commandement of the Lord he made a league with him Gen. 31. 4 From mount Gilead hee went to Mahanaim which is 16 miles and there he met with the Angels of God Gen. 31. 5 From Mahanaim he passed the water and went to Penuel which is foure miles and there wrestled with the Angel of God Gen. 32. 6 From Penuel hee went to Succoth where hee pitched his Tents 2 miles Gen. 33. 7 From Succoth hee passed the riuer of Iordan and went to Sichem not far from Salem about eight miles where his daughter Dinah was rauished Gen. 33. 8 From thence he went to Bethel which is eight and twenty miles Gen. 31. 9 From Bethel he went to Bethlehem Euphrata which is twelue miles in which way Rachel died and was buried not farre from Bethlehem then Iacob went forward and set vp his Tents neere to the Tower of Eder a mile from Bethlehem towards the South Gen. 35. 10 From Bethlehem Euphrata and the Tower of Eder he returned againe to the valley of Mamre neere Hebron to his father Isaac which is 20 miles Gen. 35. 11 From Hebron hee went to Beersaba which is 16 miles Gen. 38. 12 From Beersaba he went to the Towne of Ony a little off Aegypt in the land of Gossen which is 168 miles where Ioseph his sonne gaue him honourable entertainement Gen. 46. 13 From Ony he went to the citie * This was the chiefe Citie of Aegypt Zoan which is also called Tanis 28 miles where he was presented to K. Pharaoh Gen. 47. 14 From Tanis he returned to Ony which is 28 miles and there he dwelt and dyed in the land of Gossen Gen. 49. The Description of the Townes and places to which Iacob trauelled Of Bethel BEthel was a Towne in the Tribe of Benjamin eight miles from Ierusalem toward the North and signifies The house of God In times past it was called Luz but Iacob seeing in that place the vision of the Ladder with the Angells ascending and descending vpon it and because there the Lord renued the couenant with him concerning his seed and the comming of Christ he therefore called it Bethel Afterward Ieroboam hauing vnlawfully vsurpt the kingdome of Rehoboham caused a calfe to be set vp there for which cause it was then called Bethauen which signifieth the house of sinne and abhominable offence Vatablus is of opinion that there are two Bethels one in the tribe of Benjamin the other in the tribe of Ephraim both not far from Hay but if this should be granted then these two townes should stand within two miles one of the other which seemeth very absurd therefore I dare boldly affirme that there was but one Bethel which stood vpon the borders of Benjamin and Ephraim both tribes bordering vpon the South side of the towne of Luz Iosh 16. 18. This towne of Bethel was at first in the Suburbs of Lue vntill the diuision of the tribes for then both these Tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin ending in that place so much increased this town that they became both one city and so were called Bethel Ie. 28. 35. Iosh 7. 18. From hence there is a two-fold mistery to be apprehended the first of Iacob whose sleeping in this place vpon a stone caused this Citie or Towne to be built and to retaine the name of Bethel that is The house of God So whosoeuer seekes to haue eternall life must rest vpon that corner stone Christ Iesus the sonne of the euerliuing God and by faith bee incorporated into the Church which is the house of God of which Christ the Annointed of the Lord is both King and Priest for euer Secondly as Iacob resting vpon this corner stone saw the Angels ascending and descending from heauen vnto earth so by this incorporation into the body of the Church of which Christ is the head by Faith and Baptisme our soules are made capable to ascend into that heauenly Tabernacle which he hath prepared for all those that beleeue according to that in Iohn 14. I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth vnto the father but by me only And whosoeuer is assured of this ladder that reacheth from heauen vnto earth may well say with Iacob surely the Lord Iesus Christ is in this place here is nothing but the house of God and here is the gate of heauen as Christ himselfe testifieth in the tenth of Iohn I am the doore and whosoeuer entreth not by me c. So that Christ is the head of his Church the ladder that ascendeth into heauen and the doore whereby we may enter into eternall life Of Gilead THis land of Gilead was a country that lay betweene Iordan and the mountaine of Gilead or rather betweene the sea of Galilee and the mount Gilead sixtie miles from Ierusalem towards the Southeast for the mountaines of Gilead beginning at mount Gilead extended thence vnto Arabia the stony and seperated the countrey of Israel beyond Iordan from the countrey of the Amonites But that part which lyeth betweene the Sea of Galilee and Ammon is properly called Gilead for when Iacob and Laban made a couenant either with other in the mount Gilead they gathered a heape of stones and making a banquet eat together vpon it Gen. 13. and from thence that mountain and all the countrey thereabouts tooke the name For Laban in the Syrian tongue is called IEGAR SAHADVTA the heap of couenant But Iacob in the Hebrew language called that mountain together with all the Countrie thereabouts Galeed or Galaad the heape of testimonie for Gal signifieth a heape or graue and Galal He rolled or hee thrust into a round heape From whence the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to roule and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a circle is deriued Also Edah signifies testomonie with the Hebrewes being deriued from Id which signifies testaetus est that is he beareth witnesse and from hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the Grecians is deriued which signifieth a witnesse This land of Gilead was very fertile and pleasant being adorned with many Castles and strong Cities And in this countrey the Prophet Eliah was taken vp into heauen in a fierie Chariot 1 Reg. 17.2 Reg. 2. The Graecians call this Decapolin from ten cities that are strongly built in that countrey Marc. 7. Of Machanaim MAchanaim was a Citie of the Leuites in the Tribe of Gad neere to the floud of Iordan and Iaboch fortie foure miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast and scituate in the land of Gilead beyond Iordan being so called of the Patriarch Iacob because there he saw the Tents and Armie of Angels which he vnderstood to be his assistants against his brother Esau whom hee feared Genesis 31. For Chana signifieth Castrametatus est that is the Tents are measured out from whence Machanaim is the proper name of a place being deriued from two Tents of Angels which appeared to Iacob That they might defend him in his journey For the Angels of God compasseth
the World vpon most high mountaines and rockes like an earthly Paradise a liuely figure of the euerlasting Citie of God This Citie being the metropolitan or principallest Citie of the Iewes stood in the Tribe of Benjamin at the first it was called Salem that is Peaceable when Melchisedech the Priest of God raigned therein which hee also built after the Deluge as Iosephus and Egisippus write But at that time it was not very great for it stood onely vpon Mount Sion Mount Moriah where Abraham would haue offered his sonne Isaac stood without the Citie and after that they tooke it into the Citie as when time serueth it shall be declared After the death of Melchisedech vnto whom Abraham payd the Tythes of all his goods the Iebusites dwelt in the Citie of Ierusalem and had the dominion of it and all the land thereabouts in their subjection called the City Iebus after their name which name was held a long time as we reade in Iosuah the 10. Iud. 10. 2. Samuel 1. But at the last Ioab King Dauids Generall of his Armie woon it draue the Iebusites out of it and called it Ierusalem that is a sight or vision of Peace It hath also other names in the holy Scripture for in Esay 29. it is called Ariel that is Gods Lyon and mount Libanus * Because it was made of the Ceder trees which came â—ut of Mount Libanus The Prophet Ezechiel 23. calleth it Ahaliba my fixed Pauillion or Tent that is a Citie wherein God had placed his owne habitation The circuit and bignesse of the City Ierusalem THe City of Ierusalem was foure square and in circumference three and thirtie * Which make foure English miles and one furlong furlongs as Iosephus writeth which three and thirty Furlongs make somewhat more than a Dutch mile Some write that it was foure miles compasse about yet these were not Dutch miles but Wallon or Italian miles for foure such Italian miles are a Dutch mile Of mount Sion the higher Citie MOunt Syon stood Northwards in the Citie Ierusalem and was much higher than all the other Hills that were therein therefore it was called Sion that is a watch Tower because from thence one might see the Holy land and all the countries thereabout vpon this Hill the vpper Citie was built which in the Scripture is called the City of Dauid because Dauid wan it from the Iebusites and beautified it with many goodly houses faire and costly buildings but especially with his house of Cedar wood which hee termed the castle of Sion which stood Westwards at the corner of the Hill looking into Bethlehem Southwards In that house Dauid dwelt and therein committed adulterie with Berseba the wife of Vriah the Hittite whose house also with the place of diuers priuie Councellers and officers stood vpon the said Hill not farre from the Kings Pallace as Iosephus writeth Beneath King Dauids house vpon Mount Sion within a Rocke there was to be seene the sepulchre or vault wherein King Dauid Solomon his son and other succeeding Kings of Iuda were entombed and buried Vpon mount Syon also towards the East King Herod had a Garden of pleasure not farre from the Fountaine called Silo Nemiah 3. and there also stood the Tower of Silo whereof Luke in the 13 chapter maketh mention Iosephus in the warres of the Iewes his first book and sixteenth chapter saith That King Herod vnder whom Christ Iesus was borne had two faire and strong houses or Towers which hee set and made in the vpper part of the City Ierusalem vpon mount Syon which were in a manner comparable with the Temple for beautifulnesse which he called after the name of his friends the one Caesarea for Caesar the Emperors sake and the other Agrippa according to the name of the noble Roman Marcus Agrippa that married the daughter of Augustus Caesar This may suffice to declare the scituation of the vpper Citie which stood vpon mount Sion and conteyned in circuit fifteene furlongs which is about halfe a mile This vppermost Citie in the sacred Scripture is called the Citie of Dauid it was also cal-Millo that is fulnesse or plenty for in it there was no want but aboundance of all things Of the steps which descended downe from the citie of Dauid vnto the lower Citie MOunt Sion whereon the vpper citie of Ierusalem did stand was such a high hard hill and so steepe that no man could climbe or ascend vnto it by any way or meanes but only one that is by steps for in the middle thereof there was a great paire of staires made which descended from Dauids Citie vnto the lower Citie That is 26 yards in height into the valley or dale of gates called Thyroreion which staires were 780 foot * high as Iohannes Heydonius writeth and beneath in the valley of Thyroreion ouer against the valley of Cedron at the foot of the staires stood a gate which was called the gate of Sion and they which went vp to mount Sion must passe through that gate and so vp those staires but it is thought neuerthelesse that in some other part of the hill there was some winding or other oblique way made by which horses and chariots by little and little might ascend Allegoricall or Spirituall significations of mount Sion SIon in Hebrew signifieth a sure hold or goodly aspect for that from the top thereof a man might haue seen all the land lying thereabouts and was a type of the highest heauens or habitation of Almighty God from whence he beholdeth all things vpon earth from which throne and heauenly habitation he descended into this lower Ierusalem and became our Redeemer Sauiour that so we being purged by his bloud from all our sinnes and imperfections he might bring vs into that heauenly Ierusalem which is eternall glorie Of Mount Moriah on which the Temple stood MOunt Moriah stood Eastward within Ierusalem which was a most hard stony hill from whence towards the rising of the Sunne men by staires might easily descend but round about on the other three sides it was steepe and vnapprochable like a stone wall yet it was not so high as Mount Sion howbeit it was exceeding high extending and reaching 600 foot in height and on the top thereof was a very faire plaine like vnto that of Mount Sion whereon in times past Abraham builded an Altar and would haue offered his sonne Isaac for a Sacrifice Gen. 22. At which time when Abraham obeyed the commandement of God intending to haue offered his sonne Isaac vpon the Hill and thereon had made an Altar then the said Hill lay without the Citie but long time after about the space of 850 yeres when King Dauid had conquered Ierusalem and driuen thence the Iebusites to enlarge the Citie he compassed in Mount Moriah and Mount Acra with a wall vpon which there stood many goodly buildings And amongst other things worthy obseruation vpon this Mount stood the Barne or Threshing floore
Turkie and Persia and from thence towards the latitude to a towne called Argentaratus where it changeth the name to Tigris in that place it runneth so extreme swift that it will make a mans head dizzie to looke vpon it Strabo saith the Riuer Euphrates riseth out of a mountaine in Armenia called Nipha some 300 miles from the Citie of Ierusalem towards the North watering Mesopotamia and Chaldaea and passing through the midst of that flourishing Citie Babylon diuides it into two parts and after passing through and fructifying Arabia it joyneth with the Flood Tigris and falls into the Persian gulfe Semiramis Queene of the Assyrians and of Babylon built a bridge ouer the narrowest place of this Riuer being some three quarters of a mile ouer The Hebrewes call this Riuer Parah because it fructifieth and from thence the Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to beare fruit the Germans Fruchter which in English is fruitfull or pleasant And therefore Saint Ambrose saith it is deriued from Euphranein that is from rejoycing For that ouerflowing the Fields it causeth them the next yeare to flourish with all kinde of fruit and pleasant floures The water of this riuer is very foule and dirty so that it is vnfit to drinke according to that of Ieremy cap. 2. What auaileth it thee to goe into Assyria that thou mightest drinke of the water of Euphrates If a man takes this water in a vessel let it stand but two houres the dirt and sand will lie at the bottom therof two inches thicke Therefore the inhabitants neere about it are wont to take a great pot that holdeth a good quantity whereinto putting water they let it stand till all the filth be sunke to the bottome and so they cleare water to drinke Nilus taketh the beginning from a certaine mountain in Mauritania the lower not far from the Ocean and issues from a Lake which they call Nidiles and partly from other Lakes and is increased with the snow waters falling from the mountaines of the Moone in Affrica 3200 miles from Ierusalem towards the South Some thinke it tooke the name from Nileus a certaine King therabouts Others from the soile which it yerely brought downe in the streame whereby all Aegypt is made fruitfull from whence some thinke it was called Seruious Nilus for that it bringeth downe new mud with it The Hebrewes call it Gihon because it breaketh out of the earth with great violence This Riuer comes through the desarts of Aethiopia and so with great violence comes into Aegypt where it is diuided into seuen streames and in times past had seuen gates the names of which were Canopicus or Heraclioticus Bolbitinus Sebiniticus Pharmiticus Mendesius Taniticus and Palusinus The two outward gates of which viz. Canopicus and Palusiacus were 160 miles a sunder Appianus saith There are two other gates called Tineptimicus and Diolcus This ninth gate is diuided at a citie and place called Delta taking the name from the likenesse that it hath to the Greeke letter so called So that Nilus is diuided into nine gates by which nine gates it falls into the Mediterranean Sea There are many that thinke that Paradise was only in Aegypt and that then it had onely but foure streams and that at the Floud it was confused into nine and they would seeme to proue their opinion out of the 31 chapter of Ezekiel where hee calleth Egypt a garden of pleasure But this differeth from the description of Moses for it is not scituate in the East but rather the South from Ierusalem and farre distant from the two Easterne Riuers Euphrates and Hiddikel by which the holy Scriptures do principally denote Paradise Wherefore it may be concluded that Aegypt was onely a part of Paradise not Paradise it selfe And that this Riuer was one of the Riuers not all the streames of which Riuer at some times of the yeare viz. in the Summer Solstice when the Sunne is neere the Dogge-starre begins to swell and ouerflow the bankes by reason of the melting of the snow which lies vpon the mountaines of the Moone and so drowne all the places neere vnto it through the land of Aegypt leauing behind it certaine slime and mudde by which it comes to passe that the Countrey is very fruitfull and serues them in steed of raine at which time of the yeare for this happens once euery yeare the people and inhabitants of the Countrey retire themselues to their Towns Cities and Castles scituated vpon Rocks Mountains and high grounds from whence it hapneth that they sustaine very little discommoditie or losse by any such inundation They also keepe little boates whereby they passe from one place to another because all their passages and foot paths are then drowned with waters There are many pretty obseruations which the people of Aegypt were wont to take notice of in the rising of this water for they had certain staues wherby they measured the deapth of it if it rose but to twelue cubits which is six yards in height they then stood in feare of great famine so also if it was but thirteene for then the water was not deepe enough to make the ground fertill but if it rose to fourteene or fifteene then they were in great hope and did not doubt of a fruitfull yeare and if to sixteene they then greatly rejoyced at their prosperity and kept banquets and feasts and were assured that the succeeding yeare would be very plentifull but if it rose aboue they laid a side all signes of joy and liued very sparingly and with great sorrow this great inundation of waters foreshewing scarcitie and want and famine and pestilence and death And thus Nilus yearely euery yeare is to them in stead of raine for Aegypt is without raine In Autumne at such time as the Sunne going out of the last face of Libra entreth into Scorpio the waters of Nilus by little and little retire themselues into their bankes and the earth becomes quite vncouered of water about which time the Country being exceeding hot the earth is presently made drie in all those places so that in the moneth of October they may both till and sow their Land In this riuer the Crocodile and the Ichneumo breed of the nature of which two you may sufficiently reade in Gesner There also breeds the Pellican of which Saint Ierom saith there are two kinds one that liues vpon the water an other that liues vpon the land these birds as some affirme kill their young ones vpon their beake and then leaue them lying in their neast for three daies at the end of which time the female grieuously wounds her selfe vpon the breast and pouring her bloud vpon her young ones reuiues them againe This bird may very well be a type and figure of our blessed Sauiour who shedding his pretious bloud vpon the crosse for our sinnes after the third day rose againe and that he might restore vs to life that be dead
a memorable battell against Hadad-Ezer the King thereof neere to the riuer Euphrates he tooke 700 horse and 20000 foot burnt their chariots tooke 100 castles conquered all the Townes and Countrey round about and went away with a great bootie as well of Gold as siluer brasse and other things which brasse for the excellencie thereof was like vnto gold and as Iosephus saith afterwards Solomon made the molten sea of it When Gadarezer King of the Syrians he that built that famous citie of Damascus heard of the ouerthrow of Hadad-Ezer hee sent a great army to his aid which King Dauid neere to the riuer Euphrates smote with the sword so that 20000 of them were slaine and he carried away a glorious victorie extending his gouernment from Ierusalem 600 miles towards the North that is into Armenia and beyond the riuer Euphrates and made these two nations tributary vnto him 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chr. 19. After Dauid had woon these 2 memorable victories neere Euphrates he went thence with all his army towards the South and inuaded the land of Syria in which journey Ioram the sonne of Tohi King of Antiochia which citie at this time was called Hemath met Dauid with gifts and presents in the name of his Father returning him many thankes because he had destroied the common enemy Hadad-Ezer and by strong hand subdued and quelled the furie of that mighty tyrant who was also a trouble and vexation to the Kingdome of Antiochia Dauid entertained this message kindly thankfully receiued his gifts which was of gold siluer and fine brasse and so gaue Ioram an acceptable dispatch and from thence with his army went to Damascus the Metropolitan citie of Syria where in the valley of salt he got a great victory in which 18000 Syrians were slaine and soon after the Citie of Damascus taken in which Dauid placed a garrison and compelled them to pay tribute 2 Sam. 8. This was distant from the kingdome of Soba 520 miles From Damascus he went with his army into the land of the Ammonites 100 miles in the way that leadeth out of Syria to Ierusalem all which he conquered and all the cities and townes thereabouts and compelled them to pay tribute 2 Sam. 8. From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was 60 miles and all the bootie that he had gotten in his journey he dedicated vnto the Lord 2 Sam. 8. A while after hee with his army made an incursion into the land of Idumaea and compelled the inhabitants to pay tribute Moreouer he destroied the citie of Midian the Metropolitane of that countrey of which you may reade before it was distant from Ierusalem 160 miles towards the South So that the extent of Dauids kingdome from the North to the South was 800 miles euen from the kingdome of Soba to the Red sea and from the East to the West 120 miles from Tyrus and Sydon reaching to Damascus Thus by the singular blessing of God he obtained a spacious and powerfull Empire 1 Sam. 8. 1 Reg. 11. 1 Chr. 19. He made his expedition into Idumaea about the 14 yeare of his raigne From Midian in Idumaea hee returned with great glory and praise to Ierusalem which was 160 miles In the 14 yere of his raigne and in the yere of the world 2904 and before Christ 1064 Nahas King of the Ammonites died and Haron his sonne succeeded him this man contemptuously abused the messengers of Dauid 2 Sam. 10. and to justifie that injury he gathered an army out of Soba Siria and Mesopotamia euen a mighty Host to oppose Dauid who in the 15 yeare of his gouernment met him with his Armie at Helam some twenty miles from Ierusalem where he obtained a notable victorie and destroied 700 chariots and 40000 horse 1 Chr. 20. Dauid after this with great applause of the people was entertained into Ierusalem which was 20 miles distant where being puft vp with prosperity he forgat his former pietie and sanctitie and by degrees fell into vnlawfull actions and vnjust desires whence it hapned that soone after he committed adulterie with Bathseba after that to hide his fault caused her husband to be slaine This was kept secret till the Lord by Nathan sharply reprehends him laies before him what hee was and what his present estate is from whence that came and then concludes that he is most vnthankfull carelesse and negligent towards God and man in committing those insolencies neither left he there but told him that God would seuerely punish him for his offence which after hapned as you may reade 1 Sa. 11.12.14.17 Dauid being nipt in his conscience with this sharpe reprehension fell into great lamentation the extremitie of whose passions may very well appeare in the poenitentiall Psalmes which at this time and soone after hee wrot and left to future ages After this about the end of Summer he gathered an army and went into the land of the Ammonites some 64 miles where hee took the Metropolitan citie which at that time was called Rabba because of the multitude of citizens that were in it but after being restored by Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt hee called it after his own Philadelphia there took the crowne from the head of the king of the Ammonites which weighed a Talent of * How much this was you may read after in the quantitie of weights gold being as Iosephus saith richly adorned with faire Sardonicke stones of which you may reade in 2 Sam. 12. From thence he returned back to Ierusalem which is 64 miles where hee married Bathseba and by her had foure sonnes Simeon Sobab Nathan and Solomon 1 Chr. 3. Soone after this Ammon defloured his sister Thamar not long after that his son Absalon killed his brother Ammon beeing then about 18 yeares of age which Dauid tooke so hainously that he would not suffer him to come into his sight for three yeares 1 Sam. 13. Then Ioab by the subtiltie of the woman of Tekoa reconciled him to the king his father yet neuerthelesse he came not to his court of two yeares after This Absolon was a goodly man affable for which cause enen at that time the people began to affect him Afterward in the yeare of the world 2950 and before Christ 1408 Absolon being then about 25 yeares of age moued sedition against his father A matter remarkeable that although he had slaine his owne brother being disgraced and absent from the Court almost fiue yeres yet within short time after he so strongly vnited the affection of the people to him that he constrained Dauid standing in feare of his greatnesse all his former acts and worthy victories notwithstanding to forsake his owne citie and for safety to fly to the mount of Oliues beeing three quarters of a mile from the citie There he staied a while to see the condition of the tumult but necessitie constrained him to take his way to Bahuzim And as he was going Zimri the sonne of Gesa of the house of Saul cursed
Shepheard giueth his life for his Sheepe c. Fourthly in his musicke Dauid was cunning vpon the harp and by that comforted the afflicted spirit of Saul so Christ by the musick and harmonie of his doctrine the glad tydings of saluation comforteth the afflicted members of his Church Fiftly Dauid got his glory and preferment by the death of Goliah so Christ was glorified by conquering Death and the Diuell Sixtly Dauid was persecuted by Saul and pursued from one place to another so that he had not where to hide his head with safety so Christ was persecuted by his own countrymen the Iews shut out from the society of man and as he said Mat. 8. The Foxes haue holes and the Birds haue nests but the Son of man hath not where to hide his head Seuenthly in the dangers that Dauid sustained by Gods prouidence he was mercifully deliuered so Christ was inclosed and in danger of the Iews at Nazareth Luke 4. in Ierusalem in the Temple also Ioh. 8. but he escaped them al because then his time was not come Io. 7.8 Eightly as Absolon rebelled against Dauid being his father so the Iews rebelled against Christ although hee was their Creator according to that of Esay 61. I haue fed and brought vp children but they haue forsaken me Ninthly as Dauid fled to Mount Olivet for refuge being brought to a streight so Christ vpon Mount Olivet his heart being prest with an intollerable agonie fled to his Father by praier for comfort in that extremitie Tenthly as all the friends and familiars of Dauid forsooke him at such time as Absolon rebelled against him and followed him with persecutions mocks and taunts so Christ at such time as Iudas betrayed him into the hands of the Iewes was forsaken of all his followers and many of those which a little before he had done good vnto mocked and derided him as he was vpon the Crosse Lastly as Dauid was restored notwithstanding the former miseries and troubles to his antient glory and eminencie so Christ after he had suffered the due punishment for sin death and before that extteame miserie yet at length conquered both and by his diuine power restored himselfe to his former estate eternall glory The Trauels of ABNER one of Sauls Captaines HEe went with King Saul from Gibeah to the Wildernes of Ziph which was 22 miles Here he was rebuked by Dauid for his negligence From thence he returned to Gibeah 22 miles 1 Sam. 31. From thence he trauelled to the hill Gilboa where Saul killed himselfe 40 miles From thence he went to Machanaim where he made Ishbosheth Sauls son King who kept his court there seuen years 16 miles 2 Sam. 2. From thence hee went to Gibeon where hee slew Asahel Ioabs brother in battell Which was 44 miles 2 Sam. 2. From thence he went ouer Iordan to Bythron 28 miles From thence he went backe to Machanaim 16 miles 2 Sam. 2 Lastly he went thence to Hebron to Dauid and made a Couenant with him where he was treacherously slain by Ioab was 68 miles So all the trauels of Abner were 256 miles Of Bithron BIthron or Betharan was a town beyond Iordan in the tribe of Gad some 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward lying between Dibon and Iordan It taketh the name from a House of singing beeing deriued of Baith which signifieth a House and Ron He sung ioyfully The Trauels of IOAB IOAB Dauids Captain was the son of Zerviah Dauids sister for he had two Zerviah and Abogale Zerviah had Ioab Abishas and Asael Abigal had onely Amasa all which were great men in King Dauids time Now when Ioab heard that Abner had brought downe his army to Gibeon hee went from Hebron thither which was 24 miles and there his brother Asahel was slain 2 Sam. 2. From thence he went to Bethlehem 16 miles where he buried his brother 2 Sam. 2. From thence he returned to Hebron 20 miles Here vnder the gates of the city he traiterously killed Abner 2 Sam. 3. From thence he went with Dauid to Ierusalem where he won Sion and draue thence the blinde and the lame being 82 miles From thence he went with his Army against the Ammonites and Syrians whom he conquered in a cruel fight 60 miles 1 Sam. cap. 10. From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem 60 miles From thence he went with Dauid into Idumea 160 miles from Ierusalem Southward there he won the towne of Midian conquered the Idumaeans or Edomites 2 Sam. 8. From thence he returned to Ierusalem with his Army beeing 160 miles From thence hee went and besieged Rabba the metropolitan city of the Ammonites beeing 64 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward Here Vriah was slain 2 Sam. 11. From thence he returned to Ierusalem with K. Dauid 64 miles From thence he went into the kingdom of Gesur which lieth beyond Iordan vpon Mount Libanus by the towne of Caesarea Philippi some 80 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward This countrey was called Trachonites From this land Ioab brought Absolon again to Ierusalem 2 Sam. 14. From thence he returned backe againe with Absolon to Ierusalem 88 miles From thence he went with Dauid when he fled from his sonne Absolon to Machanaim being 44 miles Not far from hence he slew Absolon 2 Sam. 18. From thence he came again with King Dauid to Ierusalem 44 miles 2 Sam. 10. From thence he went to Gibeah where he killed Amasa which was 4 miles From thence he went to the town of Abel-Bethmaacha in the tribe of Nepthali being about 88 miles This town he straightly besieged From thence he went again to Ierusalem 88 miles Afterward he went as Dauid commanded him to number the people at Aroer a towne beyond Iordan which was 24 miles 2 Sam. 24. From thence he went to Iaezer which is 16 miles From thence going through the land of Gilead and passing by the territories of the lower countrey of Hadsi hee came to the town of Dan neere to the place where the fountains of Iordan are which is accounted 116 miles From thence he went to that famous mart town Sidon which was 24 miles From that great towne Sidon he went to the walls of Tyre to which place great multitudes of ships resorted which was sixeteene miles From thence he went toward the South til he came to the city Beersaba which was the vtmost bounds of the Holy land Southwestward and was reckoned 132 miles From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem where he deliuered to Dauid the number of those that were chosen souldiers 2. Sam. 24. but the Lord strooke the country and city of Ierusalem with a great plague because hee did contrary to his command 2 Sam. 24. So all the trauels of Ioab were 1348 miles The description of the places to which he trauelled MAny of those cities mentioned in the trauels of Ioab are already described and set forth therefore I account it needlesse in this place againe to repeat them but only such townes as yet haue not bin mentioned
West and signifieth a Royall or loftie gift The Trauels of Baesa King of Israel BAesa is as much to say as An industrous and promt man in doing any thing This may hauing slaine his Master Nadab neere vnto Gibithon vsurped vpon the Kingdome of Israel about the end of the third yearo of Asa King of Iuda and began his raigne Anno mundi 2992 before Christ 974 and raigned ouer Israel almost 24 yeares two of which he raigned with his sonne 1 Reg. 15. He went from Gibithon to Thirza 36 miles where hee vtterly rooted out the whole stocke and family of Ieroboam After falling into Idolatrie he was sharply reprehended for it by Iehu the Prophet the son of Hanani of whom you may reade more 1 Reg. 15. From Thirza he went to Ramah which is 16 miles this towne he built and fortified it very strongly 2 Chr. 29. But when he heard that Benhadad King of Syria had inuaded Israel hee left his building at Ramah and with all possible speed that hee could went to Thirza where hee died and was buried 1 Reg. 15. 2 Chr. 16. So all the Trauels of Baesa were 68 miles Of Ramah Of this Citie you may reade before Of Ella or Elah King of Israel ELah signifies a cruell man This was the son of Baasha King of Israel who was crowned King his father yet liuing about the beginning of the 26 yeare of Asa king of Iuda at such time as Benhadad king of Syria inuaded and wasted Galilee He raigned two yeares one of them during the life of his father the other alone in Thirza at the end of which hee was slaine by Simri his seruant 1 Reg. 15. 16. Of Zimri King of Israel SImri signifieth a singer and was a captain ouer king Elahs chariots hee raigned 7 daies in Thirza in which time he put to death and vtterly rooted out all the posteritie of Baasha and then Omri besieged the Citie so straitly that he had no hope to escape wherefore he set the citie and pallace on fire in which he also perished 1 Reg. 15. 16. The Trauels of Omri King of Israel OMri signifieth a souldier or one that deserueth his pay He was made King by the Israelites in his tent while he was at wars neere to Gibithon from whence he went to Thirza which was 36 miles and besieged the same vpon the very day that Simri had put the posteritie of Baasha to the sword and took it He began to raigne in Thirza Anno mundi 3017 and before Christ 951 and raigned ouer Israel 12 yeres the first six of which was in Thirza the latter six in Samaria 1 Reg. 16. From Thirza he went to mount Semer six miles there Omri built Samaria and made it the seat of his kingdome He went thither about the seuenth yeare of his raigne 1 Reg. 16. So these two journies were 42 miles Of Samaria SAmaria the chiefe seat and Metropolis of Israel was built by Omri in mount Semer 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and took that name of Semer who was Lord of that mountaine of whom K. Omri bought it for two talents of siluer which amounteth to 1200 crownes In this citie 14 Kings of Israel kept their Courts viz. Omri who was the first founder of it Ahab Ahasia Iehoram Iehu Ioachas Ioas Ieroboam Zacharias Sallum Menahem Pekahia Pekah and Hosea who was the last of the Kings of Israel that raigned in this citie and lost it together with his libertie Of all these Kings there were but fiue that died naturally for the Lord being moued to wrath by reason of their impietie and idolatrie either gaue them vp into the hands of forrein enemies or by ciuill war amongst themselues they cruelly murthered one another vntill such time as the Assirians destroied the land and led the people captiue Thus the Lord punished with a sharp and seuere punishment this obstinat nation because they contemned the admonitions and doctrines of the Prophets amongst which Elias and Elizeus were the chiefe So that although Samaria was a faire and beautifull city and the country for that cause was called the prouince of Samaria yet notwithstanding that great God the Iudge of all things for the iniquitie of the people caused this faire Citie to be left desolate the inhabitants of the land to be dispersed and the earth for want of due vsage to lie as a wildernesse 2 Reg. 17. This city in the old Testament according to the Hebrew phrase is called Shaemaer of Schomron which signifies To keepe or a Tower of strength You may reade of this 1 Reg. 2. 2 Reg. 1. 7. The Greekes and Latines call it Samaria which signifieth The castle of Iehouah or of God You may reade more of this in the second Volume Of Hiel that built Iericho againe AFter the death of Omri King of Israel when Ahab his sonne began to raigne Hiel a very rich man in the town of Bethel that hee might leaue behind him an eternall memorie of his name went to Iericho which had bin formerly destroied by Ioshuah the son of Nun had lien wast for the space of 536 yeres where contrary to the commandement of the Lord and curse of Ioshuah he caused the said citie to be rebuilt such was the impious securitie and incredulitie of this man but the Lord was angry with him and he strooke all his children that they died The eldest son called Abiram at the laying of the foundation and his yongest sonne called Segub at the hanging on of the gates Ios 6. 1 Reg. 16. The Trauels of King Ahab AHab went from Samaria to the hill Carmel where Elias put to death the Priests of Baal which was about 32 miles 1 Reg. 18. From thence he went to Iezreel which is sixteene miles there he told his wife how Elias had put the priests of Baal to the sword 1 Reg. 18. From Iezreel he went againe to Samaria 18 miles where being prest with a hard siege by Benhadad King of Syria he broke out of the citie for his better safety and by Gods great prouidence and assistance he assailed the Syrians put a great multitude of them to the sword the rest fled and hee went away with a noble victory as the Prophet of the Lord had formerly told him 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went with his army to Napheck which was 14 miles where he renewed a second battell and therein had good successe so that hee tooke Benhadad aliue and put to the sword 100000 Syrians In this place the Prophet of the Lord reproued him for his ingratitude and obstinacie wherefore Ahab being angry he went from Apheck to Samaria which was eight miles 1 Reg. 20. From Samaria he went io Iesreel 16 miles where that perfidious Queene Iesabel caused Naboth to be put to death and tooke possession of his Vineyard 1 Reg. 21. From Iezreel he went to Ramoth Giliad 24 miles and there in a fight that hee had against the Syrians was so sore-wounded with an arrow
aliue 2 Reg. 14. which was 32 miles From Bethsemes hee went to Ierusalem and carried the King thereof with him captiue which was 4 miles He woon the citie and broke downe the Walls of it from the gate of Ephraim till you come to the Angle gate foure hundred cubits in length 2 Reg. 14. From the Citie of Ierusalem Ioas the conquerer returned to Samaria with the spoile of the temple and of the Kings house with many captiues and a great prey which was 32 miles where at the end of the seuenteenth yeare of his raigne he died and was buried In this mans time Elisha the Prophet died 2 Reg. 13. 14. So all the trauels of Ioas were 96 miles Of Bethsemes Of this Citie you may reade before The Trauels of Ieroboam the second of that name King of Israel THis Ieroboam succeeded his father Ioas in the Kingdome of Israel and began his raigne Anno mundi 3123 and before Christ 845 which according to the text of the Bible happened about the 15 yeare of Amasia King of Iuda and hee raigned 41 yeares 2 Reg. 14. He kept his court at Samaria where the Prophet Ionas told him that he should recouer not only the townes and cities of the land of Israel that had beene lost but also the cities of Hemeth and Damascus Wherefore he gathered a great army out of the citie of Samaria and went thence vnto Hemeth or Antiochia in Syria which was 248 miles This Citie he conquered and all the countrey thereabout so that he recouered all the ancient Townes and Cities that belonged to Dauid and Saul euen from Hemeth in Syria to Soba in Armenia with all the Cities Townes Castles and Countries neer adjoyning to them 2 Reg. 14. From Hemeth or Antiochia he went to Damascus which is 140 miles This citie he also tooke and all the countrie of Syria round about he made tributary to him 2 Reg. 14. From Damascus he went to the Red sea euen 320 miles and also recouered all the South part which in times past belonged vnto the kingdome of Israel 2 Reg. 14. After this he returned to Samaria his owne countrey which was 192 miles where in the 41 yeare of his raigne he died and was there buried After his death the kingdome of Israel was oppressed with tyranny vntill it was destroied by forreine nations and for the space of 12 yeares there was no King that succeeded him In the raigne of this king a little before his death there hapned an horrible earthquake of which you may reade Amos 1. which without doubt did foreshew some eminent changes that should happen in that kingdome as did afterward Zac. 41. So all the trauels of Ieroboam the second of that name were 900 miles Of Zachariah King of Israel TWelue yeares after the death of Ieroboam Zachariah his son began his raigne in Israel in the 38 yeare of Azaria king of Iuda which was Anno mundi 3975 and before Christ 793 he raigned six moneths and then was miserably slaine by Sallum his friend 2 Reg. 15. Ioseph lib. Antiq. 9. Of Sallum King of Israel SAllum began to raigne after he had slaine Zachariah in the 39 yeare of Azariah King of Iuda and when hee had raigned scarce a moneth he was slaine by Menahem losing his life and kingdome together 2 Reg. 15. The Trauels of Menahem MEnahem was borne in Thirza in the Tribe of Iuda who began to raigne in the same yeare that he slew Sallum hee raigned ten yeares 2 Reg. 10. From Thirza he went to Samaria with his army which was six miles where hauing slaine Sallum his Lord and King he vsurpt vpon the kingdome 2 Reg. 15. From thence he went to Thipsa which is six miles This towne he cruelly destroied with fire and sword and all the townes thereabout because they refused to open their gates vnto him From Thipsa this cruell tyrant went backe again to Samaria 6 miles where he grieuously afflicted the children of Israel tenne yeares Wherefore the Lord being offended with him for his exceeding crueltie stirred vp Phul Belochus King of Assyria who came from Babylon to Samaria beeing 624 miles and put King Menahem to such an exceeding great streight that hee was constrained to buy and procure his peace with * What this was in our money you may read after in the quantity of monies 1000 talents which mony being receiued he suffered him to enioy his kingdom and returned backe vnto Babylon with all his army 2 Reg. 15. So all the trauels of King Menahem were 18 miles Of Thypsa THis was a towne neere to that kingly city Thirza scituated in the tribe of Manasses 24 miles from Ierusalem Northward But because the inhabitants thereof denied to open their gates to this cruell tyrant Menahem therefore he vtterly destroied it euen to the ground Thipsa signifieth The Paschal Lambe or a Passeouer being deriued of Pasach He passed by Of PEKAHIA King of Israel PEkahia reigned two yeares after his fathers death at the end of which term he was slain by Pekah the son of Remalia who succeeded him in the gouernment Ioseph lib. Antiq. 9. saith That this murther was done at a banquet The Trauels of PEKAH King of Israel PEkah the son of Remalia began to reigâ—â— in Samaria Anno mundi 3189 and before Christ 779. in the 52 yeare of Azariah King of Iudah and reigned ouer Israel 20 yeres 2 Reg. 15. 16. From the city of Samaria he went with Resin King of Syria to Ierusalem which was 32 miles and besieged it but could not take it neuerthelesse he ouercame Ahaz King of Iuda in a great battell and put to the sword in one day aboue 12000 souldiers that bare armor In this war were taken 200000 women children and maids all which hee carried Captiues to Samaria 2 Reg. 16. 2 Chr. 28. From Ierusalem hee returned to Samaria with a great bootie which was 32 miles and at the command of Obed the Prophet set at libertie all his captiues After about the end of the 20 yeare of his reign he was slain by Hosea his chiefe captain who succeeded him in the gouernment 2 Reg. 15. So all the trauels of Pekah were 64 miles Of HOSEA the last King of Israel HOsea began to reign in the fourth yere of Ahas king of Iuda Anno mundi 3209 and before Christ 759. He kept Court at Samaria and was a cruell and wicked King Wherefore God stirred vp Salmanasser Emperour of the Assyrians who about the end of the 7 yeare of his reigne came to Samaria and besieged it for the space of 3 yeares at the end of the third yeare with great labor he won it and all the country round about so that he tooke King Hosea prisoner and led him together with a great multitude of the Iewes amongst which were Gabriel and Raphel the friends of Toby the elder thence to Niniveh captiues beeing 652 miles From Niniveh he sent them to a place called Rages in Medea being 752 miles and
in that country peopled many towns cities with them so that there were many of the Israelites led into captiuitie aboue 1396 miles for so many miles is Rages and the Cities of the Medes from Ierusalem Northeastward This captiuitie of the ten Tribes hapned An. mundi 3227 and before Christ 741. OF the cities of Rages and Niniveh you may reade in the trauels of Toby and the Angell Gabriel The Trauels of the People which SALMANASSER Emperour of the Assyrians sent to dwell in the Land of Israel SALMANASSER after hee had carried the Children of Israel away captiue into Assyria sent as it is said part of them into Media and part of them into Persia and so dispersed them here and there about the Countrey But because the Land of Israel by reason of this captiuitie became desolate and without inhabitants therefore he caused those people which dwelt about the riuer Cutha in Persia to go thence and dwell in Samaria and in all the countrey round about to till the land and dresse the Vines least some other people that were strangers to his gouernment should vsurp vpon that kingdom it being thus without inhabitants Ios li. Ant. 9. You may reade of this also 2 Reg. 7. In whose place and neere to the said riuer of Cutha a multitude of Iewes with great shame and griefe were constrained to dwel He also gathered a great multitude of other people out of Babylon Hamath or Antiochia some out of his own dominions of Assyria also out of Medea and the people of Ava and Sepharuaijm which people are mentioned Esay 37. and sent them to inhabit in Samaria and all the cities and countries round about because it was a fertile and pleasant country and to defend it against the incursions of strangers From whence may be gathered that in this behalfe the policy of this Emperor was much greater that of the Romans for the retaining of this kingdome but especially than that of Titus Vespasian for hee hauing conquered the land wasted it and destroyed it with fire and sword put thence the inhabitants and dispersed them heere and there left the countrey bare and naked onely a few Garrisons were placed in the strongest cities to keepe it to their vse Which not beeing able enough to oppose the incursions of the Saracens that in great Troupes brake out of the Desarts of Arabia Petraea they soone lost all that they had gotten and the Turks ioining with them they haue now gained into their possession that pleasant and fruitfull Land of Iudaea and inhabit therein euen to this day to the great detriment and scandall of the Christians But to return to the people sent to inhabit this kingdom who as they were of diuers Nations so were they of diuers religions and euery Family had his particular god Wherefore the Lord sent a multitude of Lions among them which daily vexed them from whence it hapned that Salmanasser was constrained to send backe vnto them a Levite one of the Priests that had bin caried away captiue to shew them the true worship of God He came to Bethel and there taught them the doctrine of the Lord and the customes and ceremonies of the Mosaical Law whereby it hapned that they began to worship God and their idols in neither obseruing their antient custome For which cause they became so abominable vnto the Iewes that they refused their companie and familiaritie as that Samaritan woman confessed to Christ at Iacobs Well Ioh. 4. so that when the Iewes could call a man by any ignominious or odious name they would term him a Samaritan Ioh. 8. Do we not say rightly that thou art a Samaritane and hast a Diuell But of all the people which Salmanasser sent into the Holy land those that came out of the East part of Persia from Cutha called Cutheis dwelt in Samaria and got the chief command and gouernment ouer the rest The Trauels of the Kings of Syria that made warre vpon the Kings of Israel And first of the Trauels or incursions of BENHADAD BEnhadad King of Syria went from Damascus the chiefe city of his kingdome and came to Samaria and streightly besieged it in the time of Ahab King of Israel 1 Reg. 20. being 132 miles From thence being ouercome and put to flight by Ahab he returned backe againe to Damascus which was 132 miles The second time he came from thence and inuaded the land of Israel euen vnto the city of Apheck 124 miles which hee besieged But Ahab King of Israel ouercame him in a great battell and put 100000 Syrians to the sword and when the rest of the multitude would haue fled into the city the ruines of a wall fell vpon them so that there died 27000. This put King Benhadad into such a feare that hee was constrained to fly from one chamber to another to hide himselfe but at lost was taken and not without the great wrath and indignation of God by that wicked king Ahab pardoned and set at liberty 2 Reg. 20. Wherefore he went thence backe vnto Damascus which was 124 miles Within three years after he brought a great army against Ramoth in Gilead which is 104 miles from Damascus South-eastward Here he won of Ahab a great battell in which Ahab was slain with an arrow 1 Reg. 22. From thence he returned back to Damascus which was about 104 miles After that he came again from Damascus into the land of Israel with a great army 120 miles where he counselled with his Captains and men of war saying Here and there will we incamp our selues But the Prophet Elisha discouered their purposes 2 Reg. 6. Out of the land of Israel he returned to Damascus which was 120 miles From thence he returned again with his army to Samaria being 132 miles which the second time he besieged so straightly that an asses head was worth 80 pieces of siluer But yet the Lord at the feruent prayers of Elizeus the Prophet strook such a feare and anguish among the enemies that Benhadad and his army were constrained to fly 2 Reg. 6. Being sore troubled because he was thus put to flight he went to Damascus which was 132 miles and there within a while after died of grief 2 Reg. 9. So all the trauels of King Benhadad were 1224 miles The Trauels of the Captaines which Benhadad King of Syria sent to waste and destroy the land of Baesa King of Israel THis army went from Damascus and came to the towne of Hion 72 miles From thence they went to Dan which is 4 miles From Dan they went to the city of Abel-Bethmaacha twelue miles From thence they went to the land of Chineroth which was accounted 8 miles there they tooke certain cities of fruit and spoiled and destroyed them From Chineroth in the tribe of Nepthali when they had cruelly wasted destroyed that country they returned with a great booty to Damascus being 88 miles 1 Reg. 15. So all their Trauels were 184 miles ¶ The Description of
day The siege continued euen till the 11 yere of this king Ierem. 39.52 2 Reg. 25. And vpon the 9 day of the 4 moneth Thamus which agreeth with the tenth day of Iuly the City was taken and Zedekiah was put to flight Vpon the 7 of the 5 moneth Ab Nabusaraden chiefe captaine of the army was sent backe by Nabuchadonezar into Iudaea where he destroied and burned the houses and buildings of the citie of Ierusalem Ierem. 52. vpon the tenth day of the fifth Moneth Ab which answereth to the ninth day of Argust being the Sabbath day the temple of Ierusalem was set on fire Ier. 52. de bello Iudaei lib. 6. cap. 26. 27. This first captiuitie and destruction of the citie of Ierusalem by Nabuchadonezar that great Emperor happened anno mundi 3362 and before Christ 606. Three hundred and nintie yeres being then fully compleat and ended from the first yeare of Iaroboam King of Israel who set vp the golden calues and caused them to be worshipped For after the end of these yeares according to the prophecie of Ezekiel cap. 4. the sins of Ieroboam should be grieuously punished vpon the people of Iudah In like manner from the end of the 13 yere of Iosiah wherin Ieremie first began to prophecie vntill this yeare in which the children of Israel were carried away captiue into Babylon are numbred 40 yeares which by Ezek. cap. 4. are called the yeares of the iniquitie of Iuda because so long the Iewes did contemne and despise the admonition of the Prophet Ieremie Of Babylon HOw far this citie stood from Ierusalem you may reade before which by the Chaldaeans is called Shinear or Sinear and signifies To strike vpon the teeth being deriued of Schen A tooth and Naer To strike It may also bee taken for that when a man endeauoured with all speed to execute a thing which seemes to resemble the condition of Nimrod for that in this place he endeuoured to ouercome and conquer all his neighbours from whence this land was called Casdius that is The countrey of the destroyer So changing M into L it is called Chaldeus or Chaldaea The chiefe and Metropolitan citie of which countrie was this Babylon built some thirtie yeares after the floud by Nimrod or the Babylonian Saturne the first great commander of the world according to Berosus lib. 4. who writeth after this manner Nimrod which was accounted the sonne of Iupiter Belus being angry with the holy Priests of that great God Iehouah came with his colonie and people into the field of Sinear where hee built a citie and laid the foundation of a great tower 131 yeares after the floud and raised this tower to such a height and withall of such a hugenesse that it seemed as if it had beene some great mountaine because he would haue the Babylonian people accounted the chiefest and greatest in the world also their gouernor the King of Kings A little after he saith he built this tower but before he could finish it dyed in the 56 yeare aftet he began it wherefore the citie and tower of Babylon according to the opinion of Berosus was begun in Anno mundi 1788 which was 131 yeares after the flood and before Christ 2180. There were two causes wherefore the children of men built vp this Tower first that they might get them a name secondly that they might be safe in case there came another flood to drowne the world It was made of bricke and bittume least the water should loosen it But the Lord turned their enterprises into euill and diuided their Language so that they could not vnderstand one another whereby they were constrained to leaue off their building from whence it happened that their mindes manners vnderstandings studies and principall actions were vtterly changed and is the foundation of all discord and sedition where the feare of God and the true knowledge of Christ doth not preuent it From this diuision of tongues it is called the citie of Babylon this is the citie of diuision being deriued of the word Balal he hath confounded or mingled together Of this city you may reade in Ios lib. 1. cap. 9. where he bringeth in a saying of the Sibels which was That when all nations were of one language they built an exceeding high tower as though they would haue ascended by it into heauen but the Lord with great tempest and diuiding their tongues subuerted their enterprise from whence it was called Babylon This citie was the fairest in those times of all others scituated in a spacious plaine vpon euery side whereof there stood pleasant orchards and gardens it was built foure square compassed about with wals of an incredible strength and greatnesse being 50 cubits thicke and 200 high beautified within with goodly buildings fair temples richly guilt with gold and wonderfull to looke vpon It was in compasse 380 furlongs as Strabo saith which make 48 miles Through it ran the riuer Euphrates by which all things necessarie were conueyed to the Citie without it was compassed with faire ditches fil'd with water like riuers and in the wall there stood a hundred gates Herodotus saith That it was 480 furlongs about which make 60 miles English but that is not so credible The first founder of this citie was Nimrod who in those times was the chiefe commander of the world It is thought that he was the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noah whose name signifies a cruell gouernor or an vnmercifull tyrant And that his actions might be according to the signification of his name he is branded with most perspicuous note of cruelty omitting no violent action whereby he might enlarge his dominions incroching vpon other mens gouerments through a thirstie and ambitious desire of renowne without either respect of equitie or humanitie And to adde euill to euill committed many outrages vpon such as were accounted good men and the Priests of the great God Iehouah from whence there grew in him a more than humane resolution accounting himselfe in this world a god and through this opinion grew into contempt of all good things compelling such as were his subjects and vassals to do him worship and reuerence as to a diuine power which being ingraffed into the hearts of such as followed in succeeding ages they countenanced it with authority from whence it came to passe that he was inrolled into the number of their principall gods giuing him the name of Saturne whom the Hebrewes calleth Sudormin which elegantly imployeth Saturne Berosus saith that the Babylonian Iupiter succeeded this Nimrod whose authoritie I am willing to follow to auoid prolixitie This man so much inlarged the Citie that many in succeeding ages haue attributed the foundation thereof vnto him He ruled ouer it sixtie and one yeares After him succeeded Ninus or as some will haue it Nimrod the second who began his raigne Anno mundi 1909 before Christ 2061 he did many worthy acts during his life and added to the Empire of Babylon many Prouinces
he went with his army from Babylon to Carchemis a City of Syria scituated neere the riuer Euphrates which was 280 miles Here he ouercame Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt in a great battel Ier. 46. Herod lib. 2. From Carchemis he went to Ierusalem which was 400 miles here he tooke Daniel and his companions captiue and brought them to Babylon After he went with his army to Pelusio being 132 miles which hee tooke conquered all the land of Egypt put to death Pharaoh Necho and made Psammeticus his son King in his place Ieremy the Prophet told of this war cap. 25.26 From Pelusio he returned to Babylon 800 miles Within a while after his father died and he succeeded in the gouernment and reigned 43 yeares In the 11 yeare of Ioachim King of Iudah he went again from Babylon to Ierusalem which was 680 miles and by policy tooke that city and put Ioachim the king thereof to death according to the prophecie of Ieremy cap. 22. 2 Kin. 24. From thence after he had made Iechonias his son King hee returned backe again to Babylon 680 miles About three moneths after he went the third time back to Ierusalem 680 miles for he feared Iechonias would rebell and reuenge the death of his father Ioachim 2 Kin. 24. In the eight yeare of his reign he tooke Iechonias Mardoche and 3000 other Iews of the Nobilitie and caried them captiue to Babylon which was 680 miles 2 Kin. 24. 2 Chr. 36. Est 2. Nine yeares after he came the fourth time to Ierusalem being 680 miles and besieged the City because of the impietie and rebellion of Zedekiah King thereof During this siege he tooke diuers towns but chiefly Lachis and Aseka Ier. 34. But when hee vnderstood that Pharaoh was comming with an army out of Egypt to rescue Zedekiah he raised his Campe and went about 80 miles into the countrey of Egypt which Pharaoh hearing was abashed and turned backe againe In the absence of this Emperor Ieremy the Prophet being then within the city hauing foretold the destruction therof would haue fled thence for his better safety into the tribe of Benjamin but by the way hee was taken in the gate of Benjamin and cast into prison Ier. 7. Within a while after according to the prophecie of Ieremy Nebuchadnezar returned out of the desart of Sur whither he went to meet the Egyptians being 80 miles and vtterly destroyed the city of Ierusalem carrying thence the vessels and ornaments of the Temple to Babylon 2 Kin. 25. 2 Chr. 36. From Ierusalem hee went to Riblah in the tribe of Nepthaly 80 miles where hee put out Zedekiahs eies and kild his children 2 Kin. 25. From Riblah he carried Zedekiah to Babylon which was 600 miles where he died miserably in prison 2 Kin. 25. Afterward Nebuchadnesar went with his army from Babylon to Tyrus which hee won and pittifully wasted with fire and sword according to the prophecie of Ezekiel cap. 26. being 600 miles From Tyrus he went to Egypt and passed 480 miles through that kingdome conquering all the countries and prouinces as he went a long euen the Ammonits the Moabits Philistins Idumaeans and Egypt it selfe all which countries hee made tributarie to him Isa 15 16 19. Ier. 46 47 48 49. Ez. 25.29 From Egypt he returned to Babell 960 miles From that time till his death hee was Emperour of all those kingdoms In the second yeare of his Empire Daniel expounded vnto him his wonderfull dream vnder the similitude of an image setting forth the condition of the four monarchies of the world Dan. 2. Not long after he caused Sidrack Misack and Abednego to be cast into a fiery furnace because they refused to worship the golden image which he had set vp Dan. 3. Also this Nebuchadnesar for his great pride and arrogancie was by God strucken mad and into a deepe melancholy in which disease hee continued for the space of seuen yeares tyed in bonds and chaines running vp and downe like a beast and feeding vpon grasse and roots vntill he came to vnderstand That God the Gouernour of Heauen and earth had the disposing of Kingdoms and Gouernments giuing them to whom he list and againe taking them away At the end of which time he was restored to his vnderstanding and Empire and after beautified the city of Babylon with many goodly buildings faire orchards and pleasant places as Iosep lib. Ant. 10 saith And when hee had reigned 43 yeares died and was buried by his father in Babylon An. mundi 3387. and before Christ 581. So all the trauels of Nebuchadonesar or Nebuchadnesar were 7892 miles ¶ The Description of the Cities and places that haue not as yet been mentioned Of Carchemis THis was a city in the country of Syria neere Euphrates 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward and signifies A sacrificed Lambe being deriued of Car which signifies a Ram or Lambe and Mosch He hath cut in pieces It may also be taken in the third Conjugation for a Lambe sacrificed to the idol Chemosch or Chamos the god of meetings or nightly salutations Of Pelusio THis City Pelusio was built by Peleus the father of Achilles from whence it tooke the name It stands in Egypt some 172 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward neere to the gate of Nilus called Pelusiachus where it falleth into the Mediterranian sea Not far from this city in the mountain Casius vpon the borders of Arabia Petraea where the Temple of Iupiter Casius stood is to be seen the tomb of Pompey the great beautified and adorned by Adrianus Caesar as Capitolinus saith At this day this city is called by the name of Damiata You may read of it Ezek. cap. 30. Of Tyrus or Zor TYrus signifieth Cheese or to congeale together as Cheese doth milk somthing alluding to the Hebrew word Zor signifying to make straight or a rocke hauing a straight and sharpe edge It was the metropolitan city of Phoenicia now the hauen or passage of Sur but in antient time it was called Sarra Aul. Gel. lib. 14. cap. 6. It was scituated vpon a very high rocke compassed about with the Mediterranean sea 100 miles from Ierusalem Northward and a famous mart towne for all the Holy land By the description of Ezekiel it seemes to haue bin like vnto Venice both in scituation and dignitie Ez. 72.28 Ierem. Esay 27.28 and many other Prophets prophecied against this town saying Out of the land of Kithim that is from Macedonia the destroyer of Tyrus should come As after hapned for Alexander the Great King of Macedon besieged that town and in the 7 moneth after tooke it for the obtaining whereof he was constrained to fill vp the sea which compassed it about containing 700 paces and made it firm land for his army to passe vpon to the wals of the city In this country that famous Civilian Vlpian was borne as he writeth lib. 1. ff de Censibus And vpon the borders of Tyrus and Sidon Christ cured the daughter of a Canaanitish woman of a
with the fairest cities of those times being strongly fortified both by sea and land so that it seemed to be inuincible But at this day it is but a smal city the incursions of forrein enemies hauing wasted and destroied the greater part and left the rest to be a wonder to the world the heaps and ruins of goodly buildings making euident lamentable destructions Thus man with his deuices perisheth but the Lord endureth for euer Vpon the Booke of MACHABES The Trauels of Antiochus Epiphanes ANtiochus Epiphanes that is An illustrous Aduersary in the yeare of Christ 380 was sent out of Syria by Antiochus the Great to Rome which 1600 miles where he remained as an hostage for his father and his brother Seleucus Philopater seuenteen yeares 1 Mac. 1. After the death of his father he stole secretly from Rome and went backe again to Antiochia in Syria which was 1600 miles and there succeeded his brother Seleucus Philopater in the gouernment He began to reign 173 yeares before Christ In the third yeare of his reign he went from Antiochia to Tyrus 60 miles in that journey he conquered all the lower part of Syria and Phoenicia From thence he went aboue sixe score miles through Galilee and Iudaea conquering al the cities and countries that lay in his way and would also haue gon downe into Egypt but when hee heard that his nephew Ptolomais Philometor had proclaimed an assembly and parliament and would not acknowledge him for his Protector he sent Apolonius one of his princes vpon the day of the meeting into Egypt and he himselfe returned back again to Ioppa 2 Mac. 4. From Ioppa hee went to Ierusalem which was 20 miles where Iason the high-Priest and all the people receiued him with great honour At that time Antiochus placed a Gard in the Castle or tower of Ierusalem which was the beginning of their intolerable seruitude But for that yeare which was the fourth of his reign he returned through Phoenicia to Antiochia in Syria 280 miles In the fift yeare of his reign hee went from Antiochia with a great army into Cilicia being 80 miles There he appeased the vprores of the inhabitants of Tharsus and Mallotus and conquered all Cilicia 2 Mac. 4. From Cilicia he returned backe againe to Antiochia eightie miles In the sixt yeare of his reign Antiochus went with a great army both by sea and land wherein were many Elephants to Pelusio 400 miles This city he conquered and ouercame the Alexandrians in a navall battell 2 Mac. 4. From Pelusio hauing built a bridge ouer Nilus he went with his army to Memphis conquerd all the countries strong cities as he went about 140 miles and brought thither a mightie and great prey where according to the saying of the Prophet Daniel cap. 11. He dealt subtilly with Ptolomais Philometor From Memphis he returned to Alexandria where the citisens would not suffer him to enter the gates wherefore he besieged it but to small purpose which was 120 miles From Alexandria he returned to Pelusio which was 160 miles there he left a garrison to retaine what hee had gotten in Aegypt 1 Mac. 4. From Pelusio he returned to Antiochia with a great prey being 400 miles In the mean time Ptolomais King of Egypt his sister Cleopatra brought in the aid of the Romanes Livy Decad. lib. 4. 5. In the next yeare that is in the seuenth yeare of Antiochus Epiphanes there was seen in the aire as if there had been men fighting a Comet also appeared This happened in the yeare before Christ 167. This yeare in the spring Antiochus went the second time from Antiochia with his army into Alexandria in Egypt which was 560 miles So passing through Coelosyria and Iudaea hee came into Egypt which he inuaded with open war endeauoring to get that by force which hee could not get by entreaty But the Romans sent P. Popillius with other Embassadours into Egypt who hearing that Antiochus was come to Leusia which was within a mile of Alexandria the Romanes went thither to him Where when he had welcommed them and shewed all the courtesie hee could to P. Popillius P. Popillius deliuered him certain tables that he had about him written And first of all commanded him to reade them which he did Then he counselled with some of his friends What was best to be done in the businesse While he was thus in a great study P. Popillius with a wand that hee had in his hand made a circle about him in the dust saying Ere thou stirre a foot out of this circle returne thy answer that I may tell the Senate Whe-thou hadst rather haue warre or peace This hee vttered with such a firme countenance that it amased the King Wherefore after he had paused a while quoth hee I will doe what the Senate hath written or shall thinke fit So doing little or nothing in Egypt hee returned backe againe Iustine Lib. 34. Decad. Lib. 4. cap. 5. Ios lib. 12. cap. 6. These things hapned ann vrb Rom. 585. L. Aemilius Paulus Caius Licinius Crassus being then Consuls in which yeare the Moon was totally eclipsed Aemilius ouercame Perseus King of Macedon and reduced Macedonia into a Prouince Lib. Dec. 4. lib. 5. From Leusia Antiochus fearing lest the Iewes would forsake his Empire and rebell went to Ierusalem which was 288 miles but the inhabitants of the towne shut him out of the city wherefore he besieged it and by the treason of Menelaus chiefe Priest who for that purpose conspired with the gard that was in the castle quickly got it and entred the gates In every place where he came hee put the Citisens to the sword and for three daies space did little else but cruelly massacre the people He went also with Menelaus into the Temple where he polluted the sacred things of the Temple and took thence the vessels of siluer gold or whatsoeuer he found pretious or worthy so that the prey he tooke amounted to 1800 talents which make almost 11 tunne of pure gold all which were partly gifts dedicated to the Temple and partly treasure that was left there as in a safe and sure place to the vse of poore distressed widowes and orphans After that Antiochus had robbed the Temple of all the siluer and gold that he could finde had banished Iason had placed a strong garrison in the tower of Acropolis the captaine of which was one Philip a very cruell man and made Menelaus high-Priest with all this booty and some number of captiues hee returned to Antiochia which was 280 miles In the yeare following that is before Christ 166 Lu. Aemilius Paulus triumphed for the wars of Macedonia Not long after Antiochus misdoubting the fidelitie of the Iewes sent Apolonius with an army of 22000 to Ierusalem who entred the city vpon the Sabbath day and committed many outrages Then Antiochus hauing spent a great part of the gold and siluer which he had got from Ierusalem about the eleuenth yeare of his
So all his trauels were 320 miles Of Amanus AManus was a mountain between Syria and Cilicia which extendeth it selfe to the riuer Euphrates Between this Amanus and Euphrates Arabia deserta is scituated 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward and signifies The mountain of truth from Aman True and faithfull The Trauels of Demetrius Nicanor the sonne of Demetrius Soter IN the 165 yeare of the gouernment of the Grecians in Syria which was 141 yeares before Christ Demetrius syrnamed Nicanor which signifies Victorre sailed out of Creet into Cilicia which was 600 miles Ios Ant. 13. c. 6. 1 Mac. 10. Out of Cilicia he came into Syria the lower 160 miles where ioyning with Apolonius he tooke vpon him the crowne and Kingdom of Syria Afterward Apolonius went into Iudaea with a great army and besieged Iamnia Ptolomeus Philometor also assisted the proceedings of Demetrius seeing Alexander his son in law beginning to decline and the better to strengthen their allyance matched him to Cleopatra his daughter which before had bin wife to Alexander by which policie he added to the kingdom of Egypt all Asia ouer which he ruled 2 yeares 1 Mac. 11. After Demetrius Nicanor came out of Siria the lower with Ptolomeus Philometor to Antiochia which was 80 miles 1 Mac. 11. From Antiochia they went with their army to a plain neer the mountain Amanus 120 miles where in a sharpe war they ouercame Alexander and put him out of his kingdom Ios Ant. li. 3. c. 7. Now after the death of Ptolomeus Philometor Demetrius Nicanor Nicanor returned to Antiochia 120 miles where he gouerned the kingdome of Syria two yeares From Antiochia he went to Ptolomais which was 200 miles to which place Ionathan the high priest came to meet him where he gaue to him many presents and great gifts to win his fauour 1 Mac. 11. From Ptolomais he returned to Antiochia 200 miles There his soldiers and the city of Antiochia rebelled against him For which cause Ionathan the high-priest sent him 3000 men which deliuered the King out of danger put to the sword 100000 of the seditious and burnt the city of Antiochia 1 Mac. 11. But after Demetrius shewed himselfe vnthankfull hee was driuen out of his kingdome by Tryphon and yong Antiochus the sonne of King Alexander who was also called Theos which signifies God In the 172 yeare of the reigne of the Grecians in Syria which was 138 before Christ Nicanor hauing slaine Antiochus the son of Alexander he would haue reigned alone in Syria wherefore Demetrius who was the lawfull King of Syria being 3 yeares before driuen thence went 1200 miles into Media to craue aid against Tryphon but Arsaces king of the Medes Parthians and Persians sent the chiefe captain of his host against Demetrius who burned his tents tooke him prisoner and caried him back to his master to Hecatompylon the chiefe city of his kingdome distant from Syria 1220 miles toward the East Iustin lib. 36. 38. From Hecatompylon Arsaces sent him to Hyrcania the Metropolitan city of that countrey which was 176 miles where although Arsaces kept him as a prisoner yet he allowed him royall attendance and after maried him to his daughter Iust lib. 38. After the death of Arsaces with singular industry and policie he got out of captiuitie after he had beene 12 yeares prisoner in Hyrcania and came into Syria which was 14 miles where he recouered his kingdome and reigned foure yeares So all his Trauels were 4156 miles ¶ Of the Places to which he trauelled Of Creta now called Candia THis is an Island of the Mediterranian sea distant from Ierusalem 600 miles Westward very fruitfull and pleasant in which there growes great plenty of Cypresse trees and grapes of diuers kindes but principally such whereof Malmsey and Sacke are made Here Tytus Pauls Disciple was Bishop wherefore you shall reade more of it after Of Seleucia SEleucia is a famous city of Syria scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranian sea 280 miles from Ierusalem Northward neere to which the riuer Orantes runneth and the mountaine Casius standeth which is 4 miles high Plin. l. 5. c. 22. You may read more of this in the trauels of S. Paul Of Syria SYria was sometimes called of the Hebrewes Aram of Aram the sonne of Sem of whom all Armenia tooke the name Aram signifies A man of great spirit and dignity being deriued of Rom that is lifted vp for he was a man of an excellent spirit Gen. cap. 10. Syria signifieth a great tract of land and is diuided into two parts the vpper and the lower In the vpper Syria are these cities Antiochia Seleucia Laodicea and Apamea in the lower Syria are Sydon Tyrus Berytus Tripolis and Orthosia This Countrey is scituated in a very temperat Zone from whence it happeneth that it is neither oppressed with too much cold nor heate There are that diuide Syria into foure parts that is into Syria Assyria Leucosyria and Coelosyria Also Pliny Lib. 5. Cap. 12. attributeth Mesopotamia and Babylonia to Syria But it is euident that these were distinct Countries from them in the which there reigned Emperours and Kings which had large and spatious Dominions For Syria is scituated betweene the Mediterranian sea and Euphrates but Mesopotamia which is so called because it is scituated in the middle of waters is separated from Syria and Assyria with the riuers Euphrates Tygris and Arabia is separated from Syria and Babylon with many vast wildernesses Therefore these countries cannot properly passe vnder the denomination of Syria Of Parthia PArthia is a spatious country full of mountains and desarts lying vpon the borders of Media Westward the Metropolis whereof is Hecatompylon taking the name of 100 gates wherewith it is fortified It lieth as Stephanus saith 1512 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Here Arsaces that mighty King of the Parthians kept his court who had vnder his gouernment Media Parthia Persia Hircania and the greatest part of all the countries toward the East It is called Parthia because of the fruitfulnesse of the soile being deriued of Parah To fructifie Of Hyrcania HYrcania is a fruitfull and pleasant countrey bordering vpon Media and the Caspian sea for the most part plain champian beautified with many faire Cities the chiefe of which are Hyrcania the Metropolis of the whole kingdome Talebrota Samariana Carta and Tape It was so fat and fruitfull that the inhabitants vse not to till and dresse the ground as they doe in other places but the seed that falleth from the huske vpon the earth springeth vp and bringeth forth great plenty and increase without further labour The Dewes also falling vpon the trees there droppeth from them oile and honey in great plenty It taketh the name as it is thought from a Wood called Hyrcania In like manner the Caspian sea which bordereth vpon it of this country is called Hyrcanum Many cruel beasts are found therein as the Panther the Tyger and the Leopard The Panther is of a whitish colour inclining something
punishing hand of God as wel by the inuasion of Enemies as sickenesse and dearth according to the predictions of the Prophets Esay 28. and Ezek. 28. vntil at last in succeeding ages it was vtterly destroyed the ruins of which city remain to this day and make euident that it was a faire and spatious towne There is to be seen yet to this day a city built out of the ruines of the former though nothing so large as it very strong mightily fortified so that it seemeth almost inuincible if it haue men wherewith to defend it Vpon the one side it ioyneth to the sea and vpon the other side of it there standeth two mighty strong castles one of them scituated toward the North vpon a very strong â—ock as it were in the heart of the sea the which was built by cerâ—ain Pilgrims that came out of Germany to visit the holy city of â—erusalem The other of them was scituated vpon a hill toward the South of the city as well fortified and no lesse difficult to be conquered These two castles with the whole city in times past were in the hands of the Knights templers The land round about it is very pleasant and fertile abounding with all kinde of good things necessarie for the maintenance of life and delight There is also found great aboundance of Grapes which are very delicious and pleasant to the tast wherof the wine Canamella is made But because the Turkes and Saracens are inhibited by the strict law of their Alcaron from drinking of wine therefore they suffer no vineyards to be planted neither the inhabitants to dresse those Vines that grow naturally Before the East gate of the antient city which now lies destroied there is built a Chappel in which place they say the woman of Canaan entreated our Sauior Christ to cast a Diuell out of her daughter Mat. 15. The mountain Antilibanus beginneth close by the riuer Eleutherius and extends it selfe beyond Tripolis and in some places it ioyneth so close to the sea that for the streightnesse of the wayes those that trauel that way can scarse passe In this city was the fairest purple in all those parts nay as some Authors affirme the like was not to be found in the world c. Of Cana Syro-Phoenicea THis towne which was called Cana the Great was scituated vpon the borders of Tyrus and Sydon 112 miles from Ierusalem Northward scituated in the Tribe of Ashur 4 miles from Sydon towards the South and three from Sarepta towards the East In this towne the Syrophoenician dwelt that besought our Sauior Christ to heale her daughter that was possessed of a diuel Mat. 15. Mar. 7. It was called Cana to put a difference betweene it and another Cana scituated in Galile the lower in which city our Sauior Christ turned water into wine You may reade more of this towne before Of Trachonitis THis city was so called from the stony hardnes of the mountains of Gilead which compasse it in vpon the East side in which prouince the tribe of Gad and the halfe tribe of Manasses inhabited It was in antient times called Basan in which Og the mighty Gyant had a great command but Moses ouercame him and gaue the land to the tribe of Gad and the half tribe of Manasses In Christs time the Tetrarch and gouernour of it was Philip who was son to Herod the Great and brother to Herod Antipas Tetrach in Galile and Petraea which Herod tooke to wife Herodia whom his brother Philip had formerly maried the said Philip beeing at that time aliue but because Iohn Baptist reprehended him for that fact therefore at her request he was beheaded in the Castle of Machera Itura was another Prouince belonging to the tetrarchy of Philip ioyning vpon the West to the riuer of Iordan and called Galile of the Gentiles of which you may reade before Of Decapolis THis country is so called of ten cities that were scituated in it It stood beyond Iordan and the sea of Galile as may be gathered out of Mark ca. 7. and Mat. 15. So that it is manifest that that country which in times past was called Gilead was afterward known and called by the name of Decapolis because of the ten cities which stood there as Chorazin which Christ cursed Mat. 11. Gamala where Agrippa King of the Iewes was hurt in his right arme Ios de bell Iud. lib. 4. cap. 1. Iuliades built by Herod Antipas in honor of the Empresse Iulia. Gadara where our Sauior Christ cast out the legion of diuels suffering them to enter into the herd of swine Mat. 8. Mar. 5. Astaroth the chiefe citie of that Countrey in the time of Og King of Basan Ios cap. 12. Here also that holy man Iob sometimes had his dwelling Iabes in Gilead where Saul King of Israel lieth buried 1 Sam. 31. Mizpah where Ieptha offered his daughter for a sacrifice to the Lord Iudg. 11. Ramoth in Gilead where King Ahab was slaine with a Dart 1 Reg. 22. And Abel of the Vines where Baalams Asse spake Num. 22. These are those ten cities whereof this country is called Decapolis being scituated in the land of Gilead betweene Iordan where our Sauior healed the man that was both blind and deafe Mark 7. This opinion exactly agreeth with that of the holy scripture Yet I know there are some as Plin. lib. 5. cap. 18. and others who differ from this in the description of this countrey but they erre from the truth Of Magdala THis was a city scituated vpon the West side of the Galilean sea 52 miles from Ierusalem Northward in which Country Mary who of this town was called Magdalen was borne At this time this city is called by the name of Castle Magdala in which place they shew the house of Mary Magdalen Vpon the West and North side of the city there lieth a great and spatious plain preserued only for pasture which Mar. cap. 8. calls Dalmanutha that is Drawn dry or a poore and naked habitation being deriued of Dalal He hath made dry and Maon a House or dwelling place It may be a notable figure of the Christian Church which in this world may rightly be said to haue a poore habitation but yet is a right Magdala that is a strong and impregnable Tower against which the gates of Hell shall not be able to preuaile Matt. 16. Vpon the borders of Magdala and Dalmanutha the Pharisees and Sadduces tempting our blessed Sauior Christ demanded of him a signe from heauen Mat. 15.16 Mar. 8. This city belonged to the tribe of Issacher Of Thabor MOunt Thabor was a round and high hill vpon which our blessed Sauior Christ was transfigured scituated vpon the borders of the tribes of Issacher Zebulon fifty two miles from the City of Ierusalem towards the North and extendeth it selfe toward the South to the riuer Kison Heere Deborah and Barack discomfited the Host of Sisera King of the Canaanites and put them to flight Iug. 4. Of this mountain
by the name of Terassa beeing neither so famous nor so faire a citie as in the time when the Roman Empire flourished for then because of the extraordinary vertue of the citizens it was indowed with the libertie and freedome of Rome Of Damascus THis was a metropolitan towne in Syria distant from Ierusalem 160 miles towards the Northeast being an ancient and faire citie and before such time as Antiochia was built the head of all that kingdome It was scituated in a faire and fruitfull place close by the mountaine Libanus which bringeth forth Frankincense Ceders Cypresse and many odoriferous and sweet smelling floures There were many Kings that kept their court in it as Hadad Benhadad the first Benhadad the second Hasael and others who grieuously opposed the Kings of Israel in many sharpe and cruell warres as you may reade before The land round about it aboundeth with white and red Roses Pomegranats Almonds Figges and other sweet and pleasant fruits In that place the Alablaster stone is found very faire and cleere The aire pleasant and healthfull The riuer called Chrysorrus runneth close by it in which there is found golden veines which yeelded perfect gold The houses without are not very curious but within all of polished Marble and Alablaster guilt with resplendent gold so artificially that it dazleth the beholders eies There was a certaine Florentine who reuolted from the Christian faith and obtained to be chiefe gouernour of this towne in which he erected a strong and beautifull castle which stood for the defence of it No man can sufficiently expresse the beautie and glory of this citie there is great traffique and much resort of people to it but especially of Turkes Saracens Mamalucks and other kinds of Pagan people who are preferred before the Christians in that gouernment and although there are many Christians in that place yet they are constrained to indure great injurie by those Barbarians because they are hated euen to the death and if any of them chance to die they are buried in that place where Paul was conuerted The inhabitants shew the place where Saint Paul was let downe ouer the wall in a basket also the house of Ananias who cured the blindnesse of Paul besides many other things that are memorable in that citie of which you may reade in Sebestian Munster Sebastian Frankus Plin. lib. 5. and many other authors Of Arabia MAny things are already spoken concerning this Countrey as the diuision of the place one called Petraea the other Deserta and the third Foelix Arabia Petraea is so called from the Metropolitan citie thereof called Petra which is scituated forty miles from Ierusalem towards the South and bordereth vpon Aegypt and India It is also called Arabia Nabathea as you may reade before Paran and Sur are a part of it compassing towards the East the land of Iudaea and so extendeth to Damascus This countrey is very full of rockes and stones the chiefe citie Petra being scituated vpon a rocke of which it taketh the name Here standeth the mountaines Horeb and Sinai here the children of Israel trauelled when they went out of Aegypt here is the Sardonix stone found and the people of this countrey in times past were great Prophets and Astrologians here also S. Paul taught the Gospell a little after his conuersion Gal. 1. at which time Aretas was King thereof whose sister was married to Herod the Tetrarch of Galile and Petraea but he cast her off and married Herodias his brother Philips wife vpon which there began a bloudy warre betweene Aretas and Herod and a sharpe battell was fought neere to Gamala a citie beyond Iordan And although the two Kings were not at this battell yet by the treason and flight of the soldiers out of Tracones who without all question would haue reuenged the contempt done vnto their Lord Philip the Arabian armie carried away a notable victory as Iosephus witnesseth lib. antiq 18. cap. 9. Aretas signifieth An excellent man which was a common name to the Kings of Arabia It is to be thought that Damascus and all the Countrey round about was vnder the jurisdiction of this King and that he ordained a Lieutenant or Generall in those parts who would haue taken Paul and put him to death Acts 9. 2 Col. 12. The other part of Arabia is called by Ptolomie Deserta but Strabo calls it Scenilis because the inhabitants thereof are without buildings or Tents and liue like vagrants vp and downe the woods This is compast in vpon the South with certaine mountaines of Arabia Foelix towards the North it borders vpon Mesopotamia and towards the West vpon Petraea The third is called Arabia Foelix because of the fertilitie therof for they haue there euery yeare two haruests as they haue in India as Strabo obserueth See Plin. lib. 6. cap. 28. Of Antiochia YOu may reade of this Towne before It is said that Luke the Euangelist was borne here This man was by profession a Physition Colos 4. and an inseparable companion to Paul in all his Trauels he was of the number of the seuentie Disciples as Epiphanius obserueth Tertullian saith in his fourth booke against Marcion that Luke receiued his Gospell from the mouth of Paul he liued till he was 84 yeares old and then died and lies buried at Constantinople as S. Ierom saith for his bones were remoued out or Achaia thither The second Trauels of the Apostle Paul in the company of Barnabas IN the eleuenth yeare after the natiuitie of Christ and in the foure and fortieth yeare of Paul he and Barnabas was sent by the holy spirit from Antiochia in Syria to Seleucia which was foure and twenty miles From Seleucia they sailed to Salamais in Cyprus which was 94 miles Acts 13. From thence they went to Paphos which is in the same Isle where Sergius Paulus was conuerted and Elymas the Magitian who professing himselfe to bee the Messias and Sonne of God was strucke with blindnesse Act. 13. this journey was 100 miles They loosing from Paphos went by sea and land the same yeare to Pergamus a city of Pamphilia scituated in Asia minor which was 148 miles In the 45 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ they went from Pergamus to Antiochia in Pisidia which was 132 miles From thence they went to Iconia which was 96 miles here they staied some time and conuerted many Act. 13. 14. In the 46 yere after the natiuitie of Christ there being a great tumult raised in that countrey lest the inhabitants should haue stoned them they fled thence to Lystra a city of Lyaconia where Paul healed the lame man which was 28 miles The inhabitants seeing this miracle worshipped them for gods and called Barnabas Iupiter and Paul Mercurius because he wrought the miracle But not long after certaine Iewes comming from Antiochia and Iconia arriued in Listra by whose perswasion the people stoned Paul and supposing him to be dead carried him out of the citie but when his Disciptes came vnto him
day of Iuly the Iewes filled the Porch toward the West with pitch and betume and then made as though they meant to fly and leaue the citie which some of the Romans perceiuing without any command of their Captaines put scaling ladders to the Tower and began to assault it but when they were most busie the Iewes of a sudden put fire to the pitch and burnt them most miserably insomuch as Titus pittied them to see their extremitie although they were such as did contrary to his command Vpon the last day of this moneth they tooke the North gate which lay towards the rising of the Sunne and close by the brooke Cedron rhis they burnt downe with fire Vpon the third of August Titus commanded to fire the gate of the Temple that was all couered ouer with gold siluer by this gate the Romans made a breach into the Temple which ere this had beene prophaned by the Iewes whiles this gate was a burning the Iewes stood astonished and not one of them resisted the Romans Caesar and all his army labored three daies to quench this fire after which hee called a councell to determine what he should do with the temple it was so rich and sumptuous that he would faine haue left it as an ornament for the Roman Empire But the Iewes hauing got a little breathing made new incursions vpon the Romans by which meanes they could not determine thereof The 6 of August the souldiers of Titus without command of their Captaines fired the Temple just vpon that day which Nebuchadnezzar before time had destroyed it as Iosephus witnesseth li. de Bell. 6. c. 26.27 Caesar would faine haue saued this Temple for the sumptuousnesse of it and beckoned to his souldiers to haue quencht the fire but they partly prest on with a desire of wealth partly being prickt on with a fury and madnesse gaue no eare to his speeches but committed most cruell massacres without either regard of age or sex So that the cries of the slaughterd the sound of the Roman trumpets the fierce resistance of the seditious and the fire furiously burning represented a most horrible spectacle The ground below was couered with dead bodies many in desperation threw themselues into the fire 6000 were burnt in the same gate whither they fled for refuge and the priests most cruelly massacred as they were in the Temple This was the end of the Temple of Ierusalem the mirror of the world being consumed and spoiled with fire and sword After these things vpon the bridge that passeth from the temple ouer the valley into the lower towne Titus made a speech by an interpreter to the two seditious Captaines gently intreating them to leaue off their rebellion and he would spare the Citie and commit no more outrages and such further requests as they desired should according to reason be granted them but if they would not embrace mercy and cease their violent resistance they must expect no manner of compassion but the very law of Armes This they contemned and made but a mocke of Caesar for all his offers whereupon in a great rage hee gaue the signall to his souldiers and they went through all the City and set it on fire The next day they woon the lower Citie and with fire and sword consumed the place where the records lay the Court and all the Princely buildings vntill they came to that stately house of Helena which stood in the midst of Acra all the houses neere being filled with the bodies of the dead and the streets horribly defiled with the bloud of those that were slaine Within a short while after Iohannes Giscalinus was taken aliue and committed to prison The inferiour Citie being thus taken and destroyed about the 16 day of August Caesar began to build his engines and batter the walls of the vpper citie which within the space of 18 daies after with extreme labour and skill hee laid flat with the ground as Iosephus saith And vpon the 7 of September with great facilitie hee conquered the citie the Iewes of their owne accord descending from the Towers and the Romanes set vpon the walls their ensignes with a great acclamation and wasted all the citie with fire and sword sparing neither men women nor children The 8 day of the moneth of September the whole Citie was destroyed and not a stone left vpon a stone but laid leuell with the ground onely the three Towers that were built by Herod which were of shining Marble viz. Hippicus Phaselus and Mariamne that future ages seeing the excellencie of those buildings they might iudge of the statelines of the rest But these also were after destroyed by Adrianus Caesar There died by the famine and pestilence an innumerable number by fire and sword ten hundred thousand 2000 were found that either killed themselues or one killed another 7900 were taken captiues of these all the seditious theeues that accused one another were slaine by Frontonius Caesar Titus freed many 7000 were sent into Aegypt with extreme labour to consume and die the properest and most able were reserued for triumph many were distributed through the prouinces some were slaine by the sword and by beasts for publike spectacles and those that were 16 yeares of age and vnder together with many other Caesar sold vnder the crowne at thirty for a siluer penny that as Christ was sold for thirty pence so thirty of them should be sold for a penny With the riches of this towne Caesar triumphed rode into Rome with two golden Chariots built the Temple of Peace and there put all the plate which he found in the temple of Ierusalem After all this for a full determination of those euils the two seditious captaines Iohannes Giscalenus and Simon the son of Giora were put to most cruell deaths Thus may we see the grieuous punishment of the obstinat and ambitious which God permitted to fall vpon them for their vnthankfulnesse and cruell tyranny How the city of Ierusalem after this destruction by Titus Vespas was vtterly beaten downe and defaced by Aelius Adr. Caesar which he re-edifying called it after his own name Aelia THe city of Ierusalem being thus laid leuel with the ground for the space of sixty yeares lay desolate a receptacle for theeues and murtherers a fit place for Wolues and wilde beasts which resorted thither to feed vpon the dead bodies And now time consuming their flesh left their bones and skuls to lye vpon the earth as in a Charnell house Thus it continued vntill one Benchochab which signifies the Son of the Stars born in the towne of Bethcoron not farre from Emaus professed himselfe to be the Messiah or Christ The Iewes supposing this to be true because of that saying of Numb 24. There shall a Starre rise vp out of Iacob assembled themselues to the number of many thousands and followed him with great tyranny and crueltie spoyling the Holy Land and through all the countrey of Iudaea committing many outrages and massacres
both and with great facility conquered the kingdome and destroied Ierusalem In this yeare 1187 there happened so great an Eclipse of the Sunne that at noone day the Starres were plainely to bee seene Soone after this Raimond and Guy were both taken prisoners and thirty thousand Christians cruelly put to the sword After this the Saracens sacked the Towne threw the Bells out of the Steeples made stables of the Churches only the Temple on Mount Golgotha stood vntoucht for the Turkes and Saracens honour Christ as a great Prophet And thus the new kingdome of the Christians in Ierusalem ended which was vpon the second day of October in the yeare 1187 after it had continued in their possession 88 yeares During the continuance of this kingdome there were many horrible visions and strange Signes and Wonders seene both in Heauen on earth and in the ayre foreshewing no doubt that God was not well pleased with their actions which sought to restore that kingdom of Ierusalem For My kingdome saith Christ is not of this world And although after that there were many Kings that by all possible means endeauored to recouer and restore the same and for that purpose haue leauied many great Armies and vndertaken many tedious journies yet all their counsels and determinations came to nothing for that God so often as they vndertooke any such expedition either stayed their Armies oppressed them with war or else plagued them with famine in such an extreame measure that with very hunger they haue bin constrained to eat their Horses Frederick Barbarossus may be an example of these calamities who with a great army making an expedition to Ierusalem as he was trauelling through Asia minor his horse started and flung him into the riuer where he died miserably ere he could be saued Many other Princes besides in the like enterprise came to the like ends for they were either destroied by the Barbarians with the losse of thousands of their men cruelly slain or vtterly destroied with vnnatural diseases or vntimely deaths Now when the Emperour Fredericke the second of that name had beseeged and brought to great miserie the Sultan of Egypt and the Knights Templers had done the like to Damieta Corderio the Sultans son beat downe the walls of Ierusalem and had it not bin for the great lamentations and ernest entreaties of the Christians he would haue destroied the city but for their sakes he left standing Solomons Temple and the Temple of the holy Sepulchre for at this time Christians inhabit in them Within a while after about the yeare 1228 Fredericke the second of that name Emperor of Rome went to the holy land with a great army and came to Ptolomais otherwise called Acon where staying a while he made a league with the Sultan of Egipt for ten years regained Ierusalem without drawing sword was there crowned in the yeare 1229 keeping at that time in Ierusalem a royal Easter This man fortified the Christians with a garrison rebuilt Nazareth and Ioppa and so returned into Italy In the yeare 1246 Cassanus King of the Tartars being persuaded by the Sultan with a great army inuaded Iudaea won Ierusalem caused the Christians to be cruelly slaine beat downe the holy Sepulchre euen to small pieces and left but little standing It was after this destroyed by Tamerlaine King of the Tartars and by Mahomet the second of that name Emperour of the Turkes But the Monkes had leaue to build vp the holy Sepulcre againe for the which they payed to the Sultan or his Deputy a yearely tribute In the yeare of our Lord 1516 Selymus Emperor of the Turks about the twenty fourth day of August neere to Damascus ouercame Campson Gaurus Sultan of Egypt in a cruell Warre and put to death many thousands of his men and the Sultan himselfe seeking to saue his life by flight was miserably slaine This Selymus conquered the Holy Land Syria Damascus and all the Countries thereabouts and as he went through Iudaea leauing his Army at Gaza with a few of his Souldiers he went to Ierusalem that he might see with his eyes that place which was made so famous by the antient Writers and was so often mentioned in the Old and New Testament But when he came he found nothing but a ruinate and waste place barren and rude to looke vpon inhabited by a few poore Christians and they also held in great contempt and bondage paying a great tribute to the Sultan of Egypt for their liberty and the holy Sepulchre as P. Iouius writeth But after that Selymus in that place had done his Offerings and Sacrifices to his god Mahomet seeing the Priests and Christians prest with extreme pouertie out of his singular mercy and compassion gaue them a large and sumptuous gift when hee had stayed but one day and one night in the Towne The next morning before day he went with all expedition to his Army at Gaza from thence into Egypt where he besieged the great and famous city Alcaire and in the yeare 1517 took it conquered all the country vtterly extirpated the Sultan and went away with an honorable victory and rich booty From this yeare euen till now the towne of Aelia or Ierusalem is vnder the jurisdiction of the Turks Thus may we see how often and with what miserable calamities this city hath bin afflicted euen since the first destruction by Vespasian which makes euident the great iudgment of God not only vpon the Iews but also vpon the earth where they inhabited for their infidelitie and vnmercifull cruelty The description of Ierusalem and the scituation thereof as it is now in these times THe former incursions and common desolations leauing this town ruined and spoiled for want of inhabitants it became a desart and forsaken place onely some few Christians either out of the zeale of religion or for vulgar ostentation to shew that there had bin a town dwelt there and thus it continued vntill the yeare 1542. at which time Solyman the great Turk either in respect of the strength of the place or in hope of profit or else to get himselfe a name with great cost and labor re-edified it set vp many stately buildings and sumptuous houses beautified it with two costly Temples the one the Temple of Solomon and the other the holy Sepulchre inlarged the extent thereof and seated it vpon high hils After all this compast it about with a spatious and thicke wall and vpon that placed many strong and stately towers wherein there stands eight gates viz. the fish gate the Old gate S. Stephens gate so called because they say S. Stephen went out by that gate when hee was stoned the Angle gate the Dung gate the Sheep gate the Golden and Fountaine gates Thus the antient city and that which the Emperor Adrian built being both destroied in another place is set vp again So that between both this new city standeth and the first city begins to be again inhabited Of the Temple of the
but swim vpon the top be it either iron lead copper or any other weighty matter Of which Vespasian the emperor hauing notice to make experience of what he had heard made a journy of purpose to see it and with him tooke certain condemned men who for their offences had deserued death these he manacled and where he thought it to be deepest caused them to bee thrown in but they rose vp againe with such violence as if some storm or tempest had sent them vp The water thereof changeth three times a day and shineth against the sun with diuers colors casting out fire and great cakes of pitch much resembling Bulls without heads and of that quantity This pitch is good for diuers things as to calk ships to lay vpon cables and to vse in medicins wherefore such as come to this sea and know the nature of it haue certain Skifs and instruments wherewith they draw these cakes of pitch to their ships to which it cleaueth so fast it being naturally tough that being brought to land they cannot get it off again but by the help of vrine Vpon the banks thereof grow trees that beare fruit of diuers kinds as apples and such like which are faire and pleasant to the eie but if you either touch or open them you shall finde nothing but dust Brittenbacchus saith In this place the Serpent Tyrus whereof they vse to make treacle is found It is a little serpent about half a cubit long and a finger thick being of diuers colours and is so venomous that where it biteth there is no remedy vnlesse by cutting off the member The head of it is rough and hairy and there seemeth to lie vpon the tongue of it if it be angry a fiery flame The same Author saith That a little from Zoar betweene this Lake and the mountaines of Engedi the pillar whereinto Lots wife was turned is yet to be seen shining like salt The furthest part of this sea Northward lies 14 miles from Ierusalem toward the East the riuer Iordan runneth into it The trauell of the two Angels that led Lot out of Sodom THese two Angels hauing spoken with Abraham in the valley of Mamre neere Hebron forthwith went to Sodom some 40 miles distant from that place where Lot hauing entertained them into his house by their helpe was deliuered together with his wife and two daughters from that miserable desolation of the Sodomits Of Lots two Daughters LOt escaping this desolation and seeing a president of Gods iudgement fallen vpon his wife for her disobedience fearing that he should not continue safe in Zoar left that turned aside into the wildernesse and continued there among the mountains although the Lord had promised him safety in this town wherfore continuing in a Caue in the Wildernesse the eldest of his daughters losing her husband in this destruction supposing that all men had beene destroyed from off the earth counselled her sister to commit incest with her father Lot being now oppressed with care by reason of the former calamities gaue himself at the inticement of his daughters to drinke Wine insomuch as with the excesse he became drunke at which time not being himselfe he begat by his two daughters two sonnes the eldest had a sonne whom shee called Moab which signifies The begotten of his Father whereby the impudencie of this woman is laid open to the World in that she was not ashamed of her sinne Of him came the Moabites and dwelt vpon the North side of the lake Asphaltides some 32 miles from Ierusalem The yongest daughter had a son which she called Ben-ammy that is The son of my people for although she bare him with great shame yet she dwelt among the people of God Of him came the Ammonites that dwelt beyond mount Gilead threescore miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Of the foure Kings that tooke LOT prisoner THe first of them was called Amraphel King of Shinear or Babylon the son of Ninus and Semiramis as some thinke and is called somtime by the name of Berosus sometime Ninus He kept his court at Babylon in Chaldea which is 680 miles from Ierusalem Eastward This Ninus is called Amraphel because of the notable victories that he won and the number of countries and prouinces he conquered The second was Arioch or Arius his sonne He was thus called because of his courage and crueltie in war for Arioch signifies A mighty roaring Lion Arius Mars This man during the life of his father was created king of Lassir that is Assiria for so it is called in the Chaldaean tongue the chiefe city whereof is Nineueh and lies from Ierusalem Northeastward six hundred eighty foure miles The third was Keder-laomer King of the Elamites in Persia 1200 miles from Ierusalem toward the East This Prince had a great command in that country Keder signifies an Ornament or Crowne Laomer Well deseruing The fourth was Thideall King of the Nations Hee kept his court in Damascus the Metropolis of Assyria some 160 miles from Ierusalem Northward Thideal signifieth An exalted Lord of Alah that is To be lifted vp These foure kings were confederats and bent their expedition principally against Astaroth and Kiriathaim which they tooke and spoyled all the Countrey round about with fire and sword and their Armies being retyred from the spoyle met in the vally of Siddim where now the dead Sea runneth and there pitched their tents In this place after a cruel and sharp war they conquered the fiue Kings of that beautifull and pleasant soile of Pentapolis for so it was called because of those fiue cities that were in it where among others they tooke Lot captiue with all his substance Of Astoroth AStoroth seemes to be the city of Venus because the citisens thereof worshipped her for Astoroth is a goddesse of the Sidonians and is compounded of Ash which signifies a company of stars and Tor placed in order The Syrians call Venus Ashtoroth This towne lay in the land of Gilead and belonged to the halfe tribe of Manasse beyond Iordan 56 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward In this city the foure Kings of the East conquered the gyants of Karnaim that were mighty princes and commanders there when they made war against that and Kiriathaim Not far from hence also in the land of Ham there dwelt certaine Gyants called Zusim of Zus and Hamah which signifies to stir vp commotion These were very great strong and stately people and had the command of all the Countries thereabouts which they held in great feare and were conquered by the foure Kings Of Kiriathaim KIriathaim was a City in the tribe of Reubin beyond Iorden Ios 13. 22 miles from Ierusalem toward the East and so called because it was diuided into many parts and diuisions The heathens corruptly cal it Carthage The Hebrews deriue it from Kiriath which signifies a city and Emah Terror Here dwelt the Emims a graue and fearfull people for so their name signifies Of Hazezon Thamar THis Citie tooke the
oracle which interpreteth For Pathar with the Hebrewes is the same that He hath interpreted is with vs. Wherefore this Prophet trauelled from Pithora or Phatura in Mesopotamia to Abel or the plaine of Vines where his Asse spake Num. 22. which is 400 miles From thence he went to the land of the Moabites 40 miles where in the mount of Peor he blessed the children of Israel So all the trauels of this Prophet were 440 miles Of the Plain of the Vines THere is often mention of this place in the Scripture for the fertilitie of the countrey and plenty of sweet Wines there was a beautifull city built called Abel of the Vines some 56 miles from Ierusalem South-Eastward and was placed iust in the way as they went from Mesopotamia into the country of the Moabites Whereby it appeareth that neere to this place the Asse spake to Balaam Numb 22. In S. Ieroms time there was found a little Village so called where there was great plenty of Vines Here Ieptha ouercame the Ammorites and made a great slaughter Iud. 11. The Trauels of that noble Captaine IOSHVAH IOSHVAH and Caleb trauelled with Moses from Raemsis out of Aegypt through the Red sea and came to Kades-Barnea 26 miles From Cades-Barnea they were sent forth with other Spieâ— to the land of Canaan Num. 13. and went out of the wildernessâ— of Zin and Paran and came to the towne of Rechob in Galileâ— 140 miles From thence they went to the towne of Hamath in Syria which was after called Antiochia 188 miles From Hamath or Antiochia they returned againe to Hebron 304 miles where vpon the side of the riuer Escol they cut offâ— bunch of grapes with the stalke which was as much as both theâ— could beare vpon their shoulders Num. 13. From Hebron they returned againe to Kades-Barnea twentâ— miles There all the people murmured against Moses Num. 1â— Heereby it is to be seene that the Spies in forty dayes trauelleâ— 648 miles in the land of Canaan that is euery day 16 miles and little more After that Ioshuah and Caleb trauelled with Moses and the chiâ—dren of Israel to Ezeon-Gabir and from thence to the towne oâ— Iahza 464 miles From Iahza they past through two kingdoms to mount Libâ—nus 80 miles From mount Libanus they returned againe into the Land oâ— Sittim that lay by the hill Pisgah in the field of the Moabiteâ— 80 miles From the land of Sittim they past through the riuer of Iordâ—â— and came to Gilgal 6 miles where Ioshuah pitched his Campe Num. 21. Ios 4.5 From Gilgal he went to Iericho 2 miles there he assailed the towne with the sound of basons and won it Ios 6. From Iericho he went to Ai being 4 miles and took and burnt the whole towne Ios 7.8 From Ai he returned to Gilgal 4 miles and there vpon the hil of Ebal he built an altar vnto the Lord and there were the blessings and cursings pronounced Ios 8. Deut. 27. From Gilgal hee went to Gibeon twelue miles There the Sunne stood still during the battaile against the three Kings Ioshuah 10. From Gibeon he went to Ajalon 2 miles here the Moon stood still Ios 10. From Ajalon he went to Aseka 4 miles there it hailed vpon the enemies that fled before Israel Ios 10. From Aseka Ioshuah returned againe into the Camp at Gilgal 20 miles Ios 10. From Gilgal hee went to Makeda where hee hanged the fiue Kings Ios 10. From Makeda he went to Libna 2 miles and tooke the towne Ios 10. From Libna he went to Lachis 8 miles From Lachis he went to Eglon 8 miles From Eglon he went to Hebron which is sixteene miles Ioshuah 10. From Hebron he went to Debir a mile Ios 10. After that Ioshuah with one continued War won all that part of Iudaea which lay towards the South bordering Eastward vpon the Dead Sea Southward vpon Cades-Barnea Westward vpon Asdod and Gaza and Northward vpon Gibeon and Gilgal This circuit of land containeth about one hundred fifty and sixe miles From Gilgal Ioshuah went out with his army about 22 miles to the riuer of Merom where he slew the rest of the Kings of the Canaanites in a memorable battell Ios 11. From the riuer of Merom Ioshuah chased his enemies and followed them to Sidon which was 612 miles Ios 11. From Sidon he went again to Hazor 32 miles which town he burnt Ios 11. After that Ioshuah at one time won all the townes in the Holy land which lay Northward in the lands of Samaria and Galilea from Gibeon to mount Libanus and from the riuer of Iordan to the great sea called Mare Mediterranean which countries in circuit contain 280 miles After that Ioshuah returned again to his camp at Gilgal which lay 72 miles from the towne of Hazor where he made a diuision of the land amongst the children of Israel Ios 14 15. From Gilgal he went to Shilo 12 miles where he made an end of diuiding the land Ios 18. From Shilo he went to Timnah Sera eight miles and there he dwelt for the children of Israel gaue him that town for his own inheritance Ios 19. From Timnah Sera Ioshuah not long before hee died came to Sichem forty miles There he assembled all the tribes of Israel Ios 24. From Sichem he returned againe to Timnah Sera 40 miles where he died and was buried Ios 24. So all the trauels of Prince Ioshuah were 2392 miles The description of the seuerall townes and places to which Ioshuah trauelled ¶ Of Rechob THis was a city of the Levits in the tribe of Ashur 100 miles from Ierusalem toward the North Num. 13. and signifieth a broad street being deriued from Radhab that is To extend out in length Of Haemah or Chaemah THis was a city of the Levits in the Tribe of Nepthaly and was 100 miles from Ierusalem vpon the vtmost bounds of the holy land at the foot of Antilibanus Num. 11.34 Ios 19. deriued from Chamah that is furious or burning with anger Of Gilgal THis was a town between Iordan the city Iericho 12 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward where the children of Israel hauing past the riuer of Iordan first made war vpon all the Nations of the land of Canaan Here they solemnised the first paschal Lambe After they came into this land Manna ceased because they then ate the fruits of the countrey Here Ioshuah taking 12 stones out of Iordan pitcht them vp for a memorial Here the tabernacle of God stayed for a time which was the reason that afterward the Israelites committed idolatry in this place Ios 4.5 Hos 2.4.9 Amos 5. Neere to this place Ehud the third Iudge of the Children of Israel receiued gifts of them to carry to Eglon King of the Moabites dwelling at Iericho where hee killed him with a knife Here Saul was the second time confirmed King of Israel 2 Sam. 10. and as it seemes taketh name of Roundnesse Ioshuah at this time building his tent in a circular fashion for Galal
much the more remarkable for that as some say snow lieth continually vpon the top of it so that a far off it seemeth white Of the riuer Iordan IOrdan is a pleasant sweet riuer watering the holy land whereof you may read before It is named Iorden at Caesarea Philippi a little from the foot of Antelibanus 104 miles from Ierusalem Northward it passeth through the lake Samachoniten and diuiding it into two equall parts from thence running thorow a great part of Galilee it falls into the sea Tyberias there as it were diuideth it into two parts it watereth that part of Iudaea called Samaria and about Easter which is the beginning of that haruest it floweth ouer the banks and fructifies many countries lying neere it at length it falleth into the lake Asphaltites and there endeth about 14 miles from Ierusalem Eastward So that from the first beginning of this Riuer to the end of it is 92 miles It is called Palah by the Hebrewes which signifieth swift and hidden because it riseth from a certain wel or pit called Phiala which is alwaies full of water but from whence it springeth is vnknown Ioshuah about Easter passed vpon dry ground through this riuer euen then when it was fullest of water Ios 3. So did Eliah Elisha 2 Reg. Here Naaman the leper washt himself 2 Reg. 5 Here Christ was baptised by S. Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. Luke 3. Of Hazor THis was a town in the vpper Galilee belonging to the tribe of Nepthali it was the chiefe Hold and city of the king of the Canaanites being distant from Ierusalem 80 miles towards the North. This Ioshuah destroyed with fire and sword Deborah also the Prophetesse besieged it tooke it and put Iabin the King thereof to death In times past it was a very strong city as the ruines thereof testifie Of Siloh SIloh the city and house of God was scituate on a high mountain in the tribe of Ephraim 4 miles and somwhat better from Ierusalem towards the North. Here the Arke of the Couenant continued from the time that the Israelites first entred into the land of Canaan till Eli the Priest fetcht it thence in whose time it was taken by the Philistims and he for very griefe therefore fel downe and brake his necke against a stone 1 Sam. 4. The inhabitants hereabouts shew the ruines of a certaine sepulchre standing vpon the top of this mount where they say Samuel was buried but that canot be true for he was buried at Ramath which now is called Arimathea Therefore it seems to be either the ruins of Elies sepulchre who died miserably in that place or else of the House of the Lord which many yeares past stood there Schiloh signifies Happy and peaceable being deriued from Schalah that is to liue at ease and in peace Of Timnah Of this you may reade in the Trauels of IVDAH The type and mysterie of IOSHVAH IOshuah and Iesus is all one in signification that is Sauour or a Defender and did typically represent our Sauior Christ that as this Ioshuah brought the children of Israel through Iordan into the land of Canaan so Iesus Christ the true Ioshuah and Sauiour of the world through that Iordan of Baptisme bringeth vs into that place of Promise Eternall life Where the one and thirty Kings dwelt ouercome and slain by IOSHVAH Ios 10. AS the Prophet Moses won all the land vpon the one side of Iordan so Ioshuah won all the Countrey on the other from the towne of Baalgadan beginning at mount Libanus not farre from Mount Hebron till you come to the town of Caesarea Philippi and to the hill Seir where somtime Esau dwelt all which is 160 miles long and 28 or 32 miles broad The first King that Ioshuah ouercame dwelt in Iericho The second King held his court in Ai. The third King dwelt in Ierusalem and was called Adoni-Zebec that is a Lord of Righteousnesse This King Ioshuah hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The fourth King called Hoham dwelt at Hebron and was likewise hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The fift King called Percam dwelt at Iarmouth in the tribe of Iuda 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward The 6 King called Iaphia dwelt at Lachis 2 miles from Iarmouth Southward He was also hanged at Makeda Ios 10. The seuenth King dwelt at Eglon called Debir and was also hanged at Makeda The 8 King was called Horam and held his princely seat in the tribe of Dan in the town of Gezer 16 miles from Ierusalem westward whom Ioshuah slew with all his men Ios 10. The ninth King dwelt at Debir The tenth King held his court at Gerar in the tribe of Iudah 14 miles from Ierusalem Westward The 11 King dwelt at Harma in the Tribe of Iudah which is vpon the borders of Arabia deserta not far from Ziclag 40 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward this town in times past was called Zephal that is a watch-tower because it stood vpon a hill But when the children of Iuda had ouerthrowne the whole army of the Canaanites they called it Haram a Curse Iud. 1. The 12 King dwelt at Arat 22 miles from Ierusalem Southward which was a towne of the Ammorites and tooke the name from the Asses that were in great troups within the woods thereabout It lay in the tribe of Iuda The 13 King dwelt at Libnah in the tribe of Iuda The 14 King dwelt at Odullam The 15 King dwelt at Makeda In this towne Ioshuah hanged fiue Kings Ios 10. The 16 King dwelt at Bethel The 17 King dwelt at Tapnah not far from Iordan Iericho 12 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward The 18 King dwelt at Hepher 6 miles from Ierusalem Northward part of this towne was allotted to the tribe of Zabulon Ionas the Prophet was borne in this towne 2 Reg. 14. and is 4 miles distant from the town of Nazareth Southward The 19 King dwelt at Apheck 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward and 2 miles from Iesreel There also the Arke of the Lord was taken and there also the sons of Eli the high priest were slain 1 Sam. 4. This town was in the halfe tribe of Manasses The 20 King dwelt at Lazaron 18 miles and a half from Ierusalem Northwestward not far from Ioppen and Lidda The 21 king dwelt at Nadan 14 miles from Ierusalem Northwestward The 22 King dwelt at Hazor The 23 King dwelt at Simron which town was allotted to the tribe of Zabulon Ioshuah 14. It lieth sixty eight miles from Ierusalem Northward not farre from the town of Nazareth in Galilee The 24 king dwelt at Achsap 88 miles from Ierusalem Northward which town was allotted to the tribe of Aser The 25 King dwelt at Tanaach 44 miles from Ierusalem this town belonged to the Levits and stood in the tribe of Manasses 6 miles from Iesreel Southward Ios 21. The 26 King dwelt at Megiddo 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward scarce 4 miles from Taanach By this towne of Megiddo Iosias King of Iuda was ouerthrown by Pharaoh Necho
Amalekites in pieces 1 Sam. 16. From Gilgal he went to Arimathia 20 miles From Arimathia he went to Bethlehem 16 miles and there he anointed Dauid King 1 Sam. 16. Then he returned again to Arimathia 16 miles where he died and was buried 1 Sam. 28. So all the trauels of the Prophet Samuel were 364 miles Of Arimathia Mizpa Ramath and rhe rest of the townes mentioned in his Trauels you may reade before The Typicall signification of Samuel SAmuel is deriued of Shemuel that is desired of God And was a Type of God the Father for as Samuel anointed Dauid so God anointed his beloued Son with the oile of Gladnesse and of the Spirit Psal 45. Esay 61. The Trauels of King SAVL SAVL went from the town of Gibeon to mount Ephraim four miles to seek his fathers Asses in An. Mundi 2870 and before Christ 1908. From mount Ephraim he passed through the land of Salisa to the borders of the town of Salem 12 miles From Salem he went to the land of Gemini in the tribe of Benjamin 16 miles From the land of Iemini he went to Rama 4 miles there by Samuel he was anointed King 1 Sam. 10. This town lay not farre from Bethlehem and close by it lay Rachels graue There certaine men met with Saul in the borders of Benjamin at Zelach and shewed him that his fathers Asses were found which was about a mile from Ierusalem From thence Saul went about two miles to Zilzah there three men met him that trauelled to Bethel and gaue him two loaues of bread 1 Sam. 10. Then he came to the mount of God which is the town of Kiriath-jearim there a company of Prophets met him and prophecied then the spirit of God came vpon Saul and he began to prophecie which was about six miles from Bethlehem From Kiriath-jearim he went again to Gibeon which is foure miles 1 Sam. 10. Then he went again from Gibeon to Gilgal and there he offered and Samuel shewed him what he should do which is 12 miles 1 Sam. 10. From Gilgal he went to Mizpa in the land of Gilead 36 miles where he was chosen King From Mizpa he went again to Gibeon 48 miles From Gibeon he went to Beseck 40 miles there he gathered certain soldiers and led them against Nahas King of the Ammonites 1 Sam. 11. From Beseck he went with his army to Iabes 16 miles there he ouerthrew Nahas with all his host From Iabes in Giliad he went to Gilgal 36 miles There he was placed in his princely seat 1 Sam. 11. From Gilgal he went to Michmas 4 miles there he sent 3000 men out of Israel to his son Ionathan to Gibeon From Michmas hee went to Gilgal with his army 4 miles There he offered for which Samuel rebuked him 1 Sam. 13. From Gilgal hee went to Mount Benjamin about 12 miles not far from Gibeon From Gibeon hee went to Michmas 8 miles There Ionathan ouercame the army of the Philistines 1 Sam. 14. From Michmas Saul followed the enemy to Ajalon 12 miles There he would haue slain his son Ionathan because he had eaten a little hony 1 Sam. 14. From Ajalon he went to Gibeon 4 miles where he kept court From Gibeon he went to the land of the Moabites 28 miles which he ouercame 1 Sam. 14. From the land of the Moabites hee went into the countrey of Ammonites 40 miles which country he ouercame and tooke in all their towns From the land of the Ammonits he went to Gibeon 60 miles 1 Sam. 15. From Gibeon hee went into the land of Edom or Idumaea as it is commonly called 40 miles and ouercame all the countrey From Idumaea he returned again to Gibeon 40 miles From Gibeon he went with an army about 600 miles to Zoba in Armenia which he ouercame 1 Sam. 14. From the kingdome of Zoba hee returned to Gibeon 600 miles After that he went out against the Philistines 12 miles and as the historie sheweth Saul had wars with the Philistins during his life 1 Sam. 14. From the Philistins he returned again to Gibeon vnto his palace 12 miles From Gibeon he went into the wildernesse of Sur 160 miles there he ouercame the Amalekites 1 Sam. 15. Also he ouercame the whole country from the town of Peluso to the red sea which is 92 miles From thence he went again into Iury to the town of Carmel 140 miles 1 Sam. 15. And from thence he went vnto Gilgal 32 miles There the Prophet Samuel rebuked him because he did not wholly destroy and consume the Amalekites and there Samuel hewed the body of Agag King of the Amalekites into small pieces 1 Sam. 15. From Gilgal he went to Gibeon 12 miles In the 11 yeare of Saul An. M. 2881 and before Christ 1807 Dauid being then about 20 yeares of age was anointed King by Samuel Within a while after Saul was vexed with an euill spirit then Dauid played vnto him vpon the harpe by which he was eased Soon after he went forth with his Army towards Socho and Asecha which was some 8 miles distant from Gibeah There Dauid killed that famous champion Goliah 1 Sam. 15. From thence the Israelites followed the chase of the Philistins to the vally and riuer Soreck 4 miles and thence vnto the gates of their cities that is to Ekron which is eight miles to Ascalon 20 miles * From the place where Dauid killed Goliah and to Gath which was 24 miles all the way putting the Philistins to the sword So that there died in this fight 30000 of them 1 Sam. 17. Then they returned back again and spoiled and burnt the Philistines tents where they found great riches 24 miles From Socho and Aseka he returned again to Gibeon 8 miles there the women came out of all places in the town dancing and with loud voices singing Saul hath slain a thousand but Dauid ten thousand 1 Sam. 18. From Gibeon he went to Arimathia 2 miles minding to kill Dauid and came to Naioth in Ramoth where Samuel and Dauid were but the spirit of God came vpon Saul and he prophecied falling downe vpon the ground before Samuel and Dauid all that day and the nightensuing 1 Sam. 19. From thence he returned again to Gibeon 12 miles there he thought to haue killed his son Ionathan with a speare because he excused Dauid There also he caused 85 priests to be put to death because the high priest Abimilech at Nob had giuen Dauid of the Shew bread to eat and had deliuered him Goliahs sword 1 Sam. 21.22 From Gibeon he went to the Leviticall towne Nob 12 miles where he spared neither man nor woman yong nor old no not the innocent children but put them all to the sword and wholly destroyed the town 1 Sam. 12. From the town of Nob he returned to Gibeon 12 miles From Gibeon he went to the wildernes of Moan Southward 20 miles From the wildernesse of Moan hee returned again to Gibeon 1 Sam. 23. which was 24 miles
Of Gesur GEsur was a country neere to Caesarea Philippi in the land of Basan beyond Iordan neere Libanus in the Tetrarchie Trachonitides 88 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward With the King of this country Absolon remained in banishment for 3 yeres space after he had slain his brother Ammon and with vs may be termed the vally of Oxen 2 Sam. 13. Of Hadsi THe lower country of Hadsi stood neere to the city Corazin in the halfe tribe of Manasses 52 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northeast and signifies a new land beeing deriued of Chadasch that is New Of the fountaine Rogel THis was neere Ierusalem Eastward to which place Ionathan and Ahimaas Dauids intelligencers brought him newes of Absalons counsels and intentions 2 Sam. 17. It seemeth that trauellers vsually washed their feet in it from whence it was called the Wel of feet beeing deriued from Raegael signifying a Foot Neere to this place was the stone Zochaeleth where Adoniah at such time as he affected the kingdome contrary to his fathers liking called an assembly and made a great feast 1 Reg. 1. The Trauels of Baena and Rechab THese two went out of the tribe of Benjamin ouer Iordan to Machanaim 40 miles There they murthered their master king Ishbosheth in his chamber as he lay vpon his bed and after cut off his head The head they brought to King Dauid to Hebron 68 miles But Dauid was not pleased with their treacherie wherefore hee caused them both to be put to death So their trauels were 108 miles The Trauels of Absalon ABsalon was borne in Hebron and went with his father to Ierusalem 22 miles 2 Sam. 13. From thence he went to Baalhazor 8 miles where hee caused his brother Ammon to be slain From thence for feare of his father he fled into the land of Gesur 88 miles 2 Sam. 14. From thence he came backe with Ioab to Ierusalem which was 88 miles 2 Sam. 14. From thence he went to Hebron 22 miles and made himselfe King and rebelled against his father From thence he went backe againe to Ierusalem which is 22 miles There he lay with his fathers Concubines 2 Sam. 16. From thence he pursued his father to Machanaim 40 miles there was hanged by the haire in an oke tree where Ioab put him to death 2 Sam. 18. So all the trauels of Absolon were 290 miles Of Baal-hazor IN this city Absolon made a great feast for his sheepe-sherers and inuited all his brothers to it where he caused Ammon to be slain because he had abused his sister Thamar It lieth in the way some 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the North-East as you go to Iericho neere to mount Ephraim 2 Sam. 13. and is deriued of Baal which signifies a Lord or husband and Chazir a Den or caue Of the name ABSOLON ABSOLON signifieth a Father of peace although he was the author of all discord and sedition against his father The Trauels of the wise woman of Thecoa THis woman went from Thecoa to Ierusalem 8 miles and spake with King Dauid and with her sweet words shee persuaded him that he would recall his sonne out of exile who then remained in Gesur 2 Sam. 14. Of Thecoa THecoa was a city in the tribe of Iuda some 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast neere this city Iosaphat by praier and the sound of Trumpets without drawing sword got a memorable victory and for that cause it signifieth the sound of a Trumpet In this place the prophet Amos dwelt and there lieth buried whose sepulchre was to be seene 400 yeares after Christ as S. Ierom obserueth It was from Bethlem Iuda 6 miles Neere to Techoa was the lake Aspher where Ionathan and Simon Iudas Machabeus brothers pitcht their tents 1 Mach. 9. Of this city you may reade Ier. 6. Am. 1. 2 Chr. 11. Of ACHITOPHEL THis perfideous and wicked man was borne in the towne of Gilo not far from Hebron and Debir in the tribe of Iudah Ios 15. 2 Sam. 15. 20 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward who when his counsell would not take place he went home to his own house and there desperatly hanged himselfe The Trauels of wicked Shimei SHimei went from Bahurim where he cursed King Dauid to Bathabara vpon the riuer Iordan which was 18 miles where he got pardon of Dauid 2 Sam. 19. From thence he went backe with King Dauid to Gilgall foure miles 2 Sam. 19. From thence he went with King Dauid to Ierusalem 12 miles 2 Sam. 19. From thence he went to Bahurim 3 miles From Bahurim King Solomon sent for him again to Ierusalem 3 miles There he was constrained to build him an house and not to depart thence vpon pain of death 1 Reg. 2. But Shimei transgressing this commandment of the king went to Gath a city of the Philistims 12 miles From thence hee returned back againe to Ierusalem 12 miles where he was slain by the command of King Solomon in the third yeare of his reign 1 Reg. 2. So all the trauels of Shimei were 104 miles The Books of Kings and Chronicles Of ABISHAG the Virgin that lay with Dauid THis Maid was accounted the fairest in all Israel for which cause she was brought to Ierusalem for King Dauid that she might lie with him in his old age to procure heat she was born at Sunem a town some 44 miles from Ierusalem 1 Reg. 1. Of Sunem you may read before in the trauels of Dauid Saul The Trauels of King Solomon SOlomon the son of Dauid King of Israel entred vpon the full gouernment of the kingdome of Israel An. mundi 2931. and before Christ 1037. when he was about 20 yeares old After he went from Ierusalem to Gilgal 4 miles and there offered vpon the altar which Moses had made 1000 burnt offerings 1 Reg. 3. 2 Chr. 1. From thence he went backe to Ierusalem which was 4 miles and built a Temple to the Lord in mount Moriah 1 Reg. 6. This was begun about the fourth yere of his reign and 480 yeres after the children of Israel came out of Egypt in the moneth Ziph which answereth to our May. So that the Temple began to bee built in Anno mundi 2934. and before Christ 1034. To the building whereof Hiram King of Tyre sent Cedar trees from Mount Libanus 120 miles to Ierusalem 1 Reg. 5. 2 Chr. 2. This Temple Solomon within plaited ouer with pure gold and set with pretious stones and finished it in the month of Nouember about the eleuenth yeare of his reigne 1 Reg. 6. The dedication whereof was about the twelfth yeare of his reigne and in the 32 yeare of his age Anno Mundi 2942 and before Christ 1026. The Temple being finished he began to build his owne house which was 13 yeares a building and was finished about the 44 yeare of his age and in the 24 of his reign 1 Reg. 7.8 After 20 years in which time he had finished the house of the Lord and his own house in Mount Sion that
Ierusalem she returned backe again which was 964 miles So all her trauels were 1928 miles Of Aethiopia THis Countrey by the Hebrewes is called Chus of Chus the son of Cham who was the son of Noah and after Aethiopia ab astu torrida because of the great heate wherewith oftentimes the habitable land and people as also the wildernesse were sorely scorched and burned for it is scituated in the third part of the world called Africa lying vnder the torrid Zone and the Aequator which two by common experience are found to bee extreme hot Of Saba SAba is a metropolitan city in Ethiopia lying beyond Egypt 846 miles from Ierusalem towards the South and tooke the name from a certain pretious stone called Achates wherin might plainly be discerned in certain distinct colors the rising of fountains the chanels of riuers high mountains and somtimes of chariots and horses drawing them It is reported That Pyrrhus King of the Epirots had one of them wherein was liuely represented the nine Muses and Apollo playing on the Viol portrayed by naturall staines and colours so artificially as if they had bin don by some curious workman Of this stone you may reade more in Pliny li. 37. ca. 1.10 It was first found in Achates a riuer of Sicilia whence it tooke the name Afterward in India and Phrygia and of the Hebrewes was called Schaeba or Saba In this city that Queen dwelt who came to heare Solomons wisedom and gaue him for a present 120 talents of pure gold which at 3 pounds an ounce comes to 270000 pounds sterling Afterwards Cambyses King of Persia ouercame it and all the country round about it and after his sisters name called it Meroës It is a stately city to this day scituated in a plain country and compassed about with the riuer Nilus like an Island being now called Elsaba hauing some affinitie to the antient name Saba The Inhabitants of this towne goe naked all but their priuy parts which they couer either with Silke Cotton or some more costly matter and are of a blacke colour which as some thinke hapneth by reason of the extreme heat The land also is maruellously scortched and turned in many places to sand and dust So that the country is thereby wonderfull barren About Meroes or Saba which is made fruitful by the inundation of Nilus there is found plenty of salt brasse yron and some pretious stones Their sheep goats oxen and other cattell are of lesse stature than in other Countries Their dogs are very fierce and cruell In times past there were mighty princes that had the gouernement and command of it and the Country round about it But after as Pliny saith lib. 6. cap. 29. it was in the jurisdiction and gouernment of Queenes who for their noble resolutions courage were called Candaces One of which name in Tiberius the Emperours time was famous both for the extent of her dominions in which she exceeded all the rest of her predecessors as also in regard of her manly presence and noble spirit The Eunuch which Philip baptised Acts 8. was Treasurer or Chamberlain to this Queene and it is to be thought By him the doctrine of the Gospell of Christ was first made knowne in Saba and in the countrey of Aethiopia which afterwards was more largely propagated and dispersed by the Evangelist S. Mathew who taught there This city lieth to the longitude of 61 degrees and 30 scruples in the eleuation of the Pole Artick to the latitude 16 degrees and 25 scruples So that it seemes the inhabitants haue two winters two summers or rather a continual summer because their winter is much hotter than our summer But when the Sunne attaineth to the 15 degree of Taurus and Leo and in the Dog daies it then lies perpendicular ouer that country and neither their bodies nor houses giue any shadowes In the 61 of Esay it is said They shall come from Saba and bring gold frankincense to praise the Lord. From whence some some haue concluded That those wise men which came vnto the childe Iesus and brought Gold Frankincense and Myrrh were Aethiopians and came thence But this agreeth not well with the words of Mathew ca. 2. where it is written That the wise men came out of the East that is from the rising of the Sun to Ierusalem For Saba according to our Sauiors words Mat. 12. lieth towards the South for he saith The Queen of the South that is of Saba shall come forth in the day of Iudgement against this generation and condemne it for she came from the end of the world to heare the wisedome of Solomon c. But if Saba lie vpon the South as here it plainely appeareth then it must needs follow they came not thence but rather from Persia which from Ierusalem lies Eastward For at Susa the metropolis of that country there was an Academy for the whole kingdom in which were chiefly studied Diuinity the Mathematickes and History So that it is likely by their Art they might attain to the knowledge of this diuine Mysterie and from thence come to Ierusalem which was 520 miles Eastward Therfore this place of the Prophet Esay is rather to be referred to the propagation of the church through the whole world where some of euery nation shall bring presents vnto the Lord. There is also another Saba in Arabia Foelix so called from Zaeba the son of Chus the son of Cham the sonne of Noah and it is distant from Ierusalem 1248 miles toward the Southeast In Hebrew it signifies the city of Drunkennesse or of Mirth but with the Syrians Antiquitie Some would haue it in the Arabian tongue to signifie a Mysterie But S. Ierom interprets it To sound their conuersion It is the metropolitan City of Arabia Foelix and by Strabo lib. 6. called Meriaba being scituated in a high and pleasant mountain full of fruitfull trees There inhabiteth in it the King of that countrey a mightie Prince his Gouernors and most of such as haue authority vnder him The land is called the Kingdome of the Sabaeans but generally Arabia Foelix because of the fertilitie of the place for it yeeldeth twice euery yeare great plenty of Frankincense Myrrh Cinnamon Balsam and other odoriferous herbs The tree out of which this Myrrh commeth is fiue cubits high hairy and full of prickles and when you cut the barke there commeth forth a bitter gumme wherewith if you anoint a dead body it will continue long without rotting The frankincense also that is found there droppeth from Cedar trees like a glewie substance and so congealeth into a Gum. This happeneth twice euery yeare and according vnto the season it changeth colour in the Spring it is red in the Summer white This is the best Frankincense in all Arabia Foelix Through the whole country there is a very delectable smell by reason of the Myrrh Frankincense and Cinnamon that is found in it insomuch that if the winde blowes amongst the trees it
carrieth the smell vnto the red sea and they that saile can easily discerne the sweetnesse of the aire There is gold also found there very fine and pure insomuch as for the goodnesse of it it is called Arabian gold The Phoenix is found there of which there is but one in the world Pliny lib. 9. cap. 35. describes her to be as big as an Eagle with a list of feathers like gold about her necke the rest are of a purple colour therefore from Phoenicea and the purple colour of her wings shee is called Phoenix Shee hath a tuft of feathers vpon her head like vnto a crowne Shee liueth 660 yeares at the end of which time she buildeth her a nest of Cassia Cinnamon Calamus and other pretious Gummes and herbs which the Sun by the extremitie of the heate and the wauing of her wings fires and she taking delight in the sweetnesse of the sauor houers so long ouer it that she burnes her selfe in her owne nest Within a while after out of the marrow of her bones and the ashes of her body there groweth a worme which by little and little increaseth to some bignesse and after to a purple bird Then her wings extend themselues to a full greatnesse till such time as she commeth to be a perfect Phoenix This Bird doth liuely represent our Sauiour Christ who only and alone is the true Messiah and through whom we must expect euerlasting life who in the fulnesse of time offered himself a Sacrifice vpon the Crosse sustaining the punishment for sin at the time of his Passion putting on a purple robe being all be sprinkled with his owne bloud Ioh. 19. And as the Phoenix is burnt in her owne nest so likewise was hee consumed in the fire of Gods wrath according to that in the 22 Psal My heart is become like melting wax in the middest of my body And as the Phoenix of it selfe begetteth another of the same kinde so Christ by the power of his Deitie raised vp his body from the dust of the earth and ascended vp into heauen a glorious body to sit at the right hand of his father in that euerlasting Kingdome of glory Thus gentle Reader I thought fit to describe vnto you these two townes that when you shall reade of them in the holy Scripture the one being in Aethiopia towards the South the other in Arabia Foelix and called Seba you might discerne the one from the other of both which there is mention in the 72 Psalme The Kings of the Sea and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Saba and Seba shall giue gifts The Trauels of King Pharaoh out of Aegypt when he ouercame the Towne of Gazer 1 Reg. 9. IN the 16 yeare of King Dauid Anno mundi 2906 and before Christ 1602 Chabreus King of Aegypt began to raigne and raigned 56 yeares Diod. lib. 2. cap. 2. Herodotus calleth this man Chephrines in his second booke and Eusebius Nepher Cherres He went from Memphis the chiefe Citie of Aegypt with a great armie 268 miles euen vnto the tribe of Ephraim and there tooke Gazer a Citie of the Leuites and burned it with fire 1 Reg. 8. Ios 21. After he came to Ierusalem which was 28 miles And this city which he had thus destroied he gaue to his daughter the wife of Solomon 1 Reg. 9. From thence he returned to Memphis in Aegypt 244 miles So all the Trauels of King Pharaoh were 244 miles Of Memphis MEmphis is a great city in Egypt where commonly the kings of that country keepe their Courts and lyeth from Ierusalem 244 miles South-westward This citie was built a little before the floud but repaired and enlarged by a king called Ogdoo who in loue of his daughter after her name called it Memphis You may reade of it in the ninth of Hosea called there by the name of Moph for thus he saith The people of Israel are gone out of the land of Ephraim because of their Idolatrie into Aegypt but Aegypt shall gather them vp Moph that is Memphis shall bury them Moph or Mapheth in this place signifieth A prodigious wonder but the rest of the Prophets call it Noph for the fertilitie pleasantnes of the country as you may reade Esa 19. The Princes of the Zoan are become foolish and the Princes of Noph or of Memphis are deceiued See also Ierem. 2.44.46 Ezech. 30. in which places you may find it called after this name Zoan is the citie Tanis where Moses wrought all his miracles But Noph or Moph is this Memphis a beautifull towne large and spacious scituated in the strongest and profitablest place in Aegypt diuided into two parts by the riuer Nilus so that any kind of commodities or merchandise might with ease bee brouht thither by water for which cause the kings of that countrie for the most part kept their abiding there Strabo saith lib. 17. That vpon the East part of this citie there standeth a Tower or Castle called Babylon built by certaine Babylonians who leauing their owne countrey by the permissions of the kings of Egipt dwelt there in after times there was placed a garrison in it one of the three which were for the defence of Aegypt and by Ptolomy was called Babilon through both which viz. Memphis and Babilon Nilus passed the one standing vpon the East side the other vpon the West Zoan or Tanis stood about some foure miles from this towne and was a faire spacious citie also scituated towards the South vpon the East side of Nilus to which the kings of that country often resorted and Heliopolis anothet faire citie stood some six miles off that towards the Northeast All these foure townes were so wonderfully inhabited by reason of their pleasant profitable scituation that in processe of time they become all one citie and in this age is called Alcaire containing in circuit 60 miles so that it seemeth to spectators to be like a country replenished with nothing but fair houses goodly churches strong towers exceeding all the rest of the cities of Egypt aswell for the beautifulnesse of the place as the extent and largenesse of it It is reported that in the yeare of our Lord 1476 there was such an extreme pestilence in it that there died 20000 a day from whence may be gathered how infinitely it is peopled Neere to this towne stood the Pyramides which are held to he one of the wonders of the World as Strabo saith lib. 17. the height of one of them was 625 foot and square on each side 883 foot it was twentie yeares a building a hundred thousand workemen emploied about it whence it may be easily gathered how hard and difficult it was in those times to get stone it being for the most part brought from Arabia and at what an excessiue charge they were that set vp them Of Gazar This Citie is described in the Trauels of Solomon The Trauels of Hadad King of Idumaea WHen Dauid conquered Idumaea Hadad
bed put him to death and buried him in Millo the Citie of Dauid Thus God justly punished this tyrant for his vnthankefulnesse apostasie and cruelty when he had liued 47 yeares 2 Reg. 12. The Trauels of Amasiah King of Iuda AMasias or Amasiah signifies the strength of Iehouah This man was 25 yeares of age when he was enthronised by his father about the second yeare of Ioas King of Israel Anno mundi 3108 and before Christ 806. He ruled the kingdome while his father was sicke one yeare and after his decease 28 so all the yeares of his raigne were 29. He went with an army from Ierusalem to Saelag that is to the tower or rocke of Mount Seir 40 miles towards the South here in the valley of Salt he put to death a multitude of the Idumaeans And although this towne was very strongly scituated yet he woon it and called it Ioctiel that is The eare of the Lord because God in that place heard his prayers being deriued of Iakah and El which is God hath heard Neere to this Towne Amasiah commanded ten thousand Idumaeans which hee had taken in warre to be cast downe headlong from the top of an high rocke into a deepe valley in which fall their bones were shattered all to pieces and they died miserably 2 Reg. 14. From Selag Ioctiel hee returned to Ierusalem which was 40 miles where hee began to worship the gods of the Idumaeans that he brought along with him 2 Chron. 25. From Ierusalem hee went to Bethsemes and there was ouercome by Ioas King of Israel which was 4 miles 2 Chron. 25. From Bethsemes Ioas led Amasiah backe againe to Ierusalem captiue which was 4 miles 2 Reg. 14. From Ierusalem he fled to the citie of Lachis which was 20 miles and there was slaine by his owne seruants 2 Chron. 25. From Lachis his carkasse was carried backe againe to Ierusalem 20 miles where it was buried in the citie of Dauid 2 Reg. 14. 2 Chron. 25. So all his trauels were 128 miles The Trauels of Azariah or Vzziah King of Iudah THis man succeeded his father Amasia in the yeare of the world 3138 and before Christ 830 when hee was but 16 yeares of age and raigned 52 yeares his mothers name was Iecoliah of Ierusalem He did those things that were vpright in the sight of the Lord therefore the Lord blessed him And after the death of his father built Elah and restored it to Iudah He therefore went from Ierusalem to Elah 160 miles towards the South and rebuilt that towne it being a famous Mart towne scituated vpon the red sea and fortified it because Resin King of the Syrians in times past for want of due fortification woon it and destroied it 2 Chron 26. From Elah he returned to Ierusalem 160 miles After hee went from Ierusalem to Gath a citie of the Philistines which was accounted 34 miles this towne he woon beat downe the wals and destroied the Bulwarkes thereof From thence he went to Iabnia which is 24 miles and broke downe the wals thereof 2 Chron. 26. From thence he went to Azotus or Asdod which was 8 miles 2 Chron. 26. From Asdod he went againe to Ierusalem being 22 miles Within a while after he gathered an armie and went from Ierusalem to Gur-Baal that is Gerar where he ouercame the Arabians in a great battell which was 32 miles 2 Chron. 26. From Gerar he returned to Ierusalem being 32 miles He went from Ierusalem the third time into the land of the Amonites 60 miles which people he conquered and made tributarie to him so that he was made famous through all the countries thereabout euen to the vtmost part of Egypt because of his often victories and triumphs 2 Chron. 26. Out of the land of the Ammonites he returned to Ierusalem which was 60 miles But now being lift vp with the prosperitie of fortune and not content with his regall dignitie he endeauoured to haue chiefe authority ouer the Priests also for which cause he went into that part of the temple where the Altar of sweet incense stood where it was lawfull for none to goe but the Priests and there tooke vpon him to offer sweet incense but as he was offering the Lord strucke him with Leprosie so that he was constrained to dwell in a house by himselfe separated from the congregation And his sonne Iotham gouerned in his stead all the dayes of his life But within a while after he died of this disease and was buried in the Kings garden at Ierusalem and not in the sepulchre of the Kings 2 Reg. 15. 2 Chron. 26. So all the trauels of Azariah King of Iuda were 592 miles Of the places to which he trauelled Of Elah THis was a city scituated vpon the Red Sea 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the South betweene Ezion-gaber and Midian This city Resin King of the Syrians conquered but Azariah King of Iudah droue thence the Syrians and made it so strong that it seemed impossible to be conquered It tooke the name of aboundance of Oakes which as it seemeth grew about that place for Elah or Ilix signifies a kind of Oake tree of which there is great plenty in the Holy land so called because of their strength and hardnesse Of Iabnia THis was a city neere to Ioppa and Lidda 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest This city taketh the name of wisedome and prudence being deriued of Bin to vnderstand Of Gur-Baal THis towne is also called Gerar where Abraham and Isaac sometimes trauelled it is distant from Ierusalem 32 miles towards the Southwest and six miles from Hebron Here the Iewes and neighbouring Arabians afterward worshipped the Idol Baal and therefore this citie which in the times of the Patriarchs was called Gerar a Perigrination was after called Gur-Baal that is the Perigrination of the idoll Baal being deriued of Gor which signifies He hath trauelled The Trauels of Iotham King of Iudah IOtham signifies Whole and Perfect He succeeded his father Azariah when he was about 25 yeares of age anno mundi 3190 and before Christ 778. He raigned ouer Iudah 17 yeares vntill the 41 yeare of his age His mothers name was Icruscha so called from an inheritance or possession He began his raigne in the second yeare of Pekah King of Israel and continued it vntill the 17 yeare of his gouernment 2 Reg. 15. 17. When this noble Prince had rebuilded and richly adorned the porch of the house of the Lord he went from Ierusalem and inuaded the countrey of the Ammonites which was 60 miles conquered their King and made the whole land pay him tribute euen a hundred talents of siluer of the common weight and 10000 measure of Wheate and 10000 of Barley yearely This tribute continued three yeares From the land of the Ammonites he went backe to Ierusalem which was 60 miles where after he had adorned the Citie and Temple with many Princely buildings hee died about the 41 yeare of his age 2 Reg. 15. So all
country or city which is not sufficiently knowne vnto thee search this alphabeticall Table here following and thou shalt finde the whole matter declared vnto thee An alphabeticall Table of all the Countries and Cities mentioned in the Prophets A ABARIM that is a bridge or a passage ouer It was a mountain of the Moabits where the Israelites pitched their tents Num. 33. ACHOR the valley of Trouble Here Achan was stoned to death for his theeuery It stood not farre from Gilgal toward the North 12 miles from Ierusalem Ios 7. Isa 6. ADAMA Red earth This was one of the cities that were destroied with fire and brimstone from heauen AI Hilly This city Ioshuah burnt with fire It lay 8 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ios 8. AIATH Idem Esa 10. AR or ARI a Lion It was a city of the Moabits lying beyond Iordan in the tribe of Benjamin called Ariopolis scituated vpon the banke of the riuer Arnon 24 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward Deut. 2. In Esa 15. it is called Arar a Destroyer ARAM Noble or Mighty Armenia and Syria are so called of Aram the son of Sem the chiefe city of which country is Damascus Pliny lib. 6.17 saith The Scythians were also in antient times called Aramites ARNON a famous riuer of the Moabites in the tribe of Reuben which falls into the dead sea 20 miles from Ierusalem Eastward In Esa 16. it is called RANAN he hath shouted for ioy AROER by vsurpation an Ewe tree This is a city of the Moabits neere to the riuer Arnon in the tribe of Gad beyond Iordan 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Ier. 40. There is another citie so called neere to Damascus in Syria Esa 7. ARPAD the light of redemption This was a city in the land of Damascus Ier. 49. There is another flourishing city of that name which may compare with Antiochia for greatnesse Esa 10. But where it is scituated it is vncertain ARVAD was a part of the land of Canaan so called of Aruad the son of Canaan Gen. 10. ASCANES or Tuiscones are a people descended of Ascenitz the son of Gomer the son of Iaphet which sometimes dwelt in Armenia but now haue their abiding in Germany 2 Gen. 10. Esa 51. So that of Gomer they are called Germanes and of Ascanes Ascanians or Tuiscons ASSECA fortified round about Neer to this town Dauid killed Goliah It stood 8 miles from Ierusalem Westward ASSVR or ASSYRIA a blessed country being so called of Assur the son of Sem. AVEN Iniquity Bethel was so called after Ieroboam had there set vp a golden Calfe Hos 10. B BABEL Confusion Babylon is the metropolitan city of Chaldaea 280 miles from Ierusalem Eastward BATH Domesticall It was a town of the Moabits in the Tribe of Reuben beyond Iordan Esa 16. BAZRA a grape-gathering It was a city of the Edomites scituaâ—â—d vpon the banke of Iordan on the farther side neere to Bethabara 20 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Esa 24.36 Ier. 48. Note here that the country of the Moabits in times past was subiect to the Edomits and then this city was in their jurisdiction but after the Moabits got it into their hands again and held it It was one of the six towns of refuge mentioned Ios 29. BEROTHAI a Cypres tree This towne stood neere Hemath or Antiochia 280 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 49. In this city Dauid King of Israel tooke Hadadesar King of Zoba or Sophena and constrained him to giue him a great deal of Brasse as it is thought yearely for tribute for neere that city were many brasse mines BETHAVIN the house of iniquity Bethel was so called Hos 6. It stood 8 miles from Ierusalem Northward BETH-CHaeREM the house of the Vines It was a towne not far from Ierusalem Northward Ier. 6. BETH-DIBLATHAIM the house of dried Figs. It was a city of the Moabits Ier. 48. BETHIESIMOTH the house of desolations It was also a city of the Moabits beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben Ios 13. Ezech. 25.20 miles from Ierusalem BETH-GAMVL the house of Restitution This was a city of the Moabits Ier. 48. BETH-BAALMEON the house of habitation for the idol Baal It was a city of the Moabits 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward not far from Aroer Ezek. 25. 1 Chr. 5. BVTZ a Castle of prey It was a city of the Ismaelites in Arabia Petraea 80 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward Ier. 25. BEL and NEOB two idols of the Babylonians Esa 45. Bel signifieth the god of mixture or confusion Neob the god of prophecie C CALNO his perfection This is Seleucia scituated vpoa Tygris beyond Babylon 316 miles from Ierusalem Eastward It is now called Bagdeth Gen. 10. Esay 2. CANNE a firme foundation It was a city of the Syrians Ezek. cap. 27. CAPHIHOR a little Sphere or around globe like vnto a Globe or pomegranat Also Cappadocia a countrey of Asia the lesse 600 miles from Ierusalem Northward CARCHEMIS a sacrificed Lambe This was scituated too neer Euphrates in Syria 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ierem. cap. 25. D DEEDAN a city of the Idumaeans so called of Dedan the son of Esau Ier. 25. Isa 21. DIBON a mist This was a City of the Moabites neere Hesbon in the tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward DIBLATH a bunch of Figs. It was a city in the tribe of Nepthali neere to the lake of Samoconites 80 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 6. Here Zedekiah had his eies put out 2 Kin. 25 Ier. 39.52 DIMON Bloudy This is a city in the tribe of Reuben which as S. Ierom saith is 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward DVMA Silence A city of the Israelites so called of Duma the son of Ismael It stood in Arabia Petraea 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Esay 25.21 E EGBATHANA the metropolitan city of the Medes distant from Ierusalem 1136 miles Northeastward EDEN Pleasure A city of Syria scituated neer Euphrates 400 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Esay 7. This is thought to haue been a part of Paradice EGLAIM a roud Drop It was a town of the Moabites Esay 15.16 ELAM a Yong man so called of Elem the son of Sem Esa 10.21 After Perseus had got in this country a great gouernment he called it after his own name Persia ELEALE the ascention of God It was a city beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben between Iacza and Hehbon 26 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Num. 32. ELIM a Hart. This was a lake so called in the land of the Moabits Esa 10. ELISA the Lambe of God So were the Aeolians called in Grecia of Elysa the son of Iavan the son of Iaphet Ezek. 7. Gen. 10. ENAGLAIM the fountaine of Calves It was a towne or Castle neere to the Red sea Ezek. 10. EPHA the land of Obscuritie It was a part of Arabia Petraea so called of Epha the sonne of Midian the sonne of Abraham Gen. 25. Esa 60. G GEBIM a Ditch This was a town in the tribe of Iuda Esa 10. GEBAH a hill
It was a hill in the city of Kiriath-jearim there was a town also of the same name standing within a little of it This was a little more than a mile from Ierusalem Westward Esa 10. GEBAL a bound or limit It was the bounds and limits of Syria bordering vpon the Mediteranean sea This city Gibal or Gebal was 160 miles from Ierusalem Northward 1 Reg. 5. Psal 82. GIBEAH a hill It was also called Gibeon where Saul dwelt foure miles from Ierusalem Northward Esa 10. GILGAL a roundle or the compasse of a hill Here Ioshuah pitched his tents it stood between Iericho and Iordan 12 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward GOG The Turks were thus called because they liued in tents Ezek. 48. GOSAN a land and riuer in Mesopotamia called after that name 2 Reg. 17. Esa 37. H HADAD RIMMON a Pomegranat This was a towne neere to Megiddo where Iosia King of Iudah was wounded to death 46 miles from Ierusalem Northward Zach. 12. HADRACH the land of Gladnesse So the Prophet Zachary cals Syria cap. 19. HANES an ensigne of Grace This was a city of Egypt bordering vpon Assyria Esa 30. HARAM the Syrian liberty It was the metropolitan Citie of Mesopotamia where Abraham dwelt Gen. 11. distant from Ierusalem 440 miles Northeastward HAVERAN a Casement It was a City in Syria not farre from Damascus 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the North-East Ezek. 47. HAZOR-ENON the gate of a fountain It was a city in Syria HAZOR-TICHON the middle Porch It was a town in Syria not far from Haveran Ezek. 47. HAZOR The land of Hay So the Ismaelities called their countrey HEMATH anger So the Prophets called Antiochia the Metropolitan of Assyria distant from Ierusalem 280 miles Northward HERMON Acurst It was a mountain beyond Iordan neer to Libanus 122 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northeast There is another mountain of this name neer to Naim and not far from Mount Tabor 44 miles from Ierusalem towards the North of which the Psalmist speaketh Psal 89. Tabor and Hermon praise thy Name The mountain beyond Iordan is oftentimes called by the name of Mount Gilead HESBON an ingenious cogitation It was a city of the Moabites in the tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast HENAH and IEVAH were two idols Esa 37. HEVILAH Sandy So India is called and a certain part of Arabia Petraea of Hevilah the son of Chus Gen. 10. These countries are very dry and sandy HETHLON He hath rolled together It was a city of Syria neere to Antiochia Ezek. 47. HOLON a Window It was a town of the Moabits in the tribe of Reuben and is also called Helon Num. 2. Ier. 47. HORONAIM the Syrian Liberties two towns of the Moabits Esa 16. I IACHZA the priuity of God A city of the Moabits in the tribe of Reuben 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward IAEZER the help of God A city of Refuge belonging to the Leuits in the tribe of Gad beyond Iordan 40 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward IAVAN GRECIA so called of Iavan the son of Iapheth which was distant from Ierusalem 800 miles Westward IEZREEL the Seed of God This is the city where Queen Iesabel was deuoured of Dogs It standeth 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward IRHERES or Heliopolis a city of the Sun This was a City of Egypt 224 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest K KEDAR Blacknesse This was a Desart of the Ismaelites called Sur 80 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward KIR PARIES a Wall This was Cyrene a great city in Africa which was 816 miles from Ierusalem Westward There was a town of this name in the land of the Moabits in the tribe of Reuben Esa 16. KIR-HAZERETH or Kir-Hares a Mudwall It was a City of the Moabits in Arabia Petraea otherwise called Petra 72 miles from Ierusalem towards the South Esa 16. KIRIATHAIM a City This town was in the tribe of Reuben 22 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Esa 16. KIRIAH or Kirieth ibidem KITHIM a shining Iewel Macedonia is so called of Kithim the son of Iavan the son of Iaphet Gen. 10. Ier. 2. Mac. 1. For if you doe diligently obserue the deriuation of names you shal find that of Kithim comes Maketis and so by continuance of time and change of words Macedonia It lieth 920 miles from Ierusalem North-Westward L LACHIS a continuall walking or as some will haue it A pleasant walke This was a city in the tribe of Iuda 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward Ier. 34. LAISA a Lionesse So was Caesarea Philippi somtimes called It was also called Dan scituated neere to the fountains of the riuer Iordan not far from Mount Libanus 104 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward LIBNA Frankincense It was a town in the tribe of Iudah 10 miles from Ierusalem towards the South-West LVD that is Lydia a country in Asia minor so called of Lud the sonne of Sem. LVIT greene grasse it is also a mountaine in the Tribe of Reuben Esa 6. M MAGOG dwelling vnder a shed or tent The Turks are so called Ezech. 38. MARESA an inheritance In this towne the Prophet Micah was borne Micha 1. it was scituated in the Tribe of Iuda distant from Ierusalem 16 miles towards the West MEDAI a measure the Kingdome of Media was so called of Medai the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. MEDBA warme water it was a city of the Moabits in the tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem towards the East Esay 16. MEDEMENA a dunghill it was a towne in the tribe of Iudah neere Beerseba and Gaza 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Iosh 15. There was also another towne of the same name in the tribe of Benjamin not farre from Ierusalem Iosh 10. Ier. 48. MEGIDDO a wholesome apple Here Iosia King of Iuda was slain in war it stood 46 miles from Ierusalem Northward Zach. 12. MEPHAATH the splendor of waters it was a citie belonging to the Priests in the Tribe of Reuben subject to the Moabites 24 miles from Ierusalem towards the East Ier. 48. MESECH the tract of sowing so the Muscouites and Russians are called of Mesech the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. MIDIAN a measure a town lying vpon the red sea 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the South so called of Midian the son of Abraham by Keturah Gen. 25. MISPE a Watch. This citie stood in the land of Giliad beyond Iordan eight and fortie miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast There is another Towne of this name also not farre distant from Ierusalem in the Tribe of Benjamin Hosea 5. Ierem 40. MOAB a father The countrie of the Moabites scituated betweene the red sea and the mountaines Abarim Ezech. 9. MEVSAL running swiftly it was the name of a people that tooke their beginning from Vsal the sonne of Ioktan Gen. 19. N NABAIOTH the countrey of the Prophets this country beginneth in the Tribe of Gad beyond Iordan and extendeth to the East part of the dead sea and so by the land of the Moabites to the Red sea It taketh the name
are mentioned Of Esdras the Lawyer ESdras signifies a helper of Asar he helped He is a type of our Lord Iesus Christ who is our helper and Sauiour which hath brought vs into that holy land eternall life and is the restorer of religion and the Christian Common-wealth This Esdras was sent to Ierusalem to restore the common-wealth of the Iewes Anno mundi 3511 before Christ 457 in the seuenth yeare of Artaxerxes Longimanus that good Emperour of the Persians So he went from Babylon to Ahaeua a certaine riuer neere Babylon to which place he assembled a great multitude of Iewes and from thence sent to Caspia to fetch a certaine number of Leuites this land was in Chaldea not far from Babylon These being here met together celebrated a fast vnto the Lord and with solemne prayers besought his aide and furtherance in their enterprise then they went thence to Ierusalem which was 680 miles and there restored the Iudaicall gouerment instituting Ecclesiasticall officers chiefe Priests Princes and other gouernours Of the land of Caspia THe land of Caspia signifieth the land of siluer being deriued of Kesaeph that is siluer It was so called because they vsed to dig siluer in that place see Lyra it was a country neere Babylon where the priests and Leuites were in captiuitie and stood 680 miles from Ierusalem towards the East Of Nehemia IN the 20 yeare of Artaxerxes Longimanus which was anno mun 3524 and before Christ 444. Nehemias went from Susan to Ierusalem which was 920 miles there hee repaired the walls and gates in 52 daies Nehem. 1.2.6 When he had gouerned Iudaea 12 yeares he returned backe againe to Susan to Artaxerxes Longimanus which was 920 miles Nehem. 3. Afterward Artaxerxes about the end of his raigne suffered Nehemia to returne backe againe to Ierusalem which was 920 miles Nehem. 17. So these journeyes of Nehemia make 2760 miles Of this citie Susan you may reade before Of the name and typicall signification of Nehemiah NEhemiah signifies The consolation of God being deriued of Nicham He hath comforted This man was a type of our Lord Iesus Christ for as Nehemias was a comfort vnto the dispersed Iewes in that he was sent to restore them into their own country and to rebuild Ierusalem so Christ our comforter was sent by his Father from that euerlasting throne of heauen to refresh comfort vs by his doctrine and gather the dispersed members of his Church into one communion that he might bring them into that heauenly Ierusalem which he hath built and where he hath prepared a place for vs. The Trauels of Serubabel SErubabel carried the people of Israel from Babylon to Ierusalem which was 680 miles in the first yeare of Cyrus Emperor of Persia anno mundi 3433 before Christ 535. In the 17 yeare of his gouernment he went from Ierusalem to Susan 920 miles 3 Esd 3.4 From Susan he went to Babylon which was 242 miles 3 Es 4. From Babylon in the same yere he returned to Ierusalem 680 miles where the next yeare after in the beginning of the second moneth which answers to the 21 of May in the 3 yere of Darius Ahasuerus Zerubabel and Iosua the chiefe Priests of the Iewes began to build the Temple and finisht it in the sixt yere of the same King 1 Esd 6. So all the trauels of Zerubabel were 2280 miles The Booke of ESTER MOrdochius was led prisoner with Iechoniah to Babylon which was 680 miles From Babylon he went to Susan which was 252 miles there he brought vp Ester his brothers daughter and taught her honest discipline and the feare of God This maid was very beautifull and comely wherefore at such time as Darius Ahasuerus the sonne of Hystaspis had caused all the beautifull Virgins of his Empire to be brought before him that from amongst them he might chuse him a wife Mordochius adorned this Virgin with goodly apparell and she also went with them in whose presence by his instruction she behaued her selfe so well that the Emperor chose her from among the rest and made her his Queene she being at that time but a poore maid and of small abilitie They were married in Susan in the second yere of his Empire an mun 3454 and before Christ 514. From whence it is euident That preferment commeth neither from the East nor from the West but from the Lord. So these two journies make 932 miles The Types and Allegories collected out of the Booke of Ester MOrdochius or Mordochai signifies bitter and contrite being deriued of Marah He was bitter and Dachah Sorrowfull and contrite A fit resemblance of that true Mordochius Christ Iesus who for our sinnes and offences was constrained to drinke of that bitter cup of afflictions the necessities of this world suffering in his body more than tollerable torments as you may reade in his passion therefore justly called Mordochius that is bitter and contrite Ester and Alma haue both one signification that is a virgin or one kept from the bed of man Therefore she was a notable image of the Church who keepeth her selfe chast and vndefiled auoyding the society of euill men and although she seeme to be desolate and forsaken in this world in respect of the wicked who flourish like a floure and glory in voluptuousnesse and pleasure yet hath shee her Mordochius her Spouse her deerely beloued which prouides for her euen Iesus Christ that immaculate lambe who died for her saluation and will clothe her in white put into her hand a regall scepter crowne her with glory and set her with him in the throne of eternall happinesse Ahasuerus signifies a noble Captaine and typically represents God the father for as the Emperour had the command of 127 Prouinces and in them did principally rule so God our heauenly father is the Emperor and gouernor of all Kingdomes and all creatures both in heauen and in earth be obedient to his will he sitteth in that euerlasting pallace of heauen that place of joy and that eternall Paradice from whence he looketh downe to behold vs miserable and distressed creatures vpon earth of his mercifull goodnesse electing and chusing vs to be heires of that eternall Kingdome and purifieth vs with the graces of his holy Spirit so that we might be made capable to sit with him in eternall felicitie The disdainfull Queene Vasthy may be a fit Type and Effigies of this world not onely in respect of her pride but her excesse in drinking taking her name from Schatha which signifies To drinke so this World liueth in all manner of prodigalitie and luxurie and contemneth the Lord and King thereof that Almighty God which sitteth in the Heauens and therefore is justly throwne downe from that eternall Kingdome whereas on the contrary humble Ester that is the Church is taken vp into dignitie and crowned in that euerlasting Kingdome of Heauen Haman signifies A rebellious and proud man being deriued of HAMAN He hath stirred vp a tumult typically representing the Diuel
whom God in the beginning made a good Angell exalted him in the heauens and made him much more glorious than others yet notwithstanding glorying in himselfe hee contemned his Maker nothing would content him but to become like vnto him yea he desired to be worshipped of our Lord Iesus Christ Mat. 4. And as Haman endeauoured to ouerthrow not only all the people of the Iewes but Queene Hester also so the Diuell doth not onely endeauour to ouerthrow the whole Church but if it were possible the head of the Church Christ Iesus Of that holy man Iob. IOb was a holy and good man he dwelt in the land of Vz so called of Vz the sonne of Aram the son of Sem as S. Ierome vpon Genesis obserueth This Vz was that great man which built as was thought Damascus in Syria and all the land which extendeth from Damascus to Iordan after his name was called Vz that is the land of counsell fot so Vz signifieth There were two townes in this countrey where Iob is said to haue dwelt that is Astaroth-Carnaim and Batzra Asteroth-Carnaim was distant from Ierusalem 52 miles towards the Northeast the inhabitants of which towne worshipped the goddesse Venus and called her by the name of Astaroth of which you may reade before S. Ierome saith That the sepulchre of Iob was to be seene in his time in that towne and later writers testifie as much for their times This towne at this day is called Carnea Batzra is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis it signifieth a grape gathering In this towne it was thought that Iob was borne it lay beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben 20 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast All this countrey in those times was subject to the King of the Edomites or Idumaeans but after it was joyned to the land of the Moabites they hauing conquered the kings of Edom you man reade more of it in the 6 of Isay also Ios 20. where is shewed that it was one of the six cities of refuge appointed by Ioshua Heere Iob for the most part continued and held this towne in great honour and reputation He liued about the time of Baela first king of the Edomites and according to the opinion of Saint Ierom Augustine Ambrose Philo and Luther was for his excellent vertue and singular piety chosen King of that countrey which he greatly enlarged making all the countries and neighbouring Princes neer adjoining tributary vnto him wherfore as Ierom saith in locis Hebraicis hauing obtained so large an Empire he remoued his seat from Batzra to Astaroth Carnaim which was a strong and well defenced citie where in those times as Moses witnesseth Gen. 14. there inhabited mightie men and noble Heroes that so by their vertue he might with the greater facilitie suppresse and conquer other Prouinces There are many thinke him to be of the stocke of Abraham and of the family of Esau because he is mentioned in the 36 of Genesis where it is said That when Baela died Iobab the sonne of Zerah of Bozra or Betzra raigned in his stead And Saint Ierom in his preface vpon the booke of Iob sheweth that he was but fiue degrees remoued from Abraham for Abraham had Ishmael Basmath who was the wife ef Esau mother of Reguel grandmother to Sarah and great grandmother to Iob. So that by the mothers side Iob descended from Ishmael and by the fathers side from Esau Isaac Esau Reguel Serah Iob or Iobab king of Idumaea Gen. 36. Notwithstanding there are some that are of opinion That he descended from Nahor Abrahams brother and was of the family of Vz Nahors sonne which opinion also Saint Ierom mentioneth in his Hebraicall questions But most of the antient fathers hold this nothing so probable Luther vpon the 36 chapter of Genesis saith That he was King long time before Moses carried the children of Israel out of Aegypt For Iuda and Aser the sonnes of Iacob had children before they went into the land of Aegypt Gen. 46. therefore it is not impossible for Reguel the sonne of Esau to haue children also since he was married long before his brother Iacob From hence then it may be gathered that Iob was King of Idumaea before Iacob and his sonnes went into the land of Aegypt For although the fourteene sonnes of Esau gouerned the land of Edom like so many Princes of which number Reguel the grandfather of Iob was one because they held it as their inheritance yet to auoid sedition and distractions which oftentimes happen where there is not a certaine head and principall commander therefore they elected Bela the sonne of Beor to be their King after whose death they chose Iob because he was a holy man of God and in his actions just and vpright who without doubt raigned amongst the Edomites a long time For he liued after his afflictions which God imposed vpon him to trie him 140 yeares Plato saith he married Dina the daughter of Iacob but Saint Ierome That he married the daughter of an Arabian by whom hee had Enon Both these may be true for his first wife being dead he might marrie an Arabian After the death of Iob the Gyants Heroes in Asteroth Carnaim fell againe from the Idumaeans for when Moses brought the children of Israel out of the desart of Arabia Petraea and that they had conquered the land beyond Iordan the city Astaroth-Carnaim had a King called Og who gouerned all the Kingdome of Basan This Gyant was of a mighty stature he had a bed of yron * Foure yards a half long two broad nine cubits long and foure broad Deut. 3. Of Eliphaz ELiphaz the Themanite was the brother of Reguel Iobs grandfather This Eliphaz had a sonne called Theman who built a citie and after his owne name called it Theman where Eliphaz his father dwelt with him From whence it hapned that he was called Eliphaz the Themanite Iob 2. It was distant from Ierusalem forty miles towards the South and therefore it was called a citie of the South you may reade of Eliphaz in Ier. cap. 25. He had a Concubine called Thimnah because of her beauty comely proportion by her he had Amaleck of whom came the Amalekites betweene whom and the children of Israel were cruell wars Exod. 17. The Trauels of Eliphaz the Themanite FRom Themen hee went to Astaroth-Carnaim where Iob dwelt which is accounted 92 miles to comfort his friend Iob Iob 2. From Astaroth-Carnaim he returned backe to his owne house which was 92 miles So the trauels of Eliphaz were 184 miles Of Bildad Iobes friend BEyond Iordan and the sea of Galile not farre from Astaroth-Carnaim there is at this day found a town called Suah where as it is thought Bildad the friend of Iob dwelt Neer to this towne as Sebastian Francus obserueth in his Cosmographie there was yerly in the Summer season a great mart kept in certain tents and tabernacles erected for that purpose of diuers colours Bildad signifies
an antient friend and Suah taketh the name from desolation being deriued of Scho he hath made desolate Of Zophar the friend of Iob. ZOphar dwelt in the citie of Naema Iosh 15. but how farre it stood from Ierusalem is vncertaine Zophar of Zaphar signifieth swift Naema signifies pleasant and delectable of Naem courteous and comfortable Of Iobs daughters THe Lord gaue vnto Iob after his affliction and that he had tried his faithfulnesse three daughters so faire that there were none fairer to be found in all the land The name of the first was Iemmima that is as faire as the day of Iom which signifies a day The second Kazia that is such a one as giueth a pleasant sauor like vnto the gum Cassia The third because of the excellencie of her countenance was called Kaeren Hapuch that is casting forth rayes or beames Iob. 42. APOCRYPHA The Booke of IVDETH Of Egbatana AFter the death of Arbactus or Arphaxad which signifies a mighty Lyon to whom Ionas prophecied as is said before there succeeded in the Empire of the Medes Mandanes Sarsomenes Artecarnis Cardiceas and Deioces who being enthronised in that Empire called himselfe Arphaxad or Arbactus the second This man built Egbatana the metropolitan citie of the Medes and beautified it with very faire buildings goodly walls made all of foure square stone cut and polished 70 cubits high and 30 broad towers standing vpon it 100 cubits in height as well those that were for the defence of the town as those where the gates were The aire in that country was temperate inclining rather to cold than heate because it lay toward the North it stood 1136 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Here for the most part this Emperor kept his court till as Herodotus saith he was vtterly conquered by Nebuchadnezzar Emperor of the Babylonians This was that Nebuchadnezzar which sent Holofernus with a mighty army against Iudaea Bethulia and many other cities and countries and would be worshipped as a god Iudeth 3. Of Hydaspes HYdaspes is a riuer that ariseth in Media which runneth thorough a part of Parthia extendeth it selfe into India and not farre from the citie Nisa falleth into Indus according to the opinion of Pliny and Strabo lib. 15. Neere this riuer Nabuchadnezzar ouercame Dieoces otherwise called Arbactus Iudg. 1. The description of the countries conquered by HOLOFERNES Of Kedar KEdar the wildernesse of Zur was thus called stood in the land of the Ishmaelites 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest and tooke the name of Kedar the sonne of Ishmael Gen. 25. Of the mountaines of Ange. THe mountaines of Ange lay betweene Pamphilia and Cicilia to the latitude of that famous country of Cilicia in Asia minor 320 miles from Ierusalem towards the North not farre from Anchiale a citie of Cilicia from whence it seemeth to take the name Of Cilicia CIlicia is a prouince of Asia minor so called of Cilice the kings sonne of Syria and Phoenicia the Metropolitan Citie of which countrey was Tharsus where the Apostle Paul was borne it was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the North. Of Mallos MAllos a citie of Cilicia was so called of Malo that is plenty of all things Stephanus saith that it took that name of Mollo who first built it It is a citie to this day and of most of the inhabitants of that country called Mallo as Gesner obserueth Of Gesem GEsem signifies fruitfull The land of Gosen in Aegypt was so called being deriued of Gusch that is a turfe it stood 174 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Of Aethyopia THis country stands beyond Aegipt 800 miles from Ierusalem towards the South where the Sunne is extreme hot that it turneth the complexion of the inhabitants to blackenesse here breed great abundance of Dragons and cruell beasts Of Esdrelon ESdrelon was a plaine lying betweene the mountains Thabor Hermon and Gilboa extending it selfe from the cities of Megiddo and Apheck to the sea of Gennezareth or Galile In this great field which was called the plaine of Galile and the field of Megiddo and Esdrelon there were many cruell battels fought for here Gideon ouercame the Midianites here Saul was put to flight by the Philistins from whence ascending into Mount Gilboa he killed himselfe Iosias also King of the Iewes was in this place put to flight by Pharaoh Necho and wounded vnto the death The camp of Holofernes was so great that it tooke vp all the plain which contained 16 miles in length In some parts it was wonderfull fruitfull and brought forth wine oyle and many other commodities in great abundance It stood 52 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and was so called of Caeder that is a hid order and disposition for Alam is as much to say as he hath hid Of Sobal SObal was a countrey vpon the borders of Syria where Sophena was scituated neere to the riuer Euphrates which country Saul and Dauid Kings of Israel somtime conquered it stood 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and signifies an eare of corne Of Apamea THis was a famous citie in Tetrapolis of Syria two hundred and eighty miles from Ierusalem towards she North built of Seleucus Nicanor King of Syria and was so called of Apamea his wife Of the city Bethulia BEthulia was scituated within 4 miles of Dothan and two of the Galilean sea 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward About four miles from this town in a mountain a little beside Dothan lay the tents of Holofernes in the sight of Bethulia Iudeth c. 7. between which Bethulia lay the plain of Esdrelon in the midst whereof there ran a pleasant riuer which in times past watred it Here Iudeth according to the custome of the Iewes washed her selfe The place where Bethulia stood is to be seene at this day the ruins of the town and many houses still remaining It was scituated vpon a goodly high mountaine strongly fortified by Nature and as it seemeth by art also A man might haue seen it thorough the greatest part of Galile but aboue the rest a certain castle in the end of the mountain made for the defence of the city They shew at this day in the mountaine and field neere Dothan the place where Holofernes camp stood and the reliques of their tents also the brook where Iudeth washed her selfe Bethulia signifieth The hand-maid of God being deriued of Bethulah a virgin and Iah God Holofernes a prophane Captaine of which sort are those tyrants that persecute the Church of God The Booke of TOBIAS The Trauels of Tobias the elder TObias the elder was caried captiue out of the tribe of Nepthaly where he was born to Ninive the Metropolitan city of Assiria being 600 miles at such time as Salmanasser King of the Assyrians caried away the tenne tribes of Israel into Assyria Captiue in the yeare before Christ 742. 2 Kings ca. 17. Tob. 1. From that time he continued in Ninive being then about 27 years old and numbred amongst the yong men
lower he gaue Nicanor a great ouerthrow and put him with 35000 of his host to the sword 1 Mac. 7. 2 Mac. 15. From Adara and Bethoron the lower hee followed the enemies to Gaza a Citie of the Philistines which was 44 miles 1 Mac. 9. From Gaza he returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles there he caused the arme of Nicanor whom a little before he had slaine at the battell of Adarsa to be cut off his tongue to be cut out of his head shred small and giuen to the fowles of the heauen and his head to be cut from his shoulders because therewith he had blasphemed the Lord and the temple swearing desolation and destruction to it and the Iewes 1 Mac. 7. 2 Mac. 15. A little after that is to say almost at the end of the 6 yere of his gouernment Iudas Macchabeus went out with 3000 chosen men in his army and pitched his tents neere Laisa 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the West But when the Iewes perceiued the mighty armie of Bacchides for hee had 20000 foot and 2000 horse in his hoast there were many of them discouraged so that all left him but 800 men Yet neuerthelesse Iudas constrained by necessitie withstood Bacchides and so manfully behaued himselfe in the battaile that hee ouercame him and put him to flight 1 Mac. 2. His enemies being thus put to flight he pursued them to the mountaines of Azotus and Gazeron which was 6 miles where being oppressed with the multitude and hemmed in amongst them was slaine He died in the moneth Nisan which answers to our April Anno mundi 3810 and before Christ 158 1 Mac. 9. From the Mountaines of Azotus and Gazeron his dead body was carried hacke againe to Modin which was 6 miles and there buried So his Trauels were 915 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Mispa Iamnia and Laisa you may reade before Of Caspin THis city stood not far from Iamnia 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest This towne though it was strongly fortified yet Iudas Macchabeus woon it 2 Mac. 12. It is called Caspin of Keseph which signifies siluer There was another city called Casphor that is The siluer mountaine this stood in the land of Giliad neere Mispa which Iudas also woon 1 Mac. 4. Of Asseremoth otherwise called Gazaron GAzaron or Gazera was a citie of the Philistines neere Ecron 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the West It is so called from the cliffe of a rocke being deriued of Gezer which signifies a Cliffe Here Iudas Macchabeus was slaine 1 Mac. 6. Of the Tubiani TVbiani are a people that dwelt beyond Iordan in that part of Arabia Petraea which is called Nabathea of Nabaioth the sonne of Ishmael neere to a Mountaine of the Gileadites not farre distant from Abel of the Vines where it is thought Balaams Asse spoke This land is called Thubin and the inhabitants Tubiani because all that Countrey bringeth forth very pleasant and excellent Wine beeing deriued of Zob which signifieth good and Iaijn wine In this country Iudas Macchabeus continued three daies with his army Of Caphar-Salama THis town stood 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. In Herod the greats time it was inlarged and made a very faire city which he caused to be called Antipatridis after the name of his father Antipater of which you may reade more in the Trauels of the Apostle Paul Of Adarsa THis was a towne in the tribe of Ephraim betweene Antipatridis and Bethoron the lower twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest It seemeth to be thus called from a noble gift for it is deriued of Adar which signifies illustrous and Schal a gift The Typicall signification of Iudas Macchabeus IVdas Macchabeus is a type and figure of our Lord Iesus Christ and Antiochus of that wicked Antichrist as the interpretation of their names do euidently declare for Iudas signifies a Confessor praysing God and glorifying his name for all his benefits so Christ the sonne of God is the praise and glory of his father for that in him and by him God the father praised as is euident in the song of Simeon In like manner our Lord Iesus Christ is worthily called Macchabeus for Macchabeus is a syrname of the Iewes which is written after this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Machabai euery letter of which signifieth a seuerall word according to the Song of Moses in the fifteenth chapter of Exodus where are these words Michamocha baelim Iehouah that is Who is like vnto thee amongst the gods O Lord Thus did the children of Israel sing with Moses when God led them out of the land of Aegypt through the Red Sea and this sentence Iudas Macchabeus continually vsed as an Adage and the letters at the beginning of these words being joyned together into one word make the syrname Macchabai Therefore as he had alwaies this golden sentence in his mouth so had he it likewise in his name yea in his ensignes Wherefore this name likewise is worthy to be attributed to Christ for hee is that perfect image and glory of his eternall father Heb. 1. who is called Michael that is Who is like vnto God and Macchabeus or Machabai that is Who is like vnto thee amongst the gods ô Lord. Therfore he saith thus I am that great God that will deliuer you from al euil Ecce Deus fortis foelix de morte resurgo Tartareosque vnguens Daemona ipse ligo Behold I am the God of might from death to life that rose I binde the Diuell to my will his furies I oppose But Antiochus signifies an aduersarie or an opposer or one that fighteth against God The same also doth Sathan signifie in Hebrew He is therefore a fit type of that great opposer of God and Man Antichrist who fighteth against Christ that Iudas Macchabeus and true Captaine of the Church For as the one viz. Antochus was an aduersary against the Iewes the children of God so the other that is Antichrist is an aduersarie and enemy against Christ and his Church c. The Trauels of Ionathan the brother of Iudas Macchabeus IOnathan or Ionathas and Theodorus hath but one signification that is The gift of God This man the same yeare that Iudas his brother died succeeded him in the principalitie and gouerned the Iewes 18 yeares 1 Mac. 9. Ios lib. antiq 3. But vnderstand that Bacchides chiefe captaine of Demetrius King of Syria went about to take his life by craft hee and his brother Simon went from Modin and pitched their tents in the wildernesse of Tecoah neere to the lake of Asphar which was 20 miles From thence they sent their brother Iohn with certaine riches to the Nabathians which dwelt in Medaba in Arabia 28 miles desiring them in friendship to receiue their goods into the town and to keepe them for their vse but the sonnes of Iambri and the Nabathians issued out of Medaba and vnawares fell vpon Iohn put him to death tooke away
all his wealth and returned into their citie with great joy But Ionathan and Simon tooke this injurie very heauily and much bewailed the death of their brother wherefore that they might bee reuenged of the inhabitants of Medaba they went thence twenty eight miles and hid themselues among the mountaines just in the way that led ftom Medaba to Canaan for they had heard that the sonnes of Iambri and the inhabitants of Medaba were gone forth with great jollitie to fetch home a Bride which was a Princes daughter of the land of Canaan Now as they were merrie vpon the way Ionathan and Simon his brother with their army went out from among the Mountaines and put a great number of them to the sword taking away a mighty spoyle From Medaba they went to the riuer Iordan which was three miles where vpon the East side of the riuer they pitched their Tents here he was constrained to fight a cruell battell with Bacchides vpon the Sabboth day but as he was in the fight hee met Bacchides and lift vp his hand to strike at him but he seeing the danger retyred Neuerthelesse he put to the sword 1000 of his men and after he and his followers leapt into the riuer and swam ouer so they all escaped without danger In the 56 yeare of the Graecians gouernment in Syria which was the fifth yere of the principalitie of Ionathan Bacchides returned againe with his army into Iudaea and besieged Ionathan and Simon in Bethbesan otherwise called Bethgalam some three miles distant from Iordan Here Ionathan leauing his brother Simon in the citie stole out by a posterne and went to all the villages neere adjoyning from whence he gathered an army of chosen men and set vpon Bacchides Simon also broke out of the city and set vpon him so that they greatly oppressed him and burned his Tents 1 Macchab. 9. Wherefore when Bacchides vnderstood that Ionathan and Simon had fortified that citie and that the Iewes were readie to defend it hee concluded a peace with Ionathan the captiues of either part were redeliuered and the Iewes liued in peace a good while after 1 Macchab. 9. From Bethbesan Ionathan went to Michmas which was six miles here he dwelt for a while and judged the people of Israel cherishing the good and rooting out the euill from amongst them 1 Macch. 9. From Michmas he went to Ierusalem which was ten miles Hither Alexander King of Syria and sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes sent him a purple robe and a golden crowne and ordained him high Priest of the Iewes Wherefore Ionathan on the day of the feast of the Tabernacles which was in the yere before Christ 150 tooke vpon him the office to be high Priest 1 Macchab. 10. The next yeare after which was the tenth of Ionathans rule after the death of Demetrius king of Syria who was slaine in the warres against Alexander there appeared a Comet of an extraordinarie greatnesse which was of such an exceeding brightnesse that it tooke away the darknesse of the night and the writers of those times affirme it to equall the Sunne in greatnesse After this Prodigi the Romans began the third Punick warre against the Carthaginians vide Camerar lib. 2. de ostent Ionathan in the eleuenth yeare of his raigne went from Ierusalem to Ptolemais which was 76 miles to the marriage of Alexander King of Syria and Cleopatra the daughter of Ptolomeus Philometor King of Aegypt where he was entertained very honourably 1 Mac. 10. From thence hee returned to Ierusalem which was 76 miles 1 Mac. 10. From Ierusalem he went to Ioppa and woon the towne which was 20 miles From Ioppa he went to Asdod which was 12 miles there he burnt the Temple of Dagon and all that were in it From thence he went with his armie to Ascalon which was 12 miles this towne willingly yeelded vnto him From Ascalon he returned to Ierusalem which was 38 miles 1 Mac. 10. In the 15 yeare of his gouernment hee went to Ioppa which was 20 miles to meet Ptolomeus Philometer King of Aegypt and stayed there all that night 1 Mac. 11. The next day he went with the King of Aegypt to the riuer of Eleutherius which was 200 miles From thence he returned backe again to Ierusalem which was 200 miles Heere he besieged the tower of Acropolis because there were many wicked men got into it In the sixteenth yeare of his gouernement he went from Ierusalem to Ptolomais to Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria which was 76 miles From Ptolomais he returned backe to Ierusalem which was 76 miles From Ierusalem in the seuenteenth yeare of his gouernment he went beyond the riuer Euphrates which was accounted 400 miles and there gathered an army in ayd of Antiochus the younger the sonne of Alexander and went against Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was 400 miles From Ierusalem hee went with his army to Ascalon which was 30 miles From thence he came to Gaza which was 18 miles this towne he besieged and after a sharpe battell woon it From Gaza he went to Damascus in Syria which was about 200 miles From thence he returned to the lake of Genesereth which was 104 miles Here hee opposed the Army of Demetrius Nicanor King of Syria From thence before day he remoued his campe to Chazor which was 32 miles where when part of his armie was put to flight by a stratagem he tore his garments put dust vpon his head and praied earnestly vnto the Lord for ayd and assistance so hauing recouered his strength and former courage hee returned with those few that hee had left him to the war where he put the army of King Demetrius to flight and slew three thousand of his men with the sword His enemies being thus dispersed hee pursued them to their Tents neere Cades in Galile which was 6 miles From thence he returned to Ierusalem with a glorious victorie which was about some 92 miles Here he made a league with the Romans and Spartans 1 Mac. 11.12 From Ierusalem he went with his armie into the countrey of Hemath that is Syria to the riuer Eleutherius which was 200 miles here he put his enemies to flight after they had burnt and consumed their Tents From thence he went to Nabathia in Arabia which was 120 miles Here he conquered the Arabians and Zabadians and spoiled their land From thence he went through all that country and wasted it till he came within eighty miles of Damascus From thence he returned home to Ierusalem which was 160 miles In the 18 and last yeare of his raigne he caused the wals of Ierusalem to be built and began to fortifie many places in Iudea 1 Macch. 12. Also the same yeare which was the 160 yeare of the gouernment of the Graecians in Syria the second booke of Macchabees was written as appeareth cap. 1. After from Ierusalem hee went to Bethsan to meet Tryphon which was 44 miles here being deceiued by the faire
speeches of Tryphon he discharged his army all but 3000. From thence hee tooke these 3000 with him and went with Tryphon to Ptolomais which was 32 miles into which towne he was no sooner entred but Tryphon caused the citisens to shut the gates where all his men were slaine From Ptolomais Tryphon brought Ionathan the High-priest to Addus vpon the borders of Iudaea which was 68 miles from whence he sent to Simon the brothers of Ionathan whom he kept captiue in a castle neere adjoyning promising to release his brother if he would send his two sonnes to be hostages and let him haue a hundred talents of siluer that is 60000 crownes So Simon sent his two sons together with the money to Tryphon but Tryphon tooke them and the money and led them captiue with Ionathon their father from Addus to Addor a towne in Idumaea which was 48 miles From thence he carried them to Baschaman in the country of the Giliadites which was 96 miles where in the Winter season in the yeare before Christ 141 this cruell and perfideous tyrant put Ionathan and his sonnes to death From Baschamah of the Giliadites Simon remoued the bodies of Ionathan and his sonnes to Modin which was 60 miles where he buried them 1 Mac. 13. So all his trauels were 3007 miles The description of the places mentioned in his Trauels Of Michmas and Cades you may reade before Of Medaba THis city is scituated beyond Iordan in the Tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem towards the East It seemes to take the name from a hot bath that stood neere it for there were many Baths and wholesome Springs stood beyond Iordan as Ios lib. ant 17. c. 9. witnesseth The same things are also mentioned in Esa cap. 26. For Medaba is deriued of Maijm and Doba which signifies warme or boyling water Of Bethbesan THis town was scituated in the Tribe of Benjamin neere Gilgall twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast The castle of this towne Ionathan and Simon fortified and repaired that it might be a strong place for them to retyre to from the danger of Baccides 1 Mac. 9. Ios li. ant 13. c. 1. saith that this towne was called the bouse of blushing being deriued of Bosch to blush and Bethagla a round house Of Ptolomais IN antient times this towne was called Acon scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterrean sea betweene Tyrus and Mount Carmel in the tribe of Aser 76 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. But the Aserites could not cast out the Canaanites out of that citie Ptolomeus King of Aegypt conquered this towne and rebuilt it calling it after his owne name Ptolomais which signifieth to make war In times past it was a goodly city strongly fortified with towers bulwarkes ditches and wals it was built in a triangular proportion like to a shield two parts whereof was compassed in by the sea and vpon the third there stood a fruitfull plaine wherein were corne grounds pastures medowes vineyards and orchards adorned with diuers kindes of fruits It had a very faire and spacious hauen for the preseruing of shippes it was beautified with Arcinals Castles Temples and many other buildings very stately and curious but at this day it is vtterly desolate and scarce to be perceiued where it stood Of Eleutherius ELeutherius was a riuer vpon the borders of Phaenicia and Syria neere to the citie Orthosia at the foot of Mount Libanus 200 miles from Ierusalem towards the North of which you may reade in the history of Ionathan 1 Macch. 11.12 There is also another riuer of that name betweene Tyrus and Sarepta vpon the borders of Palestina 108 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Of Genezereth IT is a sea in Galile so called from the land of Genesara which lyeth about it here sometime Capernaum stood it signifies a Princely garden being deriued of Gen that is a garden and Sar a Prince for the countrey round about it was very pleasant You may reade more of this in the Trauels of our Sauiour Christ Of the field Chazor THis was a plaine neer to the towne Chazor or Hazor which is described in the Trauels of Ioshua It stood in the vpper Galile 84 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Of Zabadei ZAbadei were a people inhabiting Arabia Desarta neere to the riuer Eleutherius on the Northeast side of Syria and Damascus 200 miles from Ierusalem Arabia is three-fold the one part thereof is called Deserta which extendeth it selfe towards the North to Syria and Damascus the other is called Petraea in which vast wildernesse the children of Israel trauelled the third is called Arabia Foelix which is towards the South extending it selfe from the East to the gulfe of Persia and vpon the West it is shut in with the gulfe of Arabia But the Zabadei they inhabited in Arabia Deserta and were a people of a liberall and free condition from whence it seemeth they are so called for Zabab signifieth To endow or bestow Of Addus ADdus is called by Iosephus lib. antiq 13. cap. 9. Iadah it was a towne neer Arimathea in mount Ephraim 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest and is so called from a congregation being deriued of Iaad that is He hath assembled with authoritie and Edah a Congregation or Synagogue Of Ador. THis was a city of the Idumaeans 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Ador signifies a beautifull city being deriued of Adar that is famous and illustious and Or that is light Of Baschamah BAschamah standeth in the land of Gileah beyond Iordan 52 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast and is so called from sweet gums of which there is great plentie in that place The Trauels of the high Priest SIMON the brother of IVDAS MACCHABEVS SImon signifies an Auditor and one that heareth being deriued of Schamah He hath heard This man did many worthy acts during the life of Iudas Macchabeus for being sent into Galile in which countrey there were many that rebelled he supressed the insurrection and pursued the enemies into the citie of Ptolomais which was 76 miles From Ptolomais he brought his army to Arabath which was 36 miles In this place after he had assembled all the religious Israelites thereabout and their wiues and children he brought them thence to Ierusalem which was 44 miles After he went with his brother Iudas to many places and behaued himselfe manfully in all his enterprises 2 Mac. 8.14 Hee went also with him to the battell fought between Azotus Gazeron where Iudas was slain which was 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward 1 Mac. 9. Simon and Ionathan brought the dead body of their brother Iudas to Modin 6 miles and there buried him by his father Mattathias 1 Mac. 9. Afterward Simon and his brother Ionathan went from Modin to the lake Asphar in the wildernesse of Tecoa which was twentie miles From the desart of Tecoa they went to Medaba which was 28 miles After they returned thence to the riuer of Iordan where
to yellow spotted all ouer with round shining spots in like manner are their eies She is a friend almost to all kinde of creatures except the Aspe and Dragon and as Oppianus saith neuer taken but when shee is drunke or in her sleepe She is the female to the Leopard The Leopard is of the same colour and of the nature of a Wolfe being full hee hurteth nothing but if empty he preyeth vpon euery thing yea euen vpon men his breath is very sweet with which many other creatures being delighted he often preyes vpon them but beeing full he sleepeth somtimes three daies together The Tyger also is a very swift and cruell creature from whence he is so called his skin is yellow and full of black spots round and shining If shee chance to lose her yong she neuer leaues seeking till shee findes them out The Trauels of Tryphon that put Antiochus to death IN An. mundi 3826. before Christ 142. Tryphon somtime chief Captain to Alexander King of Syria who was slain in Arabia went to Emalcuel Prince of Arabia deserta with whom Antiochus the son of Alexander was brought vp where he so wrought with him that he got the boy from him and brought him thence into Syria 160 miles and within a while after besieged Antiochia tooke the towne droue thence Demetrius Nicanor and crowned yong Antiochus King of Assyria This journy to and again was 320 miles 1 Mac. 11. In the second yeare of the reign of young Antiochus Tryphon went from Antiochia to Bethsan where he perfidiously betrayed Ionathan the brother of Iudas Machabeus 1 Mac. 12. being thirtie six miles From Bethsan he went to Ptolomais 32 miles From Ptolomais he went to Addus a towne vpon the borders of Iudea 68 miles 1 Mac. 13. To Addus Simon sent his brothers Children and his ransome which was 60 talents of siluer but after hee had receiued the mony he broke his word and went thence with Ionathan and his sons to Ador 48 miles From Ador hee went to Bascharnan in the land of Gilead 96 miles Here he put to death Ionathan and his sonnes From the country of the Gileadites he returned to Antiochia which was 240 miles here he put to death yong Antiochus being but a boy of 7 yeares of age and vsurped vpon the gouernment in his place He began to reign in the 172 yeare of the Grecians gouernment in Syria and reigned 3 yeares 1 Mac. 14. Ios li. Ant. 13. About the end of the three yeares which was in the 174 yeare of the Grecians gouernment in Syria Antiochus Sedetes brother of Demetrius Nicanor made war vpon Tryphon and compelled him to fly from Antiochia to Dora 240 miles from Antiochia toward the South 1 Mac. 15. But Antiochus Sedetes followed him thither and so streightly besieged Dora that he was constrained to steale thence in a ship and saile to Orthosia which was 160 miles Lastly in the way as he was going thence to Apamea which was 120 miles he was taken and put to death So all his trauels were 1360 miles ¶ Of the places mentioned in his trauels which haue been formerly recited Of Dora DOra was a hauen towne scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranean sea 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward in the mid way between Carmel and Caesarea Strato In Ioseph cap. 17. it is called Dor that is à durans Of Orthosia THis was a city of Assiria scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranian sea neere to the place where the riuer Eleutherius falleth into it 200 miles from Ierusalem Northward being so called of Diana whom the Grecians called Orthosia that is Exalted or lifted vp Hither Tryphon sailed when hee fled from Antiochus Sedetes 1 Mac. 15. Plin. lib. 5. cap. 20. Concerning the trauels of Apolonius Nicanor Bacchides and Cendebius because they are sufficiently described in the trauels of the Machabees I thought it vnfit to speake further of them The Trauels of Heliodorus HEliodorus signifies the House of the Sun He was Scretarie and chiefe Gouernor of Antiochia in Syria for that mightie King Seleucus Philopater who was brother to that cruel Tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes and was sent by his Lord and master Seleucus from Antiochia to Ierusalem which is 80 miles to spoile the Temple of the Lord but the Lord sent an Angel richly beautified with armor of gold sitting vpon a horse who went to Heliodorus and with his horse trod him vnder his feet and there appeared two other Angels full of majestie and power that strooke Heliodorus and beat him with whips so that he lay vpon the floore of the Temple as a man halfe dead and could not go forth vntil he was caried out 2 Mac. 3. From Ierusalem he went with that good man Onias chief priest of the Iewes at whose earnest prayers and supplications hee was made whole to Antiochia 280 miles where hee told Seleucus Philopater of the wonderfull works of the Lord. So all his trauels were 580 miles The Trauels of the high-Priests of the Iewes that ruled before the Machabees as they are seuerally mentioned in the Books of Machabees And first of the trauels of Onias the high-Priest ONias signifies the riches of God from On Opulency and Iah God for although he was afflicted with pouertie in this world yet he was rich in God He succeeded his Father Simon the Iust an M. 3757. before Christ 211. Antiochus the great being King of Syria He was high-priest 39 years vntil the death of Seleucus Philopater at the end of which time one Simon the chiefe of those that kept the temple being ambitious of rule fell to words with Onias and from words to blowes so that there were many outrages committed by the friends of Simon Wherefore Onias to giue place to the fury of his aduersaries went from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles But Seleucus Philopater being dead and Antiochus Epiphanes in the gouernment who was a couetous and cruell prince good Onias partly for fear of him and partly of his brother Iason who had but a little before purchased the office of high priest for 360 talents of siluer and promised to pay a yearely tribute of 80 talents durst not return home to Ierusalem but went to a sanctuary that stood in the wood of Daphne which was about one mile from Antiochia in hope of safety to which place one Andronichus chiefe Captaine to Antiochus came to him and with faire speeches and flattering words allured him out of the Sanctuary and traiterously put him to death So his trauels were 281 miles The Trauels of the high-Priest Iason IAson and Iesus haue both one signification he entred vpon the office of High priest in the first yere of Antiochus Epiphanes which was 173 yeares before Christ He went from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles where after the death of Onias he payd to Antiochus for the office of high-priest almost 3 tunnes of gold with promise to pay a yearely tribute of 48000 crowns From Antiochia
faire and stately Church three hundred and twentie yeares after the natiuitie of Christ This Church was dedicated to Saint Marie and remaineth to this day being had in great honour both amongst the Christians and the Turkes and Sarazins This Church is such a stately building that it is thought to exceede all the Churches of Christendome for beautie and curious workemanship It is two hundred twentie and eight foot long and eightie seuen foot wide beeing built all of Marble of diuers colours and couered with lead There are in it foure rowes of Marble pillars wonderfull to looke vpon not onely in regard of their number but of their greatnesse for there is fiftie pillars in euery row The body of this church the pillars from the bottom to the top the walls and euerie part of it is beautified with liuely pictures adorned with diuers colours siluer gold and curious workemanship so as it is wonderfull to behold The pauement of it is of marble polished and of diuers colors so cunningly set in workes and with such variety that it is very delightful to such as look on it There is painted on the pillars and walls almost all the stories of the Old Testament till the birth of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ with such excellent cunning and so liuely that it is to bee admired In the Quire of this Church there is found two Altars one close by the Chappell of Saint Katherine at the East end thereof not far distant from which they shew the place where our Sauiour was circumcised and in the middle of the Quire there standeth another Altar where they say the wise men left their Dromedaries and prepared their gifts to present vnto our Sauiour when they worshipped him Vpon the South side of this quire towards the East they descend by ten stone steps into the Chappell of the Natiuitie of Christ richly beautified and curiously wrought paued with polished Narble This Chappell is not very great but wonderfull faire and sumptuous When the Holy land was ouerrun by the Gentiles this as many other places were in that countrey was all polluted with filth and dirt that they had much adoe to make it cleane a great while after Vpon the place where they said our Lady the blessed Virgin Mary brought forth our Sauiour into the world there is placed a Table of white Marble after the maner of an Altar about some foure foot from this they shew the place where the Manger stood a part of it yet remaining cut out of a rocke not of Marble but of other stone as many other Mangers are in that countrey Close by that there is an Altar where they say the wise-men presented their gifts to our Sauiour Christ and worshipped him At the entrance into the Church there standeth a goodly building which in times past seemed to haue been some Archbishops See but now is called Saint Maries Church Vpon the North side they descended by certaine stepps into the Chappell of Saint Ierom who lay a long time buried there till his bones were remoued thence to Saint Maries in Rome About a mile from Bethlehem Southward stood the Tower of Eder being a watch tower of the Bethlehemites and so called because there resorted thither many flockes of sheepe for Aeder signifieth A Heard Round about this Tower were faire and fruitfull pastures to which many sheepheards resorted to feed their flockes to some of which sheepheards the Angels told the glad tidings of the birth of our Sauiour and that he was laid in a Manger at Bethlehem For which cause in after times there was a Church built iust in the place where the Tower stood and in Saint Ieroms time called by the name of Angelos ad Pastores the same Luther affirmeth and that it is yet standing Iacob sometime dwelt in that place and buried his wife Rachel thereabouts The monument that hee set vpon her graue remaineth to this day which was twelue stones pitcht an end standing about a quarter of a mile from this place vpon the right hand as they goe to Ierusalem of which graue all the countrey thereabouts is called by the name of Rachel Of the way betweene Iudaea and Aegypt BEtweene Aegypt and Iudaea lieth Arabia Petraea a land for the most part barren and vnfruitfull full of sands rockes and mountaines destitute of water and subject to many dangers being in the Summer solstice scorched with extremity of heate the Sun being then perpendiculer ouer them according to Munster in the day time and in the night troubled with extreame windes which blowing the sand with great violence it casteth it vpon great heapes and mountaines by which dust both beasts and sometime men are suffocated and slaine Moreouer there dwell in this Desart a rude and dangerous people called Saracens who take their beginning from Ishmael and are therefore also called Ishmaelites being giuen to crueltie and maliciousnesse They get their liuing for the most part by theft and violence and as Ishmael was an excellent Archer so they also are very cunning in shooting and hunting vsing to this day their ancient euill custome of robbing and spoiling all that passe that way insomuch as Merchants are constrained to goe in great companies lest they should be indangered by them and by reason of the windes and sands are constrained to guide their journey by the compasse as men doe that saile vpon the sea Through this wildernesse did Ioseph and Marie passe when they went with the childe Iesus out of Iudaea into Aegypt where they were in danger of theeues subjects to be smothered by the sands constrained to trauell ouer high rockes and mountaines and to rest in feare because of Lyons Beares and other beasts which greatly abound in that place Besides diuers other discommodities were incident vnto them as want of meate drinke and other necessaries there being little water to be found there insomuch as had not the Lord by an expresse command charged him in a dreame to goe downe into Aegypt Ioseph durst hardly haue ventured vpon so difficult and dangerous a journey But the Lord so mercifully prouided for him that he both went and returned safe Thus may we see to what dangers these good people were exposed and what miseries they sustained from the beginning because of their sonne Christ Iesus Of Hermopilis HErmopilis was called the Towne of Mercurie distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the Southwest it was one of the chiefe cities in Aegypt as Appianus writeth Nicephorus and Zozemenus affirme lib. 5. cap. 22. that Ioseph and Mary came and liued in this Towne where they continued all the daies of Herod that cruel King But Ziglerius saith that they liued in the land of Gosen where the Patriarch Iacob and his posteritie liued which agreeth well with the words of S. Matthew cap. 2. and Hosea 11. Out of Aegypt haue I called my sonne This land of Gosen lay 200 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest The inhabitants of Alcaire in Aegypt take
vpon them to shew the place where Ioseph and Mary dwelt when they went downe into that countrey but how true it is I cannot tell because there is no Author for it Of Canah in Galile This was city in Galile distant from Ierusalem 68 miles towards the North of which you may reade more in the trauels of our Sauiour Christ Of Capernaum THis towne stood vpon the sea of Galile 68 miles from Ierusalem toward the North of which you may reade more after The trauels of the Wise-men out of the East which came to Bethlehem to see IESVS THe Magi were certaine wise men of Persia so called from Meditation being deriued of Hagah that is He hath meditated and taken in the third conjugation it signifies To finde or search out a thing they being such as gaue themselues to the knowledge of hard things and to finde out the secrets and misteries of nature But according to Varinus they were not only Philosophers but Priests also And Plato vpon Alcibiades saith Magia est deorum obseruantia siue cultus diuinus that is Magicke prescribeth the due obseruance and diuine worship of the gods Strabo saith Geogra lib. 6. That the Magi were such among the Persians as those whom the Indians call Gimnosophists and Academians the Babylonians Chaldaeans and the Hebrewes Prophets or Priests which taught the people diuine knowledge And when the ten Tribes were carried into captiuitie by Salmanasser Emperour of the Assirians into Assiria Media and Persia there is no question but they tooke with them into the East the holy bookes and volumes of the Law and of the Prophets whereby without doubt many of the people and Philosophers of the East came to haue a taste of the true knowledge and worship of God Also the Prophet Daniel was brought vp in all the arts of the Chaldaeans whose writings and prophecies were not only written and published amongst the Babylonians but also had in great account and estimation amongst the Magi so that they diligently perusing those books came not only to the knowledge of God but also without doubt to the knowledge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ whom they called The Starre of Iacob from whence may be concluded That the Wise-men that came to see our Sauiour Christ were rather of Susa in Persia than of Zaba in Aethyopia Wherefore these wise-men came from the Academy of Susa in Persia to Ierusalem which was 920 miles saying Where is he that is borne King of the Iewes for we haue seen his Starre in the East and are come to worship him This hapned in the moneth of Ianuarie in the second yeare after the birth of our Sauiour for Herod in the seuentieth yeare of his age caused all the male children of the Bethlemites of two yeares old and vnder according to the time that he was told of the Wise-men to be put to the sword From Ierusalem they went to Bethlehem which was 6 miles where vpon the sixt of Ianuary they offered their Presents which they brought out of Persia to our Sauior viz. Gold as to a King Frankincense as to a Priest and Myrrhe as to a mortall man Mat. 2. So let vs offer vnto Christ our Sauior the Gold of faith and heauenly doctrine the Frankincense of earnest prayers and the myrrhe of patience in the midst of calamitie Afterward the Wise-men as they had bin warned in a dream returned another way to Susa in Persia which was 920 miles So their trauels were 1846 miles Of Susa you may reade before in the trauels of the Old Testament Of the Starre that appeared to the Wise-men in the East SInce this Starre appeared in the lower region of the aire as it is apparant it did from thence it may be concluded That it neither was any of the fixed starres planet or a Comet because they commonly are seene in the vpper region of the aire but rather according to the opinion of some it was an Angell of God appearing in the forme of a bright shining Starre to direct the Wise-men in their way as they went to the town of Bethlem and so by little and little descending from the sublimitie of the aire pointed out vnto them the very house where they might find Mary the mother of our Lord and the childe Iesus Almost after the same manner as the Angell of the Lord in the time of Moses appeared to the children of Israel that is in the day like ta cloudy pillar and in the night like a flaming fire to direct them their way Exod. 13.14.34 Wherefore this Starre without doubt was no naturall apparition which hapned in the inferiour region of the aire suddenly vanishing away but as I haue said an Angel of the Lord representing the forme of a Starre Or else as Chrysostome saith a certaine miraculous new Starre which according to the opinion of Augustine was gouerned by an Angel of the Lord and for the greatnes of the body and variety of the aspects was not seene first in the land of Iudaea but in Persia a countrie in the East where the Magi dwelt and accompanied them thence into Iudea And although for a short space it left them in the journie yet when they came in the way to Bethlem it appeared to them againe Mat. 2. As Nicephorus and Chrysostome obserue the Starre appeared vpon the day of the conception of Christ being the 25 day of March about which time the Archangell Gabriel spoke with the Virgin Marie Luke 1. And with seene for a whole yeare and 41 weeks that is till the 6 of Ianuary in the beginning of the second yeare after the natiuitie of Christ It wanted 11 weeks of two yeares and therefore Herod caused all the male children of the Bethlehemites of two yeares old and vnder to be slaine according to the time declared vnto him by the wise men Mat. 2. Wherfore this new Starre did first foreshew the birth of Christ that bright shining Starre and eternall light of glory according to the prophecie of Billa Num. 22. Secondly the light of Gods Word the Gospel 2 Pet. 1. Thirdly godly faithful ministers and teachers who by their doctrine and godly life and conuersation should set before their auditors and such as obserue their actions the way to Christ and eternall happinesse Dan. vlt. The Trauels of Iohn Baptist IN the moneth of Thisri which answereth to our September Annoo mundi 3966 the Feast of the Tabernacles being then celebrated the Archangell Gabriel told Zacharias the Priest of the conception of Iohn the Baptist which should be the voyce of a crier in the wildernesse And a little after that is about the Autumnall Aequinoctiall Iohn the Baptist was conceiued six moneths before our Sauiour The next yeare after about the moneth of Iuly he was borne Six moneths after that our Sauiour Christ was borne In which yeare Zacharias che father of Iohn Baptist was slaine in the vpper court betweene the Altar and the Temple for saying that our Sauiour Christ
was borne and That Marie his mother was a Virgin Matt. 33. Wherefore Elizabeth the wife to Zacharias fearing the cruelty of Herod and of the Pharises about that time when the young infants of the Bethlehemites were slaine shee fled from Ierusalem to Apumim as Nicephorus faith which was scituated in the wildernesse betweene Iericho and Ierusalem where she priuatly brought vp her sonne which was 32 miles In the 39 yeare of the natiuitie of Christ and vpon the 24 day of Iune Iohn the Baptist being then 30 yeares of age by the commandement of the Lord tooke vpon him the ministerie for it was not lawfull for any to enter into that function before they were thirtie yeares of age Numb 4. Wherefore vpon the eight and twentieth day of September it being then the feast of the Tabernacles and about the middle of the last weeke spoken of by Daniel Hee went from Adumim to Bethabara where hee tooke vpon him the Ministerie of the New Testament Hannas the chiefe Priest being then newly entred into that office Luke 2. which was about foure miles and within a short time after that is vpon the seuenth day of October beeing then the feast of Expiation our Lord and Sauiour Iesuis Christ was baptised when hee was fully thirtie yeares of age Luke 3 Matthew 3. Iohn 1. In the yeare following which was the one and thirtieth yeare of the Natiuitie of Christ a little before the feast of Easter the Synedrion of Ierusalem sent messengers vnto Iohn hee then remaining at Bethabara to know whether hee was the Christ or Elias or some other Prophet Iohn the first Vpon the eighteenth day of September the same yeare Iohn entred vpon the second yeare of his ministerie About which time Caiphas began to enter vpon the office of the high Priest and the Sadduces and Pharises to persecute Iohn Baptist Wherefore he departed from Bethabara and went to Aenon a Citie in Galile which was 24 miles After that Iohn had preached publikely and freely by the space of a whole yeare and two moneths about the moneth of December and the end of the first yeare of the Ministrie of our Sauiour by the commandement of Herod hee was taken and led prisoner from Aenon to the Tower of Macheruntes which was 28 miles where he remained vntill his death So all his Trauels were 88 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled Of Adumim ADumim or Adummim as it is in Ioshua ca. 15. was a Tower twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the East scituated in the wildernesse that is betweene Ierusalem and Iericho so called because of the multitude of robberies and murthers that were done in that place for Dam signifieth Blood Here the poore man that Christ mentioned Luk. 10. fell amongst theeues and here Eliah continued when he was fed by the Rauens aad dranke the water of the riuer Cherith 1 King 17. which was a notable type of Iohn the Baptist who liued in a caue in this place This caue stood close by the Garden of Engedi where in former times the Academie and Schoole of the Prophets Eliah and Elisha was kept here the Esseis which was a Sact amongst the Iewes also continued who led a Monasticall kinde of life and gaue themselues wholly to prayers and good workes vnder whose discipline and instruction Iohn was brought vp Mathesius wisely obserues that of all other the Esseies would neuer oppose Christ but were a people that liued chastly and honestly according to the custome of the Nazarites with all diligence reading the Scriptures and auoiding idlenesse as a great temptation of the diuell giuing themselues principally to the studie of Phisicke After rhis sort was Iohn brought vp Of Bethabara THis was a towne scituated vpon the East side of the riuer Iordan 16 miles from Ierusalem towards the East where there was either a Bridge or a ferry to passe ouer Iordan from whence this place was called Bethabara being deriued of Baith a house and Abarah a passage Wherefore at a certaine time there being assembled in this place a great concourse and congregation of people Iohn did first enter vpon the ministerie of the New Testament and taught the people the Doctrine of Repentance and Baptisme Here Elias the Thesbite who was a type of Iohn the Baptist was taken vp into heauen in a fierie Chariot Here Iohn spoke with the messengers that came to inquire Whither he was the Christ or not to whom hee answered that hee was neither Elias nor a prophet of the Old Testament but the voice of a crier in the wildernesse Io. 4. Is 40. And in the same place where the Priests stood with the Arke of the couenant whiles Ioshua and the children of Israel passed ouer Iordan Iohn baptised Christ the true Arke of the Couenant of the Throne of grace Iosh 3.4 Mat. 4. Luke 3. Heb. 9. Of Aenon THis towne stood vpon the West side of the riuer of Iordan 42 miles from Ierusalem Northward a little on this side of the sea of Tiberias neere the mouth of the riuer Iaboch where it falleth into Iordan in which place was great aboundance of waters Here also Iohn sometimes baptized Ioh. 3. it being two miles from Salem where Iacob in times past dwelt Gen. 33. Of the meeting together of the waters this towne was called Aenon of Ain which signifies an Eye and a fountaine that springeth as it were from an Eye Of Macherus or Macharuntes MAcherus was a towne of Peraea beyond Iordan 20 miles from Ierusalem towards the East scituated in a high mountaine being deriued Macherah that is A Sword This was one of the chief castles of Herod Antipas who obtained the chiefe command in the citie of Ierusalem Plin. lib. 5. c. 16. In this place Iohn Baptist was beheaded as Ioseph saith lib. Antiq. 80. c. 10. And although his Disciples buried his body thereabouts yet long after the christians remoued his bones reliques to Sebasten that is Samaria where they were the second time buried with great honor and reuerence Afterward as Nicephorus and Theodor saith his bones were taken vp againe by Iulian the Apostata and burnt There are many other things that are written concerning his reliques which because of the vncertainty of them I omit to speak of and will proceed to a further description of this citie Alexander King of the Iewes first built and fortified it and then making warre against Aristobulus it hapned to be destroied by Gabinus one of his Captaines and so continued desolate till Herods time who rebuilt the towne and the castle and fortified it with strong walls and high towers euen a hundred and sixtie cubits in height so that a man could scarce see to the top of it But that God might reuenge the bloud of his Saints at such time as Ierusalem and the Holy land was left desolate Lucius Bassus a noble Roman came to this citie and besieged it during which siege Bassus tooke a certaine young man which was a Prince of