in Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his Sons had cast them off from executing the Priest's Office With the Tribe of Judah is also to be reckoned that of Simeon whose possessions were within the Inheritance of Judah Josh 19.9 for which that part of the division that fell to it was too much Part also of the Danites had it's seat within that of Judah for it appeareth that they had some Towns in the division of the Land which formerly had been assigned to the Children of Judah who as hath been observed had so large a Country at first assigned to them rather to protect and defend than solely to possesse it All these still remained the Subjects of Rehoboam though ten Tribes are said to have revolted the Tribe of Dan being attributed to Jeroboam for that Dan the chief City was within his dominions and because the Tribe of Manasseh being separated and divided into two parts might be reckoned for two Tribes The Kingdom thus divided the Northern parts fell off but the Southern continued in obedience to the Son of Solomon whose successors henceforth are called Kings of Judah as those of Jeroboam Kings of Israel and yet this distinction is not alwaies observed Jehosaphat being called King of Israel 2 Chron. 31.2 28.19 and also Ahaz though we know they were both Kings of Judah of that division onely 2. Rehoboam purposed to make War upon the Tribes but 1 King 12.14 admonished by God gave over the enterprize of invading them with 180000 Men although there was continuall War betwixt the two Kings all their dayes The Priests and Levites that were driven into Judah reteined it in the true religion three years but when Rehoboam had established himself He and his Subjects rebel against God he forsook the Law of the Lord and all Israel with him committing sins above all that their Fathers had done They built them high-places images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree there were Sodomites in the Land and they did according to the abhomination of those Nations which the Lord cast out before the Children of Israel Because of this the fifth year of his reign Shishak King of Aegypt perhaps invited by Jeroboam who had lived with him in exile came up against him with 1200 Chariots 60000 Horse-men and innumerous people out of Aegypt the Lubims Sukkiims and Aethiopians with which he took garrisons in Judah and pierced as far as Jerusalem Afflicted they humble themselves and are delivered Rehoboam and his Princes humbling themselves at the preaching of Shemaiah thereby obtained deliverance which yet was to be bought at an high rate For Shishak took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the Kings house with all the golden shields which Solomon had made in the room of which Rehoboam put others of brasse He died after he had reigned seventeen years Abiah 3. Abiah his Son succeeded him whose Mother is in one place (a) 2 Chron. 11.20 named Maachah the Daughter of Absalom and in another (b) Chap. 13.2 Micajah Daughter to Uriel of Gibeah A. M. 3043. Some think she was the Daughter of Tamer which might be married to this Uriel and adopted by Absalom who seemeth to have left no issue He imitated the impiety of his Father his heart not being perfect before the Lord his God and yet God remembring the Covenant made with David brought him by a fatherly correction into order and acknowledgement of his Soveraignty 1 Kings 15. He also warred with Jeroboam all his dayes who coming up against him with 800000 Men he joyned battell with him having but half so many and yet trusting in God obtained Victory and killed 500000 Israelites the greatest number we read to have fallen in one battel He took from him Bethel Jeskanah and Ephraim with their Towns neither did Jeroboam recover his strength in his time Abijah waxed mighty married fourteen Wives begat two and twenty Sons and fifteen Daughters Yet he reigned but three years Asa A. M. 3046. 4. Asa his Son succeeded him in the 20th year of Jeroboam ending 1 Kings 15. 2 Chron. 14.15 16. Chap. and did that which was righteous in the sight of the Lord. He reformed what was amisse commanding his Subjects to seek the God of their Fathers in his time the Land had rest ten years In his 11th year according to Josephus came Zerach the Aethiopian against him with 1000000 Men of Cashaeans inhabiting Arabia where also Zerach his Aethiopia is onely to be found and Labaeans besides 300 Chariots To those he opposed himself with 300000 of Judah and 280000 of Benjamin and calling upon his God obtained the Victory which he prosecuted and got much bootie Returnnig to Jerusalem he was so wrought upon by the words of Azariah the Prophet the Son of Oded as together with his own Subjects and others that fell to him in abundance out of Israel he sacrificed to and made a Covenant with God Then proceeding in the reformation of his Kingdom he removed Maaca his Grand-mother from her dignity because she was the patronesse of Idolatry Baasa now who reigned in Israel provoked with the revolt of his Subjects and jealous of the growing power of Asa came up against him and built Rama in the 36th year from the division lest any should go in or out to him Asa to divert him hired Benhadad the King of Syria to invade Israel This Ben-hadad was the Son of Tabrimmon and Grand-son to Hezrin or Rezin the first King of Damascus and from him the Sirname of Hadad descended upon his Posterity He smote Jion Dan Bethmaach all Civeroth with the Land of Napthali and constrained Baasa to leave off building Ramah Asa then destroyed Ramah and with the stones thereof built Seba and Mizpah but was checked by God for not trusting in him but putting his confidence in the King of Syria and War for this was denounced to be upon him all his dayes Hereat he grew angry with the Seer that brought the message and oppressed some of his people and for this was punished with the Gout in his later dayes for a remedy to which he had recourse to the Physitians and not to God So he died in the 41 year of his reign Jehosaphat 5. Jehosaphat succeeded him to a good Father a better Son 1 Kings 22. A. M. 3087. In his third year he sent the Levites throughout the Cities to teach the people having removed the Sodomites out of the Land He married his Son Jehoram to Athaliah the Daughter of Ahab King of Israel and in his 18th year made him Vice-King This affinity drew him down with Ahab to fight against Ramoth-Gilead where Ahab received his death's wound and he escaped narrowly with his life For joyning himself with this wicked King he was sorely chidden by Jehu the Prophet the Son of Hanani which so affected him as he reformed his Subjects 2
his daughters 10. He was so great a contemner of Popularity and so conscious of his wickednesse and publick infamie that he refused the honours offered him by them of Melita not for any pride but with a friendly admonition that it would be to them infamous and to him not at all advantagious So when Stesichorus Cleaeneta Theano and others thought of writing in his praise he seriously desired they would forbear wishing rather that his name might be buried in oblivion than celebrated in the Writings of Learned men and to no purpose adorned with false commendations Being grievously provoked by the affronts of the Messenians Catanians Leontines Zanclaeans and Tauromenites he prosecuted them to the utmost often saying that he most certainly knew they would fall into his hands which accordingly came to passe He confesseth that he had tortured in the brazen Engine 37 men seriously wishing they might be the last but he foresaw that Lamachus and Epiterses though absent would increase the number These things are related in the Epistles that go under his name which some Learned Men think written by Lucian But whoever so drew to the life another's disposition as he there doth his own insomuch as Suidas accounteth them * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very admirable If one consider their style accutenesse and invention there are no Epistles of any Tyrant no not of any Orator or Philosopher to be compared with them But if one look at the disposition of the man he was a portentous thing Phalaris his disposition born for the chastisement of the naughtinesse of men of cruel hatred and unparalleld cruelty yet of a most propense and munificent mind towards his Friends and withall reverencing Virtue so much in his very Enemies that for it's sake he would pardon injuries and relinquish hatred 11. That is scarce credible which Clearchus relateth in (a) Lib. 9. Athenaeus that he was transported with so great cruelty as to have served up to his table sucking and new born Infants (b) Lib. 2. c. 4. Aelian hath a more likely story concerning Chariton and Melanippus Chariton loved Melanippus with an extravagant and immodest Love as appeareth from the historian SECT 2. Melanippus having a contest with one of Phalaris his friends was commanded and at length forced to desist which taking very ill he complained of it to his Lover and desiring his assistance for killing the Tyrant thought of taking in other young men into the conspiracy Chariton and Melanippus Chariton desired of him to trust him alone with the matter to take an opportunity to revenge him unwilling that both of them should miscarry in it if it were discovered and on a time made at Phalaris with his dagger but was prevented by his Guard which he had continually about him Being examined concerning his Complices he endured great tortures so long that Melanippus more sensible of them than he himself went to the Tyrant and revealed the whole matter He admiring the courage and love of both dismissed them with this condition that they should depart the same day out of Sicilie This love which appeareth to have been no better than an unnatural lust was afterwards by Apollo called divine whence as in other respects these impure Spirits the gods of Heathens betrayed themselves what they were And hence it is no wonder that the Philosophers of old such as Socrates Plato Xenophon Aeschines Cebes and the rest might approve of this affection towards Males which the (c) Val. Max. l. 6. c. 1. Plut. in Marcello Romans yet abhorred in some Ages the (d) Aelian l. 3. c. 12. Lacedaemonians held as Capital and the Lake wherein Sodom and Gommorah were swallowed up evinceth to have been contrary to the Law of God and Nature But as for Phalaris after he had tyrannized sixteen years he perished by the fury of all the multitude of Agrigentum which as (e) Offic. l. 2. Cicero writeth fell upon him Some thought that his subjects conspired against him being principled thereto by the doctrine of Pythagoras of which opinion is also (f) Cap. 32. Jamblichâ—s in the life of this Philosopher But the whole relation concerning Pythagoras his entercourse with Phalaris is therefore deservedly suspected because the Philosopher being yet young had scarce passed into Italy The death of Phalaris hapned about the first year of the 58 Olympiad and the twelfth year of Cyrus his Reign reckoned from his first obtaining the Kingdom of Media SECT II. Of such thing as were Contemporary with the Persian Empire 1. AFter the death of Phalaris A. M. 3525. Ol. 75. an 1. V.C. 274. Xerxis 6. the Citizens of Agrigentum recovered their liberty and enjoyed it till Thero again brought them under He was the son of Aenesidamus and boasted that he was descended from Oedipus Thero Tyrannus of Agrigentum He got the prize at the race with the Chariot in the Olympick games and is celebrated by (a) Olymp. Herod l. 7. c. 153 c. Pausan l. 6. Sive Eliac l. posteriore Pindar the Poet whose Scholiast teacheth us that he was Father in Law to Gelon Tyrant of Syracuse by his daughter Demareta and married also his brother's daughter At this time Panatius made himself Lord of Leontium and Cleander of Gela. Cleander after seven years was succeeded by his brother Hippocrates who sore afflicted the people of Naxus of Zancle or Messana and Leontium whom he forced to acknowledge him for their Lord. After seven years he was also slain in a battel against the Siculi having before this made war with the Syracusians and by composition got from them the City of Camerina Gelon of Syracuse After his death Gelon the son of Dinomenes descended of the race of the Rhodians who with the Cretans and other Greeks had seated themselves in Sicilie that had commanded his Forces with great successe and to whom he committed the trust of his Children breaking all obligations made himself Lord of Gela. After he was in possession of this Town a Sedition happening in Syracuse betwixt the Magistrates and People he being called in to the assistance of the Governours that were driven out by the multitude made himself Prince Such being the danger and infirmity of all Governments except rightfully successive Monarchy This fell out in the second year of the 72 Olympiad when Hybrilides was Archon at Athens the 31th of Darius Hystaspis and the same as some reckon wherein the battel at Marathon was fought Now the comportment of Sicilian affairs constraining us to speak most concerning Syracuse so considerable a place both as to its self as a Citie and as the scene of so great transactions requireth a more accurate description The Original of Syracuse 2. Syracuse was first inhabited by some Greeks of Aetolia and had the name of Ortygia These were expelled by the Siculi who possessed themselves of the place and at length were outed also by a Colony led hither out
intervening matters impertinent to his present purpose read the History of any Empire or Kingdom Contemporary to it by it self so he may likewise observe that the principal passages in all of them are linck'd together by Synchronisms not onely placed in the Margent but in the beginning or end of every notable Occurrence Thus I have briefly and with much sincerity couch'd together some of those Excellencies which amongst many others I have observed in this Institution of History of which if I may presume to give my private opinion though I am conscious to my self how little it ought to signifie to the World I think the work taken all together is for the order of it handsomly and judiciously contrived for its style perspicuous and for the learning in the several parts of History Antiquity and Chronology uncommon Those who desire a greater politenesse in the style may consider that the florid way of writing which hath undeservedly acquired so great a name to some of our own Age and Nation is nothing proper to an Historian and that our Author busied himself in matters more serious and of greater use he chose rather the plain but comely strength of the Dorique Pillar than the Effeminate though curious shape of the Corinthian For my own part I confesse that plainnesse and unaffected simplicity is pleasing to me and I think no Intelligent Person that goes upon businesse will leap Hedges out of the open and direct Road to Travel over Flowry Fields or painted Meadows AN INSTITUTION OF Generall History The First Part. BOOK I. CHAP. I. From the beginning of the world to the beginning of the first Empire 1. IN (a) Gen. 1.1 the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth By (b) Heb. 1.3 Faith we understand that they were framed by his Word so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear Man created 2. Mans habitation being made and conveniently furnished the sixth day Gen. 1. c. then and not till then was he made of the dust of the Earth and God breathing into his nosthrils the breath of life he became a living Soul Being placed in the Garden of Eden and a meet help wanting to him Eve was framed of one of his ribs Of all the Trees of the Garden except that of the knowledge of Good and Evil they might safely eate and at such time as they should eat it they were surely to dye But the Serpent beguiled the woman Falleth who did eat thereof and giving to her Husband he also did eat Hereby they rendred themselves guilty of temporall and eternall death they were condemned to labour and sorrow and those not confined to their own persons but extended to their whole posterity involved with them in the same guilt the demonstrating whereof might seem the Scope of this present Work nothing having succeeded but vanity and vexation of spirit nothing but labour and travail under the Sun Expelled Paradise 3. Adam being expelled Paradise to till the ground begat of Eve his wife Cain and Abel though in what years is not expressed Abel was a Keeper of Sheep and Cain a Tiller of the Ground By Faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained witnesse that he was righteous and contracted such envy that his Brother slew him in the field Cain killeth Abel The voice of his blood cryed to God from the ground and drew down this punishment upon Cain besides that of the ground formerly laid upon his Father to be a Fugitive and Vagabond in the Earth Then departed he from the presence of the Lord and went into the Land of Nod where he built a City and called it Enoch after the name of his Son His Family was propagated to Lamech the fifth in descent from himselfe by whom the Jews * Vide Mererum in Gen. 1. Pererium have thought him to have been slain by reason of Lamech's words to his two wives that he had slain a man to his wounding and a young man to his hurt if Cain should be avenged seven fold then Lamech Seventy and seven fold Seth's birth After the death of Abel Adam begat Seth in the hundred and thirtieth year of his Age as Moses (c) Gen. 3. maketh expresse mention neglecting the account of time in the Family of Cain because his wicked race perished in the Flood the Church of God being to be continued in the posterity of Seth of whom also as to the flesh his Son himselfe was to proceed And posterity 4. In the race of (d) Gen. 1. Seth is laid down the account of years from the Creation to the Deluge For Seth being born when Adam was 130 years old begat * Here the word begat is to be understood in the same sense as the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latin gignere which are applied to Mother as well as to Father and betoken birth rather than conception The Latin word genitus and natus signifie the same thing Tune ille Aeneas quem Dardanio Anchisae Alma Venus Phrygiae genuit Simoentis ad undas Vide Gen. 40.20 Mat. 11.1 Luc. 1.47 1 Pet. 2.2 Vide Plin. lib. 7. cap. 8. Enos at the age of 105 Enos being 90 begat Caixan and Cainan when he was 70 begat Mehalelec From the birth of Mehalelec to that of his son Jared passed 65 from Jared's to Henoch's 162. and thence to that of Methusalah 65. Methusalah when he begat Lamech was aged 187 years Lamech when he begat Noah was 182 and Noah at the time of the Flood had lived 600 years all which amount to the summe of 1656 each year of the Father's age being supposed compleat at the birth of his Son All these by divine providence for the propagation of Mankind obtained a very long time upon the Earth Though Enoch had the shortest yet he never died being taken up by God after he had walked with him 365 years Methusalah his son of all others arrived at the greatest age being 969 when he died Yet in a certain sense Adam lived longer than he for being created in his perfect strength and fit for generation he had the advantage of 60 years before which age we read none of them to have had any children Nature then requiring a longer time for maturity If 60 now be added to 930 years which he lived the number exceeds that of Methusala's age by 21. Seeing the World required it it cannot but be presumed that each of these begat other children and some of them before these here mentioned But such being but collaterall to that line Gen 5. A. M. 1656. which was to be brought down to Noah who was to continue the generation of Mankind and to re-people the Earth Moses upon that account had no occasion to make mention of them Man's wickednesse causeth a Deluge 5. In the 480
(y) Vide Bocharti Phaleg lib. 1. cap. 9. seemeth evident that some one notable Tower was begun and that in the Citie which was situate upon the River Euphrates Confusion of Languages To put an end to this design God confounded their Language that they understood not one another's speech and hereupon the Citie was called Babel signifying confusion and the Land of Shinar afterwards known by the name of Babylonia sometimes called Babel it self and the Citie Babylon in several Languages Of this great passage a tradition also remained amongst the Heathen Mentioned by Heathens as appeareth by (z) Apud Joseph qus prius Et Euseb praeparat Evangel lib. 9. Abydenus Histraeus and Sibylla who made mention of it the Land of Senaar and of Babylon which they acknowledge was so called from Babel in the Hebrew tongue signifying confusion The fable raised thereupon by the Poets Hence also the fable arose concerning the Giants fighting against the gods and their making a way to Heaven by heaping up Mountains one above another which attempt was blasted by Jupiter his Thunderbolts 12. What the sons of men in opposition to the people of God so called laboured to prevent in the building of Babel was thereby brought upon them the Lord scattering them abroad upon the face of the Earth and yet doing them more good then they intended to do themselves The division of the Earth Some will have the three sons of Noah to have divided the Earth by Lot which as yet could not be sufficiently known and at such a Citie namely Rhinocoluca as was not built till many Ages after by (a) Diodorus lib. 1. pag. 38. in margine notata Aclisanes King of Aegypt and Aethiopia Nay one (b) Philastrius Haeres 70. proceedeth so far as to brand him with Heresie whosoever doth not believe it Cham though the youngest was advanced by the Heathen above the rest and named Jupiter Japhet as the eldest had the prerogative of birth-right Sem's inheritance His five Sons 1. Elam but Sem for his piety was preferred by his father through Gods dispensation and obtained the choisest inheritance which extended to this and a better World He hath five Gen. 10.22 Sons mentioned in Scripture Elam Assur Arphaxad Lud and Aram. Of Elam descended the Elamites or Elymaeans Neighbours to the Medes and whom Luke placeth betwixt Media and Mesopotamia from whom also the Neighbouring Regions were named For Susan the Metropolis of the Susians is by Daniel placed in the Province of Elam and besides that (d) De his omnibus vid. Bocharti Phaleg lib. 2. c. Gabriana Carbiana Massabilica and Susiana as far as to the River Eulaeus near the mouth of which also upon the Persian Gulf Pliny and others place the Elymaeans 2. Assur 13. From Assur descended the Assyres called afterwards Assyrians Vide Eundem and from him was named Assyria properly so called which was the Countrey lying about Ninas or Ninive named also anciently (e) Strabo lib. 16. pag. 736.737 Aturia and (f) Dio in Traâ—ano Atyria and in latter times (g) Suidas Adiabene In it Sirabo placeth the Babylonians Elymaeans Paratacans Gordiaeans Mesopotamians Arabians and Syrians from Aepypt to Pontus where the Leuco-Syrians dwell called also Assyrians Syria and Assyria were of old time promiscuously used but at length custom obtained that Euphrates 3. Arphaxad or Tigris parted them From Arphaxad Josephus would have the Chaldaeans issued which as he and others say were antiently called Arphaxadaeans but in Scripture they are constantly read Chasdim from Chesed or Chased son to Nachor the brother of Abraham and therefore owe their Original rather to him and from Arphaxad seemeth to have received it's appellation a part of Assyria called Arphaxitis and named Arrapachitis by Ptolomy 4. Lud. From Lud came the Lydians anciently also known by the name of Maeones Lib. 1. as we have it from Herodotus and others the Carians and Mysians also who inhabited the South part of Asia beyond the River Maeander being reckoned of the same Original by him 5. Aram. Of Aram descended the Aramaeans and the Arimi called Syrians after the growth of the Assyrian Empire Four sons of Aram are mentioned by Moses which (*) 1 Chron. 17. elsewhere are reckoned amongst the Sons of Sem viz. Huz Hull Gether and Mas or Mesech The four Sons of Aram. Huz 1. 14. Huz or Uz by general consent of the ancients built Damascus There being two besides of the same name this hath made a confusion amongst Writers One (h) Gen. 22.21 was the Son of Nachor the brother of Abraham whose seat is called Ausitis (i) Job 1.1 in the Greek and his posterity Ausitae a people of Arabia the desart mentioned by Ptolomy (k) Gen. 36.28 Another of the posterity of Esau or Edom who fixed in Arabia the stony on the Borders of Canaan from whom Idumaea is (l) Lam. 4.21 called the Land of Uz. Hull 2. Hull by Josephus named Otrus as they say inhabited part of Armenia Gether 3. Gether was the father of the Bactrians according to Josephus according to Hierome of the Carians and Acarnanians and Mercerus strangely joyneth all these Nations so far distant in place together in Original Mas. 4. Mas called also (m) 1 Chron. 1.17 Mesech is thought by Josephus to be the founder of the Mesanaeans a people near the Camp of Pasinus about the mouths of Tigris Hierome maketh him the father of the Maeones being the same with the Lydians whom he himself deriveth elsewhere from Lud. (n) Junius Bochartus Others will have him to have given Original to the people inhabiting the North part of Syria between Cilicia and Mesopotamia near the Mountain Masius or to the inhabitants of this Mountain called Masieni and Masiani Joctan the second son of Eber had thirteen Sons Eber the Son of Selah besides Phaleg had another Son named Joctan whose thirteen Sons Moses relateth as the founders of so many Nations Almodad Sheleph Hazermaxeth Jerah Hadoram Uzal Diklah Obal Abimael Sheba Ophir Havilah and Jobab Their dwelling was from Mesha as thou goest saith Moses unto Sephar a Mount of the East They inhabit saith Josephus from Cophenes a River of India that Countrey of Syria which lieth upon it as now the Text is which cannot but be false Geography And for Syria Aria is rather to be read which as Pliny saith according to the judgement of others included three other Provinces of the Gedrosi Arachotae and Paropamasidae being terminated with the River Cophetes 15. But neither in this place is there any thing to be met withall like Mesha or Sephar or any people thereabout of the same name with Joctan or his Sons neither could that Ophir to which Solomon sent for Gold by Sea and which they also will have denominated from one of the thirteen be near Aria which lieth at the foot of
in Phrygia to which Cappadocia was near adjacent North to Judaea and excelled in the breed of Horses and Mules 2. Magog 19. From Magog Japhet's second Son descended the Scythians according to Josephus and others Gog and Magog being that part of Scythia about Cancasus which the Colchi and Armenians whose language was half Chaldaean called Gog-hasan i. e. the Fort of Gog and thence the Greeks Caucasus The same with Prometheus to whom also Gogarene was known which Stephanus describeth to be between the Colchi and Eastern Iberi Magog seemeth to be the same with Prometheus For as Prometheus was the Son of Japetus so Magog of Japhet Prometheus was feigned to be fixed to Caucasus and Caucasus was the seat of the Scyhians of old time till they expelled the Cimmerii and succeded them Prometheus brought down fire from heaven which might take Original from Magog his finding out of Metals in Colchis and Iberia And the Fable of his Heart or Liver being eaten by an Eagle may be found in (Å¿) Vide Bochartum lib. 1. the word Magog which signifieth to be dissolved or to decay Hierapolis a City in Syria seemeth to have been called also Magog from him seeing Deucalion the Scythian and Son of Prometheus is by Lucian said to have consecrated the Temple there to the Syrian Goddesse 3. Madai From Madai it 's generally granted that the Medes are issued the Medes and Persians being constantly in the Books of Daniel and Esther named Maedai and Paras From Javan descended the Iones 4. Javan or all that inhabited Greece from Thrace to the Isthmus of Corinth the Macedonians being included Homer calling them Jaones and Alexander being signified by (t) cap. 8. v. 21. Daniel under the name of the King of Javan His 4 Sons Elisa 1. 20. The Sons of Javan were Elisa Tarshish Kittim and Dodanim from whom four Provinces took their names From Elisa Aeolis according to Josephus but rather Elis the most antient and ample region of Peloponnesus part whereof is by Homer called Alisium to be taken for the whole Peninsula From Tarsis 2. Tarshish Josephus and others derive Tarsus the great City in Cilicia some Carthage another Tunis but Eusebius and Bochartus understand the Iberians or Spaniards amongst whom was a place called Tarlessus Besides this there was another * a Chron. 20.36 Tarsis in the Indian Sea whither ships went from Esion-gaber and indeed whatever the word originally signifieth whether Cilicia or any other place it is secondarily applied to the Mediterranean Sea which reacheth unto Phoenicia and sometimes seemeth to denote the Ocean it selfe 3. Kittim Josephus will have Cittim to have possessed himselfe of the Island Cyprus where was a City called Citium the native place of Zeno the Stoick and hence he saith the Hebrews called all Islands and maritime places by the name of Chethim Others will have the Chians some certain Nations of India others Cilicia some Macedonia to be understood by this word The Romans are by Daniel signified under this name and in Italy were of old the Cities Cetia Echetia and the River Cetus and Chittim imports the same thing with the word Latium betokening to lye hid The opinion therefore of Josephus is very probable that these Islands and Coasts of the Mediterrenean might be known to the Hebrews Chap. 11. ver 29 30. under the name of Chethim 4. Dodanim or rather Rhodanim Dodanim omitted in Josephus by some is interpreted Dardanians by others Dodanaeans But most antiently it was read Rhodanim which the Greek rendreth Rhodians though the name of Rhodes is later than Moses his time Bochartus therefore placeth this people in Gaul about the River Rhodanus now Rhene which he proveth not to have been so named from Rhoda a Town there founded by the Rhodians Rhodanim he saith signifieth Yellow or Saffron-coloured which agreeth well with the colour of the hair of the antient Gaules either naturall or affected wherein also the Brittains shewed themselves descended of the same stock as Jornandes judgeth 5. Tubal 21. Tubal and Mesech the fifth and sixth Sons of Japhet are joyned in Scripture most commonly together as near to each other Josephus from them deriveth the Iberians 6. Mesâ—ch and Cappadocians who had a City in his time known by the name of Mazacha Bochartus understandeth by Mesech and Tubal the Moschi and Tibareni which are so joyned together by Herodotus as Mesech and Tubal in the Scripture The Moschi besides Moschica properly so called possessed all from Phasis as far as Pontus of Cappadocia the Moschian Mountains reaching so far Then next succeeded the Tibarens according to Strabo who extendeth their borders to Pharnacra and Trapezond the Moschian and Colchian Mountains so that they lay betwixt the Trapezuntians and Inhabitants of Armenia the lesse Tubal and Mesech are noted by Ezechiel to abound in Slaves and Brasse which Chap. 27. v. 13. by the consent of Authors fitly agreeth with the regions of Pontus especially Cappadocia From Thiras most Authors derive Thrace 7. Tiras a woman of which Country was called Threissa and many names there both of places and persons perswade the same thing This was the portion of Japhet answerable to the blessing of his Father that God should enlarge him For unto it belonged all Europe how big soever besides Asia the less Media part of Armenia Iberia Albania and those vast Tracts towards the North inhabited of old by the Scythians and now by the Tartars To say nothing of the new World into which it's probable the Scythians passed by the Straits of Anian To his Posterity belong the Northern parts which by Jornandes an Historian of the Goths are deservedly termed The work-houses of people and sheaths of Nations Cham's portion 22. Cursed Cham was not excluded from Earthly blessings To his lot fell Aegypt and all Africk a great part of Syria and Arabia besides Babylonia Susiana Assyria and other Countries which his Grand-son Nimrod possessed himselfe of David very often calleth Aegypt the Land of Cham or Ham the antient Inhabitants themselves Chamia or Chemia Plutarch in Iside In Arabia and Africk the name of Ammon the aspiration being taken away was universally known as appeareth by Ammon a River in Arabia the promontory Ammonium and the people called Ammonii In Africk the City Ammonis upon the River Cinyphus The Chappell of Ammonis in the Island Meroe In Marmarica the City Ammonia vulgarly Paraetonium And the Ammonian Country where was the famous Oracle of Ammon Nay all Africk was called Ammonis or Ammonia Ham signifieth hot in which respect it agreeth well with the Greek word Zeus the name of Jupiter Ham was Noah's youngest Son so was Jupiter the youngest of Saturne From Cham's living in Africk the hottest part of the World Jupiter may be counted the Lord of Heaven And Saturne his being made an Eunuch by his Son Jupiter or Caelius by his Son Saturn as
in times of Rebellion and for their exercise to be as Thorns in their eyes and Goads in their sides The Canaanites being thus deprived of their ancient habitation by Joshua and the Israelites Many of them as is conjectured removing to the Mediterranean-Sea where they were known afterwards by the name of Phoenicians continued not all there but spread themselves abroad and sent Colonies far and wide into many places of Europe Asia and Africk concerning which that excellent book of Bochartus called Canaan is to be consulted That is remarkable which * A. M. 2555. Procopius mentioneth concerning Pillars erected in the Province of Africk In Vandalius called Tingitana with a Phoenician-inscription to this purpose We are they who fled from the face of Joshua the Robber the son of Nane How long this War continued till the division of the Land is not expressed in Scripture yet is thence to be gathered For Caleb being fourty years old when with others he was sent by Moses to search the Land was at the time of the Division as he saith 45 years older Now the Spies were sent out in the fifth moneth of the second year after their departure out of Egypt or sooner so that from that time to the entrance into Canaan followed almost 39 years the Israelites being fourty years in the Wildernesse which being deducted out of the said forty five six years and some few remain during which the War in Canaan must have continued The Clerouchia or division of the Land 19. The Clerouchia then or division of the Land fell out in the beginning of the seventh year from their entrance into Canaan and in the year of the World 2555 also beginning It continued about one year as some gather from the story First of all an inheritance was given to two Tribes and an half viz. the Tribes of Judah Ephraim Chap. 14.15 c. and the other half Tribe of Manasses Then met the Israelites together in Shiloh because seven other Tribes yet remained undisposed of Therefore certain men were sent from that place to bring a Survey of all the Land which could not be done in a few dayes and then after their return the division was perfected for all which no lesse then the space of a year seemeth necessary So there are from the beginning of the World to the end of this Division 2555 years Vide Ludov. Capellum in Chronol Sacr. containing just so many weeks of years as there are natural dayes in a year viz. 365. Or if we make a great year consisting of so many years as the solar year consisteth of dayes then have we six or seven such great years It is further observable that from the beginning of the World to the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan may be reckoned so many Jubilies of years viz. 52. as are dayes in the seventh part of a Solar year one onely excepted The War having endured six years they rested on the seventh wherein the Division was made as in the Sabatical year 20. The rise therefore and beginning of the Sabbatical year and of Jubilies some chuse rather to fetch from the first entrance into Canaan then from the division of the Land The rise of Sabbatical years and Jubilies For though they began not to sow the Land on this side Jordan till after the division yet before this had they taken possession of the Countrey lying beyond the River which was divided betwixt the two Tribes and the half whereof though it must be granted that those which were fit for War accompanied their brethren over Jordan according to the charge laid upon them by Moses yet is it to be supposed that those which stayed behind were nourished by the fruits of that soyl For Manna had already ceased and the Corn which the other reaped of the Enemies sowing being but gotten by degrees according as they Conquered the Countrey could scarce maintain them without sending for supplies to those that stayed beyond the River When they had ended the division the Children of Israel gave for an inheritance to Joshua that which he asked even Timneth Serah in Mount Ephraim where he built a Citie and dwelt therein Josh 18. The Tabernacle of the Congregation was set up at Shiloh by the whole Assembly As for the Levites they had no inheritance assigned them Chap. 20. but the Lord being their inheritance they were to live of Tythes Offerings Onely 48 Cities on both sides of Jordan were set apart for them to dwell in which were also to be Cities of refuge whither those that were guilty of casual homicide might fly from the avenger of bloud and there remain in security till the death of the High-Priest Joshua dieth Joshua being very old at the division is by the Jews said to have lived past the first Sabbatical year but to have died before the next arrived Some give to his government twenty years and some above Chap. 24. v. 29. Judge 11.8 but others think he died not long after the division There is no certainty thereof from Scripture but that he lived a hundred and ten years is expresly recorded The Israelites fall to idolatry 21. After Joshua and that generation were dead which had seen the wonders of the Lord another arose after them that knew not the Lord nor the works he had done so that the Children of Israel followed other gods serving Baal and Ashtaroth For this cause the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers which spoiled them He sold them into the hands of their Enemies round about insomuch that they could not stand before them but whithersoever they went out the hand of the Lord was against them for evil as he had said and sworn Neverthelesse he raised them up Judges to deliver them out of the hands of those that spoiled them and yet they would not hearken to their Judges but went a whoring after other gods and bowed themselves unto them Hereupon the Lord resolved not to drive out thenceforth any Nations before them which Joshua left when he died that by them he might prove Israel whether they would keep his way and to teach them War Chap. 3. There were left five Lords of the Philistins with all the Canaanites the Sidonians and Hivites that dwelt in Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon unto the entring of Hamath The Children of Israel dwelt amongst the Canaanites Hittites Ammorites Perizzites Hivites and Jebusites they took their daughters to be their wives gave their daughters to their sons and served their gods Cushan oppresseth them 22. For this the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel Vers 8. and he sold them to the hand of Cushan-rishathaim King of Mesopotamia How long this was after the division the Scripture expresseth not Lud. Cappellus We read that he oppressed them eight years but some think it should be read in the
eighth year viz. after the division or eighth years because this servitude ended in the eight But that it began not immediatly after the division neither after the death of Joshua seemeth evident because the Israelites served the Lord as long as that Generation lasted which had seen his wonders which cannot be conceived extinct at the same time with him Others think a longer time then seven years to have passed betwixt the division and this oppression assigning fourteen years to the government of Joshua after the division then ten more to the government of the Elders after his death Jacobus Cappellus who might very well live longer then so none that were twenty years old when they came out of Egypt having entred Canaan except Joshua and Caleb After that as many years they attribute to an Anarchy in the sixth year of which they will have the Civil War to have broken out betwixt Benjamin and the rest of the Tribes Judg. 20. wherein all the Benjaminites except 600 were slain Four years after this War and at the end of the 10th Cushan the King of Mesopotamia afflicted Israel for its idolatry eight years But concerning this there is no certainty Othniel delivereth them 23. At the end of the eight years God stirred up for a deliverer Judg. Chap. 3. Othniel of the Tribe of Judah Nephew to Caleb by his younger brother Kenaz and his son-in-law Into his hands the Lord delivered Cushan and the Land had rest fourty years After his death which is set to the end of these fourty years Israel turned again to idolatry and the Lord delivered them up to Eglon Eglon oppresseth them King of Moab for eighteen years At the end of this term he stirred up Ehud a left-handed man of the Tribe of Benjamin who under colour of a message stabbed Eglon into the belly Delivered by Ehud and gathering the Israelites together on Mount Ephraim slew 10000 of the Moabites all men of War After this the Land is said to have rested 80 years the words being taken literally but then some think none of the years of the Tyrants or Oppressors are to be counted severally and by themselves but to be included herein as other years after mentioned else the account will swell much larger then the whole number of years which the Scripture seemeth to allow of If we take-in all the years ascribed to the Tyrants then they will have it an Enallage frequent in all Languages and instead of 80. Ehud governed or the Land rested under him onely eight years but others think they have as much reason to take them literally Shamgar judgeth Israel 24. After Ehud Shamgar the son of Aneth judged Israel Chap. 4. but no mention is made of any time It followeth when Ehud was dead the Children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord and he sold them into the hand of Jabin King of Canaan whose General was Sisera and who had 900 Chariots of iron Jabin oppresseth them he mightily oppressed them twenty years It is most probable that in this time the Government of Shamgar was included he slew with an Oxe-good 600 of the Philistins And the Philistins who at this time might also afflict Israel or else it being but short might fall betwixt Ehud's death and the oppression of Jabin there being probability enough that some time passed after his death before the Israelites so highly provoked the Lord as to be given up into Jabins hands At the end of these twenty years Deborah Deborah and Barach deliver them the wife of Lapidoth judging Israel at this time in Mount Ephraim moved by God sent for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kadesh-Naphtali and made him Captain He with 10000 men of Zebulon and Naphtali overthrew Sisera who flying on his feet to the Tent of Heber the Kenite descended of Jethro father-in-law to Moses Jael his wife killed him by a Nail driven into his Temples as he lay asleep So the Land rested under Deborah fourty years as we read it * Usher another interpreting it in the 40th year viz. after the rest restored to it by Ehud 25. This time expired and the Israelites relapsing to idolatry Jud. 6. God gave them up into the hands of the Midianites The Midianites oppresse them and other people of the East which afflicted them seven years destroying their Corn driving away their Cattel and making havock of all things This made them cry to the Lord who first reproved them by a Prophet and afterwards by an Angel stirred up Gideon the son of Joash of the Tribe of Manasses to deliver them He having pulled down the Altar of Baal and burnt his grove Chap. 7. out of 23000 men chose 300. with which number marching against the Midianites Gideon delivereth them he so affrighted them by a stratagem of Lamps and Pitchers that he routed their whole Army The Ephraimites took Oreb and Zeeb Gideon following the Chance beyond Jordan wholly discomfited them and took Chap. 8. and slew two Kings of the Midianites Zeba and Zalmanna After so great a victory the Israelites offered him the Kingdom but he refused it and asked onely the earings of the prey wherewith he made an Ephod which afterwards gave occasion to idolatry all Israel going a whoring after it and became a snare to him and his house But thus Midian being subdued the Country was in quietnesse under Gideon 40 years as most read it but as others was quiet in the 40th year viz. after quietnesse restored to it by Deborah and Barach Abimelech his Son maketh himself King 26. Though Gideon refused the Soveraignty Chap. 9. yet Abimelech his base Son thinking such a thing was not to be neglected dealt with the Sichemites of whose City his Mother was native to make him King and by their help he seized on the Kingdom having slain his Seventy Brethren upon one stone Jotham the youngest onely escaping The Israelites after Gideon's death had again turned after Idols and therefore God not onely subjected them to the Dominion of this most wicked of all parricides but to intestine dissentions by reason of him For after he had tyrannized three years Gaal with the Sichemites conspired against him which having timely discovered he destroyed them and their City sowing it with Salt and burnt the house of their god Berith with a thousand Men and Women which had fled to it Then went he against Thebez and took it the Inhabitants whereof retired for defence into a strong Tower Here as he was about to set fire to the door a Woman cast down a piece of a Mil-stone upon his head and so brake his skull that he caused his Armour-bearer to kill him lest it should be said that he died by the hands of a Woman Tolah judgeth Israel After his death Tolah the Son of Puah Chap. 10. the Son of Dodo a Man of Issachar that dwelt
turned to the Lord cast off their idols The Philistins overthrown and solemnly repented at Mizpah Hereat God was pleased to spare them and thundring upon the Philistins when they were ready to joyn battel discomfitted them utterly so terrified them that they forsook the Cities formerly seized on leaving onely one Garrison in the Countrey and no more afflicted the Children of Israel so long as Samuel had the chief power in his hands When he grew old he made his sons Judges over the Land Chap. 8. who perverting Justice by bribery the people thence gladly took occasion to desire a King that in government they might be conformable to other Nations Their most urgent reasons were for that the Philistins yet kept an Hold in their Countrey Chap. 11. and Nahash the King of the Ammonites threatned them with War at which they were so affrighted that neither trusting in God's providence who hitherto had been their King The Israelites desire a King and avenger nor to the Justice and prudence of Samuel would they be satisfied or put off without a King God therefore gave unto them Saul the son of Kish of the Tribe of Benjamin Saul is King Hosea 13. 35. In the book of Samuel no certain years are either given to his own government or to that of Saul but it seemeth probable from Scripture that he governed about twenty years alone from the death of Eli to the election of Saul For it is said 1 Sam. 7.2 that the Ark of God abode in Kiriath-jearim twenty years and that the time being long all the house of Israel lamented before the Lord at Mizpeh which passages are joyned unto the serious exhortation of Samuel to move them to repentance So then the end of twenty years the exhortation their repentance hereupon and their moving for a King with good reason seem to have been about the same time so that 20. or 21 years and an half are to be given to his government which began at Eli's death Now Heli died when the Ark was taken which staying seven moneths in the Land of the Philistins was then sent away and came to Bethshemesh where the inhabitants losing 50610 of their number for their curiosity of looking into it sent Messengers to those of Kiriath-jearim to fetch It unto them with whom it remained twenty years and these years the Israelites counted long 36. Saul was first by Samuel privately anointed Chap. 10. and afterwards publickly declared King at Mizpah Not long after a moneth it 's thought Jabesh-Gilead was besieged by Nahash Chap. 11. who refused to grant peace to the inhabitants upon any other terms than to put out all their right eyes and lay this for a reproach upon Israel They desired truce but for seven dayes in which space Raiseth the siege at Jabesh-Gilead if no relief came they promised to come out to him But Saul hearing of their distresse got together an Army of 300000 of Israel and 30000 of Judah with which he easily overthrew the Ammonites and raised the siege Hereupon at the procurement of Samuel the people again met at Gilgall where the Kingdom was established and confirmed unto Saul at which time Samuel upbraiding them with their unthankfulnesse to God and him terrified them with Thunder and rain in Wheat Harvest and again comforted them in the mercy of God Saul having reigned two years Chap. 13. c. the Philistins again afflicted the Land with whom he had sore War all the dayes of his life He fought against his Enemies round about against Moab the Children of Ammon Edom and the Kings of Zobah he smote the Amalekites and delivered his people out of the hands of them that spoyled them Yet his heart not being upright before the Lord God chose him out a man after his own heart and rejected him and his family This man was David David anointed the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem-Judah whom Samuel was sent to anoynt some years before his own death and more before that of Saul In this space Saul persecuted him from place to place yet such ardent affection was there betwixt Jonathan his son and David that the love of a Kingdom it self joyned with the deep displeasure of a father was nothing able to interrupt it 37. The Apostle Paul declareth that Acts 13.21 after God had destroyed seven Nations in the Land of Canaan and divided their Land to them by Lot he gave unto them Judges for the space of 150 years untill Samuel the Prophet And afterward they desired a King and God gave them Saul the son of Kis a man of the Tribe of Benjamin by the space of fourty years Some take the words as giving so many years to his reign alone but by general consent the government of Samuel is to be included in them 1 Sam. 25. Samuel seemeth to have died not long before Saul two years it 's supposed at such time as David was provoked by the churlishnesse of Nabal Vers 55. and is said to have judged Israel all the dayes of his life Hence is it certain that Saul reigned not alone all those fourty years and probable that Samuel having governed alone for one half of them had still an hand in the publick affairs of the Nation At length Saul was overthrown in battel by the Philistins Chap. 31. and 1 Chron. 10. and lost his three sons Saul's three sons slain and he killeth himself Jonathan Abinadab and Melchisua And he himself being sore wounded after he could not prevail with his Armour-bearer to kill him fell upon his own sword and died His son Isbosheth by the means of Abner Captain of his Host Ishbosheth succeedeth him succeeded him at the Age of fourty years 2 Sam. 2.3 c. but the Tribe of Judah anointed David King over them in Hebron who had formerly been consecrated to this Office by Samuel and he reigned over that Tribe alone seven years and six moneths A. M. 2944. Isbosheth is said to have reigned over Israel two years which is to be interpreted peaceably and not disturbed by War as his father is said to have reigned one year 1 Sam. 13.1 viz. unmolested by the Philistins 38. For after these two years were expired a long War insued betwixt David and him his side growing weaker and weaker as David's grew stronger and stronger David to strengthen himself married Maacha the daughter of Talma King of Geshur on which he begat Absolom and Tamar 2 Sam. 2.3 c. At length Abner conceiving a displeasure against Ishbosheth because he had reproved him for medling with his father's Concubine revolted to David and laboured to transfer the Kingdom to him but coming to visite himabout this affair he was treacherously slain by Joab David's General and Nephew by his sister Zerviah All being out of order now in Israel Baanah and Recab two Benjamites the servants of Ishbosheth slew their
Chron. 19 20 21. chap. travelling himself from Beersheba unto Mount Ephraim to accomplish it he also constituted Judges to whom he gave a pious and strict charge After this the Moabites Ammonites and a great multitude of others invaded him against which he first strove by Prayer to God and thereby obtained Victory his Enemies being so stricken with madnesse that they fell upon and slaughtered one another Afterwards intending to send Ships for gold to Ophir because he joyned with wicked Ahaziah King of Israel the Lord spoiled the works and the Ships were broken at Esion-geber Some think he made his Son Partner in the Kingdom it self having formerly been but his Vicegerent a year or two before he died He reigned 25 years or rather 24 with some odd months Joram 6. To Jehosaphat succeeded Joram being 32 years old 2 Chron. 21. A. M. 3109. to the best Father the worst Son who being established in his Seat made away all his Brethren and some of the Princes In his dayes the Edomites or Idumaeans who hitherto from the time of David had been in subjection to the Kings of Judah revolted They had heretofore been governed by a Vice-Roy chosen either out of themselves or the Jews but now they made themselves a King the Prophecie of Isaac the common Progenitor of both Nations being now fulfilled that though Esau should serve his younger Brother Jacob yet the time should come when he should break the yoak from off his neck Gen. 27.40 At the same time Libnah a City of the Priest's in the Tribe of Judah revolted because he had forsaken the God of his Fathers for having married Ahab's Daughter he followed the example of his house making high-places in the Mountains of Iudah and causing his Sujects to commit Idolatry therein Because of this 2 Chron. 21. vers 12. there came a Writing to him from the Prophet Elijah rebuking him for his sin and foretelling his punishment Elijah being before this taken up to Heaven the Jews have believed that this Letter was sent down thence Some think there was another Prophet of this name but most are inclined to believe that foreseeing before his assumption the Idolatry of this man he left this Letter with his Schollers to be delivered to him in due time According to the threatnings therein contained God first stirred up against him the Philistins and Arabians who making an invasion took away all his goods his wives and sons except Jehoahaz the youngest otherwise called Ahaziah and Azariah Afterwards God struck him with an incurable disease in his bowels which after two years came out of his body so that he miserably died having reigned eight years three whereof are to be reckoned in conjunction with his father He was buried without honour at Jerusalem not in the Sepulcher of Kings not desired missed nor lamented Ahaziah A. M. 3116. 7. 2 Kings 8. 2 Chron. 22. Ahaziah his son succeeded him who followed the steps of his Grand-father Ahab's wicked family and became a Patron of Idolaters But having scarce reigned one year he went down to Jezreel to visite his Uncle Joram King of Israel where they were both killed by Jehu 2 Kings 9. Joram being slain outright and Ahaziah dying shortly after of his wound at Megiddo Athaliah his mother seized upon the Kingdom Athaliah usurpeth Chap. 11. 2 Chron. 24. wherein to establish her self she destroyed all the Royal seed Onely Jehosheba the daughter of Joram and wife to Jehojada the High-Priest withdrew Joash an infant her brother's son and hid him six years in the house of God At the end of these years Jehojada brought him out to the people then seven years old and anointing him King slew Athaliah restored the worship of God and destroyed the house of Baal whose Priest Matthan he slew before the Altar Joas 8. Joas then succeeded his father after six years 2 Kings 12. A. M. 3122. who did what was good and just as long as Jehojada the Priest lived and through his advice took care to repair the Temple which now had stood 155 years But Jehojada being dead who lived 130 years the Jews observing that he the repairer of the Temple was born the same year that the builder thereof died Idolatry brake out afresh through his connivance The Prophets exclaimed against it in vain especially Zacharias the son and successor of Jehojada against whom Joas was so far transported beyond the bound's of piety gratitude to his father's memory that he commanded him to be stoned and that in the Court of the house of the Lord. Whil'st as he died he said The Lord look upon it and requite it So he did for after a years time the forces of Hazael King of Syria though but small invaded Judah destroyed all the Princes of the people and sent the spoyl to their King Joas himself they left very sick of great diseases but when they were departed from him his own servants conspired against him for the bloud of the sons of Jehojada the Priest and slew him on his bed in the 40th year of his reign A. M. 3160. 9. Amaziah his son succeeded him Chap. 14. who also seemeth to have reigned with him the three last years seeing he is said to have begun his reign in the second year of Joas King of Israel When he was confirmed in his seat 2 Chron. 25. A. M. 3160. he put those to death that slew his father sparing their Children according to the Law of Moses In his 12th year he undertook an expedition against the Edomites with 300000 of his own Subjects and 100000 Israelites which he hired for 100 Talents of silver But as he was about to begin his march a Prophet dehorted him from joyning to himself the Idolatrous Israelites so that he dismissed them and they returned home in great discontent He prospered against the Idumaeans but the Souldiers dismissed fell upon his Cities and smiting 300 of them took much spoyl Yet he at his return to amend the matter having brought home the gods of the Edomites set them up to be his gods bowed down before them and burnt incense to them The Lord being sore angry for this sent first a Prophet to him whom he rejected But burning with a desire to be revenged upon the Israelites he sent and defied Joas their King who admonished him to be well advised but this being in vain they met and joyned battel wherein Amaziah was taken and led back to Jerusalem the Wall of which Citie Joas demolished 400 Cubits and plundering the house of the Lord with the Kings house then departed Fifteen years after Amaziah lived but then having turned away from following the Lord a conspiracy was made against him in Ierusalem whence he fled to Lachish and there was slain by the pursuers after he had reigned 29 years Uzziah 10. He left a son named Uzziah and Azariah who succeeded him 2 Kings 15. but being
said to have begun his reign in the 27th year of Ieroboam 2 Chron. 26. King of Israel an Inter-regnum of twelve years must needs have passed betwixt his father's death and his beginning the Kingdom all this time having perhaps A. M. 3201. been governed by a Lieutenant or the High-Priest When he came to the Age of 16. all the people of Iudah took him and made him King in the room of his father and under him the State of Iudah much flourished He fought prosperously against the Philistins and Arabians that dwelt in Gur-Baal and Mehunims or Minaeans dwelling in Arabia the Happie upon the Red-Sea the Ammonites sought to him with presents and his name was great in those parts About his 35th year was celebrated in Greece the first Olympiad that great help to our understanding in the distinction of times He invaded the Priests Office in Offering Sacrifice and for that was strucken with Leprosie which continued upon him till his death living in an house by himself and Iotham his son ordering the affairs of the Kingdom He reigned 52 years Jotham 11. Iotham his son succeeded him who prevailed against the Ammonites 2 Chron. 27. and forced them to pay Tribute two years He became mighty A. M. 3253. because he prepared his wayes before the Lord his God he built the High-Gate of the Temple much on the Wall of Ophal Moreover Olymp. 5. an 4. Cities in the Mountains of Iudah and in the Forrests thereof Castles and Towers Under him his Predecessor and his two Successors prophesied Isaiah and Hosea Micah began in his time and Nahum also according to Iosephus prophesied the destruction of Niniveh which was fulfilled 115 years after though others think the beginning of these years should rather be placed in the time of his son A. M. 3269. Olymp. 9. an 2. 2 Kings 16. 2 Chron. 28. He reigned sixteen years and was succeeded by Ahaz his son Ahaz whose reign if it be compared with that of Pechah and Hosea Kings of Israel it will appear that he reigned seven or eight years with his father He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord walking in the wayes of the Kings of Israel he made molten Images for Baalam burnt Incense in the Valley of the son of Hinnom burnt his Children in the fire Sacrificed and burnt Incense in the high places on the Hills and under every green Tree Because of this God stirred up Pekah King of Israel and Rezin the son of Remaliah King of Syria against him who invaded his Kingdom and did much hurt Rezin got Elath which Uzzias had recovered and built the King of Israel gave him a grievous overthrow the Edomites also afflicted him and the Philistins whom Uzziah had brought under made inroads upon him Suspecting his Estate because of these things he sent to Tiglath-Pileser King of Assyria for help presenting him with the Silver and Gold which was found in the Temple 12. Tiglath-Pileser accordingly came up and taking Damascus Nicol. Damascenus apud Iosephum Antiq l. 7. c. 6. killed Rezin in whom fell this Kingdom which having continued ten Generations and begun in a Rezin ended in one of that name Then turned he his Forces upon Pekah transporting into Assyria the Inhabitants of Gilead and Naphthali as formerly he had done those of Damascus But Achaz to procure those things having made himself his Vassal was yet never the better remained in great fear of him and still continued in his wickednesse He made his son Hezekiah for his three last years partner with him in the Kingdom and at the end thereof died having reigned together with his father and by himself 16 years Hezekiah Hezekiah succeeding A. M. 3276. Olymp. 12. an 3. opened the Temple which his father had shut and reformed the abuses in Religion He brake in pieces the brazen Serpent 2 Kings 18. 2 Chron. 29. c. because the Superstitious multitude fancying some Divine vertue therein gave it suitable Worship He shook off the yoak of the King of Assyria refusing to pay Tribute for which cause in his fourteenth year Senacherib being to make War upon Egypt led part of his Forces into Judaea Besieging Lachish Hezekiah bargained with him to depart but he brake his promise and sent Rabshakes with others to Jerusalem who blaspheming God and reproaching the King laboured to draw the people from their obedience This being to no purpose Rabshakes returned to him who had now departed from Lachish and besieged Libnah a strong Citie of Judah removing still nearer Jerusalem that he might seem to pursue what he had given in charge to Rabshakes to denounce against Hezekiah 13. But lying before Libnah news came that Tirhakah King of Aethiopia who as it seemeth had entred into conspiracy with the Egyptian against him was moving towards him at which he was so terrified that he brake up his siege and departed homewards Yet having a greedy mind towards Judaea he sent a blasphemous Letter full of threats to Hezekiah but he lost in one night by the stroak of an Angel 180000 men as some think being on his way towards Jerusalem and confounded hereat returned to Niniveh where he was slain by his two sons Adramelech and Sharezer as he was worshipping in the house of Misroch his God In the time of these dangers Esay 38.8 Hezekiah fell sick unto death the sentence of which he received from Isaiah the Prophet But by his prayers and tears he obtained a prolongation of life for fifteen years and in confirmation of the promise the shadow of the degrees which was gone down in the Sun-dyal of Ahaz was brought ten degrees backward and it followeth The Sun returneth ten degrees backward So the Sun returned ten degrees by which degrees it was gone down As for this Sun-dyal it's thought that in those ancient times the knowledge of Dyals was scarce amongst the Hebrews Yet is it possible that Achaz might have something of that nature though imperfect from the Babylonians who were of old much given to Astrology he being otherwise too curious an admirer of forrein things as appeareth in that he must needs have such an Altar made and erected at Ierusalem as he had seen at Damascus That the Sun went back hath been generally believed Gregory of Oxford but one of late hath gone about to prove that the shadow was lyable to reduction without retrocession of the great Luminary 14. 2 Chron. 32.31 The knowledge of this miracle coming to the Babylonians who by reason of their continual observation of the Heavenly bodies might have more occasion to take notice of it Merodach-Baladan their King sent to Hezekiah to congratulate his recovery desirous it 's likely of his friendship whom he had understood to be so much in the favour of God especially bearing no goodwill to the Assyrians He in a vain ostentation of his Wealth shew'd the Ambassadours all his Treasures
and whatsoever was in his house for which Isaiah the Prophet denounced the carrying away of all these things to Babylon For the pride of his heart there was wrath upon him and Iudah yet he humbled himself both he and the inhabitants of Iudah so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in his dayes He flourished in abundance of riches and honour stopped the upper water-course of Gihon and brought it streight down to the West-side of the Citie of David He reigned 29 years 3 whereof were together with his father being dead they buried him in the chiefest Sepulchers of the sons of David and all Iudah with the Inhabitants of Ierusalem did him honour at his death Manasses 15. Manasses his son succeeded him at the Age of twelve years 2 Kings 21. 2 Chron. 33. A. M. 3304. Olymp. 19. an 4. and therefore was begotten by him after his recovery He did evil in the sight of the Lord above those Nations which the Lord had cast out before Israel being more Idolatrous then any of his Predecessors he was also given to Witchcraft and Divinations built Altars for all the Host of heaven which he served in the two Courts of the house of the Lord wherein he also set up an Image of the Grove which he had made He filled Ierusalem with innocent bloud amongst other Martyrs Isaiah the Prophet as it 's said being sawn asunder with a wooden saw because he was free with him in reproving his ungodly life although he was of the bloud royal as the son of Amos the brother of King Amaziah according to the tradition of the Jews who also have related him to have been father-in-law nay as some Grand-father by the Mothers side to Manasses himself In such wickednesse continued he for several years till such time as God sent upon him the Captains of the King of Assyria Esarchaddon some think who took him lying hid amongst the thorns and carried him bound with fetters unto Babylon which City as it appeareth from this place was now again under the King of Assyria Here having leisure and occasion to bethink himself in his affliction he repented was humbled greatly and besought the Lord who heard his Prayer and restored him to his Kingdom After this he knew that the Lord was God and purged his Realm of Idolatry which Reformation the Jews make to have been in the 33th year before his death He reigned 55 years Amon. 16. Amon his Son succeeded him in his Kingdom and Idolatry A. M. 3359. Olymp. 33. an 4. but not in his Repentance worshipping and sacrificing to all the carved Images which his Father had made and going on to trespasse more and more After two years his servants conspired against him and slew him in his own house Chap. 34. all whom the people of the Land put to death and made Iosiah his Son a child of eight years old King in his stead Josiah He in the eighth year of his reign began to seek after the God of his Fathers and in his twelfth to cleanse his Kingdom and all the Land of Israel from Idolatry although the greatest part of the later was now subject to the King of Assyria 2 Kings 23. 2 Chron. 35. A. M. 3368. Olymp. 35. an 4. In the 18th year of his reign and of his age the 26th he commanded the Temple to be repaired and the Worship of God therein restored where also finding a Book of the Law he renewed the Covenant between God and the people and celebrated such a solemn Passeover as had not been kept in Israel since the time of the Judges Now if the time of the Judges and the Oppressions be not confounded but taken at their full length then this year being the 9â—0th ending or the 931th beginning from the entering into Canaan was the 7th of the 133 week or the last of the 19th Jubilie Iosiah in his 31th year ending disguised himself that he might fight with Necho King of Aegypt who was going up against the Assyrian and would not hearken to his words from the mouth of God labouring with him to refuse fighting against the Lord who had sent him and commanded him to make haste Therefore joyning battell with him in the Valley of Megiddo he was sore wounded and being carried to Ierusalem died there all Iudah and Ierusalem mourning and making great lamentation for him Jehoahaz 17. Whilst Pharaoh was busie in his affairs against the Assyrians the people made Jehoahaz the younger Son of Josias King 2 Chron. 36. A. M. 3392. Olymp. 41. an 4. who continued but three moneths in the dignity For Pharaoh having finished his work at Euphrates and in Coelesyria came to Jerusalem whence he led away into Aegypt this young King and left his elder Brother Eliakim in his place whose name he changed into Jehoiakim Jehoiakim imposing a taxe of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold upon the Land Though Jeoahaz be said to have reigned three moneths yet some will have a year to have passed betwixt the 31 year of Josias and the first of Jehoiakim partly for that Josias seemeth to have reigned something more than 31 years and some space would be taken up in so solemn a mourning for him before the instalment of Jehoahaz and also to consult about this thing seeing it was against right and custom to give this honour to the younger Brother lastly some time perhaps some moneths was requisite for setling the affairs of Judaea about the instalment of Jehoiakim and the tribute Ludovicus Cappellus moreover giveth a whole year to Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim though the Scripture speaketh but of three moneths a piece that the last year of Zedekiah might fall into the 390th year from the rent of the Kingdom of which more when we arrive at that time 18. Jehoiakim thus advanced by Pharaoh Necho was 25 years old when he began to reign which if so he was born in the fifteenth year of his Father's age as if Jehoahaz was 23 when he began his reign he must also have been born in the sixteenth of Josiah This maketh Josiah to have applied himself to procreation of children at least in the fourteenth year of his life which seeming too early and not agreeable to the Piety of that Prince there are that suspect for 25 ought to be read 15 and 13 for 23 so that the one might be born in the 24 and the other in the 25 year of his Father But thereis no necessity for such a reading of the Text. The fourth year of Jehoiakim fell in with the first of Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon Ierem. 25 1 3. and was the 23th from the 13th of the reign of Josias wherein Jeremiah the Prophet first began to prophesy and hence it also appeareth that Iosias reigned at least full 31 years and that one passed between his death and the beginning of Iehoiakim else 23 onely had passed betwixt the
through the prayer of the Prophet Elijah it rained not upon the Land for three years but at the end thereof he prayed again and the Heavens gave rain He took occasion to shew the vanity of the Idoll Baal and then slew his Priests for which being threatned by Jezebel he fled into the desart to Mount Horeb. Chap. 19. Against Ahab came up twice Benhadad King of Syria once with 32 petty Kings and both times with great forces but still was overthrown Chap. 20. and at the latter time yielded himself Ahab honourably received him and making a league with him let him go in safety for which he was sharply rebuked by a Prophet and told that his life should go for the life of Benhadad and his own people for his people but there followed a peace betwixt Israel and Syria for three years In this space Ahab fell sick for Naboth's Vineyard who being by Jezebels procurement accused of blasphemy was stoned to death and so Ahab injoyed the Vineyard by way of confiscation For this so wicked a fact severe judgement was pronounced against him and Jezebel by Elijah the execution whereof by a temporary repentance they caused to be be prorogued But the three years of the peace being expired he renewed the War with Syria for that Benhadad having ingaged to restore such Cities as he had taken refused to surrender Ramoth-Gilead Four hundred false Prophets perswaded him to undertake the Expedition onely Micajah sent from God disswaded him from it With him joyned Iehosaphat King of Iudah whose Son Iehoram had maried Athaliah his daughter But going down both together Ahab received a wound by an arrow and thereof died that day in the 22th year of his reign A. M. 3103. Jehosaphati 18. Ahaziah 6. Ahaziah his Son succeeded him whom he had formerly made his Associate in the Kingdom and reigned 2 years in all being said to have begun his reign in the seventeenth year of Iehosaphat King of Iudah because his Father then dyed having reigned 21 years and some part of another After Ahab's death Moab fell off from Israel 2 King 1. to which it had been subject ever since the dayes of David Ahaziah falling sick of a fall which he had through a lattise in his upper Chamber sent to consult Baal-zebub the god of Ekron about his recovery but the Lord commanded Elisah to meet the Messengers and denounce death to him for this his sin Hereat Ahaziah being angry sent two Captains with their fifties one after another to fetch him to him but he called for fire down from Heaven which consumed them then being intreated by the third he went with him to the King where denouncing the same to his face Joram Ahaziah accordingly died not long after Him his Brother Ioram followed in the 18th year of Iehosaphat King of Iudah ending who wrought evil in the sight of the Lord Chap. 3. but not like his Father and Brother for he put away the Image of Baal erected by his Father yet cleaved to the sin of Ieroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin because of his carnall interest all the Kings of Israel accounting it an especiall piece of policy to busie the people in the worship of the golden Calves 7. Joram made War upon the Moabites which had revolted in conjunction with Jehosaphat King of Judah and the King of Edom his Tributary Elisha the Prophet miraculoussy providing the Armies of water and promising them Victory When the Sun arose and shone upon the Pits full of water it appeared to the Moabites blood so that they concluding their Enemies to have fallen one upon another came out to take the plunder of the field but finding other entertainment were repelled with great consternation and losse The Israelites then falling upon the Countrey made havock of all things and besieged Mesha King of the Moabites in Kir-hazereth who being streightened attempted with 700 Men to break through to the King of Edom but could not whereupon taking his Son his own some think others the King of Edom's which should have reigned in his stead he offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall This spectacle seemed so horrible as raised indignation against Israel and such pity towards the Man driven by extreme necessity as Josephus telleth it that being mindfull of the mutability of humane affairs they raised the Siege and departed 8. Benhadad King of Syria made severall attempts upon Israel and besieging Samaria reduced it unto extreme necessity by Famine Him Hazael his Servant slew and possessed himself of his Kingdom but having received together with it the succession of the War Jehoram went up against him Chap. 8. and was accompanied by Ahaziah King of Judah to Ramoth-Gilead Here receiving a wound he returned to Iezreel to be cured but the Army was left under severall Captains amongst which was Jehu the Son of Jehosaphat to whom Elisha sent one of the Sons of the Prophets Jehu annointed King to annoint him King He was presently received as such by the Army and returning to Jezreel Chap. 9. slew Joram A. M. 3117 Athaliae 1. Chap. 10. and gave Ahaziah his death's wound after he had reigned twelve years Destroyeth the family of Ahab He caused Iesabel to be thrown down out of a window where her carkeise was eaten by the Dogs after which writing Letters to Samaria he procured Seventy Sons of Ahab to be slain and their heads sent to him Then going thither he slew 42 persons in his way of the kindred of Ahaziah King of Iudah who were going to visite Iehoram and Iesabel at Samaria he put to death all the Priests of Baal and burnt the Temple with the Images Yet took he no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart departing not from the sin of Ieroboam For his executing of justice upon the house of Ahab the Lord promised that his seed of the fourth generation should sit upon his Throne Yet because of the rottennesse of his heart he began to cut Israel short in his dayes by the means of Hazael who now subdued not onely the Gileadites but also whatsoever the Israelites possessed beyond Iordan raging with cruelty againg Man Woman and Child as Elisha had foretold him Iehu coming to the Kingdom at the same time as Aâ—haliah began her usurpation in Iudab reigned full 28 years and then died Jehoahaz 9. Iehoahaz his Son succeeded him in the 23th year of Ioash the Son of Ahaziah King of Iudah who did evil in the sight of the Lord Chap. 13. in the sin of Ieroboam a grove being also in Samaria Hazael mightily oppressed Israel also in his dayes so that to him were left but 50 Horse-men A. M. 3145. Joasi 23. 10 Chariots and 10000 Foot-men Yet the Lord was intreated by him and sent Israel a Deliverer notwithstanding which yet Prince and People remained incorrigible After he had
reigned seventeen years he died and left his Kingdom to his Son Ioash Joash who also reigned with him about three years for that he began his reign in the 37th year of Ioash King of Iudah A. M. 3159. Joasi 37. and is held by the Jews to be that Deliverer mentioned to have been sent by God He overcame the Syrians thrice as dying Elisha foretold him whom he visited and consulted about the affairs of his Kingdom and thereby recovered the Cities lost to Hazael by his Father Upon the occasion formerly mentioned he took Ierusalem with Ahaziah the King of Iudah and breaking down the wall of the City 400 cubits plundred the House of the Lord and the Kings house He also was guilty of Ieroboam's sin and died after he had reigned together with his Father and by himself sixteen years Jeroboam the Second 10. His Son came after him Ieroboam by name Chap. 14. whom God made instrumental to preserve Israel nay to raise it to the highest top of greatnesse it arrived at For he recovered Damascus and Hamath A. M. 3175. Amatziae 16. which had by right belonged to the Tribe of Iudah with whatsoever the Syrians had taken from his Predecessors from the antient border of the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Plains or the Lake Asphaltites as Ionas the Prophet the Son of Amitthai had foretold the same with him that prophecyed against Ninive being of Gath-Hepher a Town of the Tribe of (k) Josh 19.13 Zebulon in (l) Isa 9.1 Galile of the Gentiles out of which therefore arose a Prophet though the learned Pharisees so earnestly urged the contrary to Nicodemus In this King's dayes also prophecied Hosea and Amos called from the Herd in Iudaea to prophecy to the people of Israel Notwithstanding all that God did for Ieroboam he did evil also in his sight accompanying his Ancestors in the sin of Ieroboam the son of Nebat He reigned 41 years 2 Kings 25. and after his death the affairs of his Kingdom fell to decay way being made for the ruine of his house and an Anarchie insuing for 24 years For so it must be if Zacharias his Son began not his reign till the 38th of Uzziah King of Iudah Zachariah A. M. 3238. Hazariae 38. the last of Ieroboam falling in with the 14th of this King seeing Uzziah is said to have begun his reign in the 27th of his and he reigned 41 years This may well seem strange in this Kingdom where Princes were often made away by Usurpers but God had promised Iehu that his Children should reign to the fourth Generation and this Zacharias might be a posthumus or however very young and therefore not admitted by the Nobility to govern till he had attained to such ripenesse as was convenient for so great a charge 11. Zachariah doing evil in the sight of the Lord as did his Ancestors reigned but six moneths Shallum being then slain by Shallum the Son of Iabesh who reigned in his stead in the 39th year of Azariah King of Iudah He enjoyed his usurped royaltie but a short space being after two moneths served so himself by Menahem the Son of Gadi Menahem who also reigned in his stead Menahem smote Tiphsah and all that were therein with the Coasts thereof from Tirzah because they opened not to him and ripped up the Women with child He did evil in the sight of the Lord not departing from the sin of Ieroboam all his dayes wherefore God stirred up the Spirit of Pul King of Assyria Pul King of Assyria invadeth Israel who invaded the Land but he gave him 1000 talents of Silver which he wrested from the richest of his Subjects to confirm the Kingdom in his hand After he had held it ten years he died and his Son Pekahiah reigned in his stead in the 50th year of Azariah so that Menahem having begun his reign in the 39th of that King and reigning but ten years here seemeth an Inter-regnum of a year or more to have happened after his death except that be admitted which some think viz. that Menahem did not peaceably enjoy the Kingdom till about a year after Shallum's death Pekahiah purchasing it then of Pul so that beginning his reign in the 39th of Azariah or Uzziah A. M. 3250. Haraziae 50. must be understood peaceably and in that year ending Then must Pekahiah have begun his reign in the very beginning of the 50th year and so a few moneths being added to the ten years of Menahem at the furthest there will be no need of an Inter-regnum Pekahiah treading in the wicked steps of his Praedecessors reigned two years and then was slain by Pekah the Son of Remaliah one of his Captains who possessed himself of his Seat Pekah 12. Pekah joyned with the King of Syria against Ahaz King of Judah slew in Judah 120000 in one day all valiant Men because they had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers Zichri a mighty Man of Ephraim 2 Chron. â—8 slew Maaseiah the King's Son Azrikam the Governour of the house and Elkanah that was next the King Two hundred thousand were also carried Captive with much spoil all which Oded the Prophet when they came to Samaria procured to be sent back This made Ahab purchase the help of Tiglath-Pileser King of Assyria 1 Chron. â— 26 who first destroying the King and Kingdom of Damascus caried the inhabitants thereof into Captivity and then came against Pekah and transported the Reubenites The Reubenites Gadites and the half Tribe of Manasses carried Captives into Assyria Gadites and the half Tribe of Manasses into Halah Habor Hara and to the River Gozan then crossing Jordan he set upon Galilee and caried away the Inhabitants thereof with all the Napthalites which remained of those that were left by Benhadad into Assyria Pekah doing evil in the sight of the Lord after he had reigned twenty years was slain by Hosea the Son of Elah who usurped the Kingdom 13. Hoshea the 19th King of Israel began his reign in the 12th year of Ahaz King of Judah who reigned seven or eight years with his Father Jotham 2 Kings 17.18 A. M. 3272. Achazi 12. and began to reign by himself in the 17th year of Pekah Hoshea the nineteenth last King of Israel so that Hosea may truly be said to have began his reign in the 20th year from the inauguration of Jotham which we must say except we allow of a kind of Inter-regnum for eight or nine years during which time Hoshea for the stirs that hapned could not peaceably enjoy the Kingdom and then must we lenghthen out the time of this Kingdom longer by so many years Hoshea did evil in the sight of the Lord but not as the Kings of Israel which were before him Against him came up Salmanasser King of Assyria and made him his tributary Vassal which he continued for
first obtaining the Kingdom of Media 5. What time passed from the Conquest of Babylon and the beginning of his Monarchy unto his death is controverted amongst learned Writers Some reckon ten years or thereabouts and others but three of which number was once Joseph Scaliger who afterwards retracted it as an error but Ludovicus Cappellus hath renewed the assertion making it probable by arguments drawn from Scripture who therefore is to be consulted in his sacred * In notis ad Tab. 13. Chronology His issue Cyrus had issue two sons Cambyses and Smerdis or Tanaoxares with three daughters Atossa Meroe and Artystona to which Ctesias addeth Amytis Atossa and Meroe their brother Cambyses afterwards married and Darius Hystaspis obtained Artystona as also Atossa after the death of Cambyses Of the two sons to Cambyses he left his Kingdom and to Smerdis or Tanaoxares assigned the Government of Media Armenia and the Cadusians according to Xenophon Cambyses maketh War upon Egypt 6. Cambyses presently after he came to the Government made all possible provision for a War with Egypt the cause whereof is to be enquired after Herodotus telleth a story how he sent to Amasis King of that Countrey to desire his daughter Nitetis in marriage Lib. 3. cap. 1. which he not daring to deny because of the then formidable power of the Persians and not willing to gratifie him absolutely for that he conceived his daughter would be entertained but as a Concubine he found out a way as he thought to satisfie Cambyses A. M. 3476. Olymp. c. 2. an 4. V.C. 225. Cambysis 1. and yet keep his daughter There was one of Apries his predecessor's daughters yet unmarried her he sent to him under the name of his own who when she had sufficiently ingratiated her self with Cambyses told him how indeed she was nothing a kin to Amasis but begotten by his Lord and Master whereat the Persian conceived such indignation that to be revenged on him he invaded Aegypt But that which moved Cambyses to send for this woman seemeth something strange He had formerly desired from Amasis a Physician for the eyes the best that could be procured in Aegypt wherewith he gratifying him the man took it so ill of Amasis to be sent out of his native Country that in way of revenge he moved the matter to Cambyses concluding with himself that the King of Aegypt would not send his own daughter This was the saying of the Persians which Herodotus rather approveth than what the Aegyptians alleged that Cambryses was son to Nitetis the daughter of Apries and that the Persians ascribed that to the Son which beonged to the Father Vide Polyaenum lib. 8. because they would have Cambyses born of Cassanâ—ane the daughter of Pharnaspes of the noble race of Achaemenes and yet he confesseth there was a report that besides Cassandane Cyrus kept Nitetis as his Concubine whom he most affected and that to revenge his mother upon her Cambyses when but young threatned and after his Father's death made War upon Aeâ—ypt However things might go in reference to the daughter of Apries Cambyses seemeth to have invaded that Kingdom upon pretence of the right he had to it as Heir by conquest to Nebuchaâ—nesar who subdued it though it revolted from his Successors which might be concealed from Herodotus by the Priests who spared not to invent lyes for a cover to the disgrace of their Country 7. While Cambyses was yet busie in his preparations Vide Herod l. 3. cap. 4 c. one Phanes an Halycarnassaean by birth taking something in distaste from Amasis whom he served fled out of Aegypt by ship and coming into Persia advised this King that for his better passage of the sandy Desarts he should send to the King of the Arabians for sale conduct who being no good friend to the Aegyptian Passâ—th throâ—gh the Sâ—ndie Desarts came and met him with Camels bearing abundance of water which was necessary for the sustenance of the Army in that hot and dry place Ere Cambyses could arrive in Aegypt Amasis had prevented captivity by a natural death and Psammenâ—tus his son having succeeded him expected his coming at Pelusium one of the mouths of Nile Here a battel being fought the Aegyptians were overthrown and fled to Memphis whither Cambyses sent after them to yield up themselves to him but they tare in pieces the messengers and then being besieged stood out for some time but at length the City was taken Conquereth Aegypt Psammenitus had his son put to death before his eyes to try his patience though the Conquerour too late repented of it and had given him his life with the Kingdom to govern as a Province had he not attempted new matters for which he was forced to drink Bulls blood and so died having reigned six moneths after his Father His extravagant practices 8. This work done in Aegypt Cambyses betook himself to extravagant practices The dead body of Amasis he caused to be brought forth to be beaten pinched and then burnt contrary to the practice as well of the Persians as Aegyptians who abhorred such a thing because the former accounted Fire a god the later a ravenous beast perishing with the thing devoured by it Then resolved he to make a three-fold War One upon the Carthaginians another upon the Ammonians or the Inhabitants of the place situate about the Temple of Jupiter Hammon and the third against the long-lived Aethiopians who inhabited Africk near to the Southern Sea He resolved to send a Fleet against the Carthaginians an Army of Foot against the Ammonians and as for the Aethiopians he would first send to discover their Country While his Messengers were dispatching towards Aethiopia he gave order to the Phoenicians who having yielded themselves were his onely strength at Sea to fight against Carthaâ—e which they flatly refused because that City was a Colony of their own and thereby this design was dâ—shed After the return of his messengers who brought him word how he was slighted by the Aethiopian King in great rage and haste he set forwards against him without all thought of victualling his Army commanding all his foot to follow His fruitlesse Expeditions except the Graecians When he was come to Thebes he sent about 50000 men against the Ammonians with command after they had spoiled them to burn the Temple and so he marched on with the rest of the Army But ere he had passed the fifth part of his journy all provisions failed and all the beasts that carried burthens were eaten up yet did he not now recollect himself but proceeded till they were constrained to eat up every tenth man and then returned he with great losse and disgrace to Memphis where he dismissed the Greeks from his service The forces sent against the Ammonians never reached thither neither ever returned being all overwhelmed as was reported in the Sandy Wildernesse 9. Cambyses at his return to Memphis found
any Roman although he carried in Tables a representation of what he had done in the Civil Wars Then went he once more into Spain against Pompey's sons Pompey's sons in Spain A. M. 3960. Ol. 183. ann 4. V. C. 709. Hyrcani 20. to whom several had fled out of Africk where coming to fight near Munda his Army was struck with such fear as it was never nearer running It had fled but that he snatching a Target out of a Soldier 's hand went and ingaged the Enemy himself had 200 Darts thrown at him whereat his Officers being ashamed came on and he got the day 30000 of his Enemies being slain with two of their Captains Labienus and Varus Cn. Pompey also though he fled was taken and his head sent to Caesar 35. This year being that of his third Consulship which he exercised with M. Aemilius Lepidus being Pontifex Maximus or High-Priest he amended (a) Sueton. in Julio Plutarch in Caesare Dio l. 43. p. 226. E. Caesorinus de die natali c. 20. Macrobius Saturnal l. 1. c. 14. Plin. l. 18. c. 25. the Roman year which reformed by him is yet after him called Julian The Julian year Herein he used the skill of Sosigenes an excellent Mathematician of Alexandria where he learned this account though the Alexandrian Moneths consisted of 30 dayes apiece and five dayes were added at the end of every year in Astronomical Calculations SECT 7. and of Flaevius the Scribe in rectifying the Calendar Whereas now in the Moneth of February were intercalated 23 dayes he intercalated betwixt November and December two other Moneths containing 67 dayes so that this present year had fifteen Moneths and 445 dayes But this work seemeth to have been done before his last expedition into Spain After his return he (b) Dio ut suprà p. 236. c. laid down the Conshulship and bringing in a new mode of creating honorary Consuls for three moneths made Q. Fabius Maximus and C. Trebonius whereof the former dying in the last day of the year Caninius Rebilus obtained to succeed him for the few hours that remained whereupon Tully (c) Famil Epist l. 7. Epist 30. Caninio consule scito neminem prandisse nihil tamen eo consule mali factum est fuit enim mirifica vigilantia qui suo toto consulatu somnum non viderit calls him the most vigilant Consul for that he never slept during his Office Now were vast honours decreed him by the Senate Vast honours decreed to Caesar (d) Dio ut suprà Livius lib. 116. Appian belli civil lib. 2. as that he should be Dictator in perpetuum and have the stile of Imperator not in that sense as Generals were wont to have it given by their Soldiers after some worthy exploit but whereby the greatest Authority in the Commonwealth was signified For the Militia was to be wholely and solely at his disposal as also raising of money and all sorts of Magistrates even Plebeian were to be subject to him and swear to contradict none of his decrees SECT VII From the absolutenesse of Julius Caesar to the end of the second Triumvirate and the absolutenesse of Octavius Caesar or Caesar Octavianus the space of 15 years 1. CAESAR being now Consul the fifth time with M. Antonius whom he much favoured and promoted for that in his Tribuneship he so much stood for him to shun (a) Sueton in Julio Appian belli civil lib. 2. envy in the Citie thought upon making War upon the Getae and Dacae which had made inroads into Pontus and Thrace About this time young Castor the son of Castor by (b) Lib. 12. pag. 568. Suidas in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Gerard. Vossium de Historicis Graecis lib. 1. cap. ult Strabo called Saocondarius by the daughter of Deiotarus the King or Tetrarch of Galatia to whom Pompey gave Armenia the Lesse which gift the Senate having confirmed was taken away by Caesar because he took part with Pompey came to Rome to accuse his Grand-father He was sent by his father and mother together with Phidippus a Physician Deiotarus his slave who was corrupted by their promises to feign an accusation against his Lord that he would have killed Caesar vvhen he entertained him in his Tetrarchy King Diotarus defended by Cicero Deiotarus father and son vvho reigned together had at that time four Ambassadors in the Citie vvho offered their own bodies to Caesar for the safety of their Masters But Cicero being mindfull of the friendship and familiarity he had had vvith the old man made an Oration for him in Caesars house vvherein he premiseth that it vvas so unusual a thing for a King a real King for as for the Kings of Lacedaemon vvho vvere called to account by the impudent Ephori they vvere indeed no Kings having nothing but the title and therefore this can make nothing against this truth to be questioned for his life that before that time it vvas never heard of Deiotarus being acquitted by Caesar put to death his daughter as she had deserved together with her husband Castor Saocondarius that noble Chronographer concerning whom Gerard John Vossius is to be consulted in his Treatise of Greek Historians 2. Caesar in his last Consulship to (a) Joseph Antiquit lib. 14. cap. 17. gratifie Hyrcanus the High-Prtest and Ethnarcha of the Jews as also the Nation granted to him to enjoy and Govern the Citie of Jerusalem as he pleased which he might also fortifie with Walls To the Jews he granted also a freedom from the charge of Portage and Toll with an abatement of the publick Revenue in the second year of letting it out to farm In this second Julian year his Collegue (b) Appian bell civil lib. 2. Dio lib. 44. Censorin de die Natali cap. 9. M. Antonius procured by a Law that the Moneth Quintilis should in honour of his name be after it called July He now restored (c) Dio lib. 43. Strabo lib. 8. 17. Carthage and Corinth which two Cities had both in one year been destroyed by Roman Colonies sent thither The moneth Quintilis called July Now (d) Dio lib. 43. Appian belli civil lib. 2. Plutarch in Caesare Sueton. in Julio Livii Epitom lib. 116. the people had a great desire to be revenged on the Parthian for the losse of Crassus and his Army and to him unanimously the War was decreed and lest any stirs should be in his absence he was permitted to name all Officers that should be in the Citie for three years 'T is thought he would gladly have had the title of King though the people being against it he declined it For as he came into the Citie from the Hill Albanus where he had sacrifized some saluted him by the name of King which the people took ill whereupon he said he was not King but Caesar and all holding their peace he passed on sad and grieving And when one of
for some time to the Ceremonies of it After the death of James the Apostles from every quarter (e) Euseb l. 3. cap. 11. gathered themselves together at Jerusalem for the Election of a Bishop and chose Simon Cleopas In an assembly of the Apostles certain Canons were agreed on and published by Clemens as 't is said But (f) Concil tom 1. those that now go for them are corrupt the corruption of the Apostolical constitutions and of Ignatius his Epistles having proceeded from the same hand as reverend Usher sheweth in his Dissertation concerning the said Epistles who as to this matter is therein most worthy to be consulted About the time of Nerva the Emperour were two (g) Euseb l. 3. c. 23. Synods summoned in Asia for reformation of the Churches and Consecration of Bishops where St. John the Apostle being sent for was present About the beginning of Marcus Antoninus was a Synod at (h) Idem l. 5. cap. 16. Ancyra in Galatia where the figments of Montanus were confuted by Apollinarius And there were held in Asia sundry Synods in which Montanus was excommunicated and his Heresie condemned The brethren in (i) Lib. 5. c. 3. France also assembled together and censured the opinions of Montanus writing to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome that he would maintain the Peace of the Church there against such Hereticks (k) Lib. 5. c. 19. Serapion also Bishop of Antioch held a Synod there about the middle of Commodus his reign where together with many other Bishops he condemned the Montanists or their Heresie called the Phrygian Heresie because Montanus was of that Countrey Not long after was held a Council at (l) Idem l. 5. cap. 23. Rome by Victor the Bishop about the Celebration of Easter in Palaestine also in Pontus and Gall were Synods called about the same matter Controversie concerning Easter 38. This controversie about Easter is mentioned by Eusebius not till the last year of the 243 Olympiad which fell in with the fourth of Severus but â—appellus thinketh it first arose in the first of the 242 Olympiad and the tenth of Commodus wherein this feast was celebrated by the Jews and the Churches of Asia Minor at a wrong time as Theophilus Bishop of Caesaraea thought viz. by the Jews on the fifteenth of Nisan March 20. but by the Christians of Asia on the fourteenth of Nisan March 19. on the fourth Feria three dayes before the Vernal Aequinox Beda de natura rerum cap. 28. 46. de Aequinoctie Theophilus supposing that the Aequinox hapned on March the 25. and that so it ever did and for this cause that the Sun was on that day created and that Christ arose again the same day as also that the Lords Supper was instituted on the 22 of March contended that is was utterly against reason to prevent the Epoche of the Aequinox so many dayes and the day whereon the Lords Supper was instituted Wherefore he procured the Fathers of Palestine assembled in a Synode to make these Canons 1. That never except after March 21. 2. That never but after the fourteenth Moon 3. That never after April 24. 4. That never except on the Lords day Easter should be celebrated on that day which next followed the fourteenth Moon hapning next after March 21. Hereby he hoped it would come to passe that Easter would ever be observed within the moneth of Aries In the Synode of Palaestine where these Canons were made the aforesaid Theophilus Bishop of Caesarea and Narcissus of Jerusalem presided Of that at Rome Victor the Bishop was President In that of Pontus Palmas as the most antient did govern In that of the Bishops of Gall Irenaeus presided There was another of the Bishops throughout Ostroena and the Cities therein contained and especially held by Bauchillus Bishop of Corinth with many others all which saith Eusebius with one and the same sentence and judgement ordained the same Decree With those also consented Cassius Bishop of Tyre and Clarus Bishop of Ptolemais They affirmed that it was the Apostolick tradition and custom as yet retained that the fasting dayes should be broken up on no other day than that wherein our Saviour arose from the dead And the Church of Alexandria celebrated Easter on the self-same day with them 39. But all the Churches throughout Asia as of an antient tradition thought good to observe the high-feast of Easter in the 14th Moon on which day the Jews were commanded to offer their Paschal Lamb. As much as to say that upon what day soever in the week that Moon fell the fasting dayes were finished and ended Polycrates of Ephesus chief of these Bishops in his Epistle to the Church of Rome sheweth the custom of Asia observed unto his time in these words We observe the unviolated day of Easter neither adding any thing thereto neither taking any thing from it For notable pillars of Christian Religion have rested in Asia which shall arise at the last day when the Lord shall come home from Heaven with glory and restore all the Saints to joy Philip one of the twelve Apostles now lying at Hierapolis and his two daughters who kept themselves Virgins all the dayes of their lives the third also after the end of her holy conversation rested at Ephesus John also who lay on the Lord's breast and wore the Priestly Attire both a Martyr and a Doctor slept at Ephesus Moreover Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna and a Martyr Thraseas an Eumenian both a Bishop and a Martyr slept at Smyrna What shall I speak of Sagaris both a Bishop and a Martyr lying at Laodicea Also of blessed Papirius and Melito an Eunuch who was led and guided in all things he did by the holy Ghost and now resteth at Sardis waiting the message from Heaven when he shall arise from the dead All these celebrated the Feast of Easter according to the Gospel in the fourteenth Moon swarving no where but observing the rule of faith To be short and I Polycrates the meanest of you all do retain the tradition of my forefathers of which also I have imitated some For there were seven Bishops before me and I am the 8th which alwayes have celebrated the Feast of Easter on that day in which the people remove the leaven from amongst them I therefore my brethren who now have lived 65 years in the Lord have conferred with the brethren throughout the World and have read and over-read the holy Scriptures yet will not be moved at all with those things which are made to terrifie us For my Ancestors and Elders have said that we ought rather to obey God than men Afterwards he speaketh of the Bishops that consented and subscribed to his Epistle after this manner I could repeat the Bishops that were present whom you requested me to assemble whom also I have assembled together whose names if I should write would grow unto a great number they have visited me a simple Soul and a man