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
vp of water for the riuer Kison begins at the foot of this mountain and diuides it self into diuers parts vntill it commeth to the hill Hermon and then it runs into two principal streams the one passeth toward the East into the sea of Galilee the other to the West towards Carmel and so into the Mediterranian sea There be some that are of opinion that neither raine nor dew falls vpon this hil because when Saul was slain Dauid cursed these mountains saying Let neither rain nor dew fal vpon you ô yee mountaines of Gilboa because the strong men of Israel were slaine there 2 Sam. 1. But this was but a figuratiue speech wherby Dauid would expresse the greatnesse of his sorrow for Borchardus the Monke speaking of this mountain saith That as he was ascending vpon it there was such a violent showre fell that he was wet through his clothes and the waters in great aboundance ran into the vallies And in the yeare of our Lord 1283 sleeping vpon this hill on the Eve of All Saints there was a great dew fell vpon his clothes onely some parts of it were very stony and barren as are many other mountains in that country Of Endor THis was a town in the tribe of Manasses neere the riuer Kison Ios 17. where Saul asked counsell of a witch 1 Sam. 28. It seemes to take the name from a fountaine of durance for Dor signifies he hath made sure It is distant from Ierusalem 44 miles toward the North. In S. Ieroms time this was but a smal village Of Bethsan THis was a city in the Tribe of Manasses betweene Bethulia and the sea of Galile some 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North Iosh 17. It taketh the name from a Church-yard or a place of rest for Beth signifieth a house and Iaschan he hath slept Here Saul killed himselfe and the Philistines cut off his head and set it vpon the wall of this citie Afterward about S. Ieroms time Ptolomie called this Scythopolis You may reade in the second booke of the Macchabes how it was the towne of the Scythians for the Scythians which dwelt some 800 miles from Ierusalem towards the North came with a great army into the Holy land and by force woon this citie and dwelt there of whom it was called the Scythian towne Ioseph in lib. 2. de Bell. Iud. cap. 18. remembreth a strange accident that hapned neere this towne for the Iewes besieging it there were of their own nation that dwelt within the city who that they might make a priuate gaine took wages of the Scythians to oppose their brethren and countreymen by which meanes the Scythians got the better But after a while the Scythians considering that the number of the Iewes were great and fearing some sudden insurrection or innouation gaue them warning to depart and leaue the towne they though with great griefe as being prest with a two-fold necessity their owne wants and the hatred of their kindred did so relying meerely vpon the courtesie of strangers But about some two dayes after in the night time the inhabitants of Scythopolis breaking out of the citie vnawarres fell vpon them and in recompence of their kindnesse put to the sword some thirteen thousand many slaine vnawares some as they were eating and most in their sleepe After they had committed this massacre they compassed about the wood where they were took away all their substance and suffered not a man to depart aliue Wherefore one Simon the soone of a certaine ancient and noble Citizen called Saul perceiuing their present miserie and that there was no hope to escape iminent death and vtter ruine in a cruell and desperate maner breakes out into these words O miserable wretch that I am that against my owne conscience haue lift vp these impious hands against my countrey committing daily massacres to pleasure them who at this day lay violent hands vpon all wee haue die therefore thou that art thus profane and with thine owne hands make an end of thy wretched life since thou doest not deserue to die honourably in the face of the enemy but wretchedly in a corner and for thine owne offence So soone as he had ended these words he turned him about with a fierce countenance and falling vpon his father mother wife and children put them all to the sword after burnt his goods and to make an end of the tragedy ran himselfe vpon his owne weapon These things hapned but a little before Vespasian came into the land of Iudaea At this day this Citie Sythopolis is called after the antient name Bethsan The typicall representation of SAVL SAul if it be properly taken doth sometime signifie a Graue or Sepulchre and sometimes Hell being deriued from Scheuol which may be taken for both As therefore Saul persecuted innocent Dauid with an inueterate malice euen vnto the death so the sonnes of Sathan euil and wicked men persecute Christ and his members with an immoueable malice sparing neither Prophets nor Apostles neither such as are religious no nor Christ himself but with cruell torments put them to lingering deaths till they be vtterly exryrpate as they thinke and then wanting objects to satisfie their sauage mindes they follow their owne diuellish councels till with Saul they come to desperate ends Schaul or Saul if it be taken in the better part signifieth He hath desired or called The Philistines trauels from their Campe to Michmas THe Philistines incamped themselues at Michmas vpon Mount Ephraim some ten miles from Ierusalem Northward and out of the Philistines campe there issued three armies to spoile the countrey The one marched towards Ophra and went from Michmas to Salem 28 miles From thence they went to Ophra 4 miles The second went from Michmas to Bethoron 8 miles The third went from Michmas to the valley of Zeboim eight miles So all the Trauels of the Philistines were 58 miles Of Zoboim THis valley is not farre from Ierusalem in the Tribe of Benjamin Nehem. 11. The trauels of Ionathan Sauls sonne IOnathan went from Gibeah to Kiriath-jearim which was two miles where hee draue the Philistines out of their campe 1 Sam. 13. From thence he went backe againe two miles From thence he went to Michmas which is 8 miles and there by the helpe of his Armor-bearer he gaue the Philistines a great ouerthrow 1 Sam. 14. From thence hee followed the enemy to Aialon wich is 12 miles there his father would haue put him to death because he had tasted a little hony 1 Sam. 14. From Aialon Saul and his sonne Ionathan returned to Gibeah his owne citie which was two miles From Gibeah hee went with his father to Socho and Asecha which was 8 miles where after Dauid had slaine Goliah for that singular vertue and heroicall spirit which Ionathan saw in him he loued him as he did his owne soule and preferred him before his owne life and honour 1 Sam. 18. From thence he went with his father to Gibeah some 8
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
25. and the inhabitants thereof Edomites or Idumaeans The typicall meaning of Esau ESau signifies a Factor and was so called from rednes The enemies of the church colouring themselues red with the blood of the godly For as Rebecca had in her wombe two sonnes that is Esau and Iacob one elected the other reprobated so in the Church there are found two sorts of people good and euill some are wicked and impious contemners of Gods word and persecuters of the Church as after the posterity of Esau was But there are others that are the faithfull children of God that hope through the mediation of our blessed Sauiour to be made heires of euerlasting happinesse and be crowned with him in his kingdome with the crowne of Glory So that here the saying of our Sauiour may be verified the first shall be last and the last shall be first for Esau was the eldest yet lost his birthwrite and Iacob was the youngest yet got the blessing Of the Trauels of the Patriarch Iuda IVda trauelled from Sichem where Iacob dwelt and went to the towne of Odulla some forty and foure miles where he was married to the daughter of one Chananei whose name was Schuah which signinifies A happy Sauiour by her he had two children in that place viz. Ger and Onan From thence hee went to Timnah to sheare his sheepe six miles and as hee turned aside out of the way hee committed incest with his daughter in law Thamer when shee was about 26 yeares of age Afterward hee went twice with his brethren into Aegypt to buy corne at Zoan where Ioseph at that time was for the famine was very great round about So that reckoning his journey twice two and againe it amounted to eight hundred twentie and two miles for Zoan was 208 miles from Hebron where Iacob and his sonnes dwelt Lastly he returned againe with his father and his brother into Aegypt two hundred and eight miles These things happened in the yeare of the world 1239. and before Christ 1729. The description of the Townes and places to which the Patriarch Iuda trauelled Of Odullam THis was a towne in the tribe of Iuda eight miles from Ierusalem towards the South-west and signifies The testimonie of the poore being deriued of Ed which signifies a testimonie and Dallimo such as are called poore Here Dauid hid himselfe from the furie of Saul in a caue 1 Sam. 22. Ierom knew this towne and saith that it was a village This was a type of the faithful who being still subject to the calamities and miseries of this world and persecuted for righteousnesse sake are glad with Dauid to seeke holes and caues to defend them from their wicked persecuters Of Thimnah THimnah is a Citie in the borders of the Tribe of Iudah and Dan scituated in mount Ephraim six miles from Ierusalem towards the Northwest and signifieth a perfect and fully finished Citie being deriued from Thamam that is fully and absolutely finished for it was adorned with many very faire and spacious buildings set vp by Iosuah for in his time it was a faire and large Citie and at such time as the children of Israel invaded Canaan he had much adoe to win it Therefore the children of Israel for his great valour and to manifest their thankefulnesse towards him they gaue it to him and to his posterity for euer and here he lyeth bured Iosuah 24. Here Sampson married his wife and by the way killed the Lion mentioned in the 14 of Iudges This is â— type of the Church wherein Christ Iesus the true Iosuah is the head illuminating the same by the bright shining beames of his Gospell the lustre whereof hath gone throughout the whole World Of the Trauels of the Patriarch Ioseph WHen Ioseph was sent from Hebron by his father Iacob hee went to Sichem to seeke his brothers 60 miles Gen. 37. 2 From thence he went to Dothan foure miles where by his brothers he was throwne into a Pit and after sold to the Ishmalites Gen. 37. 3 From Dothan hee was carried to Tanis in Aegypt and there sold to Potipher Pharaohs chiefe steward 272 miles 4 From Tanis he went to meet his father in the land of Gosen which is 28 miles Gen. 46. 5 From thence he turned backe againe to Tanis and presented his father and brethren vnto Pharaoh Gen. 47. which is 28 miles 6 From thence hee went backe to Ony to see his father who now was sick vnto the death there receiuing his blessing he closed his eies which was 28 miles 7 From thence he returned backe againe to Tanis which is 28 miles 8 From Tanis he went backe to Ony with a great company of horses and chariots preparing an honourable funerall for his father Gen. 15. being 28 miles 9 From Ony he went to Atad which lies vpon the further side of Iordan toward the East which is 240 miles where hee made a great lamentation for the death of his father 7 daies Gen. 50. The reason why Ioseph went thus far about was because hee went with such a company towards Hebron that the Idumaeans through whose countrey he should haue gone would not suffer him to passe that way standing in feare of his power 10 From Atad he went to Hebron the Metropolis of the tribe of Iudah neere to which stood the double caue in the vaile of Mamre where Iacob was buried which was 40 miles Gen. 50. 11 From thence to Heliopolis a city of the Aegyptians where Ioseph set vp a stately Academy for all Aegypt which was accounted 200 miles 12 From thence he went to Tanis or Zoan which was the chiefe defence and Metropolitan citie of all Aegypt being accounted 6 miles So all the Trauels of the Patriarch Ioseph was 1962 miles A description of the places and cities through which Ioseph trauelled Of Dothan DOthan was a Citie in the tribe of Manasseth fortie and foure miles from Ierusalem towards the North distant six miles from Tiberias towards the West and signifies A commandement being deriued from Dothor Dathath that is he commandeth or ordaineth Here Ioseph was thrust into an emptie ditch and sold to the Ismaelites Gen. 37. Here Elias the Prophet being besieged by the Syrians shewed to his seruant the host of Angels that defended him with the Chariots of fire c. 2 Kings 16. Here Holiphernes was slaine who had pitched his tents against Bethulia for Dothan is a Citie which at this day remaineth at the foot of the Mount of Bethuell beeing scituated in a fertile and pleasant place compassed about with faire vines oliues and pleasant medows where the inhabitants do shew that ancient ditch wherein Ioseph was cast when his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites according to that of Solomon One generation passeth and another commeth but the earth indureth for euer Of Heliopolis or the Citie of the Sunne THis City is called by the Prophet Esay Ca. 19. Irheri which signifies The Citie of the Sunne and is deriued of Ir and
the inhabitants to death because of their mocks From thence he went to Ophra foure miles where gathering together all the gold which hee had taken from the Midianites he made a rich Ephod Iudg. 8. From Ophra hee went to Sichem where his sonne Abimalech was borne which is 10 miles From thence he returned backe to Ophra which is ten miles and there he died after he had judged Israel 10 yeares So all the trauels of Gedion were 82 miles The Description of the Townes and places to which GEDION trauelled Of Iesreel IEsreel was a faire Citie scituated vpon a hill neere to the flood Kison bordering vpon the Tribe of Isacher 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and signifieth the seed of God being deriued from El and Dara the seed of the Almighty God There was another of this name in the tribe of Iuda Ios 15. In times past this was onely the seat and chiefe abiding place of the Kings of Israel For Ahab and Iesabel kept their Court there and Ioram their sonne whom Iehu ouercame and here Iesabel was eaten vp of dogs At this day this faire citie hath in it but thirtie houses and is called by the inhabitants of the holy land Sanatham being scituated at the foot of the mountaine Gilboah Westward in it there is a Watch tower vpon the top whereof you may see through all Galile to Carmel and the mountaines of Phaenicia also to mount Thabor and the mountaines beyond Iordan called Gilead Of this Towne you may reade Ios 17.19 2 Sam. 2. Of Nobach THis was a citie beyond Iordan and stood in the halfe Tribe of Manasses 38 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward In times past it was called Kenah but after Nobach Prince of the halfe Tribe of Manasseh had conquered it he called it Nobach Num. 23. and signifieth a Prophet being deriued of Nabah or Nabach he hath prophesied or cryed out Of Iogbeha THis towne was built by the children of Gad and lies beyond Iordan 34 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward and taketh the name from the height of the place where it standeth being deriued from Gabah which signifieth it excelleth in height Of this you may reade Iudg. 8. Numb 32. Of Karkor KArkor is a citie in the halfe Tribe of Manasseh and is scituated beyond Iordan some forty miles distant from Ierusalem Northeastward and taketh the name from Kir which signifies he hath destroyed or subuerted the walls for here the two Kings Zeba and Zalmuna were taken Saint Ierom saith in his booke de locis Hebraicis That in his time it was a faire Towne The typicall signification of GEDION THis Gedion whose name signifieth to root out destroied and subuerted the enemies of the Iewes so Christ hath destroied the kingdome of Sathan and daily rooteth out all his impious and wicked members which are enemies to his Church The Trauels of Abimalech the sixt Iudge of Israel GEDION being dead Abimalech his sonne went from Ophra to Sichem which is ten miles and there was chosen by the citizens to succeed his father in the gouernment From thence he went backe to Ophra which is ten miles and there put to death his 70 brethren all sonnes of Gedion but by diuers concubins for God permitted Bigamie but did not command it From Ophra he went ten miles into the land of Sichem and there was chosen King about the yeare of the World 2712. From Sichem which was the seat of the kingdome he went to Ophra being ten miles there he iudged Israel three yeares After that hee went the third time backe to the Sichemites which is 10 miles but they breaking promise with him for very madnesse he caused the citie to be destroied and salt to be sowne in the place that so euer after it might become barren accursed and vnhabitable From Sichem hee went with his hoast to Thebets or Tebez which is two miles where he was mortally wounded by a woman that flang a stone vpon him at the siege of that towne wherof he died Iudg. 9. So all the Trauels of Abimelech were 52 miles Of Thebez THis was distant from Sichem two miles Northward and from Ierusalem 38 it tooke the name from Bitzah which signifieth a deepe pond Abimelech tooke his name from an hereditary kingdome or rather because he obtained the kingdome ouer Israel after his father and is as much to say as My father is a King because good Princes differ little from good fathers for Maelaech with the Hebrews signifieth a King Malechah a Queene and Malchech a kingdome So that this name Abimelech properly signifieth a King or one that is a father of his people Of the flight of Iotham which was the brother of Abimelech IOtham signifieth a perfect and swift man being deriued from Iatham that is perfect and swift This man at such time as Abimilech put to death the rest of his brethren to saue his life fled to Mount Carizin where hee propounded the riddle mentioned Iudg. 9. And after from thence he went to Beerah where he hid himselfe from the fury of Abimelech All this was 44 miles Of Mount Gerizim GErizim or Garizim was a mountaine in the kingdome of the Samaritans and extended it selfe in the longitude as farre as Iericho neere to mount Hebal In these two mountains the blessings and the cursings were recited of which more shall be said hereafter and it taketh the name from the felling down of trees being deriued from Garaz which signifieth to cut or to fel down here Christ spoke with the Samaritan Iohn 4. Of Beerah BEerah was a Towne in the Tribe of Iudah ten miles from Ierusalem Westward Neere to this Citie Iudas Machabeus fought a memorable battell against Bacchides and others whom he conquered It taketh the name from a cleere Well being deriued of Beer that is he hath made cleere Of Thola the seuenth Iudge of Israel In the 3 yeare of this mans rule Hercules king of the Argiues famous for his twelue labors began to raign Macrob. lib. 1. THola takes his name from a red worme or purple colour which colour is proper to Princes Hee succeeded Abimelech in the gouernment of the Iewes and began to rule An. mun 2715. and 1253 yeares before Christ His fathers name was Puah of the Tribe of Issacher He dwelt in Samir a citie of Mount Ephraim not far from Iericho twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the North and there he was buried as you may see Iosh 15. Of Iair the eighth Iudge of Israel In the 10 yeare of this Iudge An. mun 2747 and before Christ 1221 Hercules died and Priamus king of Troy began his raigne which he lost fortie yeares after IAir succeeded Thola began his gouerment in the yere of the world 2738 and 1230 yeares before Christ He took his name from the singular worth and noble disposition that was in him This Iair was one of the tribe of Manasseh he was lame of both his feet and was a man of great estimation among the Iewes for
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
that hee was constrained to leaue the battell 1 Reg. 22. And as he went backe againe to Samaria which was 24 miles he dyed of his wound Of this man you may reade more 1 Reg. 21. 22. So all the Trauels of Ahab were 152 miles The Description of Carmel Apheck and Ramoth you may reade before Of Iesreel IEzreel is a city in the Tribe of Issachar scituated vpon a rising ground some 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the North where Ahab somtimes kept his court Here Noboth the Israelite dwelt an honest and religious man one of good esteeme and authoritie that feared God and would not suffer the inheritance of one Tribe to be transferred to another because God had commanded the contrary Nu. vlt. For which cause he would not sell his vineyard to Ahab wherefore Iezabel that wicked woman to satisfie the Kings desire caused him to be stoned Iezreel signifies The seed of God being deriued of Sera Seed and El the Almighty God Though in former times this hath bin a faire town yet at this day there is not past 30 houses in it and is called Charity standing at the foot of Mount Gilboah they shew at this day the field of Naboth the Iesrelite lying towards the West as you goe into the citie a little before you come at it This towne standeth vpon a faire prospect for you may see from thence through all Galile to Carmel the mountaines of Phoenicia and Mount Thabor also from Mount Gilead by Iordan and Mount Salem where Iohn baptised neere by Mount Hermon vpon the North side of Mount Gilboah there lies a faire and plaine way to the citie Iezreel by which Iehu came when he made wars vpon Iehoram King of Israel of which you may reade more 2 Reg. 9. It stood not far from the riuer Kison as you may reade Ios 17.19 1 Sam. 2. 1 Reg. 4. 18. Of Ahaziah the sonne of Ahab AHaziah was crowned king of Israel during the life of his father a cruell and wicked man he began his raigne in the 17 yeare of Iosaphat king of Iudah Anno mundi 3049 and before Christ 919 about such time as Ahab went downe to Ramoth Gilead to recouer it from the Syrians within a while after the death of his father hee fell through the lattice window in his vpper chamber which was in Samaria of which hurt he died Of this you may reade more 1 King 1. The Trauels of Iehoram King of Israel IEhoram succeeded his brother Ahazia in the kingdome of Israel who began his raigne in the 18 yeare of Iosaphat King of Iudah and as Iosephus saith li. Ant. 9. about the fifth yeare of his raigne went from Samaria to Ierusalem which was 32 miles There he told Iosaphat how the king of Moab had rebelled against him therefore desired him to goe along with him to the war 2 Reg. 3. Then Iehoram and Iosaphat and the King of Edom went from Ierusalem and compassed about through the wildernesse of Idumaea by the space of seuen daies so that they and their army for want of water had almost perished but at the prayers of the Prophet Elisha they were miraculously preserued At length they came to Petra the Metropolitan Citie of the Moabites and is distant from Ierusalem 172 miles which they tooke and consumed it with fire and sword 2 Reg. 3. From the citie of Petra Iehoram King of Israel returned backe to Samaria which was 104 miles where within a while afrer he was so sorely besieged by Benhadad king of Syria that the famine grew very great within the towne insomuch as a certaine woman eate her owne childe 2 Reg. 6. From Samaria he went to Ramoth in Gilead with his armie which is 24 miles where he was ouercome by Asahel King of the Syrians and wounded euen to the death 2 Reg. 8. From the fight of Ramoth Gilead he was carried in his chariot backe to Iezreel which was 24 miles where he lay to be cured of his hurts But Iehu one of his chiefe Captaines rebelled against him and as hee was in his Charriot shot an arrow and wounded him the second time whereof he died in the field of Naboth the Iezrelite 2 Reg. 9. So all the Trauels of Iehoram were 356 miles The Trauels of Iehu King of Israel IEHV signifies A constant man in himselfe and was the sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Nimschi hee was annointed King of Israel in the castle at Ramoth in Gilead by Elisha Anno mundi 3063 and before Christ 905 hee raigned 28 yeares 2 Reg. 9. From Ramoth in Gilead in his Chariot he went to Iezreel which was 24 miles where in the field of Naboth the Iezrelite he killed Iehoram with an arrow And when he came to the gates of the citie he caused Iezabel to be throwne from a tower whom he trampled vnder his horse feet And after in that same place shee was eaten vp with dogs Then hee sent messengers to Samaria commanding the Samaritans that they should put to death the 70 sonnes of Ahab which they immediately did and sent their heads vnto him in baskets 2 Reg. 10. From Iezreel he went to Samaria which is 16 miles In that journey he caused to be slaine by his ministers the 42 brothers of Ahaziah king of Iuda neere to the well which was beside the house where sheepe was shorne And when he came to Samaria he caused all the posterity of Ahab to be vtterly destroied and rooted out And to conclude the tragedy by a cunning policie put to death all the priests of Baal 2 Reg. 10. So all the trauels of Iehu were 40 miles Of Iehoahas King of Israel IEhoahas was the sonne of Iehu and succeeded his father in the Kingdome of Israel he began his raigne in the 33 yeare of Ioas King of Iudah in the yeare of the World 3091 and before Christ 876 hee raigned ouer Israel 17 yeares God stirred vp against this wicked King Asahel King of the Syrians who with 10000 foot and fiue hundred horse besieged Samaria very strongly put to the sword many of his subjects and got many cities and townes from him as the Prophet Elisha had before told him 2 Reg. 8. 13. The Trauels of Ioas King of Israel IOas succeeded his father Iehoahas and while he was yet liuing was annointed King of Israel in the 37 yeare of Ioas King of Iudah and raigned two yeares with his father after his death 15 so all the raigne of Ioas was 17 yeares This man was a great souldier and went from Samaria with an army against the Citie of Apheck which was 14 miles there he smote the Syrians and in three seuerall battels carried away the victory recouering the Cities which his father Iehoahas had lost according to the prophecie of Elisha 2 Reg. 17. From Apheck he returned to Samaria which was foureteene miles From thence he went with his army to Bethsemes in the land of Iuda where in a sharpe and cruell war he conquered Amasia and tooke him
vpon the East side of the riuer they pitcht their tents 12 miles Here they fought with Bacchides After they went thence to Bethbesan 3 miles From thence they went to Ierusalem 12 miles Ios Ant. li. 18. cap. 1. From Ierusalem they went to Ioppa 20 miles and wonne the towne Ios lib. Ant. 13. ca. 6. From Ioppa they went to Asdod 12 miles and in the way they put the enemy to flight From Asdod they went to Ascalon which was 12 miles 1 Mac. cap. 10. From Ascalon they returned to Ierusalem which was 30 miles 1 Mac. 10. From thence he went to Bethsura halfe a mile this towne he won and placed a garrison in it 1 Mac. 11. Also in the absence of his brother Ionathan Simon went with his army to Ascalon which was 30 miles from Ierusalem 1 Mac. cap. 12. From thence he went to Ioppa which was twenty miles This towne the second time hee tooke and placed a Garrison therein ◠Mac. 12. From Ioppa hee returned againe to Ierusalem which was twenty miles Ios antiq lib. 13. cap. 8. From Ierusalem in the last yeare of his brother Ionathans gouernment he went to the plain of Sephala about 14 miles where he built the Hold of Abida 1 Mac. 12. From thence he returned to Ierusalem 14 miles There after the captiuitie of his brother Ionathan whom Tryphon by cunning had betrayed as is before said hee was chosen by the people of the Iewes into the principalitie From thence hee went to Addus to meet Tryphon 16 miles where he would haue ransomed his brother Ionathan 1 Machab. cap. 13. From Addus he went to a city of the Idumaeans called Ador or Adaram 48 miles From Ador he returned into Iudaea with his army 40 miles that he might oppose the inuasion of Tryphon and his souldiers lest they should haue destroyed the country and got Ierusalem in his absence Tryphon hauing put to death his brother Ionathan which was in the yeare before Christ 140 Simon entered vpon the office of high priest the same yere and continued in the gouernment eight yeares In the first yeare of his gouernment he went from Ierusalem to Modin 14 miles Here he buried the body of his brother Ionathan in his fathers sepulchre very honorably and richly beautified it From Modin he returned to Ierusalem 14 miles where he executed his priestly function diligently repaired the holds and decaied towns of Iudea compassing them about with stone wals and fortifying them with towers and bulwarks From thence he went to Gaza 44 miles from Ierusalem South-westward This town he tooke From thence he returned to Ierusalem which was foure and forty miles There he repaired the tower of Acropolis wherin he dwelt From Ierusalem he went to Ioppa and won the towne which was 20 miles From Ioppa he returned to Ierusalem which was twenty miles where for a time hee liued very honourably and kept a princely port 1 Mac. 14. Lastly he went with his two sons Iudas and Mattathias and his wife to visit his father in law Ptolomeus the son of Abodus to the castle of Doch which was neere to Iericho some ten miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast Here he was slain by his father in law at a banquet in the yeare before Christ 132 in the 11 moneth which answereth to our February 1 Mac. 16. So all his trauels were 799 miles ¶ The description of the places mentioned in his Trauels Of Arabath ARrabath or Araba was a city neere to the lake or riuer Merom not farre from Dothan 44 miles from Ierusalem toward the North. It seemes to take the name from Locusts wherof there are many kinds 1 Mac. 5. for there are Locusts that liue vpon herbs and flours others that fly in great swarms in the aire and some also that liue in the waters not much vnlike Crabs or Crayfishes their tailes only excepted Plin. lib. 9. cap. 12. reckons vp another kinde of Locusts whereof Iohn Baptist did feed and it was lawfull for the Iewes to eat of them hee describes them to haue foure feet and wings so that they can either fly or leap vpon the earth They can be resembled to nothing more fitly than to grashoppers These the Hebrewes call Rabae Levit. 11. Mat. 3. because of the aboundance of them being deriued of the verbe Rabah He hath multiplied or increased because these kinds of Locusts come in mighty great swarmes and multitudes into the East part of the world Of these kindes of Locusts Arabath took the name but they are not known to vs neuerthelesse such there are and as it appeareth in Levit. cap. 11. were permitted to be eaten among the Iewes From whence may be concluded that Iohn Baptist liued vpon these kinde of Locusts and not vpon Crabs or Cray-fishes or any such kinde of Locusts Mat. 3. Of Sephela SEphela is a plain compassed about with mountaines neere the riuer Sorecke It lieth 14 miles from Ierusalem Westward Here Simon built the castle Adida and fortified it very strongly Afterward there was a city built neere to this tower called Eleutheropolis It was a free city in the tribe of Iudah halfe way between Ierusalem and Ascalon of which Ierome speaketh li. de Locis Hebr. Of Doch THis was a strong tower the ruins wherof may be seen to this day It was scituated neere Iericho in the field of Hiericuntis ten miles from Ierusalem Northeastward where Ptolomeus the son of Abodus perfidiously put to death his son in law Simon high Priest of the Iewes From this tower you might haue seen all the country of the Giliadites the two tribes of Gad and Reuben and the halfe tribe of Manasses with the mountains of the Moabites Nebo Pisga and Abarim vid. 1 Mac. ca. vlt. The Trauels of Iohn Hyrcanus IOhn Hyrcanus was made Captaine ouer all the men of War by his father Simon and went from Ierusalem to Gaza 44 miles where he dwelt 1 Mac. 13. From thence he returned to Ierusalem 44 miles in the 5 yeare of his fathers gouernment to let him vnderstand how Cendebius had inuaded the holy land 1 Mac. 16. From Ierusalem he and his brother Iudas went with their army to Modin 14 miles where they stayed all night The next morning before day they gaue battell to Cendebius not far from Modin ouercame him and put him to flight So he pursued the chase till he came to the fortresse of Cedron which stood in the field of Azotus euen 8 miles From the field of Azotus he and his brother Iudas returned to Ierusalem being 22 miles 1 Mac. 16. From Ierusalem he returned to Gaza which is 44 miles Now when Sorius Ptolomeus the son of Abodus who a little before had treacherously slaine his sonne in law Simon at a banquet heard of Iohns comming into the towne he sent forth certain traitors and homicides to put him to death also but Hyrcanus hauing certain intelligence of the matter preuented the mischief and put these traitors to the sword 1 Mac.
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