. 2 Chron. 24. wh Ch. The 9th King of Judah AMAZIAH AMAZIAH the Son of Joash was twenty five years old when he began to reign and reigned twenty nine years †T is said that in the second year of Joash King of Israel he began to reign that is in the second year of Joaâ—h after he began to reign alone his father Jehoahaz being dead For Joa h began to reign three years before hâ—s father died and that was the 37th year of Joash King of Judah the father of Amaziah who reigned forty years compleat In the beginning of his reign he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord viz. that which was for the substance of it good and approved of God yet not with an upright heart like David but according to what Joash his
so weak a condition both of Body and Mind that she could not take care of those matters And shortly after she died having reigned nine years and in 73 of her Age. In the meantime Aristobulus increased in power many flocking to him that hoped to get something by this Innovation in the State Hircanus the High Priest now succeeding in the Government his Brother Aristobulus presently made War upon him They come to a Battel near Jerico where many of Hircanus's Soldiers revolted to the other side Upon which he fled into the Castle where the Wife and Children of Aristobulus were then kept The rest of this party for fear of the Conqueror betook themselves to the Protection of the Temple and in a short space delivered up themselves At length it came to a Treaty between the two Brothers and it was agreed that Aristobulus should reign and that Hircanus should lead a private life and enjoy his Brothers Estate This Covenant they both entred into in the Temple having both sworn to it and solemnly confirmed it Then kindly embracing each other in the sight of the people they withdrew the one to his Court the other as a private person to Aristobulus's house But this agreement lasted not long For Antipater an Idumaean Father of Herod the Great having been made Governour of Idumaea by Alexander Jannaeus and being a Rich man and Factious and busie by nature he feared Aristobulus's power by reason of some Grudges that were between them and endeavoured his destruction by stirring up Hircanus and the most powerful of the Jews against him suggesting it would be very ill to let him possess a Command he had so unjustly gotten having put by his elder Brother and dispoiled him of the Prerogative of his Birth And with the like Suggestions he plyed Hircanus constantly adding with all that his very life was in danger except he prevented it by a timely flight At length tho' with some difficulty he prevailed with Hircanus to fly to Aretas King of the Arabians whom Antipater procured to assist him with his Arms for the recovering of his Kingdom Hircanus promising him that if by his means he obtained it he would restore to him a Country with twelve Cities which his Father Alexander Jannaeus had taken away from the Arabians Aretas being wrought upon by these promises invades Judea with fifty thousand men and overthrows Aristobulus so that he was forced with many Priests that were with him to fly into Jerusalem where he was closely besieged in the Temple by Hircanus and the Arabians The besiegers brought one Onias a man that had at that time a great repute for his Piety and the Prevalency of his Prayers to the siege and there would needs have him to curse the besieged He refused a great while till being at last compelled by the multitude he stood in the midst of them and prayed thus O God thou that art King of the whole world forasmuch as these that are with me are thy people and those that are besieged are thy Priests I beseech thee that thou wouldest neither hear these praying against them nor them against these This so inraged the rude multitude that they fell upon him and stoned him to death The Feast of the Passover hapning during the Siege the Priests that were besieged with Aristobulus in the Temple that the Sacrifices might not be omitted bargained with the Besiegers to sell them Beasts for that service But when they had let down their money from the Walls they were derided by the Besiegers and no Sacrifice returned This Wickedness and the Murther of Onias the Historian observeth to have been punished with great storms and tempests which procured extraordinary scarcity of Corn. In the mean while Pompey the Great being diverted by the War with Tigranes in Armenia sent Scaurus his Quaestor into Syria who coming strait to Damascus found it newly taken by Metellus and Laelius whereupon he advanceth presently into Judea As soon as he had entred the Country he meets Ambassadors both from Hircanus that had besieged the Temple at Jerusalem as also from his Brother that was besieged both of them intreating his assistance And tho' the one promised as much as the other for his help namely 400 Talents yet he closed with Aristobulus counting him more free and rich and whose Request was more easie to be fulfilled in driving away the Besiegers than that of the other to take the place which he held being so strong both of it self and by the valour of the Defendants Having therefore received Aristobulus's money he sent to the Besiegers threatning them in the Romans and Pompey's name if they did not immediately desist from that Siege Aretas being affrighted with this Message withdrew his siege and Scaurus returned to Damascus Aristobulus being thus freed from the siege gathereth together all the forces he could make and pursuing Aretas and Hircanus at a place called Papyron he there worsted them killing about 7000 of them and among others Cephalias the brother of Antipater Not long after Pompey came to Damascus whither were sent unto him Ambassadors from several parts Aristobulus sent him an excellent present being a Golden Vine a piece of so exquisite Workmanship that it was called the Delight It was placed in the Temple by Alexander Jannaeus and now by his Son Aristobulus presented to Pompey and by him afterwards among other things dedicated in the Capitol at Rome Pliny describes it thus A foursquare mountain of Gold with Harts and Lyons and all kind of Apples with a Vine of Gold encompassing it Plin. Lib. 37. Cap. 2. A while after there were sent some to him from both the Brothers namely Antipater from Hircanus and one Nicodemus from the other Pompey commanded both Parties viz. Hircanus and Aristobulus to appear before him at Damascus Thither was sent also an Embassage from the Jews themselves who declared they were unwilling to live any longer under Kings it being the custome of their Country to yield obedience to the High Priest of their God that though these two Brothers were indeed of the race of the Priests yet they had a design to alter the Government and to bring slavery upon the people Hircanus accused his Brother of Vsurpation and depriving him of his Birth-right Aristobulus excused himself by the necessity of the thing his Brother being so unfit for Government insomuch that there was danger if he had not taken it upon him that it would have been transferred to some other family There were a great number of the chief of the Jews whom Antipater had brought with him who confirmed what Hircanus had said But Aristobulus's followers whom he appealed unto were a Company of young Gallants ridiculous to all for their phantastick Bravery Pompey having heard them both rebuked Aristobulus's violence yet dismissed them both very kindly at present promising he would come himself to them as soon as he had inspected the Affairs of the Nabathaeans injoyning them both in the mean