expecting the end of the thing and she cried to him The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who brake the bandes as if a man should breake a thread of to◠twyned with spittle when it hath taken the sauor of fyre and it was not knowen wherein his strength was †And Dalila said to him Behold thou hast deluded me and hast spoken false now at the least tel me wherwith thou mayest be bound †To whom he answered If I shal be bound with new cordes that were neuer occupied I shal be weake and like to other men †With the which Dalila againe bound him and cried The Philisthijmes vpon thee Samson ambushementes being prepared in the chamber Who did so breake the bandes as threades of linnen cloth †And Dalila said to him againe How long deceiuest thou me and speakest false Shew wherewith thou mayest be bound To whom Samson answered If thou platte seuen heares of my head with a heare lase and fasten a nayle tyed round about them in the ground I shal be weake †Which when Dalila had done she said to him The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who rysing vp from sleepe drew out the nayle with the heares and the heare lase †And Dalila said to him How doest thou say that thou louest me whereas thy mind is not with me These three times thou hast lied to me wouldest not tel wherein thy greatest strength is †And when she molested him and continually hong vpon him for many daies not geuing him space to rest his soule faynted and was wearied euen vnto death †Then opening the truth of the thing he said to her There neuer came yron vpon my head because I am a Nazareite that is to say consecrated to God from my mothers wombe if my head shal be shauen my strength shal depart from me and I shal fayle and shal be as other men †And she seing that he had confessed to her al his minde sent to the princes of the Philisthijms and willed them Come vp yet once more for now he hath opened his hart to me Who went vp taking with them the money which they had promised †But she made him to sleepe vpon her knees and to lay his head in her bosome And she called a barber and shaued his seuen heares and beganne to driue him away and thrust him from her for immediately the streingth departed from him †and she said The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson Who arysing from sleepe said in his mind I wil goe forth as I did before and wil shake my self not knowing that our Lord was departed from him †Whom when the Philisthijmes had apprehended forthwith they plucked forth his eies and led him to Gaza bound with chaynes and being shut vp in prison they made him grinde †And now his heares had begone to grow againe †and the princes of the Philisthijms assembled in one that they might immolate magnifical hostes to Dagon their god and might feast saying Our God hath deliuered our enemie Samson into our handes †Which thing the people also seing praysed their god and said the same thinges Our God hath deliuered our aduersarie into our handes who destroyed our countrie and killed verie manie †And reioysing through out their bankettes when they had now taken their good cheere they commanded that Samson should be called and should play before them Who being brought out of prison played before them and they made him to stand betwen two pillers †Who said to the seruant that gouerned his steppes Suffer me to touch the pillers on which al the house stayeth and let me leane vpon them and rest a litle †And the house was ful of men and wemen and there were al the princes of the Philisthijms also from the roofe and higher part about three thousand of both sexe beholding Samson playing †But he inuocating our Lord said Lord God remember me restore now to me myne old strength my God that I may reuenge me of myne enemies and for the losse of two eies may receiue one reuenge †And taking both the pillers on which the house rested and holding the one in his right hand and the other in his left †he said “ Let me die with the Philisthijms And the pillers being strongly shaken the house fel vpon al the princes and the rest of the multitude that was there and he killed manie moe dying then before he had killed liuing †And his brethren going downe and al his kindred they tooke his bodie and buried it betwixt Saraa and Esthaol in the sepulchre of his father Manue and he iudged Israel twentie yeares ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 30. Let me die vvith the Philisthiims Manie thinges do iustifie Samsons fact in killing himself with the Philisthiims First it appeareth by the miracle that God directly and extraordinarily concurred by restoring in that moment his admirable streingth that he could pull downe two such pillers And conformably we may gather that God inspired his mind to attempt this fact and so he erred not but obeyed God herein as S. Augustin noteth li. 1. c. 21. 26. de ciuit Dei Secondly he was moued with zele of Gods honour hearing the Idolaters praise their false god Dagon Thirdly he had a good and pure intention to reuenge him selfe for Gods more glorie praying to him for restauration of streingth Fourthy he did not directly desire to kil himselfe but to kil the Philisthims though himselfe must also die with them And in this act especially he was a figure of Christ who chiefly by his death conquered his enemies CHAP. XVII Michas and his mother cause a grauen and a molten idol to be made of siluer 5. He maketh one of his sonnes priest for the idol 10. and for the same purpose hyreth also a Leuite THERE was at that time a certaine man of mount Ephraim named Michas †who said to his mother The thousand and hundred siluer peeces which thou hadst separated to thy selfe and concerning the which thou didst sweare in my hearing behold I haue and they are with me To whom she said Blessed be my sonne to the Lord. †He therfore rendred them to his mother who had said to him I haue consecrated and vowed this siluer to the Lord that my sonne may receiue it of my hand and make a grauen and a molten god and now I deliuer that to thee †He rendred them therfore to his mother who tooke two hundred siluer peeces and gaue them to the siluersmith that he might make of them a grauen and a molten god which was in the house of Michas †Who separated also therein a litle house to the God and made an Ephod and Theraphim that is to say a priestlie vestiment and idoles and he filled the hand of one of his sonnes and he became his priest †In those daies there was not a king in Israel but euerie one did that which semed right to him self
that armie which Amasias had sent backe from going with him to battel was spred in the cities of Iuda from Samaria vnto Bethhoron killing three thousand tooke away a great praye †But Amasias after the slaughter of the Idumeans sette vp the goddes of the children of Seir which he had brought thence for his goddes and adored them and burnt incense to them †For which thing our Lord being angrie against Amasias sent a prophete vnto him which should say to him Why hast thou adored goddes that haue not deliuered their owne people out of thy hand †And when he spake these thinges he answered him Art thou the kinges counseler be quiet lest I kil thee And the prophet departing sayd I know that God is minded to kil thee because thou hast done this euil and besides hast not agreed to my counsel †Therfore Amasias the king of Iuda taking verie il counsel sent to Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu the king of Israel saying Come let vs see one an other †But he sent backe the messengers saying A thistle that is in Libanus sent to a cedar of Libanus saying Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife behold the beastes that were in the wood of Libanus passed and trode downe the thistle †Thou hast sayd I haue stroken Edom and therfore thy hart is extolled into pryde sitte in thy house why dost thou prouoke euil against thee that both thou mayest fal and Iuda with thee †Amasias would not heare because it was our Lordes wil that he should be deliuered into the handes of the enemies for the goddes of Edom. †Ioas therfore the king of Israel went vp and they gaue themselues one the sight of the other and Amasias the king of Iuda was in Bethsames of Iuda †and Iuda fel before Israel and fled into their tabernacles †Moreouer Amasias the king of Iuda the sonne of Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz did take Ioas the king of Israel in Bethsames brought him into Ierusalem and destroyed the wal therof from the gate of Ephraim to the gate of the corner foure hundred cubites †Al the gold also and siluer and al the vessels that he found in the house of God and with Obededom in the treasures also of the kinges house moreouer he brought backe the sonnes of the hostages into Samaria †And Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda liued after that Ioas died the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel fiftene yeares †But the rest of the wordes of Amasias the first and the last are Writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel †Who after he reuolted from our Lord they lay in waite agaynst him in Ierusalem And when he had fled into Lachis they sent and slew him there †And carying him backe vpon horses buried him with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid CHAP. XXVI Ozias seruing God 6. preuaileth in battel against the Philistians Arabians and Ammonites 9. prospereth in honour and wealth 16. Then wâ—ixing proud offereth incense on the altar is striken with leprosie expelled out of the Temple and citie 20. and his sonne Ioathan ruleth the kingdom AND al the people of Iuda made his sonne Ozias sixtene yeares old king for Amasias his father †He built Ailath and restored it to the dominion of Iuda after that the king slept with his fathers †Sixtene yeares old was Ozias when he began to reigne and he reigned two and fiftie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Iechelia of Ierusalem †And he did that which was right in the eies of our Lord according to al thinges which Amasias his father had done †And he sought our Lord in the daies of Zacharias that vnderstood and saw God and when he sought our Lord he directed him in al thinges †Moreouer he went forth and fought against the Philisthijms and destroyed the wal of Geth and the wal of Iabinia and the wal of Azotus he built also townes in Azotus and among the Philisthijms †And God did helpe him against the Philisthijms and against the Arabians that dwelt in Garbaal and against the Ammonites †And the Ammonites gaue giftes to Ozias and his name was renowmed vnto the entrance of Aegypt for his often victories †And Ozias built towers in Ierusalem ouer the gate of the corner and ouer the gate of the valley and the rest in the same side of the wal and strengthened them †He built towers also in the wildernesse and digged manie cesternes because he had much cattel as wel in the champaine as in the vastitie of the desert he had also vineyardes dressers of vines in the mountaynes and in Carmel for he was a man geuen to husbandrie †And the host of his warriers which went forth to battels was vnder the band of Iehiel the scribe Maasias the doctor and vnder the hand of Hananias who was of the kinges dukes †And al the number of the princes by families of valiant men was two thousand six hundred †And vnder them al the host of three hundred seuen thousand fiue hundred which were apt to battels and fought for the king against the aduersaries †Ozias also prepared for them that is to say for al the armie shildes and speares and helmettes and coates of mayle and bowes and slinges to cast stones †And he made in Ierusalem engines of diuerse kind which he placed in the towers and in the corners of the walles to shoote arrowes and great stones and his name went forth farre for that our Lord did ayde him and had strengthned him †But when he was strengthned his hart was eleuated to his destruction and he neglected our Lord his God and entering into the temple of our Lord he would burne incense vpon the altar of incense †And incontinent Azarias the Priest going in after him with him the Priestes of our Lord eightie most valiant men †they resisted the king and sayd It is not thy office Ozias to burne incense to our Lord but of the Priestes that is of the children of Aaron which are consecrated to this kind of ministerie goe out of the Sanctuarie contemne not because this thing shal not be reputed to thee for glorie of our Lord God †And Ozias being angrie and holding in his hand the censar to burne incense threatned the Priestes And forthwith there rose a leprosie in his forehead before the Priestes in the house of our Lord vpon the altar of incense †And when Azarias the high Priest had beheld him and al the rest of the Priestes they saw the leprosie in his forehead and in hast they thrust him out Yea and him self being sore afrayd made hast to goe out because he felt by and by the plague of our Lord. †Ozias therfore the king was a leper vntil the day of his death and he dwelt in a house apart ful of the
the Ammanite his neighbour sayd Let them build if a fox come vp he shal leape ouer their stone wal †Heare our God because we are had in dispise turne the reproch vpon their head and giue them into dispite in a Land of captiuitie †Couer not their iniquitie and let not their sinne be put out before thy face because they haue mocked thy builders †Therfore we built the wal and ioyned together the whole vnto the halfe part and the hart of the people was prouoked to worke †And it came to passe when Sanaballat had heard and Tobias and the Arabians and the Ammanites and the Azotians that the breach of the wal of Ierusalem was closed vp and the gates began to be stopped they were wrath excedingly †And they were al assembled together to come and to fight against Ierusalem and to prepare embushments †And we prayed our God and set watchmen vpon the wal day and night against them †And Iudas sayd The strength of him that carrieth is weakened the morter is very much and we shal not be able to build the wal †And our enimies sayd Let them not know and let them be ignorant til we come into the midest of them and kil them and make their worke to cease †And it came to passe the Iewes that dwelt beside them coming and telling vs ten times out of al places from whence they came to vs †I sette the people in a place behind the wal round about in order with their swordes and speares and bowes †And I looked and rose vp I sayd to the princes and magistrates and to the rest of the common people Be not afrayd at their face Remember our Lord great and terrible and fight for your bretheren your sonnes and your daughters and your wiues and your houses †And it came to passe when our enimies had heard that it was told vs God defeted their counsel And we returned al to the walles euery man to his worke †And it came to passe from that day the halfe part of their yongmen did the worke and halfe was ready to battel and speares sheilds and bowes and cotes of mayle and the princes behind them in al the house of Iuda †of them that built in the wal and that carried burdens and that laded them with one of his hands he did the worke with the other he held a sword †for euery one of the builders was girded with a sword about his reynes And they builded and sounded with the trumpet nere me †And I sayd to the princes and to the magistrates to the rest of the common people The worke is great and broad and we are seperated in the wal one far from an other †in what place soeuer you shal heare the sound of the trumpet thither runne together vnto vs our God wil fight for vs. †And let vs our selues doe the worke and let the halfe part of vs hold speares from the rysing of the morning til the starres appeare †At that time also I sayd to the people Let euery man with his seruant tarry in the middes of Ierusalem and let there be courses among vs by day and night to worke †And I and my bretheren and my seruants and the watchmen that were behinde me did not put of our clothes euery man was made bare only to washing CHAP. V. Nehemias blameth couetous richmen for oppressing the poore 14. himselfe geueth largely of his owne to the needie AND there was a great crie of the people and of their wiues against their brethren the Iewes †And there were that said Our sonnes and our daughters are verie manie let vs take corne for the price of them and let vs eate and liue †And there were that sayd Let vs pledge our fieldes and vineyardes and our houses and let vs take corne in famine †And others sayd Let vs borow money for the kings tributes and let vs giue our fields and vineyardes †and now as the flesh of our bretheren so is our flesh and as their children so also our children behold we subdew our sonnes and our daughters into bondage and our daughters there are bond we men neither haue we where with they may be redemed and our fieldes and our vineyardes other men doe possesse †And I was exceding angrie when I had heard their crie according to these wordes †And my hart thought with my selfe and I rebuked the princes and magistrates and sayd to them Do you euery one exact vsuries of your brethen and I gathered against them a great assemblie †and I sayd to them We as you know haue redemed our bretheren the Iewes that were sold to the gentiles according to our abilitie and wil you therfore sel your bretheren and shal we redeme them And they held their peace neither did they find what to answer †And I sayd to them The thing is not good which you doe why walke you not in the feare of our God lest we be vpbrayded with al the gentiles our enimies †I also and my bretheren and my seruantes haue lent money and corne to very manie let vs not aske this againe in common let vs remitte them the debt that is dewe to vs. †Restore ye to them their fieldes this day and their vineyards and their oliuets and their houses yea the hundreth part also of money corne wine and oyle which you were wont to exact of them giue it rather for them †And they sayd We wil restore and we wil seeke nothing of them and we wil do so as thou speakest And I called the Priestes and adiured them to do according to that which I had sayd †Moreouer I shooke my bosome and sayd God so shake euery man that shal not accomplish this word out of his house and out of his labours so be he shaken out and made emptie And al the multitude sayd Amen And they praysed God And the people did as it was sayd †And from that day wherin the king commended me to the duke in the land of Iuda from the twenteth yeare til the two thirteth yeare of Artaxerxes the king for twelue yearees I and my bretheren did not eate the yearly allowance that was dewe to the dukes †But the former dukes that had bene before me burdened the people and tooke of them in bread and wine and money euery day fourtie sicles yea and their officers oppressed the people But I did not so for the feare of God †Yea I builded rather in the worke of the wal and field I bought not and al my seruantes were gathered together to the worke †Tke Iewes also and the magistrates an hundred fiftie men and they that came to vs out of the nations that were round about vs were at the table †And there was prepared for me day by day one oxe six chosen rammes beside foules and within ten dayes diuers wines
Israel in the dayes of Ozias the king of Iuda and in the dayes af Iereboam the sonne of Ioas the king of Israel two yeares before the earthquake †And he sayd Our Lord wil roare out of Sion and out of Ierusalem he wil geue his voice the beautiful places of the pastours haue mourned and the toppe of Carmel is withered †Thus sayth our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Damascus and vpon foure I wil not conuert it because they haue threshed Galaad with yron waynes †And I wil send fyre into the house of Azael and it shal deuoure the houses of Benadad †And I wil breake the barre of Damascus and I wil destroy the inhabitant out of the idol and him that holdeth the scepter out of the house of pleasure and the people of Syria shal be transported to Cyrene saith our Lord. †Thus saith our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Gaza vpon foure I wil not conuert it because they haue transported a perfect captiuitie to shut it vp in Idumea †And I wil send â—yre on the wal of Gaza and it shal deuoure the houses therof †And I wil destroy the inhabitant out of Azotus and him that holdeth the scepter out of Ascalon and I wil turne my hand vpon Accaron and the rest of the Philisthims shal perish sayth our Lord God †Thus saith our Lord Vpon the three wickednesses of Tyre and vpon foure I wil not conuert it because they haue shut vp a perfect captiuite in Idumea and haue not remembred the league of brethren †And I wil send fyre vpon the wal of Tyre it shal deuoure the houses therof †Thus sayth our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Edom and vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath persecuted his brother with the sword and hath violated his mercie and hath held his furie longer and hath kept his indignation euen to the end †I wil send fyre into The man and it shal deuoure the houses of Bosra †Thus sayth our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of the children of Ammon and vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath cut in sunder the wemen with childe of Galaad to dilate his limite †And I wil kindle a fyre in the wal of Rabba it shal deuoure the houses therof with howling in the day of battel and with a whirlewind in the day of commotion †And Melchom shal goe into captiuitie himself and his princes together sayth our Lord. CHAP. II. God also threatneth Moab 4. Iuda 6. and Israel 9. that for ingratitude 12. and other sinnes they shal be brought into captiuitie THVS sayth our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Moab and vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath burnt the bones of Idumea euen to ashes †And I wil send fyre into Moab and it shal deuoure the houses of Carioth and Moab shal dye in the sound in the noyse of the trumpet †and I wil destroy the iudge out of the middes of him and al his princes I wil kil with him saith our Lord. †Thus saith our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Iuda vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath cast away the law of our Lord and not kept his commandments for their idols haue deceiued them after which their fathers went †And I wil send fire into Iuda and it shal deuoure the houses of Ierusalem †Thus saith our Lord Vpon three wickednesses of Israel and vpon foure I wil not conuert him because he hath sold the iust for siluer and the poore for shoes †Which bruise the heades of the poore vpon the dust of the earth and decline the way of the humble and the sonne and his father haue gone to a young woman that they might violate my holie name †And vpon garments layd to pledge they did lye beside euerie altar the wine of the condemned they dranke in the house of their God †But I did cast out the Ammorrheit before their face whose height the height of Cedars he strong as an oke and I destroyed his fruite from aboue his rootes beneath †It is I that made you come vp out of the Land of Aegypt I ledde you in the desert fourtie yeares that you might possesse the Land of the Amorrheite †And I raysed vp of your sonnes to be prophets of your yongmen Nazareites is it not so ô children of Israel saith our Lord †And you dranke wine to the Nazareites and the prophets you commanded saying Prophecie not †Behold I wil screake vnder you as a wayne screaketh loden with hay †And flight shal perish from the swift and the valient shal not obteyne his strength and the strong shal not saue his life †And he that holdeth the bow shal not stand and the swift of his feete shal not be saued and the rider of the horse shal not saue his life †and the stoute of hart among the valients shal flee naked in that day sayth our Lord. CHAP. III. For their manifold sinnes al the twelue tribes shal be sore plaged 11. and made captiues HEARE the word that our Lord hath spoken vpon you ye children of Israel vpon al the kindred that I brought forth out of the Land of Aegypt saying †Onlie you haue I knowen of al the kindreds of the earth therfore wil I visite vpon you al your iniquities †Why shal two walke together vnles they be agreed †Wil the lion roare in the forrest vnles he haue a praye wil the lions whelpe geue voice out of his denne vnles he hath caught somewhat †wil the bird fal into the snare of the earth without the sowler Shal the snare be taken away from the earth before it hath taken somewhat †Shal the trumpet sound in the citie and wil not the people be afrayd Shal there be euil in the citie which our Lord hath not done †Because our Lord God wil not doe a word vnles he haue reueled his secret to his seruants the prophers †The lion shal roare who wil not feare Our Lord God hath spoken who shal not prophecie †Make it heard in the houses of Azotus and in the houses of the Land of Aegypt and say Gather ye together vpon the mountaines of Samaria and see the manie madnesses in the midddes therof and them that suffer calumnie in the inner parts therof †And they haue not knowne to doe right sayth our Lord treasuring vp iniquitie and robberies in their houses †Therfore thus sayth our Lord God The land shal be in tribulation compassed about and thy strength shal be plucked away from thee and thy houses shal be spoyled †Thus sayth our Lord As if a pastour should get out of the lions mouth two legges or the tippe of the eare so shal the children of Israel that dwel in Samaria be deliuered in the plague of
And they went forth the king of Sodome and the king of Gomorra and the king of Adama and the king of Seboim moreouer also the king of Bala which is Segor and they set themselues against them in battaile aray in the Woodland vale †to wit against Chodorlahomor king of the Elamites and Chadal king of nacions and Amraphel king of Sennaar and Arioch king of Pontus foure kings against fiue †But the Woodland vale had many pitts of bitume Therfore the king of Sodome and of Gomorra turned their backes and were ouerthrowne there and they that remained fled to the mountaine †And they tooke al the substance of the Sodomites and Gomorrheans and tooke al kind of victuales and went their way †and Lot also and his substance the sonne of Abrams brother who dwelled in Sodom †And behold one that had escaped told Abram the Hebrew that dwelt in the vale of Mambre the Amorrean brother of Eschol and the brother of Aner for these had made a league with Abram †Which when Abram had heard to witt that his brother Lot was taken he numbred of the seruantes borne in his house wel appointed three hundred and eightene and pursued them vnto Dan. †And diuiding his companie he ranne vpon them in the night and stroke them and pursued them vnto Hoba which is on the left hand of Damascus †And he brought backe al the substance and Lot his brother with his substance the wemen also and the people †And the king of Sodom went forth to meete them after he returned from the slaughter of Chodorlahomor and of the kinges that were with him in the vale Sauee which is the kings vale †But “ Melchesidech the king of Salem “ bringing forth bread and wine for he was the Priest of God most highe †“ blessed him and said Blessed be Abram to God the highest which created heauen and earth †and blessed be God the highest by whose protection the enemyes are in thy hands And “ he gaue him the tythes of al. †And the king of Sodom said to Abram Geue me the soules and the rest take to thee †Who answered him I lift vp my hand to my Lord God most hiegh possessor of heauen and earth †that from the very woofe-thread vnto the shoe latchet I wil not take of al that are thine lest thou say I haue enriched Abram †except such thinges as the young men haue eaten and the shares of the men that came with me Aner Eschol and Mambre these shal take their shares ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII 18. Melchisedech S. Hierom being earnestly requested by Euagrius to geue his iudgement touching Melchisedech whom a nameles author had endeuored to proue to be the Holie Ghost plainly confuteth that error as also an other error of Origen and Didymus saying he was an Angel Likewise S. Epiphanius heresi 55. 76 relateth and condemneth a third error of some that thought him to be the Sonne of God These two Fathers and S. Augustin li. de heresibus her 34. and diuers others whom S. Hierom alleageth proue euidently that he was a very man a Priest and a king yea the hiegh Priest at least of that countric Superior to Abraham and a figure of Christ Besides these heresies the same S. Hierom relateth two probable opinions The Iewes Rabins generally hold that Melchisedech was Sem the sonne of Noe from whom Abraham and al the Hebrewes descended VVhich they seme rather to affirme as loath to confesse that anie man of other nation then their owne should haue bene greater and more excellent then Abraham in spiritual causes then for anie reason they do or can alleage Yet manie especially latter writers as Liranus Tostatus Genebrardus and others do embrace this opinion as most probable Though S. Hierom semeth only to haue added the Hebrewes opinion as he saith because he would intimate al to his freind when he had first cited grauer authores S. S. Ireneus Hypolitus Eusebius Cesariensis Eusebius Emissenus Apolinarius and Eustathius al agreably affirming that Melchisedech was a Chananite king of Salem which was afterwards called Ierusalem To this opinion agreeth Philo Iudaeus continually speaking of him as of a stranger to the Iewes nation Iosephus also a Iew writeth plainly li. 7. de bello Iudaico c. 18. that he was of Chanaan and Prince of the Chananites Also S. Dionysius Ariopagita Caelest Hier. c. 9. S. Epiphanius her 55. 67 Theoderetus q. 63. in Gen. and Suidas are of the same mind and manie other christitian Doctors VVho confirme their assertion by that S. Paul saith to the Hebrewes He vvhose generation is not numbred among them tooke tithes of Abraham For what els can S. Paul meane but that Melchisedechs kinred and people was diuers from the kinred and people of the Iewes which he could not say of Sem from whom Abraham al Iewes descended as it can not be said that Adam and Noe are of diuers genetation from anie people that now liueth because we al come of them Of this difficultie not pettaining to anie controuersie of our time the studious may see more in F. Pererius his commentaries vpon this 14. chap. of Genesis disp 3. 18. Bringing forth Seing the Royal Prophet Dauid and S. Paul say Christ is a Priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedech we demand of Protestants if Christ fulfilled not Melchisedechs figuratiue Sacrifice offered in bread and wine by offering his owne bodie and bloud at his last supper in formes of bread wine and by instituting the same to be offered by his Priests til the end of the world what other figuratiue sacrifice of Melchisedech they can find performed by Christ by which it may appeare that he is a Priest for euer according to that order Caluin li. 4. Instit c. 18. para 2. Kemnisius par 2. exam pag. 740. 747 Peter martyr in 1. Cor. 5. and most English Protestants grant that Melchisedech was a Priest and that the peculiar function of a Priest is to offer Sacrifice wherfore they hauing no sacrifice wil haue only ministers and no Priests but they denie that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread and wine VVherupon we ioyne issue with them to proue that he did and that by this place amongst others of holie Scripture Kemnisius complayneth that the Latin text hath Obtulit for Protulit Offered for Brought forth And to disproue the same he alleageth the Hebrew Chaldee Greke and S. Cyprian But Catholiques more iustly complaine of him for lying For al Latin Editions haue Proferens bringing forth The question therfore in controuersie is to what end and vse Melchisedech brought forth bread and wine Caluin and Kemnisius say it was only to refresh or feede Abraham and his men and not for sacrifice which their bare saying is without reason for that there was store of victuals in the pray v. 11. and they had
he slept with her that night †And God heard her prayers and she conceaued and bare the fifth sonne †and said God hath geuen me a reward because I gaue my handmaid to my husband And she called his name Issachar †Againe Lia conceauing bare the sixt sonne †and said God hath endowed me with a good dowrie this turne also my husband wil be with me for because I haue borne him six sonnes and therfore she called his name Zabulon †After whom â—he bare a daughter named Dina. †Our Lord also remembring Rachel heard her and opened her wombe †Who conceaued and bare a sonne saying God hath taken away my reproch †And she called his name Ioseph saying Our Lord adde to me an other sonne †And when Ioseph was borne Iacob said to his father in lawe Dismisse me that I may returne into my countrie and to my land †Geue me my wiues and my children for whom I haue serued thee that I may depart thou knowest the seruice that I haue serued thee †Laban said to him Let me finde grace in thy sight I haue learned by experience that God hath blessed me for thy sake †appoint thee wages which I shal geue thee †But he answered Thou knowest how I haue serued thee and how great thy possession hath benne in my hands †Thou hadest a smal thing before I came to thee and now thou art made rich and our Lord hath blessed thee at my comming in It is reason therfore that once I prouide also for mine owne house †And Laban said What shal I geue thee But he said I wil nothing but if thou wilt doe that which I demande I wil fede and kepe thy sheepe again †Goe round about al thy flockes and separate al the shepe of diuers colours of speckled flyse and what soeuer shal be russet and spotted and of diuers colours aswel in the shepe as in the goates shal be my wages †And my iustice shal answer for me to morowe before thee when the time of the bargaine shal come and al that shal not be of diuers colours and spotted and russet aswel in the shepe as in the goates shal accuse me of theft †And Laban said I like wel that thou demandest †And he separated the same day the shee goates and the shepe and the he goates and the rammes of diuers colours and spotted and al the flocke of one coloure that is of white and blacke flyse he deliuered in the hand of his sonnes †And he put a space of three dayes iourney betwixt him and his sonne in lawe who fed the rest of his flocke †Iacob therfore taking grene roddes of the poplare and of the almond and of the plaine trees in part pilled them and when the barkes were taken of in the parts that were pilled there appeared whitnes but the parts that were whole remayned grene and by this meanes the colour was made diuers †And he put them in the troughes where the water was poured out that when the flockes should come to drinke they might haue the roddes before their eyes and in the sight of them conceaue †And it came to passe that in the verie heate of the ramming the shepe beheld the roddes and brought forth spotted and of diuers colours and speckled †And Iacob diuided the flocke and put the roddes in the troughes before the eyes of the rammes and al the white and the blacke were Labans and the rest Iacobs when the flockes were separated one from the other †Therfore when the ewes went to ramme in the prime time Iacob put the roddes in the troughes of water before the eyes of the rammes and of the ewes that in looking vpon them they might conceaue †but when the later comming was and the last conceauing he did not put them And those that were late warde became Labans and they of the prime time Iacobs †And the man was enriched beyond measure and he had manie flockes wemen seruantes and men seruants camels and asses CHAP. XXXI Iacob by Gods commandment parteth secretly with al he hath towards his father 21. Laban pursueth him 26. expostulating why he went in secrete maner 30. especially chargeth him with stelling his goddes 31. Iacob excuseth himselfe not knowing that Rachel had taken a way the Idols 34. and she deludeth his diligent searching for them 36. Then Iacob expostulateth with Laban for this vnkindnes 43. Finally they make a league and depart â—ch to his owne countrie AFTER he heard the wordes of Labans sonnes saying Iacob hath taken al that was our fathers and being enriched of his substance is become great †and perceauing also Labans countenance that it was not towards him as yesterday and the other day †especially our Lord saying to him Returne into the land of thy fathers and to thy kinred and I wil be with thee †He sent and called Rachel and Lia into the field where he fed the flockes †and said to them I see your fathers countenance that it is not towards me as yesterday and the other day and the God of my father hath bene with me †And your selues knowe that I haue serued your father to the vttermost of my power †Yea your father also hath circumâ—â—ented me and hath changed my wages tenne times and yet God hath not suâ—â—red him to hurt me †If at any time he said They of diuers colours shal be thy wages al the â—â—â—â—pe brought forth young of diuers colours but when he said contrarie Thou shalt take al the white ones for thy wages al the flockes brought forth white ones †And God 〈…〉 taken your fathers substance and geuen it to me †For after the time came of the ewes conceauing I lifted vp mine eyes and sawe in my sleepe the males ascending vpon the females of diuers colours and the spotted and the speckled †And the angel of God said to me in sleepe Iacob And I answered Here I am †Who said Lyft vp thine eyes and see al the males ascending vpon the females them of diuers colours the spotted and the speckled For I haue seene al things that Laban hath done to thee †I am the God of Bathel where thou didest annointe the stone and didest vowe the vowe vnto me Now therfore arise and goe out of this land returning into the land of thy natiuitie †And Rachel and Lia answered Haue we any thing left in the goods and heritage of our fathers house †Hath he not reputed vs as strangers and sould vs and eaten vp the price of vs †But God hath taken our fathers riches and deliuered them to vs and to our children wherfore do al things that God hath commanded thee †Iacob therfore rose vp and setting his children and wiues vpon camels went his way †And he tooke al his substance and flockes and whatsoeuer he had gotten in Mesopotamia and went forward to Isaac his father
he sette Ephraim before Manasses †And he said to Ioseph his sonne Behold I dye and God wil be with you and wil bring you backe into the land of your fathers †I doe geue thee one portion aboue thy brethren which I tooke out of the hand of the Amorrhean with my sword and bowe ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLVIII 14. Streatching forth his right hand As nature hath made the right hand readier to moue stronger to worke and resist and apter to frame and fashion anie thing so generally we vse it more then the left And when we vse both handes at once we ordinarily applie the right hand to the greater and more excellent effect both in spiritual and corporal things As in confirmation of fidelitie or freindship in blessing writing fieghting playing and in most others things we vse the right hand either only or chiefly So the Patriarch Iacob laide his right hand vpon Ephraim knowing by prophetical spirite that he should be preferred before his elder brother Manasses Literally fulfilled in Iosue Ieroboam and other chief Princes of Ephraims issue And mystically in the Gentils being later called of God and yet preferred before the Iewes S. Cypri li. 1. c. 21. aduer Iudeos S. Amb. li. de Benedict Patriarch c. 1. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 42. de ciuit c. 14. Changing handes The mysterie of the Gentils excelling the Iewes in time of grace often prefigured by preferring the younger brother before the elder Abel before Cain Abraham before Nachor Isaac before Ismael Iacob himself before Esau and now Ephraim before Manasses is here further represented by Iacobs forming of a crosse with his armes laied one ouer the other when he blessed his two nephewes who otherwise might haue laied his right hand first vpon one and then vpon the other or haue caused them to change places but he wittingly crossed his armes and changed his handes or according to the Hebrew made his handes vnderstand that is by his handes made it to be vnderstood not only that the younger should be in place of the elder Ephraim before Manasses and much more the Gentiles before the Iewes but also that this greater Mysterie should be effected by Christ dying on a Crosse For what els could the verie crossing of his armes so wittingly and purposly done signifie but the forme and figure of Christs Crosse As els where the wood which young Isaac caried on his back vnto the mountaine prefigured the mattet or substance of the same Crosse Al accomplished when Christ was crucified wherby the Iewes were scandalized and the Gentiles called and saued Our Sauiour himselfe for telling that he being exalted to wit vpon the Crosse vvould dravv al vnto himself And S. Paul teaching that Christ sastned the hand vvriting that vvas against vs vpon the Crosse 16. The Angel that deliuereth me It is euident by this plaine text that Iacob was deliuered from euiles by an Angel and that he inuocated the same Angel to blesse his nephewes S. Basil li. 3. cont Eunom in initio sheweth by this place amongst others that an Angel is present with euerie one as a pedagogue and pastour directing his life S. Chrysostom also ho. 7. in land S. Pauli citeth this place in testimonie that proper Angels are deputed to protect men Yet Protestants say that this Angel must be vnderstood of Christ remitting their glosse to the. 31. ca. v. 13. and 32. v. 1. of Genesis where it can not be proued But the ancient Fathers teach the patronage Iuuocation of Angels grounded in holie Scripture Namely in this place and manie other places in the old Testament Also Mat 18. Act. 12. 1. Cor. 11. the like For example S. Iustinus Martyr in explic qq necess q. 30. affirming it for a knowen truth declareth that those Angels which receiue the charge of guardiÌ„g men coÌ„tinew the same office either to both soule and bodie or to the soule after it is parted from the bodie S. Cyril of Alexandria lib. 4. cont Iulian. prope init shewing how God vseth the ministerie of holie Angels for mens saluation saith Hi noxias a nobis abigunt feras c. These Angels driue away noysome wildbeasts from vs and reskew those that are caught from their crueltie and teach what soeuer is laudable to make our passage free and not pestered when with vs they glorifie one soueraigne God S. Chrysostom ho. 60 in Math 18 S. Hierome vpon the same place S. Ambrose in Psal 38. S. Augustin li. 83. qq q. 79. li. Soliloq c 27. S Gregorie li. 4. c. 31. in 3 Iob S. Bernard ser 5. Dedicat. Eccles ser 12. in Psal 90. others so vniuersally teach the same that Caluin li. Instit c. 14. sect 38. dare not denie it and yet wil nedes doubt of it 16. Be my name called vpon them This place hath two good literal senses For first it importeth that Ephraim and Manasses were made participant among the Tribes of the blessings of Abraham Isaac and Iacob Secondly that God would blesse them for Abraham Isaac and Iacobs sake so Moyses praying for the whole people Exodi 32. besought God to remember Abraham Isaac and Israel and God was therwith pacified CHAP. XLIX Iacob replenished with the spirite of prophecie a litle before his death fortelleth his sonnes manie things that shal happen to their posteritie Chargeth some of them with faultes past blesseth euerie one 29. Appointeth where to burie him 32. and dyeth AND Iacob called his sonnes and said to them Come together that I may shew you the things that shal come to you in the last dayes †Come together and heare you sonnes of Iacob heare ye Israel your father †Ruben my first begotten thou art my strength and the begining of my sorow former in giftes greater in empyre †Thou art poured out as water encrease thou not “ because thou diddest ascend thy fathers bed and diddest defile his coutch †Simeon and Leui brethren “ vessels of iniquitie warring †Into their counsel come not my soule and in their congregation be not my glorie because in their furie they slew a man and in their wilfulnes they vndermined a wall †Cursed be their furie because it is stubborne and their indignation because it is hard I wil diuide them in Iacob and wil disperse them in Israel †Iudas thee thy brethren shal praise thy hand shal be in the neck of thyne enemies thy fathers children shal adore thee †A lions whelp Iudas to the pray my sonne thou didst ascend taking thy rest thou didst lye as a lion and as it were a lyonesse who shal raise him vp †“ The scepter shal not BE TAKEN away from Iudas and a duke out of his thigh til he doe come that is to be sent and the same shal be the expectation of the gentiles †Tying to the vineyard his colt and to the vine o my sonne his â—he asse “ He shal
therof and when he hath immolated it in the place where holocaust is wont to be slaine before our Lord because it is for sinne †the priest shal dippe his finger in the bloud of the hoste for sinne touching the hornes of the altar of holocauste and the rest powring at the foote therof †But the fatt he shal burne vpon it as is wont to be done in the victimes of pacifiques and the priest shal pray for him and for his sinne and it shal be forgiuen him †And if a soule of the people of the land shal sinne through ignorance doing anie of those thinges that by the law of our Lord are forbidden and offending †and knoweth his sinne he shal offer a she goate without spotte †And he shal put his hand vpon the head of the host that is for sinne and shal immolate it in the place of holocaust †And the priest shal take vp of the bloud with his finger and touching the hornes of the altar of holocaust the rest he shal powre out at the foote therof †But taking away al the fatt as is wont to be taken away of the victimes of pacifiques he shal burne it vpon the altar for a swete sauour to our Lord and he shal pray for him and it shal be forgeuen him †But if he offer of the flocke a victime for his sinne to wit an ewe without spotte †he shal put his hand vpon the head therof and shal immolate it in the place where the hostes of holocausts are wont to be slayne †And the priest shal take of the bloud therof with his finger and touching the hornes of the altar of holocaust the rest he shal powre at the foote therof †Al the fatte also he shal take away as the fatte of the ramme that is offered for pacifiques is wont to be taken away and shal burne it vpon the altar a burnt sacrifice of our Lord and he shal pray for him and for his sinne and it shal be forgiuen him CHAP. V. Of hostes for the sinne of concealing an others periurâ—e 2. for vncleanes 4. for vaine svvearinge 14. for rrour in exercising holie rites 17. for anie sinne committed by ignorance IF a soule sinne and heare the voice of one swearing and be witnes because either he him selfe sawe or is priuie to it vnlesse he vtter it he shal beare his iniquitie †The soule that toucheth anie vncleane thing either that which was killed of a beast or died of it selfe or anie other thing that creepeth and forgeteth his vncleannes is guiltie and hath offended †and if he touch anie thing of the vncleannesse of man according to anie imputitie wherwith he is wount to be polluted hauing forgotten doe knowe it afterward he shal be guiltie of an offence †The soule that sweareth and vttereth with his lippes that he would doe either il or wel and bindeth the same with an oathe and his word hauing forgotten afterward vnderstandeth his offence †let him do penance for his sinne †and offer of the flockes an ewe lambe or a shee goate and the priest shal pray for him and for his sinne †but if he be not able to offer a beast let him offer two turtles or two young pigions to our Lord one for sinne and the other for an holocaust †and he shal geue them to the priest who offering the sirst for sinne shal wryth backe the heade therof to the litle pinions so that it sticke to the necke and be not altogeather broken of †And of the bloud therof he shal sprinckle the wall of the altar and whatsoeuer is left he shal make it distil to the bottome therof because it is for sinne †And the other he shal burne for an holocauste as is wount to be done and the priest shal pray for him and for his sinne and it shal be forgeuen him †And if his hand be not able to offer two turtles or two young pigions he shal offer for his sinne of floure the tenth part of an ephi He shal not put oyle vpon it nor cast anie frankincense theron because it is for sinne †and he shal deliuer it to the priest who taking therof a ful handful shal burne it vpon the altar for a moniment of him that did offer it †praying for him and making expiation but the part that is left him selfe shal haue for a gifte †And our Lord spake to Moyses saying †If a soule transgressing the ceremonies by errour shal sinne in those thinges that are sanctified to our Lord he shal offer for his offence a ramme without spotte out of the flockes that may be bought for two sicles according to the weight of the Sanctuarie †and the damage it selfe which he did he shal restore and the fift part he shal adde besides deliuering it to the priest who shal pray for him offering the ramme and it shal be forgeuen him †If a soule sinne by ignorance and do one of those thinges which by the lawe of the Lord are forbidden and being guiltie of sinne vnderstand his iniquitie †he shal offer a ramme without spotte of the flockes to the priest according to the measure and estimation of the sinne who shal pray for him because he did it vnwitting and it shal be forgiuen him †because by errour he offended against the Lord. CHAP. VI. Oblation for sinne vvittingly committed 8. The maner of offering holocaust 12. Continual fire to be kept in the Altar 14. The sacrifices vvhich Priests shal offer at their Consecration 24. In general of hostes for sinne and vvho shal eate of the same and vvhere OVR Lord spake to Moyses saying †The soule that shal sinne and contemning the Lord shal denie vnto his neighbour the thing deliuered to his custodie which was committed to his credite or shal by force extort anie thing or do oppression †or shal finde a thing lost and denying it be also foresworne and shal doe anie other thing of manie wherin men are wount to sinne †being conuicted of the offence †he shal render al thinges which by fraude he would haue obteyned whole and the fift part besides to the owner vnto whom he did the damage †But for his sinne he shal offer a ramme without spott out of the flocke and shal geue it to the priest according to the estimation and measure of the offence †who shal pray for him before the Lord and he shal haue forgeuenes for euerie thing that in doing he sinned †And Our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Command Aaron and his sonnes This is the Law of an holocaust It shal be burnt vpon the altar al night vntil morning the fire shal be vpon the same altar †The priest shal be reuested with the tunike and the linnen femoralles and he shal take vp the ashes which the deuouring fire burned and putting them besides the altar †shal be vnuested of
shal burne the fatte vpon the altar but the breast shal be Aarons and his sonnes †The right shoulder also of the pacifique hostes shal fal for first fruites of the priest †He of the sonnes of Aaron that offereth the bloud and the fatte him selfe shal haue the right shoulder also for his portion †For the brest of eleuation and the shoulder of seperation I haue taken of the children of Israel from their pacifique hostes and haue geuen them to Aaron the priest and to his sonnes by a lawe for euer of al the people of Israel †This is the anoynting of Aaron and his sonnes in the ceremonies of our Lord in the day when Moyses offered them that they might doe the function of priesthood †and the thinges that our Lord commanded to be geuen them of the children of Israel by a perpetual religion in their generations †This is the lawe of holocauste and of the sacrifice for sinne and for an offence and for consecration and the victimes of pacifiques †Which our Lord apointed to Moyses in mount Synai when he commanded the children of Israel that they should offer their oblations to our Lord in the desert of Synai CHAP. VIII Moyses consecrateth Aaron high Priest 13. and his sonnes Priests 33. continuing in the tabernacle seuen dayes and nights AND Our Lord spake to Moyses saying †Take Aaron with his sonnes their vestimentes and the oyle of vnction a calfe for sinne two Rammes a basket with azymes †and thou shalt gather al the assemblie to the dore of the tabernacle †And Moyses did as our Lord had commaunded And al the multitude being gathered before the dore of the tabernacle †he said This is the word that our Lord hath commanded to be done †And immediatly he “ offered Aaron his sonnes and when he had washed them †“ he reuested the high priest with the sttait linnen garment girding him with a bawdrike and reuesting him with the tunike of hyacinth and ouer it he put the Ephod †which he straitening with the girdle fitted it to the Rationale wherin was Doctrine and Veritie †with the mitre also he couered his head and vpon it against the forehead he put the plate of gold consecrated in sanctification as our Lord had commanded him †He “ tooke also the oyle of vnction wherwith he anoynted the tabernacle with al the furniture therof †And sanctifying them and hauing sprinckled the altar seuen times he anoynted it and al the vessel therof and the lauer with the foote therof he sanctified with the oyle †The which pouring vpon Aarons head he anoynted and consecrated him †his sonnes also after he had offered them he reuested with linnen tunikes and girded them with bawdrikes and put mitres on them as our Lord had commanded †He “ offered also the calfe for sinne and when Aaron and his sonnes had put their handes vpon the head therof †he did immolate it drawing the bloud and dipping his finger touched the hornes of the altar round about Which being expiated and sanctified he poured the rest of the bloud at the botome therof †But the fatte that was vpon the entralles and the caule of the liuer and the two little kidneys with their little tallow he burnt vpon the altar †the calfe with the skinne and the flesh and the dung he burnt without the campe as our Lord had commanded †He offered also a ramme for an holocaust vpon the head wherof when Aaron and his sonnes had put their handes †he did immolate it and poured the bloud therof in the circuite of the altar †And cutting the ramme it selfe into peeces the head therof and the ioyntes and the fatte he burnt with fire †hauing first washed the entralles and the feete and the whole ramme together he burnt vpon the altar because it was an holocaust of most swete odour to our Lord as he had commanded him †He offered also the second ramme for the consecration of priests and Aaron and his sonnes did putte their handes vpon the head therof †which when Moyses had immolated taking of the bloud therof he touched the tippe of Aarons right eare and the thumbe of his right hand in like maner also of his foote †He offered also the sonnes of Aaron and when of the bloud of the ramme being immolated he had touched the tippe of the right eare of euerie one and the thumbes of the right hand and foote the rest he poured on the altar round about †but the fatte and the rump and al the fatte that couereth the entralles and the caule of the liuer and the two kidneies with their fatte with the right shoulder he seperated †And taking out of the basket of azymes which was before our Lord a loafe without leauen and a manchet tempered with oile and a wafer he put them vpon the fatte and the right shoulder †deliuering al to Aaron and to his sonnes Who hauing lifted them vp before our Lord †he tooke them againe of their handes and burnt them vpon the altar of holocaust because it was the oblation of consecration for a swete odoure of the sacrifice to our Lord. †And he tooke of the ramme of consecration the brest for his portion eleuating it before our Lord as our Lord had commanded him †And taking the oyntment and the bloud that was vpon the altar he sprinckled it vpon Aaron and his vestiments vpon his sonnes and their vestiments †And when he had sanctified them in their vestiments he commanded them saying Boile the flesh before the dore of the tabernacle and there eate it Eate ye also the loaues of consecration that are laid in the basket as our Lord commanded me saying Aaron and his sonnes shal eate them †and whatsoeuer shal be left of the flesh and the loaues fire shal consume †Out of the dore also of the tabernacle you shal not goe forth seuen daies vntil the day wherein the time of your consecration shal be expired for in seuen dayes the consecration is finished †as at this present it hath bene done that the rite of the sacrifice might be accomplished †Day night shal you tarie in the tabernacle obseruing the watches of our Lord lest you die for so it hath bene commanded me †And Aaron and his sonnes dld al thinges which our Lord spake by the hand of Moyses ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII 6. Offered Aaron By this maner of taking offering and consecrating Aaron Hiegh Priest S. Paul sheweth that none may chalenge to them selues nor presume to exercise priestlie offices or anie authoritie in spiritual causes but such as be orderly called therto Yea that Christ him self would not haue exercised this function but that he was also called of God vnto it saying Euerie Hiegh Priest taken from among men is appointed for men in those thinges that pertaine to God Neither doth anie man
and the stranger and pupil and widow which abide with you in the place which our Lord thy God shal choose that his name may dwel there †and thou shalt remember that thou wast a seruant in Aegypt and thou shalt keepe and doe the thinges that are commanded †The solemnitie also of Tabernacles thou shalt celebrate seuen daies when thou hast gathered thy fruite of the barne floore and the presse †and thou shalt feast in the festiuitie thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy man seruant and woman seruant the Leuite also and stranger and pupil and widow that are within thy gates †Seuen daies shalt thou celebrate the feastes to our Lord thy God in the place which our Lord shal choose and our Lord thy God wil blesse thee in al thy fruites and in euerie worke of thy handes and thou shalt be in ioye †Three times in a yeare shal al thy male appeare in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which he shal choose in the solemnitie of Azymes in the solemnitie of weekes and in the solemnitie of Tabernacles There shal not appeare before our Lord any emptie †but euerie one shal offer according to that he hath according to the blessing of our Lord his God which he shal geue him †Iudges and maisters shalt thou appoynt in al thy gates which our Lord thy God shal geue thee in euerie of thy tribes that they may iudge the people with iust iudgement †and not decline to either part Thou shalt not accept person nor giftes because that giftes blinde the eies of the wise and change the wordes of the iust †Iustly shalt thou pursew that which is iust that thou mayest liue and possesse the Land which our Lord thy God shal geue thee †Thou shalt plante no groue nor any tree neere the altar of our Lord thy God †Neither shalt thou make nor sette to thy self a statue which thing our Lord thy God hateth CHAP. XVII Perfect hostes not mamed nor defectiue must be offered to God Idolaters stoned to death 8. VVhen inferior iudges differ the cause must be decided by the High Priest in consistorie Who is warranted not to erre therin and al are bound to obey his sentence 14. The dutie also of a king Whom in future time God wil condescend to geue them is described with special charge to receiue the law of God at the Priestes handes THOV shalt not immolate to our Lord thy God a sheepe and an oxe wherein there is blemish or any fault because it is abomination to our Lord thy God †When there shal be found with thee within one of thy gates which our Lord thy God shal geue thee man or woman that do euil in the sight of our Lord thy God and transgresse his couenant †that they goe and serue strange goddes and adore them the sunne and the moone and al the hoste of heauen which thinges I commanded not †and this is told thee and hearing it thou hast inquired diligently and found it to be true and the abomination is committed in Israel †thou shalt bring forth the man and the woman that haue committed that most heynous thing to the gates of thy citie and they shal be stoned †At the mouth of two or three witnesses shal he perish that is to be slaine Let no man be killed one onlie geuing testimonie against him †The hand of the witnesses shal be first to kil him and the hand of the rest of the people shal be layd on last that thou mayest take away the euil out of the middes of thee †“ If thou perceiue that the iudgement with thee be hard and doubtful betwen bloud and bloud cause and cause leprosie and not leprosie and thou see that the wordes of the iudges within thy gates doe varye arise and goe vp to the place which our Lord thy God shal choose †And thou shalt come to the priestes of the Leuitical stocke and to the iudge that shal be at that time and thou shalt aske of them “ who shal shew thee the truth of the iudgment †And thou shalt do whatsoeuer they that are presidentes of the place which our Lord shal choose shal say and teach thee †according to his law and thou shalt folow their sentence neither shalt thou decline to the right hand nor to the left hand †But “ he that shal be proude refusing to obey the commandement of the Priest which at that time ministreth to our Lord thy God and the decree of the iudge that man shal die and thou shalt take away the euil out of Israel †and the whole people hearing shal feare that none afterward swel in pride †When thou art entred the Land which our Lord thy God wil geue thee and doest possesse it and dwellest in it and sayest I wil sette a king ouer me as al nations haue round about †him shalt thou sette whom our Lord thy God shal choose of the number of thy brethren A man of an other nation that is not thy brother thou canst not make king †And when he is made he shal not multiplie to him selfe horses nor lead backe the people into Aegypt taking high courage for the number of his horsemen especially whereas our Lord hath commanded you that in no case you returne any more the same way †He shal not haue manie wiues that may allure his minde nor huge weightes of siluer and gold †And after he shal sitte in the throne of his kingdome he shal copie to him selfe the Deuteronomie of this Law in a volume taking the copie of the priestes of the Leuitical tribe †and he shal haue it with him and shal reade it al the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare our Lord his God and keepe his wordes and ceremonies that are commanded in the law †And that his hart be not lifted vp into pride ouer his brethren nor decline to the right side or the left side that he may reigne a long time and his sonnes ouer Israel ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVII 8. If the iudgement be hard For a ful and assured decision of al controuersies God here instituted to his people a supreme Tribunal that in case inferior Iudges varied in iudgement recourse might be had to the Councel of Priestes where one chiefe Iudge the High Priest was appointed to geue sentence and al others commanded to receiue and obey the same 9. vvho shal shevv the truth God so assisted this consistorie with his spirite of truth that their sentence was infallible though otherwise they might erre either in life or in priuate opinion VVherfore our Sauiour distinguishing betwen their publique doctrin and their workes taught the people that for somuch as the Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moyses chaire and yet transgressed Gods commandmentes euerie one should obserue and doe as they saide but not doe according to their
First the passage of the Israelites ouer Iordan In the five first chapters Secondly their conquest of the promised Land In the seuen chapters folowing Thirdly the partition of the same Land amongst nine Tribes and a half from the. 13. chap. to the 22. Fourthly In the three last chapters the returne of the other two Tribes and a half to their possessions on the east side of Iordan with Iosues last admonition to them al to serue God sincerly and his and Eleazars death THE BOOKE OF IOSVE IN HEBREW IEHOSVA CHAP. I. Iosue encoreged by our Lord 10. admonisheth the people to prepare themselues to passe ouer Iordan 12. and al the able men of the tribes of Ruben Gad and half Manasses to march armed before the rest 16. Al promise to doe whatsoeuer he commandeth AND it came to passe after the death of Moyses the seruant of our Lord that our Lord spake to Iosue the sonne of Nun the minister of Moyses and said to him †Moyses my seruant is deade arise and passe ouer this Iordan thou and al the people with thee into the Land which I wil geue to the children of Israel †Euerie place the steppe of your foote shal treade wil I deliuer to you as I haue spoken to Moyses †From the desert and Libanus vnto the great riuer Euphrates al the land of the Hetheites vnto the great sea against the going downe of the sunne shal be your border †No man shal be able to resist you al the daies of thy life as I haue beene with Moyses so wil I be with thee I wil not leaue nor forsake thee †Take courage and be strong for thou shalt by lotte diuide to this people the Land for the which I sware to their fathers that I would deliuer it to them †Take courage therfore and be very strong that thou keepe and doe al the Law which Moyses my seruant hath commanded thee decline not from it to the right hand or to the left that thou mayest vnderstand al thinges which thou doest †Let not the volume of this law depart from thy mouth but thou shalt meditate in it daies and nightes that thou maiest keepe and doe al thinges that be written in it then shalt thou direct thy way and vnderstand it †Behold I command thee take courage and be strong Feare not and dreade not because the Lord thy God is with thee in al the thinges to whatsoeuer thou shalt goe †And Iosue commanded the princes of the people saying Passe through the middes of the campe and command the people and say †Prepare for your selues victuals for after the third day you shal passe ouer Iordan and shal enter to possesse the Land which our Lord your God wil geue you †To the Rubenites also and Gaddites and halfe tribe of Manasses he said †Remember the word which Moyses the seruant of our Lord commanded you saying Our Lord your God hath geuen you rest and al this Land †Your wiues and children and cattel shal tarie in the Land which Moyses deliuered to you beyond Iordan but passe you ouer armed before your brethren al that are strong of hand fight for them †vntil our Lord geue rest to your brethren as to you also he hath geuen and they also possesse the Land which our Lord your God wil geue them and so returne into the Land of your possession and you shal dwel in it which Moyses the seruant of our Lord gaue you beyond Iordan against the rysing of the sunne †And they made answer to Iosue and said Al thinges that thou hast commanded vs we wil doe and whither soeuer thou shalt send vs we wil goe †As we obeyed Moyses in al thinges so wil we obey thee also only be our Lord thy God with thee as he was with Moyses †He that shal gainesay thy mouth and not obey al thy wordes that thou shalt command him let him die thou only take courage and doe manfully CHAP. II. Two discoueres sent into Hiericho are hid and concealed by Rahab 8. and vpon promise of like safetie to her whole samilie 21. she helpeth them secretly away THERFORE Iosue the sonne of Nun sent from Setim two men to spie in secrete and said to them Goe and view the Land and the citie of Iericho Who going entred into the house of a woman a harlot named Rahab and rested with her †And it was told the king of Iericho and said Behold there are men come in hither by night of the children of Israel to spie the Land †And the king of Iericho sent to Rahab saying Bring forth the men that came to thee and are entred into thy house for they be spies and are come to view al the Land †And the woman taking the men hid them and said I confesse they came to me but I knew not whence they were †and when the gate was a shutting in the darke and they withal went out I know not whither they be gone pursew quickly and you shal ouertake them †But she made the men to goe vp into the roofe of her house and couered them with the stalke of flaxe which was there †And they that were sent folowed them the way that leadeth to the ford of Iordan and they being gone out the gate for with was shutte †Neither were they yet a sleepe that lay hidde and behold the woman went vp to them and said †I know that the Lord hath geuen this Land to you for your terrour is fallen vpon vs and al the inhabitantes of the Land are become fainte †We haue heard that the Lord dried vp the water of the Redsea at your entring when you came out of Aegypt and what thinges you did to the two kinges of the Amorrheites that were beyond Iordan Sehon and Og whom you slew †And hearing these thinges we greatly feared and our hart fainted neither did there remaine spirite in vs at your entring in for the Lord your God he is God in heauen aboue in the earth beneth †Now therfore sweare to me by the Lord that as I haue done mercie with you so you also doe with my fathers house and you geue me a true signe †that you saue my father and mother my brethren and sisters and al thinges that he theirs and deliuer our soules from death †Who answered her Be our liues for you vnto death only if thou betray vs not And when our Lord shal haue deliuered vs the land we wil doe in thee mercie and truth †She therfore did let them downe by a corde out of a window for her house ioyned fast to the wall †And she said to them Goe vp to the mountaines lest perhaps they meete you returning and there lie hid three daies til they returne and so you shal goe on your way †Who said to her We shal be quitte from this oath wherwith thou hast sworne vs †if
Philisthimes six hundred men with the culter of a ploughe and he also defended Israel CHAP. IIII. Againe the people sinning are oppressed and crying to God 4. by direction of Debbora a prophetesse Barac fighteth against Sisara their enemie 15. who stricken with feare and fleeing away 17. Iahel pretending his saftie killeth him in her house AND the children of Israel added to doe euil in the sight of our Lord after the death of Aod †and our Lord deliuered them into the handes of Iabin the king of Chanaan which reigned in Asor and he had a captaine of his armie named Sisara and he dwelt in Haroseth of the gentiles †And the children of Israel cried to our Lord for he had nine hundred yron hooked chariottes and for twentie yeres had vehemently oppressed them †And there was one Debbora a prophetese the wife of Lapidoth which iudged the people at that time †And she sate vnder a palme tree which was called by her name betwen Rama and Bethel in the mount of Ephraim and the children of Israel went vp to her for al iudgement †Who sent and called Barac the sonne of Abinoem of Cedes in Nepthali and she said to him Our Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee Goe and lead an armie into mount Thabor and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nepthali and of the children of Zabulon †and I wil bring vnto thee in the place of the Torrent Cison Sisara the prince of the hoste of Iabin and his chariotes and al the multitude and wil deliuer them in thy hand †And Barac said to her If thou come with me I wil goe If thou wilt not come with me I wil not goe †Who said to him I wil goe in deede with thee but at this time the victorie shal not be imputed to thee because Sisara shal be deliuered into the hand of a woman Debbora therfore arose and went with Barac into Cedes †Who calling vnto him Zabulon and Nepthali went vp with ten thousand fighting men hauing Debbora in his companie †And Habet the Cineite was in time past departed from the rest of the Cineites his brethren of Hobab the cosin of Moyses and had pitched his tentes vnto the valley which is called Sennim and was nere Cedes †And it was told Sisara that Barac the sonne of Abinoem was gone vp into mount Thabor †and he gathered nine hundred yron hooked chariottes and al his armie from Haroseth of the gentiles to the torrent Cison †And Debbora said to Barac Arise for this is the day wherin our Lord hath deliuered Sisara into thy handes behold he is thy leader And Barac went downe from mount Thabor and ten thousand fighting men with him †And our Lord terrified Sisara and al his chariotes and al the multitude in the edge of the sword at the sight of Barac in so much that Sisara leaping downe from his chariote fled a foote †and Barac pursewed the chariotes fleeing and the armie vnto Haroseth of the gentiles and al the multitude of the enemies was vtterly destroyed †But Sisara fleeing came to the tent of Iahel the wife of Haber the Cineite for there was peace betwixt Iabin the king of Asor and the house of Haber the Cineite †Iahel therfore going forth to meete Sisara said to him Come in to me my Lord come in feare no◠Who being entred into her tabernacle and couered of her with a cloke †said to her Geue me I beseech thee a little water for I am very thirstie Who opened a bottle of milke and gaue him to drinke and couered him †And Sisara said to her Stand before the doore of the tabernacle and when any shal come asking thee and saying Is there any man here Thou shalt say There is none †Iahel therfore the wife of Haber tooke a nayle of the tabernacle taking with al a hammer also and going in secretely and with silence she put the naile vpon the temple of his head and striking it with the hammer fastened it into his braine euen to the ground who ioyning deepe sleepe and death together faynted and died †And behold Barac folowing Sisara came Iahel going forth to meete him said to him Come and I wil thew thee the man whom thou seekest Who when he was entered in vnto her saw Sisara lying dead and the nayle fastened in his temples †Therfore God that day humbled Iabin the king of Chanaan before the children of Israel †which increased daily and with strong hand oppressed Iabin the king of Chanaan til they destroyed him CHAP. V. The Canticle of Debbora and Barac geuing thankes after their victorie AND Debbora and Barac the sonne of Abinoem sang in that day saying †You that of Israel haue voluntarily offered your liues to peril blesse our Lord. †Heare you kinges and geue eare ye princes I am I am she that wil sing to our Lord I wil chaunte to our Lord the God of Israel †Lord when thou wentst out of Seir and didst passe by the countries of Edom the earth was moued the heauens and cloudes distilled waters †The mountaines melted before the face of our Lord and Sinai before the face of our Lord God of Israel †In the daies of Samgar the sonne of Anath in the daies of Iahel the pathes rested and they that went by them walked by by waies The valiantes in Israel ceased and rested vntil Debbora arose a mother rose in Israel Our Lord chose new warres and the gates of the enemies him selfe subuerted shield and speare if there appeared among fourtie thousand of Israel †My hart loueth the princes of Israel you that of your owne good wil offered your selues to danger blesse our Lord. †You that ride vpon your faire asses and sitte in iudgement and walke in the way speake †Where the chariottes were frushed together and the armie of the enemie was suffocated there let the iustices of our Lord be told and his clemencie toward the valiantes of Israel then did the people of our Lord goe downe to the gates and obteyned the principalitie †Arise arise Debbora arise arise and speake a canticle Arise Barac and apprehend thy captiues thou sonne of Abinoem The remnant of the people is saued our Lord hath fought in the valiantes Out from Ephraim he destroyed them into Amalec and after him out from Beniamin into thy peoples O Amalec Out from Machir there descended princes and our from Zabulon they that led the armie to fight †The captaines of Issachar were with Debbora and folowed the steppes of Barac who as it were into a headlong and bottomeles pitte gaue him self to danger Ruben being diuided against it self there was found contention of couragious persons Why dwellest thou betwen the two boundes that thou mayest heare the whistlinges of the flockes Ruben being diuided against it self there was found contention of
couragious men †Galaad rested beyond Iordan and Dan gaue him self to shippes Aser dwelt in the sea shore and abode in hauens †But Zabulon and Nepthali offered their liues to death in their countrie of Merome †The kinges came and fought the kinges of Chanaan fought in Thanac besides the waters of Mageddo and yet going a praying they tooke nothing †From heauen they fought against them the starres remayning in their order and course fought against Sisara †The torrent of Cison drew their carcasses the torrent of Cadumim the torrent of Cison my soule tread downe the strong ones †The hoofes of the horses fel of the strongest of the enemies fleeing violently and falling downe headlong †Curse ye the land of Meroz said the Angel of our Lord Curse the inhabitantes therof because they came not to help our Lord to aide his most mightie ones †Blessed among wemen be Iahel the wife of Haber the Cineite and blessed be she in her tabernacle †To him that asked water she gaue milke and in the phial of princes she offered butter †Her left hand she put to the maile and her right hand to the smithes hammer and stroke Sisara seeking in his head a place for the wound and piercing valiantly through his temple †Betwen her feete he fel he failed and died he was rowled before her feete and he lay without life and miserable †Looking through a window his mother howled she spake out of a higher chamber Why lingereth his chariote to come backe Wherfore are the feete of his waggans slow †One wiser then the rest of his wiues answered these wordes to her mother in law †Peraduenture now he diuideth the spoyles and the fayrest of the wemen is chosen for him garmentes of sundrie colours are deliuered to Sisara for a praye and diuerse furniture is laid together to adorne the neckes †So perish al thine enemies O Lord but they that loue thee as the Sunne shineth in his rysing so let them glitter †And the Land rested for fourtie yeares CHAP. CHAP. VI. The people falling againe to sinne are oppressed by the Madianites 12. An Angel appearing to Gedeon sendeth him to deliuer Israel 17. confirming his mission by miracle 25. So he first destroyeth Baals altar 34. then gathereth an armie against Idolaters 36. and is assured againe of Gods protection by two miracles in a fleecâ— of woolle AND the children of Israel did euil in the sight of our Lord who deliuered them into the hand of Madian seuen yeares †they were sore oppressed of them And they made them selues dennes and caues in the mountaines and very wel fensed places to resist †And when Israel had sowen Madian came vp and Amalec and the rest of the East nations †and pitching their tentes by them wasted al thinges as they were in the blade vnto the entring of Gaza and they left nothing at al in Israel that perteyned to mans life not sheepe not oxen not asses †For they and al their flockes came with their tabernacles and like vnto locustes filled al places an inumerable multitude of men and of camels wasting whatsoeuer they touched †And Israel was sore humbled in the sight of Madian †And he cried to our Lord desiring helpe against the Madianites †who sent vnto them a man that was a prophet and he spake Thus sayeth our Lord the God of Israel I made you to come vp out of Aegypt and brought you out of the house of seruitude †and deliuered you out of the handes of the Aegyptians and of al the enemies that afflicted you and I cast them out at your entring and deliuered you their Land †And I said I the Lord your God feare not the goddes of the Amorrheites in whose land you dwel And you would not heare my voice †And an Angel of our lord came and sate vnder an oke that was in Ephra and perteyned to Ioas the father of the familie of Ezri And when Gedeon his sonne did thresh and purge wheate in a winepresse to flee Madian †the Angel of our Lord appeared to him and said Our Lord be with thee ô most valiant of men †And Gedeon said to him I besech thee my Lord if our Lord be with vs why hane these euils apprehended vs where are his meruelous workes which our fathers haue told vs and said Out of Aegypt did our Lord bring vs but now our Lord hath forsaken vs and deliuered vs into the hande of Madian †And our Lord looked to ward him and said Goe in this thy strength and thou shalt deliuer Israel out of the hand of Madian know that I haue sent thee †Who answering said I besech thee my Lord wherein shal I deliuer Israel behold my familie is the meanest in Manasses and I the least in my fathers house †And our Lord said to him I wil be with thee and thou shalt strike Madian as it were one man †And he said If I haue found quoth he grace before thee geue me a signe that it is thou which speakest to me †Neither depart thou hence til I returne to thee bringing a sacrifice and offering to thee Who answered I wil tarie thy coming †Gedeon therfore went in and boyled a kidde and of a bushel of flowre baked vnleuened loaues and putting the flesh in a basket and the broth of the flesh into a potte he caried al vnder the oke and offered to him †To whom the Angel of our Lord said Take the flesh and the vnleuened loaues and put them vpon that rocke and powre out the broth theron And when he had done †the Angel of our Lord stretched forth the tippe of the rodde which he held in his hand and touched the flesh and the vnleuened loaues and there arose a fyre from the rocke and consumed the flesh and the leuened loaues and the Angel of our Lord vanished from his eies †And Gedeon seeing that it was the Angel of our Lord said Alas my Lord God that I haue seene the Angel our Lord face to face †And our Lord said to him Peace be with thee feare not thou shalt not die †And Gedeon built there an altar to our Lord and called it our Lords peace vntil this present day And when he was yet in Ephra which is of the familie of Ezri †that night our Lord said to him Take a bullocke of thy fathers and an other bullocke of seuen yeares and thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal which is thy fathers and cut downe the groue that is about the altar †and thou shalt build an altar to the Lord thy God in the toppe of this rocke whereupon thou didst lay the sacrifice before and thou shalt take the second bullocke and shalt offer an holocauste vpon a pile of the wood which thou shalt â—nt downe out of the groue †Gedeon therfore taking to him ten men of his seruantes did
as our Lord had commanded him But fearing his fathers house and the men of that citie he would not doe it by day but accomplished al thinges by night †And when the men of that towne were risen in the morning they saw the altar of Baal destroyed and the groue cut downe and the other bullocke laid vpon the altar which then was built †They said one to an other who hath done this And when they inquired for the author of the fact it was said Gedeon the sonne of Ioas did al these thinges †And they said to Ioas Bring forth thy sonne hither that he may die because he hath destroyed the altar of Baal and hath cut downe his groue †To whom he answered Why are you reuengers of Baal that you fight for him he that is his aduersarie let him die before to morrow light appeare if he be God reuenge he him self on him that hath raysed his altar †From that day Gedeon was called Ierobaal because Ioas had said Let Baal reuenge him self on him that hath raysed his altar †Therefore al Madian and Amalec and the east peoples were gathered together and passing ouer Iordan camped in the vaile Iezrael †But the spirit of our Lord reuested Gedeon who sounding with a trumpet called together the house of Abiezer to folow him †And he sent messengers into al Manasses which it selfe also did folow him and other messengers into Aser and Zabulon and Nepthali which mette him †And Gedeon said to God If thou saue Israel by my hand as thou hast spoken †I wil putte this fleece of wool on the floore if there shal be dew in the fleece onlie and on al the ground drienes I shal know that by my hand as thou hast spoken thou wilt deliuer Israel †And it came so to passe And rysing in the night wringing the fleece he filled a vessel with the dew †And he said againe to God Let not thy furie be angry against me if I tempt once againe seeking a signe in the fleece I desire that the fleece onlie may be drie and al the ground wette with dew †And God did that night as he had requested and there was drienes in the fleece onlie and dew on al the ground CHAP. VII Gedeon marching with thirtie two thousand men al that are fearful and that drinke water kneeling are dimissed onlie three hundred that drinke litle remaine 9 By a Madianites dreame Gedeonis encouraged 16 By a stratageme the enemie is frihgted ouerthrowne 24. The Ephraites kil Oreb and Zeb THERFORE Ierobaal which is also Gedeon rysing in the night and al the people with him came to the fountaine that is called Harad and the campe of Madian was in the valley on the North side of the high hil †And our Lord said to Gedeon There is much people with thee neither shal Madian be deliuered into their hand lest Israel glorie against me and say By myne owne force I am deliuered †Speake to the people and proclame in al their hearing He that is fearful and timorous let him returne And they departed from mount Galaad and there returned two and twentie thousand men and onlie ten thousand remained †And our Lord said to Gedeon Yet there is a great multitude leade them to the waters and there I wil proue them and of whom I shal tel thee that he goe with thee let him goe whom I shal forbid to goe let him returne †And when the people were come downe to the waters our Lord said to Gedeon They that shal lappe the water with their tongues as dogges are wont to lappe thou shalt separate them apart but they that shal drinke bowing downe their knees shal be on the other part †The number therfore of them that had lapped watter their hand casting it to their mouth was three hundred men and al the rest of the multitude had drunck kneeling †And our Lord said to Gedeon In the three hundred men that lapped water I wil deliuer you and geue Madian in thy hand but let al the rest of the multitude returne into their place †Taking therfore victuals and trumpettes according to the number al the rest of the multitude he commanded to depart to their tabernacles and him selfe with the three hundred gaue him selfe to the battel And the campe of Madian was beneath in the valley †The same night our Lord said to him Arise and goe downe into the campe because I haue deliuered them into thy hand †But if thou be afraid to goe alone let Phara thy seruant goe downe with thee †And when thou shalt heare what they speake then shal thy handes be strengthned and thou shalt goe downe more secure to the enemies campe He therfore went downe and Phara his seruant into part of the campe where the watch was of men in armes †But Madian and Amalec and al the East peoples lay scattered in the valley as a multitude of locustes their camels also were innumerable as the sand that lieth in the sea shore †And when Gedeon was come one told his neighbour a dreame in this manner he reported that which he had seene I â—aw a dreame there semed to me as it were a harth loafe of barlie to roll to come into the campe of Madian and when it was come to the tabernacle it stroke it and ouerthrew it and beate it al flatte with the earth †He to whom he spake answered This is no other thing but the sword of Gedeon the sonne of Ioas the man of Israel For the Lord hath deliuered Madian into his handes and al their campe †And when Gedeon had heard the dreame and the interpretation therof he adored and turned to the campe of Israel and said Arise ye for our Lord hath deliuered the campe of Madian into our handes †And he diuided the three hundred men into three partes and gaue them trumpettes in their handes and emptie pitchers and lampes in the middes of their pitchers †And he said to them What you shal see me doe that doe ye I wil enter into part of the campe and that which I shal doe folow you †When the trumpet shal sound in my hand doe you also sound and crie together round about the campe To our Lord and to Gedeon †And Gedeon went in and the three hundred that were with him into part of the campe the watch of midnight beginning and raysing vp the watch men they began to sound with their trumpettes and to clappe the pitchers one against an other †And when they sounded in three places round about the campe and had broken the pitchers they held the lampes in the left handes and with the right they sounded the trumpettes and cried The sword of our Lord and of Gedeon †standing euerie one in his place round about the enemies campe Therfore the whole campe was trubled and crying out
tribe of Israel requiring them to reuenge the wicked fact THERE was a certaine man a Leuite dwelling on the side of mount Ephraim who tooke a wife of Bethlehem Iudae †which left him and returned vnto her fathers house into Bethlehem and abode with him foure monethes †And her husband folowed her willing to be reconciled vnto her and to speake her fayre and to bring her backe with him hauing in his companie a seruant and two asses who receiued him and brought him into her fathers house Which when his father in law had heard and had seene him he mette him ioyful †and embraced the man And the sonne in law taried in the house of his father in law three daies eating with him and drinking familiarly †But the fourth day arysing before day he would depart Whom his father in law held and said to him Tast first a litle bread strengthen thy stomacke and so thou shalt depart †And they sate together and did eate and drinke And the father of the yong woman said to his sonne in law I besech thee that thou tarie here to day and let vs make merie together †But he rysing vp beganne as if he would depart And neuertheles with much adoc his father in law stayed him and made him to tarie with him †But when morning was come the Leuite prepared to goe his iourney To whom his father in law againe I besech thee quoth he that thou take a litle meate and making thy self strong til the day be farder spent afterward thou mayest depart They did eate therfore together †And the yong man arose that he might sette forward with his wife and his seruant To whom his father in law spake againe Consider that the day is more declining to the west and draweth nigh to euening tarie with me to day also and spend the day in mirth and to morrow thou shalt depart that thou mayst goe into thy house †His sonne in law would not condescend to his wordes but forthwith went forward and came ouer against Iebus which by an other name is called Ierusalem leading with him two asses loden and his concubine †And now they were come nigh to Iebus and the day changed into night the seruant said to his maister Come I besech thee let vs turne into the citie of the Iebuseites and tarie in it †To whom his maister answered I wil not enter into the towne of a strange nation which is not of the children of Israel but I wil passe as farre as Gabaa †and when I shal come thither we wil lodge in it or at the least in the citie of Rama †They passed therfore by Iebus and went on their iourney begone and the sonne went downe to them byside Gabaa which is in the tribe of Beniamin †and they turned into it that they might lodge there Whither when they were entred they sate in the streate of the citie and no man would receiue them to lodge †And behold there appeared an old man returning out of the field and from his worke in the euening who him self also was of mount Ephraim and dwelt as a stranger in Gabaa but the men of that countrie were the children of Iemini †And lifting vp his eies the old man saw the man sitting with his fardels in the streate of the citie and said to him Whence comest thou and whither goest thou †Who answered him We departed from Bethlehem Iuda and we goe to our place which is on the side of mount Ephraim from whence we went into Bethlehem and now we goe to the house of God and none wil receiue vs vnder his roofe †hauing straw and hay for prouender of the asses and bread and wine for the vse of my self and of thy handmaid and of the seruant that is with me we lacke nothing but lodging †To whom the old man answered Peace be with thee I wil geue al thinges that are necessarie only I besech thee tarie not in the streate †And he brought him into his house and gaue prouender to his asses and after they had washed their feete he receiued them to a bankette †They making merie and after the labour of their iourney refreshing their bodie with meate and drinke there came men of that citie the children of Belial that is to say without yoke and besetting the old mans house beganne to knocke at the doores crying to the maister of the house and saying Bring forth the man that entred into thy house that we may abuse him †And the old man went out to them and said Doe not so brethren doe not this euil because this man is entered to my lodging and cease from this folie †I haue a daughter that is a virgin and this man hath a concubine I wil bring them forth to you that you may humble them fulfil your lust only I beseche you worke not this wickednes against nature on the man †They would not agree to his wordes which the man seing he brought forth his concubine to them and he deliuered her to them to be illuded whom when they had abused al the night they let her goe in the morning †But the woman when the darkenes departed came to the doore of the house where her lord lodged and there fel downe †Morning being come the man arose and opened the doore that he might finish his iourney begone and behold his concubine lay before the doore her handes spredde on the threshold †To whom he thinking that she tooke her rest spake Arise and let vs walke Who answering nothing perceiuing that she was dead he tooke her and laid her vpon his asse returned into his house †Which when he was entered vnto he tooke asword and cutting the carcasse of his wife with her bones into twelue partes and peeces he sent them into al the borders of Israel †Which when euerie one had seene they cried together There was neuer such a thing done in Israel from that day when our fathers ascended out of Aegypt vntil this present time geue sentence and decree in common what is needeful to be done CHAP. XX. Al the other tribes fighting against Beniamin 13. because they wil not punish the malefactors 21. haue the worse 25. also the second time 29. but the third time the Beniamites are al slaine sauing six hundred men THERFORE al the children of Israel went forth and were gathered together as it were one man from Dan to Bersabee and the Land of Galaad to our Lord in Maspha †and al the corners of the people and al the tribes of Israel assembled into the church of the people of God foure hundred thousand footemen warriers †Neither were the children of Beniamin ignorant that the children of Israel were come vp into Maspha And the Leuite the husband of the woman that was killed being asked how so great wickednes had beene cōmitted †answered I came into
shalt geue mercie before them that shal haue them captiues that they may haue compassion on them †For they are thy people and thine inheritance whom thou hast brought out of the Land of Aegypt from the middes of the yron fornace †That thy eies be open to the petition of thy seruant and of thy people Israel thou heare them in al thinges for which they shal inuocate thee †For thou hast separated them to thee for an inheritance from al the peoples of the earth as thou hast spoken by Moyses thy seruant when thou didst bring our fathers out of Aegypt Lord God †And it came to passe when Salomon had accomplished praying to our Lord al this prayer and petition he rose from the sight of the altar of our Lord for he had fastened both knees on the ground and had spred his handes toward heauen †He stood therfore and blessed al the assemblie of Israel with a lowde voyce saying †Blessed be our Lord which hath geuen rest to his people Israel according to al thinges that he hath spoken there hath not fayled so much as one word of al the good thinges that he spake by Moyses this seruant †Be our Lord God with vs as he hath beene with our fathers not forsaking nor reiecting vs. †But incline he our hartes to him that we may walke in al his waies and keepe his commandementes and his ceremonies and iudgementes whatsoeuer he commanded our fathers †And be these my wordes wherewith I haue prayed before our Lord approching to our Lord God day and night that he may doe iudgement for his seruant and for his people Israel day by day †that al the peoples of the earth may knowe that our Lord he is God and there is none other besides him †Let our hart also be perfect with our Lord God that we walke in his decrees and keepe his coÌ„mandementes as also this day †Therfore the king and al Israel with him did immolate victimes besore our Lord. †And Salomon killed pacisâ—que hostes which he immolated to our Lord of oxen two and twentie thousand and of sheepe an hundred twentie thousand and they dedicated the temple of our Lord the king and the children of Israel †In that day the king sanctified the middes of the court that was before the house of our Lord for he made the holocaust there and sacrifice and fatte of the pacifiques because the brasen altar that was before our Lord was too litle and could not take the holocaust and sacrifice and fatte of the pacifiques †Salomon therfore made in that time a solemne festiuitie and al Israel with him a great multitude from the entrance of Emath vnto the Ryuer of Aegypt before our Lord God seuen daies and seuen daies that is fourtene daies †And in the eight day he dismissed the people Who blessing the king went into their tabernacles reioysing and with a ioysul hart for al the good thinges that our Lord had done to Dauid his seruant and to Israel his people CHAP. IX Our Lord appearing againe to Salomon 4. admonisheth him and his people to keepe the precepts 6. threatning punishment if they do not 10. The king of Tyre receiueth tvventie cities of Salomon but liketh them not 14. Salomon buildeth more cities and tovvnes 20. Maketh diuers nations tributarie 24. The Quene repayreth to her house 25. The king offereth victimes thrise euerie yeare 26. and fetcheth gold from Ophir AND it came to passe when Salomon had perfected the building of the house of our Lord the kinges house and al that he wished and would haue done †our Lord appeared to him the second time as he had appeared to him in Gabaon †And our Lord said to him I haue heard thy prayer thy petition which thou hast prayed before me I haue sanctified this house which thou hast built that I might put my name there for euer and myne eies and my hart shal be there alwaies †Thou also if thou wilt walke before me as thy father walked in simplicitie of hart and in equitie and wilt doe al thinges which I haue commanded thee and wilt keepe my ordinances and my iudgementes †I wil sette the throne of thy kingdom ouer Israel for euer as I haue spoken to Dauid thy father saying There shal not be taken away a man of thy stocke from the throne of Israel †But if by reuolting you and your children shal turne away not folowing me nor keeping my commandementes and my ceremonies which I haue proposed to you but shal goe and worshippe strange goddes and adore them †I wil take away Israel from the face of the land which I haue geuen them and the temple which I haue sanctified to my name I wil cast away from my sight and Israel shal be for a prouerbe and for a fable to al peoples †And this house shal be for an example euerie one that shal passe by it shal wonder and hisse and say Why hath the Lord done thus to this land and to this house †And they shal answere Because they haue forsaken the Lord their God which brought their fathers out of the Land of Aegypt and haue folowed strange goddes adored them and worshipped them therfore hath the Lord brought vpon them al this euil †And twentie yeares being complete after that Salomon had built the two houses that is the house of our Lord and the house of the king †Hiram the king of Tyre ministring to Salomon ceder trees firre trees and gold according to al that he had neede then Salomon gaue to Hiram twentie townes in the Land of Galilee †And Hiram went from Tyre to see the townes which Salomon had geuen him and they pleased him not †and he sayd Are these the cities which thou hast geuen me brother And he called them the land Chabul vntil this day †Hiram also sent to king Salomon an hundred and twentie talentes of gold †This is the summe of the expences which king Salomon offered to build the house of our Lord and his owne house and Mello and the wal of Ierusalem and Heser and Mageddo and Gazer †Pharao the king of Aegypt came vp and rooke Gazer and burnt it with fire And the Chananite that dwelt in the citie he slewe and gaue it for a dowrie to his daughter the wife of Salomon †Salomon therfore built Gazer and Bethhoron the lower †and Baalath and Palmiâ—a in the Land of the wildernes †And al the villages that perteyned to him and were without wal he fensed and the cities of the chariotes and the cities of the horsemen and whatsoeuer pleased him to build in Ierusalem and in Libanus and in al the land of his dominion †Al the people that was remayning of the Amorrheites and Hetheites and Pherezeites and Heueites and Iebuseites that are not of the children of Israel †their children that were remayning in the
sicke thus and thus shalt thou speake to her When she therfore entered in and dissembled to be that she was †Ahias heard the sound of her feete entring in at the doore and sayd Come in Ieroboams wife Why doest thou fayne thy self to be an other woman But I am sent to thee a heauie messenger †Goe and tel Ieroboam Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel Because I haue exalted thee out of the middes of the people and made thee prince ouer my people Israel †and haue rent the kingdom of the house of Dauid and geuen it to thee and thou haft not beene as my seruant Dauid who kept my commandementes and folowed me in al his hatt doing that which was wel liked in my sight †but hast wrought euil aboue al that haue beene before thee and hast made thee strange and molten goddes that thou mightest prouoke me to anger and hast reiected me behind thy backe †therfore behold I wil bring in euils vpon the house of Ieroboam and wil strike of Ieroboam him that pysseth to the wal and the inclosed and the vilest in Israel and I wil cleanse the remaynes of the house of Ieroboam as dung is wont to be cleansed til al be pure †They that shal die of Ieroboam in the citie them the dogges shal eate and they that shal die in the field them the foules of the ayre shal deuoure because our Lord hath spoken †Thou therfore arise and goe into thy house and in the verie entrance of thy feete into the citie the childe shal die †and al Israel shal mourne for him and shal burie him for this onlie of Ieroboam shal be brought into the sepulchre because vpon him hath beene found a good word from our Lord the God of Israel in the house of Ieroboam †And our Lord wil appoynt to him self a king ouer Israel that shal strike the house of Ieroboam in this day and in this time †and our Lord the God of Israel shal strike it as a reede is went to be moued in the water and he shal plucke out Israel from this good countrie which he gaue to their fathers and shal scatter them ouer the Riuer because they haue made to them selues groues to prouoke our Lord. †And our Lord shal deliuer Israel for the sinnes of Ieroboam who hath sinned made Israel to sinne †The wiâ—e therfore of Ieroboam arose and departed and came into Thersa and when she entered the threshold of the house the childe died †and they buried him And al Israel mourned for him according to the word of our Lord which he spake in the hand of his seruant Ahias the prophete †But the rest of the wordes of Ieroboam how he fought and how he reigned behold they are written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †And the daies that Ieroboam reigned are two and twentie yeares and he slept with his fathers and Nadab his sonne reigned for him †Moreouer Roboam the sonne of Salomon reigned in Iuda one and fourtie yeares old was Roboam when he began to reigne seuentene yeares reigned he in Ierusalem the citie which our Lord chose to put his name there of al the tribes of Israel And his mothers name was Naama an Ammonite †And Iudas did euil before our Lord and prouoked him aboue al thinges that their fathers had done in their sinnes which they sinned †For they also built them altars and statues and groues vpon euerie high hil and vnder euerie tree ful of grene leaues †yea and effeminates were in the land and they did al the abominations of the gentiles which our Lord destroyed before the face of the children of Israel †And in the fifth yeare of the reigne of Roboam Sesac the king of Aegypt came vp into Ierusalem †and tooke the treasures of the house of our Lord and the kinges treasures and al thinges he spoyled the shieldes also of gold which Salomon had made †for the which Roboam made brasen shieldes deliuered them into the hand of the captaynes of shield bearers and of them that kept watch before the doore of the kinges house †And when the king went into the house of our Lord they that had the office to goe before caried them and afterward they recaried them to the armourie of the shield bearers †And the rest of the wordes of Roboam al that he did behold they are written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda †And there was warre betwen Roboam and Ieroboam alwaies †And Roboam slept with his fathers and was buried with them in the citie of Dauid and his mothers name was Naama an Ammonite and Abias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XV. Abias reigneth wickedly in Iuda three yeares 8. After him his sonne Asa succeding destroyeth idolatrie reigning fourtie one yeares 16. VVho hauing wâ—rres with the king of Israel maketh league with the king of Syria 24. Asâ— dying Iosaphat succedeth 25. Nadab reigneth wickedly two yeares in Israel is then slaine by Baasa of the tribe of Issachar 29. and his whole familie is destroyed 33. Baasa also reigneth wickedly twentie foure yeares THERFORE in the eightenth yeare of king Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat Abias reigned ouer Iuda †Three yeares reigned he in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Maacha the daughter of Abessalom †And he walked in al the sinnes of his father which he had done before him neither was his hart perfect with our Lord his God as the hart of Dauid his father †But for Dauids sake our Lord his God gaue him a lampe in Ierusalem that he might rayse vp his sonne after him and establish Ierusalem †because Dauid had done right in the eies of our Lord and had not declined from al thinges which he commanded him al the daies of his life except the matter of Vrias the Hetheite †But there was warre betwen Roboam and Ieroboam al the time of his life †And the rest of the wordes of Abias and al that he did are they not written in the Booke of the wordes of the kinges of Iuda And there was warre betwen Abias and Ieroboam †And Abias slept with his fathers and they buried him in the citie of Dauid and Asa his sonne reigned for him †In the twenteth yeare therfore of Ieroboam the king of Israel reigned Asa the king of Iuda †And he reigned one fourtie yeares in Ierusalem His mothers name was Maaca the daughter of Abessalom †And Asa did right before the sight of our Lord as Dauid his father †and he tooke away the effemmare out of the land and he purged al the filth of the idols which his fathers had made †Moreouer he remoued also Maaca his mother that she should not be princesse in the sacrifices of Priapus and in the groue which she had consecrated and
he destroyed her denne and brake the most filthie idol and burnt it in the torrent cedron †but the excelses he did not take away Otherwise the hart of Asa was parfect with our Lord al his daies †and he caried in those thinges which his father had sanctified and vowed into the house of our Lord siluer and gold and vessels †And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies †Baasa also the king of Israel went vp into Iuda and built Rama that no man might go out or come in of Asaes side the king of Iuda †Asa therfore taking al the siluer and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of our Lord and in the treasures of the kinges house gaue it into the handes of his seruantes and he sent to Benadad the sonne of Tabremon the sonne of Hezion the king of Syria which dwelt in Damascus saying †There is a league betwen me and thee betwixt my father and thy father therfore I haue sent thee giftes siluer and gold and I desire thee that thou come and make void the league that thou hast with Baasa the king of Israel and he may retire from me †Benadad agreing to king Asa sent the princes of his armie into the citiees of Israel and they stroke Ahion and Dan and Abeldomum of Maacha and al Cenneroth to witte al the Land of Nephthali †Which when Baasa had heard he intermitted to build Rama and returned into Thersa †But king Asa sent word into al Iuda saying Let no man be excused and they tooke stones from Rama and the timber therof wherwith Baasa had built and Asa of it built Gabaa Beniamin and Maspha †But the rest of al the wordes of Asa and al his forces and al that he did the cities that he built are not these written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda How beit in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feete †And he slept with his fathers was buried with them in the citie of Dauid his father And Iosaphat his sonne reigned for him †But Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam reigned ouer Israel the second yeare of Asa the king of Iuda and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares †And he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord and walked in the waies of his father and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne †And Baasa the sonne of Ahias of the house of Issachar lay in wayte against him and stroke him in Gebbethon which is a citie of the Philistimes for Nadab and al Israel besieged Gebbethon †Baasa therfore slew him in the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda and reigned for him †And when he reigned he stroke al the house of Ieroboam he leaft not so much as one soule of his seede til he destroied him according to the word of our Lord which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias the Silonite †for the sinnes of Ieroboam which he had sinned and wherwith he had caused Israel to sinne and for the offence wherwith he prouoked our Lord the God of Israel †But the rest of the wordes of Nadab and al that he wrought are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies †In the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Baasa the sonne of Ahias ouer al Israel in Thersa foure and twentie yeares †And he did euil before our Lord walked in the waies of Ieroboam and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne CHAP. XVI Iehu for prophecying the destruction of Baasa and his house 7. is slaine 8. yet his sonne Ela reigneth tvvo yeares 9. Then Zambri rebelleth killeth Ela and reigneth 16. Part of the people choosing Amri prince of the armie their king 18. Zambri desperatly burneth himselfe and the kings palace 21. an other part folow Thebni as king til his death 23. Amri reigneth tvvelue yeares vvickedly 29. His sonne Achab succedeth marieth Iezabel and serueth Baal 34. In the meane time Hiel repairer◠Iericho AND the word of our Lord came to Iehu the sonne of Hanani agaynst Baasa saying †For so much as I haue exalted thee out of the dust sette thee duke ouer my people Israel but thou hast walked in the way of Ieroboam and hast made my people Israel to sinne that thou mightest anger me with their sinnes †behold I wil cut downe the posteritie of Baasa and the posteritie of his house and I wil make thy house as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat †Whosoeuer of Baasa shal die in the citie him shal the dogges eate and whosoeuer of his shal die in the countrie him shal the fowles of the ayre deuoure †But the rest of the wordes of Baasa and whatsoeuer he did and his battels are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †Baasa therfore slept with his fathers and was buried in Thersa and Ela his sonne reigned for him †And when the word of our Lord came in the hand of Iehu the sonne of Hanani the prophete agaynst Baasa and agaynst his house and agaynst al the euil that he had done before our Lord to anger him in the workes of his handes that it should be made as the house of Ieroboam for this cause he slew him that is to say Iehu the sonne of Hanani the prophete †In the sixe and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Ela the sonne of Baasa ouer Israel in Thersa two yeares †And his seruant Zambri rebelled agaynst him the captayne of the halfe part of the horsemen and Ela was in Thersa drinking and dronken in the house of Arsa the gouernour of Thersa †Zambri therfore rushing in stroke and slew him in the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda he reigned for him †And when he teigned and sate vpon his throne he stroke al the house of Baasa and he leaft not of it one that could pysse agaynst a wal his kinsfolke and frendes †And Zambri destroyed al the house of Baasa according to the word of our Lord that he had spoken to Baasa in the hand of Iehu the prophet †for al the sinnes of Baasa and the sinnes of Ela his sonne who sinned and made Israel to sinne prouoking our Lord the God of Israel in their vanities †But the rest of the wordes of Ela and al that he did are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †In the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda reigned Zambri seuen daies in Thersa moreouer the armie besieged Gebbethon a citie of the Philisthines †And
garder therof †And Eliseus sayd to him fetch a bow and arrowes And when he had brought him a bow and arrowes †he sayd to the king of Israel Put thy hand vpon the bow And when he had put his hand Eliseus put his handes ouer the kinges handes †and sayd Open the east window And when he had opened it Eliseus sayd Shote an arrow And he shot And Eliseus sayd The arrow of the saluation of our Lord and the arrow of saluation agaynst Syria and thou shalt strike Syria in Aphec til thou consume it †And he sayd Take vp the arrowes Who when he had taken them agayne he sayd to him Strike the earth with a iauelin And when he had striken three times and stood stil †the man of God was angrie with him sayd If thou hadst striken fiue or six or seuen times thou hadst striken Syria euen to destruction but now three times shalt thou strike it †Eliseus therfore died and they buried him And the rouers of Moab came into the land the same yeare †And certayne persons burying a man saw the rouers and threw the bodie in the sepulchre of Eliseus Which when it had touched the bones of Eliseus the man reuiued and stood vpon his feete †Hazael therfore the king of Syria afflicted Israel al the daies of Ioachaz †and our Lord had mercie on them and returned to them for his couenant which he had with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and he would not destroy them nor vtterly cast them away vntil this present time †And Hazael the king of Syria died and Benadad his sonne reigned for him †Moreouer Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz tooke the cities out of the hand of Benadad the sonne of Hazael which he had taken out of the hand of Ioachaz his father by the right of warre three times did Ioas strike him and he deliuered the cities to Israel CHAP. XIIII Amasias king of Iudakilleth those that had slaine his father 7. and striketh Edom. 8. Prouoking Ioas king of Israel to warre receiueth a contemtible answer 11. prouoking againe is beaten in battle and Ierusalem is ransact 15. Ioas dieth and his sonne Ieroboam foloweth the bad steppes of the first Ieroboam yet recouereth manie places lost before and dying his sonne Zacharias reigneth IN the second yeare of Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel reigned Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda †Fiue and twentie yeares old was he when he began to reigne and nine and twentie yeares he reigned in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ioadan of Ierusalem †And he did right before our Lord but yet not as Dauid his father He did according to al thinges which Ioas his father did †but this onlie that he tooke not away the excelses for yet the people immolated and burnt incense in the excelses †And when he obtayned the kingdom he smote his seruantes which had slaine the king his father †but their children that killed him he did not put to death according to that which is written in the booke of the law of Moyses as our Lord commanded saying The fathers shal not die for the children neither shal the children die for the fathers but euerie one shal die in his owne sinne †He smote Edom in the Vail of Salt pittes ten thousand and tooke the rocke in battel and called the name therof Iectehel vntil this present daye †Then Amasias sent messengers to Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu the king of Israel saying Come let vs see one an other †And Ioas the king of Israel sent agayne to Amasias the king of Iuda saying A thistle of Libanus sent to a cedar tree which is in Libanus saying Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife And the beastes of the forest that are in Libanus passed and trode the thistle †Thou striking hast preuayled ouer Edom and thy hart hath puffed thee vp be content with the glorie and sit in thy house Why prouokest thou euil that thou mayst fal and Iuda with thee †And Amasias agreed not And Ioas the king of Israel went vp and they saw eche other he and Amasias the king of Iuda in Bethsames a towne of Iuda †And Iuda was strooken before Israel and euerie man fled into their tabernacles †But Ioas the king of Israel did take Amasias the king of Iuda the sonne of Ioas the sonne of Ochozias in Bethsames and brought him into Ierusalem and he brake downe the wal of Ierusalem from the gate of Ephraim vnto the gate of the corner fowre hundred cubites †And he tooke al the gold and siluer and al the vessel that were found in the house of our Lord and in the kinges treasures and hostages and returned into Samaria †But the rest of the wordes of Ioas which he did and his strength wherwith he fought against Amasias the king of Iuda are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel †And Ioas slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kinges of Israel Ieroboam his sonne reigned for him †And Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda liued after that Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel was dead fifetene yeares †But the rest of the wordes of Amasias are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda †And there was a conspiracie made against him in Ierusalem but he fled into Lachis And they sent after him into Lachis and killed him there †And they caried him away vpon horses and he was buried in Ierusalem with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid †And al the people of Iuda tooke Azarias sixtene yeares old and made him king for his father Amasias †He built Aelath and restored it to Iuda after that the king slept with his fathers †In the fiftenth yeare of Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda reigned Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas the king of Israel in Samaria one and fourtie yeares †and he did that which is euil before our Lord. He departed not from al the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat who made Israel to sinne †He restored the borders of Israel from the entrance of Emath vnto the Sea of the wildernesse according to the word of our Lord the God of Israel which he spake by his seruaÌ„t Ionas the sonne of Amathi the prophete who was of Geth which is in Opher †For our Lord saw the afliction of Israel exceding bitter and that they were consumed vnto the imprisoned meanest persons and that there was none to helpe Israel †Neither did our Lord determine that he would destroy the name of Israel from vnder heauen but he sâ—ued them in the hand of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas. †But the rest of the wordes of Ieroboam and al that
for Tou was aduersarie to Adarezer †But al the vessel also of gold and siluer and brasse king Dauid consecrated to our Lord with the siluer and gold which he had taken out of al the nations as wel of Idumea and Moab the children of Ammon as of the Philisthijms and Amalec †And Abisai the sonne of Saruia stroke Edom in the Vale of salt pittes eightene thousand †and he appoynted a garryson in Edom that Idumea should serue Dauid and our Lord saued Dauid in al thinges to which he went †Dauid therfore reigned ouer al Israel did iudgement and iustice to al his people †Moreouer Ioab the sonne of Saruia was ouer the armie and Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud commenter †And Sadoc the sonne of Achitob Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar Priestes and Susa Scribe †Banaias also the sonne of Ioiada ouer the legions Cerethi and Phelethi moreouer the sonnes of Dauid the chief at the kinges hand CHAP. XIX The king of Ammon euil intreating king Dauids men whom he had curteously sent to condole the death of his father is ouerthrowen in battel 16. with the Assyrians his hyred confederates AND it chanced that Naas the king of the children of Ammon died and his sonne reigned for him †And Dauid sayd I wil do mercie with Hanon the sonne of Naas for his father hath done me pleasure And Dauid sent messengers to confort him vpon the death of his father Who when they were come into the land of the children of Ammon to confort Hanon †the princes of the children of Ammon fayd to Hanon Thou thinkest perhaps that Dauid for honour sake toward thy father hath sent some that should comfort thee neither markeâ—t thou that his seruantes are come to thee to espie and seeke out and searche thy land †Therfore Hanon made the seruantes of Dauid balde and shaued them and cut away their cotes from the buttockes to the feete and sent them away †Who when they were gone and had sent word to Dauid he sent to meete them for they had susteyned great reproch and commanded them to tarie in Iericho til their beard grewe and then they should returne †And the children of Ammon seing that they had done iniurie to Dauid as wel Hanon as the rest of the people they sent a thousand talents of siluer to hyre them chariotes and horsemen out of Mesopotamia and from Siria Maacha and from Soba †And they hyred two and thirtre thousand chariotes and king Maacha with his people Who when they were come camped ouer agaynst Medaba The children of Ammon also being gathered together out of their cities came to the battel †Which when Dauid had heard he sent Ioab and al the host of valiant men †and the children of Ammon issuing forth put their armie in aray beside the gate of the citie and the kinges that were come to ayde him stood apart in the field †Ioab therfore vnderstanding that battel was made agaynst him before and behind chose the most valiant men of al Israel and marched on against the Syrian †And the rest of the people he gaue vnder the hand of Abisai his brother and they went forth agaynst the children of Ammon †And he sayd If the Syrian shal ouercome me thou snalt ayde me and if the children of Ammon shal ouercome thee I wil ayde thee †Take courage and let vs play the men for our people and for the cities of our God and our Lord wil doe that which is good in his sight †Ioab therfore matched on and the people that were with him agaynst the Syrian to battel and he put them to flight †Moreouer the childen of Ammon seing that the Syrian was fled themselues also fled from Abisai his brother and went into the citie and Ioab also returned into Ierusalem †But the Syrian seing that he was fallen before Israel sent messengers and brought the Syrian that was beyond the riuer and Sophach the General of Aderezeâ—s warre was their captayne †Which when it was told Dauid he gathered together al Israel and passed Iordan and fel vpon them and directed his armie agaynst him they fighting on the contrarie part †And the Syrian fled from Israel and Dauid slewe of the Syrians seuen thousand chariotes and fourtie thousand footemen and Sophach General of the armie †And the seruantes of Adarezer seing themselues to be ouercome of Israel fled to Dauid serued him and Syria would no more giue ayde to the children of Ammon CHAP. XX. King Dauid prospereth in Warre agaynst the Ammonites 4. and Philisthims 6. among Whom Ionathan Dauids nephew by his brother killeth a monfiruous giant Which had twelue fingers and twelue toes AND it came to passe after the compasse of a yeare at such time when kinges are wont to goe forth to battel Ioab gathered together the armie and force of warre and spoyled the land of the children of Ammon and went on and besieged Rabba Moreouer Dauid taried in Ierusalem when Ioab stroke Rabba and destroyed it †And Dauid tooke the crowne of Melchom from his head and found in it a talent weight of gold and most precious pearles and he made himself therof a diademe he tooke also the spoiles of the citie very much †And the people that was therin he brought forth and he made harrowes and sleddes and chariotes shod with Iron to passe ouer them soc that they were cut in sunder broken in peces so did Dauid to al the cities of the children of Ammon he returned with al his people into Ierusalem †After these thinges there was warre begunne in Gazer agaynst the Philisthians in which Sobachai the Husathite stroke Saphai of the kinred of Raphaim humbled them †An other battel also was fought agaynst the Philistheans wherein Adeodatus the sonne of Saltus a Bethlehemite stroke the brother of Goliath the Getheite the staffe of whose speare was as it were a weauers beame †But an other battel also happened in Geth wherin there was a verie long man hauing fingers and toes by six and six that is together foure and twentie who also was borne of the stocke of Rapha †This man blasphemed Israel and Ionathan the sonne of Samaa the brother of Dauid stroke him These be the children of Rapha in Geth which fel by the hand of Dauid and of his seruantes CHAP. XXI Dauid sinneth in numbring his people 8. repenteth and prayeth yet is punished many dying of the plague 15. til God shewing mercie spareth the rest 16. Dauid accusing himselfe and excusing the people is commanded by the Angel to offer sacrifice which he 22 bying ground for an altar 26. performeth BVT Satan rose agaynst Israel and moued Dauid to number Israel †And Dauid sayd to Ioab and to the princes of the people Goe and number Israel from Bersabee vnto Dan and bring me the number that I may know †And Ioab answered
of Israel should bring it in into the tabernacle of testimonie †For the most impious Athalia and her children haue destroyed the house of God and of al thinges that had bene sanctified in the temple of our Lord they adorned the temple of Baalim †The king therfore commanded and they made a chest and set it by the gate of our Lord on the out side †And it was proclaymed in Iuda and Ierusalem that euery man should bring the price to our Lord which Moyses the seruant of God appoynted ouer al Israel in the desert †And al the princes reioysed and al the people and going in they contributed into the chest of our Lord and cast in so that it was filled †And when it was time that they should bring the chest before the king by the handes of Leuites for they saw much money the kinges Scribe went in and he whom the high priest had appoynted they powred out the money that was in the chest recaried it to his place and so did they from day to day and there was gathered infinite money †Which the king and Ioiada gaue to them that ouersaw the workes of the house of our Lord but they hired with it hewers of stones and artificers of al workes to repayre the house of our Lord smithes also of yron and brasse that that which began to fal might be vpholden †And they that wrought did industriously and the breach of the walles was closed by their handes and they raysed the house of our Lord into the old state and made it stand firmely †And when they had accomplished al the workes they brought the rest of the money before the king and Ioiada of the which were made vessels of the temple to the ministerie and for holocaustes phials also and other vessels of gold and siluer and holocaustes were offered in the house of our Lord continually al the daies of Ioiada †But Ioiada became old being ful of dayes and died when he was an hundred and thirtie yeares old †And they buried him in the citie of Dauid with the kinges because he had done good with Israel and with his house †And after that Ioiada was dead the princes of Iuda went in and adored the king who being altered by their seruiceablenesse agreed to them †And they forsooke the temple of our Lord the God of their fathers and serued groues and sculptilles and there came wrath agaynst Iuda and Ierusalem for this sinne †And he sent them prophetes that they should returne to our Lord whom protesting they would not heare †The spirit of God therfore inuested Zacharias the sonne of Ioiada the Priest he stood in the sight of the people and sayd to them Thus sayth our Lord God Why transgresse you the precept of our Lord which thing shal not profit you haue forsaken our Lord that he should forsake you †Who being gathered agaynst him they threw stones according to the kinges commandement in the court of the house of our Lord. †And Ioas the king did not remember the mercie that Ioiada his father had done with him but he killed his sonne Who when he died sayd Our Lord see and require it †And when a yeare was come about the armie of Syria came vp against him it came into Iuda Ierusalem slewe al the princes of the people and al the pray they sent to the king into Damascus †And wheras there was come a very smal number of the Syrians our Lord deliuered into their handes an infinit multitude for that they had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers on Ioas also they exercised ignomious iudgementes †And departing they left him in great diseases and his seruantes rose agaynst him for reuenge of the bloud of the sonne of Ioiada the priest they slewe him in his bed he dyed and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid but not in the kinges sepulchres †And there conspired against him Zabad the sonne of Semmaath an Ammonitesse Iozabad the sonne of Semarith a Moabitesse †Moreouer his children and the summe of money which was gathered vnder him the repayring of the house of God are writen more diligently in the Booke of kinges and Amasias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXV Amasias killeth those that slew his father 5. Besides his owne people hyreth souldiars of Israel but by aduise of a Prophete dismisseth them 11. and with his owne owerthroweth the Idumeans whose idols taken in battel 13. the dismissed souldiars in the meane time spoyling his countrie he adoreth 15. Contemning admonition 17. and prouoking the king of Israel to warre 22. is taken in battel and spoyled 27. Fearing treason in Ierusalem fleeth and is slaine in Lachis FIVE and twentie yeares old was Amasias when he began to reigne and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ioaden of Ierusalem †And he did good in the sight of our Lord but yet not in a perfect hart †And when he saw his kingdom strengthned he put to death the seruantes that had slayne the king his father †but their children he slew not as it is writen in the Booke of the law of Moyses where our Lord commanded saying The fathers shal not be slayne for the children nor the children for their fathers but euerie one shal die in his owne sinne †Amasias therfore gathered together Iuda and appoynted them by families and tribunes and centurions in al Iuda and Beniamin and he numbred from twentie yeares vpward and found three hundred thousand of yong men that went forth to battel and held speare and shielde †He hyred also for wages of Israel an hundred thousand strong men for an hundred talentes of siluer †But a man of God came to him and sayd O king let not the host of Israel goe forth with thee for our Lord is not with Israel and al the children of Ephraim †and if thou thinke that battels consist in the force of an armie God wil make thee to be ouercome of the enemies for it perteyneth to God both to helpe and to put to flight †And Amasias sayd to the man of God What shal become then of the hundred talentes which I haue geuen the souldiars of Israel And the man of God answered him Our Lord hath wherby he is able to geue thee much more then this †Amasias therfore seperated the host that came to him out of Ephraim that they should returne into their place but they being wrath excedingly agaynst Iuda returned into their countrie †Moreouer Amasias brought forth his people confidently and went into the Vale of salt pittes and stroke the children of Seir ten thousand †And other ten thousand men did the children of Iuda take and bring to the steepe of a certaine rocke and cast them down headlong from the toppe who burst in sunder euerie one †But
therfore tooke away al abominations of al the countries of the children of Israel and made al that were left in Israel to serue our Lord their God Al his daies they reuolted not from our Lord the God of their fathers CHAP. XXXV Iosias celebrateth a most Solemne Pasch 20. Is slaine by the king of Aegypt al Iudalamenting him 25. most specially Ieremias AND Iosias made in Ierusalem a Phase to our Lord which was immolated the fourtenth day of the first moneth †And he appoynted the Priestes in their offices and exhorted them that they would minister in the house of our Lord. †To the Leuites also at whose instruction al Israel was sanctified to our Lord he spake Put the Arke in the Sanctuarie of the temple which Salomon built the sonne of Dauid the king of Israel for you shal carie it no more but now minister to our Lord your God and to his people Israel †And prepare your selues by your houses and kinredes in the diuisions of euerie one as Dauid the king of Israel commanded and Salomon his sonne described †And minister ye in the Sanctuarie by families and Leuitical companies †and being sanctified immolate the Phase prepare also your brethren that they may doe according to the wordes which our Lord spake in the hand of Moyses †Moreouer Iosias gaue to al the people that was found there in the solemnitie of the Phase lambes and kiddes of the flockes and of the rest of the cattel thirtie thousand of oxen also three thousand al these thinges of the kinges substance †His dukes also voluntarily offered that which they vowed as wel to the people as to the Priestes and the Leuites Moreouer Helcias and Zacharias and Iahiel princes of the house of our Lord gaue to the Priestes to make the Phase cattel one with an other two thousand six hundred and oxen three hundred †And Chonenias and Semeias also Nathanael his brethren moreouer Hasabias and Iehiel and Iozabad princes of the Leuites gaue to the rest of the Leuites to celebrate the Phase fiue thousand sheepe and oxen fiue hundred †And the ministerie was prepared and the Priestes stood in their office the Leuites also in companies according to the kinges commandement †And the Phase was immolated and Priestes sprinkled the blood with their hand and the Leuites drew of the skinnes of the holocaustes †and they seperated them to geue them by the houses and families of euerie one and to be offered to our Lord as it is writen in the Booke of Moyses of oxen also they did in like maner †And they rosted the Phase vpon fyre according to that which is writen in the law but the pacifique hostes they bâ—vled in caudrons and kettles and pottes and in hast they distributed it to al the people †And for themselues and for the Priestes they prepared afterward for in oblation of holocaustes and of fatte the Priestes were occupied vntil night wherfore the Leuites prepared for themselues and for the Priestes the children of Aaron last †Moreouer the singing men the children of Asaph stood in their order according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph and Heman and Idithun the prophetes of the king and the porters watched at euerie gate so that they departed not a moment from the ministerie for the which cause also their brethren the Leuites prepared meates for them †Therfore al the seruice of our Lord was ritely accomplished that day so that they made the Phase and offered holocaustes vpon the altar of our Lord according to the precept of king Iosias †And the children of Israel that were found there made the Phase at that time and the solemnitie of Azymes seuen daies †There was not a Phase like to this in Israel from the daies of Samuel the prophete neither did anie of al the kinges of Israel make a Phase as Iosias to the Priestes and the Leuites and to al Iuda and Israel that was found and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem †In the eightenth yeare of the kingdom of Iosias was this Phase celebrated †After that Iosias had repayred the temple came vp Nechao the king of Aegypt to fight in Charcamis beside Euphrates and Iosias went forth to meete him †But he sending messengers vnto him sayd What haue I to doe with thee king of Iuda I come not agaynst thee this day but I fight agaynst an other house to the which God hath commanded me to goe in hast leaue to doe agaynst God who is with me lest he kil thee †Iosias would not returne but prepared battel agaynst him neither did he agree to the wordes of Nechao from the mouth of God but went forward to fight in the fielde of Mageddo †And there being wounded of the Archers he sayd to his seruantes Carie me out of the battel because I am sore wounded †Who remoued him from one chariote into an other chariote that folowed him after the maner of kinges and they caried him away into Ierusalem he died and was buried in the monument of his fathers and al Iuda and Ierusalem mourned for him †Ieremie most of al whose lamentations al the singing men and singing wemen repeate vntil this present day vpon Iosias and it is growen as it were a law in Israel Behold it is sayd to be writen in the lamentations †But the rest of the wordes des of Iosias of his mercies which are commanded by the law of our Lord †his workes also the first and the last are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel CHAP. XXXVI Ioachaz reigneth three monethes 4. His brother Eliakim named loakim eleuen yeares 9. his sonne Ioachin three monethes 11. his vncle Sedecias eleuen yeares 14. Most Priestes and people contemning the admonitions of Prophetes 17. manie are slaine by the Chaldees the Temple and Ierusalem spo led and burnt 20. The sayd kinges successiuely and people are caryed captiue into Babylon 22. After seuentie yeares Cyrus king of Persia releaseth the captiuitie and geueth leaue to reedifie the Temple THE people therfore of the land tooke Ioachaz the sonne of Iosias and made him king for his father in Ierusalem †Taree and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne and he reigned three monethes in Ierusalem †And the king of Aegypt when he came into Ierusalem deposed him and condemned the land in an hundred talentes of siluer and a talent of gold †And he made Eliakim his brother king for him ouer Iuda and Ierusalem and he turned his name Ioakim but he tooke Ioachaz himself with him and caried him away into Aegypt †Fiue and twentie yeares old was Ioakim when he began to reigne and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem and he did euil before our Lord his God †Agaynst him came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of the Chaldees and brought him bound in chaynes into Babylon †Whither he transported also the vessels of
forth to the people †and sayd One Hebrewe woman hath made confusion in the house of king Nabuchodonosor for behold Holofernes lyeth vpon the ground and his head is not vpon him †Which when the princes of the power of the Assyrians had heard they al rent their garmentes and intollerable feare and dread fel vpon them and theit mindes were trubled excedingly †And there was made an incomparable crie in the middes of their campe CHAP. XV. The Assyrians flee for feare 3. the Hebrewes pursue them 7. and are enriched by the spoyles 9. The high priest with others come from Ierusalem and prayse Iudith 14. The goodes of Holofernes are genen so her AND when al the armie heard that Holofernes was beheaded courage and counsel fel from them and being shaken with trembling onlie and feare they helpe them selues by flight †so that none spake with his neighbour but hanging the head al thinges leaft behind they made hast to escape the Hebrewes whom they heard to come armed vpon them fleing by the waies of the fieldes and the pathes of the hilles †The children of Israel therfore seing them fleing folowed them And they went downe sounding with trumpettes and shouting after them †And because the Assyrians were not vnited together they went headlong into flight but the children of Israel pursewing in one companie discomfited al that they could find †Ozias therfore sent messengers through al the cities and countries of Israel †Euerie countrie therfore and euerie citie sent chosen youth armed after them and they pursewed them in the edge of the sword vntil they came to the extremetie of their borders †And the rest that were in Bethulia entered into the campe of the Assyrians and tooke away the praye which the Assyrians fleing had leaft and were loden excedingly †But they that were returned conquerers to Bethulia tooke away with them al thinges that were theirs so that there was no number in cattel and beastes and al their moueables that from the leaft vnto the greatest al were made rich of their prayes †And Ioachim the high Priest came from Ierusalem into Bethulia with al his ancientes to see Iudith †Who when she was come out to him they al blessed her with one voyce saying Thou art the glorie of Ierusalem thou the ioy of Israel thou the honour of our people †because thou hast done manfully and thy hart was strengthened for that thou hast loued chastirie and after thy husband not knowne any other therfore also the hand of our Lord hath strengthened thee and therfore shalt thou be blessed for euer †And al the people sayd So be it so be it †And for thirtie daies scarse were the spoyles of the Assyrians gathered of the people of Israel †Moreouer al thinges that were proued to be the peculiar goodes of Holofernes they gaue to Iudith in gold and siluer and garmentes and pretious stones and al stuffe and al the thinges were deliuered her of the people †And al the people reioysed with wemen and virgins and yongmen on instrumentes and harpes CHAP. XVI Iudith singeth a canticle of thanks geuing to our Lord. 22. The people goe to Ierusalem and offer sacrifices 25. She in great honour liueth a widow til her death in good old age 30. the people haue long peace and a feaâ—â—â—ual day is instituted in perpetual memorie of her fact THEN sang Iudith this song to our Lord saying †Beginne ye to our Lord in timbrels sing ye to our Lord in cymbals tune to him a new psalme reioyse and inuocate his name †Our Lord confoundeth battels Lord is his name †Who hath set his campe in the middes of his people that he might deliuer vs from the hand of al our enemies †Assur came out of the mountaynes from the North in the multitude of his strength whose multitude stopped vp the torrentes and their horses couered the valles †He said that he would set my borders on fyre and kil my yongmen with the sword to geue my infantes into praye and virgins into captiuitie †But our Lord omnipotent hath hurt him and hath deliuered him into the hands of a woman and hath pearsed him †For not by yongmen is their mightie one fallen neither haue the sonnes of Titan strooken him neither did the high giantes set them selues vpon him but Iudith the daughter of Merari in the beautie of her face dissolued him †For she put from her the garmentes of widowhood and put on her the garmentes of ioy in the reioysing of the children of Israel †She anoynted her face with oyntment and tyed together her lockes with a crowne she tooke a new stole to deceiue him †Her sandals rauished his eies her beautie made his soule captiue she with a sword cut of his head †The Persians did quake at her constancie and the Medes at her boldnesse †Then did the campe of the Assyrians howle when my humble ones appeared withering in thirst †The sonnes of yongwemen haue pearsed them and they haue killed them as boyes fleing away they haue perished in battel before the face of the Lord my God †Let vs sing an hymne to our Lord let vs sing a new hymne to our God †Adonai ô Lord great art thou and noble in thy power and whom no man can ouercome †Let euerie creature of thyne serue thee because thou saydst and they were made thou didst send thy spirit and they were created and there is none that can resist thy voyce †The mountaynes with the waters shal be moued with the foundations the rockes shal melt as waxe before thy face †But they that feare thee shal be great with thee in al thinges †Wo be to the nation that ryseth vp vpon my kinred for our Lord omnipotent wil be reuenged on them in the day of iudgement he wil visite them †For he wil geue fyre and wormes into their flesh that they may be burnt and may feele for euer †And it came to passe after these thinges al the people after the victorie came into Ierusalem to adore our Lord and forthwith as they were purified they al offered holocaustes and vowes and their promises †Moreouer Iudith offered for an anathema of obliuion al the instrumentes of warre of Holofernes which the people gaue her and the canopie that her self had taken away out of his chamber †And the people was pleasant according to the face of sainctes and for three monethes the ioy of this victorie was celebrated with Iudith †And after those daies euerie man returned into his house and Iudith was made great in Bethulia and she was more glorious to al the land of Israel †There was also chastitie ioyned to her vertue so that she knew not man al the daies of her life “ after that Manasses her husband was dead †And on festiual daies she came forth with great glorie â€
both and to put his hand betwen both †Let him take his rod from me and let not his dread terrifie me †I wil speake and wil not feare him for I can not answer fearing CHAP. X. â—ob scarse able to speake yet sheweth that there is no iniustice nor ignorance in God neither is his sinne the cause of so great afflictions 9. Acknowledgeth Gods loue and benefites towards himself 15. and dreadeth his strict iudgement MY soule is wearie of my life I wil let my speach passe agaynst my self I wil speake in the bitternes of my soule †I wil say to God Condemne me not tel me why thou iudgest me so †Doth it seeme good to thee if thou calumniate me and oppresse me the worke of thy handes and helpe the counsel of the impious †Hast thou eies of flesh or as a man seeth shalt thou also see †Are thy daies as the daies of man and are thy yeares as the times of men †That thou sekest my iniquitie and searchest my sinne †And thou mayst knowe that I haue done no impious thing whereas there is no man that can deliuer out of thy hand †Thy handes haue made me and framed me wholly round about and dost thou so sodenlie cast me downe headlong †Remember I besech thee that as clay thou madest me and into dust thou wilt bring me agayne †Hast thou not as milke milked me and curded me as cheese †With skinne and flesh thou hast clothed me with bones sinowes thou hast compacted me †Life and mercie thou hast geuen to me and thy visitation hath kept my spirit †Although thou conceale these thinges in thy hart yet I know that thou remembrest al thinges †If I haue sinned and thou hast spared me for an houre why doest thou not suffer me to be cleane from mine iniquttie †And if I shal be impious woe is to me and if iust I shal not lift vp my head filled with affliction and miserie †And for pride as a lionesse thou wilt take me and returning thou doest meruelously torment me †Thou renewest thy witnesses agaynst me and multipliest thy wrath toward me and paynes doe warre vpon me †Why didst thou bring me forth out of the matrice Who would God I had beene consumed that eye might not see me †I had beene as if I were not caried from the wombe to the graue †Shal not the fewnes of my daies be ended shortly suffer me therfore that I may a litle lament my sorow †Before I goe and returne not vnto the darke land that is couered with the mist of death †A land of miserie and darkenesse where is the shadow of death and no order but euerlasting horrour inhabiteth CHAP. XI Sophar imputeth â—obs discourse about the cause of his so great afflictions to insolencie of mind and loquasitie of tongu perswading him to acknowlege greuous sinnes that so he may haue the reward of a iust man BVt sophar the Naamathite answering said †Why shal he that speaketh manie thinges not heare also or shal a man ful of wordes be iustified †To thee onlie shal men hold their peace and when thou hast mocked others shalt thou be confuted of none †For thou hast sayd My word is pure and I am cleane in thy sight †And I would wish that God would speake with thee and would open his lippes to thee †That he might shew thee the secretes of wisdom and that his law is manisold and thou mightest vnderstand that thou art exacted much lesser thinges of him then thy iniquitie deserueth †Peraduenture thou wilt comprehend the steppes of God and wil find out the Omnipotent perfectly †He is higher then heauen and what wilt thou doe deeper then hel and how wilt thou know †The measure of him is longer then the earth and broder then the sea †If he shal ouerthrow al things or shal strayten them into one who shal say against him †For he knoweth the vanitie of men seing iniquitie doth he not coÌ„sider †A vaine man is extolled into pride and thinketh him self borne free as a wilde asses colt †But thou hast confirmed thy hart hast spred thy handes to him †If thou shalt take away from thee the iniquitie that is in thy hand and iniustice remaine not in thy tabernacle †Then mayst thou lift vp thy face wthout spotte and thou shalt be stable and shalt not feare †Thou shalt also forget miserie and shalt remember it as waters that are passed †And the brightnes as it were of noone daies shal arise to thee at euening and when thou shalt think thyself consumed thou shalt rise as the day starre †And thou shalt haue confidence hope being set before thee and buried thou shalt sleepe secure †Thou shalt rest and there shal be none to terrifie thee and verie manie shal besech thy face †But the eies of the impious shal decay and escape shal faile them and their hope the abomination of the soule CHAP. XII Iob sheweth the knowlege which his freinds much boast of to be the common knowne doctrin of Gods seruantes He more truly and more profoundly discourseth of Gods powre and wisdome stil defending his owne innocencie in respect of great sinnes BVâ— Iob answering sayd †Are you then men alone shal wisedome die with you †I also haue a hart euen as you neither am I inferiour to you for who is ignoraÌ„t of these thinges which you know †He that is mocked of his frend as I shal inuocate God he wil heare him for the simplicitie of the iust man is scorned †The lampe contemned in the cogitations of the riche is prepared to the time appointed †The tabernacles of robbers abound they prouoke God bouldly wheras he hath geuen al thinges into their handes †For aske the beastes and they shal teach thee and the foules of the ayre and they shal tel thee †Speake to the earth and it shal answer thee and the fishes of the sea shal tel †Who is ignorant that the hand of our Lord hath made al these things †In whose hand is the soule of euerie liuing thing and the spirit of al the flesh of man †Doth not the eare discerne wordes and the iawes of him that eateth the tast †In the ancientes is wisedom and in long time prudence †With him is wisedom and strength he hath counsel and vnderstanding †If he shal destroy there is no man that can build if he shut vp a man there is none that can open †If he hold in the waters al things shal be dried and if he send them forth they shal ouerthrow the earth †With him is strength and wisedom he knoweth both the deceiuer him that is deceiued †He bringeth counselers to a folish end and iudges to astonishment †He looseth the belt of kings
and at the tribulation of the sinner Because they haue wrested iniquities vpon me in anger they were trublesome to me †My hart is trubled in me and the feare of death is falne vpon me †Feare and trembling are come vpon me and darkenes hath couered me †And I said Who wil geue me wings as of a doue and I wil fly and rest †Loe I haue gone far flying away and I abode in the wildernes †I expected him that saued me from pusillanimitie of spirit and tempest †Precipitate ô Lord and diuide their tongues because I haue sene iniquitie and contradiction in the citie †Day and night shal iniquitie compasse it vpon the walles therof and labour in the middest therof and iniustice †And there hath not ceased out of the streetes therof vsurie and guile †For if myne enimie had spoken euil to me I would verely haue borne it And if he that hated me had spoken great thinges vpon me I would perhaps haue hid myselfe from him †But thou a man of the same minde my guide and my familiar †Which diddest take swete meats together with me in the house of God we walked with consent †Let death come vpon them and let them goe downe quicke into hel Because there is wickednes in their habitations in the middes of them †But I haue cried to God and our Lord wil saue me †In the euening and morning at midday I wil speake and declare and he wil heare my voice †He wil redeme my soule in peace from them that approch to me because among manie they were with me †God wil heare and he which is before the worldes wil humble them †For there is no change with them they feared not God he hath streached forth his hand in repaying †They haue contaminated his testament they are diuided by the wrath of his countenance and his hart hath approched His wordes are made softer then oile and the same are dartes †Cast thy care vpon our Lord and he wil nourish thee he wil not geue fluctuation to the iust for euer †But thou ô God wilt bring them downe into the pitte of destruction Bloudy and deceitful men shal not liue halfe their daies but I wil hope in thee ô Lord. PSALME LV. Dauid being in danger before Achis king of Geth confidently implereth Gods helpe against the great malice and powre of his enimies 8. foretheweth their ruine his owne exaltation 12. and offereth praises and thankes Vnto the end for a people that is made far from the Sainctes Dauid in the inscription of the title when the foreners held him in Geth 1. Reg. 12. v. 12. HAVE mercie on me ô God because man hath troden vpon me al the day impugning he hath afflicted me Myne enimies haue troden vpon me al the day because they are manie that warre against me †From the height of the day I shal feare but I wil trust in thee In God I wil praise my wordes in God haue I hoped I wil not feare what flesh may do to me †Al the day did they detest my wordes against me al their cogitations are vnto euil †They wil inhabite and keepe secret they wil obserue my heele As they haue expected my soule †for nothing shalt thou saue them in wrath thou wilt breake peoples O God †I haue shewed my life to thee thou hast set my teares in thy sight As also in thy promise †then shal mine enemies be turned backeward In what day soeuer I shal inuocate thee loe I haue knowne that thou art my God †In God I wil praise the word in our Lord wil I praise thee saying I haue hoped in God I wil not feare what man can do to me †In me ô God are thy vowes which I wil render praises to thee †Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death and my feete from falling that I may please before God in the light of the liuing PSALME LVI The Prophet prayeth in tribulation 4. testifieth Gods helpe 6. praiseth his greatnes 8. promising and inuiting al nations to praise him Vnto the end destroy not to Dauid in the inscription of the title when he fled from the face of Saul into the caue HAVE mercie on me ô God haue mercie on me because my soule hath trusted in thee And I wil hope in the shadow of thy winges vntil iniquitie passe †I wil crie to God the highest God that hath done me good †He sent from heauen and deliuered me he hath geuen into reproche them that trode vpon me God hath sent his mercie and his truth †and hath deliuered my soule out of the middes of Lions whelpes I slept trubled The sonnes of men their teeth are weapons and arrowes and their tongue a sharpe sword †Be exalted aboue the heauens ô God and thy glorie vpon al the earth †They prepared a snare for my feete and bowed downe my soule They digged a pit before my face and they are falne into it †My hart is readie ô God my hart is readie I wil sing and say a Psalme †Arise my glorie arise psalter and harpe I wil arise early †I wil confesse to thee among peoples ô Lord and I wil say a Psalme to thee among the Gentiles †Because thy mercie is magnified euen to the heauens and thy truth euen to the cloudes †Be axalted aboue the heauens ô God and thy glorie vpon al the earth PSALME LVII Holie Dauid inueigheth against dissembling wicked men 7. describeth their manifold punishment 11. wherin the iust shal be comforted †Vnto the end destroy not to Dauid in the inscription of the title IF in very dede you speake iustice iudge right thinges ye sonnes of men For in the hart you worke iniquities in the earth your handes forge iniustice †Sinners are alienated from the matrice they haue erred from the wombe they haue spoken false thinges †They haue furie according to the similitude of a serpent as of the aspe that is deafe and stoppeth his eares †Which wil not heare the voice of the inchanters and of the sorcerer inchanting wisely †God shal breake their teeth in their mouth the checke tooth of the lions our Lord wil breake in peeces †They shal come to nothing as water running downe he hath bent his bow til they be weakened †As waxe that melteth shal they be taken away fyre hath falne on them and they haue not seene
and a time to dance †A time to disperse stones and a time to gather A time to embrace and a time to be farre from embracings †A time to gette and a time to lose A time to kepe and a time to cast away †A time to rent and a time to sow together A time to kepe silence a time to speake †A time of loue and a time of hatred A time of warre and a time of peace †What hath man more of his labour †I haue sene the affliction which God hath geuen to the children of men that they may be distracted in it †He hath made al thinges good in their time and hath deliuered the world to their disputation and that man can not finde the worke which God hath wrought from the beginning vnto the end †And I haue knowne that there was no better thing then to reioyce and to do wel in his life †For euerie man that eateth and drinketh and seeth good of his labour this is the gift of God †I haue lerned that al the workes which God hath made perseuere for euer we can not adde anie thing nor take away from those thinges which God hath made that he may be feared †That which hath bene made the same is permanent the thinges that shal be haue already bene and God restoreth that which is past †I saw vnder the sunne in the place of iudgement impietie and in the place of iustice iniquitie †And I sayde in my hart the iust and the impious God wil iudge and then shal be the time of euerie thing †I sayd in my hart of the children of men that God would proue them and shew them to be like beastes †Therfore there is one death of man and beastes and the condition of both equal as man dieth so they also dye al thinges breath alike and man hath nothing more then beast al thinges are subiect to vanitie †and al thinges passe to one place of earth they were made and into earth they returne together †Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend vpward and if the spirite of beastes descend downward †And I haue found that nothing is better then for a man to reioyce in his worke and that this is his portion For who shal bring him to know the thinges that shal be after him CHAP. IIII. In this would manie innocents are oppressed 4. The potent sometimes enuied contemned 15. and forsaken by their subiectes 17. especially when the superiors obey not God ITurned myself to other thinges and I saw the oppressions that are done vnder the sunne and the teares of the innocents and no comforter that they can not resist their violence being destitute of al mens helpe †And I praised rather the dead then the liuing †and happier then both haue I iudged him that is not yet borne nor hath sene the euils that are done vnder the sunne †Againe I haue contemplated al the labours of men and their industries I haue perceiued to lie open to the enuie of their neighbour and in this therfore there is vanitie and superfluous care †A foole foldeth his handes together and eateth his owne flesh saying †Better is an handful with rest then both handes ful with labour and affliction of mind †Considering I found also an other vanitie vnder the sunne †There is one and he hath not a second not a sonne not a brother and yet he ceaseth not to labour neither are his eyes satisfied with riches neither doth he recount saying For whom do I labour and defraud my soule of good thinges in this also is vanitie and very il affliction †“ It is better therfore that two be together then one for they haue profite of their societie †if one fal he shal be stayed vp of the other Woe to him that is alone because when he falleth he hath none to lift him vp †And if two sleepe together they shal warme eche other one how shal he be warmed †And if a man preuaile against one two resist him a triple coard is hardly broken †Beter is a child that is poore and wise then a king old and foolish that knoweth not to foresee for hereafter †Because out of the prison and cheynes sometime there cometh one forth to a kingdom and an other borne in his kingdom is consumed with pouertie †I saw al men aliue that walke vnder the sunne with the second yongman which shal rise vp for him †The number of the people of al that haue bene before him is infinite and they that shal be afterward shal not reioyce in him But this also is vanitie and affliction of spirite †Take heede to kepe thy foote when thou entrest into the house of God and approch thou to heare †For much better is obedience then the victimes of fooles who know not what euil they doe ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 9. It is better that tvvo be together Besides the commendation of charitie and freindshipe amongst men which is one proper sense of this place S. Ierom expoundeth it also of the necessitie of Christs dwelling in mans soule of his continual assisting grace that man alone lie not open to the deceiptes of the aduersarie The benefite of feloshippe sayth he is streightwayes shewed in the profite of societie For if the one fal as * the iust falleth often Christ raiseth vp his partner for vvoe to him vvho falling hath not Christ in him to raise him vp If one also slepe that is be dissolued by death and haue Christ vvith him being vvarmed and quickned he sooner reuiueth And if the diuel be stronger in impugning against a man the man shal stand and Christ vvil stand pro homine suo pro sodali suo for his man for his companion Not that Christs povvre alone is vveake against the diuel but that free wil is leift to man and we doing our endeuour he becometh stronger in feighting And if the Father the Sonne and the Holie Ghost come vvithal this sodalitie is not soone broken Yet that vvhich is not soone broken may sometimes be broken For this triple coard vvas in Iudas the Apostle but because after the morsel the diuel entered into him this coard was broken Thus S. Irom teacheth that neither can man without Christ resist tentations nor rise from anie sinne in this life or in the next neither vvil Christ vvithout mans consent and endeuour stay him from falling nor raise him vp being fallen CHAP. V. An exhortation to speake discretly and reuerently of God 3. to performe vowes 6. not to be trubled with imaginations nor present oppressions of the poore 9. Auarice is neuer satiate 11. riches sometimes cause sicknes ruine of the bodie 18. and obliuion of God SPEAKE not anie thing rashly neither let thy hart be swift to vtter a word before God For God is
haue not lent not because of wickednes but they were afraid to be defrauded without cause †But yet vpon the humble be stronger of minde for almes differre him not †Because of the commandment receiue the poore and because of his pouertie send him not away emptie †Lose money for thy brother and thy freind and hide it not vnder a stone vnto perdition †Put thy treasure in the precepts of the Highest it shal profite thee more then gold †Shut vp almes in the hart of the poore and the same shal obteyne for thee against al euil †Aboue the shilde of the mightie aboue the speare it shal fight against tnyne enemie †A good man becometh suretie for his neighbour and he that hath lost shame wil leaue him to himself †Forget not the kindnes of a suertie for he hath geuen his life for thee †The sinner and vncleane person fleeth from his suretie †A sinner counteth the goodes of his suretie to himself and vnthankful in minde wil forsake him that deliuered him †A man is suretie for his neighbour and when he hath lost shame he shal be forsaken of him †Naughtie suretieshippe hath vndone manie that were In good case and hath tossed them as a waue of the sea †Whurling round about it hath made mightie men to remoue and they haue wandred in strange nations †A sinner that trangresseth the commandment of our Lord shal fal into naughtie suretieshippe and he that endeuoureth to doe manie thinges shal fal into iudgement †Recouer thy neighbour according to thy power and take heed to thy self that thou fal not †The beginning of mans life water bread and garment and house couering his turpitude †Better is the poore mans fayre vnder a roofe of bordes then sumptuous cheere in a strange place without a house †Let the least thing please thee in steede of a great and thou shalt not heare the reproach of peregrination †It is a naughtie life to change lodging from house to house and where he shal lodge he shal not deale boldely nor open his mouth †He shal lodge and feede and make the vnthanckful drinke and beside these thinges he shal heare bitter wordes †Passe thou stranger furnish the table with the thinges thou hast in thy hand feede the rest †Depart from the presence of the honour of my freindes for the necessitie of my house my brother is to be lodged with me †These thinges be greuous to a man that hath vnderstanding rebuke for the house and the reproch of the lender CHAP. XXX Chastisment of children is necessarie and indulgence very dangerous 14. Health is better then riches 17. A trublesome life is worse then death 22. Be not pensiue but chereful in mind HE that loueth his soune doth accustome him to stripes that he may reioyce in his later end and not grope after the doores of his neighboures †He that teacheth his sonne shal be praised in him in the middes of them of his houshold he shal glorie in him †He that teacheth his sonne doth cast the enemie into emulation and in the middes of his freindes he shal glorie in him †His father is dead he is as it were not dead for he hath left behind him the like to himself †In his life he sawe and reioyced in him in his death he was not made sorie neither was he confounded before the enemies †For he left a defender of his house against the enemies one that should render thanck to his freindes †For the soules of his sonnes he wil binde vp his woundes at euerie voice his bowels shal be trubled †An vntamed horse becometh stubburne and a dissolute childe wil become headie †Pamper thy sonne and he wil make thee afraid play with him and he wil make thee sorowful †Laugh not with him lest thou be sorie and at the last thy teeth shal be on edge †Geue him not power in his youth and contemne not his cogitations †Curbe his necke in youth and knock his sides whiles he is a childe lest perhaps he be hardned and beleeue thee not and he shal be sorow of minde to thee †Teach thy sonne and worke in him that thou offend not in his dishonestie †Better is a poore man whole and strong of force then a rich man weake and scourged with miserie †The health of the soule in holines of iustice is better then al gold and siluer and a sound bodie then infinite reuenewes †There is no riches aboue the riches of the health of the bodie and there is noe delight aboue the ioy of the hart †Better is death then a bitter life and euerlasting rest then continual sicknes †Good thinges hid in a mouth that is shut are as messes of meates set about a graue †What shal sacrifice profite an idol for neither shal he eate nor smel †so he that is chased away of our Lord beareth the rewardes of iniquitie †seing with his eies groning as an eunuch embracing a virgin and sighing †Geue not heuines to thy soule afflict not thyself in thy counsel †Ioyfulnes of the hart this is the life of a man and a treasure without defect of holines and the ioy of a man is long life †Haue mercie on thine owne soule pleasing God and refraine and comfort thy hart in his holines and expel sorow far from thee †For sorow hath killed manie and there is noe profite in it †Enuie and anger diminish the daies and thought wil bring old age before the time †A magnifical hart is good in bankettes for his bankettes are made diligently CHAP. XXXI By seeking vertue and laboring for necessaries the flesh is subdued to the spirite 8. Moderate riches are best 12. with temperance in diette 30. especially in drinking VVATCHING after honestie shal pine the flesh the thought thereof taketh away sleepe †The thought of foreknowlege turneth away the vnderstanding greuous infirmitie maketh a sober soule †The riche man hath laboured in gathering of substance together in his rest he shal be replenished with his goodes †The poore man hath laboured in the diminishing of his liuing and in the end he is made poore †He that loueth gold shal not be iustified he that foloweth after corruption shal be replenished of it †Manie haue bene geuen into falles for gold and their perdition hath come by the beautie thereof †The gold of them that sacrifice is a wood of offence wo to them that folow after it and euerie vnwise man shal perish in it †Blessed is the rich man that is found without spot and that hath not gone after gold nor hoped in money and treasures †Who is this we wil praise him for he hath done meruelous thinges in
stake into the ground and say to thee †Thy way is good and stand ouer against thee to see what wil befal thee †With an irreligious man treate not of holines and with the vniust of iustice and with a woman of the thing whereof she is ielous with a feareful man of warre with a marchant of traficke with a byer of selling with an enuious man of geuing thankes †with the impious of pietie with the vnhonest of honestie with the field labourer of al worke †with him that worketh by the yeare of the ending of the yeare with a slothful seruant of much working attend not to these in al counsel †But be continual with a holie man whomsoeuer thou shalt know to obserue the feare of God †whose soule is according to thine owne soule and who when thou shalt stumble in the darke wil be sorie for thee †And establish with thy self an hart of good counsel for there is none other thing more worth to thee then it †The soule of a holie man vttereth sometime true thinges more then seuen watchmen that sitte in a high place to watch †And in al these beseech the Highest that he direct thy way in truth †Before al workes let a true word goe before thee and stable counsel before euerie act †A wicked word shal change the hart out of which rise foure partes good and euil life and death and the tongue is a continual ruler of them There is a subtile man teacher of manie and to his owne soule he is vnprofitable †A cunning man hath taught manie and is swete to his owne soule †He that speaketh sophistically is odious in euerie thing he shal be defrauded †Grace is not geuen him of our Lord for he is defrauded of al wisdom †There is a wise man wise to his owne soule and the fruite of his vnderstanding is laudable †A wise man teacheth his people and the fruites of his vnderstanding are faithful †A wise man shal be filled with blessinges and they that see wil praise him †The life of a man is in the number of dayes but the dayes of Israel are innumerable †A wise man in the people shal inherite honour and his name shal liue for euer †Sonne in thy life proue thy soule if it be wicked geue it not power †for al thinges are not expedient for al and euerie kinde pleaseth not euerie soule †Be not greedie in al feasting and power not out thy self vpon al meate †for in manie meates there shal be infirmitie and greedines shal approch euen to choler †Because of surfet manie haue died but he that is abstinent shal adde life CHAP. XXXVIII God hath ordained corporal 9. and spiritual medicines 16. Vse moderate not excessiue sorow for the dead 26. Tradesmen and artificers are necessarie much more spiritual pastors HONOVR the phisition for necessitie for the Highest hath created him †For al medicine is of God it shal receiue gift of the king †The knowlege of the phisition shal exalt his head and in the sight of great men he shal be praised †The Highest hath created medicines of the earth and a wise man wil not abhorre them †Was not bitter water made sweete by wood †The vertue of these thinges is come to the knowlege of men and the Highest hath geuen knowlege to men for to be honoured in his meruelous thinges †Curing with these thinges he shal mitigate paine and the apothecarie shal make confections of swetenes and shal make ointments of health and his workes shal not be consummated †For the peace of God is vpon the face of the earth †Sonne in thine infirmitie contemne not thy self but pray our Lord and he wil cure thee †Turne away from sinne and direct thy handes and from al offence cleanse thy hart †Geue sweetenes and a memorial of fine floure and make a fat oblation and geue place to the phisition †For our Lord created him and let him not depart from thee because his workes be necessarie †For there is a time when thou maist fal into their handes †and they shal beseech our Lord that he direct their rest and healing for their conuersation †He that sinneth in his sight that made him shal fal into the handes of the phisition †Sonne vpon the dead shed teares and beginne to weepe as hauing suffered doleful thinges and according to iudgement couer his bodie and neglect not his burial †But for detraction beare bitterly the mourning of him one day and be comforted for the heauines †and make mourning according to his desert one day or two because of detraction †For by heauines death hasteneth and it couereth the strength and sorow of the hart boweth the necke †In abstraction sorow is permanent and the substance of the poore is according to his hart †Geue not thine hart into heauines but expel it from thee and remember the latter endes †and forget not for neither is there returne and him thou shalt profit nothing and thou shalt hurt thy self †Be mindful of my iudgement for thine also must be so to me yesterday and to thee to day †In the repose of the dead make the memorie of him to rest and comfort him in the departing of his spirit †The wisdom of a scribe in the time of vacance and he that is lesse in action shal receiue wisdom †With what wisdom shal he be replenished that holdeth the plough and glorieth in the goade driueth oxen with the prickle and conuerseth in their workes and his talke is in the breede of bulles †He wil geue his hart to turne vp furrowes and his watching in the feeding of kine †So euerie craftsman and workemaster that passeth the night as the day that maketh grauen seales and his continual diligence varieth the picture he wil geue his hart to the similitude of the picture and his watching wil perfect the worke †So the yronsmith sitting by the anuil and considering the worke of yron The vapour of the fire wil parche his flesh and he striueth in the heate of the fournace †The noyse of the hammer reneweth his eare and his eye is against the similitude of the vessel †He wil geue his hart to the finishing of the workes and his watching wil polish to perfection †So the potter sitting at his worke turning the wheele with his feete who is alwayes set in carefulnes for his worke and al his working is in number †With his arme he wil fashion the clay and before his feete he wil bend his strength †He wil geue his hart to finish the vernishing thereof and his watching wil make cleane the fournace †Al these haue hoped in their handes and euerie one is wise in his owne art †Without these a citie is not built †And
time crowned whose merchants were princes her chapmen the nobles of the earth †The Lord of hostes hath thought it that he might plucke downe the pride of al glorie and bring al the glorious of the earth to ignominie †Passe thy land as a riuer ô daughter of the sea thou hast a girdle no more †He hath stretched forth his hand vpon the sea he hath trubled kingdomes Our Lord hath geuen commandment against Chanaan to destroy the strong therof †and he said Thou shalt adde no more to glorie ô Virgin daughter of Sidon susteyning calumnie rising vp saile ouer to Cethim there also thou shalt haue no rest †Behold the land of the Chaldees was not such a people Assur founded it they led away the strong therof into captiuitie they vndermined the houses therof they brought it to ruine †Howle ye shippes of the sea because your strength is destroyed †And it shal be in that day thou shalt be in obliuion ô Tyre seuentie yeares as the daies of one king but after seuentie yeares there shal be to Tyre as it were the song of an harlot †Take an harpe goe about the citie thou harlot forgotten sing wel multiplie song that there may be remembrance of thee †And it shal be after seuentie yeares our Lord wil visite Tyre and wil bring her backe againe to her merchandise and she shal fornicate againe with al the kingdoms of the earth vpon the face of the earth †And the martes and rewards shal be sanctified to our Lord they shal not be kept in store nor layd vp because her merchandise shal be for them that shal dwel before our Lord that they may eate vnto fatietie and be clothed vnto continuance CHAP. XXIIII Al this world shal be destroyed 7. wherof manie signes shal come before 18. and general iudgement shal folow BEHOLD our Lord shal dissipate the earth and make it naked and afflict the face therof and disperse the inhabitants therof †And as the people so shal the priest be as the seruant so his master as the handmayde so her mistresse as the byer so he that selleth as the lender so he that boroweth as he that asketh his dewe so he that oweth †With dissipation shal the earth be dissipated and with spoile it shal be spoiled for our Lord hath spoken this worde †The earth hath mourned and fallen away and is weakened the world is fallen away the height of the people of the earth is weakened †And the earth is infected by the inhabitants therof because they haue transgressed the lawes changed right dissipated the euerlasting couenant †For this cause shal malediction deuoure the earth the inhabitants therof shal sinne and therfore the dwellers therein shal be madde few men shal be leaft †The vintage hath mourned the vine is weakened al haue sighed that reioyced in hart †The ioy of tymbrels hath ceased the sound of them that reioyce is least of the sweetnes of the harpe is silent †They shal not drinke wine with song the drinke shal be bitter to them that drinke it †The citie of vanitie is broken downe euerie house is shut no man goeth in †There shal be crying for the wine in the streetes al mirth is left the ioy of the earth is caried away †Desolation is left in the citie and calamitie shal oppresse the gates †Because these thinges shal be in the middes of the earth in the middes of peoples in like maner as if a few oliues which are remayning should be shaken out of the oliue tree and grapes when the vintage is ended †These shal lift vp their voice and prayse when our Lord shal be glorified they shal make a ioyful noise from the sea †For this cause in doctrines glorifie our Lord in the iles of the sea the name of our Lord the God of Israel †From the endes of the earth we haue heard praises the glorie of the iust one And I sayd My secrete to me my secrete to me woe is me the preuaricatours haue preuaricated and by the preuarication of trangressors they haue preuaricated †Feare and pitte and snare vpon thee that art inhabiter of the earth †And it shal be He that shal flee from the voice of feare shal fal into the pitte and he that shal rid him selfe out of the pitte shal be held in the snare because the fludgates from on high are opened and the fundations of the earth shal be shaken †With breaking shal the earth the broken with bruising shal the earth be bruised with mouing shal the earth be moued †With shaking shal the earth be shaken as a drunken man and shal be taken away as the tabernacle of one night and the iniquitie therof shal be heauie vpon it and it shal fal and not adde to rise againe †And it thal be In that day our Lord wil visite vpon the hoste of heauen on high and vpon the kinges of the earth that are vpon the earth †And they shal be gathered together as the gathering of a bundel into the lake and shal be shut there in prison and after manie daies they shal be visited †And the moone shal be confounded when the Lord of hostes shal reigne in mount Sion and in Ierusalem shal be glorified in the sight of his ancients CHAP. XXV The Prophet geueth thankes to God for his meruelous workes 7. and great benefites in lightning manie with faith washing away sinnes and geuing grace and eternal glorie OLORD thou art my God I wil exalt thee and confesse to thy name because thou hast done meruelous thinges the old cogitations faithful Amen †Because thou hast brought the citie into a heape the strong citie into ruine the house of strangers that it be no citie that it be not built for euer †For this shal strong people prayse thee the citie of strong nations shal feare thee †Because thou art become a strength to the poore a strength to the needie in his tribulation an hope against the whirlwinde a shadow against the heate For the spirit of the strong is as a whirlwinde beating against a wal †As heate in thirst shalt thou humble the tumult of strangers and as with heate vnder a burning cloude thou shalt make the branch of the strong to wither †And the Lord of hostes shal make to al peoples in this mount a feast of fat thinges a feast of vintage of fat thinges ful of marrow of vintage purified from the dregges †And he shal in this mount throw downe headlong the face of the bond tied together vpon al peoples and the webbe that he hath begune vpon al nations †He shal cast death downe headlong for euer and our Lord God shal take away teare from al face and the reproch of his people he shal take away out of the whole earth because our Lord hath
land †And doest thou seeke to thy self great thinges Seeke not for behold I wil bring euil vpon al flesh saith our Lord and I wil geue thee thy life into safetie in al places whither soeuer thou shalt goe CHAP. XLVI Ieremie prophecieth that the king of Babylon shal inuade Aegypt 13. and waste the cites and land 25. which shal againe be repayred 27. And the reliques of the Iewes shal be deliuered from sundrie places of captiuitie THE word of our Lord that was made to Ieremie the prophet against the Gentiles †to Aegypt against the armie of Pharao Nechao the king of Aegypt which was beside the riuer Euphrates in Charcamis whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon stroke in the fourth yeare of Ioakim the sonne of Iosias king of Iuda †Prepare ye shild and buckler and goe forth to battel †Yoke horses mount ye horsemen stand in helmets furbish the speares put on coates of maile †What then I saw them feareful and turning their backes their valiants slaine they fled in hast neither looked they backe terrour on enerie side saith our Lord. †Let not the swift flee nor the strong thincke that he is safe Toward the North by the riuer Euphrates they were ouercome and fel downe †Who is this that riseth vp as a floud and as it were of riuers so his streames doe swel †Aegypt riseth vp like a floud and the waues thereof shal be moued as riuers and shal say Rysing vp I wil couer the earth I wil destroy citie and the inhabitants thereof †Get ye vp on horses in chariots and let the valiants come forth Aethiopia and the Lybians holding the shilde and the Lydeans taking and shooting arrowes †And that day of our Lord the God of hostes is a day of reuenge that they may take vengeance of his enemies the sword shal deuoure and be filled shal be drunken with their bloud for the victime of our Lord the God of hostes is in the Land of the North by the riuer Euphrates †Goe vp into Galaad and take resine ô virgin the daughter of Aegypt thou doest in vaine multiplie medicines there shal not be health to thee †The Gentiles haue heard thine ignominie and thine howling hath filled the earth because the strong hath stumbled against the strong and both are fallen together †The word that our Lord spake to Ieremie the prophet concerning this that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon should come and strike the Land of Aegypt †Tel Aegypt and make it heard in Magdal and let it sound in Memphis and in Taphnis Say ye Stand and prepare thy self because the sword shal deuoure those thinges that be round about thee †Why is thy valiant become rotten he stood not because our Lord hath ouerthrowen him †He hath multiplied them that fal and man hath fallen against his neighbour and they shal say Arise and let vs returne to our people and to the Land of our natiuitie from the face of the sword of the doue †Cal ye the name of Pharao the king of Aegypt Tumult Time hath brought it †I liue saith the king the Lord of hostes is his name that as Thabor in the mountaines and as Carmel in the sea he shal come †Make ye vessels of transmigration ô daughter inhabitant of Aegypt because Memphis shal be in desolation and shal be forsaken and shal be inhabitable †Aegypt a trimme and beautiful heyfer a pricker from the North shal come to her †Her hyrelings also that conuersed in the middes of her as fatted calues are turned and are fled together neither could they stand because the day of their flaughter came vpon them the time of their visitation †Her voice shal sound as if it were of brasse because they shal hasten with an armie and with axes they shal come to her as it were cutting trees †They haue cut downe her forest saith our Lord which can not be counted they are multiplied aboue locustes and are without number †The daughter of Aegypt is confounded deliuered into the hand of the people of the North. †The Lord of hostes the God of Israel hath said Behold I wil visite vpon the tumult of Alexandria and vpon Pharao and vpon Aegypt and vpon her goddes and vpon her kinges and vpon Pharao and vpon them that trust in him †And I wil geue them into the hand of them that seeke their life and into the hand of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon and into the hand of his seruants and after these thinges it shal be inhabited as in the daies of old saith our Lord. †And thou my seruant Iacob feare not and be not thou afraid Israel because loe I wil saue thee from a farre and thy seede out of the land of thy captiuitie and Iacob shal returne and rest and prosper and there shal be none to terrifie him †And thou my seruant Iacob feare not saith our Lord because I am with thee because I wil consume al the nations to the which I haue cast thee out but thee I wil not consume but I wil chasten thee in iudgement neither wil I spare thee as innocent CHAP. XLVII The desolation of the Philistims Tyre Sidon Gaza and Ascalon is prophecied THE word of our Lord that was made to Ieremie the prophet against the Palesthines before Pharao stroke Gaza †Thus saith our Lord Behold there come vp waters from the North and they shal be as â—torrent ouerflowing and they shal couer the earth and the fulnes thereof the citie and the inhabitantes thereof men shal crie and al the inhabitantes of the land shal howle †at the noise of the pompe of the armour and of his men of warre at the commotion of his chariots and the multitude of his wheeles The fathers haue not respected the children being of dissolute handes †for the coming of the day wherein al the Philisthims shal be wasted and Tyre and Sidon shal be destroyed with al the rest of their aydes For our Lord hath spoyled the Palesthines the remnant of the I le of Cappadocia †Baldnes is come vpon Gaza Ascalon hath held her peace and the remnant of her valley how long shalt thou be hewed †O sword of our Lord how long wilt thou not be quiet Get thee into thy scabbard be cooled and be stil †How shal it be quiet when our Lord hath commanded it against Ascalon and against the countries thereof by the sea side and there hath made appointment with it CHAP. XLVIII A prophecie of the vastation of Moab 29. for their pride 47. but their capliuitie shal at last be released TO Moab thus saith the Lord of hostes the God of Israel Woe vpon Nabo because it is wasted and confounded Cariathaim is taken the strong one is confounded and hath trembled †There is no more reioycing in Moab against Hesebon they haue thought euil
God sent him to them the people feared at the face of our Lord. †And Aggeus the messenger of our Lord of the messengers of our Lord spake saying to the people I am with you sayth our Lord. †And our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel duke of Iuda and the spirit of Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grandpriest and the spirit of the rest of al the people and they went in and did the worke in the house of the Lord of hostes their God CHAP. II. They are encoreged to procede in building the temple 6. with promise that Christ by his personal presence wil bring more glorie to this then was in the former temple 11. Their former slacknes in this worke was the cause of their wantes 19. and now they shal haue abundance IN the foure and twenteth day of the moneth in the sixth moneth in the second yeare of Darius the king †In the seuenth moneth the one and twentith of the moneth the word of our Lord was made in the hand of Aggeus the prophet saying †Speake to Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel the duke of Iuda to Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the grand priest and to the rest of the people saying †Who among you is left that saw this house in the first glorie therof what do you see this same now Why is it not so as if it were not in your eyes †And now take courege Zorobabel saith our Lord and take courege Iesus the sonne of Iosedec grand priest and take courege al ye people of the land saith the Lord of hostes and doe because I am with you sayth the Lord of hosts †the word that I did couenant with you when you came out of the Land of Aegypt and my spirit shal be in the middes of you feare not †Because thus sayth the Lord of hosts As yet there is one litle while and I wil moue the heauen the earth and the sea and the drie land †And I wil moue al nations AND THE DESIRED OF AL NATIONS SHAL COME and I wil fil this house with glorie sayth the Lord of hosts †Mine is the siluer and mine is the gold sayth the Lord of hostes †“ Great shal be the glorie of this last house more then of the first sayth the Lord of hosts and in this place wil I geue peace sayth the Lord of hosts †In the foure and twentith of the ninth moneth in the second yeare of Darius the king the word of our Lord was made to Aggeus the prophet saying †Thus saith the Lord of hosts Aske the priests the law saying †If a man take sanctified flesh in the skirt of his garment and touch with the skirt therof bread or broth or wine or oile or any meate shal it be sanctified And the priests answering said No. †And Aggeus sayd If one polluted on a soule touch any of al these shal he be contaminated And the priests answered and sayd he shal be contaminated †And Aggeus answered and sayd So this people and so this nation before my face sayth our Lord and so al the worke of their handes al that they haue offered there shal be contaminated †And now set your hartes from this day and vpward before there was stone layd vpon stone in the temple of our Lord. †When you went to an heape of twentie bushels they became ten and entered into the presse to presse out fiftie flagons they became twentie †I stroke you with the burning winde and with the blast and with haile al the workes of your handes and there was none among you that returned to me saith our Lord. †Set your hartes from this day and hence forward from the foure and twenteth day of the ninth moneth from the day that the fundations of the temple of our Lord were layd lay it vpon your hartes †Is there the seede now abreward and as yet the wine and the figtree and the pomegranate and the oliue tree hath not florished from this day I wil blesse †And the word of our Lord was made the second time to Aggeus in the foure and twentith of the moneth saying †Speake to Zorobabel the duke of Iuda saying I wil moue the heauen and also the earth †And I wil ouerthrow the throne of kingdoms wil destroy the strength of the kingdom of the Gentils and I wil ouerthrow the chariote and the rider therof and the horses shal come downe and the riders of them euerie one by the sword of his brother †In that day sayth the Lord of hosts I wil take thee ô Zorobabel sonne of Salathiel my seruant saith our Lord and wil put thee as a signet because thee haue I chosen sayth the Lord of hosts ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 10. Great shal be the glorie VVhen according to the prophets exhortation the temple vvas built againe Esdras ch 3. v 12 vvriteth that such ancient men as had sene the former lamented because this nevv one vvas not so excellent as the former had bene vvhich is also clere by other places of holie scripture For amongst other differences Salomons temple had in height and in breadth an hundred and twentie cubites 2 Paral. 3. v. 4. this nevv temple had but sixtie cubites 1 Esd 6. v. 3. Likevvise balomons temple vvas built of stones hevved and perfectly polished 3. Reg 6. v. 7. vvhich vvere also couered on the innerside vvith seeling vvorke of ceder vvood v. 18. This nevv temple vvas built of rugh and vnpolished stones 1. Esd 5. v. 8 As for the same temple long after enlarged and adorned by Herod it continued not long in that state the chiefest glorie therof vvas by our Sauiours presence therin vvhen he vvas presented by his mother and ioyfully receiued into the armes of Simeon and often preached there And therfore S. Augustin proueth li. 18. c. 45. ciuit that the prophet here foreshevveth the glorie of Christs mystical temple faithful Christian soules of al nations in whom God dwelleth by grace of the nevv Testament farre more glorious in liuing stones then that temple vvhich king Salomon built or that vvhich vvas restored after the captiuitie THE PROPHECIE OF ZACHARIAS ZACHARIAS the sonne of Barachias and nephew of Addo beginning two monethes after Aggeus exhorteth also to reedifie the Temple and sheweth by diuers visions that the Church shal floorish partly in that time of the old Synagog but much more after Christs coming whos 's first and chiefe promulgators of his Gospel shal be of the Iewish nation but the farre greatter number shal be of the Gentiles the Iewes for their obstinacie reiected Yet they also in the end shal returne to Christ CHAP. I. The prophet exhorteth the people to conuert to God and not to imitate the euil examples of their fathers 7. by a vision of an horseman and diuers
by place and place to conduct them into the land of Iuda with peace †And this is a copie of the epistles which Ionathas wrote to the Spartiats †IONATHAS the high priest and the ancients of the nation and the priests and the rest of the people of the Iewes to the Spartiats their bretheren greeting †Long agoe were epistles sent to Onias the high priest from Arius who reigned with you that you are our bretheren as the writing conteyneth that here beneath foloweth †And Onias receiued the man that was sent with honour and he receiued the epistles where in there was signification of the societie and amitie †We wheras we neded none of these hauing for our comfort the holie bookes that are in our handes †chose rather to send vnto you to renew the fraternitie lest perhaps we be made aliens from you for much time is passed since you sent to vs. †We therfore at al time without intermission in the solenne dayes and the rest where in we should are mindful of you in the sacrifices that we offer and in the obseruances as it is meete and becometh to remember bretheren †We reioyce therfore of your glorie †But manie tribulations haue compassed vs and manie battels and the kinges that are round about vs haue impugned vs. †We therfore would not be trublesome to you nor to the rest our felowes and freindes in these battels †For we haue had ayde from heauen and we are deliuered and our enemies are humbled †We haue chosen therfore Numenius the sonne of Antiochus and Autipater the sonne of Iason and haue sent to the Romanes to renew with them the old amitie and societie †We therfore haue commanded them that they come vnto you also salute you and deliuer you our epistles concerning the renewing of our fraternitie †And now you shal doe wel in answering vs to these thinges †And this is the rescript of the epistles which he had sent to Onias †ARIVS the king of the Spartians to Onias the grand priest greeting †It is found in scripture of the Spartians and the Iewes that they are bretheren that they are of the stocke of Abraham †And now since we vnderstood these thinges you doe wel in writing to vs of your peace †Yea and we haue writen agayne to you Our cattel our possessions are yours and yours ours We therfore haue commanded that these thinges be told you †And Ionathas heard that the princes of Demetrius were come agayne with a great armie more then before to fight against him †And he went out from Ierusalem aud mette them in the countrie of Amathis for he gaue them not space to enter into his countrie †And he sent spies into their campe they returning reported that they appointed to come vpon them in the night †And when the sunne was set Ionathas cammanded his men to watch and to be in armour readie to fight al night he set watchmen round about the campe †And the aduersaries heard that Ionathas with his companie was prepared to battel they feared and were afrayd in their hart and they kindled fyres in their campe †But Ionathas and they that were with him knew it not til the morning and they saw light burning †and Ionathas folowed them and ouertooke them not for they had passed the riuer Eleutherus †And Ionathas turned aside to the Arabians that were called Zabadeans and he stroke them and tooke the spoiles of them †And he ioyned and came to Damascus and walked through al that countrie †But Simon went forth and came euen to Ascalon and to the next holdes and he declined into Ioppe and tooke it †For he heard that they would deliuer the hold to Demetrius part and he put a garrison there to keepe it †And Ionathas returned called together the ancients of the people and he consulted with them to build fortresses in Iurie †and to build the walles in Ierusalem and to reate a mount of a great height betwen the castel and the citie to separate it from the citie that it might be alone and they might neither bye nor sel †And they came together to build the citie and the wal fel that was vpon the torrent toward the rising of the sunne and he repayred it which is called Caphetetha †and Simon built Adiada in Sephela and fortified it hanged on gates aud lockes †And when Tryphon had purposed to reigne ouer Asia and to take the crowne to extend his hand against Antiochus the king †fearing lest perhaps Ionathas would not permit him but would fight against him he sought to take him to kil him And rising vp he went into Bethsan †And Ionathas went forth to meete him with fourtie thousand chosen men into battel and came to Bethsam †And Tryphon saw that Ionathas came with a great armie to extend his handes vpon him and he feared †and receiued him with honour and commended him to al his freindes and gaue him gifts and he commanded his hosts to obey him as him self †And he sayd to sonathas Why hast thou trubled al the people wheras we haue no warre †And now send them backe to their houses but choose thee a few men that may be with thee and come with me to Prolemais and I wil deliuer it to thee and the other holdes and the armie and al the ouerseers of the affayres and returning I wil depart for therfore I came †And Ionathas beleued him and did as he sayd and dismissed his armie and they departed into the land of Iuda †but he reteyned with him three thousand men of whom he sent backe two thousand into Galilee and a thousand came with him †But as Ionathas entered into Prolemais they of Ptolemais shut the gates of the citie and they tooke him and al that had entered with him they slew with the sword †And Tryphon sent an armie and horsemen into Galilee and into the great playne to destroy al Ionathas felowes †But they when they vnderstood that Ionathas was taken and was perished and al that were with him they encouraged them selues went forth readie to battel †And these that had pursewed seing that the matter stood vpon their life they returned †But they came al with peace into the land of Iuda And they lamented Ionathas and them that were with him excedingly and Israel mourned with great mourning †And al the heathen that were round abour them sought to destroy them for they sayd †They haue no prince and helper now therfore let vs expugne them and take away from men the memorie of them CHAP. XIII Simon exhorteth the people to defend themselues and religion 7. is made general captaine 14. Tryphon demandeth an bundred talents of siluer and hostages for Ionathas 17. which are sent to satisfie the people Tryphon receiueth the rarsom 23.
length he may punish vs. †For which cause he neuer certes remoueth away his mercie from vs but chastening his people by aduersitie he forsaketh them not †But let these thinges be sayd of vs in few wordes for an admonition of the readers And now we must come to the storie †Therfore Eleazarus one of the chief of the Scribes a man striken in age and comely of countenance with open mouth gaping was compelled to eate swines flesh †But he embracing rather a most glorious death then an hateful life went before voluntarily to the punishment †And considering how he ought to come patiently susteyning he determined not to committe vnalwful thinges for loue of life †But they that stood by moued with vnlawful pitie for the old frendshipe of the man taking him in secrete desired that flesh might be brought which it was lawful for him to eate that he might feyne to haue eaten as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice †that by this fact he might be deliuered from death and for the old freindshipe of the man they did him this courtesie †But he begane to thinke vpon the worthie preeminence of his age and ancientnes and the houre heares of natural nobilitie his doinges from a childe of very good conuersation and according to the ordinances and the holie law made of God he answered quickly saying that he would rather be sent vnto hel †For it is not meete quoth he for our age to feyne that manie young men thinking that Eleazarus of foure score yeare tenne is passed to the life of Aliens †they also through my dissimulation and for a litle time of corruptible life may be deceiued and hereby I may purchase a stayne and a curse to mine old age †For although at this present time I be deliuered from the punishments of men yet neither aliue nor dead shal I escape the hand of the Almightie †Wherfore in departing manfully out of this life I shal appeare worthie of mine old age †and to yong men I shal leaue a constant example if with readie mind and stoutly I suffer an honest death for the most graue and most holie lawes These thinges being spoken forthwith he was drawen to execution †And they that led him and had bene a litle before more milde were turned into wrath for the wordes spoken of him which they thought were vttered through arrogancie †But when he was now in killing with the strokes he groned and sayd O Lord which hast the holie knowlege thou knowest manifestly that wheras I might be deliuered from death I doe susteyne sore paines of the bodie but according to the soule for thy feare I doe willingly suffer these thinges †And this man certes in this maner departed this life leauing not only to yong men but also to the whole nation the memorie of his death for an example of vertue and fortitude CHAP. VII The noble Martyrdome of seuen refusing to eate swines flesh and boldly admonishing king Antiochus of his damnable state 41. Lastly the mother hauing encoreged her sonnes likewise dyeth gloriously AND it came to passe that seuen brethren together with their mother being apprehended to be compelled by the king to eate against the law swines flesh were tormented with whippes and scourges †But one of them which was the first sayd thus What seekest thou and what wilt thou lerne of vs we are readie to dye rather then to transgresse the lawes of God coming from our fathers †The king therfore being wrath commanded frying pannes and brasen pottes to be heated †the which forth with being heated he commanded his tongue that had spoken first to be cut out and the skinne of his head being drawen of the endes also of his handes and feete to be chopped of the rest of his bretheren and his mother looking on †And when he was now made in al partes vnprofitable he commanded fire to be put vnto him and that breathing as yet he should be fried in the frying panne wherin when he was long tormented the rest together with the mother exhorted one an other to dye manfully †saying Our Lord God wil behold the truth and wil take pleasure in vs as Moyses declared in the profession of the Canticle And in his seruants he wil take pleasure †That first therfore being dead in this maner they brought the next to make him a mocking stocke the skinne of his head with the heares being drawen of they asked if he would eare before that he were punished throughout the whole bodie in euerie member †But he answering in his countrie speach said I wil not doe it Wherfore this also in the next place receiued the torments of the first †and being at the verie last gaspe thus he said Thou in dede ô most wicked man in this present life destroyest vs but the king of the world wil raise vs vp which dye for his lawes in the resurrection of eternal life †After him the third is had in derision and being demanded his tongue he quickly put it forth and constantly stretched out his handes †and with confidence he said From heauen doe I possesse these but for the lawes of God now doe I contemne these selfe same because I hope that I shal receiue them againe of him †So that the king and they that were with him merueled at the yong mans courege because he estemed the torments as nothing †And this being thus dead the fourth they vexed in like maner tormenting him †And when he was now euen to dye thus he said It is better for them that are put to death by men to exspect hope of God that they shal be raysed vp againe by him For to thee there shal not be resurrection vnto life †And when they had brought the fifth they tormented him But he looking vpon him †sayd Thou hauing power among men wheras thou art corruptible doest what thou wilt but thinke not that our stock is forsaken of God †And doe thou patiently abide and thou shalt see his great power in what sort he wil torment thee and thy seede †After him they brought the sixth and he beginning to dye sayd thus Be not deceiued vainely for we suffer this for our owne sakes sinning against our God and thinges worthie of admiration are done in vs †but doe not thinke that thou shalt escape vnpunished for that thou hast attempted to fight against God †But the mother aboue measure meruelous and worthie of good mens memorie which beholding her seuen sonnes perishing in one dayes space bare it with a good hart for the hope that she had in God †exhorted euerie one of them in their countrie language manfully being replenished with wisedome and ioyning a mans hart to a womans cogitation †she sayd to them I know not how you appeared in my wombe for neither did I
hundred †But Timothee fled into Gazara a strong hold wherof Chaereas was the captaine †And Machabeus and they that were with him ioyfully besieged the hold foure dayes †But they that were within trusting to the place blasphemed aboue measure cast forth abominable wordes †But when the fifth day appeared twentie yong men of them that were with Machabeus incensed in their mindes because of the blasphemie went manfully to the wal and with fierce conrege going on they scaled to the top †Yea and the others also mounting vp attempted to set the towres and the gates on fire and to burne the blasphemers themselues aliue †And the hold being sacked for two dayes together they slewe Timothee that was found hyding himself in a certaine place and his brother Chaereas and Apollophanes they killed †Which thinges being done they blessed our Lord in hymnes and confessions who did great thinges in Israel and gaue them the victorie ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X. 8. They decreed Beza in his Annotations in Ioan. 10. v. 22. set forth in English in the yeare 1603. confesseth that the feast vvhich our Sauiour obserued vvas instituted by Iudas Machabius and his bretheren after the restoring of Gods true religion by easting out Antiochus his garrison It is also cleare that this feast vvas in vvinter ibidem agreable to the text in the moneth of Casleu which is Nouember vvheras the feast of tabernacles vvas in September before vvinter and the feast of restauration of the temple after the captiuitie of Babylon vvas in Adar 1. Esd 6. vvhich is Februarie betwen vvhich time and middes of March vvas not competent space for those thinges vvhich Christ did after this feast before his Passion And therfore it is very strange that Beza or other Protestantes vvil denie these bookes to be Canonical vvhich haue so excellent a testimonie by the Euangelist of our Sauiours ovvne fact CHAP. XI Lysias supposing with his armie of fourescore thousand footemen a great band of horsemen to subdue Ierusalem 6. Iudas with his few praying God and going to fight an Angel in forme of an horsemen goeth before them 10. so they setting vpon the enemies kil manie the rest flee 13. Lysias perceiuing Gods powre offereth to procure peace 22. Wherto the king agreeth writting to him 27. and to the Iewes 34. The Romanes also write to the Iewes BVT a litle after Lysias the kings procuratour and cosin and chiefe ouer the affayers being greatly offended with these thinges that had hapened †hauing gathered foure score thousand and al the horsemen came against the Iewes thincking that taking the citie he should make it an habitation for the Gentiles †and he should haue the temple to make gayne of money as the rest of the temples of the Gentiles and euerie yeare the priesthood to be sold †neuer recounting the powre of God but furious in minde he trusted in the multitude of foote men and thousandes of horsemen and in foure score elephants †And he entred into Iurie and approching to Bethsura which was in a narrow place from Ierusalem the space of fiue furlongs he expugned that hold †But as Machabeus and they that were with him vnderstood that the holdes were ex pugned they besought our Lord with weeping and teares and al the multitude together that he would send a good Angel to the sauing of Israel †And Machabeus him self first taking weapons exhorted the rest together with him to aduenture and to geue ayde to their bretheren †And when they went forth together with prompt corege at Ierusalem there appeared going before them an horseman in white clothing with armour of gold shaking a speare †Then al they together blessed our merciful Lord and tooke great corege being readie to penetrate not only men but also most fierce beastes and walles of yron †They went therfore promptly hauing an helper from heauen and our Lord hauing pitie vpon them †And like lyons running violently vpon the enimies they ouerthrew of them eleuen thousand footmen and of horsemen a thousand six hundred †and they put to flight al very many of them being wounded scaped a way naked Yea and Lysias him selfe shamefully fleeing escaped †And because he was not senselesse recounting with him selfe the diminution made on his side and vnderstanding the Hebrewes to be inuincible because they rested vpon the help of the almightie God he sent vnto them †and promised that he would consent to al thinges that are iust and that he would force the king to be their freind †And Machabeus granted to Lysias requestes in al things hauing respect to the commonwealth and whatsoeuer Machabeus wrote to Lysias concerning the Iewes the king granted it †For there were epistles written to the Iewes from Lysias conteyning this tenure LYSIAS to the people of the Iewes health †Iohn and Absalom that were sent from you deliuering the wrytings requested that I would accomplishe those thinges which by them were signified †Therfore whatsoeuer might be brought to the king I declared vnto him and that which the matters permitted I granted †If therfore you kepe fideletie in the affayres hence forward also wil endeuour to be a cause of doing you good †And concerning the rest word for word I haue geuen commandement both to theise and to them that are sent of me to commune with you †Fare ye wel In the yeare an hundred fourtie eight of the moneth Dioscorus the foure twenteth day †But the kings epistle conteyned these thinges King Antiochus to Lysias his brother health †Our father being translated amongst the goddes we being willing that they that are in our kingdome should liue without truble and employ diligence to their owne matters †we haue heard that the Iewes consented not to my father to turne to the rite of the Greekes but that they would keepe their owne institution and therfore that they request vs their rites to be granted them †Being therfore desirouse that this nation also be quiet oradyning we haue decreed that the temple be restored vnto them that they might doe according to the custome of their ancestours †Thou shalt do wel therfore if thou send to them geue the right hand that our pleasure being knowen they may be of good cheere looke to their owne commodities †But to the Iewes the kings epistle was in this manner KING Antiochus to the senate of the Iewes and to the rest of the Iewes health †If you fare wel you are so as we would yea our selues also fare wel †Menelaus came to vs saying that you would come downe to your countrie men that are with vs. †To them therfore that come and goe vntil the thirtith day of the month Xanthicus we geue the right handes of securitie †that the Iewes may vse their owne meates and their owne lawes as also before and that none of them by any meanes
our holie thinges are contaminated and the name that is inuocated vpon vs is almost prophaned and our children haue suffred contumelie and our Priestes are burnt our Leuites are gone into captiuitie our virgins are defloured and our wiues haue suffered rape and our iust men are violently taken and our litle ones are lost and our yong men are in bondage and our valiants are made impotent †and that which is greatest of al the seale of Sion because she is vnsealed of her glorie For she is also deliuered into the handes of them that hate vs. †Thou therfore shake of thy great heauines and lay away from thee the multitude of sorrowes that the Strong may be propicious to thee agayne and the Highest wil geue thee rest rest from thy labours †And it came to passe when I spake to her her face did shine suddenly and her shape and her visage was made glistering so that I was afrayde excedingly at her thought what this thing should be †And Behold suddenly she put forth a great sound of a voyce ful of feare that the earth was moued at the womans sound And I saw †and behold the woman did no more appeare vnto me but a citie was built a place was shewed of great fundations and I was afrayd crying with a loude voyce I sayd †Where is Vriel the Angel that from the beginning came to me for he made me come in multitude in excesse of this minde and my end is made into corruption my prayer into reproch †And when I was speaking these thinges behold he came to me and sawe me †And behold I was layd as dead my vnderstanding was alienated and he held my right hand and strengthned me set me vpon my feete sayd to me †What ayleth thee and why is thy vnderstanding and the sense of thy hart trubled why art thou trubled And I sayd †Because thou hast forsaken me and I in dede haue done according to thy wordes went out into the field behold I haue seene doe see that which I cannot vtter And he sayd to me †Stand like a man I wil moue thee And I sayd †Speake thou my Lord in me forsake me not that I die not in vaine †because I haue seene thinges that I knew not I doe heare thinges that I know not †Or is my sense deceiued doth my soule dreame †Now therfore I besech thee that thou shew vnto thy seruant concerning this trance And he answered me sayd †Heare me and I wil teach thee and wil tel thee of what thinges thou art afrayd because the Highest hath reuealed vnto thee manie mysteries †He hath seene thy right way that without intermission thou was sorrowful for thy people and didst mourne exceedingly for Sion †This therfore is the vnderstanding of the vision which appeared to thee a litle before †The woman whom thou sawest mourning thou beganst to comfort her †And now thou seest not the forme of the woman but there appeared to thee a citie to be built †And because she tolde thee of the fal of her sonne this is the interpretation †This woman which thou sawest she is Sion and wheras she told thee of her whom now also thou shalt see as a citie builded †And wheras she told thee that she was barren thirtie yeares for the which there were thirtie yeares when there was not yet oblation offered in it †And it came to passe after thirtie yeares Salomon built the citie and offered oblations then it was when the barren bare a childe †And that which she sayd vnto thee that she nourished him with labour this was the habitation in Ierusalem †And wheras she sayd to thee that my sonne comming into the bryde chamber dyed and that a fal chanced vnto him this was the ruine of Ierusalem that is made †And behold thou hast seene the similitude of her and because she lamented her sonne thou beganst to comfort her and of these thinges that haue chanced these were to be opened to thee †And now the Highest seeth that thou wast sorie from the hart and because with thy whole hart thou sufferest for her he hath shewed thee the clearnes of her glorie and the fayrenes of her beautie †For therfore did he say to thee that thou shoulest tarie in a field where house is not built †For I knew that the Highest beganne to shew thee these thinges †therfore I sayd vnto thee that thou shouldest goe into a field where is no fundation of building †For the worke of mans building could not be borne in the place where the citie of the Highest began to be shewed †Thou therfore feare not neither let thy hart dread but goe in and see the beautie and greatnes of the building as much as the sight of thyne eyes is capable to see †afterward thou shalt heare as much as the hearing of thyne eares is capable to heare †For thou art blessed aboue manie and art called with the Highest as few †And to morrow night thou shalt tarie here †and the Highest wil shew thee those visions of the thinges on high which the Highest wil doe to them that inhabite vpon the earth in the later dayes †And I slept that night and the other next as he had sayd to me CHAP. XI An eagle appeareth to Esdras coming forth of the sea with three heades and twelue winges sometimes one reigning in the world sometimes an other but euerie one vanisheth away 36. A lion also appeareth coming forth of the wo 〈…〉 suppresse the eagle AND I sawe a dreame behold an eagle came vp out of the sea which had twelue winges of fethers and three heades †And I saw and behold she spred her winges into al the earth and al the windes of heauen blew vpon her and were gathered together †And I saw and of her fethers sprang contrarie fethers and they became litle winges and smale †For her heades were at rest and the midle head was greater then the other heades but she rested with them †And I saw and behold the eagle flew with her winges and reigned ouer the earth and ouer them that dwel in it †And I saw that al thinges vnder heauen were subiect to her and no man gaynesayd her no not one of the creature that is vpon the earth †And I saw and behold the eagle rose vp vpon her talons and made a voice with her winges saying †Watch not al together sleepe euerie one in his place watch according to time †But let the heades be preserued to the last †And I saw and behold the voice came not out of her heades but from the middes of her bodie †And I numbered her contrarie winges and behold they were eight †And I saw and behold on the right side rose one wing and reigned
prouidence towards the good and bad the 3. key a A song as wel for king Dauid himselfe as others of al times b to sing c and consider Gods prouidence in suffering one man to afflict an other in this life d This life is awarefare and a continual combate e calumniated me f and persecuted me in great furie g so inwardly afflicted as if death were at hand h I haue scarse sense or discourse of reason being almost ouerwhelmed with trubles i would God I could flie that in the simplicitie of a doue I might spedely part away from these afflictions k I haue fled so farre as I could from trubles l for the rest I remitted to Gods wil and good pleasure m and he suffered me not to be ouerthrowne n though I am weake o and the tentations are great p O God abate the pride of arrogant persecuters q suffer them not to agree amongst them selues r They are ful of al iniquitie Å¿ they haue also contentions among themselues turne the same to our good t VVith their continual great iniquitie they haue their trubles v but leaue not their iniustice w They are stil vsurers and deceiptful oppressors of the poore x It is a greater griefe to suffer iniuries of those that seme to be freindes y A man that was or semed of the same mind faith and religion z whom I so trusted that I would haue gone whithersoeuer he should haue ledde me a Thou that didst participate the same holie sacraments with me b in the Catholique Church c As Core his complices spoken of iust zele not of desire to reuenge verified in those that sinne wittingly and knowing for they descend as it were aliue into hel d The whole crew of the wicked conspire in iniquitie e The prophet alludeth to three more specially appointed houres of Diuine seruice the daylie sacrifice at morning and euening and other sacrifices commonly about midday VVhich also are the three principal times of Diuine Seruice in the Church of Christ Martins Euensong and the Sacrifice of Masse VVhich Eutynâ—ius and other Grecians cal Lyturgiam S. Clement also li 7. c. 25. Apost Instit testifieth that the Apostles ordained three set houres of common prayer euerie day * â—r prâ—â— f Manie enimies combined together approched vnto me to ouerthrow me g Eternal God h They wil neuer repent of their wickednes i They harden their hartes against his threatned wrath k but Gods prouidente illuminateth others to know and teach the truth when it is impugned or contemned l Gods wordes which in them selues are meke and swete m are hard to the incredulous as dartes that wound them Christ said Ioan. 6. Vnles one eate my flesh drinke my bloud he shal not haue life in him which the Capharnaites not vnderstanding said one to an other This is a hard speach who can abide it which S. Augustin here saith was the first heresie against our Sauiours preaching It was not hard to S. Peter who in the name of the rest answered that Christ had the wordes of eternal life He yet vnderstood not the secrete of our Lords speach but he piously beleued that the wordes vvere good vvhich he vnderstood not n Therfore in al doubtes of doctrin in al distresses of persecution and other difficulties vvhich surpasse thy vveakenes cast thy care vpon our Lord and he vvil nourish thee o He vvil not suffer the iust to remaine alvvayes in fluctuation that is in doubtful dangerous and vvaueâ—ing thoughtes or perplexities as vvhen a shippe is tossed in the vvaues of the sea but vvil geue quiet repose of mind as in a sure hauen vvithout danger of drovvning p Contrariwise the wicked and obstinate shal fal into destruction q Often or for most part bloud-suckers dye before the course of nature requireth as Saul Absolon Achitophel Achab Iezabel and the like Dauids prayes in danger the â— key a This Psalme perteyneth also to future times b for the vse of anie iust persons or people that are against their wil separated from the publike diuine Seruice of holie Church c moâ—â— worthie to be noted with tule for perpetual memorie d made by Dauid when the Philistims detected him to their king in Geth e Now one sorte of il disposed men now another f neuer cease to seeke my destruction g Saul with his great armie the Philistimâ—s and other strangers some in manifest hostilitie others detecting and betraing me to myn aduersaries So al that liue godly in Christ haue manie enimies visible and inuisible h Of these most eminent great dangers I am in deede afeard i but so that my trust and assured confidence is in thee ô God k Wordes and promises made to me or the good which I speake or do by Gods grace l They calumniate whatsoeuer I say m wresting al my wordes to euil sense n They meete together and secretly conspire to intrappe me or catch me tripping o to take my life p for this their vaine purpose to destroy me thou wilt saue them as they deserue that is q thou wilt breake them in peeces r I wil alwayes gratfully acknowlege thy promises and sayings for they are assured Å¿ I haue purposed and vowed to offer sacrifice of praise and by thy helpe wil performe it t do that pleaseth God v in true faith and pious workes Dauids great patience the 8. key a The heroical facts of Dauid are for examples to al Christians b Innocent Dauid hauing opportunitie to kil his vniust persecutor obeyed the motion of God suggesting vnto him not to destroy his enimie contrarie to the counsel of his freindes c a thing most worthie to be recorded for perpetual memorie d being in so great and vniust truble as to lye in the caue of a mountaine yet spared to kil or hurt him that driue him into such straictes See the historie 1. Reg. 24. 1. â—â—â— 22. 24. e Extraordinarie diuine helpe passing mans powre f It fel reprochfully to Saul that Dauid might haue slaine him if he would yet did neither hurt him nor insult vpon him but meekely and piously admonished him of his error and iniurious persecution g my life h from most mightie and rauenous persecuters i Though they haue not lions natural teeth yet they exercise crueltie by artificial weapons k and with their cruel tongues incite their folowers to the same furie 1. Reg. 22. v. 16. l Saul endeuored manie wayes to ouerthrow Dauid amongst other meanes prouoked him to sette vpon the Philistims thincking they should haue slaine him 1. Reg. 18. v. 17. but the same Philistims ouerthrew Saul 1 Reg. 31. :: Psalmes more in vse with Christian Gentils then they were with the Iewes See page 12. m Gods benefites bestowed vpon Dauid and vpon faithful Christians prefigured by him are for euer to be praised by al peoples and nations :: Psalmes more in vse with Christian Gentils then they were with the