Esther charging her to use her Interest with the King for their preservation But she making an excuse in regard of the danger of going into the King uncall'd he sends her word That if she refus'd he did not doubt but God would deliver 'em some other way but probably God brought her to this place for this very end Whereupon she resolves to go to the King whatever came of it only desires That all the Jews at Shushan would seek God by Fasting and Prayer on her behalf which they did CHAP. V. Then Esther went unto the King who held out his Golden Scepter to her and ask'd what her business was with him She desires that the King and Haman would come to a Banquet that day which she had prepared for ' em Which they did and then the King ask'd her again what she had to say to him She desir'd the same favour the next day of their coming to a Banquet and then she 'd acquaint him with her request Haman as he went home not meeting with that respect from Mordecai that he expected was full of Wrath but conceal'd it for the present and boasted of his Honour and Wealth to his Wife and Friends yet he took little content in all because of that disrespect he met with from Mordecai Whereupon his Wife advis'd him to make a Gallows of Fifty Cubits high and the next day to get leave of the King to hang him thereon CHAP. VI. That Night the King being restless calls for the Chronicles to be read to him and lights upon that Story how Mordecai had discover'd a Conspiracy against him and enquires what Honour had been done to Mordecai for it They answer'd None at all Then the King asks Who was in the Court they said Haman who was now come to beg leave to hang Mordecai The King sends for him and asks him What shall be done to the Man whom the King has a mind to honour Haman thinking this could be none but himself directs Honour enough in several particulars The King commands him to do all this immediately to Mordecai which he was feign to do in spite of all his regret But as soon as he had done he hastned home to acquaint his Wife and Friends with what had befaln him They conclude That if Mordecai before whom he had begun to fall were a Jew he should certainly fall before him Then Messengers came to hasten Haman to the Banquet CHAP. VII The King and Haman being come to the Banquet the King renews his instance to Esther to know her request She then begs that her Life and the Life of her People might be given her which were all destin'd to destruction The King was mightily surprized at this and fell into a great Rage and asks Who durst presume to do such a thing The Queen replies 'T is Haman The King being enraged walk't into the Garden to cool and quiet himself Haman in the mean while prostrates himself to the Queen to beg her favour The King coming in again and seeing him in this posture saith What will he force the Queen before my face So they took Haman out of the King's Presence and one told the King how that Haman had prepar'd a Gallows fifty Cubits high for Mordecai whereupon the King commanded him to be hang'd thereupon himself Which being done the King's anger was appeas'd CHAP. VIII Then the King gave Haman's House and Estate to Esther who sets Mordecai over it and the King made him also Keeper of the Seal Then Esther further beg'd of the King with Tears That some course mighr be taken to prevent that mischief that Haman had design'd against the Jews who gave them leave to frame another Decree as it lik'd them Then they made a new Decree and sent it into all the Kings Dominions to give leave to the Jews to gather themselves together on the day appointed for the Massacre and to stand upon their Guard and to kill and slay all that should assault them which caus'd great rejoycing among all the Jews CHAP. IX The day appointed for the slaughter of the Jews by Haman's Decree being come they gathered themselves together both to defend themselves and slay their Enemies and in Shushan alone they slew five hundred of their Enemies among which were Haman's ten Sons And upon Esther's request the King gave 'em leave to do the like again the next day in Shushan and then thy slew three hundred more and Haman's Sons were hanged upon the Gallows Hereupon they appointed that the fourteenth and fifteenth days of this Month should be kept yearly as days of rejoycing by all the Jews in memorial of this Deliverance And this was confirmed both by Esther and Mordecai DANIEL The six first Chapters of Daniel being Historical I must according to the Rules of my design give a brief account of ' em CHAP. I. NEbuchadnezzar having taken Jerusalem and carried many of the People Captives to Babylon gave commandment to the Master of the Eunuchs to seek out some young Men of the Jews of Noble Birth comly persons and of good parts who might be train'd up in the Learning of the Chaldeans and fitted for the King's Service Among others he pitch'd upon Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah who had a portion of Meat and Drink allow'd 'em of the King's Provision But Daniel and his three Companions refus'd the Court-dyet and contented themselves with Pulse and Water and yet were found to look better than those that fed of the Kings Fare And when they were brought to attend the King they were found in all matters of knowledge wisdom and sciences to excel all the Magicians and Astronomers that were in the Kingdom CHAP. II. Nebuchadnezzar dreamt a Dream which caus'd a great discomposure of mind in him but he had forgot it So he sent for all that were skilled in such matters to tell him his Dream but they all agreed that it was impossible for any man to do Whereupon the King was very angry and commanded they should all be put to death as Impostors So some sought to bring Daniel and his Fellows within the compass of that Command But Daniel desired time and undertook to give the King satisfaction both concerning his Dream and the Interpretation of it So he went home and he and his Companions sought unto God to reveal this Secret to 'em whereby their Lives might be preserved Then God revealed it to Daniel in a Night Vision for which he return'd thanks to him So he desir'd he might be brought to the King which being done he told the King that none of the wise Men could reveal this Secret but God only and so tells the King both his Dream and the Interpretation of it Then the King promoted Daniel and his three Companions upon his request CHAP. III. Nebuchadnezzar made a Golden Image and commanded all persons whatsoever to worship it upon pain of being cast into a Fiery Furnace Then certain men accus'd Daniel's three
to stand still over Gibeon which it did for about a whole day But the five Kings fled and hid themselves in a Cave which Joshua being told of he sent for 'em and made the great Officers set their Feet upon their Necks in token that they should deal so by all their Enemies Then he commanded 'em to be hang'd till the Evening Afterwards he took several other Towns with the Kings thereof and then returned to the Camp to Gilgal CHAP. XI Divers other Kings joyning together to fight against Israel God delivers 'em into their hands and they smote 'em till they left none remaining They also took their Cities and slew the Inhabitants but took the Spoil for themselves CHAP. XII A Rehearsal of the Kings that Moses took on the other side Jordan and of the thirty one Kings that Joshua took on this side Jordan CHAP. XIII Tho much of the Land was yet unconquer'd yet God bids Joshua divide it all among the Nine Tribes and an half CHAP. XIV Caleb challenges a certain share in the Land by the promise of Moses which Joshua allowed and gave him Hebron for his Inheritance CHAP. XV. The Borders of the lot of Judah are set down among which was the Inheritance of Caleb who promis'd his Daughter Acsah to whomsoever should take Kinjath-sepher This Othniel perform'd and obtain'd her for his Wife She beg'd of her Father some Land that had Springs in it so he gave her the upper Springs and the nether Springs The Children of Judah could not wholly drive the Jebusites out of Jerusalem CHAP. XVI The Borders of the Lot of the Children of Joseph viz. Ephraim and ch 27. Manasseh CHAP. XVIII The Tabernacle is set up at Shiloh and there being seven Tribes that had not yet received their Inheritance certain Persons are appointed to describe the remaining part of the Land into seven parts for which they cast Lots before the Lord in Shiloh for Benjamin and ch 19. for Simeon Zebulon Issachar Asher Nepthali and Dan. Then they allotted an Inheritance to Joshua CHAP. XX. Six Cities of Refuge are set out CHAP. XXI Forty eight Cities are given by Lot to the Levites So they possess'd all the Land that God promis'd 'em and had rest CHAP. XXII Then Joshua call'd the two Tribes and an half and blessed them and sent them away and they went homewards but when they came to the Borders of Jordan in Canaan they built there a great Altar which when the other Tribes heard of they gathered together to make war with 'em but first sent Phineas and ten Princes to 'em to expostulate with 'em as if they intended thereby to apostatize from God But the two Tribes and half replied That the design of that Altar was not for Sacrifice or Offerings but for a witness between 'em That tho they dwelt without Jordan yet they were of the same People and worship'd the same God with the Israelites on the inner side Jordan Which when Phineas and the Princes related to the Congregation they were very well pleas'd and called the Altar Ed i. e. Witness CHAP. XXIII Joshua being old calls for the Rulers of the People and exhorts 'em to obedience as they desire God should continue with 'em and that as God had fulfilled his Promises to a tittle to them so if they should depart from him and serve other Gods then he 'd bring all sorts of Evils upon â—em and they should be rooted out of the Land CHAP. XXIV He further gives 'em a brief Narrative of God's signal Providence and singular Benefits to them and their Fathers from his first calling of Abraham to the present time and thereupon earnestly exhorts 'em to fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth declaring his own fixt resolution That both himself and his Family would serve the Lord which the People likewise engage themselves to do So Joshua made a Covenant between God and the People that day and wrote it in the Book of the Law and set up a great Stone in testimony thereof After which he died being an hundred and ten years old and Eleazar died also and Joseph's Bones were buried in Shechem according to his commandment JUDGES CHAP. I. AFter Joshua's Death the Tribes of Judah and Simeon make War with some of the Cannanites and flew ten thousand in Bezek and took their King Adonibeâ—ek and cut off his Thumbs and great Tâ—â—â— which he acknowledges as a just requital from God for having served seventy Kings in that manner Afterwards they fought against others of the Canaanites and slew three Giants at Hebron and took several places because God was with ' em The Children of Joseph also took Luz or Bethel and slew all the Inhabitants except one Man and his Family that shew'd him the entrance into the City But yet many of the old Inhabitants remained still among the Tribes of Ephraim Manasseh Asher and Nepthali whom they could not drive out CHAP. II. An Angel reproves the Israelites for making Leagues with the People of the Land and sparing their Altars and thereupon threatens not to drive 'em out Then the People lift up their Voice and wept so the place was called Bochim Afterwards they forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtaroth then God delivered them into the hands of Spoilers and they were greatly distrest but upon their Repentance God rais'd up Judges who deliver'd 'em yet they soon returned to Idolatry again And thus they did time after time therefore God left many of the Canaanites among ' em And CHAP. III. The Children of Israel dwelt among 'em and made Marriages with 'em and served their Gods Then God delivered them into the hand of Cushan â—ishathaim Eight Years But when they cried to the Lord he raised up Othniel who prevail'd against Cushan Rishathaim so the Land had rest Forty Years Then they did evil again and the Lord strengthned the hand of Eglon King of Moab who smote 'em and rul'd over 'em eighteen years but when they cried to the Lord he raised up Ehud who being sent with a Present to Eglon smote him with a Dagger and slew him and afterwards raised an Army and slew about ten thousand Moabites whereupon the Land had rest eighty years And after him was Shamgar who slew six hundred Philistins with an Ox Goud and delivered Israel CHAP. IV. Then they did evil again and God sold 'em into the hand of Jabin whose Captain was Sisera and he oppress'd 'em twenty years and they cried to the Lord. Now Deborah a Prophetess judged Israel at that time and she called Barak and sent him against Sisera but he would not go except she went with him So they went together and ten thousand Men with 'em and Sisera came with nine hundred Charets of Iron and a great Host But the Lord discomfited them before Barak who slew 'em that there was not a Man left only Sisera escaped on his Feet and fled to the Tent of Heber the Kenite and
for a Burnt-offering So Jephthah fought with 'em and obtain'd a great Victory over ' em After which as he returned to his House his Daughter came out to meet him with Timbrels and Dances and she was his only Child Jephthah seeing her rent his Clothes and told her his Vow But she was very well satisfy'd since God had delivered his Enemies into his hands So she went with her Companions two Months into the Mountains to bewail her Virginity After which her Father did with her according to his Vow CHAP. XII The Ephraimites quarrel with Jephthah for not calling them to the War and raise War against him But he overcame 'em and discovering many of 'em by their pronunciation that they could not say Shibboleth he put 'em to Death and so at that time there fell forty two thousand of them Then Jephthah died having judged Israel six years After him Ibzan judged Israel seven years After him Elon judged Israel ten years After him Abdon judged Israel eight years CHAP. XIII The Israelites did evil again and God deliver'd 'em into the hands of the Philistines Then an Angel appeared to Manoah's Wife and told her she should bear a Son that should be a Nazarite and he should begin to deliver Israel She relates this to her Husband who prays that the Angel might come again to satisfie 'em further about the Child So the Angel appear'd to her again and she call'd her Husband who enquires of him how the Child was to be order'd asks his Name and offered an Offering to the Lord in the flame whereof the Angel ascends whereby Manoah knew he was an Angel So the Woman bore a Son and called his Name Samson and the Lord blessed him CHAP. XIV Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw one of the Daughters of the Philistines and desir'd his Father to get her for him to Wife This was of the Lord that he might find an occasion against the Philistines As he and his Father and Mother went to Timnah he slew a Lion then they went down and he talkt with the Woman and she pleas'd him well Another time as he went to her looking at the Carkasâ— of the Lion he found a Swarm of Bees in it and Honey and he took some of the Combs and gave to his Father and Mother So they went down to solemnize the Wedding for seven days The Philistines provided thirty Companions to be with him to whom he propounded a Riddle which if they could expound within the seven days of the Feast he was to give them thirty Change of Raiment but if they could not they were to give him so many The Riddle was this Out of the eater came forth meat anâ— out of the strong came forth sweetness But they could not find it out Then they employed hiâ— Wife to pick it out of him who at last prevail'd by her importunity and on the seventh day he told it her and she told it to the Bridemen So before Sun set they resolved hiâ— Riddle saying What is sweeter than Hony and what is stronger than a Lion And he said If you had not plowed with my Heifer you had not found out my Riddle So he went among the Philistines and slew thirty of 'em and gave thirty change of Garments to the Bridemen And he went away to his own Fathers House displeased whereupon his Wife was given to one of the Bridemen CHAP. XV. Samson went to visit his Wife but was repulsed by her Father whereupon he caught three hundred Foxes and tied 'em tail to tail with Firebrands between 'em and put 'em into the Philistines Corn and burnt it all up and theiâ— Vines and Olives which the Philistines understanding the Reason of came and burnt her and her Father Then he took that occasion also and smote 'em with a great Slaughter Whereupon the Philistines came to take him and the Men of Judah bound him with two new Cords and deliver'd him to them But he brake the Cords and with the Jaw-bone of an Ass slew a thousand of them After which he was exceeding thirsty and call'd upon God who made the Water spring out of the ground for him wherewith be was reviv'd CHAP. XVI Then he went to Gaza to an Harlot's House and the men of the City watcht for him all night to have slain him But at Midnight he took the Gates of the City and carried 'em away upon his Shoulders Afterwards he fell in love with Delilah to whom the Lords of the Philistines promis'd a great Reward if she could prevail with him to discover wherein his great Strength lay who after he had deluded her several times at length told her how that he was a Nazarite and had never been shorn but if his Hair was cut his strength would depart from him Then she made him sleep in her Lap and cut off his Hair and call'd for the Philistines who took him and put out his Eyes and brought him to Gaza and put him in Prison there But on a Festival day they call'd for him to make 'em sport But he laying his Hands upon the Pillars that supported the House and calling upon God for Strength pull'd down the House upon 'em and thereby slew more than he had done in all his Life-time CHAP. XVII Micah a Man of Ephraim had an House of Idols and an Ephod and Teraphim and made one of his Sons his Priest But a Levite coming thither to seek employment he hired him to be his Priest CHAP. XVIII The Tribe of Dan seeking to gain part of their Inheritance which they had never yet been possess'd of sent some Men to make a Discovery of the Land who in their Journey lodged at Micah's House and found the Levite there who was of their acquaintance whom they desir'd to enquire of God concerning the Success of their Journey He returns an Answer of encouragement to ' em So they went to Laish and found the People there very secure So they acquainted their Brethren with it and six hundred of 'em set forward upon this expedition and came to Micah's House and stole away his Gods and perswaded the Priest to go along with ' em But Micah pursued 'em with a great Outcry for his Gods but they answered him roughly so that he was feign to be gone Then they came to Laish and smote it and burnt it and built another City which they called Dan and set up Micah's Graven Image there where it remained till the Captivity of the Land CHAP. XIX In those days a certain Levite took a Wife who plaid the Whore and return'd to her Father's House But her Husband follow'd her thither to bring her again and her Father entertain'd him kindly At last they went away and came to Gibeah and an old Man invited 'em into his House but the Men of the City beset the House and would have the Levite brought out to abuse him But he brought out his Concubine to them and they abused her all Night
as for Josiah because his Heart was tender and he humbled himself before the Lord he should die in peace and not see the evil that should befal ' em CHAP. XXIII 2 Chron. 34. Then the King gathered the Rulers and all the people together and went up to the House of the Lord and caused the Book to be read and made a Covenant with the Lord to keep his Commandments according to what was written in that Book and then purged the Temple of all Idolatrous Relicks and made a general Reformation among ' em Then he went to Bethel and brake down the Altar and High Place and burnt the Grove and burnt the Bones of the Priests upon the Altar as it was foretold he should do And so he did likewise in all the Cities of Samaria and slew the Priests of the High Places upon their Altars 2 Chron. 35. Then he commanded and they kept a Passover in a most solemn manner so as had not been from the days of the Judges Notwithstanding the Lord turn'd not from the fierceness of his great Wrath against Judah because of the Provocations of Manasseh After this the King of Egypt went to fight with the King of Assyria at Carchemish and Josiah went out against him but he sent to him to perswade him not to concern himself in that quarrel because the War was undertaken by God's Command But Josiah would not be disswaded but went to fight with him and in the Fight he was wounded and died of his Wounds Then all the People mourned for him and Jeremy the Prophet lamented for him and the People made Jehoahaz King in his Fathers sted He did Evil in the sight of the Lord and Pharaoh depos'd him and made Eliakim his Brother King and chang'd his Name to Jehojakim who also did Evil as his Fathers had done CHAP. XXIV In his days Nebuchadnezzar came up and made him Tributary but he rebell'd against him and the Lord raised up many Enemies of the Nations round about to destroy them for the sins of Manasseh Then Nebuchadnezzar came and bound him in Fetters and carried away part of the Vessels of the Lord's House to Babylon and put 'em in the House of his God And Jehojakim died and Jehojachin succeeded him and did evil in the sight of the Lord. And the King of Babylon sent his Servants against Jerusalem to besiege it But Jehojachin render'd himself to them and they carried him to Babylon with the Vessels of the Temple and the people of the Land And the King of Babylon made Zedekiah King in his stead But God in Judgment suffer'd him to rebel against the King of Babylon CHAP. XXV Then Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem and after two years Siege the Famine prevailing it was taken but the King escap'd by night But the Chaldeans pursued and took him and brought him to the King of Babylon at Riblah where they slew his Sons before his Face then put out his Eyes and carried him bound to Babylon And soon after came Nebuzaradan and burnt the Temple and City and brake down the Walls round about and carried the rest of the People all but the poor whom he left to husband the Land and the remainder of the Vessels of the Lord's House and several of the chief Men of the City to the King of Babylon to Riblah who slew 'em there And over those that remained in the Land he set Gedaliah to be Governor But Ismael came privately and slew him Afterwards in the seven and thirtieth year of Zedekiah's Captivity Evilmerodac King of Babylon set him at Liberty and gave him a daily allowance at his own Table all his days EZRA CHAP. I. CYRUS being come to the Kingdom of Persia proclaims Liberty to the Jews to return to their own Country and build the Temple at Jerusalem and likewise gives 'em all the Vessels of Gold and Silver belonging to the Temple that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away which were great and small five thousand four hundred CHAP. II. Hereupon there returned forty two thousand three hundred and sixty besides seven thousand three hundred thirty seven Servants When they came to Jerusalem the chief of 'em gave freely for repairing of the Temple CHAP. III. Then Joshua and Zerubbabel built the Altar and offered the daily Sacrifice thereon and all other Sacrifices according to the Law Then in the second year after their return they laid the Foundation of the Temple with great rejoycing But some of the ancient Men that had seen the first Temple wept when they saw this Foundation laid CHAP. IV. The Samaritans enemies of the Jews hearing that they were about to build the Temple came and offered their assistance but the Jews would not accept of it whereupon they made Friends at Court who prevailed to hinder the Work till the Reign of Darius The chief of 'em wrote to Artaxerxes and charge the Jews with Rebellion whereupon he sends a Command that the building should cease CHAP. V. But Darius coming to the Throne the Jews were encouraged by Haggai and Zechary to set about building the Temple again which they did and were opposed again by the Samaritans who demand by what Authority they go on with this work They alledge for themselves the Decree of Cyrus This they acquaint the Emperour withal desiring that search may be made whether there were any such Decree and to send 'em his pleasure CHAP. VI. Search being made the Decree was found which Darius confirms with a severe Penalty and Curse upon the Infringers of it Then the Jews went on vigorously and finish'd the House and kept the Dedication of it and kept the Passover at the time appointed CHAP. VII Artaxerxes being come to the Throne in the Seventh year of his Reign Ezra goes to Jerusalem having a new Commission from the King to take as many more Jews with him as were willing to go and all the Gold and Silver which the King and his Princes had offered for the Service of the Temple and whatsoever else he could collect among the Jews with Authority to reform all Abuses and Disorders there to appoint such Magistrates as he thought fit to free the Priests from Taxes and to punish Offenders CHAP. VIII Ezra having gathered all his Company together that were to go with him appoints a Fast to seek direction and a blessing on their Journey Then he delivered the Vessels and Offerings for the Temple to certain Priests to take charge of 'em and carry 'em to Jerusalem So they came to Jerusalem and deliver'd the King's Commissions to his Leiutenants and Officers who further'd the People and the House of God CHAP. IX Ezra being come to Jerusalem complaine was made to him that many of the People yea of the Priests had married strange Wives of the Idolatrous Nations contrary to the Law This Ezra was mightily affected with and doe largely confess and bewail their sins unto God CHAP. X. Hereupon a great Congregation were met together and wept very