might die Then said the Lord to Jonas dost thou well to be angry for the wild Vine Yea said he very well even unto death If thou then quoth the Lord hast had pity upon the wild Vine whereon thou bestowedst no labour nor madest it grow which sprang up in one Night and perished in another how much more ought I to have pity upon Niniveh that great City wherein are six score thousand Persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left beside much Cattel And thus was Jonas reproved of God for his disobedience Jonas a Dove Jonathan 1 Sam. 13.2.14 cap. the Son of King Saul was a valiant Man in all his acts who helped his Father so mightily against the Philistines that at the first brunt he beat down the strongest hold they had And after that the Philistines being pitched in Michmash into the which passage lay two sharp Rocks He said to his Armour-bearer Come and let us go over toward the Philistines Garrison peradventure the Lord will work with us for it is no hard thing with him to save with many or with few we will go over and shew our seleves to these uncircumcised * Jonathan spake this by the spirit of Prophecie And if they say on this wise unto us Tarry until we come unto you then will we stand still and not remove But if they say come up unto us then will we go up for the Lord hath surely delivered them into our hands and this shall be a sign unto us So they went without the knowledge of Saul and shewed themselves unto the Philistines who when they saw them said in derision See how the Hebrews are crept out of the holes wherein they had hid themselves but the Watchmen said unto them Come up unto us and we will shew you a thing Then said Jonathan to his Armour-bearer come up after me for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel And so Jonathan climbed up the Rock upon his Hands and Feet and his Armour-bearer after him And when the Philistines saw the face of Jonathan they were so suddenly smitten with fear that they fell down before him so that Jonathan and his Man slew twenty of them and put all the rest to flight And when the Watchmen of Saul saw the Philistines scattered abroad and smitten down as they went they told it to the King who caused a search to be made to know who was gone out of the Host and not a Man was found lacking save Jonathan and his Armour-bearer Then Saul with all his Host followed after the Philistines charging the People which had long been without sustenance on pain of death not to touch any food until he were that day avenged on his enemies And so the People being sore opprest with hunger and coming into a Wood where much Hony lay upon the ground durst not for their lives comfort themselves with one drop thereof Then Jonathan being faint and not knowing the charge of his Father tasted a little Hony with the end of his Rod and was greatly comforted and refreshed therewith And being told what-danger he had incurred for breaking his Fathers commandment he said My Father hath troubled the Land in making such an extreme Law for seeing that I have received my strength again by tasting a little of this Hony how much more should the People if they had eaten of the spoil of their enemies which they found have been the stronger and more able to have made a greater slaughter among the Philistines than they have done But nevertheless for this offence of Jonathan Lots were cast and Jonathan judged to suffer death whereupon the People cryed out to Saul saying Shall Jonathan dye which hath so mightily defended Israel God forbid as truly as the Lord liveth there shall not one hair of his head fall unto the ground for he hath wrought with God this day And so the People delivered Jonathan After this Jonathan fell into such love and amity with David whom Saul his Father persecuted that he made a Bond with him which was never dissolved between them And at his first acquaintance with David he put off his Robe and gave it to him with his other Garments even to his Sword Bowe and Girdle And whatsoever from that day forth was said done or wrought by Saul his Father against David that would Jonathan find the means to stay and pacifie whereby many times he saved David from the cruelty of Saul and so continued his faithful friend during his life Finally in Battel with his Father against the Philistines he was slain Jonathan the gift of the Pigcon or Dove Jonathas 1 Mac. 2.9 cap. the youngest Son of Mattathias and Brother to Judas Machabeus did so valiantly behave himself in the Wars that the Jews after the death of Judas his Brother made him their chief Governor who at length vanquished Bachides 10. cap. Whereby his fame so encreased that both Demetrius and Alexander sought to be in League with him But for so much as Demetrius had vexed Israel before Jonathas mistrusting Demetrius forsook his offer and agreed to Alexander who had always been his friend and so continued as his story declareth After this he vanquished Apollonius Captain of Demetrius Host burnt the City of Azotus with the Temple of Dagon subdued Ascalon and with great Victory returned to Jerusalem where for his worthy prowess he received a Coller of Gold from Alexander 12. cap. 13. cap. Finally after long prosperity in Wars he was betrayed by one Triphon in the City of Ptolemais and afterward most piteously put to death Of Jonathas Son of Abiathar the Priest look in the story of Ahimaaz the Son of Sadoch Jonathan 2 Sam. 21.20 21. the Son of Shimea David's Brother encountred with a mighty Gyant who had on every hand six fingers and on every foot so many toes and slew him Joram 2 Kings 3. cap. the Son of Ahab began his Raign over Israel after his Brother Ahaziah in the eighteenth * In the first Chapter of the fourth Book of Kings it is said that this Man began his reign in the second year of Jchoram the Son of Jchosaphat which is thus to be understood Jchosaphat going to Battel against the Syrians made his Son Jchoram King in the xvii year of his reign and in the xviii year which was the second year of his Son this Man began his reign 6. cap. year of Jehosaphat King of Juda and wrought evil in the sight of the Lord but not like unto his Father for he took away the Image of Baal which his Father had made nevertheless he sacrificed to the golden Calves still which Jeroboam had made The King of Moab was wont yearly to render to the King of Israel an hundred thousand Lambs and so many Rams with the wool and because he now refused to pay this tribute to Joram he warred against him having to take his part Jehosaphat
be Captain over his Host in the room of Joab which office he did not long enjoy for when Sheba the Son of Bichri had begun a new commotion and that David had sent Amasa to gather the Men of Juda together 20. c. and to bring them to him by the third day it chanced Joab to meet Amasa by the way which was somewhat after the time the King had appointed and saluting him with all gentleness he took him by the Chin with one hand to kiss him and with the other hand he smote him under the short Ribs with his Dagger and killed him Amasa Sparing the people Amasiah 2 King 14. the Son of Joash King of Juda began his Reign at the Age of xxv 2 Chron. 25. Years in the beginning whereof he did indifferently well observe the Laws of God but in the end he became an Idolater He prepared an Host of thirty thousand Men to go against the Edomites and yet to make himself the stronger he hired an hundred thousand more out of the ten Tribes of Israel for an Hundred Talents of Silver But as he was going with both the Hosts of Juda and Israel he was commanded by the Lord's Prophet to send the Host of Israel home again forasmuch as the Lord was not with them or else he should not stand before his enemies How then said the King shall I do for the hundred Talents which I have given for them Take no thought for that quoth the Prophet for the Lord is able to give thee as much more And so he sent the Host of Israel home again who for anger they were dismissed fell upon the Cities of Juda as they went and did much harm Then Amasias with his own Men set upon his Enemies and slew ten thousand and discomfited the rest After which Victory whereas he ought to have given all praise unto God for the same he fell from God and most vilely dishonoured him in worshipping the Idols of the Edomites despising the * This was Amos the Prophet whom Amasiah caused many times to be beat His Son caused 2 Nail to be thrust into his temples and being half dead he was carried into his own country where he soon after dyed Cooper Prophet's admonition sent unto him from the Lord. And so persisting in his obstinate mind and proud heart he wrote to Joash King of Israel commanding Him and his People by a Parable of the Cedar-tree and Thistle to be under his subjection But Joash after defiance gathered an Army and went against Amasiah whose Host being discomfited Amasiah was taken and brought to Joash who carried him to Jerusalem where notwithstanding the Gates being opened to him he caused four hundred Cubits of the Wall to be beaten down and entred into the City that way leading Amasiah with him as a Prisoner and took all the treasure of the Temple and of the Kings house caused it to be brought into Samaria Afterward being delivered his own People slew him He reigned xxix years and Azariah his Son succeeded Amasiah the Strength of the Lord. Amnon the Eldest Son of David had a fair Sister called Thamar 2 Sam. 3.14 cap. with whom he was so far in love that he could eat no meat that did him good but pined himself away marvellously for her sake Then Jonadab his Fathers Brothers Son a friend and familiar of his and a worldly wise man perceiving Amnon to be sore changed and every day more and more went to him and said How happeneth this Amnon that thou being the King's Son consumest thy self so away and dost not tell me Oh said Amnon I am in love with Thamar my Brother * Thamar was Absalom's Sister both by Father and Mother and Amnons by the Fathers side only Absalom's sister and except I may have her company I shall surely die Now to further this wicked purpose of Amnon here was a counseller ready at hand I will tell thee said Jonadsb what thou shalt do lay thee down upon thy Bed and feign thy self sick and when David thy Father cometh to visit thee desire him to let Thamar thy Sister come and dress thee such meat as thou hast a lust unto Amnon did so and when Thamar was come and had dressed him meat and brought it into his Chamber he commanded all to avoid and never rested until he had by force gotten his pleasure which done he fell into such an exceeding hatred of Thamar that he could not suffer her to be in his sight but caused his servant to thrust her out of his house and to bolt the doors after her For this shameful incest of Amnon Absalom two years after at a Banquet slew Him Amnon A People Lot had a Son called Ammon Gen. 19. which was born him of his youngest daughter and of him came the Ammonites Amon 2 King 21. the Son of Manasses was xxii years old when he began his reign over Juda 2 Chron. 33. and walked not in the ways of the Lord but gave himself more to wicked Idolatry and worshipping of stinking Idols than ever his Father did and would never turn unto God Wherefore at last certain of his own Men conspired against him and slew him which Conspirators the People of the Land notwithstanding put to death and made Josiah his Son King in his stead Amon Faithful Amos Amos 1.2 3 c. was an Herdman or Shepherd of a poor Town called Tekoa and one of the Twelve Prophets which God raised up to admonish the Israelites of their wickedness and Idolatry and to threaten them with his Plagues and Punishments if they did not repent Read of his death in the story of Amasiah Amos a Burden The Father of Jesse Esay 1. David's Father was called Amos and there the word signifieth Strong Amram Exod. 6. Numb 26. the Son of Caath the Son of Levy took Jochebed his Fathers * This kind of marriage was after in the Law forbidden Levit 18. Sister to Wife who bare unto him two Sons Aaron and Moses and also a Daughter called Miriam He lived an hundred and thirty eight years Amram a mighty or an high people or a band of them Amraphel Gen. 14. was King of Shinar and one of the four Kings which fought against five other Kings in the Valley of Siddim where he and his party had the Victory Amraphel Speaking destruction or speaking secrets Amri 1 King 16. was the Chief Captain and Governour of the whole Army of Elah the Son of Baasha King of Israel And lying at the siege of Gibbethon a City of the Philistines the whole Host there hearing of the death of Elah constituted Amri King in his stead But the residue of the Israelites which abode at home and were not with Amri at the siege made Tibni the Son of Ginath King So that the People were divided and in great contention for their King which continued for the space of three years till Tibni
the Jews lay in great fear of him and his Power he was there by God's provision slain by the hands of an holy Woman called Judith Read her story Holofernes A stout and valiant Captain Hophni and Yhinchas the two Sons of Eli 1 Sam. 2 12-22 c. were the Lords Priests and became so wicked that they abused the Women that waited at the Door of the Tabernacle of witness And whereas the Law was that whensoever any Man did make any offering the Priests boy should come while the flesh was a seething and not before with a Flesh-hook in his hand having three teeth which he should thrust into the Pan Kettle or whatsoever Vessel it were and so much as the Flesh-hook brought up was the Priests part and no more yet notwithstanding this Law the Priest's boy would come before the Flesh was sod and require flesh to rost for the Priest and say unto him that made the offering that his Master would have no sod flesh but raw And if he would not give it him then would the Boy take it by violence By the which abusing of the Law the Lord's offering was had in such contempt among the People that they began to abhor it Wherefore the Lord plagued the Sons of Eli permitting the Philistines to slay them both in one day 4. cap. Hophni a Fist or as much as one may comprehend between his thumb and two fingers or covering Hoshea 2 King 15.30.17 cap. the Son of Elah by treason slew Pekah the Son of Remaliah King of Israel and possessed his place and began his Reign in the XII year of Ahaz King of Juda This was the last King that raigned over Israel and did evil in the sight of the Lord but not so evil as other Kings before him He denied to pay Tribute to the Assyrians and sent to the King of Egypt to have his aid against them wherefore Salmanasar King of Assyria came against Hoshea and besieged him in Samaria three years and in the end wan the City destroyed his Kingdom and led Hoshea and all his People captive into Assyria Thus was Israel now delivered into the hands of spoilers for their wickedness which the Lord had long suffered Hoshea a Saviour or health Huldah 2 King 22.14 the Wife of Shallum was a Prophetess dwelling in Jerusalem in a place called the house of doctrine To whom Josiah King of Juda sent certain Messengers to inquire of the Lord for him and his People concerning the Book of the Law which was found in the Temple and read before him and when they had done their message the Prophetess made answer saying Go and tell the man that sent you to me Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring evil upon this place and upon the Inhabitants thereof even all the words of the Book which the King of Juda hath read because they have forsaken me and have burnt Incense to other Gods to anger me with all the works of their hands My wrath also shall be kindled against this place and shall not be quenched But to the King of Juda who sent you to inquire of the Lord so shall ye say unto him Thus saith the Lord God of Israel the words that thou hast heard shall come to pass But because that thine heart did melt and thou hast humbled thy self before the Lord when thou heardest what I spake against this place and against the Inhabitants of the same how they should be destroyed and accursed and hast rent thy Cloaths and wept before me I have also heard it saith the Lord. Behold therefore I will gather thee unto thy Fathers and thou shalt be put in thy Grave in peace and thine eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place And so the Messengers departed and told the King Huldah the World or a Weesel Hur came of the Tribe of Juda Exod. 17.10.24.14.31.2 and * This is not that Hur which came of the Kinred of Calcb although they came both of the Tribe of Juda but another of the same name Lyra upon 1 Chron. 2. This Hur was Husband to Miriam Sister to Moses was one of the principal Fathers and Rulers under Moses He and Aaron stayed up the hands of Moses while the Children of Israel fought with King Amalek And was also appointed with Aaron afterward to hear and determine all matters of controversie among the People till Moses came down from the Mount again whereunto he was ascended Hur Liberty whiteness or a hole Hushai the Arachite was ‖ 2 Sam. 15.32.16.16 Man of great wisdome and one of David's chief Counsellers his assured friend as it well appeared when he came unto him being fled from Absalom his Son with his Cloaths rent and ashes upon his Head declaring thereby the great sorrow and heaviness he was in to see his Lord and Master in that case by whose coming David was greatly comforted But forasmuch as he thought he should do him more pleasure otherwise than to go with him now he said Oh my most dear friend Hushai if thou dost go with me now at this time thou shalt be but a burthen unto me But if thou wilt return into Jerusalem and say unto Absalom I will be thy servant O King and serve thee as I have done thy Father thou mayst for my sake destroy the counsel of Achitophel and thereby do me great pleasure So Hushai gat him to Absalom saying God save the King God save the King What quoth Absalom is this the kindness thou shewest to thy friend How chanceth it that thou wentest not with him Nay said Hushai but whom the Lord and this People and all the Men of Israel hath chosen his will I be and with him will I dwell to whom shall I do service but to his Son as I served before thy Father so will I serve thee Then when Absalom had retained Hushai to be of his Counsel he said unto him Achitophel hath counselled thus and thus to do shall we do thereafter or not Hushai answered the Counsel that Achitophel hath given is not good at this time For said he thou knowest thy Father and his Men how they be strong and now being chafed in their minds are even as a Bear robbed of her Whelps in the Field And also thy Father is a Man practised in War and maketh no tarrying with the People Behold he lurketh now in some Cave or in some other strong place and though some of his Men be overthrown at the first brunt it will be said that thy People is overthrown and so shall the best Men thou hast whose hearts are as the hearts of Lyons shrink thereat For all Israel knoweth thy Father to be a Man of great might and his Warriors stout Men. Therefore my counsel is that all Israel be gathered together unto thee from Dan to Beersheba which are in number as the Sand of the Sea And that thou go to Battel in
Daughter of Talmai King of Geshur was King David's Wife and Mother to Absalom Maacah the Daughter of Absalom was Wife to Rehoboam and Mother to Abijam which Abijam his Father Rehoboam ordained to raign after him for the love that he bare to Maacah his Mother above all the rest of his Wives Read the story of Asa Maacah a Woman pressed or bruised Machabeus 1 Mac. 2 3. was the third Son of Mattathias and after his Fathers death he was made Ruler over the Jews Who in the defence of the holy Laws fought most manfully against God's enemies during his Life Machabeus a Striker a Fighter Read Judas Machabeus Machir 2 Sam. 9.4 Ammiel was Father to Bathshebah King David's Wife was the Son of Ammiel of Lodebar and a great friend to Mephibosheth the Son of Jonathan who kept him in his House till King David sent for him to his preferment Machir Selling or knowing Manahem 2 King 15.14 c. the Son of Gadi besieged Shallum King of Israel in Samaria and slew him whose Kingdome he possessed and began his Raign in the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah King of Juda. And because the City of Tiphsah would not receive him as theirs he destroyed the City and all that was within it And for this great wickedness and tyranny God stirred up Pul King of Assyria against him unto whom Manahem gave a thousand Talents of Silver to break up his Wars which Money he exacted of his People taking of every Man of substance fifty Sicles He raigned ten years leaving Pekahiah his Son to succeed him Manahem a Comforter or Leader of them or a preparing of heat Manaen Act. 13.1 which was brought up of a Child with Herod at the last forsook him and followed Christ Manasses the Son of Hezekiah 2 King 21. 2 Chron. 33. was twelve years old when he began his raign over Juda and wrought much evil before the Lord. Manasses put Esay the Prophet who was his Father-in-law to death For he built up the high places again which his Father had destroyed He erected up Altars for Baal and made Groves as Ahab did and worshipped all the Host of Heaven and served them He offered his Children in fire Read the annotation in the story of Esay as the manner of the Gentiles was and gave himself to Witcheraft and Sorcery and favoured Soothsayers and such as used familiar spirits He set the Image of the Grove in the House where the Lord said he would put his Name for ever Over and beyond all these evils he shed so much innocent bloud that all Jerusalem was replenished from corner to corner and he wrought more wickedness than did all the Amorites Wherefore the Lord gave him over into the hands of the King of Assyria who took Manasses and bound him with two Chains and carried him to Babylon Where at the last he so humbled himself to the Lord that he had compassion upon him and restored him to his Kingdom again Who after that became a good Man and put down all such abominations as he before had maintained and reigned five and fifty years leaving Amon his Son to succeed Manasses Eorgetful or forgetfulness Mardocheus Esther 2. cap. the Son of Jair was a Jew born dwelling in the City of Shusan and one of them which were carried away from Jerusalem with Jechonia King of Juda by Nabuchodonosor into Babylon This Man had a fair Damosel in his house named Esther his Uncles Daughter whose Father and Mother being dead he brought up as his own Daughter so long till at last for her beauty and fairness she was taken up by the King's Commission with other more and had to the Court there to be brought up at the Kings charges in an house appointed for that purpose the King had called them for And every day would Mardocheus walk before the Womens house to hear and know how Esther did and what should become of her whose Lot in process was to be made Queen in the stead of Vasthi late deposed And on a time as Mardocheus sat in the King's Gate he heard an inkling of certain Treasons conspired against the King 's own Person by two of his Privy-Chamber Bigthan and There 's which treason he caused Esther to open unto the King and to certifie his grace thereof in his name Upon whose certification inquiry being made and found true the Conspirators were put to death and the matter Registred in Chronicle for a remembrance of their act After this because Mardocheus would do no reverence to Haman both he and the Jews should all have been slain in one day Whereof Mardocheus having knowledge he rent his Cloaths and put on mourning Apparel and so ran thorow the City of Shusan where their destruction was devised Crying out until he came to the King's Gate where he might not be suffered to enter in that array Then Esther hearing thereof was sore astonished and sent him other Rayment to put on But he refusing the Rayment declared unto the Messenger the whole effect of Haman's commission and working and took him a Copy of the same to give to Esther charging her to go unto the King for the Lives and safeguard of her People For who can tell quoth he whether God hath called her to the Kingdom for that purpose or no it may be that he hath And therefore if she now hold her peace the Jews shall have help from some other place and so shall she and her Fathers house be utterly destroyed And so while Esther went about the deliverance of the Jews Mardocheus was exalted into the King's favour Mardocheus lived 1 98. years as Philo witnesseth to the great rejoycing of all the Jews whose Wealth he sought so long as he lived Read the story of Esther and Haman Mardocheus a bitter contrition or repentance Mary the Virgin Matth. 1.161 Luk. 1.27 c. and Mother of God whose Parents are not expressed in Scripture was affianced to a certain good Man of her own stock and Tribe which was of Juda named Joseph And before she came to dwell with him the Angel Gabriel being sent of God came and saluted her saying Hail full of Grace the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among Women The Virgin seeing the Angel was sore abashed at his words and mused much in her mind what salutation that should be Then said the Angel Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God for lo thou shalt conceive in thy Womb and bear a Son and shalt call his Name Jesus c. Then Mary because she would be resolved of all doubts to the end she might the more surely embrace the promise of God said How shall this be seeing I know no Man The Holy Ghost quoth the Angel shall come upon thee and the power of the Most Highest shall overshadow thee Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God