Signet and Bracelets as a Pledg of the reward he promis'd her and goes away with ' em Afterwards being found to be with Child her Father-in-law Judah was acquainted with it who thereupon sentences her to be burnt But she producing the Staff Seal and Bracelets Judah acknowledges his Fault and acquits her When she fell in Travel she brought forth Twins the eldest of which was Pharez who was one of Christs Ancestors CHAP. XXXIX Joseph being sold to Potiphar and behaving himself with great prudence was made Ruler over all his House and being a goodly Person his Mistress fell in love with him and tempts him to lie with her which he constantly refusing at length watching a fit opportunity she laies hold on him to force him to it But he made a shift to get away leaving his Upper Garment in her hands Hereupon she accuses him to her Husband that he had made an attempt upon her Chastity which he believing without more ado cast him into Prison But God inclin'd the Keepers Heart to shew him kindness and he committed the Government of the Prisones and management of all his Affairs to Joseph and God prospered all that he did CHAP. XL. During his Imprisoment two of the Kings chief Officers were committed to Prison the chief Butler and the chief Baker One night they dreamt each of them a Dream which in the morning they told to Joseph and he interpreted them to 'em and the event made it good CHAP. XLI After this the King himself dreamt a Dream of Seven Fat Kine and seven Lean Ones which eat up the Fat Ones And another Dream of seven full Ears of Corn and seven thin ones which devour'd the seven full Ones These Dreams he related in the Morning to the Magicians and Wise Men but they could not understand the meaning of ' em Then the chief Butler acquainted the King how Joseph had expounded his Dream and his Fellow 's to them So Joseph was sent for to whom the King relating his Dreams he expounded them and likewise gave him prudent advice thereupon The King finding Joseph a Personage of such extraordinary Sagacity and Prudence made him Ruler over his House and over all the Land of Egypt and gave him an honourable person to be his Wife Hereupon Joseph travels all over the Land and appoints Officers and prepares Granaries and in the seven years of plenty laid up vast quantities of Corn in the Store-cities During this time he had two Sons Manasseh and Ephraim Then came the years of Famine and Joseph supplied both the Egyptians and Neighbour Countries with Corn. CHAP. XLII Jacob hearing there was Corn in Egypt sends all his Sons but Benjamin thither to buy Corn who coming before Joseph made a lowly Obeysance to him according to his Dream ch 37.5 but they knew him not tho he knew them He question'd them about several things spake roughly to 'em charg'd 'em to be Spies and imprison'd 'em three days but at last lets 'em go and sends 'em all away but one whom he detained as an Hostage till they brought their youngest Brother Benjamin with their Sacks full of Corn and their Mony in every Mans Sack When they came to their Father they relate all these passages to him and emptying their Sacks found every Mans Mony in his Sack which they were concerned at for fear of some design therein against ' em But Jacob would not hear of letting Benjamin go CHAP. XLIII The Famine continuing Jacob spake to 'em to fetch more Corn out of Egypt and upon their importunity suffers 'em to take Benjamin along with ' em They carry also a Present and double Mony When they came before Joseph and he saw Benjamin with 'em he caused 'em to be entertained at his House and Simeon to be brought out to 'em and when he came home he treated 'em very courteously especially Benjamin CHAP. XLIV And commanded their Sacks to be filled again with Corn and every Man's Mony put into his Sack and his Drinking Cup to be put into Benjamin's Sack so they departed But presently Joseph sends his Steward after 'em to charge 'em with stealing his Cup and makes search for it and finds it in Benjamin's Sack whereupon they all came back to Joseph's House and Judah relates to him what passed between their Father and them concerning Benjamin's coming with 'em and that if they should now return without him it would certainly break their Fathers Heart and bring down his Grey Hairs with Sorrow to the Grave CHAP. XLV Upon this affecting Discourse Joseph was so overcome with tenderness of affection that he could refrain no longer but makes himself known to them saying I am Joseph Which struck 'em with such surprize and terror that they had not power to speak a word But he encourages 'em and ascribes all they had done to him to the Providence of God for their good and bids 'em hasten to their Father to acquaint him that he was not only alive but Lord of all Egypt and therefore he should come down immediately and he 'd sustain him and his Family the five remaining years of the Famine And then he embrac'd his Brother Benjamin and kiss'd him and accomodated them with Waggons and all necessaries for their Journey and bids 'em not to fall out by the way They being come to their Father and relating these passages to him he was ready to faint and swoon away with the Surprize and could not believe ' em But afterwards upon further Discourse and sight of the Waggons he was satisfied saying It is enough Joseph my Son is yet alive I 'll go and see him before I die CHAP. XLVI Jacob having received this Message removes towards Egypt with his whole Family At Beersheba God appears to him and encourages him to go into Egypt promising to make him a great Nation and to bring up him and his Posterity again out of that Land Then Jacob sends Judah before him to Joseph who comes to meet his Father and instructs his Brethren what to say to Pharaoh to encline him to grant 'em the Land of Goshen for their dwelling CHAP. XLVII Joseph presents his Father and some of his Brethren to Pharaoh who questions 'em about their Occupation and gives order to appoint 'em the best part of the Land viz. Goshen for their Abode So he plac't them in Rameses and provided for 'em and likewise supplied all the Land of Egypt and Canaan with Corn first for Mony then for their Cattel and lastly for their Bodies and Lands After this Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years and drawing towards his end he sends for Joseph and obliges him by Oath not to bury him in Egypt but to carry him to Canaan and bury him with his Fathers CHAP. XLVIII Jacob being sick Joseph comes to visit him and brings his two Sons with him that they might receive their Grandfathers Blessing which Jacob having notice of sits up and tells Joseph that his two Sons
Heir God renews his promise of an Heir to come out of his own Loyns and of a numerous Posterity which he firmly believing tho so unlikely God thereupon accounts him a righteous person and this an Act of Righteousness and promises Canaan again to him and that his Posterity after four hundred years sojourning in Canaan and Egypt should possess it and confirms this by a Sign upon Abram's request and Vision CHAP. XVI Sarai to obtain the accomplishment of the promise being barren her self gives Hagar her Handmaid to Abram to be his Concubine who conceiving by him grows insolent and despis'd her Mistress which Sarai not brooking complains of her to Abram he leaves her to her disposal who dealing hardly with her she ran away for which she was rebuked by an Angel and required to return and submit her self to her Mistress and withal promises her a numerous Seed and tells her she was with Child of a Son whom she should call Ismael and accordingly when he was born Abram called him so which was in the eighty sixth year of Abram's Age. CHAP. XVII Thirteen years after this when Abram was ninety nine years old God appears to him again renews his Covenant with him that he should be a Father of many Nations and as a pledge thereof changes his Name from Abram to Abraham signifying A Father of a multitude Institutes the Sacrament of Circumcision Changes Sarai's Name to Sarah Promises him a Son by her Abraham intercedes for Ismael God promises to bless and multiply him exceedingly but his Covenant should be with his Son by Sarah Then Abraham circumcised himself and Ismael being thirteen years old and the rest of his Family CHAP. XVIII Abraham sitting in his Tent-door spies three Men whom he invites to his House to refresh themselves which they accept of enquire for Sarah and one of them who was the Second Person of the Trinity tells him she should have a Son which she over-hearing disbelieves at present and laughs at with which being charg'd she denies it They departing Abraham brings them on their way to whom the Lord Christ discovers his intent of destroying Sodom and the other Cities for their grievous sins Whereupon Abraham intercedes for 'em and God yields so far that if there had been but ten righteous persons found in Sodom he 'd have spar'd it CHAP. XIX While Christ staid talking with Abraham the other two Angels in humane Shape past on and came to Sodom at Even Lot seeing 'em salutes 'em invites 'em to his House and makes 'em a Feast But presently the Men of the City gathered about the House and called to Lot to bring out those two Strangers that they might abuse 'em which he refusing they prest near to break the door Whereupon the Angels smote 'em with blindness and warn Lot to bring out his Children and whatsoever he had in the City because they were come to destroy it But while he lingred they laid hold upon him his Wife and two Daughters and brought 'em forth commanding 'em to escape for their lives and not look back which his Wise not observing was turned into a Pillar of Salt Lot entring into Zoar about Sun-rising presently the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone upon those Cities and destroyed ' em But Lot removed from Zoar and dwelt in a Cave in a Mountain where his two Daughters made him drink Wine and lay with him and so were with Child by their Father from whence descended the Moabites and Ammonites CHAP. XX. Abraham sojourning in Gerar calls Sarah his Sister whereupon the King takes her but being warned of God in a Dream he restores her to her Husband with a great Present CHAP. XXI Sarah now bears Isaac his Father Abraham being an hundred years old At his weaning Abraham makes a great Feast Ismael falls a jeering Isaac whereupon he and his Mother are sent away In their travel the water being spent the Boy was ready to perish with thirst but God shew'd her a Well of Water encourages her and blesses the Child So they dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran and his Mother took him a Wife out of Egypt Abimelech King of the Philistins made a Covenant with Abraham at Beersheba who sojourned in their Land many days CHAP. XXII Isaac being grown up God for the trial of Abraham's Faith and Obedience commands him to offer his only Son Isaac for a Burnt-offering upon a Mountain which he 'd shew him Presently the next morning Abraham begins the Journey and when he came to the place he bound Isaac upon the Altar and lift up his hand to slay his Son But God called to him out of Heaven and bad him hold his hand And there was a Ram behind him which he took and offered instead of his Son Whereupon God swears to bless and multiply his Seed and that in it all Nations should be blessed CHAP. XXIII Sarah dying at a hundred and twenty years old Abraham buys a burying place for her in Macpelah of the Sons of Heth. CHAP. XXIV Abraham growing old obliges his chief Servant to take a Wife for Isaac from among his Kindred The Servant goes to Nahor Abraham's Brother When he came to the City to a Well where they used to draw water he begs of God good success in his business and that the Virgin who should treat him kindly might be the Person design'd for his Masters Son Presently comes Rebecca out by whom his sign was fulfilled whereupon being invited he goes to her Father's House tells his errand and desires their Answer They seeing Gods hand in it could not gainsay it Then he presents 'em all especially Rebecca and takes her away the next day In the evening Isaac walking abroad to meditate meets the Servant and Rebecca with him whom he brought into his Mother's Tent and took her to be his Wife CHAP. XXV Abraham marries Keturah and has many Children by her to whom he gave Gifts At length being sevenscore and fifteen years old he dies and was buried in Machpelah with Sarah Rebeccah being barren about twenty years Isaac prays for her whereupon she conceived Twins which strugled in her Womb. When they were born the eldest was hairy and thereupon called Esau the younger took hold of his Brothers Heel and so was called Jacob. Esau was a Hunter and killed Venison for his Father which drew his affection to him Jacob was a plain Man Jacob having made Pottage Esau comes home from Hunting hungry and saint and so sold his Birthright to Jacob for some of his Pottage CHAP. XXVI A Famine being in the Land Isaac goes to Gerar among the Philistines where God appears to him and makes him the same promises he had made to Abraham of a numberless Seed and those Countries Here Isaac dasht against the same Rock his Father Abraham had done calling his Wife his Sister But at length Abimelech observ'd some familiar carriage between 'em whereby he discern'd she was his Wife so none of the People
to stand still over Gibeon which it did for about a whole day But the five Kings fled and hid themselves in a Cave which Joshua being told of he sent for 'em and made the great Officers set their Feet upon their Necks in token that they should deal so by all their Enemies Then he commanded 'em to be hang'd till the Evening Afterwards he took several other Towns with the Kings thereof and then returned to the Camp to Gilgal CHAP. XI Divers other Kings joyning together to fight against Israel God delivers 'em into their hands and they smote 'em till they left none remaining They also took their Cities and slew the Inhabitants but took the Spoil for themselves CHAP. XII A Rehearsal of the Kings that Moses took on the other side Jordan and of the thirty one Kings that Joshua took on this side Jordan CHAP. XIII Tho much of the Land was yet unconquer'd yet God bids Joshua divide it all among the Nine Tribes and an half CHAP. XIV Caleb challenges a certain share in the Land by the promise of Moses which Joshua allowed and gave him Hebron for his Inheritance CHAP. XV. The Borders of the lot of Judah are set down among which was the Inheritance of Caleb who promis'd his Daughter Acsah to whomsoever should take Kinjath-sepher This Othniel perform'd and obtain'd her for his Wife She beg'd of her Father some Land that had Springs in it so he gave her the upper Springs and the nether Springs The Children of Judah could not wholly drive the Jebusites out of Jerusalem CHAP. XVI The Borders of the Lot of the Children of Joseph viz. Ephraim and ch 27. Manasseh CHAP. XVIII The Tabernacle is set up at Shiloh and there being seven Tribes that had not yet received their Inheritance certain Persons are appointed to describe the remaining part of the Land into seven parts for which they cast Lots before the Lord in Shiloh for Benjamin and ch 19. for Simeon Zebulon Issachar Asher Nepthali and Dan. Then they allotted an Inheritance to Joshua CHAP. XX. Six Cities of Refuge are set out CHAP. XXI Forty eight Cities are given by Lot to the Levites So they possess'd all the Land that God promis'd 'em and had rest CHAP. XXII Then Joshua call'd the two Tribes and an half and blessed them and sent them away and they went homewards but when they came to the Borders of Jordan in Canaan they built there a great Altar which when the other Tribes heard of they gathered together to make war with 'em but first sent Phineas and ten Princes to 'em to expostulate with 'em as if they intended thereby to apostatize from God But the two Tribes and half replied That the design of that Altar was not for Sacrifice or Offerings but for a witness between 'em That tho they dwelt without Jordan yet they were of the same People and worship'd the same God with the Israelites on the inner side Jordan Which when Phineas and the Princes related to the Congregation they were very well pleas'd and called the Altar Ed i. e. Witness CHAP. XXIII Joshua being old calls for the Rulers of the People and exhorts 'em to obedience as they desire God should continue with 'em and that as God had fulfilled his Promises to a tittle to them so if they should depart from him and serve other Gods then he 'd bring all sorts of Evils upon â—em and they should be rooted out of the Land CHAP. XXIV He further gives 'em a brief Narrative of God's signal Providence and singular Benefits to them and their Fathers from his first calling of Abraham to the present time and thereupon earnestly exhorts 'em to fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth declaring his own fixt resolution That both himself and his Family would serve the Lord which the People likewise engage themselves to do So Joshua made a Covenant between God and the People that day and wrote it in the Book of the Law and set up a great Stone in testimony thereof After which he died being an hundred and ten years old and Eleazar died also and Joseph's Bones were buried in Shechem according to his commandment JUDGES CHAP. I. AFter Joshua's Death the Tribes of Judah and Simeon make War with some of the Cannanites and flew ten thousand in Bezek and took their King Adonibeâ—ek and cut off his Thumbs and great Tâ—â—â— which he acknowledges as a just requital from God for having served seventy Kings in that manner Afterwards they fought against others of the Canaanites and slew three Giants at Hebron and took several places because God was with ' em The Children of Joseph also took Luz or Bethel and slew all the Inhabitants except one Man and his Family that shew'd him the entrance into the City But yet many of the old Inhabitants remained still among the Tribes of Ephraim Manasseh Asher and Nepthali whom they could not drive out CHAP. II. An Angel reproves the Israelites for making Leagues with the People of the Land and sparing their Altars and thereupon threatens not to drive 'em out Then the People lift up their Voice and wept so the place was called Bochim Afterwards they forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtaroth then God delivered them into the hands of Spoilers and they were greatly distrest but upon their Repentance God rais'd up Judges who deliver'd 'em yet they soon returned to Idolatry again And thus they did time after time therefore God left many of the Canaanites among ' em And CHAP. III. The Children of Israel dwelt among 'em and made Marriages with 'em and served their Gods Then God delivered them into the hand of Cushan â—ishathaim Eight Years But when they cried to the Lord he raised up Othniel who prevail'd against Cushan Rishathaim so the Land had rest Forty Years Then they did evil again and the Lord strengthned the hand of Eglon King of Moab who smote 'em and rul'd over 'em eighteen years but when they cried to the Lord he raised up Ehud who being sent with a Present to Eglon smote him with a Dagger and slew him and afterwards raised an Army and slew about ten thousand Moabites whereupon the Land had rest eighty years And after him was Shamgar who slew six hundred Philistins with an Ox Goud and delivered Israel CHAP. IV. Then they did evil again and God sold 'em into the hand of Jabin whose Captain was Sisera and he oppress'd 'em twenty years and they cried to the Lord. Now Deborah a Prophetess judged Israel at that time and she called Barak and sent him against Sisera but he would not go except she went with him So they went together and ten thousand Men with 'em and Sisera came with nine hundred Charets of Iron and a great Host But the Lord discomfited them before Barak who slew 'em that there was not a Man left only Sisera escaped on his Feet and fled to the Tent of Heber the Kenite and