Juda. 2 Chron. 13. He overcame Jeroboam in Battel with an Army of four hundred thousand notwithstanding the other had twice so many chosen and picked Men. Of the which Abia slew five hundred thousand and weakned the power of Jeroboam so sore that he was never able to recover his strength again so long as Abia raigned This King had xiv Wives by whom he had xxii Sons and xvi Daughters He raigned but three years and was buried in the City of David Abia 2 King 14. the Son of Jeroboam being sick on a time his Father called the Queen his Wife unto him and bad her disguise her self that in no wise she might be known what Woman she was And so go thy way quoth he to Silo and there shalt thou find the Prophet of God called Ahia which told me long before Solomon dyed that I should be King of Israel Make speed and take a Present with thee and learn of him what shall become of the Child The Queen did then as she was commanded but all was in vain For God had revealed the matter unto the Prophet before the woman came Insomuch that as soon as the blind old man heard the noise of her coming and entring in at the door he said Come in thou wife of Jeroboam why hast thou disguised and feigned thy self to be another woman Thou art come to receive some comfort for thy son which lyeth sick but I am commanded to tell thee heavy and sorrowful things It repenteth the Lord that he hath exalted Jeroboam and rent the Kingdom from the house of David and given it to him forasmuch as he hath forsaken the Lord and not followed him in his heart as David did but hath made him gods of his own therefore the Lord hath determined to bring such a plague upon the house and posterity of Jeroboam that he will not leave one alive to make water against the wall Wherefore now get thee home and as soon as thy foot shall enter into the City the child shall die and all Israel shall lament him and bring him to his Sepulcher And so shall none of the house of Jeroboam thy husband enjoy the honour of his burial but only this child because the Lord saw in him some goodness toward And so when the Prophet had done speaking the wife of Jeroboam rose up and returned home to her house and found her son dead as the Prophet had foretold Abia Father of the Sea Abia the Daughter of Zacharia 2 King 18. was wife to Ahaz King of Juda and Mother to Hezekia Which name signifieth thus Abia the will of the Lord. Abiathar the son of Ahimelech Priest of Nob 1 Sam. 22. seeing the great cruelty of Saul in putting his Father to death for refreshing of David escaped his hands and fled to the Forest of Hareth where David at that time lay declaring to him the great murder that Saul had done to Ahimelech his Father and to all the Priests of the Lord for his sake Then being comforted of David he abode with him and was his Priest and Counsellor so long as he reigned But in the end of Davids raign he consented with Adonijah who had exalted himself to stablish him in the Kingdom 1 King 2. after the death of David But Solomon being proclaimed and the other deposed as soon as he was possessed deprived Abiathar and placed Sadock in his room And so was the word of the Lord fulfilled which he had spoken before concerning the house of Eli for Abiathar was the last of that line Abiathar Father of the Remnant or excellent Father Abigail 1 Sam. 25. the wife of Nabal the Carmelite was a woman not only beautiful but of a singular wisdom withal For when her husbands denial to Davids men for sustenance in their masters necessity was told her she then considering the great displeasure that might arise of the occasion offered hasted to load her Asses with sundry kind of victuals sending them forth before her and following after with speed And as she was going the providence of God was so that she met David by the way upon the side of an hill coming to Carmel determined utterly to have destroyed her husband and all that he had by the dawning of the day following Then she perceiving the fury of David lighted down from her Asse falling flat on the ground before him and so began her petition which was so pithily framed and done that in the end she pacified his wrath and stayed his hands from sheding of bloud that day for the which she was highly commended and praised of David who gently receiving her present did clearly remit the churlish behaviour of Nabal her husband for her sake Which being granted she took her leave and returned again But when she came home and found Nabal her husband so far overcharged with wine that his wits were gone she thought it convenient to follow the wise mans counsel Eccl. 31. not to rebuke him in his wine but to let the matter rest till the drink were all out of his brain and his memory fresh And so on the next morrow she declared to Nabal the great and perilous danger he was in for his unkindness shewed to David which when he heard it did smite him so sore to the heart that he never enjoyed himself but dyed within ten days after And then in process this woman Abigail became David's wife 2 Sam. 3. and bare him a son called Chileab which in the first book of Chronicles chap. 3. is called Daniel Abigail The Fathers Joy There was another woman called Abigail 1 Chron. 2. which was Sister to David and wife to Jether an Ismaelite unto whom she bare a son called Amasa Abimelech King of the Philistines Gen. 20. was a man which had the fear of God before his eyes as it may appear in the story of Abraham by his godly entertainment of his wife whom he took to be his very sister and not his wife as they had both confessed unto him And having a mind to the woman he took her from Abraham intending to have joyned with her in marriage and not for any sinful desire But when by the voice of God he knew she was Abraham's wife indeed and he a Prophet and his house sore plagued for her sake he was right sorry for that he had done and also displeased with Abraham for so dissembling with him in so weighty a cause considering the dishonesty that might have happened unto his wife by some of his men and the peril of Gods indignation on him and on his kingdom for the same yet notwithstanding when he knew the cause of Abrahams dissembling he possest him with cattel servants and money and delivered Sarah his wife unto him again giving him also free liberty to dwell and inhabite where he would within the precinct of his dominion Then Abraham prayed unto God for Abimelech at whose petition the Lord removed his
plague from the house of Abimelech so that the women conceived and brought forth children as before they had done The like story is of Isaac Chap. xxvi Abimelech The Kings Father or a Father of Counsel or the chief King Abimelech Judg. 9. the son of Jerubbaal otherwise Gedeon was a wicked Tyrant and a proud ambitious covetous man For when his Father was dead he to be King of Israel consulted with all his mothers kindred to perswade the people that it was better to have one man to reign over them than all the sons of Jerubbaal which were lxx persons in number And also to consider that he was of their flesh and bloud as well as the other were which matter being moved to the people they all consented to cleave to Abimelech and to make him their King and Governour And that he should be the better assured of their good wills and obedient hearts they gave unto him a great sum of money with the which he hired a sort of light brain'd fellows And first of all went to his fathers house and slew all his brethren save Jothan the youngest who escaped his bloudy hands and fled But by that he had raign'd two or three years the fire of hatred began so to kindle between him and the Sichemites with the house of Mello who had preferr'd him before to the Kingdom that at length it burst out into so great a flame that it could not be quenched till chance of war made an end of the Tyrant for in the end after divers victories he forced the Sichemites to take the strong Tower of Thebez for their refuge and coming nigh to the same to have set it on fire a certain woman threw down a piece of a Milstone upon his head and brake his Skull to the brain who then feeling himself sore wounded called his servant and bad him draw out his Sword and rid him out of his life that it should not hereafter be reported that a Woman had killed him and so his servant slew him Abinadab was a Man of Gibeah 2 Sam. 6. out of whose House David took the Ark of God and had it from thence to the house of Obed. Jesse the Father of David had also a Son called Abinadab 1 Sam. 16. and King Saul another of the same Name which was slain with him in Battel Abinadab A Father of a Vow or of a free mind or Prince Abishag was a goodly fair young Damosel 1 King 1. brought up in the City of Sunem And for her beauty and manners chosen to keep and nourish King David in his extreme age 1 King 2. After whose death being still a pure Maid She might not be suffer'd to marry with Adonijah the Kings Brother Abisag The Fathers ignorance Abishai was David's Sisters Son and Brother to Joab 1 Chron. 2. His Mothers name was Zarviah He consented not with Absalom 2 Sam. 16. but stuck to David his Unkle in all his troubles He was so grieved with the spiteful rebukes and railings of Shimei which he made against his Unkle David in his adversity that if David had not staid him he would have made Shimei shorter by the head than he was 2 Sam. 21. By his great strength and hardiness he rescued David out of the hands of a monstrous Gyant the Iron of whose Spear weighed three hundred Sicles and slew the Giant 2 Sam. 23. with three hundred Philistines more for the which he is counted as chief among the three Worthies belonging to David Abishai The Fathers Reward Abner the Son of Ner 1 Sam. 14. was Captain-General over the Host of King Saul by whose wisdome manhood and fidelity the House of Saul was chiefly held up and strengthned not only in the time of Saul's reign but so long also as he served Ishbosheth his Son â— Sam. 2. whom he set up and made King in his Fathers stead and governed his Host as he had done his Fathers before But in the first Battel he made against Joab David's Captain fortune went so much against him that he was put to the worse and fain to flie In the which flight Asahel Brother to Joab followed Abner and overtook him with whom Abner was loth to meddle for fear of Joabs displeasure and therefore intreated him gently to go his way not to force him against his will But when he saw his words would nothing prevail he fell upon Asahel and smote him thorow the short Ribs with his Spear and so departed leaving him dead on the ground Not long after this it fortuned the King to fall out with Abner 2. Sam. 3. and to taunt and check him for that he was so familiar with Rizpa his Fathers Concubine which check and taunt of the King so grieved Abner that he forsook him and went to David with whom he made a secret bond to stablish him in the Kingdom And so departing secretly from David again he came to the people which served Ishbosheth spake so much unto them in the praise and commendation of David that he wan their hearts and turned them quite from Isboseth to David And when he had thus framed the people somewhat according to his mind he came again to David to counsel farther with him how the People might now be brought together and be sworn unto him which matter being determined Abner returned from David thinking to have been as faithful to him as ever he was to Saul But Joab who bare grudge and malice to Abner for the death of his Brother Asahel hearing how Abner had been with David and let go again and nothing done unto him sent privily for Abner to come and speak with the King who being come Joab was ready to receive him and under pretence of friendship had him a little aside as though he would have talked with him about the secret affairs of the King and suddenly smote him with his Dagger and slew him Abner The Fathers Candle Abraham was the Son of Terah born in Ur Gen. 11. Abraham was the Son of Terah begotten of his second wife and because of his dignity is counted before Nahor and Aran born of the first Wife a Town in Chaldee A man so endued with faith and vertue that when he saw the true religion and honouring of God to cease in the Land of Chalda he departed from thence with Terah his Father Sara his Wife and Lot his Brothers Son to go into the Land of Canaan And * 12 cap. being come to Haran which is a Town of Mesopotamia he remained there until the death of his Father Terah Then God commanded Abraham saying Get thee out of thy Countrey and from thy Kindred and from thy Fathers House unto the Land which I will shew thee and I will make of thee a great Nation and will bless thee and make thy Name great and thou shalt be a blessing and I will bless them that bless thee and curse them
men believing her went after and sought and when they could not find them returned home again Then Ahimaaz and Jonathas were let out of the Well who went to David and did their message â—8 cap. as they were commanded After this when Absalom was slain Ahimaaz desired of Joab the Captain that he might bear news to the King of Absalom's death Nay said Joab thou shalt be no messenger this day because the King's Son is dead but Cushi shall go Then I pray thee quoth Ahimaaz let me go with Cushi And wherefore quoth Joab art thou so desirous to go seeing for thy tidings thou shalt have no reward whatsoever I have quoth he I pray thee let me go Then go said Joab And Ahimaaz ran a nearer way than Cushi and so got before him And as they were coming the Watch-man spied them and said to the King I see two men running hitherward and me-think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the Son of Sadock Oh said the King he is a good man and bringeth good tidings And so Ahimaaz came to the King before Cushi and fell down before him and said Blessed be the Lord thy God which hath shut up the men that list up their hands against my Lord the King Is the young man Absalom safe said the King Ahimaaz answered When Joab sent Cushi and me thy servant I saw much a-do but I wot not what it was Well said the King stand still Then Cushi came and said Good tidings my Lord the King for the Lord hath delivered thee this day out of the hands of all that rose against thee Is the young man Absalom safe quoth the King The Enemies of my Lord the King said he and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt be as that young man is And so the King departed and mourned for his Son Ahimaaz Erother of Counsel Ahimelech the Son of Ahitob the Son of Phinehes 1 Sam. 21. the Son of Eli was Priest of the City of Nob in whose time it chanced David being persecuted of King Saul to flye unto him for succour at whose coming with so few waiting on him Ahimelech was fore astonied and asked him wherefore he came so alone Then David bearing him in hand that the King had sent him of a secret business which might not be known desired Ahimelech to give him of such things as he had in store that he and his men might be refreshed and go about the King's affairs Then Ahimelech believing that all had been well between the King and David gave him of the * The Hebrews had three kinds of Bread as Lyra writeth The first Shew-bread which was set before the Lord. upon the propitiatory seat and thereof might no man eat but the Priests only The second bread offered upon the Altar of Holocaust which was for the Levites to eat The third was common bread and of that might all men eat hallowed bread because he saw his necessity great and had no common Bread under his hand Then David desired Ahimelech to lend him either Spear or Sword for I brought quoth he neither weapon not harness the King's business required such hast and by and by he fetcht out the Sword of Goliah and gave it to him Now * 22. cap. for this great kindness which Ahimelech had shewed to David Doeg a Servant of King Sauls accused him to his Lord of Treason And being brought before the King with all the Priests of the Lord it was objected against him how he had conspired with David the King's enemy and asked counsel of God for him and aided him both with victual and weapon To the which Ahimelech answered and said Oh King who is so faithful among all thy servants as David is or had in more honour in all thy house Is he not the King's Son-in-law and doth whatsoever thou commandest him have I not at other times as well as now asked counsel of God for him Let not my Lord the King impute any such wickedness to me or to my Fathers house for truly thy servant knew nothing of all this that thou layest to my charge either less or more Well quoth the King thou shalt surely dye And so was this innocent Man put to death with lxxxiv Priests more and the City of Nob destroyed Ahimelech a Kings Brother Ahijah 2 King 11. was a Prophet born in Shilo and chancing to meet with Jeroboam the Son of Nebat without the City of Jerusalem in the plain Fields having a new Cloak upon his back he caught the Cloak from him and rent it in twelve pieces delivering ten pieces thereof to Jeroboam saying Thus will the Lord rent the Kingdom out of the hands of Solomon because he hath forsaken the Lord and served strange Gods and give ten Tribes unto thee Therefore take heed when thou art King that thou walk in the ways of the Lord thy God for so long as thou keepest his statutes and holy commandments so long will the Lord prosper thee in the Kingdom Read more of this Prophet in the story of Abia the Son of Jeroboam Ahijah Brother of the Lord. The Father of King Baasha was called Ahijah 1 King 15. of the house of Isachar Aholah and Aholibah were two Sisters Ezech. 23. under whose names is set forth the fornication that is to say the Idolatry of Samaria and Jerusalem * The Bible note Aholah signifieth a mansion or dwelling in it self meaning Samaria which was the royal City of Israel and Aholibah signifieth my Mansion in her whereby is meant Jerusalem where Gods Temple was Aholibama was the Daughter of Ana Gen. 36. and Wife to Esau who brought him forth Children which became great Men in the World Aioth the Son of Gera Judg. 3. was the second Judge of the Hebrews a Man of great strength and valiant of courage and had equal strength and aptness in both his hands He slew Eglon King of the Moabites on this wise When Eglon had long warred on the Jews and taken from them divers Cities and kept them in much misery this Aioth came to him to Jericho bringing unto him certain Presents which liked him well and desired to speak with him privily which was granted and all others being commanded to withdraw Aioth stroke Eglon to the heart twice The last time with such puissance that the Knife with the hilt remained in the wound and so leaving him dead departed without suspicion and came unto his People declaring what he had done who being glad armed them and fell upon the Moabites and slew of them ten thousand and drave all the residue out of their Country And so the Jews being delivered by the wisdome and vertue of Aioth after made him their Judge and Prince Who governed them lxxx years in peace and died a very old man in much honour Aioth Praising or confessing Alexander 1 Mac. 1. This King at 2 Sapper in Babylon was poysoned
hinder or lett that work a Beam should be taken from that Man's house and he hanged thereon and his House made a Dunghill And so the building went forward with speed and was perfectly finished in the sixth year of his reign Darius Requiring or inquiring for Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.1 c. were the Sons of Eliab and two of the chief Captains with Chore in the Insurrection against Moses on whom God took such vengeance that he caused the Earth to open and swallow them up quick Read the story of Chore. Dathan Statute or Law David was the youngest Son of Jesse 1 Sam. 16.11 and by God's commandment anointed King of Israel Saul yet reigning by the Prophet Samuel Wherefore Saul fearing that David would defeat him of his Kingdom vexed him with continual persecution during the which time David shewed notable examples both of patience and true obedient service to Saul his Soveraign Lord. And first 17. cap. to shew his obedient and faithful heart to his Prince and love he bare to his Country he put himself in danger to fight with that great Monster Goliah and slew him of whom the King and all the Host of Israel stood in great fear And after this act also 18.6.11 when Saul of envy that the Women in their dance had given to David more praise than to him threw his Javelin at David as he stood and played on his Harp before him to have nailed him fast to the wall David avoided and armed himself with patience and never sought other means of revenge In so much 24.3 that when Saul by the providence of God came into the Cave to ease himself in the which Cave David lay hid for fear of Saul he would not being provoked put forth his hand to hurt his Master But cut off a piece of the Hem of his Coat in token that he might have killed him And yet after that it sore repented him that he had done so much injury unto his Soveraign Lord and Master although he was his mâ—st grievous enemy and every hour sought his death Also 26.7.12 when he came into the Host of Saul and found the King and his Man fast asleep he would not for his own private cause though Jehu slew two Kings at God's commandment lay his hand upon the Lord 's anointed but only that he should know that David was there and might have been revenged took his Spear and Pot of Water which stood at his Head 2 Sam. 1. cap. and went his way Finally when it pleased God to rid him of his enemy in Battel against the Philistines one to get thanks of David brought unto him Saul's Crown and the Bracelet that he wore on his Arm certifying him of the King's death and that he with his own hands had killed him whose act David did so much abhor that he thought the Man not worthy to live but put him to death out of hand Read more of David's patient suffering and obedient service in the story of Michol Jonathas Ahimelech Achish and Absalom his Son Now when Saul was dead 2 Sam. 2.11 David was admitted King and reigned over Juda vii years after which time expired he reigned both over Israel and Juda xxxiii years And did that which was good in the sight of God and put his trust and confidence in the Lord God of Israel so that before nor after him was not his like He cleaved so unto the Lord that God bare witness of him that he had found a Man according to his hearts desire To him God made a promise that Christ should come of his Seed for the which cause 〈…〉 Christ of the Prophets is called the Son of David To this holy Prophet God gave many victories and excellent gifts which are touched in other stories and yet â—mong all his vertues he suffered him to fall into the abominable Vice of Adultery and Murder â—1 cap. and most grievously punished him for the same who notwithstanding after 〈…〉 repentance was received again into the favour of God and never after offended in that sin more â— King â— 10 11. 〈◊〉 after many conflicts with his Enemies he died 〈◊〉 had reigned xl years leaving Solomon his Son to succeed him David Beloved Deborah Judg 4. cap. the Wife 〈◊〉 Lapidoth was a Prophetess and the fourth Judâ—â— and Governour of the People of Israel who by the power and pleasure of God and help of Barak the Captain of her Army delivered them from the Tyranny of King Jabia and of Sisera his Captain General putting the King to a great foil in slaying of his Captain Sisera Thorow the which victory the Israelites were restored to liberty and their enemies the Canaanites utterly confounded She judâ—â— Israel xl years Deborah 〈…〉 Bee Demas Col. 4.14 Philem. 24. 2 Tim. 4 10. was Christ's Disciple a great while and a faithful Minister to Paul and never shrank from him nor his Doctrine so long as all things prospered well with Paul But when he saw Paul cast in Prison and in danger of his life for the Gospels sake He forsook both him and his doctrine and imbracing the World conveighed himself to Thessalonica Such there be that so long as pleasure profit favour honour glory or riches do follow the Word of God so long will they favour the same But when affliction persecution loss of goods riches lands possessions or such like adversities do come then they do as Demas did forsake the Gospel and follow the World Demas Favouring the People Demetrius 1 Mac. 7. cap. the Son of Seleucus came from Rome with a small company of Men to a certain City of his own lying upon the Sea-coasâ— and prepared an Army to go to Antioch the City of his Progenitors where he found Antiochus and Lysias 〈…〉 he caused to be slain and being stablished in his Kingdom he began through the wicked commer of â—â—cimus 9. cap. whom he had made High Priest to seel 〈◊〉 obstruction of the Jews sending forth divers â—â—â—mies againâ—â— them in the which he sped diversly â—â—â—â—ally 10. cap. the Son of Noble Antiochus moved War again 〈…〉 and in Battel slew him Demetrius coming of 〈◊〉 whom the Heathen thought the Goddess of Gorn Demetrius the Son of Demetrius 1 Mac. 10. being in the Land of Creta at his Fathers death made haste homeward to take possession of his Kingdom And being stablished therein he began to Wax mighty by reason 〈◊〉 Ptolomy King of Egypt had withdrawn his favour from Alexander 〈◊〉 in law and taken his Daughter Cleopatre from him and given her to Demetrius And also for as much as Prolomy and Alexander lived not long after the strife begun between them Demetrius for a space had great rest The Captain of Demetrius's Host was Apollonius a great enemy of the Jews whom Jonathas discomfited at the first conflict between them Upon the which Demetrius perceiving Jonathas power to be strong
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
pretence of friendship to slay him Murder committed under pretence of friendship the Captains of the Jews having knowledge thereof were so sore afraid of Gedaliah lest any misfortune should chance him that they told him of Ishmael's conspiracy And one among the rest named Johanan offered himself to dispatch Ishmael out of the way so secretly that the deed should never be known But Gedaliah not crediting their words neither yet mistrusting Ishmael would suffer nothing to be done unto him Jer. 41.2 And so forsaking the counsel and admonition of his friends and trusting too much to Ishmael he was of him in fine most treacherously slain in his own house Gedaliah the Greatness of the Lord the hem or skirt of the Lord. Gedeon the Son of Joash Judg 6. cap. was of the Tribe of Manasses To whom the Angel of the Lord appeared as he was threshing of Wheat saying The Lord is with thee thou valiant man Then said Gedeon If the Lord be with us why is all this evil come upon us We have heard by our Fathers of all the miracles which the Lord did for his People in Egypt and now hath he forsaken us and given us over into the hands of the Midianites Well said the Angel go thy way in this thy might and strength which I have given thee for thou shalt deliver Israel out of the hand of their enemies Oh Lord quoth Gedeon wherewith shall I save Israel seeing my Kindred is but poor and I the least of all my Fathers house With my help saith the Lord shalt thou save Israel for I will be with thee and thou shalt smite the Midianites as if they were but one man Then I beseech thee O Lord quoth Gedeon shew me a sign that thou talkest with me depart not hence till I come again with mine offering Which offering being brought and dressed accordingly the Angel had no sooner touched it with the end of his Rod but fire came out of the stone whereon the Sacrifice lay and consumed it altogether and so the Angel vanished out of sight The same Night following at the Lords commandment Gedeon went and destroyed the Altar of Baal which his Father had made and cut down all the Grove about it for the which deed the People having knowledge thereof would have stoned him to death Then * By this example of Joash we ought to justifie them that are zealous of God's cause though all the multitude be against us Joash to save Gedeon his Son said unto them what will ye do will ye plead Baal's cause or will ye be his defenders If Baal be a god let him revenge his own cause upon him that hath done the deed And from that day forth Gedeon was called Jerubbaal that is let Baal plead for himself because he hath broken down his Altar At this time the Midianites and the Amalekites had pitched themselves in the Valley of Jezreel and the spirit of the Lord came upon Gedeon so that he called his People together to go against them Judg. 7. cap. And to be the better confirmed in his Vocation he took a fleece of wool and laid it in the threshing place and made his request unto God saying Oh Lord if thou wilt let the dew this night fall upon the fleece only and be dry on all the ground beside then shall I be sure that thou wilt save Israel by my hands as thou hast said And on the morrow when Gedeon came to take up the fleece it was full of dew and the ground dry all about Then said Gedeon O Lord be not angry if I prove thee once more let now the fleece be dry only and dew upon all the earth and so in the morning the fleece was dry and the ground all dewy Gedeon now being thus confirmed pitched his Host to fight with his enemies But when the Lord saw the number of his Army he said to Gedeon The People that thou hast with thee are too many therefore make a proclamation thorowout all thine Host that whosoever is timorous or fearful let him depart home again and there returned XXII thousand and ten thousand remained Then said the Lord to Gedeon the People are yet too many Bring them down to the water side and I will appoint them that shall go with thee So many as do lap the Water with their Tongues as Dogs do shalt thou take with thee and the rest that kneel down upon their Knees to drink shalt thou refuse as men unmeet for this purpose And when it came to tryal all kneeled down to drink saving 300. which lapped * This story here of Gedcon and Jonathan 1 Sam. 14. and of Scnnacherib 2 King 19. doth manifestly shew that no King as the Prophet David saith is preserved by the multitude of his Men or strength of his Armies but is staid and holden up by the providence of God water with their hands and those Gedeon took with him and sent the rest away Then the Lord to strengthen Gedeon lest he should faint in so great an enterprise bad him take Phara his servant with him and go down that Night to the Host of the Midianites and hearken what they did say And when they came near to the Host they heard one Man say to another I have dreamed a dream and methought a loaf of Barley bread tumbled into the Host of Midian and came unto a Tent and smote it that it fell and lay along on the ground This is nothing else quoth his fellow save the Sword of Gedeon the Son of Joash a man of Israel for into his hands hath God delivered Midian and all the Host Then Gedeon hearing this praised God and returned to his men who were so animated with his joyful tydings that most couragiously they fell upon the infinite number of the Midianites and overthrew them and put them to flight every one in the which flight the Ephraimites on the other side of Jordan took Oreb and Zeeb two mighty Captains of the Midianites sent their heads to Gedeon Judg. 8. cap. who was following the chase after Zeba and Zalmunna Kings of Midian which two at the last he took and led them back to the Men of Succoth Phanuel who had denied him sustenance before and said unto them Behold here be the men by whom ye upbraided me saying Are the hands of Zeba and Zalmunna already in thine hands that we should give bread unto thy weary People I told you then that when the Lord had delivered them into my hands I would return and tear your flesh with Thorns and Briers of the Wilderness and break down the Tower of Phanuel And so to perform his promise he fell upon the Men of Succoth and Phanuel and put them to most painful torments and death and slew Zeba and Zalmunna with his own hands Thus he delivered Israel out of the hands of the Midianites which had kept them seven years in subjection And when he
taken for Merob which was Wafe to Adriel as appeareth 1 Sam. 18.19 For Michol was the Wife of Phalti and had never child as appeareth 1 Sam. 25.44 2 Sam. 6.23 Michol whom she bare to Adriel to be delivered unto the Gibeonites who took and hanged them upon an Hill before the Lord. And thus were the Gibeonites revenged on Saul Gilead was the ‖ Num. 26. Son of Machir and his Children were these Jeezer Helek Asriel Shechem Shemida and Hepher Gilead an heap of witness Godolia look Gedaliah Golias was a * 1 Sam. 17. mighty strong Gyant whom the Philistines had brought with them to Battel against the Host of Israel His stature was six cubits and a span His Helmet upon his head was of brass and the Boots on his Legs of the same His coat of Male weighed 5000. shekels of brass The shaft of his Spear which he bare in his hand was like a Weavers beam And the head upon the same weighed 600. shekels of Iron This man being thus armed came out from the Philistines one bearing his shield before him and standing between the two Hosts in a Valley he cryed to the Host of Israel saying Why are ye come to set your Battel in aray am not I a Philistine and you the servants of Saul choose you out a Man and let him come down to me And if he be able to fight with me and to kill me then will we be your servants and if I can overcome him and kill him then shall ye be our servants and serve us Thus came he day by day defying the whole Host of Israel for the space of forty days wherewith the Israelites were sore afraid and discomfited and durst not abide his sight But God who by his secret providence had appointed out a Man to match him caused Jesse to send his young son David to the Host of Israel to see his Brethren how they did And as he stood with them and heard the despitefull words of Golias which he spake against the holy Host of Israel The spirit of God even at that instant put such a courage into the heart of David that he slipt away from his Brethren unto the People whom he saw in great fear and said What shall be done to the Man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the shame from Israel and what is this uncircumcised Heathen that he should thus revile the Host of the living God David uttering this bold manner of speech once or twice he was at the last brought before King Saul to whom he said on this wise Oh King let no Man's heart fail him or be afraid this day for I thy Servant will go and fight with yonder Philistine Thou art not able to stand in his hands quoth the King for he is a Man brought up all the days of his life in feats of War and thou art yet but a Child without experience or knowledge thereof Then David to strengthen the weak faith of the King said thus unto him As thy Servant was keeping his Father's Sheep there came a Lion and a Bear likewise and took a sheep out of the Flock Then I not fearing the force of these two cruel Beasts ran out first after the Lion and took the prey out of his mouth and in spite of his Beard I slew him Likewise I served the Bear Wherefore I have no doubt but as the Lord did aid me then so will he now against this bragging Philistine that hath so railed on the Host of the living God Then Saul perceiving the power of God to be with David put his Armour upon him But David not being wont to such put it off again and took him to his old accustomed Weapon which was his Sling And so having that in his hand and his Shepherds Bag about his Neck with a few little Stones provided therein he gat him down to the place where the Philistine stood waiting for a Man to encounter with him And as he saw David draw near and beholding the manner of his Weapon that he bare in his hand he disdained him greatly And cursing David by all his gods he said in a great fury Am I a Dog that thou comest to me with staves come hither my Child and I will give thy flesh to the Fowls of the Air and Beasts of the Field Nay quoth David thou comest to me with Sword Spear and Shield but I am come unto thee in the Name of the Lord of Hosts the God of the Host of Israel whom thou dost despise and blaspheme He shall this day deliver thee into my hands and I shall smite thee and take thy Head from thee and give the Carkasses of all your Host to the Fowls of the Air and Beasts of the Field to devour and eat that thou and all the World may know that there is a God in Israel The Philistine now was in such a chafe that he began to buckle him to his Weapon thinking to have dispatched David with no great ado But David having his Sling prepared ready in his hand slang out the stone at his Face the Lord directing the same and smote the Philistine so even and deep in his Forehead that he fell down groveling unto the Earth and then ran David and smote off his Head Thus was this monstrous Gyant confounded and all the Host of the Philistines put to flight and slain Golia a Departing or going away or a heaping together a turning or opening and detecting Gomer Hos 1.3 The Lord appearing to Hosea the Prophet said Go thy way and take an Harlot to thy Wife and get Children by her for the Land hath committed great whoredome against the Lord. So he went and took * Not that the Prophet did this thing in effect but he saw this in a Vision or else was commanded by God to set forth under this Parable or figure the Idolatry of the synagogue and of the people her children Gomer the Daughter of Deblaim who bare unto him two Sons and one Daughter The first Son was called Jesreel the Daughter Lo-ruhamah and the second son Lo-ammi Gomer a Consumer Gorgias a Man of great ‖ 1 Mac. 3. chap. 4. experience in War was Governour of Idumea and one among other Noble Captains whom Lysias the Overseer of all the Kings business sent against the Jews to destroy them And thinking by his policy to have stollen upon Judas Machabeus by night and so to have overcome him he was prevented so that he durst not meet Judas in the Field ‖ 2 Mac. 8. but fled into the Land of the Heathen And when Josephus and Azarias took upon them in the absence of Judas contrary to his commandment to go out against the Heathen to get them a name Gorgias issued * 1 Mac. 5. out of the City of Jamnia and slew two thousand of their men and chased Josephus and Azarias to the borders of Jewrie Finally after many conflicts with the Jewes
hearts turn to Rehoboam and seek to kill me Wherefore he by the advice of his Counsel made two golden Calves and set the one up at Dan and the other at Bethel perswading the People that they were the Gods which brought them out of Egypt and therefore they should not need any more to go up to Jerusalem and worship so far off but should do it nearer hand and with less travail and pain And when he perceived the People to incline to his purpose he made a Temple to build Hill Altars therein for Idolatry and placed a sort of ignorant Ministers which were not of the Sons of Levy in Dan and Bethel to train up the People in worshipping of these Calves And the more to stir up the Peoples devotion he commanded a solemn offering to be made in the honor of these Calves the xv day of the eighth Moneth and the same yearly to be observed in remembrance of this new kind of Idolatry which in continuance was so rooted in Israel that it could never be clean extinguished till it had brought all Israel to utter destruction 13. cap. Now as the King was standing beside the Altar at Bethel doing of sacrifice there came a Man of God which cryed out against the Altar saying O Altar Altar Thus saith the Lord behold a Child shall be born unto the house of David Josiah by name and upon thee shall he offer the Priests of the Hill-Altars that burn Incense upon thee and they shall burn Mens bones upon thee And this is the token that the Lord hath spoken it Behold the Altar shall rent and the ashes that are upon it shall fall out The King was so angry with this that he stretched out his hand against the Prophet commanding to lay hands on him and by and by the Kings hand was dried up so that he could not pull it to him again the Altar clave asunder and the ashes fell out as the Man of God had spoken The King seeing now God's judgment fallen upon him humbled himself to the Prophet by whose intercession to God his hand was restored again 2 Chron. 13. Great and continual War was between this King and Rehoboam King of Juda but this ever prevailed till Abijah the Son of Rehoboam reigned and then he lost as much honour and more than he wan before He reigned two and twenty years and dyed leaving Nadab his Son to succeed him Read more of this King in the story of Abijah King of Juda and in the story of Ahijah the Prophet and of Baasha King of Israel Ieroboam the Son of Joash King of Israel 2 King 14.23 began his Raign in the xv year of Amaziah King of Juda and worshipped the Golden Calves which Jeroboam the Son of Nebat had set up as others did before him He was a great Warrier and victorious He restored the Coasts of Israel from the entring of Hemath unto the Sea of the Wilderness according to Jonas Prophecie And was stirred up of the Lord to help Israel being exceedingly afflicted out of all their trouble He reigned xli years and dyed leaving Zacharias his Son to succeed him Jeroboam Increasing the People Iesebel the Daughter of Ethbaal King of the Sidonians 1 King 16.31.19.2 was a wicked Woman She enticed and pricked forward Ahab her Husband to all kind of Idolatry she slew the Prophets of the Lord and persecuted Elijah 21. cap. She caused Naboth to be stoned to death that her Husband might enjoy his Vineyard Finally as she lay at Jesreel and hearing of Jehu his coming 2 King 9.30 she trimmed her self in gorgeous attire and lay looking out at a Window and as he came in at the Gate she said unto him Had Zimri peace which slew his Master As who should say Can a Traytor or any that riseth against his Superiour have good success But forasmuch as this was even God's determination that she should be destroyed she was cast out at the Window with such violence that she was dashed all to pieces and so betrampled and trodden with the feet of Horses that when they came to take her up to be buried they found no more of her save the Scull the Feet and the Palms of her Hands And then was the Prophecie of Elijah fulfilled which said In the Field of Jesreel shall Dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel and the Carkass of Jezebel shall lye as dung upon the Earth so that none shall say this is Jezebel Jezebel an Island or an habitation Iesus Luk. 2. cap. the Son of God was born of the Virgin Marry in Bethlehem a City of Juda in the year after the Creation of the World 3962. Lanquet whose birth immediately was honored by the glorification of Angels the agnition of Shepheards the veneration of the wisemen and the Prophecies of holy Symeon and Anna. And at the age of xii years was had in admiration among the Doctors in the Temple at Jerusalem where his Parents found him and brought him to Nazareth but what he did from that time forth till he came to the age of thirty years the Evangelists make no mention He was then Baptised of John in Jordan And to witness that he was the very Messias sent of God 5. cap. the Holy Ghost descended down from Heaven in the likeness of a Dove and lighted upon him and also the voice of the Father was heard from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear Him And after he had finished the Legacy of his Father and opened the Doctrine of eternal lise to the People and confirmed the same with Miracles he was at the age of xxxiii years or thereabout betrayed of his own Disciple Judas and by the Jews his own peculiar People Matth. 26.14 most cruelly put to death at what time of his Passion was a great Earthquake and at six a Clock of the Day such a terrible Eclipse of the Sun that for Darkness it seemed to be very Night Matth. 28.6 The third day he arose again from Death to Life In token he conquered Sin Death and Satan Act. 1.9 And on the sortieth day to declare himself to be a mighty and a puissant Conqueror he ascended into Heaven where he sitteth at the right hand of the Father And the fiftieth day according to his promise he sent down the true Comforter the Holy Ghost which should lead the Apostles into all truth At the end and last day of the World he shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead He suffered his Passion in the year after the Creation of the World 3994. or thereabout Jesus a Saviour Iesus the Son of Sirach Ecclus 1. cap. being among the Captives in Egypt in the time of King Ptolomy Euergetes got liberty to read and write many good things which Jesus his Grandfather had gathered and left them with Sirach his Son which things this Jesus took and put in order
Menelaus was come to the King he so craftily handled the matter with flattery and fair promises that he both defrauded the King of his Money and Jason of his Office which when he had obtained he return'd with an high stomach more like a cruel tyrant and the wrath of a wild brute beast than any thing that beseemed a Priest But when the King had knowledge of all his deceit and falshood he discharged him again putting Lysimachus his Brother in his room Then Menelaus being thus thrust out of Office waited his time to be revenged And when he had spied the King about his weighty affairs as in the suppression of certain Rebels leaving Andronicus behind him to be his Lieutenant and supposing then to have a convenient time he went and stole out of the Temple certain Vessels of Gold and gave them to Andronicus And after he had made him his assured friend he ministred such wicked counsel both to Andronicus and Lysimachus his Brother that the one murdered Onias and the other spoiled and robbed the Temple of God Wherefore the King at his return again caused Andronicus to be put to death and the other the People furiously fell upon him and killed him And forsomuch as Menelaus was greatly suspected to be the chief causer of all this murther a Court was called and many sore complaints laid against him The Menelaus perceiving himself in the King's displeasure and danger of his Laws went to Ptolomy one of the three Ambassadours and with Money made him his friend who went to the King and so laboured the matter that he brought Menelaus into such favour with the King again that he was quite discharged from all accusations and his Accusers condemned to death Thus through covetous Magistrates Menelaus remained still in Authority being now more malicious unto the Jews his own Nation than ever he was as it appeared afterward what time as he aided Antiochus and was his guide to the spoiling of the Temple But at the last his falshood came to a foul end for Lysias which was Lord-Steward to Antiochus and Chief Ruler of all his matters so informed the King of his ungraciousness that he commanded Menelaus who had done so much mischief against the Altar of God whose fire and ashes were holy to be cast into a tower of fifty cubits high heaped up with ashes and so miserably ended his life Menelaus Strength of the people Merab 1 Sam. 18.17 was the Eldest Daughter of King Saul who promised her in marriage to David But ere the time came that David should enjoy her Saul gave her to another Man named Adriel by whom she conceived and bare him five Sons 2 Sam. 21.8 Merab Fighting or chiding or multiplying Mesa 2 King 3. cap. the King of Moab was a great Lord of Sheep And whereas the Moabites had of long time payed Tribute unto the Kings of Israel every year one hundred thousand Lambs with so many Rams or Weathers in the Wool with their Fleece upon their backs this King would pay none to Joram the Son of Ahab for the which Joram made War against him and overcame him Mesa Health or the water of health or looking upon the Water Micah Judg. 17. cap. was a certain Man dwelling in Mount Ephraim whose Mother made him an Idol of Silver which he set up in the House of his Gods and made an Ephod and consecrated one of his own Sons to be his Priest and so continued until it chanced a young Levite came from Bethlehem Juda to seek service Which Levite Micah hired for ten silverlings by the year two garments and meat and drink And when he had hired the Levite he was glad saying Now am I sure that God will love me seeing I have a Levite to my Priest At this time 18. cap. the Tribe of Dan forasmuch as the portion which Joshua gave them was not sufficient for all their Tribe went to seek them a place to dwell in And as they were going to the City of Laish they came by the house of Micah And being enformed by those Men whom they had sent before to spie out the Land how there was in the house of Micah a graven and a molten Image they turned in thither and saluted him peaceably but at their departing they took his Idols against the Levite's will perswading him that it was not so good to be a Priest unto the house of one Man as it was to be a Priest unto a whole Tribe or Kinred in Israel and so took him away with them also And being gone Micah made a great out-cry and followed after the Children of Dan with all the power he could make to rescue his Gods but being perswaded to be content and to get him home lest a worse thing did happen he then perceiving he was not able to make his Party good returned back again Read the Story of Dan. Micah who like our God or poverty or the lowliness of the Lord or the Lord striking Michael the Son of Israhia Michael who is like the Lord. 1 Chron. 7. Michael Dan. 10.13 one of the chief Princes that was sent to comfort Daniel Michael Judc the Arch angel which strove against the Devil and disputed about the Body of Moses Michael Rev. 12.7 and his Angels that fought against the Dragon Micajah 1 King 22. the Son of Imlah was a Prophet in the days of King Ahab and because he would not flatter the King This was not that Prophet that wrote the Book of Prophecies but another of that name 1 Sam. 18.20 c. as the four hundred false Prophets had done but prophesied plainly of the King's death he was smitten and cast in Prison Micajah Poor or low and base Michal was the second Daughter of King Saul whom he gave to David to be his Wise that she might be a snare to bring him into the hands of the Philistines But Michal loved David so well that he could not have his purpose that way For when he sent Men to watch his House and to slay him 19.11 c. Michal told David saying Except thou save thy self this Night to morrow thou wilt be slain Wherefore to save the life of David she let him down at a Back-window and layed an Image in his Bed with a Pillow under his Head stuffed with Goats hair and covered it with a Cloth And when the Men came into the House in the Morning and asked for David Michal said he was sick The Messengers then thinking to have carried him Bed and all to the King as he had commanded went into David's Chamber and when they came there and found nothing else in the Bed but a block they were ashamed and so returned to Saul and told him Then Michal being demanded wherefore she had so derided him and sent his enemy away made her excuse that if she had not let him go he would have killed her After this her Father
the Sons of Joseph Reuben seeing his son or the sight of his son Rufus was a vertuous and a Religious man Rom. 16.13 whom Paul remembred in his Epistle saying Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord and his Mother and mine Ruth Ruth 1. cap. and Orpah were two fair young Damosels born in the Countrey of Moab where by chance they married with the Sons of Elimelech and Naomi who were strangers come out of the Land of Juda there to inhabit and when both their Husbands were dead and their Mother-in-law a Widow also they forsook their own Countrey to go home with their Mother into the Land of Juda. And when they had gone a good way together Orpah not without great intreaty of her Mother-in-law turned home again but Ruth abode still Then said Naomi to Ruth Oh see my Daughter thy Sister-in-law is gone back again to her People and Goods return and go after her I pray thee said Ruth intreat me not to leave thee For whithersoever thou goest I will go with thee And where thou dwellest there will I dwell also Thy People shall be my People And thy God my God look where thou dyest there will I dye also and there will I be buried The Lord do so and so unto me if ought but death only part thee and me asunder And so went they forth till they came to Bethlehem Juda which was in the beginning of Barley Harvest Ruth 2. cap. And as Ruth went one day out a leasing among the Harvest folks she happened by the providence of God upon the Fields pertaining to Boaz who shewed her such kindness that she neither lacked Meat nor Drink neither yet Corn so long as Harvest lasted And when all Harvest was done Naomi said unto Ruth This Man in whose Field thou hast leased all this while Ruth 3. cap. is our nigh Kinsman therefore do now by my counsel This Night he winnoweth Barley in the Barn wash thy self therefore and anoint thee and put thy Raiment upon thee and get thee to the Barn and keep thy self close until he have left eating and drinking And when he goeth to sleep mark the place where he layeth him down And when he is a-sleep go and lift up the Cloaths softly at his Feet and lay thee down and he shall tell thee what thou shalt do So when Ruth had done all things according to her Mother-in-laws teaching Boaz about Midnight waked out of his sleep and feeling one lye at his Feet was afraid and groping with his Hand he asked who it was I am Ruth quoth she thine Handmaid spread therefore the Wing of thy Garment over thine Handmaiden for thou art next of my Kin. Now blessed art thou quoth Boaz for thou hast shewed more goodness in the latter end than at the beginning inasmuch as thou followedst not young Men were they poor or rich And now my Daughter fear not I will do unto thee all that thou requirest For thou art well known to be a Woman of vertue Howbeit there is one nearer of Kin to thee than I if he will do the Kinsman's part unto thee well let him do it If he will not then will I. And so in the Morning he gave her so much Corn as she could carry home And shortly after she became his Wife Ruth 4.13 and in process brought him forth a Son called Obed which was the Father of Jesse the Father of David Read the story of Boaz and Naomi Ruth watered or filled S. SADOK the Son of Ahitub 2 Sam. 8.17 was Father to Shallum and Ahimaaz and one of the Priests that governed the Ark of GOD which he carried out of Jerusalem with David what time as he fled from his Son Absalom 2 Sam. 15.24 c. And when Zadok had brought the King over the Brook Kidron he desired him to return again with the Ark into the City that from him and dbiathar he might have word of all things that Absalom and Achitophel determined against him And so he returned with the Ark to Jerusalem and there remained David's faithful man in all things that he had commanded him And when he had knowledge of Absalom's overthrow 2 Sam. 19.11 he then exhorted all Israel and Juda to remember the kindness of David their Soveraign Lord and King who had so many times delivered them out of the hands of their enemies that now like true faithful and obedient subjects they would fetch him home again and restore him to his kingdom By whose godly exhortation the hearts of all Juda were bowed to David even as the heart of one man 1 King 1.8 38 c. This Sadok was ever a faithful Priest and never swerved from David For in the end when Adonijah took upon him to reign as King his Father David being old and alive Zadok consented not unto him but according to David's will and commandment anointed Solomon King who afterward promoted him into the room of Abiathar which had the High Priests office Sadoch or Zadok 2.35 Justified or just Shallum the Son of Jabesh conspired against Zachariah 2 King 15.10 13. There is another of this name the Husband of Hulda the Propheress 2 King 22.14 and slew him and raigned in his stead In the xxxix year of Azariah King of Juda began Shallum his raign over Israel and had not raigned one Month but Menahem rose up against him and slew him in Samaria and reigned in his stead Shallum Peaceable Salmanasar 2 King 18.9 c. King of Assyria came in the seventh year of Hoshea King of Israel and besieged Samaria and in the third year which was the ninth year of Hoshea he wan it and took Heshea prisoner and carried him away into Assyria Salmanasar Peace bound Solomon 2 Sam. 12.24 the Son of Bathsheba was ordained to reign after his Father David and anointed King over Israel 1 King 1.30 39. by Sadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet Who being stablished in his Kingdom began to minister Justice 2. cap. 25. first upon Adonijah his Brother which had aspired to the Kingdom ver 34. Secondly upon Joab which had slain Abner and Amasa and conspired with Adonijah ver ult Thirdly upon Shimei which had cursed David his Father 3. cap. This King was so dearly beloved of God that in a dream he appeared to him and bad him ask whatsoever he would and he should have it Then Solomon considering in himself that he was but young and that being called to the office of a King how hard a thing it was to govern the whole multitude of the People well desired of God to give him an understanding heart to judge the People and to discern between good and evil Which thing pleased the Lord so well that he gave him not only a wise and an understanding heart but also riches and honour wherein he excelled all other Kings that ever were before or after him And that he passed all
the feet of them which have buried thy Husband are at the door and shall carry thee out And with that she fell down and gave up the ghost And the Officers came and carried her out and buried her beside her husband Sapphira telling or numbring Saul the Son of Kish of the Tribe of Benjamin 1 Sam. 9. cap. was a goodly tall young man who on a time as he was seeking his Fathers Asses and could not find them happened by the provision of God to go and seek out Samuel to know of him some tidings of his Asses And as he was going toward the City it was told him of a great offering that should be there and how the People waited for Samuel's coming to bless the same And when Saul was come into the midst of the City he met Samuel coming toward him going up to the Hill And as Samuel beheld Saul the Lord said unto him this is the Man which I told thee yesterday I would send this day unto thee to be King of Israel Then Samuel took him up with him to the Hill and set him in the chiefest Seat among his Guests and made him eat with them And the Feast being done he went and anointed Saul King 1 Sam. 10. and told him what he should do after his departure from him And going from Samuel the Lord gave him another manner of heart than he had before So that he prophesied among the Prophets and was so greatly honoured of all men that after he had delivered the City of Jabesh out of the hands of Nahash King of the Ammonites the People renewed his Kingdom 11. cap. which God would have stablished for ever if he had not disobeyed his commandment in taking upon him to offer burnt-sacrifice before Samuel came 15. cap. and also to save Agag whom he was commanded to destroy And for this his disobedience the Lord took his spirit from Saul and gave it to David and gave unto Saul an evil spirit to vex him withal 16.14 Then Saul seeing the spirit of the Lord departed from him and gone to David he sought by all means to destroy him but never could come to his purpose Finally Saul being sore cumbred with the Philistines 28. cap. he went to an Enchanter notwithstanding he had expelled all of that Art before to raise him up Samuel who being raised up told him that for as much as he had disobeyed the Lord and not executed his fierce wrath upon the Amalekites therefore had God forsaken him and rent his Kingdom out of his hand and given it to David And moreover saith he to Saul the Lord will deliver the Israelites into the hands of the Philistines and to morrow shalt thou and thy Sons be with me 31. cap. And on the next day Saul being overcome of the Philistines and his three Sons slain for anguish of heart fell upon his own Sword and killed himself after he had reigned forty years Saul Required or commended Sarai the Daughter of Aram was Abraham's Wife Gen. 11.29 And perceiving that the Lord had restrained her from bearing of children she gave Abraham leave to take Hagar her Maiden to Wife 16. cap. But when she saw her self despised of her Maid which had conceived she began to be so sharp and quick with Hagar that she made her run away Nevertheless at the humble submission of Hagar Sarai received her again Then Sarai passing forth till she came to the age of four-score and ten years it chanced she heard the Angel of the Lord as she stood in her Tent say unto Abraham 18.10 that Sarai his Wife should have a child which words seemed so impossible unto her that she laughed within her self and said Is it of a surety that I shall bear a Son Shall I now have pleasure being old and my Lord old also And when she had talked thus to her self the Angel of the Lord demanded of Abraham wherefore his Wife did laugh as though it were quoth he too hard a thing for God to perform his promise Then she being asked the question denyed it for she was afraid saying that she laughed not And so Sarai judging him faithful which had promised 21.1 2 3 c. brought forth a Son at the time appointed of God and called his name Isaac And when the Child was born she said GOD hath made me to laugh and all that hear will laugh with me Who would have said to Abraham that Sarai should have given Children suck for I have born him a Son in his old age After this when Sarai perceived Ishmael the Son of Hagar as he played with Isaac to be a mocker she said unto Abraham put away this Bond-maid and her Son for the Son of this Bond-woman shall not be Heir with my Son Isaac 23. cap. Finally when Sarai had lived one hundred and seven and twenty years she died in Kiriath-Arba Which is also called Hebron And was buried in the double Cave which Abraham had bought of the Sons of Heth. Sarah Tob. 3. the Daughter of Raguel had seven husbands one after another which men before they had lain with her were all slain of the Devil Asmodius to the great discomfort and heaviness of the young Woman And yet the more to aggravate her sorrow her Father's Maidens when she did correct them for their faults would slander her on this wise saying God let us never see Son nor Daughter of thee more upon earth thou killer of thy Husbands wilt thou kill us also as thou hast done them Which words were so grievous to Sarah that she got her up to an high Chamber of her House where she continued three Days and three Nights in prayer beseeching God that he would vouchsafe to loose her out of that rebuke or else to take her out of the earth For thou knowest O Lord that I never had desire unto man and that I have kept my soul clean from all uncleanly lust I have not kept company with those that pass their time in sport neither have I made my self partaker with them that walk in light behaviour nevertheless an Husband have I consented to take not for my pleasure but in thy fear Now peradventure either I have been unworthy of them or else were they unmeet for me for thou happily hast kept me for another Husband And thus making her prayers to God he heard her and sent young Toby to be her husband who being joyned together in Matrimony lived all their days an holy life in the fear and laws of God Sheba 2 Sam. 20. the Son of Bichri assoon as David was restored to his Kingdom again begun a new insurrection and got all Israel to follow him save only the men of Juda which stuck fast by David and as he came into the City of Abel to the which Joab followed him the Governess of the City being a Woman of wisdom smote off the head of Sheba and
chanced to dye and then the whole multitude received Amri for their King who began his reign in the xxxi year of the reign of Asa King of Juda and reigned most wickedly of all others before him xii years and dyed leaving his Son Achab to succeed him Amri a Band or handful a power or a bitter and rebellious people Anah the Son of Zibeon Gen. 36. as he sed and kept his Fathers Asses in the Wilderness was the first that found out the monstrous generation of Mules between the Asse and the Mare He had a Sister also called Anah whose daughter Aholibamah was Wife to Esau the Son of Isaac Anah Afflicting answering or singing Ananias was a certain Man Act. 5. who to be counted one of the Christian Religion sold his possession with his Wives consent and notwithstanding kept away part of the price thereof and brought the rest and laid it down at the Apostles seet whose dissembling hypocrisie being revealed unto Peter he said unto him Ananias how is it that Satan hath filled thine heart that thou shouldest lye unto the Holy Ghost and keep away part of the price of the possession Pertained it not unto thee only and after it was sold was it not in thine own power how is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thine heart Thou hast not lyed unto Men but unto God And when Ananias heard these words he fell down and dyed Ananias the Cloud of the Lord. Ananias Act. 9. the Disciple of Christ dwelling at Damascus had a Vision appeared unto him saying Ananias arise and go into the street which is called Streight and seek in the house of Judas for one Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth and hath seen a Vision a Man named Ananias coming unto him and putting his hands on him that he might receive his sight Then said Ananias Lord I have heard by many of this Man how much evil he hath done to thy Saints at Jerusalem and that he hath authority from the High-Priests to bind all that call upon thy name Well said he go thy ways for he is a chosen Vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and Kings and the Children of Israel For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my names sake Then Ananias went to Saul and laid his hands on him and said Brother Saul the Lord that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost And so by the hands of Ananias Saul received his sight again There was another Ananias Aâ— 23. who being High-Priest commanded Paul to be smitten on the mouth as he was answering for himself before the Council Andrew Matth. 4. John 6. a poor Fisherman was called with his Brother Peter to be an Apostle When Christ demanded of his Disciples Andrew suffered Martyrdom in the City of Achaia where they might buy Bread to satisfie the People that followed him Andrew made answer and said There is a little Boy here which hath five Barly Loaves and two Fishes but what is that among so many Andrew Manly Andronicus being a Man of authority and in great favour with Antiochus King of Syria was left in Jewry 2 Mac. 4â— and made Lieutenant over the Jews until the return of the King who was gone to pacifie a certain commotion made by the Tharsians and Mallacians And in the mean time being corrupted with bribes rewards of that ungracious man Menelaus to dispatch the good and godly man Onias whom he so hated out of the way he went to Onias who for his safeguard had taken the benefit of Sanctuary and with fair words perswaded him to come forth binding himself with an oath he should have no harm And when he saw that Onias suspected him he fell upon him incontinently without any regard of righteousness slew him Whose innocent death so offended the People that they made a grievous complaint of Andronicus to the King at his coming home who caused that wicked murderer to be stripped out of his purple cloaths and led most villanously thorow the City to the place where he had committed his ungracious act and to suffer a most shameful death Andronicus a Conquerer or Victorer Andronicus the faithful Disciple of Christ Rom. 16.7 to whom Paul sendeth commendations on this wise Salute Andronicus and Junia my Kinsmen and Fellow-prisoners with me which are of note among the Apostles and were in Christ before me Aner Mamre and Eschol were three Brethren Gen. 14.13 c. which when Lot was taken Prisoner among the Sodomites and carried away by Kedorlaomer and other Kings that took his part joyned themselves with Abraham in the rescuing of Lot his Brothers Son for the which their saithful assistance at that present Abraham dealt liberally with them in the parting of the spoil won at that Expedition Aner an Answer or a song of the Candle or light or that which troubleth or hurteth the Candle Anna 1 Sam. 1 cap. the Wife of Elkanab was long barren and without Child which barrenness her Companion and Mate Peninnah did daily cast in her teeth to her great reproach Wherefore Anna was so full of heaviness that God had made her such a railing stock that she could eat no meat And being thus tormented and troubled in her mind she gat her into the Temple making there her hearty prayers to God to give her a Man child And as she prayed it fortuned Eli the Priest as he sat in the Temple to mark her mouth and perceiving her lips to move and no voice heard thought she had been drunken saying Thou Woman how long wilt thou be drunken put away thy drunkenness from thee Nay my Lord quoth she I am a Woman troubled in spirit and have drunken neither Wine nor strong Drink but pour out my Soul before the Lord count not thine Handmaid to be a Daughter of Belial for out of the abundance of my heaviness and grief have I spoken hitherto and so desiring Eli to pray for her she departed chearfully home to her House and shortly after conceived by Elkanah her Husband and bare him a Son whose Name she called Samuel And when she had brought up the Child and weaned it she prepared a sacrifice and went to the Temple presenting both it and her Child to Eli the Priest putting him also in remembrance that she was the same Woman which stood before him of late and prayed unto God for that Child and that now according to her promise she was come to dedicate him unto the Lord. And so after praise and thanksgiving she departed leaving the Child with Eli to minister in the Temple of God And every year after would Anna make a little Coat for Samuel her Son and bring it up when she * Once a year they accustomed to appear before the Lord with their Family came with her Husband
the King of Juda and the King of Edom by whose help and chiefly Eliseus read the place in his story he overcame the Moabites Also the Syrians could lye no where but Joram had knowledge by Eliseus who told him of all their secret lurking places by which means Joram ever saved himself Wherefore the King of Syria sent and besieged the Town round about where the Prophet Eliseus lay And as his Servant was going forth in the Morning about his Master's business and saw the Town so compassed with enemies he ran ‖ in again crying Alas Master what shall we do for the Syrians are come upon us Fear not quoth Eliseus for they that be with us are more than they that be with them And by and by the eyes of his Servant were so opened that he saw the Mountains lye full of Horses and fiery Chariots to defend his Master And now when the Syrians were come to Eliseus and thought themselves surest of him they were at his prayer smitten with such blindness that they could not know the Prophet when he spake unto them saying that that was not the Town where the Man lay which they sought but follow me quoth he and I will bring you to the place where he is and so he led them forth and brought them into the City of Samaria where Joram lay who seeing now his Enemies to be in his power said to Eliseus Father shall I smite them No said he Smite those which thou takest with thine own Sword and Bow but rather set Bread and Water before them that they may eat and drink and so depart to their Master Then the King prepared a great refection for the Syrians and filled their Bellies well and sent them home again for the which gentle intreaty of Joram the King of Syria never troubled him more After this when Benhadad King of Syria had besieged Samaria so long till Women were constrained to eat their own Children Joram took such displeasure with Eliseus laying the cause upon him that in his fury he sent to take away his Head Which thing being revealed to the Prophet he said to his Friends that were with him in his House See ye not how this Mutherer's Son hath sent to take away my Head Take heed and be circumspect when the Messenger cometh and keep him at the Door for the sound of his Masters feet is behind him which was even so for the King's mind altered he followed the Messenger and came to the Prophet himself saying This evil is of the Lord and what more shall I look for of him 2 King 7 1 c. No more said the Prophet For to morrow this time shall a Bushel of fine Flowre be sold for a shekel and two Bushels of Barley for another shekel in the Gate of Samaria which came so to pass the next day for the great Host of the Syrians at the sound of the feet of four Lepers were run away and had left all their Tents behind them 9.24 c. Finally to fulfil the word of the Lord concerning the destruction of Ahab's Posterity Joram was slain with an Arrow shot by Jehu and his Body cast into a Plat of Ground that was Naboth the Jesraelite's after he had reigned twelve years Joram 2 King 8.16 2 Chron. 21. the Son of Jehosaphat was two and thirty years old when he began to reign over Juda. He married King Ahab's Daughter whose wicked steps he followed He slew all his own Brethren with divers of his Nobles The Edomites which had been subject from David's time hitherto rebelled now against Joram Also Libna which was a certain City in Juda given to the Levites Josh 21.13 would no more be under his hand because he had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers Finally The Prophet's Letter the Prophet Eliseus to admonish him of his wickedness wrote to Joram on this wise The Lord saith because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehosaphat thy Father nor in the ways of Asae thy Grandfather but in the ways of the Kings of Israel and hast made Juda to go a whoring after the House of Ahab and hast also slain thy Brethren even thy Fathers house who were better Men than thy self Therefore with a great Plague will the Lord smite thy Folk thy Children thy Wives and all thy Goods And thou shalt be diseased in thy Bowels which day by day shall fall out of thy Body And so the Lord stirred up against Joram the Philistines the Arabians with the Ethiopians which wasted his Countrey and carried away his substance his Wives and all his Sons save Ahaziah the youngest and smote him with an incurable Disease in his Bowels which held him two years till all his Guts fell out and so he died after he had reigned eight years Joram the highness of the Lord. Jehosaphat the Son of Asa 1 King 15.24 began his Reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab King of Israel and walked in the old ways of his Father David and in the Commandments of God and not in the ways of Israel This godly King to have the fear of the Lord renewed among his People in the third year of his Reign sent certain of his Lords thorowout all his Realm and with them godly learned and ancient Fathers of the Levites with the Book of the Law whose Commission was to see all Idolatry and superstition suppressed and the Laws of God purely and sincerely taught and followed which was so diligently done that the fear of the Lord fell so upon all the Kingdoms round about him that no Man troubled him but presented him with gifts The Philistines with Tribute-money the Arabians with Cattel so that within a while he grew into great riches and honor And being thus endued with abundance of treasure and substance he joyned affinity with Ahab taking his part against the Syrians where notwithstanding the Lord preserved him and brought him safe home again But forsomuch as in his absence the People were somewhat swerved from the Lord the Prophet John came to him and said Because thou hast helped the ungodly and loved them whom the Lord doth hate the wrath of God is come upon thee nevertheless good things are found in thee because thou hast taken away the Groves out of the Land and hast prepared thine heart to seek God Then Jehosaphat fearing the Lord went about all his Realm to bring the People again unto the Lord And when he had set godly Judges and Levites in every City the one to judge in temporal causes and the other in matters of the Lord he gave to either of them his charge saying first to the Judges on this wise Take heed ye Judges what ye do for ye execute not the judgment of Man but of God which is with you in judgment wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you and take heed and be doing the thing that pleaseth him for there is no unrighteousness
second year of his reign as he was laying siege to a City of the Philistines called Gibbethon Baasha conspired against him and slew him Taking upon him to reign in his stead Nadab a Prince or liberal Nahash 1 Sam. 11. Judg 11. cap. was King of the Ammonites And as his Predecessors afore time had made a claim to the Land of Israel so he now purposing the same went and besieged the City of Jabesh in Gilead And when the Men of Jabesh perceived themselves in great danger of their lives they desired the King to make a covenant with them and they would be his Servants Then said Nahash If ye will suffer me to thrust out all your right eyes to bring Israel to shame I shall be content to make peace with you Then said they Give us respite seven days and if none do come to help us in that space we will come out unto thee Then Nahash thinking that none durst come to aid them against him granted their request Upon the which they sent Messengers into all the Coasts of Israel which News was so heavy tidings to them that they fell a weeping And as they were mourning and lamenting their case it chanced Saul by the providence of God to come out of the Field following the Cattel And beholding the People what a do they made he demanded wherefore they mourned And when they had told him the tidings of the Men of Jabesh his heart was so moved by the spirit of God that he took out two of his Oxen and hewed them in pieces and sent them thorow all the Coasts of Israel saying whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and Samuel so shall his Oxen be served And the People were stricken in such a fear that they came out to Saul as they had been but one Man to the number of three hundred thousand of Israel beside thirty thousand of the Men of Judah And then Saul sent word by the Messengers to the Men of Jabesh that the next morrow they should have help They being glad of that sent word unto Nahash saying To morrow we will come forth unto you and ye shall do unto us whatsoever pleaseth you And so on the morrow Saul came upon the Ammonites and slew them Nahash a Snake or Serpent or guessing or divining Nahor when he was nine and twenty years of age Gen. 11.24 25. begot Terah And lived after he had begotten him an hundred and twenty years Nahor Hoarse or Angry Naomi was the Wife of a certain Man called Elimelech Ruth 1. cap. dwelling in the Land of Juda in a City called Bethlehem And because of the present Dearth which was over all the Land of Juda She went with her Husband and her two Sons into the Countrey of Moab to sojourn Where in process her Husband died And her two Sons being married to two of the Moabitish Damosels died there also So that Naomi which had dwelt in the Land of Moab ten years was left desolate both of her Husband and of her Sons Then Naomi hearing how the Lord had visited her Countrey again with plenty returned from Moab homewards again her two Daughters-in-law bringing her on the way And when she saw they had gone a good way with her and coveted not to return she said unto them Go now my Daughters and return each of you unto your Mothers House and the Lord deal as kindly with you as ye have dealt with the dead and with me And the Lord give you that ye may find rest either of you in the House of her Husband and so kissed them to have bid them farewel But when she saw that they would not depart from her she said unto them again Return my Daughters I pray you for what cause will ye go with me Are there any more children within my womb to be your husbands Turn again therefore I say for I am too old to have an Husband And if I did take one this Night and had already born Children would ye tarry for them till they were grown and refrain from taking Husbands so long Not so my Daughters it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me Then they wept all together and Orpha kissed her Mother-in-law and returned into her own Land again but Ruth abode still And so when they came to Bethlehem Juda which was about the beginning of Barley-harvest the Women which saw Naomi said Is not this Naomi Nay said she call me not Naomi which is as much to say as beautiful but call me Mara that is to say bitter for the Almighty God hath made me very bitter I went out full and the Lord hath brought me again empty why then call ye me Naomi seeing the Lord hath humbled me and the Almighty hath brought me unto adversity And so Naomi remained in Bethlehem Juda where ere it were long God gave her a Son by the Womb of Ruth her Daughter-in law who was married to Boaz a Kinsman of Naomi's which Child being born the Women said unto Naomi Blessed be the Lord the which hath not left thee without a Kinsman to have a name in Israel and that shall bring thy life again and cherish thine old age for thy Daughter-in-law which loveth thee hath born unto him and she is better unto thee than seven Sons And Naomi took the Child and laid it in her Lap and became Nurse unto it being glad that a Son was born unto her in her old days Naomi Fair or comely or provoking much Nathan 2 Sam. 7.4 c. the Prophet at what time King David was minded to build God an House to dwell in was sent of the Lord to forbid him to meddle with it for Solomon his Son should do it Again at what time David had committed Adultery with Uriah's Wife Nathan came to him and said 12. cap. There were two Men in one City the one Rich and the other Poor The rich man had exceeding many Sheep and Oxen but the poor had none at all save one little Sheep which he had bought and nourished up And it grew up with him and with his Children also and did eat of his own Meat and drank of his own Cup and slept in his bosome and was unto him as his Daughter Now there came a stranger unto the rich man who refused to take of his own Sheep and Oxen to dress for the stranger but took the poor Man's sheep and dressed it for the Man that was come to him Then David was exceeding wroth with the Man and said As surely as the Lord liveth he that hath done this thing shall surely dye He shall restore the Lamb four-fold because he did it without pity Then said the Prophet Thou art the Man Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I anointed thee King over Israel and delivered thee out of the hands of Saul and gave thee thy Lord's house and his Wives into thy bosome and gave thee the house
hast done unto him and then will I send and fetch thee away from thence for why should I be deprived of you both in one day And when she had given her Son this counsel she went to Isaac her Husband and said I am weary of my life for fear of the Daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a Wife of the Daughters of Heth such a one as these are or of the Daughters of the Land what good shall my life do me And so by the counsel of Rebecca Jacob was sent to Laban his Mother's Brother where in process he got him a Wise and purchased the love of Esau his Brother again Rebecca Fed. Rechab Jer. 35.6 was the Father of Jonadab Which Jonadab made a Law that the Rechabites should never drink Wine their Wives nor their Children neither yet build House nor sow Seed nor plant Vineyards but should always dwell in Tents Which commandment they kept and obeyed truly And this their obedience Jeremy layeth before the Jews to their great reproach for that they were not so ready to obey the will and commandment of God their heavenly Father as the Rechabites were to obey their Father Jonadab Rechab a Rider Of Rechab the Son of Rimmon read the story of Baanah his Brother Rezin 2 Ring 16.5 c. King of Syria went with Pekah King of Israel to fight against Ahaz King of Juda but could not overcome him At which time Rezin took the City of Elath and drove out the Jews therein and peopled the City with Syrians But in fine the King of Assyria came against him in the defence of Ahaz King of Juda and at Damascus slew him Rezin will or willing to a thing Rezon 1. King 11.23 the Son of Eliadah was a great Captain under Hadadezer King of Zobah which Hadadezer David had overcome in Battel And when Rezon saw his Lord and Master discomfited he fled from him and gathered a Band of Men and went to Damascus where he reigned as King and became a great adversary to Solomon for the which purpose the Lord had stirred him up Rezon a Secretary or leave Rizpah 2 Sam. 22.8 c. the Daughter of Ahia was Saul's Concubine and had by him two Sons the one named Armoni and the other Mephibosheth which two with the Sons of Merob David delivered to the Gibeonites who for the offence of Saul hanged them up upon an Hill before the Lord. Then Rizpah perceiving their Carkasses to remain upon the Gibbet longer than the Law required made provision to save their Bodies that neither Birds should fall upon them by day nor Beast by night And when it was told to David what Rizpah had done he caused their bones with the bones of Saul and Jonathan to be carried into the Country of Benjamin and there buried in the Sepulchre of Kish Saul's Father's Rehoboam 1 King 12. the Son of Solomon was xli years old when he began to reign and his Mothers name was Naamah In this Man's time began the Kingdom of Israel to be divided For when the People came to him and said Thy Father laid a grievous Yoak upon us now therefore remit thou somewhat of the grievous service of thy Father and of his heavy Yoak that he put upon us and we will serve thee He answered as his young Counsellers had counselled him saying My little Finger shall be heavier than all my Father's Loins And whereas my Father put an heavy yoak upon you I will add more unto it And whereas he chastened you with Whips I will chasten you with Scorpions The People hearing this they forsook him all save the Tribe of Juda and * The Tribe of Benjamin was given to Nathan the Brother of Solomon who nevertheless aided the Tribe of Juda as often as they needed Benjamin Then Rehoboam seeing his Kingdom divided gathered an Host of Men out of the house of Juda and Benjamin to the number of nine score thousand to fight with Israel and to bring the Kingdom again unto himself But while he was thus minded the Prophet Shemajah came to him and bad him cease from his purpose for the thing that was done was the Lord's doing Whereupon every Man departed according to the words of the Lord which the Prophet had spoken Then Rehoboam fell to building of Cities 2 Chron. 11.5 c. and repairing of strong holds which he furnished both with Men and Victuals 12. cap. So that his Kingdom was mighty and strong by the space of three years for so long walked he and his People in the ways of David but when they had once forsaken the Law of the Lord in making Hill-altars Images Groves and were become Sodomites and workers of all abominations then God forsook them and gave them into the hands of Shishack King of Egypt who in the fifth year of Rehoboam's raign came to Jerusalem and spoiled both the house of the Lord and the King's house and carried away the shields of Gold which Solomon had made in stead whereof Rehoboam made shields of brass And so for a while God made the Tribe of Juda and Benjamin servants to Shishack although they humbled themselves to the intent they should know the difference between his service and the service of the Kingdomes of the World This King Rehoboam had eighteen Wives and three-score Concubines on whom he begot eight and twenty Sons and three-score Daughters But among all his Wives and Concubines he loved Maacha the Daughter of Absalom best And made Abijah her Son chief Ruler over all his Brethren and to have the Kingdom after him And when by his wisdom and policy he had dispersed his Children abroad and had raigned seventeen Years he dyed Rehoboam inlarging or spreading abroad the people Reuben Gen. 29.32 was the eldest Son of Jacob and Leah He brought the Mandrakes which he found in the Field to his Mother Gen. 30.14 He saved Joseph from his Brethren which went about to kill him Gen. 37.21 22. giving counsel to cast him into an empty Pit because he would rid him out of their hands But when he came afterward unto the Pit and found him not there he rent his Cloaths and made great mone for his Brother Joseph Long after this when Joseph was thought to be dead they went into Egypt for Corn and when they were taken for Spyes and hardly intreated and cast in Prison Gen. 42.22 Reuben said unto them Did not I warn you and say that ye should not sin against the Child and ye would not hear me and now ye may see how his bloud is required at our hands All this notwithstanding it was his chance to lye with Bilha his Father's Concubine Gen. 49.4 which deed sore displeased his Father wherefore before his death he declared the unstableness of Reuben saying That although he were the eldest yet should he not be the chiefest His birth right was taken from him 1 Chron. 5.1 and given to