then would have been exceeding sad yet I had held my tongue for there would have been a possibility that by our good service we might have obtained some favour from those that had bought us But now we are all adjudged to death without any exception Had we been sold for bond-slaves some profit might have redounded to the King by our sale but yet the Kings loss in his tribute and in so many useful subjects could never have been repair'd by all that our enemies can do or ever will do for the King The Queens petition both the matter of it and the manner of delivering it so much affected the King that being in a great rage and passion he said to the Queen Who is he and where is the man and what is his name that durst presume in his heart to do such an abominable thing as this Queen Esther replies Our adversary and implacable enemy is the wicked Haman At this we may suppose Haman's heart did not a little ake and tremble The King being now sensible as 't is like and ashamed of his own folly in yielding so rashly to such a bloody Edict which involv'd not only thousands of his peaceable subjects but his beloved Queen her self and being highly incensed against the author and contriver of so great a mischief he rose up suddenly as a man disquieted in his mind and went into his Garden to take a turn or two to give vent to his passion The King being gone Haman stood up to make request to the Queen for his life and that she would mediate with the King for him for he saw that evil was determined against him The King after a little time returning into the Banqueting chamber again he found Haman fallen upon the bed whereon the Queen sat that is he had prostrated himself before her and as is supposed clasped her feet in his hands to testifie the earnestness of his desire and that he would not let her go till he found some favour from her The King seeing him in this posture what says he will this villain force my Queen before my face and in my own house Thus it was just with God that he that falsely accused the Jews to the King should now by the King be charged with that which he never intended The servants and attendants perceiving the Kings mind presently apprehended Haman and as the custom it seems among the Persians was they covered his face as a condemned person and one unworthy to behold the Kings face or the light of the Sun but sentenced to perpetual darkness Harbonah one of the Kings Chamberlains who it seems was sent to Hamans house to bring him unto the Queens banquet when he was there saw that extraordinary Gallows of fifty cubits high which he had erected for Mordecai who now was acknowledged to have done great service for the King and he now acquainted the King with it The King hearing this commanded that they should immediately take Haman and hang him thereon And accordingly they hanged Haman on that very Gallows he had prepared for Mordecai which being done the Kings wrath was pacified Thus God who turned the heart of this King to Esther and to Mordecai now alienated it quite from Haman and pacifyed and quieted his spirit after execution done upon him Esther Chap. 7. On the same day the King gave Hamans house and goods and estate to Queen Esther and Mordecai was taken into his especial favour the Queen declaring how nearly related he was unto her And the King took off his ring that had been before given to Haman * See Ch. 3.10 and which he kept till the Kings wrath was manifested against him and then being sent to execution they pulled it off his finger and returned it to the King who now gave it to Mordecai as a pledg of his favour (a) Possibly hereby Mordecai was made keeper of the Kings private signet as Haman had been And Esther set Mordecai over the house and estate of Haman which the King had given her to take care about it and to manage it for her use Esther also fell down at the Kings feet and humbly besought him with tears that he would please to prevent the execution of that mischief and destruction which Haman had devised against them And she said If I have found favour in thy sight O King and if I be pleasing in thine eyes let letters be sent out to reverse the letters devised by Haman by which he designed to destroy all the Jews that are in any part of the Kings dominions for how can I endure to see the destruction that will come upon my kindred and the evil that will come upon my people thereby if it be not prevented The King would not reverse the former decree it being against the laws and customs of the Medes and Persians so to do but he told Esther and Mordecai that they might write what they thought fit or could devise in favour of the Jews and for their preservation provided the former decree were not in express terms reversed and they might write it in his name and seal it with his ring and what was so written and sealed none durst gainsay Hereupon the Kings Scribes being called on the 23d of the third month two months and ten days after the first decree for their destruction was sent forth * During which time we may imagine in what a sad condition the Jews were but yet there being eight months and 20 days still behind before their fatal day did come which was the 13th of the 12. month all this time they had to provide for their own defence it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded and he wrote in the Kings name and sealed it with his ring and the letters were sent by Posts into all the 127 Provinces under the Kings dominion that the King granted to the Jews in every City and Country liberty to gather themselves together on the day appointed for their massacre and to stand upon their guard and to kill and slay all that should assault them (a) So the Kings Grant to Mordecai was as large as that to Haman Yea to kill their wives and children also and to take the spoil of them to themselves for a prey By the former Edict the Natives of each Province were authorized to destroy the Jews and by this second Edict the Jews were authorized to destroy those that should set upon them but yet this would hardly have prevented their ruin they being but few in comparison of those among whom they lived had not this new discovery of the change of the Kings mind much abated the malice of their enemies Mordecai being now in great favour with the King went out from his presence in royal apparel of blew and white and with a great Crown of gold on his head not the Crown royal but such as Princes in great place used to wear and a garment of fine linnen and
out to war David sent Joab with a great Army to perfect their begu◠conquest of them and accordingly he laid siege to Rabbah their chief City afterwards called Philadelphia David staying at home at his house during this siege and giving himself to ease and idleness * Quaeritur Aegistus quare sit factus Adulter In promptu causa est desidiosus erat Ovid. contrary to his former practice and having spent some part of a day in stretching himself upon his bed in the evening he arose and walked upon the roof of his house houses being among the Jews flat roofed from whence he saw a woman washing her self to purifie her self from her menstrual uncleanness according to the Law Levit. 15.27 28. Some think she washed her self in her Garden near adjoining to the Palace which if she did she was not free from fault and blame in not taking care to wash her self more privately Others think she washed her self in her Chamber which was opposite to the Kings Palace and some window or casement being accidently open David with the quick sight of his lustful eye gazed upon her and so was insnared with her beauty His heart being thus inflam'd with lust the first sparks whereof he should have resolutely quenched he sends and inquires after the woman and was told her name was Bathsheba †Call'd Bathshua 1 Chron. 3.5 the wife of Vriah the Hittite (d) Some think he was call'd an Hittite because born at Heth a place near Abrahams burial place see Gen. 23.3 who was so by Nation but now a sincere Proselyte to the Jewish Religion and one of Davids Worthies as we may see 2 Sam. 23.39 David sends for her notwithstanding he understood she was another mans wife and he had so many wives of his own What is man if left to himself She being come to him he us'd such allurements and perswasions to her that not having the fear of God before her eyes nor that conjugal love and faithfulness which she should have had to her brave and worthy husband she consented unto him and so she became the Harlot of a King instead of being the loyal wife of an honest subject and she who had newly cleansed her self from her legal uncleanness now defileth her soul and body with moral filthiness However she having now conceived by him shortly after when she perceiv'd it wrote unto him that she was with child This she did its likely that he might consider of some way how their sin and shame might be covered and concealed and that she might escape the rage of her husband at his coming home and also the punishment by Law due unto her which was no less than death David upon this instead of repenting of his sin and humbly seeking pardon of God for it sets himself in the hardness of his heart to contrive and plot how it might be concealed from the knowledg of man not considering the all-seeing eye of God which beheld all his close actings nor his severe threatnings against all such great and heinous transgressions Therefore he immediately sendeth for Vriah from the Camp to come to him that so he coming home might go to his wife and lye with her as 't was likely he would do and so cloak and cover the business Vriah accordingly is sent by Joab from the Army to him When he was come David asked him how Joab did and how the people did and how the war went on 'T is like Vriah wondred that he should be sent for in all hast from his service in the Army only to answer such questions as these which every Messenger that came from the Army might easily have satisfied the King in And thereupon possibly he did suspect that there was some other cause of his sending for and began to have some jealousie of his beautiful wife and to think that all was not right with her and that might be the true reason why he would not be perswaded to go home and accompany with her However when he had answered these questions the King kindly dismissed him telling him that it was fit for him after such a journey to go home and refresh himself and wash his feet as in those hot Countries after a journey they used to do And presently after he was gone out there followed him a mess of meat from the King which 't is like was so ordered that Vriah might the more willingly go home to his wife and feast with her thereupon But he would not go home for all this by this time we may suppose that his fair but false wife heard of his being come to Court and seeing he did not come to her that she came her self and with great importunity besought him to come home seeing it did so much concern her to enjoy his company to cover her fault and hide her shame but notwithstanding he would not but slept that night with the Kings Guard at the Palace-gate David understanding this sent for him next morning and asked him why he did not go to his own house being weary with his journey Vriah replied the Ark (c) It is probable that the Ark was at this time with Joab in the Camp seeing in great and dangerous Wars they used to carry it along with them it being a visible sign of Gods presence with them and by it they might receive directions from God speaking to them from between the Cherubims in their difficulties see 1 Sam 4.4 and Israel and Judah and my Lord Joab abide in Tents in the open fields how unfitting then is it for me to go home to my house and there solace my self with my wife and other delights this I think not fit in a time of publick danger and calamity as thou livest and as thy soul liveth I will not do it Which words one would think might have been sufficient to have awaked David out of his deep sleep of sin and security who wallowed in unlawful lust and pleasure when Vriah would not enjoy honest and lawful delights at such a time of calamity as this was David also might have taken notice of the Providence of God crossing him in his intended design and thereupon have humbled himself for his heinous sin but instead thereof he resolves to practise another stratagem upon Vriah for the attaining his end He tells him he shall stay one day longer with him and then he shall return to the Army That day he invites him to his Table resolving to make him drunk that being heated with wine he might forget his Oath and go home to his wife which hitherto he refused to do And here behold a sad example of humane frailty Vriah being now entertain'd at the Kings Table where 't is like David took order to have him ply'd with good store of wine by degrees he is overtaken and made drunk but that would not do neither for notwithstanding all David's devices and practices he remained firm and constant in his resolution
Thus Solomon finished the Lords house and his own house and all that came into his heart to do he prosperously effected 2 Chron. 7.11 having spent full twenty years in this kind of work 1 King 9.10 whereof seven and an half upon the Temple and about twelve and an half upon his own houses and buildings 1 King Ch. 7. from v. 1 to 13. 1 King Ch. 10. from v. 16 22. 1 Chron. Ch. 9. from v. 15 to 21. SECT V. WHilst Solomon was busied about his Magnificent buildings it seems Gezer a City allotted to the Levites in the Tribe of Ephraim Josh 21.20 21. but never recovered out of the possession of the Canaanites gave to the King some great distaste so that not being at leisure himself he intreated Pharaoh his Father-in-law to take it in for him by his Armes and to rid him of those troublesome neighbours Pharaoh accordingly did it and burnt the City or some part of it with fire and put the inhabitants thereof to the sword and so gave it for a present to his daughter Solomon's wife 1 King 9.16 SECT VI. HIram King of Tyre having furnished Solomon towards these magnificent buildings with Cedar-trees and Firr-trees and sixscore Talents of Gold Solomon in a grateful retribution and to make him amends gave him twenty Cities or Towns in the land of Galilee which were not as it seems a part of the land which God had given for an inheritance to his people but lay in a tract of ground on the outside of the borders of Asher Josh 19.24 betwixt them and mount Libanus and being now reduced under Solomon's Dominion he presented them to Hiram that he might by them receive satisfaction for what he had had of him But it seems Hiram when he saw them liked them not possibly because they stood in a moorish ground or because he thought it would be long e're he should from them receive that satisfaction which he expected Therefore he return'd them to Solomon again and chose rather to expect satisfaction from him some other way and thereupon Solomon repair'd and enlarged them and planted certain colonies of the Israelites in them See 2 Chron. 8.1 2. whereas before they were inhabited only by the Heathen and now that tract of ground was counted a part of Galilee which 't is thought was the reason why Galilee was called Galilee of the Gentiles 1 King Ch. 9. from v. 10 to 15. SECT VII SOlomon having now finished his own houses and built an house for his Queen Pharaohs daughter he remov'd her and brought her up thither out of the City of David for he said My wife shall not dwell in the house of David King of Israel because the places whereunto the Ark of the Lord hath come are more holy than other places 'T is true Davids house ceased to be holy in that respect after the Ark was removed thence yet Solomon out of his superabundant respect to that sign of Gods presence thought it not fit to make that a dwelling place for his Queen and her followers who were aliens and strangers to the house of Israel and possibly retain'd some of their Egyptian profaneness which had been the holy dwelling place of the most High 2 Chron. 8.11 Solomon as it seems reflecting on his Marriage with Pharaohs daughter and his bringing her up to the stately house he had built and prepared for her took occasion from thence to pen that excellent Song called the Song of Songs or the Canticles being the chiefest of those one thousand * See 1 King 4.32 and five Songs composed by him and the most excellent of them all And this Song he composed after he had built his Summer-house in Lebanon as may be gathered by some passages in it see Ch. 4.8 Come with me from Lebanon my Spouse with me from Lebanon And Ch. 7. 4. Thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon This Song is clearly a Marriage-song and much of the same nature with the 45 Psalm which is called a Song of Loves And it is a kind of Pastoral composed in the way of Dialogue where the speakers are the Bridegroom and the Bride represented sometimes under the quality of a Shepherd and Shepherdess or Country-damsel and the Bride-men and Bride-maids the friends of the Bridegroom and companions of the Bride And though the most proper aim of it seemeth to be at higher and diviner matters than an earthly marriage and a greater than Solomon is here yet Solomon thought fit to make his marriage with Pharaohs daughter a type of that sublime and spiritual marriage between Christ and his Church The Song is a continued Allegory and full of obscurities yea here we have all the Rhetorick of love and such affectionate compellations and Elogies as are not elsewhere to be found The flowers and ornaments of language used in the praises both of Bridegroom and Bride are not appliable to natural beauties but are mystical representations and emblems of higher things Indeed this Book is all mystical and therefore the Jews forbad the reading of it by any under thirty years of age Here between Christ and his Church are interchangings of mutual praises gloriations and congratulations His divine and glorious excellencies in himself and rich bounties and blessings to her and her precious graces and endowments are in an high character in lofty and stately sayings and similitudes set forth both by him and her And yet withal her failings and his withdrawings from her thereupon and returnings to her again upon her repentance are not omitted In all the interlocutions betwixt them she speaks nine times and he seven In the first Chap. from v. 1 to the 8. the Spouse speaks expressing her ardent desires after Christ and vindicates her own deformities and defects against the uncharitable censures of others and petitions him for further counsel and direction From the v. 8 to the 12. the Bridegroom speaks granting her request and giving her great commendations and making rich promises to her From v. 12 to the 15. the Spouse speaks again then the Bridegroom at v. 15. In the two first verses of Ch. 2. Christ speaks characterizing himself and his Church and then the Church speaks from the v. 3. to the end and throughout all the third Chapter speaking sometimes of Christ and sometimes unto him At Ch. 4. Christ speaks from v. 1 to 15. and at v. 15 16. the Church At Ch. 5. v. 1. Christ granteth the request of the Church and cometh into his Garden and accepteth her entertainment and bringeth his friends with him and feasteth them but this kindness it seems was not so well improved by her as it deserved for she is surprized with a fit of drowsie negligence and so is brought into danger of losing him who after much patient waiting knocking and calling upon her and her unkind answer becomes angry and being not received when he tendred himself departs displeased and is hardly reconciled though she afterwards expresses much care and
Royal apparel presented her self in the inner Court before the King as he sat on his royal throne as soon as he saw her his heart was towards her and she obtained favour in his sight which he manifested by stretching forth his golden scepter to her and she went up and touched the end of it in token of her reverence and obedience And if we consider what absolute obedience the Persian Kings required of all their subjects and that Vashti his former Queen was cast off for as small an offence as this of Esthers and that he had not called for her of thirty days before we may well think there was a special hand of God in moving the Kings heart to shew her such favour and that it was a gracious answer to his peoples prayers The King graciously asks her What was the request she had to make to him it should be granted her even to the half of the Kingdom (d) This it seems was a Proverbial speech whereby Princes promised liberally and largely Herod used the sâ—me to the daughter of Herodias Mat. 6.23 She told him that she only desired that his Majesty would please to honour her that day with his presence at a Banquet she had provided and that Haman might come also The King readily accepts her invitation and he and Haman came to her Banquet accordingly At the Banquet the King askt her again what her request was she not finding as yet a fit opportunity to make known her desires to him she told him that her petition and request at present was only this that the King and Haman would favour her once more with their presence at a banquet she should prepare for them the next day and then she would make known her suit unto the King God undoubtedly by the secret instinct of his Spirit inclined her heart thus to put off her petition to another time he intending in the interim to advance Mordecai before her next banquet was prepared Haman went away from this first banquet very joyful and with a glad heart being not a little proud of the honour the Queen had done him in inviting him with the King to her banquet but when he came to the Palace-gate he saw Mordecai refuse to rise up to him which kindled his indignation highly against him When he came home he sent for his wife and his friends and there in a boasting fashion set before them the greatness of his riches the multitude of his children * Ten of his Sâ—ns are reckoned up by name Ch. 9. 6. which he esteemed a great honour to him the great offices the King had conferred on him and how the Queen had invited none to her banquet which she made for the King but himself alone and that on the morrow he was invited again unto her with the King All these he shews them were great things and such as few subjects attained unto yet he could not but tell them that all these honours dignities and preferments did not so much comfort him as the neglect and contempt of that vile Jew Mordecai did vex and trouble him for he would not so much as rise up to him nor pay him the respect that all others did His wife and friends advise him not to trouble himself about him but to get a Gallows of fifty cubits high presently set up and on the morrow to get leave of the King to hang him thereon Haman liked their counsel very well and gave order accordingly to have the Gallows prepared Esther Ch. 5. The wheel of Providence begins now to turn for the deliverance of the Jews as we shall see in the sequel of the story for on that very night Ahasuerus could not sleep being restless he calls for the records to be brought and read unto him to divert him wherein among other things it was recorded how two of his servants viz. Bigthan and Teresh had conspired to take away his life and that Mordecai had revealed this conspiracy and so preserv'd him The King hereupon asks what honour and dignity had been done to Mordecai for this His servants about him tell him none at all It being now as it seems morning the King asks who of his Counsellors were in the outward Court They told him Haman was there for he was come early to beg of the King that Mordecai might be hanged on the Gallows he had provided for him the King sends for him he being come the King asks him what shall be done to the man whom the King delights to honour Haman presently imagining the King intended this honour to him and to no body else he thought he would not give scant measure to himself and therefore says he let the royal robe that the King uses to wear be put upon the man the King delights to honour and let him ride on the Kings own horse and let the Crown royal be set on his head and let one of the Kings most noble and illustrious Princes attend him riding in this state through the streets and proclaim before him Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour Haman having said this the King commands him immediately to take Mordecai whom of all persons in the world he most hated and to do all this for him and that he should not fail in any one particular This was as a dagger to Hamans heart but he durst not refuse doing it and did it accordingly Mordecai having received this strange and unexpected honour returned to his ordinary office and place at the Kings gate again not being at all puft up with it But Haman hasted to his own house being almost heart-broken through grief and vexation and covering his head through shame and discontent Being come home he acquainted his wife and friends with what had hapned to him they told him that if Mordecai before whom he had begun to fall were of the seed of the Jews he would not be able to prevail against him but would certainly be worsted by him For these being as it seems prudent persons and wise in their way had observed formerly Gods wonderful appearing for his people against all their enemies as particularly against those Princes that had plotted against Daniel Dan. 6.4 and thence they infer that 't was probable the Lord would do the like for Mordecai While they were speaking of these things the Kings Chamberlains came to Hamans house to call him away to the Queens banquet Esther Ch. 6. The King and Haman being again royally entertained by the Queen and the King being highly pleased therewith he asked her again what her suit and request was which he assured her should be granted her whatever it was She then humbly prostrating her self at his feet with tears besought him to spare her own life and the lives of her people for says she I and my people are sold to be slain and to be destroyed and had we been sold for bondmen and bondwomen though our condition
Araunah's floor Sect. 206. David receives the pattern of the Temple makes great preparations for the building of it Sect. 207. Officers appointed for the Temple Sect. 208. Rehoboam born to Solomon Sect. 209. Abishag brought to David Sect. 210. Adonijah aspires to the Crown Solomon anointed Adonijah's submission Sect. 211. David's charge to Solomon Sect. 212. Davids farewell Exhortation to the people His Prayer Solomon's prosperity Sect. 213. David's last words to Solomon His death Sect. 214. The Book of the Psalms Sect. 215. Solomon upon the Throne Adonijah slain Joab slain Shimei's Oath not to pass over Kidron Sect. 216. Hadad the Edomite returns Sect. 217. Solomon's marriage with Pharaoh's daughter Sect. 218. Solomon setled in the Kingdom Gods appearing to him in a dream and asking him what he should give him and Solomon's choosing wisdom Sect. 219. Solomon's judgment on the two Harlots Sect. 220. Hiram's Embassie to Solomon A League between them Sect. 221. Solomon's levy for the Temple Sect. 222. Shimei put to death Chap. V. The fifth Age from the building of the Temple to the destruction of it and Captivity of Judah Sect. 1. THE Temple described with all its parts The Temple-Officers Sect. 2. The Temple finished Solomon's solemn dedication of it Sect. 3. The Lord appears to Solomon again in a dream Sect. 4. Solomon's Palace His stately Throne The house of Lebanon His Golden Targets and Shields Sect. 5. Gezer taken by Pharaoh and given to his daughter Solomon's wife Sect. 6. Hiram dislikes the Cities which Solomon offered him Sect. 7. Solomon removes his Queen to the House built for her The Song of Solomon Sect. 8. Solomon's Navy Sect. 9. Solomon's other buildings Sect. 10. Hamath taken by Solomon's forces Sect. 11. Solomon's care in matters of Religion Sect. 12. Solomon's greatness splendor and glory Sect. 13. Solomon's Wisdom His Proverbs Sect. 14. The Queen of Sheba comes to hear his Wisdom Sect. 15. Solomon's many wives and defection from God Ahijah the Prophet sent to him with a sad Message Sect. 16. Solomon writes his Ecclesiastes Sect. 17. Solomon's Adversaries Ahijah sent to Jeroboam to acquaint him that he should be King of the Ten Tribes Sect. 18. Solomon dies Sect. 19. The division of the Kingdom Kings of Judah 1. Rehoboam is petitioned for ease of Taxes Ten Tribes revolt His Buildings and Wives Shishak King of Egypt plunders the Temple 2. Abijah reigns p. 505. His army and speech to Jeroboam Israel routed 3. Asa reigns pag. 509. His Grandmothers Grove Zerah invades him and is subdued Asa's league with Benhadad and death 4. Jehoshaphat reigns p. 515. Removes all high places used for false Gods His reformation His greatness and riches His affinity with Ahab He goes to Samaria Jehu the Prophet reproves him His care of the Kingdom His Fleet broken His victory and death 5. Jehoram succeeds p. 525. His Idolatry Slays his six Brethren Elijah's Letter to him Edom revolts Libnah revolts Philistines invade him His sad end 6. Ahaziah p. 529. His wickedness Is slain by Jehu 7. Athaliah p. 532. Her Idolatry and cruelty 8. Joash p. 533 He is set up by Jehoiada Athaliah slain Baal's house pull'd down Jehoiada's good instruction of him Collection for the Temple Jehoiada dies Joash's Idolatry Zachariah ston'd The Syrians vanquish him His death 9. Amaziah p. 541. He begins well His war with Edom and victory His Idolatry Joash King of Israel defeats him Amaziah slain 10. Vzziah p. 546. His Coronation He recovers Elath Conquers the Philistines His herds and husbandry Isaiah Prophesies Also Joel Vzziah's pride leprosie and death 11. Jotham p. 554. He subdues the Ammonites Micah Prophesies Jotham dies 12. Ahaz p. 555. His wickedness Syria and Israel invade him Isaiah sent to him Jerusalem's siege rais'd Ahaz forsakes the Lord. His calamities His league with Assyria and death 13. Hezekiah p. 563. His goodness and reformation He shakes off the Assyrian yoke Jerusalem besieged Rabshakeh's blasphemy Hezekiah's prayer Isaiah's message to him Hezekiah's sickness His thanksgiving The Assyrians destroyed Ambassadors from Babylon come to him Manasses born Nahum's Prophesie Hezekiah dies 14. Manasses p. 595. His great Idolatry He is taken captive shortly after is restored His reformation Habakkuk's Prophesie Manasseh dies 15. Amon p. 600. His Idolatry and death 16. Josiah p. 601. His piety Jeremiah Prophesies The Book of the Law found Huldah the Prophetess Josiah throws down Idolatry He goes to Bethel and other places His solemn Passover His death greatly lamented Zephany's Prophesie 17. Shallum or Jehoahaz pag. 611. His Idolatry Jeremy's admonition to him Pharaoh Necho carries him away 18. Jehoiakim p. 612. His Idolatry and oppression Jeremy exhorts him to repentance Vriah's Prophesie Jeremy's bonds and yokes Baruch's roll Nebuchadnezzar conquers the Egyptians Jehoiakim taken prisoner Daniel and others carried to Babylon Jehoiakim burns the roll Nebuchadnezzar returns home His dream of the great Image made of four metals Jehoiakim revolts The Golden Image set up by Nebuchadnezzar to be worshipped Jehoiakim dies 19. Jehoiakin p. 617. His Captivity Cyrus born 20. Zedekiah reigns p. 618. His wickedness Jeremy Prophesies Several Ambassadors come to Zedekiah Hananiah a false Prophet Jeremy's Letter to the Captives in Babylon Shemaiah a false Prophet inveighs against him Jeremy prophesies his death Ezekel's first vision Jerusalem besieged His other visions His Types Zedekiah revolts Judea is invaded Ezekiel's wife dies for whom he is commanded not to mourn Jeremy imprisoned Jerusalem's siege raised The Egyptians are overthrown and the siege renew'd Jeremy put into the dungeon Ezekiel prophesies again Jerusalem taken The Temple burnt The Kingdom of Judah come to an end Kings of Israel 1. Jeroboam chosen by the ten Tribes he fortifies Shechem Sets up the Golden Calves A Prophet sent to him who declares against his Altar His hand withers The Prophet being seduced a Lion slays him Jeroboam's son falls sick and dies His own death 2. Nadab an evil King slain by Baasha p. 508. 3. Baasha reigns p. 509. He doth evil He builds Ramah Jehu's message to him Baasha dies 4. Elah reigns two years p. 511. Zimri slays him 5. Zimri burnt p. 511. 6. Omri made King His Idolatry and burial p. 512. 7. Ahab p. 512. He marries Jezabel Jericho rebuilt Obadiah hides the Prophets Elijah's miracles Elisha called Benhadad conquered A Prophet reproves Ahab Naboth's Vineyard Elijah meets Ahab Ahab slain at Ramoth-Gilead Moab revolts 8. Ahaziah p. 543. His fall His message to Baalzebub Elijah brings down fire upon two companies of fifty He dies 9. Jehoram p. 545. He maintains the Golden Calves Elijah's Translation Elisha takes up his Mantle Elisha's Miracles The Moabites destroy one another The King of Edom sacrifices his Son Elisha works more Miracles A sore famine in Samaria It s miraculous relief The Shunamite returns Benhadad sends to Elisha Hazael stifles Benhadad Jehoram recovers Ramoth-Gilead Jehu anointed Joram slain Ahaziah slain Jezabel's death 10. Jehu made King p. 585. The slaughter of Ahab's off-spring
Boils and Blains breaking out upon them So that they were forced to go away and cease fighting against God But yet Pharaoh's heart was so hardned that he would not let the people go for all this Exod. Ch. 9. from 8. to vers 13. Seventh Plague Hail 7. Some few days after God sends Moses again to Pharaoh to require him to let his people go that they may serve him and to let him know that though his Hand had been already heavy upon him yet there were far sorer Plagues still behind which he had determined to bring upon him and his people if he continued obstinate and which should sting him to the very heart And these he would presently pour forth thick and threefold upon him that he might know there is no God like to the great Jehovah in all the World Moses is further commanded to speak thus to Him from the Lord I have stretched out my Hand and destroyed a great part of thy Cattel by Murrain and Pestilence and I should have destroyed thee and thy people thereby also (p) Sic ergo vertendum v. 16. Modo enim cum extendi manum meam percussissem non tantum pecus sed te etiam populum tuum veruntamen seci ut restares c. J. T. as you well deserved but that I have raised thee up for this very purpose that the World might see my Justice in punishing of thee and my Power in my Conquest over thee And dost thou yet so impudently exalt thy self against Me and my People Behold about this time to morrow I will cause it to rain a very grievous Hail upon Thee such as hath not been in Egypt since it became a Land inhabited by Misraim Son of Cham who gave Name to that People and Country And Moses the more to set forth the terrour of this Plague that was coming upon them advises the Egyptians to send for and get home their Cattel and Servants and all that they had in the Field For all that was found there would be destroyed by the Hail Some of Pharaoh's Servants believed this threatening of the Lord and got their Servants and Cattel into houses and so had them preserved but Others regarded it not On the morrow Moses stretched forth his Rod towards Heaven and the Lord sent Thunder and Hail mixed with Fire that ran upon the ground which destroyed not only a great part of their Corn viz. the Barley (q) V. 32. But the Wheat and the Rie were not smitten for they were not grown up that is so much as the Barley It seems in Egypt they sowed their Barley at the same time with their Wheat which we do not and there the Barley would be by far the forwardest Hordeo laeso incolume mansit triticum quippe cum hordei culmus aliquantum arefactus adeoque induratus non cederet grandini sed obniteretur itaque frangebatur Triticum autem tenerum adhuc in herba velut abditum licet non sub terra lenta flexilique sua mollitia procellae impetum devitavit Drufius that was eared and the Flax that was boll'd and in the Stalk and their Herbs but brake a great part of their Trees and killed both Man and Beast that were in the Storm vers 25. so saith the Psalmist Psal 78.47 48. He destroyed their Vines with Hail and their Sycamore-Trees with Hail-stones He gave up their Cattel also to the Hail and their Flocks to the Thunderbolts And this dreadful Hail fell on all the Land of Egppt only in the Land of Goshen there was none Pharaoh terrified with this dreadful Judgment sent for Moses and Aaron and told them He did now plainly see and accordingly did acknowledge That he (r) The Wicked do sometimes confess their sins to God's Glory but will not truly repent and reform that they may be received to Mercy had sinned against God and confess'd That God was Righteous and he and his people wicked He desires them therefore to pray unto the Lord to remove this Judgment and that there might be no more such dreadful Thunder and Hail and he would let them go they should stay no longer Moses promises as soon as he should be out of the City he would stretch forth his hands in prayer to the Lord. He knew by Inspiration from God that then the Thunder and Hail should immediately cease and Pharaoh might hereby be instructed that the Earth is the Lord's and the whole Creation is at his disposal But as for thee and thy Servants says he I know before-hand that ye will be never a whit the better for the removal of this Judgment And the event proved it to be so For when upon Moses's prayer the Thunder and Hail seased the heart of Pharaoh and his Servants were hardened as before and they would not let the people go Exod. Ch. 9. from 13. to the end Eighth Plague Locusts 8. About the seventh day of this Month God sent Moses to Pharaoh again telling him He had hardened (s) See Sect. 58. his heart and the hearts of his Servants that he might glorifie his Power and Justice in bringing more signal Judgments on him However though Pharaoh be obstinate yet thou Moses says God shalt for a remembrance of my Power and Justice declare to thy Children and Childrens Children the Wonders I have done in Egypt upon Pharaoh and his people that so you in your several Generations may know and be assured that I am the Lord. Then Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh again and expostulating with him asked him How long he would refuse to humble himself before the Lord and keep his people from going to serve him They tell him If he continued still obstinate on the morrow the Lord would send Grashoppers and Locusts into all his Quarters and they should be sent in such vast numbers that they should in a manner cover the face of the Earth from man's sight and should devour the residue of the Grass Herbs and what was green on the Trees and the Wheat and Corn which had escaped the Hail and they should fill his house and the houses of his Servants and of all the Egyptians in such a manner that neither he nor his Ancestors nor any that lived in Egypt before him did ever see such vast numbers of Locusts nor any that did did so much mischief as these should do And Moses and Aaron when they had delivered their Message came away and left him Then Pharaoh's Courtiers and Servants said to him How long shall this man Moses be a Snare to us that is an Instrument and means to bring Ruine and Destruction upon us We beseech thee lâ—t these people go Seest thou not that the Land is already almost ruined by the Plagues and Judgments that have been brought upon us Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron again to him and told them He was content they should go and serve the Lord their God But then recalling himself He
him not a man among them would open his mouth for him or do any thing to prevent the danger he was in however Jonathan that truly loved him resolv'd to speak for him and therefore he said to his Father Let not the King sin against his servant against David for he hath not sinned against thee but his works and deeds have been very good towards thee for he put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine and the Lord wrought a great Salvation for all Israel thereby thou sawest it and didst rejoice therein Wherefore then wilt thou sin against God and shed innocent blood and slay David without a cause How high a degree of ingratitude and injustice will it be so ill to requite so noble an exploit which did at that time so exceedingly affect thee Saul was so melted with these words of Jonathan that he solemnly sware to him at that time that David should not die but great and frequent swearers do often forget what they have sworn and do not stick to forswear themselves and break their Oaths as we shall see Saul soon did However Jonathan not knowing what was in his heart calls David and acquaints him with what his Father had said and promised and so he brought him again to the Court and he was in the presence of Saul as in time past During his continuing there the Philistines again made an inroad into the Land and David went out and fought against them with great courage and slew them with a great slaughter and the rest of them fled to their own Country Ch. 19. from 1 to 9. 6ly The evil spirit being again upon Saul and he having a Javelin in his hand as David played upon his harp before him in a frantick fit he ran his Javelin so violently at him as if he intended to have pinned him to the wall but David nimbly avoiding the stroke the Javelin ran into the wall And this was the third time that Saul had sought to kill him with his own hand David therefore thought it now high time to shift for himself and so he left the Court and went to his own house From v. 9 to 11. 7ly Saul then sent messengers to David's house to lye in wait about the house in the night and to slay him in the morning when he came out Michal either casually discovering Saul's servants watching about the house and guessing at their errand or else having some secret intelligence from Court of Saul's design against her husband she acquaints David with it that he might look to himself and then to prevent his present danger she let him down thorough a window * See Act. 9.25 and so he fled and escaped And further to delude the watchmen if by violence they should break into the house and to gain longer time for David to escape she laid an Image (b) Humanam quidem non Idololatricam qualis illa Gen. 31.19 in a bed and put a pillow of Goats-hair under the head of it and covered it with a cloth thereby intending to make them believe that David was sick in bed and therefore in all humanity at present not to be disturb'd When the messengers whom Saul had sent to watch about the house had waited till morning and saw he came not forth as they expected they went and told Saul of it who sent them back again with a new commission to enter his house and take him Michal thinking sickness a fair pretence to keep them from too eager pressing upon him that she might gain the more time for his escape told them he was sick in bed they thinking it had been so returned and acquainted Saul therewith Saul suspecting it was but a pretence of Michal's to preserve her husband sends them back again to see whither it was so or no however if he were sick he charges them to bring him with them though they brought him in his bed They coming again to the house and going up to lay hold on him behold there was no David but only an Image in the bed They then carry Michal before Saul who angerly asks her why she had deceived him and sent away his enemy she answers He threatned to kill her if she would not let him go Here by the way we may observe that though her intire love to her husband be highly to be commended yet her telling lyes to preserve him cannot be excused and further we may take notice that if people once allow themselves in lying it will encrease upon them and one lye will draw on another and a lesser will draw on a greater and. louder as we see here in this example of Michal who first told an officious lye as they call it to save her husband and now tells a pernicious lye to save her self she should rather have imitated her brave brother Jonathans example who spake boldly to his father in defence of her husbands innocence From 11 to 18. David was so affected with this deliverance that he composed the 59 Psalm upon this occasion of Saul's sending to his house to kill him as may appear by the Title 8ly David thus escaping fled to Ramah to acquaint Samuel with all that had passed and with what Saul had done unto him and to crave his advice and counsel in these dangers and difficulties Hereupon he and Samuel went down to Naioth near Ramah where was a Colledg of Prophets but some body or other quickly informed Saul that David was come thither and he presently sent messengers to take him there when the messengers came thither and found the Prophets prophecying that is praising God with Psalms and Hymns and speaking of Divine matters and Samuel among them sitting as President over them and governing this holy assembly the Spirit of the Lord fell upon them and they instead of apprehending David which was the business they were sent about prophesied also Saul hearing of this sent other messengers upon the same errand a second and a third time and they prophesied * The like example we have in the High-Priests Officers who were sent to apprehend Christ Joh. 7.45 46. also that is praised God with Psalms and Hymns and magnified his name as the other before had done Saul might by this miracle have been convinc'd of his sin and folly in pursuing after David when he saw him thus miraculously preserved and protected by God but being thus disappointed by his messengers and his heart being hardened he resolves to go thither himself and to fetch David thence even out of his Sanctuary but it fell out quite contrary to his expectation for whereas his messengers did not prophesie till they came into the company of the Prophets at Naioth the Spirit of the Lord now falling upon him he prophesied †Donum Prophetandi aliquando Impiis concedit Deus ut Balaamo vide Mat. 7.22 before he came thither even in the way and was chang'd from a Persecutor into a Prophet which plainly
is like they had brought the Tabernacle with all the things appertaining to it from Gibeon The Priests * 2 Chron. 5.4 'T is said the Levites took up the Ark because the Priests were also Levites that is of the Tribe of Levi. took up the Ark on their shoulders the Levites according to their several appointed ranks carried the Tabernacle with the boards and curtains and the holy vessels belonging thereunto The King and the Elders walked after in a solemn procession to Mount Moriah (a) The Temple to speak properly was not built on Mount Sion but on Mount Moriah but because the whole City of Jerusalem is usually called Sion and Mount Sion from that Mount that was a chief part of it thence it is that the Temple Gods dwelling place is usually said to have been in Sion where the Temple was built whither being come the Priests carried the Ark into the Oracle or most holy place and set it under the wings of the Golden Cherubims But they drew out the staves of the Ark something from under the wings of the Cherubims that they might be seen in the holy place which was before the Oracle but they were not seen as taken out of the Ark 2 Chron. 5.9 And possibly these staves were the rather thus disposed to remember the people that if they brake Gods Covenant the staves yet remained within the rings of the Ark ready to bear away the Symbol of Gods gracious presence from them The Levites also disposed those things which they carried belonging to the (b) The Tabernacle was carried about in the Wilderness forty years it remained in Gilgal about fourteen years it remain'd in Shiloh till Samuels time 1 Sam. 4.4 it then remain'd in Nob till Saul destroyed that place 1 Sam. 22.19 it was in Gibeon all Davids time from thence it was brought into Zion and from thence into the Treasuries of the Temple Tabernacle into the Treasuries of the Temple there to remain as Sacred things not again to be removed When the Priests had set the Ark in its place and were come out immediately an hundred and twenty of them with silver Trumpers and the Levite-singers viz. Asaph Heman and Jeduthun with their Sons and Brethren being arrayed in white linnen and having Cymbals Psalteries and Harps in their hands stood at the East-end of the Altar and the Trumpets sounding and they playing on their Instruments and lifting up their voices with one consent and making one melodious harmony sang as it seems the 136 Psalm the burden of which is For he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Whilst they were thus employed suddenly the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud which was an extraordinary manifestation of the presence of God 2 Chron. 5.14 't is said the glory of God filled the house which intimated that the brightness of his glory was such that if it were not clouded over no mortal eyes could behold it It seems the cloud was such and so amazing that the Priests could not continue to minister in the Sanctuary where the cloud was and by this visible sign of his presence the Lord did sanctifie to himself this place see Exod. 40.34 and shewed his approbation of all that was done Solomon standing upon a Brazen Scaffold made for him in the outward Court right before the door of the Priests Court through which he might look and apprehending this cloud to be a manifestation of Gods gracious presence and acceptance of the house he had built for his service in a rapture of joy he brake out into these words The Lord said he is pleased to dwell in thick darkness Levit. 16.2 and by a cloud he hath usually testified his presence among his people as when he led the Israelites by a cloud Exod. 13.21 In a cloud he appeared at the giving of the Law Exod. 19.16 In a cloud he appeared that covered and filled the Tabernacle as soon as it was reared up by Moses Exod. 40.34 and therefore doubtless in this cloud the Lord doth now appear unto us and testifies his favourable acceptance of our service in building this house for his name Then directing his speech to God he said O Lord I have built a Temple for thee to manifest thy gracious presence in an house not to be removed as the Tabernacle was but a setled place for thee to abide in (c) Officium Templi non est prastare Deo habitationem sed hominibus directionem ad soliâ—m divinum sempiteruâ—â— quod in câ—lo est Cajet to be there ready on all occasions to resolve us in such cases as we shall humbly propound unto thee and to hear such prayers as we shall make unto thee and to grant such blessings as we shall humbly crave of thee and to accept such sacrifices and services as we shall there offer up and present unto thee And O Lord I pray thee accept this house for thine and ever manifest thy gracious presence therein as long as this dispensation we are now under shall last and till the truth of this type shall be exhibited Then the King turned his face to the people standing about him and blessed them and said Blessed and praised be the Lord God of Israel who spake to David my Father that I should build a Temple for his great name and hath by his good hand upon me enabled me to do it The Lord also said since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt I chose no City out of all their Tribes in which I appointed an house to be built that my name might be there in a peculiar manner worshipped But having chosen David to be King over my people it was in his heart to build an house for my name And thereupon I said to him whereas it was in thine heart to build an house to my name I like it well that it was in thine heart to do it Nevertheless thou shalt not build this house for me but thy Son that shall come out of thy loins he shall build it And the Lord hath now graciously performed the word that he spake and I am risen up in my fathers room to sit on the Throne of Israel and have built an house for the Lord as he promised I should do and an abiding place for the Ark wherein are the two Tables of the Law which the Lord gave as a Covenant to his people requiring obedience on their part and promising many blessings on his part to the obedient Then Solomon turned his face towards the Altar of Burnt-offering and towards the most holy place and having stood a while he then kneeled down and spreading forth his hands towards heaven poured forth this Divine Prayer saying O Lord God of Israel there is no God like thee in heaven above or in earth beneath who keepest Covenant and shewest mercy to thy servants that walk before thee in the integrity of their hearts Thou hast kept thy
and upon this thy people and let thine ears be attentive unto the supplications we shall make unto thee and hearken to us in all that we shall pray unto thee for according to thy will For thou didst separate us unto thy self from among all the Nations of the earth to be thy peculiar people and inheritance as thou spakest by thy servant Moses Solomon having ended this his devout prayer rose up from his knees and standing with his face toward the Temple he repeated part of the 132 Psalm saying Arise O Lord and take possession of this house which I have built for thee as a resting place and fixt habitation and not an ambulatory and moving one as the Tabernacle was And let thy Ark whereon thou dost manifest thy glory (e) Psal 78.61 He delivereth his strength into captivity and his glory into the enemies hands strength and power for the good of thy people be here setled and constantly abide Let thy Priests O Lord God be clothed and adorned with such graces as may bring salvation to themselves (f) Psal 132.9 This clause is thus expressed Let thy Priests be clothed with righteousness and may enable them to be instrumental in the saving of others and let thy Saints rejoice in thy goodness and favour manifested unto them O Lord God hear me I pray thee and turn not away the face of thine anointed with shame and confusion by denying me my request but remember the promises thy mercy moved thee to make to David my Father and to his posterity Solomon having ended his prayers the Sacrifices were brought in and laid upon the Altar and immediately fire came down from Heaven and consumed them and the glory of the Lord probably covered with a cloud filled the house and such an orient splendour shone through it that the Priests could by no means enter into the Temple The people seeing the fire came down from Heaven and the glory of the Lord upon the house they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground and worshipped and praised God and sang as 't is probable the 136 Psalm as the Singers had done before the burthen or foot whereof was For he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Then Solomon turned his face and blessed all the Congregation of Israel again as he had done at the beginning and said Blessed be the Lord God who hath given rest to his people Israel as he promised of old And indeed he hath not failed of performing any of his gracious promises which he made to his people by the ministry of his servant Moses Now therefore the Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers and let him not leave us nor forsake us but let him incline our hearts to walk in his ways and to keep his commandments * Viz. The Moral Ceremonial and Judicial Laws statutes and judgments which he commanded our Fathers And let my words wherewith I have made supplication to the Lord this day be in his mind and memory continually that he may maintain the cause of me his servant and the cause of his people Israel at all times as the matter shall require and as it shall appear just and equal to him that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord he is the only true God from whom all blessings come and that there is no other God besides him Let your heart therefore be upright and sincere before the Lord and walk in his statutes and keep his commandments as now you do Then the King the Princes and people offered abundance of Peace-offerings (a) They were call'd Peace-offerings because God having bestowed some benefit upon them seemed to be appeased towards them and they were offered as a kind of retribution and to return thanks to God for it And in offering the same they also testified their hope that God was reconciled towards them to the Lord and kept this feast of Dedication seven days During which time they offered unto the Lord two and twenty thousand oxen and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep By a multitude of Sacrifices the pious Jews were wont to testifie their zealous and grateful affection towards God and we never read of any Sacrifice like this And thus Solomon the Princes and people by their joint prayers praises and sacrifices dedicated the house of God and set it apart for his worship and service And they rejoiced before the Lord seven days and seven that is they kept the first seven days as the Feast of Dedication and the next seven as the Feast of Tabernacles And the day after Solomon dismissed the people to their own homes and they blessed the King and prayed unto the Lord for him and went home with joyful and glad hearts rejoicing in the goodness which the Lord had manifested to the house of David and to Solomon and to all the people of Israel 1 King Ch. 8. whole Chapter 1 Chron. Ch. 5. whole Chapter 1 Chron. Ch. 6. whole Chapter 2 Chron. Ch. 7. from v. 1 to 11. SECT III. SHortly after * Some read 1 King 9.1 And it came to pass when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord and afterwards finished the Kings house and all his desire which he was pleased to do that the Lord appeared to him the second time c. Solomon had made that devout prayer before mentioned the Lord as it seems appeared to him in a dream (b) Ch. 6.11 We read that the word of the Lord came to Solomon but that was by some messenger or Prophet sent unto him but this was the second time that the Lord appeared to him in a Vision as he had done before at Gibeon 1 King 3.4 5. and the Lord said I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication which thou hast made before me and I have hallowed this house and set it apart to those holy uses which thou didst intend it for and it shall be called by my name as long as it shall last and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually I will always be ready to take notice of the prayers there made and the services there performed and will graciously accept them And if I shall shut up heaven at any time so that there be no rain or send the locusts or pestilence among my people that are called by my name if they shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear in heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land And if thou wilt walk before me in integrity and uprightness as thy Father David did and keep my statutes and judgments then I will establish the Throne of thy Kingdom for ever that is thou and thy posterity shall continue time after time to be Kings over Israel so as no other stock but thine shall sit on that Throne so long as the Kingdom of Judah shall remain as I
promised and covenanted with David thy Father See Ch. 8.25 But if thou or thy posterity fail on your part to perform the conditions annext to my promise and shall turn away obstinately and totally from following after me and shall renounce me and my service and will not keep my commandments and statutes which I have made known unto you and set before you to walk in but shall go and serve other Gods and worship them then will I cut off †Thus was the Kingdom of Israel dealt with 2 King 17.20 Israel from the land which I have given them as a rotten branch and pluck them up by the roots and this house which I have hallowed for my name will I cast out of my sight out of my favour and protection and Israel shall be a proverb and a by-word (c) As in the time of the Babylonish Captivity the Jews were a scorn to all Nations but much more since the last destruction of their City and Temple by the Romans and so their great glory was turn'd into vile contempt among the people And as for this house which is now so high in all external glory every one that passeth by shall be astonished at the destruction of it and shall hiss at it in scorn and shall ask why hath the Lord done thus unto this land and this house and they shall receive this answer because the inhabitants thereof have forsaken the Lord their God who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt and have betaken themselves to the worship of other Gods whose worship they pertinaciously hold fast and will not depart from it Therefore the Lord brought upon them all these great evils 1 King 9. fr. v. 2 to 11. 2 Chron. 7. fr. v. 11. to the end SECT IV. SOlomon having thus finished the Temple he now falls in hand with the building of a Palace for himself in Jerusalem and built also a stately summer-Summer-house in Lebanon 5. Ch. 7. from v. 2. to 7. and an house for his Queen the daughter of Pharaoh and his own Throne so splendid and sumptuous that there was none like it In the 13th year after the Temple was built he made an end of these buildings Before his Palace he built a stately Porch of Judgment wherein was to be set his great and Royal Throne wherein he sat in state to judg the people This Throne was a stately and magnificent piece it was made of Ivory and in several parts of it overlaid with pure Gold so as the white Ivory and glittering Gold gave a fair luster the one to the other and made it appear the more glorious The Throne had six steps to it and so was a yard and half from the ground It had a round stately Canopy or covering over it and stayes or Elbows on each side and a Footstool of Gold for the King to set his feet upon * Calcatas opes scabellum designat aureum Two Lions stood on the outside of the Elbows for support and ornament And there were placed twelve Lions besides that stood six on the one side and six on the other of the steps or stairs and standing at an equal distance one from another were the more glorious to behold There was not the like Throne for costliness and exquisite workmanship in any Kingdom of the world The Lions signified the power majesty undaunted boldness courage and magnanimity that ought to be in Princes as also the great vigilancy and watchfulness that ought to be in them so that they had need to wake while others sleep as 't is said of Lions that they sleep always with their eyes open they might signifie also that good Princes are protected by the special Providence of God and their Thrones guarded with Lions 1 King 10. from 18 to 21. Besides this stately Throne he made also two hundred Targets (a) Targets were large Shields such as Captains used to have carried before them that as occasion served they might take and use for the defence of their bodies against Arrows Darts Javelins and such like piercing weapons But Shields were less than Targets and they used to carry them on their left arm for their own defence of beaten Gold not for service but for pomp and state to set forth his Royal Majesty and Greatness These it is likely were ordinarily hung up in his great Hall or Armory and at certain times carried before him by his Guard as afterwards the Brazen ones that were made in the room of these were carried before Rehoboam See 1 King 14.27 He made also three hundred Shields of beaten Gold and three hundred shekels (b) A shekel of silver was in weight half an ounce and in worth 2 sh 6 d. The Jews prized Gold at ten times the value of Silver so a shekel of Gold was 25 sh By this account every Target weighed 25 pounds Troy and was worth 750 l. Sterling of Gold went to make one of them so that the Shields were not above half so big as the Targets which weighed each of them 600 shekels All these he put into the house of the Forrest of Lebanon which for civil use was the most sumptuous building that Solomon made and his Magnificence and Royalty was therein most manifested and accordingly those Golden Targets and Shields were there placed But he that shall consider how soon these Golden Tarkets and Shields became a prey to the enemy will be apt to think there was an excess of pomp in them which was not well-pleasing to God And furthermore all the drinking vessels cups platters basons spoons c. that were used in the house of Lebanon were all of pure Gold this house being made for delight and the glory of his Kingdom none of them were of silver silver †V. 21. Silver was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon This is an Hyperbolical speech for silver was brought to Solomon time after time by Ships v. 22. and given him as an acceptable present v. 25. So that hereby only the great abundance he had of Gold and Silver is intimated comparatively was not esteemed of for plate in Solomon's time for they having such abundance of Gold most of their Plate was made of that metal and silver-plate but little esteemed of in those days But we must speak more particularly of this house of the forrest of Lebanon It was so call'd as being a kind of abridgment of that famous Forrest afar off from Jerusalem and containing in it and in the groves and gardens about it all the delights and pleasures of that Forrest and something more viz. solitary walks sweet musick of birds wild beasts curious water-works and all manner of other delightful things See Eccles 2.4 5 6. And it seems this house was also the chief store-house and magazine of Armes which the Kings of Judah had as appears from Isa 22.8 Thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the Forrest
much of the Book of Ecclesiastes SECT XVII GOD threatned Solomon 2 Sam. 7.13 14 15. That if he committed iniquity he would chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men but his mercy should not depart from him And accordingly he now stirred up three Adversaries (a) Though Solomon's enemies had herein their own ends yet the Lord us'd them as instruments of his Justice to punish his revolt against him 1. Hadad the Edomite When David subdued the Edomites 't is said 2 Sam. 8.14 He put Garrisons through all Edom and they became his servants And at this time as it seems whilst Joab pursued his victory slaying all the males where he came Hadad then being very young was hid and afterwards secretly carried away by some of his Fathers servants who also took some out of Paran that lay in the way to attend him into Egypt where he was kindly entertained by Pharaoh who gave him an house and lands and appointed him victuals and a constant Table and in time he came to be in so great favour with him that he gave him to wife his own Queens sister who bare him a Son that was educated in Pharaoh's house When this Hadad heard in Egypt that David and Joab were dead he desired leave of Pharaoh to return into his own Country Pharaoh askt him what he lacked there He said nothing However I desire to return to my own Country that I may recover my Kingdom again Pharaoh hearing this kindly dismissed him and he came to his own Country where he was received for their King Yet 't is manifest he attempted nothing against Solomon for a long time after this For till Solomon's fall in his old age his enemies stirred not see 1 King 5.4 so that 't is like Hadad at first made some Covenant with Solomon and was his Tributary for his Kingdom but at last he stirred against him and created him much trouble yet he was not able quite to shake off his yoke for the Edomites continued Tributaries to the Kings of Judah till Jehoram's reign 2 Chron. 21.10 2ly God stirred up another enemy against Solomon viz. Rezon who when David had gotten the better of his Master in battel and had vanquished the Syrians see 2 Sam. 10.18 he gathered together such of them as were put to flight ande made himself Captain over them and for some time t is like lived by robbing and pillaging till Solomon's declining days And though 't is not like that Solomon lost any thing of that which his Father had gotten till himself fell from God yet then it seems Rezon took courage to set upon Damascus into which David had put a Garrison 2 Sam. 8.6 and took it from Solomon and there reigned as King So that Solomon had now one enemy in the North and another in the South 3ly A third enemy whom God stirred up against him was Jeroboam his own servant of the Tribe of Ephraim who had been raised and preferred by him And the occasion of his rise was this Solomon when he built Millo of which see Ch. 9.15 and repaired the breaches in Zion the City of David going out often to see * The Masters eye they say makes the horse fat and the servant to sweat his workmen and to encourage them to diligence he observed Jeroboam who was then but a young man to be very active and industrious in those labours and services he was set about whereupon Solomon taking a liking to him preferred him and in time made him Receiver or Treasurer for all the Kings revenue in the two Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh Upon a time when he went out of Jerusalem to execute his Office it happened that the Prophet Ahijah †He who with some others penned the Acts of Solomon 2 Chron. 9.29 the Shilonite who had clad himself with a new garment met him and desired some private conference with him and when they were alone he took off his new garment and rent it into twelve pieces according to the number of the Tribes of Israel and gave ten of them to Jeroboam saying Thus saith the Lord I will rend the Kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten Tribes to thee because they (b) Solomon giving way to his wives Idolatry proved a snare to the people and occasioned their revolt from God and in this rent the people suffered as well as Rehoboam the rent in the Kingdom proving an occasion of continual Wars between Judah and Israel which brought in many miseries from foreign Nations upon both Kingdoms have forsaken me and worshipped Ashtaroth and Chemosh and Moloch and have not walked in my ways to do that which was right in mine eyes and to keep my statutes and judgments as did David my servant Howbeit I will not take the Kingdom from Solomon while he lives but he shall be King thereof all his days for David my servants sake whom I chose because he kept my commandments and my statutes But I will take the Kingdom out of his Sons hands viz. ten Tribes of it and will give them unto thee And unto his Son will I give one intire Tribe viz. Judah with Simeon (a) Ac proinde Synecdochice includitur Nam e Benjamine tantum pars penes eum fuit Jeroboamo cesserunt Bethel Ephraim quae erant oppida Benjaminis that is mixt with it together with the greatest part of the Tribe of Benjamin that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem that is a Royal glory shining in one of his posterity who as a light may shine before the people and direct them as long as that Kingdom shall last See 2 Sam. 21.17 1 King 15.4 and that in Jerusalem where my Temple is built and where my name is solemnly call'd upon and which is called after my name the City of God And I will take thee and make thee King over the Ten Tribes and thou shalt be a Soveraign King and not under any Superiour on earth so that thou maist reign according as thy soul desireth And if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee and wilt walk in my ways and do that which is right in my sight to keep my statutes and commandments as David my servant did I will be with thee and build thee a sure house that is so establish thy Kingdom that it shall continue in thy posterity as I promised to David And though I will by this division of the Kingdom sorely afflict the house of David yet I will not do it for ever For though they shall be carried into captivity yet they shall be brought back again and the Messiah shall at last be born of the seed of David who shall continue to reign most gloriously for ever Ahijah having delivered what God commanded him to Jeroboam took his leave of him How Jeroboam was affected with this surprizing message we may easily imagine It seems he