to the Lord. He Reigned forty years and died and Jehosaphat Reigned in his stead 2 Chron. 14. 15. 16. In the days of Asa Zerah the Ethiopian came against him with an Army of a Million of Men Then Asa cried to the Lord for help and he gave him Victory over the Ethiopians so he destroyed their Cities and carried away much Spoil At their return towards Jerusalem the Spirit of the Lord came upon Azariah and he exhorted them to cleave fast to the Lord saying The Lord is with you while you be with him and if you seek him he 'll be found of you but if you forsake him he 'll forsake you Hereupon they cleansed the Land of Idols and entred into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers and that whosoever would not do so should be put to death So the Lord gave 'em rest round about Afterwards upon the League that Asa made with Benhadad Hanani the Seer came and reprov'd him for it and because he did not trust in the Lord who had delivered the Ethiopians into his hand therefore he should have but a troublesom Reign from that time forward For this Asa was angry with him and put him in Prison and at the same time oppress'd the People In his second year Nadab the Son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel and he reigned two years and Baasha conspir'd against him and slew him and reigned in his stead and smote all the House of Jeroboam yet he continued Jeroboam's Idolatry Whereupon CHAP. XVI The Word of the Lord came to Jehu the Son of Hanani against him That because he continued in the sins of Jeroboam therefore as he had cut off Jeroboam's Posterity so he 'd cut off his Then he died and Elah his Son reigned in his stead and his Servant Zimri conspired against him and slew him and all the House of Baasha But within a few days the Soldiers made Omri King who went and besieged Tirzah where Zimri was and took it at which Zimri went into the Palace and set it on fire and burnt himself in it Then some of the People made Tibni King but Omri prevailed against him and so reigned alone He bought a Hill and built a City upon it and call'd it Samaria which was afterwards the Seat of the Kings of Israel But he walkt in the way of Jeroboam He died and Ahab his Son reigned in his stead and did evil above all that were before him and took to Wife Jezabel and worship'd Baal and built a Temple for him in Samaria and provok'd the Lord to Anger more than all the Kings before him CHAP. XVII In his time God sent Elijah to declare to him There should be no Rain for some years but according to his Word Then God sent him to the Brook Cherith where he was fed by Ravens And when that Brook was dry God sent him to Sarepta to be sustain'd by a Widow there who tho she had but a little Meal in a Barrel and Oyl in a Cruise yet that still held out and supplied her Occasions till there was plenty in the Land Afterwards her Son dying Elijah prayed unto God and restored him to Life again CHAP. XVIII After three years God commands Elijah to shew himself to Ahab and tells him he 'd send Rain So Elijah went to Ahab who as soon as he saw him said Art thou he that troubles Israel To whom Elijah reply'd I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and have followed Baalim Then he desir'd Ahab to gather all the People together to Mount Carmel and all the Prophets of Baal which was done Then said Elijah to them If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal be God then follow him Then he bids the Prophets of Baal take one Bullock and lay it upon Wood and put no Fire under and he 'd do the like with another Bullock and the God that answered by Fire should be own'd for the true God And they did so and call'd upon their God from Morning till Noon but none answer'd Then Elijah derided 'em so that they us'd all imaginable importunity but still none answer'd Then he call'd the People to come about him and he repair'd an Altar of the Lord and made a Trench about it and laid the Bullock upon it and caused Water to be poured thrice upon the Sacrifice till the Trench was filled Then he called upon God and God sent Fire which consumed the Sacrifice and Wood and Stones and lickt up the Water in the Trench Then all the People acknowledged That this was the true God Then Elijah bad 'em slay all Baal's Priests which they did Then he bad Ahab get him up because much Rain was coming Then he went up to the top of Carmel and prayed earnestly to God for Rain after which a small Cloud appeared which presently overspread the Heavens and there fell abundance of Rain And Ahab rode in his Charet to Jezreel and Elijah ran before him CHAP. XIX Ahab telling Jezabel what Elijah had done she swore she 'd have his Life by the next day whereupon Elijah went and sâ—t under a Juniper Tree in the Wilderness and prayed to God to take away his Life But God sent an Angel to encourage him who made Provision for him that he might eat and drink and he travel'd in the strength of that Food forty days together till he came to Horeb where God appear'd to him and questions with him what he did there He replied That they had forsaken God's Covenant slain his Prophets and left none but himself and they sought his Life too so that he was fain to fly for it Then God sends him to anoint Hazael to be King of Syria Jehu to be King of Israel and Elisha to be Prophet in his room and withal tells him That there were seven thousand left in Israel who had not bowed the Knee to Baal After this meeting with Elisha he threw his Mantle upon him who presently left his former employment and followed him and ministred to him CHAP. XX. Then Benhadad King of Syria came and besieged Samaria and putting very hard terms upon Ahab he calls a Councel of all the Grandees who advise him to stand out Then there came a Prophet from God to Ahab to promise him Victory which came to pass for they slew the Syrians with a great Slaughter but the King escap'd Then the Prophet came to him again and bid him prepare for another War but that he should have the Victory in that also And so it came to pass for the Children of Israel slew of the Syrians ten thousand in one day And at Aphek a Wall fell on twenty seven thousand more and slew ' em And Benhadad fled and hid himself in the City But his Servants perswaded him to send a very submissive Message to Ahab and to lay himself at his Mercy who thereupon pardon'd him and
made a League with him and sent him away Then a Prophet was sent to him who by a Parable of a Prisoner taken in Battel and escaping from him to whose custody he was committed makes him first pass Sentence against himself and then denounces Judgment against him for letting the King of Syria go CHAP. XXI After this Ahab was very earnest to buy Naboth's Vineyard of him but he refusing Ahab was much displeased and would eat nothing which Jezabel observing and understanding the reason of contrives to write Letters to the Rulers of Jezreel to proclaim a Fast and suborn Witnesses who should accuse Naboth of blaspheming God and the King and so put him to death Which being done Ahab went to take possession of the Vineyard But God sent Elijah to denounce Judgments against him which when Ahab heard he humbled himself for which God respites part of the Judgment from his days to his Sons CHAP. XXII After this Ahab making War with the King of Syria engages Jehosaphat to assist him but Jehosaphat was desirous to know the Mind of God in it and therefore would have him send for some Prophet Hereupon Ahab sends for all the Prophets of Baal who promis'd good Success But Jehosaphat not being satisfy'd with this desires that some Prophet of the Lord might be enquir'd of So he sent for Micajah and he at first in a way of derision answers as the Prophets of Baal had done But being requir'd to speak in good earnest he then foretells that Ahab should be slain and the People scattered which came to pass for he was slain by an Arrow as he was sitting in his Charet and his Charet being wash'd in the Pool of Samaria the Dogs lickt up his Blood as they had done the Blood of Naboth according to the threatning of the Prophet So Ahab died and his Son reigned in his stead In his time Jehosaphat began to reign over Judah and he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17. So the Lord was with him and establish'd his Kingdom He was very zealous and couragious in the ways of the Lord for in the third year of his Reign he sent some choice Priests and Levites all over his Kingdom to teach the People the Law of God and with them several Princes to countenance 'em Whereupon God so bless'd him that all the Nations round about him became Tributaries to him 2 Chron. 20. After his return from the expedition with Ahab Jehu the Prophet reproves him for his joyning with him Then he set Judges throughout all the Land and charg'd 'em to execute Judgment and Justice impartially 2 Chron. 20. After this the Moabites and Ammonites made War with him whereupon he proclaimed a Fast to ask help of the Lord and himself prayed to the Lord against them before all the People Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel who bids 'em not be dismaid for God would fight for 'em against their Enemies Whereupon Jehosaphat encourag'd the People saying Believe in the Lord so shall you be establish'd believe his Prophets so shall you prosper So the Lord made their Enemies to rise up and slay one another so that when the Men of Judah came they found 'em all dead Bodies and took abundance of Spoil and great Riches from ' em After this did Jehosaphat joyn his Navy with the Navy of Ahaziah a wicked King of Israel Then he died and Jehoram his Son reigned in his stead In the seventyeth year of Jehosaphat Ahaziah the Son of Ahab began to reign over Israel and he served Baal according to all that his Father and Mother had done II. KINGS CHAP. I. AHAZIAH having fallen thro' a Lattice and hurt himself sends to Baalzebub to enquire concerning his recovery But God sent Elijah to meet the Messenger and to tell him that he should not recover The Messengers returning with this Message Ahaziah enquires what manner of Man he was and by their description of him concludes it to be Elijah so sends a Captain with fifty Men to fetch him When they came to him he call'd for Fire from Heaven and consum'd 'em all and so he did a second time Then a third Captain being sent he falls down before Elijah and begs him to spare his Life and the Life of his Men So the Angel bad Elijah go with him who reprov'd the King for sending to Baalzebub and told him he should surely dye which came to pass and Jehoram his Son reigned in his stead CHAP. II. God intending to take up Elijah into Heaven by a Whirl-wind Elijah bids Elisha tarry there where he was because he must go on an Errand God had sent him about But Elisha would not leave him so they came to Jordan and Elijah with his Mantle smote the Waters and they were divided so that they pass'd over on dry ground Then Elijah bad Elisha ask what he should do for him who said Let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me which Elijah promis'd he should have if he saw him when he was taken from him At last as they went on a Charet and Horses of Fire parted them asunder and Elijah was taken up into Heaven by a Whirlwind which Elisha saw and cried My Father my Father the Charets of Israel and the Horsemen thereof But Elijah's Mantle fell from him which Elisha took up and divided the Waters of Jordan with it as his Master Elijah had done which when the young Prophets saw they owned him for their Master in the room of Elijah The Waters about Jericho being naught Elisha threw Salt into 'em and heal'd ' em Afterwards going up from Bethel he was revil'd by some Children but he curs'd 'em in the Name of the Lord and there came two Shee-Bears and tore forty two of them CHAP. III. Jehoram King of Israel continued the Idolatry of Jeroboam but not of his Father and Mother in serving Baal The King of Moab refusing to pay his yearly Tribute Jehoram gathered together his Forces and invited Jehosaphat to his assistance to those two Kings and the King of Edom went to the War against Moab and being in the Wilderness they were all ready to perish for want of Water But hearing that Elisha was in the Army these three Kings went to him but he slighted the King of Israel and told him That if it had not been for Jehosaphat he would not have taken any notice of them but out of respect to him he tells them That the Vally should 〈◊〉 full of Water and also that God would deliver the Moabites into their hands And so it came to pass in the Morning that the Vally was filled with Water which appeared to the Moabites like Blood so that they concluded these Kings and their Armies had slain one another and therefore they rose up to the Spoil But when they came to the Camp of the Israelites the Israelites put 'em to flight and beat down their Cities and besieged Kitharaseth
Elisha came to Damascus and Benhadad being sick was told that the Prophet Elisha was there whereupon he sent Hazael to enquire of him whether he should recover Who answer'd That as to any thing of his Disease he might recover but God had shew'd him that he should die by other means Then Elisha fixt his Eyes upon Hazael and wept which Hazael enquiring the reason of he told him It was for the great mischiefs he should do to Israel when he came to be King of Syria as Dashing out their Childrens Brains and ripping up their Women with Child To which Hazael said Is thy Servant a Dog that he should do such things So Hazael came to his Master Benhadad and told him that the Prophet said he should surely recover But to prevent that he spread a wet cloth over his Face and so stifled him About this time Jehoram the Son of Jehosaphat began to reign He married Ahab's Daughter and so walkt in the ways of the House of Ahab 2 Chron. 21. He slew all his Brethren and many of the great Men of the Land and made many innovations in Religion for the promoting of Idolatry While he was going on in these ways a Letter was deliver'd him written by Elijah by the Spirit of Prophecy during his abode on earth to threaten him for his wickedness and tell him That God would plague him his Wives Children People and inflict a Disease upon him in his Bowels which should torment him day by day till they fell out Accordingly God stirr'd up the neighbour Nations to distress him and smote him in his Bowels with an incurable Disease so that after two years they fell out and he died without being desir'd and Ahaziah his Son reigned in his sted He walked in the way of the House of Ahab being his Son-in-Law He went with Joram King of Israel to the war against Hazael at Ramoth-Gilead but Joram being wounded came back to be cured in Jezreel and Ahaziah went thither to give him a Visit CHAP. IX Elisha sends one of the young Prophets to annoint Jehu to be King of Israel so he went to the Camp at Ramoth-Gilead and singled out Jehu and anointed him with a Command to destroy the whole House of Ahab Then Jehu telling the Commanders what had been done to him they presently proclaimed him King and he went towards Jezreel but being spied by a Watch-man Joram sends to enquire what was the matter but Jehu detain'd the Messenger then another was sent but he was detain'd also Then Joram went himself and Ahaziah with him and ask'd Is it peace Jehu who answer'd What peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many Joram then perceiving there was treachery endeavours to fly away but Jehu drew a Bow and slew him and bad one of his Captains cast his Body into the Field of Naboth as God had threatned he should be serv'd He slew Ahaziah King of Judah also and when he was come to Jezreel Jezabel look'd out at a Window and upbraided him for killing his Master But he commanded her to be thrown down out of the Window and he trod her under feet and the Dogs did eat the greatest part of her What was left he commanded to be buried because she was a Kings Daughter CHAP. X. After this Jehu sent Letters to Samaria where were kept seventy of Ahab's Sons requiring those that had the charge of 'em to bring their Heads to him on the morrow which was done So he slew all that remained of the House of Ahab at Jezreel he slew also forty two Princes the Kindred of Ahaziah As he was going to Samaria he met with Jonadab the Son of Rechab and took him up into his Charet saying Come see my Zeal for the Lord of Hosts So he came to Samaria and slew all that remained of Ahab there Then he gathered all the Worshipers and Prophets of Baal together upon pretence of offering a great Sacrifice to Baal and caus'd 'em all to be slain and burnt his Images and brake down his Temple But yet he practis'd the Idolatry of Jeroboam thâ— not of Ahab But for what he had done in executing Judgment on the House of Ahab God promis'd to continue his Seed on the Throne to the fourth Generation He reign'd twenty eight years over Israel in Samaria and then died and his Son Jehoahaz reign'd in his sted CHAP. XI Ahaziah being slain his Mother Athuliah usurps the Throne and slew all the Seed-Royal only one of them Joash was hid in some of the Chambers belonging to the Temple six years And in the seventh year Jehojada the High Priest brought him out and proclaimed him King Athaliah hearing a noise went to see what was the matter and spied Joash standing by a Pillar and the People about him rejoycing and cried out Treason Treason But Jehojada commanded and they laid hands on her and slew her Then Jehojada made a Covenant between the Lord and the King and the People that they should be the Lords People and between the King and the People Then they brake down the Monuments of Idolatry and slew the Priests of Baal and they brought the King down out of the House of the Lord and he sate upon the Throne of the Kings CHAP. XII It was in the seventh year of Jehu that Joash began to reign and he did right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehojada and caused the Temple to be repair'd But after Jehojada was dead the Princes came and flatter'd him and he harkned unto 'em and they fell to Idolatry again Whereupon the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah and he reproved 'em for their sins so the King commanded him to be ston'd and they ston'd him in the Court of the Lords House And when he died he said The Lord look upon it and requite it After this Hazael designing to come up against Jerusalem Joash took all the hallowed things and sent 'em to him and so he departed But the Servants of Joash conspired against him and slew him in the House of Millo and Amaziah his Son reigned in his sted CHAP. XIII In the three and twentieth year of Joash began Jehoahaz Son of Jehu to reign over Israelâ— and he followed the ways of Jeroboam so the Lord delivered Israel into the hands of the King of Syria and Jehoahaz besought the Lord and he gave them a Saviour Then he died and Joash his Son reigned in his sted who departed not from the sins of Jeroboam In his days Elisha fell sick and Joash came and wept over him saying O my Father my Father the Charets of Israel and the Horsemen thereof And Elisha bad him take his Bow and Arrows and shoot and he shot then Elisha told him he should smite the Syrians till he had consumed ' em Then he had him take the Arrows and smite upon the ground and so he did thrice And Elisha was angry because he smote but thrice
and told him he should have smitten five or six times and then he should have utterly destroyed the Syrians whereas now he should smite 'em but thrice Then Elisha died and was buried and afterwards some casting a Man into his Sepulcher assoon as he toucht the Bones of Elisha the man revived and stood upon his Feet Then Hazael oppress'd Israel but Joash overcome Benhadad the Son of Hazael and beat him three times and recovered the Cities of Israel CHAP. XIV At this time Amaziah reigned over Judah and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He slew those that had slain the King his Father 2 Chron. 25.5 c. He gathered together the Militia of Judah and Benjamin three hundred thousand choice men also he hiâ—'d than hundred thousand out of Israel But a Prophet met him and told him God was not with the Men of Israel and therefore he should send 'em back again and so he did After this he fought against the Edomites and slew ten thousand and carried away ten thousand more and threw 'em down from the top of a Rock that they were broken all in pieces But when he came from the Slaughter of the Edomites he brought their Gods and set 'em up for his Gods and served them Whereupon God sent a Prophet to him to reprove him for it but he was angry with the Prophet and said Who made thee of the King's Counsel Forbear why shouldst thou be smitten Then the Prophet told him that God would destroy him because he harkned not to his Counsel Then he sent a Challenge to Joash but was beaten and taken Prisoner and Joash came to Jerusalem and brake down part of the Wall and plunder'd the House of the Lord and the Kings House and so return'd to Samaria Then he died and Jeroboam his Son reigned in his stead Then they made a Conspiracy against Amaziah King of Judah and he fled to Lachish but they sent after him and slew him there And the People made Ahaziah his Son King in his sted Jeroboam King of Israel did Evil in the sight of the Lord yet God saved them by the hand of Jeroboam because he saw the Affliction of Israel that it was very bitter Then Jeroboam died and Zechariah his Son resigned in his sted CHAP. XV. Azâ—â—iah or Uzaiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. 2 Chron. 26 and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper for he fought against the Philistines and prevail'd God helpt him also against the Arabians and the Ammonites brought him Gifts He built Towers in Jerusalem and digg'd many Wells for he had much Cattel and Husbandry for he loved it He had a great Army of three hundred and seven thousand and five hundred and he made many Engines in Jerusalem to shoot Arrows and Stones withal and was very strong But when he was strong his Heart was lifted up to his Destruction for he went into the Temple to burn Incense himself but Azariah the Chief Priest withstood him telling him that it pertained not to him but to the Priests Then he was wroth with the Priests But God smote him with a Leprosie so he hastned out of the Temple and dwelt in a lone House and Jotham his Son was his Deputy Then he died and Jotham succeeded him In his days did Zachariah the Son of Jeroboam reign over Israel and he walked in the ways of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat and Shallum conspired against him and slew him and reigned in his sted But Menahem conspir'd against him and slew him and reign'd in his sted He walked in the ways of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat Then Pul the King of Assyria came against him to whom he gave a thousand Talents of Silver to settle him upon the Throne He died and Pekahiah his Son reigned in his sted But Pekah conspired against him and slew him and reigned in his sted In his days Tiglath-Pilesar King of Assyria took many Towns from him and carried the People captive to Assyria In his days began Jotham the Son of Uzziah to reign over Judah and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He built the higher Gate of the House of the Lord and Cities in the Mountains He fought also with the King of the Ammonites and prevailed against 'em and they gave him Tribute and he became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord. Then he died and Ahaz his Son succeeded him CHAP. XVI 2 Chron. 28. Ahaz walked in the way of the Kings of Israel and burnt his Children in the Fire wherefore the Lord deliver'd him into the hand of the King of Syria who carried away a great multitude of People to Damascus Pekah also the King of Israel prevail'd against him and slew in one day an hundred and twenty thousand because they had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers and carried away two hundred thousand persons and took much Spoil But the Prophet Oded met them and reprov'd 'em for it saying Are there not with you even with you sins against the Lord your God therefore deliver the Captives So some of the Princes withstood them and would not suffer 'em to bring them into the City So the Captives were cloathed and fed and sent to Jericho Esay 7. Then Rezin the King of Syria and Pekah King of Israel warred against Jerusalem but could no prevail against it And the Lord commanded Esay to go meet Ahaz and bid him not be afraid of them and bad him ask a Sign but Ahaz would not Then said Esay God himself shall give you a Sign Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his name Immanuel But withal tells him That the Lord would bring upon them the King of Assyria who should destroy both his People and their Land Yet Ahaz sent Embassadors to the King of Assyria to come and help him against the Kings of Syria and Israel and sent him all the Silver and Gold that was in the Lords House and in his own Treasury So the King of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it and slew Rezin And Ahaz went to Damascus to meet him and seeing there an Altar he sent the Pattern of it to Urijah the Priest who made one after that fashion upon which Ahaz offered Sacrifices and removed the Brazen Altar and commanded that this new Altar should be made use of for the daily Sacrifice and shut up the Doors of the Temple and sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus Thus in time of his Distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord. Then he died and Hezekiah his Son succeeded him CHAP. XVII In the days of Ahaz began Hoshea to reign over Israel and Shalmaneser King of Assyria came up against him and made him tributary But he sent Embassadors to So King of Egypt to help him which the King of Assyria hearing of put him in Prison and came and besieged
his Court in all respects she was even astonish'd with Admiration and tho Fame uses to be lavish enough of its Tongue yet she tells him Tho more was told her than she believ'd yet half was not told her of what she found Then she made him great Presents of Gold Spices and precious Stones He likewise gave to her whatsoever she desired and so return'd into her own Country Then Solomon made two hundred Targets of beaten Gold and three hundred Shields of Gold and a great Ivory Throne damask't with Gold and gather'd Charets and Horses in great abundance and he made Silver in Jerusalem as Stones and Cedars as Sycamore-trees CHAP. XI Solomon notwithstanding all these extraordinary Gifts and Favors to him both inward and outward and God's appearing twice to him loved many Women of the Heathen Nations and took him seven hundred Wives and three hundred Concubines and did so dote upon 'em even in his old Age that they turn'd away his Heart from God so that he tolerated the publick Exercise of their Idolatrous Worship whereupon God was angry with him and threatned to rend the greatest part of the Kingdom from him in his Sons days and give it to his Servant and stirr'd up several Adversaries against him and likewise by the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite declar'd to Jeroboam that held give him Ten Tribes and Solomon's Posterity should have but one Tribe besides the Tribe of Judah because he had forsaken him and worship'd strange Gods So Solomon having Reign'd forty years died and was buried in the City of David CHAP. XII Then all the Tribes met together at Shechem and Jeroboam came along with 'em and they petitioned Rehoboam to ease 'em of their Taxes which Solomon had impos'd on ' em He takes three days time to consider of it and advises with his Fathers old Counsellors They perswade him by all means to humour the People and comply with their desires at present which would be the way to oblige 'em to him for ever after But this Counsel he lik'd not and therefore consulted with some young giddy Persons his Companions and Flatterers and they advise him to answer 'em roughly and tell 'em That his little Finger should be thicker than his Fathers Loyns and whereas his Father had chastis'd 'em with Whips he 'd chastise 'em with Scorpions And this Counsel he followed being forsaken of God and left to his own folly and rashness and answer'd 'em accordingly Whereupon ten of the Tribes immediately revolted from him and chose Jeroboam for their King and only the Tribe of Judah and Benjamin stuck unto Rehoboam Then Rehoboam raised an Army of an hundred and fourscore thousand to reduce 'em to their obedience But God sent the Prophet Shemajah to forbid 'em to fight against their Brethren but to return to their own Homes because it was Gods doing And so they did Then Jeroboam fearing lest if the People went up to Jerusalem to worship their Hearts might in time be alienated from him and they might submit to Rehoboam made two golden Calves and set 'em up one in Dan the other in Bethel for the People to worship and built High Places and ordained Priests and appointed Feasts and so chang'd and innovated the Worship of God in all the parts of it CHAP. XIII Jeroboam standing by the Altar at Bethel to burn Incense a Prophet was sent out of Judah by God to denounce Judgments against the Altar which should be executed by King Josiah who should burn the Bones of the Idolatrous Priests upon it and defile it and in token of the truth of this Prophecy the Altar should be rent in twain When Jeroboam heard this he stretch'd out his hand to lay hold on him but immediately his hand withered so that he could not pull it in to him again and also the Altar was rent in twain Then Jeroboam intreated the Prophet to pray for him that the use of his hand might be restor'd to him again which he did and his hand was heal'd whereupon Jeroboam invites him to go home with him but he refus'd being forbidden by God to eat or drink or return the same way he came Now there was an old Prophet that dwelt in that City and his Sons told him all these passages then he went after him and invited him to go back with him which he refusing as being forbidden by God the old Prophet told him That he was commanded by an Angel to bring him back but he lied to him So he went back and did eat and drink in the old Prophets House Then as they sat at Table the Word of the Lord came to the old Prophet to threaten this other for his Disobedience So as he went away a Lion met him and slew him which being nois'd in the City the old Prophet went and fetcht his Body and buried it in his own Grave and commanded his Sons to bury him there by the Prophet because all his Threatnings against those Idolatrous places should come to pass But notwithstanding all these Providences Jeroboam continued his Idolatrous practices which in the issue prov'd the ruine of him and his Family CHAP. XIV Jeroboam's Son Abijah being sick he sends his Wife in disguise to Ahijah the Prophet to enquire concerning his recovery But God told Ahijah who she was and what was her Errand So when she came to the Door he said Come in thou Wife of Jeroboam and bids her tell her Husband That because he had provok'd God by his Idolatry God would cut off all his House and his Child should die and all Israel should mourn for him because in him only of all the House of Jeroboam some good thing was found and he 'd root up Israel out of their Land because of the sins of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin So when she came back to the Threshold of her House the Child died Thus Jeroboam Reigned twenty two years and died During his time the People of Judah under Rehoboam provok'd God with their Images High-Places Groves and the like sins So in the fifth year of his Reign Shishak King of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the Treasures of the Lord's House and of the Kings House and the Shields of Gold instead whereof Rehoboam made Shields of Brass At last he died and was buried in the City of David CHAP. XV. Rehoboam being dead Abijam his Son succeeds him walking in all the sins of his Fathers He Reigned but three years and died and Asa his Son Reigned in his sted Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and destroyed Idolatry and depos'd his Grandmother Maacha from being Queen-regent Then there was War between him and Baasha King of Israel so he hired Benhadad King of Syria to take his part so they made a League together and Benhadad smote some of the Cities of Israel In his old Age he was troubled with the Gout in his Feet and sought to the Phisitians more than
Heir God renews his promise of an Heir to come out of his own Loyns and of a numerous Posterity which he firmly believing tho so unlikely God thereupon accounts him a righteous person and this an Act of Righteousness and promises Canaan again to him and that his Posterity after four hundred years sojourning in Canaan and Egypt should possess it and confirms this by a Sign upon Abram's request and Vision CHAP. XVI Sarai to obtain the accomplishment of the promise being barren her self gives Hagar her Handmaid to Abram to be his Concubine who conceiving by him grows insolent and despis'd her Mistress which Sarai not brooking complains of her to Abram he leaves her to her disposal who dealing hardly with her she ran away for which she was rebuked by an Angel and required to return and submit her self to her Mistress and withal promises her a numerous Seed and tells her she was with Child of a Son whom she should call Ismael and accordingly when he was born Abram called him so which was in the eighty sixth year of Abram's Age. CHAP. XVII Thirteen years after this when Abram was ninety nine years old God appears to him again renews his Covenant with him that he should be a Father of many Nations and as a pledge thereof changes his Name from Abram to Abraham signifying A Father of a multitude Institutes the Sacrament of Circumcision Changes Sarai's Name to Sarah Promises him a Son by her Abraham intercedes for Ismael God promises to bless and multiply him exceedingly but his Covenant should be with his Son by Sarah Then Abraham circumcised himself and Ismael being thirteen years old and the rest of his Family CHAP. XVIII Abraham sitting in his Tent-door spies three Men whom he invites to his House to refresh themselves which they accept of enquire for Sarah and one of them who was the Second Person of the Trinity tells him she should have a Son which she over-hearing disbelieves at present and laughs at with which being charg'd she denies it They departing Abraham brings them on their way to whom the Lord Christ discovers his intent of destroying Sodom and the other Cities for their grievous sins Whereupon Abraham intercedes for 'em and God yields so far that if there had been but ten righteous persons found in Sodom he 'd have spar'd it CHAP. XIX While Christ staid talking with Abraham the other two Angels in humane Shape past on and came to Sodom at Even Lot seeing 'em salutes 'em invites 'em to his House and makes 'em a Feast But presently the Men of the City gathered about the House and called to Lot to bring out those two Strangers that they might abuse 'em which he refusing they prest near to break the door Whereupon the Angels smote 'em with blindness and warn Lot to bring out his Children and whatsoever he had in the City because they were come to destroy it But while he lingred they laid hold upon him his Wife and two Daughters and brought 'em forth commanding 'em to escape for their lives and not look back which his Wise not observing was turned into a Pillar of Salt Lot entring into Zoar about Sun-rising presently the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone upon those Cities and destroyed ' em But Lot removed from Zoar and dwelt in a Cave in a Mountain where his two Daughters made him drink Wine and lay with him and so were with Child by their Father from whence descended the Moabites and Ammonites CHAP. XX. Abraham sojourning in Gerar calls Sarah his Sister whereupon the King takes her but being warned of God in a Dream he restores her to her Husband with a great Present CHAP. XXI Sarah now bears Isaac his Father Abraham being an hundred years old At his weaning Abraham makes a great Feast Ismael falls a jeering Isaac whereupon he and his Mother are sent away In their travel the water being spent the Boy was ready to perish with thirst but God shew'd her a Well of Water encourages her and blesses the Child So they dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran and his Mother took him a Wife out of Egypt Abimelech King of the Philistins made a Covenant with Abraham at Beersheba who sojourned in their Land many days CHAP. XXII Isaac being grown up God for the trial of Abraham's Faith and Obedience commands him to offer his only Son Isaac for a Burnt-offering upon a Mountain which he 'd shew him Presently the next morning Abraham begins the Journey and when he came to the place he bound Isaac upon the Altar and lift up his hand to slay his Son But God called to him out of Heaven and bad him hold his hand And there was a Ram behind him which he took and offered instead of his Son Whereupon God swears to bless and multiply his Seed and that in it all Nations should be blessed CHAP. XXIII Sarah dying at a hundred and twenty years old Abraham buys a burying place for her in Macpelah of the Sons of Heth. CHAP. XXIV Abraham growing old obliges his chief Servant to take a Wife for Isaac from among his Kindred The Servant goes to Nahor Abraham's Brother When he came to the City to a Well where they used to draw water he begs of God good success in his business and that the Virgin who should treat him kindly might be the Person design'd for his Masters Son Presently comes Rebecca out by whom his sign was fulfilled whereupon being invited he goes to her Father's House tells his errand and desires their Answer They seeing Gods hand in it could not gainsay it Then he presents 'em all especially Rebecca and takes her away the next day In the evening Isaac walking abroad to meditate meets the Servant and Rebecca with him whom he brought into his Mother's Tent and took her to be his Wife CHAP. XXV Abraham marries Keturah and has many Children by her to whom he gave Gifts At length being sevenscore and fifteen years old he dies and was buried in Machpelah with Sarah Rebeccah being barren about twenty years Isaac prays for her whereupon she conceived Twins which strugled in her Womb. When they were born the eldest was hairy and thereupon called Esau the younger took hold of his Brothers Heel and so was called Jacob. Esau was a Hunter and killed Venison for his Father which drew his affection to him Jacob was a plain Man Jacob having made Pottage Esau comes home from Hunting hungry and saint and so sold his Birthright to Jacob for some of his Pottage CHAP. XXVI A Famine being in the Land Isaac goes to Gerar among the Philistines where God appears to him and makes him the same promises he had made to Abraham of a numberless Seed and those Countries Here Isaac dasht against the same Rock his Father Abraham had done calling his Wife his Sister But at length Abimelech observ'd some familiar carriage between 'em whereby he discern'd she was his Wife so none of the People
Samaria and took it and carried the People into Assyria for their Idolatry and other sins they had been guilty of and brought other from Babylon and other places to dwell in the Cities of Samaria But God sent Lions among 'em for their wickedness Then the King of Assyria sent a Priest to them to teach 'em how to serve the Lord. But they all served their own Gods and set up their Images in their High-Places So they served the Lord and their own Gods too and so continued to do CHAP. XVIII 2 Chron. 29. Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He destroyed all the Monuments of Idolatry and brake in pieces the Brazen Serpent because the People burnt Incense to it He also opened the Doors of the Temple and brought in the Priests commanding 'em to sanctifie the House of the Lord which they did Then he gathered the Rulers together and offered Sacrifices according to the Law and prais'd the Lord with the Words of David and Asaph 2 Chron. 30. Then he sent Letters to all Israel and Judah and those of the twelve Tribes to come and keep the Passover at Jerusalem which he earnestly exhorted 'em to So they kept the Passover in the Second Month and because many did eat otherwise than was written Hezekiah pray'd for 'em and the Lord harkned to him and heal'd the people Then he encouraged the Levites to teach the people and perform their Duties and he gave to the Congregation a thousand Bullocks and seven thousand Sheep and the Princes gave 'em a thousand Bullocks and ten thousand Sheep So there was great Joy and the Priests blessed the people and their Prayer came up to Heaven 2 Chron. 31. Then they destroyed all the Monuments of Idolatry and so returned home Then he appointed the Priests and Levites to wait in their Courses and commanded the People to pay 'em all their dues which they chearfully did And he appointed Officers to dispose of the Titles And all this he did with sincerity and diligence So God was with him and prospered him Ch. 18.11 c. 2 Chron. 32. After this Sennacherib King of Assyria took several Cities of Judah then Hezekiah repaired the Walls of Jerusalem and encouraged the People saying With him is an Arm of Flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battels Then Sennacherib besieged Lachish and Hezekiah sent to buy his peace with him and gave him all the Gold in the Lords House and in his own Treasury yet Sennacherib continued his Siege and sent a great Army against Jerusalem under the command of Rabshakeh who revil'd and blasphem'd the Lord as if he were not able to deliver them out of the hands of his Master He spake also to the people that they should not suffer themselves to be deluded by Hezekiah to hold out the Siege but to yield to him and they should enjoy their Lives and Fortunes But the people answered him not a word But some went to Hezekiah and told him what Rabshakeh had said CHAP. XIX When Hezekiah heard it he went into the House of the Lord and sent to Esay the Prophet to pray for ' em Then Esay bids 'em not to be afraid of his words for God would send a Blast upon him and cause him to return and fall in his own Land Then Sennacherib sent Messengers again to Hezekiah with Letters full of Blasphemy and Hezekiah spread the Letter before the Lord and pray'd to be delivered out of his Hand Then God sent Esay with a Message to Hezekiah to tell him that his Prayer was heard and that they should have occasion to despise Sennacherib and laugh him to scorn notwithstanding all his pride and boastings for he would turn him back by the way by which he came So that Night the Lord sent an Angel which slew an hundred fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrians Then Sennacherib returned with shame to his own Land and dwelt at Niniveh and as he was worshiping in the House of his God his two Sons slew him Thus God saved Hezekiah and Jerusalem and many brought Gifts to the Lord and Presents to Hezekiah and he was magnified in the sight of all Nations CHAP. XX. In those days Hezekiah fell sick of a mortal Disease and God sent Esay to him to bid him set his house in order for he should die Upon this Hezekiah prayed earnestly and wept Then God sent Esay again to tell him that he would heal him and add fifteen years to his Life and that he would defend and deliver the City and that he should lay a Cake of Figs on the Sore So he recovered and for a Sign that he should recover and go up to the House of the Lord within three days he caused the Shadow to go back ten degrees upon the Dial of Ahaz Then the King of Babylon sent Messengers and Presents to him to congratulate his Recovery wherewith he being puff'd up shew'd 'em all his Treasures Whereupon Esay was sent to him to tell him That all these things should be carried to Babylon and some of his Seed should be Eunuchs to the King of Babylon To which Ezekiah replied Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken So he died and Manasseh his Son succeeded him CHAP. XXI 2 Chron. 33. Manasseh did worse than all the Kings that were before him for he restored Idolatry built Altars for all the Host of Heaven in the Courts of the Lord's House used Enchantments dealt with familiar Spirits and shed abundance of innocent Blood wherefore the Lord threatned to wipe Jerusalem as a Man wipes a Dish and tells 'em he was bringing such Evils upon Jerusalem and Judah that whosoever hears it both his Ears shall tingle And accordingly the Captains of the King of Assyria took Manasseh and carried him to Babylon And in his Affliction he humbled himself greatly before God and prayed and he was intreated of him and brought him again unto Jerusalem Then he made a thorow Reformation and repaired the Altar and commanded the People to serve the Lord. He died and Ammon his Son succeeded him He did evil as his Father had done but did not humble himself like his Father but trespass'd more and more Then his Sons conspired against him and slew him in his own House and Josiah his Son reigned in his sted CHAP. XXII 2 Chron. 33. Josiah while he was young about sixteen years old began to seek after the God of David his Father and took care to have the Temple repair'd And as they were cleansing it Hilkiah the High Priest found the Original Copy of the Law written by Moses and sent it to the King who caus'd it to be read before him and was much affected with it especially with the threatnings against Idolatry and sent to Huldah a Prophetess to enquire of the Lord for him who answer'd That God would bring great Evils upon 'em for all their sins but