Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	endure_v	lord_n	psalm_n	3,889	5	9.1870	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46811	Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that mights at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.	Jackson, Arthur, 1593?-1666.	1646 (1646)	Wing J65; ESTC R25554	997,926	828

gladnesse are in his place That is God is a king of infinite majesty glory and honour most strong and mighty and the fountain of all strength and gladnesse to his people such his people find him in his sanctuary where he reveals himself unto them and such therefore with glad hearts they acknowledge him to be Psal 96.6 Honour and majestie are before him strength and beauty are in his Sanctuary Vers 29. Bring an offering and come before him worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse Thus the Prophet speaks of the worship of God in the dayes of the Gospel under these figurative expressions of the Legall worship for his meaning is onely this that in those dayes the Gentiles should have as free accesse to the worship of God as the Jews as being then one people with them fellow citizens of the Saints and of the houshold of God and so equally admitted with them to offer unto God in the assemblies of his people the beauty of holinesse those Evangelicall sacrifices which should be acceptable to God as were these legall offerings under the Law Vers 30. Fear before him all the earth To wit especially when you present your selves before him in the assembly of his Saints The world also shall be stable that it be not moved That is this is the benefit that shall follow upon mens subjecting of themselves to the government of God in Christ that whereas by rebellion against God the whole world tends to confusion and ruine by submitting themselves to Gods Sceptre all shall be established and the state of the Church shall be unmoveable and eternall Vers 31. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoyce So blessed and happie shall those times be and shall yield such abundant matter of exceeding great joy that if the very senselesse creatures could shout and rejoyce it were well for this is an hyperbolicall expression of the blisse and joy of these times And let men say among the nations the Lord reigneth That is the happinesse of those times shall be that men shall stoop to Gods Sceptre which therfore it is fit men should confesse to Gods glory yea and by publishing it to seek the drawing in of others and so to enlarge the kingdome of God Vers 35. And say yee Save us O God of our salvation and gather us together c. This may have respect first to the firm knitting together of the people that had been divided some favouring Sauls posterity and some Davids secondly to the reducing of the captived Israelites to their own land if at any time carried away and so it is prophetically spoken or thirdly to the gathering of Gods elect out of all nations to be his people in the dayes of the Gospel and then the reason of this request is added in the following words that we may give thanks to thy holy name and glory in thy praise that is in thy praise-worthy-works or in our praising of thee for indeed the faithfull servants of God do count it their happinesse that they may praise God and do therefore glory in it Vers 41. And with them Heman and Jeduthun c. See the note before vers 5. To give thanks to the Lord because his mercy endureth for ever This last clause because his mercy endureth for ever is therefore added because in many of their Psalmes of praise this was still the foot of the song as is evident 2. Chron. 5.13 and 7.3 Ezra 3.11 Jer. 33.11 and in many other places Vers 42. And with musicall instruments of God That is with holy musicall instruments such as were set apart for the service of God Vers 43. And David returned to blesse his house See 2.6.20 CHAP. XVII Vers 1 NOw it came to passe as David sate in his house that David said to Nathan the prophet Lo I dwell in an house of cedars c. See the notes upon these foure first verses in the 2. Sam. 7.1 c. Vers 5. For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day That is I have never caused a house to be built to my dwelling place so that though the ark the signe of God presence had been a while in the house of Obed-Edom chap. 13.13 that doth not imply any contradiction to this which God here saith see other things noted concerning this 2. Sam. 7.6 But have gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another That is in a tent removed too and fro and so it is expressed 2. Sam. 7.6 Even to this day I have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle yet withall these words may imply the removing of the ark to severall tents at least the last removall of it to that new tent or tabernacle which David had prepared for it Vers 7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts I took thee from the sheep cote c. See 2. Sam. 7.8 where also we shall find all other passages in this chapter explained that need any explanation CHAP. XVIII Vers 1. NOw after this it came to passe that David smote the Philistines c. What is to be noted in this chapter we may find in the notes upon the 2. Sam. 8.1 c. CHAP. XIX Vers 2. I Will shew kindnesse unto Hanun the sonne of Nahash because his father shewed kindnesse to me c. See the notes for this chapter in 2 Sam. 10 CHAP. XX. Vers 1. ANd it came to passe that after the yeare was expired c. See 2. Sam. 11.1 But David tarried at Jerusalem And then he comitted adultery with Bathsheba which with other passages thereto belonging are largely related in the 11. and 12. chapters of the second book of Samuel And Joab smote Rabbah and destroyed it See 2. Sam. 12.26 c. Vers 2. And David took the crown of their king from off his head and found it to weigh a talent of gold c. Concerning this crown of the king of the Ammonites and the severitie which David used in punishing the people See 2. Sam. 12.30.31 Vers 4. And it came to passe after this that there arose warre at Gezer with the Philistines c. In the 2. Sam. 21.15 there is mention made of another battel with the Philistines together with these three here expressed wherein Abishai slew Ishbybenob a gyant that was likely to have slain David but that is here omitted and that happely because onely in these three there was something to be added which was not there expressed CHAP. XXI Vers 1. ANd Sathan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel He provoked David to this sinne whereby wrath came upon all Israel See also 2. Sam. 24.1 Vers 2. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people Go number Israel c. See 2. Sam 24.1 Vers 3. But my lord the king Are they not all my lords servants That is there is no need therefore to make enquiry how many are thy people and how

mercies of David thy servant That is the mercies which thou hast promised to David CHAP. VII Vers 1. NOw when Solomon had made an end of praying the fire came down from heaven c. See the notes Levit. 9.24 and 1. Kings 8.54 Vers 3. And praised the Lord saying For he is good for his mercy endureth for ever That is they sang Psalmes of praise the burthen and foot whereof was this for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever And such we see the 136. Psalme was and therefore happely that was sung at this time the like expression we have again vers 6. Vers 6. David praised by their ministery That is the Levites sung the Psalmes which David composed and appointed to be sung Vers 7. Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court c. See 1. Kings 8.64 Vers 8. Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast c. Concerning this feast see also the notes 1. Kings 8.65.66 Vers 12. And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night c. See 1. Kings 9.1 2. CHAP. VIII Vers 2. THe cities which Huram had restored to Solomon Solomon built them c. Solomon had given them to Huram and Huram not liking them had restored them to Solomon and so Solomon built them See 1. Kings 9.11 12. In which chapter we have also most of the other passages of this chapter and therefore I must referre the reader to the annotations there Vers 11. For he said My wife shall not dwell in the house of David c. In the foregoing words it is said that Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her and here the reason given for this is for he said My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel and why so Because the places are holy whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come Concerning which a question of great difficulty may be moved to wit why the house of David should be counted so holy that Solomons wife might not be suffered to dwell there and that even after the ark was already removed thence into the Temple we reade not any where else that the presence of the ark made any place holy any longer then it continued there for was the house of Obed-edom holy after the ark was carried from thence yet here thirteen years after the ark was carryed into the Temple for so long it was after the finishing of the Temple ere Solomon had built his own house and the queens house 1. Kings 7.1 Solomon refused to let his wife dwell in Davids house because the ark had been there yea the words seem to imply that all places were esteemed holy where the ark had been the places are holy saith Solomon whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come But for resolving of this two answers may be given First that those words for he said My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel because the places are holy c. contain the reason why Solomon resolved to build an house for his wife at which time the ark was yet in the house of David not why he brought up his wife into the house he had built for her when indeed the ark had been long before removed into the Temple and so must be referred to the words immediately foregoing the house that he had built for her Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had huilt for her and then to shew what moved him to build an house for her this clause is added for he said My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel because the places are holy whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come Or secondly that Solomon resolved that because the places were holy whereunto the ark was brought therefore it was not fit that his wife who was born of heathen parents and had not her self perhaps at that time embraced the faith of Israel should dwell in the house which had been holy in this regard though Davids house ceased to be holy after the ark was removed thence in regard of the Symbolicall signe of Gods presence yet out of his superabundant respect unto that signe of Gods presence he thought it not fit to make that a dwelling place for her and her followers that were aliens and strangers to the house of Israel which had been the holy dwelling place of the most high God and this I conceive to be the best and most satisfying answer CHAP. IX Vers 1. ANd when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon c. See 1. Kings 10.1 where also many other passages of this chapter are explained in the Annotations upon the severall passages there Vers 8. Which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne That is the throne of Israel 1. Kings 10.9 All thrones are Gods because all power is of God and he disposeth all the kingdomes in the world to whom he pleaseth Daniel 4.32 The most high ruleth in the kingdome of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will But the throne of Israel was the Lords in a more speciall respect because there was a speciall covenant betwixt God and Israel in regard whereof he was more peculiarly their God and king and their kings his deputies and types of Christ Psal 2.6 I have set my king upon my holy hill of Sion Vers 10. And the servants of Huram c. See 1. Kings 10 11 12. Vers 12. And king Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba all her desire whatsoever she asked besides that which she had brought unto the king That is besides what he gave her of his own royall bounty 1. Kings 10.13 in lieu of those guifts which she had brought to him or rather besides what he gave her in gifts of the same kind with those which she had given him to wit gold and spices and precious stones he gave her also other things that were greater rarities to her because she had them not in her own countrey Vers 13. Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon c. See 1. Kings 10.14 c. Vers 25 And Solomon had foure thousand stalls for horses and chariots c. See 1. Kings 4.26 Vers 28. And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt c. See 1. Kings 10.28 Vers 29. Now the rest of the acts of Solomon first and last are they not written in the book of Nathan c. See 1. Kings 11.41 CHAP. X. Vers 1. ANd Rehoboam went to Sechem This story is related as here in 1. Kings 12.1 Concerning which therefore see the Annotations there CHAP. XI Vers 4. ANd they obeyed the words of the Lord c. See 1. Kings 12.24 Vers 11. And he fortified the strong holds and put captains in them c. That is many places that were by situation and nature strong he fortified also

shall pretend that they have the law or statutes on their side and so one shall alledge one law and another an other see Deut. 17.8 c. Vers 11. Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord. That is in all matters ecclesiasticall or which are determined in the law of the Lord. And Zebadiah the sonne of Ishmael the ruler of the house of Judah for all the kings matters For all civill affairs or those things which were determinable by the civill statutes of the king and kingdome Also the Levites shall be officers before you That is they shall be officers in every city subordinate to the great Sanhedrim in Jerusalem from whom they should receive their power and directions CHAP. XX. Vers 1. THe children of Ammon and with them other beside the Ammonites came against Jehoshaphat in battel That is the Edomites of mount Seir vers 10. Vers 2. There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria That is the dead sea which lay betwixt Judah and Syria and because they came from those parts some Expositours conceive it to be very probable that Jehoshaphats aiding of Ahab in his warres against the Syrians chap. 18. was the first occasion of this invasion of his land Vers 5. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court Some Expositours understand this of a new court added of late years to the Temple for those that were strangers and unclean amongst the Israelites to worship God in but because of this we have no mention at all in the Scriptures it is better by others expounded of the court of the priests which Solomon built and that it is here called the new court because it was of late newly repaired and beautified and that happely by Asa when the altar of burnt offerings was also renewed chap. 18.8 Others again understand it of the court of the people and that this had been lately repaired and perhaps divided into two courts the one being appointed for the men and the other for the women as it is generally held that though at first when Solomon built it it was but one court yet afterwards it was divided into two or that having been ever since the revolt of the ten tribes alienated to other uses because then there was no use of so large a court as was provided for the meeting of the twelve tribes now upon the coming in of so many of the ten tribes to the kingdome of Judah it was opened and restored again to the service of the Temple But because it is most probable that Jehoshaphat stood to pray amongst the people upon the brasen scaffold which Solomon had built 2. Chron. 6.13 which was in the court of the people therefore I rather think this new court before which he stood was the priests court newly repaired Vers 13. And all Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones their wives and their children In times of publick humiliation they used to bring their little ones to the assemblies Joel 2.16 Gather the children and those that suck the breasts First that the bowels of the people might be the more moved by the sight of those their little ones now in danger to be cruelly butchered by these enemies and so they might be rendred the more serious and vehement in their prayers and more couragious in withstanding the enemy when they should come to fight against them And secondly being presented before the Lord as a pitifull object of his mercy he might also be moved to take compassion on them Vers 16. Behold they come by the cliff of Ziz and ye shall find them at the end of the brook c. By telling them before-hand the place where they should meet their enemies the next day he let them see with what assurance they might believe whatever else he said unto them Vers 20. Believe his prophets so shall ye prosper This it is likely was spoken with speciall reference to the prophecy of Jehaziel the Levite which they had heard the day before concerning their subduing the mighty army that was coming against them Vers 21. And when he had consulted with the people c. That is when he had advised with the heads and rulers of the people concerning their ordering of the battel c. he appointed singers unto the Lord to go before the army as it were to triumph beforehand for the victory promised and that should praise the beauty of holinesse that is Gods most holy majestie the glory of Gods sanctuary his dwelling place which also is therefore called the beautie of holinesse Psal 29.2 Worship the Lord in the beautie of holinesse and Psal 96.9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse and to say praise ye the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever which was the foot of severall Psalmes of thanksgiving composed by David and others as in particular of the 136. Psalme wherein there is an enumeration of many severall mercies which God afforded to his people and that therefore was happely at this time sung by the Levites Vers 22. And when they began to sing and to praise the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon Moab and Mount Seir c. That is the Lord did suddenly and unexpectedly cut them off as when men are cut off by enemies that ly in ambush against them and that by sending some unexpected strife amongst those nations whereupon they fell out amongst themselves and slew one another and so that was accomplished which the Levite had foretold vers 17. Ye shall not need to fight in the battel c. Yet some Expositours understand this ambushment of the holy angels that came suddenly in upon them by the Lords command and slew them whereupon they mistaking the matter and supposing it had been their own companions flew upon them and so sheathed their swords in one another bowels Vers 31. He was thirty and five years old when he began to reigne c. See 1. Kings 22.41 Vers 33. Howbeit the high places were not taken away See the notes chap. 17.6 For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers That is though Jehoshaphat did endeavour to reforme what was amisse chap. 19.4 yet from the high places the people would not be reclaimed Vers 36. And he joyned himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish c. See 1. Kings 22.48 CHAP. XXI Vers 2. ALl these were the sonnes of Jehoshaphat king of Israel That is king of the Israelites in the kingdome of Judah Usually in the sacred history the kings of the ten tribes are onely called kings of Israel it may be therefore that Jehoshaphat is here so called because many of the ten tribes had now joyned themselves to the kingdome of Judah chap. 15.9 They fell to him out of Israel in abundance when they saw that the

19. When the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark c. That is when the sunne was well nigh set for then the mountains in Jerusalem intercepting the light of the setting sunne the gates of Jerusalem began to be shadowed and dark and thus timely he commanded that the gates should be shut that he might be sure the whole sabbath should be kept holy which began there at the sunne setting and lasted till the sunne setting of the following day Levit. 23.32 From even unto even shall ye celebrate your sabbath And some of my servants set I at the gates that there should be no burden brought in on the sabbath day Though he had charged that the gates should not be opened that is set wide open that all might have free egresse and regresse as on other dayes till after the sabbath as is expressed in the foregoing words yet there was a necessity of opening the doores to let in and out those that had any necessary occasion especially such as dwelt in the suburbs and were to come in to serve God in the Temple therefore he set some of his servants to be at the gates to see that under that pretence none were admitted that would bring in any burden Vers 21. Then I testified against them and said unto them Why lodge ye about the wall c. To wit first because those that dwelt without the walls might still buy of them on the sabbath day secondly because their being there with wares ready to sell might be a dangerous temptation to move those within the walls to try by some meanes to get out to them Vers 22. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should come and keep the gates to sanctifie the sabbath day Some understand this also of the city gates to wit that the Levites as men of greatest fidelity should see that the gates were duly kept shut But because his own servants were appointed to that service and because it is said that the Levites should cleanse themselves that they might be fit to keep these gates I conceive this is meant of the gates of the Temple through which they were to take care that no unclean person did enter in that great concourse of people that resorted thither on the sabbath day Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me c. Because by his stricktnesse in reforming these profanations of the sabbath he knew that many were highly displeased with him he desires the Lord would accept of his service and then it was no great matter what men thought of him but withall because he knew that his best actions would not indure the exact tryall of Gods justice therefore even herein he implores Gods mercy and spare me according to the greatnesse of thy mercy Vers 29. And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod c. So likewise those of other nations which besides that it was in it self dishonourable to the people of God it was also a dangerous signe that they had a mixture of the manners as well as of the language of their heathen mothers Vers 25. And I contended with them and cursed them c. First he curseth that is he pronounced them accursed and accordingly excommunicated them and cast them out of the congregation of the Lord secondly He smote certain of them that is those whom he found most obstinate he caused to be beaten according to that law Deut. 25.2 If the wicked man be worthy to be beaten the judge shall cause him to lie down and to be beaten before his face according to his fault by a certain number and indeed we read that Paul was so punished by the Jews 2. Cor. 11.25 Thrice was I beaten with rods c. yea and happely also to be smitten with the fist for so it seems the custome was among the Jews to use those that were condemned for any great offence Isaiah 54.4 Ye fast for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednesse Matth. 26.67 They spit in his face and buffetted him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands John 18.22 One of the officers that stood by struck Jesus with the palme of his hand Acts 23.2 And the high priest commanded them that stood by to smite him on the mouth and thirdly he plucked off their hair for it seemes that amongst the Jews those that were found guilty of any foul offence were delivered up to the reproches either of the people in generall or of those that were to punish them who were accordingly wont not onely to buffet them but also to pluck off their hair Isaiah 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that pulled off the haire and so were these men now used by Nehemiahs appointment Vers 28. And one of the sonnes of Joiada the sonne of Eliashib the high priest was sonne in law to Sanballat That is one of the grand children of Joiada for this was according to Josephus one Manasses the brother of Jaddua the high priest who was the sonne of Jonathan and the grandchild of Joiada the sonne of Eliashib He having married the daughter of Sanballat that he might not turn away his wife which either he must do or be turned out of the priesthood his father in law Sanballat undertook to build a Temple every way as stately and goodly as that at Jerusalem wherein Manasses should be the chief priest which accordingly having first obtained leave of Alexander he did perform and built this new Temple that it might have the greater honour in mount Gerizim hard by the city Sichem and from this beginning came that famous schisme as touching the place where sacrifices were to be offered betwixt the Samaritanes and Jews John 4.20 Our father 's worshiped in this mount and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship but whether therefore this was that Sanballat that is so often mentioned in this book or another of his posterity of the same name it is hard to say Therefore I chased him from me Because he would not put away his wife I caused him to be excommunicated and banished from amongst us and so he went and became the chief priest in the Samaritanes temple as is above mentioned in the former note ANNOTATIONS Upon the book of ESTHER CHAP. I. NOw it came to passe in the dayes of Ahasuerus It is not expressed who was the authour of this book of Esther but by the common consent of the Church in all ages it hath been received as a part of those sacred Hebrew oracles of God which were committed to the Jews and by them unto the coming of Christ faithfully preserved though the name of the Lord Jehovah be not mentioned in it and by a passage in this book chap. 9.20.21 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces c. some Expositours have

of the dedication of the Temple was on this moneth 1. Kings 8.2 c. therefore the people having spent some time in settling their own domesticall affairs in the severall towns and cities where they were to dwell at least the seventh moneth approaching they did unanimously assemble together unto Jerusalem that they might build the altar and prepare for the keeping of these solemnities Vers 3. And they set the altar upon his bases c. That is they built the altar upon the foundations of Solomons altar which were still standing and the reason of this is added in the following words for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries that is they laid not a new foundation for haste because they feared that if it were not soon dispatched they should be hindred by the Samaritanes the neighbouring inhabitants of that countrey who already it seems began to threaten them and to bandy against them Yet some conceive that in these words a reason is given not why they built the altar upon the old bases or foundations of Solomons altar but why they would not stay the building of the altar till the temple was built it was because they were afraid of the Samaritanes and so they hastened the building of the altar that by offering up sacrifices to God they might seek his favour and assistance against those their envious and malignant neighbours Vers 4. They kept also the feast of tabernacles c. With what extraordinary solemnity this feast was afterward kept we see Neh. 8.13.18 Vers 6. From the first day of the seventh moneth began they to offer burnt offerings c. Which was the day appointed by the law for the feast of trumpets Levit. 23.24 In the seventh moneth in the first day of the moneth shall ye have a sabbath a memoriall of blowing of trumpets Vers 9. Then stood Joshua with his sonnes and his brethren c. Not the sonne of Josedech the high priest but a Levite of the same name of whom mention is made before chap. 2.40 Vers 11. Giving thanks unto the Lord because he is good for his mercie endureth for ever towards Israel c. To wit singing the 118. or the 136. Psalme See 2. Chron. 5.13 and 7.3 Vers 12. Ancient men that had seen the first house when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes wept with a loud voice c. To wit both because many of the holy things that were in the former house were like to be wanting in this and especially because the glory of this building was not likely to equall the glory of the first which Solomon built a shadow intimating the wearing away of the legall ceremonies Yea thus it continued to be with the people when afterwards the building of the Temple went forward in the dayes of Darius whence it was that Haggai the Prophet who prophesied in the second yeare of Darius the king Hag. 1.1 did encourage and comfort the people with that promise Hag. 2.9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater then of the former which yet he meant not of the glory of the building but of the glorious appearance of Christ the promised Messiah herein nor needs it seem strange that some were now living that had seen the former Temple for that was destroyed in the eleventh yeare of the captivitie 2. Kings 25. and therefore it was but threescore years after that when the foundations of this new house were laid CHAP. IV. Vers 2. THen they came to Zerubbabel and to the chief of the fathers and said unto them Let us build with you c. This they did doubtlesse not out of any sincere desire to set forward the building or to advance the worship of God for these Samaritanes that spake this were alwayes deadly enemies to the Jews but either to curry favour with Cyrus for because he now favoured the Jews and gave way to the building of the Temple therefore they would be as one people with them and approve it by joyning with them in this holy work or else out of hope that their people being mingled with the Jews in this work there would some contention arise and so the work would be hindred yet to the end they might prevail with the Jews they alledged they served and sacrificed to the true God of Israel as indeed they pretended to do though withall they served their idol-gods too 2. Kings 17.33 They feared the Lord and served their own Gods even since the dayes of Esarhaddon king of Assur who was the sonne of Shalmaneser and grandchild of Sennacherib 2. Kings 19.37 and it seems brought a new colony of severall nations into the land of Samaria as his father had done before him Vers 3. You have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God c. Thus Zerubbabel and the rest answered the Samaritanes because they were idolatours and neither were of the stock of Israel nor did purely worship the God of Israel therefore they protested against them that they had nothing to do with the Temple to sacrifice there and so also not to joyn with them in the building of it alledging withall that they would build it themselves as say they king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us wherein they give them to understand that the commission they had from the king did warrant them to do what they did Vers 4. Then the people of the land weakned the hands of the people of Judah c. That is when Samaritanes could not by fraud accomplish their desires because the Jews would not admit them to joyn with them in building the Temple then they used other means to hinder them in their work to wit partly by threatning them and by raising any false rumours that might discourage them and partly no doubt by using all means that they might not have those materials and money out of the kings revenues which Cyrus had commanded should be given them for the building of the Temple chap. 6.3 4. Vers 5. And hired counsellours against them to frustrate their purpose c. That is the Samaritanes did not onely do what themselves could to hinder the Jews in building the Temple but by bribes also they secretly hired such as were powerfull with the king of Persia to wit the deputies and governours in Samaria and other provinces yea and those that were of his privie counsel in Persia to advise the king by many false pretences and informations to disanull that decree which had been made for the building of it and this they did all the dayes of Cyrus king of Persia even untill the reigne of Darius king of Persia that is all the dayes of Cyrus and Cambyses his sonne and Smerdis the Magus who a while usurped the kingdome after Cambyses death unto the second yeare of Darius the sonne of Hystaspes when the work of the Temple was again set forward vers 24. So it ceased unto the second yeare of