prouinces nowe therefore Hester if this content thee not for a sufficient reuenge of that villanie that they offered thy people then what doest thou require yet further of mee aske and I will giue it thee Tell mee thy request I say yet further and I will surely perfourme it vnto thee Then Ester not so much for desire of vengeaÌ„ce as moued w t a zealous desire to see Gods iustiudgements executed against his enemies sayde vnto the king if it please y e king let it be granted also to y e Iewes y â— are in ShushaÌ„ by decree y t it may be lawfull for them to hang vp the dead corpes or bodies of Hamans ten sonnes vpon y e selfe same gallowes or tree with their father which her request the king also not so willingly graÌ„ted but it was as diligeÌ„tly executed accordingly by y e Iewes who for ioy of that victory of their happy deliuerance kept y e same xiiii and xv dayes of March in the which they should haue all been slayne in the which they did kill their enemies and were preserued high and holy dayes to y e Lord calling theÌ„ the dayes of Purim or casting of lots by the speciall comaundement of Mordecay and the Q. Ester who her selfe wrote with all authoritie to confirme those letters of Purim sent by Mordecay her cosin vnto the people commaunding them by her decree also to keepe those dayes holy and obserue them as feast with fasting and earnest prayer and thankesgiuing vnto God for their deliueraunce wrought by her which her noble and valiant actes are registred in the booke of the Chronicles of the Kinges of the Meedes and Persians to the glory of GOD and her and her cosin Mordecayes perpetuall memory fame and renowne to all posteritie Ester 2.3.4 5.7.8.9.10.13.14.15 Eunice signi decking a good victory or conquest Shee was the daughter of Loyis the mother of Timothie whiche women both the mother and daughter are highly commended of saint Paul for their sinceritie of fayth which he desired Timothy earnestly to followe 2. Tim. 1.5 Gomer signi consuming fayling Shee was the daughter of Diblaim and a verie wicked woman who hauing long accustomed to play y e harlot at the last became y e wife of Hosea the Prophete and bare vnto him three wicked adulterous children like her selfe to wit a sonne called by God Iezreel then a daughter called also by God Loruhamah and when shee had wayned her daughter shee conceiued and bare Hosea another sonne called by God also Loammi after the Lorde threatned to plague her and her children greatly for her whoredome and adulterie except shee repented in time Reade this mistically in Hosea 1.3.2.1 H Haddasha see Ester Hagar or Agar signi a stranger a newecome chewing cudde fearing ouerthwaâ—â— turned turning dwelling wayfaring delay c. She was an Egyptian woman and the handemaide of Sara Abrahams wife who being olde long barren and childelesse when shee had dwelt in the land of Canaan by y e space of 10. yeres in the yere of of y e world 2094. she gaue this Hagar her handmayd vnto Abraham to be his wife whiles he dwelt in the lande of Canaan And shee conceiued feeling her selfe with childe began then to dispise her old barren mistresse Sara whereat Sara being grieued went and complayned thereof vnto Abraham her husbande who giuing her power to correct the maide at her pleasure shee began to deale so roughly with Hagar that in no wise shee woulde abyde it but ranne away from her dame fled into the wildernes and sitting there beside a fountayne called Berlaheroy or the well of y e liuing seeing mee not knowing whether to goe the Lorde whiche reiecteth no estate of people in their miserie sent his good Angell euen Christe Iesu to comfort her who appearing vnto her in the shape of an Angell sayde vnto her Hagar from whence commest thou and whether intendest thou to goe I flie quoth shee from Sara my dame whiche fareth so foule with mee that I am euen weary of my life Well sayde the Angell returne to thy dame agayne and submitte thy selfe humblye vnder her handes for I euen I the Lorde will so greatly increase thy seede that it shall not bee numbred for multitude Loe thou art with child and shalt beare a sonne whose name thou shalt call Ishmaell Then Hagar rebuking her dulnesse acknowledged Gods graces ' who was with her euery where and gaue him hartie thankes for this his consolation in her trouble saying Thou O God lookest on mee and haue not I also here in this place looked after him that seeth mee in miserie which being ended shee returned home agayne to Sara her mistres and submitted her self vnto her as the Angel gaue her counsel And after in processe of time that is in the yeere of the worlde 2094. shee brought forth vnto AbrahaÌ„ being theÌ„ 86. yeres old his first begotten sonne called Ishmael as the angell had before saide of which Ishmaell came the peculier people of the Ishmaelites as of Hagar came the Hagarians 1. chro 5. 10. And thus was Hagar the bondewoman the mother of the Ishmalites and children of the fleshe and not of the promise but Sara she was the mother of the true Israelites and heires of promise as shall appeare For when it pleased God to make his promise first to Abraham that Sara though olde and barren shoulde haue a sonne by him called Isaak hee thinking that impossible besought God for Hagars sonnes saying Oh let Ishmael liue in thy sight and it shal suffice Whereunto God answered him saying I haue hard thy praier for Ishmael Hagars sonne lo I wil blesse him with temporal blessings c. As of whoÌ„ shal come all the children of the flesh but mine euerlasting couenant will I make and establishe with Isaak the sonne of Sara of whom shall come y e children of the spirite for Hagar or Sinai saith S. Paul to the Gal. 4.24 is a mountain in Arabia bearing y e name of Hagar and signifieth the olde Testament and the Law and Ismael her sonne signifieth the Iewesh sinagogue but Sara or Ierusalem which is aboue and is the mother of vs all signifieth the Gospell and Isaak her sonne signifieth the Church of Christ. So that we now are all children of the promise in the Church of Christ which is our mother not children of y e fleshe nor of y e Sinagog which is a seruaÌ„t vnto the law So wheÌ„ y e time came that it pleased God according to his promise to visite Sara she conceiued and brought forth a sonne called Isaak after whose birth a new coÌ„tention arose between Sara and Hagar her maide about their children for Sara perceiuing Ishmael Hagars sonne to be a mocker despiser of her son Isaak w t the apostle Paul to the gal 4.29 calleth persecutioÌ„ would not suffer Ismael to keepe coÌ„pany w t her sonne Isaak but made her coÌ„plaint vnto AbrahaÌ„ saying cast
also before the yeeres of famine shee bare two sonnes called Manasses and Ephraim Gene. 41.15.50 Atarah or Athara or Araia â—ign the Lordes anger or heate a Crowne She was one of the wiues of Ierathmeel and the mother of Onam 1. Chro. 2.26 Athalia signi tyme for the Lorde his time an houre c. Shee was the daughter of Omri or as some will of Ahab which was the sonne of Omri eyther for that shee was brought vp still with Achab or for that shee imitated his maners in all kinde of Idolatrie Shee was also the wife of Iehoram king of Iuda whome shee corrupted greatly with her Idolatrie and vnto whome in the yeere of the worlde 3217. shee bare a sonne called Ahaziah which was Iehorams youngest sonne who also all his elder brethren being before slain by the Philistines succeeded his father Iehoram in the kingdome His mother Athalia entised him also to all wickednesse insomuch that the Lorde caused him to bee slayne by Iehu Then Athalia perceiuing that her sonne was dead shee in the yeere of the worlde 3239. tooke vpon her the rule and gouernement and to the intent that there shoulde bee none of that lynage of Iehosophat to rayne or make title to the crowne and that shee onely might vsurpe the gouernement and raigne quietly shee most cruelly murdered and destroyed all the seede and posteritie of Iehosophat and Ioram to whom the kingdome appertayned saue one for so it pleased God to vse the tyrannie of this wicked woman to destroy the whole family of Ahab onely Ioas the sonne of Ahaziah was stolen away and hid from her by Iehosheba as appeareth in her storie And when wicked Athalia had ruled the lande most cruelly sixe yeeres and had broken vp the house of God and bestowed vpon Balam and Idoles all thinges that were dedicated therein to the Lorde In the seuenth yere Ioas was brought forth by Iehoida the priest and proclaymed king Shee hearing that ranne into the Temple of the Lorde and there beholding Ioas crowned king shee rent her clothes and cried out treason treason But at the commaundement of Iehoida the priest the captayne and souldiers tooke her and caried her out of the Temple and slue her by the way as they went to the kinges house in the yeere of the world 3245. and this was the ende of that wicked idolatresse booddy woman Athalia 2. Kin. 8.18.26.11.1.2.15 2. chro 21.6.22.2.3.10 c. 24.6 Atossa was first the wife of king Cambyses afterward maried to king Darius Histaspis and maried the mother of Xerxis in the yeere of the worlde 3620. reade more in Ester For as some thinke this Atossa was Ester who first was the wife of Aâ—huerus and after his death became wife to Darius Histaspis vnto whom shee bare Xerxes the father of Artaxerxes in the yeere of the worlde 3621. Azuba or Asuba sig left or forsaken his strength in her Shee was the daughter of Silhi and the wife of Aha king of Iuda vnto whom she bare a sonne called Iehoshaphat that was also king of Iuda after his father 1. King 22.42 2. Chro. 20.31 There was another woman of this name which was the wife of Caleb and bare him diuers sonnes as appeareth 1. Chronicles 2.18 19. B Baara or Bara or Baraa sig a workemanshippe a bed a fire in wicked mynde in ill a companion in ioyes in feedyng in buildyng c. Shee was one of the wiues of Shaharaim whom with her mate Hushim he put away from him and tooke other 1. chro 8.8 Bashemath or Basemath â—ig sweete smelling spices destruction of death in discomforting Shee was the daughter of Elon an Hittite and one of the wiues of Esawe who with her mate Iudith was a griefe of minde to her good father and mother in lawe Isaak and Rebecca through her continuall disobedience and great rebellion Gen. 26.34 Bernice signifieth a hurtlesse Sonne a heauie victorie the weight of vanquishing finely moued or with choyse Shee was the daughter of Herode Agrippa borne in the yeere of the worlde 4170. and the naturall sister of king Agrippa and wife to Herode king of Chalcida her Grandfather And being entertayned of king Agrippa in his house as his wife also she went with him to Cesaria to salute Festus and to welcome him into the Countrey who was then but newly entered into his office of presideÌ„tship in the roome of Felix And when Paules matter should be heard before Agrippa she went with him also into the common hall where she was receiued with great pompe and there sate with Agrippa and the other gouernours all day to heare the examination of Paul before Festus the new President and beyng almost conuerted with her husband Agrippa at the wordes of Paule she together with the rest of the Gouernours arose and in secret conference iustified Paule as altogether innocent and most vnwoorthy of death or imprisonment Actes 25.13 23.26.30 Bethsheba or Bethsabe Bethzabe Bathshua or Bersabe signifieth the seuenth daughter or the daughter of an othe The daughter of fulnes of noise or thâ— daughter of saluation or the honourable or noble daughter She was the daughter of Eliam called also Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel 1. Chro. 3.5 and the wife of Uriah the Hittite which was with Ioab in king Dauids warres against the Moabites at Rabbath And on a tyme in the yeere of the worlde 3086. as Bethsabe was washing her selfe in her priuie garden alone it chaunced king Dauid to looke out at a windowe in his pallace as hee walked on the top or roofe thereof in the afternoone and seeing her to bee a very fayre woman he was presently so rauished with her beautie that forthwith hee sent for Bethsabe and shee comming vnto him hee lay with her committed adulterie with her so sent her home againe to her owne house Then shortly after shee perceiuing her selfe to be with childe and fearing least for that fact shee should be stoned to death according to Gods lawe sent Dauid the king worde thereof secretely Whereupon the king partly to hyde his owne fault and partly to saue the woman from daunger of the lawe sent for Urias her husband to come home from warres that hee might colour and father the matter by lying with his wife But when Dauid sawe that Urias woulde by no meanes company with his wife Bethsabe as he desired he returned him back againe to Ioab with a letter the contentes whereof caused Urias quickly to bee dispatched out of his life by the enemie And when Bethsabe heard that her husbande Urias was dead shee mourned for her husband so when the mourning was done Dauid sent for Bethsabe and to make her amendes hee tooke her into his house and shee became his wife and in the yeere of the world 3086. she brought foorth the same childe conceyued in adulterie being a sonne which liued not long but being stricken by God with a sore sickenesse for Dauids Bethsabes sinnes and punishement it died
Barak for this is the day that the Lord hath deliuered Sisara into thyne hands Is not the Lord gone out before thee to fight for thee So the Lorde according to her wordes hauing destroyed the armye of Iabin and forced Sisara to light downe of his chariot and flye away on his feete Barak pursued after him but hee beeing escaped his handes and hid in the tente or house of one Iael the wife of Heber and a faythful friende to Israel was there slaine by the said Iael as in her storie more plainly appeareth vntyll at y e length Barak stil pursuing after Sisara came and found him dead in the tent of Iael and so lost hee the honour of the victory and Iael got it as Deborah before prophecied And thus Deborah by her pollicye and wisdome through Gods power and Baraks helpe assisting and working for her and her people deliuered her people mightely from the tyranny of Iaben Sisara and all their enimies that had vexed them verye sore the space of twentie yeare before and were set at peace and libertie and their enemies vtterly confounded And therefore to the glory and prayse of God for that victorye and to the perpetuall memory and fame of Iaell shee made a notable and learned songe which she together with Barak sange the same daye saying Prayse yee the Lord for the auenging of Israell and for the people that offred them selues willingly c. as it is at larg in the prayers of the Byble made by women before in the first Lamp page 3. And after the death of Debora the Lord raysed vp Gideon to iudge his people Iudges 4.4.5.1 D There was an other woman called Debora which was the nurse of Rebecca and went with her and her maidens when Abrahams seruant brought her from her father to Isak his maisters sonne and who after long traueiling and iourneying comming to Bethel there in the yeare of the world 2275. dyed by the way going towardes Egypt when she had lyued 156. yeares after the byrth of Rebecca and was buryed beneath Bethel vnder an Oke which place Iacob her master for her sake called the Oke of Lamentation Gene. 24.59.35.8 There was an other woman called Debora which was the great Grandmother of Tobyas the elder that is his father Tobiels mother and his garder or bringer vp a very godly and deuout woman as may appeare in that Tobyt said that he gaue his offrings and tythes of the tenth part vnto them vnto whom it was meete as Debora his fathers mother had commanded him vnto whom he was pupil Toby 1.8 She is onely mencioned or read off in the Geneua translation Delbora or Noaba after Philo signifieth Bees a thing a casting downe She was the second Daughter of Adam and Eue the sister of Calmana wife of her own brother Abell as it is supposed Her name nor her sisters is not read or founde in the scriptures but in Lyra also looke Graftons Chronicle fol. 27. Delilah or Dalila signifieth a poore wench a bucket or paile a consumer her paile pouertie his bowe drawing out leane She was a woman of the Philistins dwelling by the ryuer of Sorek whome Sampson the Israelite an enimy to the Philistins loued tooke to wife whilest he aboad amongst the Philistines which when the Princes of the Philistins perceiued they hauing long hunted him to destroy him and knowing no way so good as by the meanes of a woman came at the length to this Dalilas house and perswaded her to betray her husbande saying Entice Sampson and see wherein his great strēgth lieth and learne by what meanes wee may best ouercome him that we may come and binde him and punish him after our desire and for thy labour euery one of vs shall giue thee a xi hundred shekels of siluer which commeth to foure score and a xi pounds thirteene shillings foure pence a man after xx d a shekel and saith Lyra they being fiue in number it amounteth in all to the summe of 336 li.xiii.s.iiii.d Then Dalila being thus bribed or entised for couetousnesse of so much money went and saide vnto Sampson Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lyeth whereby thou mightest be bound to do thee hurt And Sampson mistrusting her nothing at all he was so blinded with her loue tolde her saying if they binde me with vii grene cordes or withes then shall I lie as weake as another man So she hauing gotten of the Philistines vii grene cords bound Sampson therewith and hauing certaine men of the Philistines lying readie in waite with her in a secrete chamber she then cryed out vnto Sampson saying The Philistines are vpon thee Sampson shift for thy selfe But Sampson brake the cordes as a threed and escaped so that his strength coulde not be knowen by her craft Then saide Dalila vnto Sampson see thou hast mocked me and tolde me lies I pray thee nowe yet tell me wherein thou mightest be bounde And Sampson though her falshoode tended to make him loose his life yet his affection towardes her so blinded him that he coulde not beware but tolde her saying If they binde me with newe ropes that were neuer occupied then shall I bee weake and like other men Dellida therefore tooke newe ropes and bounde him againe therewith and saide as before The Philistines bee vpon thee Sampson But as her spies came out of her chamber to haue taken him he brake them also from his armes as a threede and escaped againe the second time After this Delilah saide vnto him againe the thirde time hitherto Sampson thou hast beguiled mee and told me lyes tell mee yet howe thou mayest bee bound And hee giuing place still to his wicked affections tolde her againe the thirde time saying If thou plat seuen lockes of the haire of my head with the threades of the woofe I shall bee weake so shee fastened it with a pinne and cryed as afore The Philistines are vpon thee Sampson the Philistines are vpon thee but hee awoke out of his sleepe and went away with the pinne of the webbe and woofe Then Dalila being verie angrie that hee had so often mocked her beganne to chide him saying Howe canst thou say as thou continually doest vnto mee I loue thee Dalila I loue thee when thine heart is not with mee Thou hast mocked mee nowe these three times together and hast not as yet tolde mee wherein thy great strength lieth And because shee was importunate vpon him with her words continually and vexed him his soule was pyned to the death therefore hee vp and tolde her all his heart and saide vnto her If I bee shauen and my haire cut off my strength will goe from mee and I shall bee as weake as all other men are So when Delilah sawe that hee had tolde her all his heart shee went priuily for the Princes of the Philistines that had bribed her to doe the feate saying come vp once againe for hee hath shewed mee nowe all his hearte
then the Princes of the Philistines came vp to her and brought their money in their handes which they had promised her And Dalila then so dallied with Sampson that she made him lie a sleepe vpon her knees and whilest he lay downe his head in her lappe and was a sleepe she caused a man that she had readie for the purpose to come and shaue off the seuen lockes of the haire of his head whereby she began to vexe his soule and his strength was quite gone from him not so much for the losse of his haire but for the contempt of the ordinaunce of God whiche was the cause that God departed from him Then hauing wrought her feate she after her accustomed maner cryed vnto him and saide The Philistines are vpon thee Sampson the Philistines are vpon thee And with that hee awoke out of his sleepe and thinking to escape them nowe as hee had done before he shooke himselfe But knowing not that the Lord was departed from him he had no power or strength left to flie away and therefore the Princes of the Philistines then tooke him and bound him hand and foote nowe at the last and put out his eyes and carried him away bounde in fetters to Azzah where they made him a slaue to grinde in the prison house And thus Sampsons inordinate affection towards a wicked woman caused him to loose Gods excellent giftes and became a slaue vnto them whom hee should haue ruled Where wee see howe dangerous a thing it is for any man or woman to giue place too much to our affections for if we doe without doubt we shall be sure to be destroyed as Sampson was by Dalila who thus by wicked daliance betraid him to the Philistines for money Iudg. 16.4 c. Diana signi the Moone hauing name of the day for that it giues a light counterfeiting the day lyght She was a great Goddesse of the Ephesians whose magnificence not onelye the Cytizens of Ephesus but all Asia yea and all the world worshipped as their Goddesse insomuch that when anye man went about to impeach her honour or speake against her or her Temple to bring her in little estimation among the Christians as Paule and others did then the people of Ephesus woulde bee full of wrath and cry out continually great is Diana of the Ephesians A great maynteiner of this Goddesse and her Temple was that enimie of godlinesse and superstitious fellow Demetrius the siluer smith who got great gaines and much wealth by making shrines and siluer temples for Dianas temple and who vnder her pretence raysed great sedition in the Citie and trouble to Paule and the true Christians as ye may read Acts. 19.24 c. Dinah signifieth iudgement or doome iudging or deeming She was the onely Daughter of Iacob borne in the yeare of the worlde 2258. whom Lea bare vnto him whilest hee serued Laban her father and his vncle And when her father soiourned in Sechem going towardes Egypt she being but fifteene yeares of age and taking a little too much libertie went out alone from her father and brethren to see the daughters or women of that countrey but lost her virginitie before she returned For when Sechem the sonne of Hamor the hittite and Lord of that countrey saw her among the dauncing damosels he tooke her and lay with her and deflowred her by force shee being not past fifteene yeares of age as I sayd And afterward Sichems hart stil cleauing vnto her he requested his father saying go get me this maide to be my wife And his father comming to Iacob to begge Dinah her breâ—hren hearing thereof talked first priuilye among them selues how to reuenge this villany done to their sister graunted to Hamors request if so be he with his sonne and all his people would become circumcised Christians as she and they were And they being glad to doe any thing that they myght obtayne so fayre a Damosell as shee was were all circumcised but then her brethren hauing that they would two of them to witte Symeon an Leuy tooke ech of them his sword and went boldly into the Citie and slew Sechem with his father and all their male kinde whyle they were sore and not able to resiste in full reuenge of that villany offered to their sister and when they had done they tooke their sister Dinah out of Sechems house and went their wayes with the spoyle that they had gotten of all their goodes wiues and children that were in the Citie which when her father Iacob heard he reproued his two sonnes greatly as one sorye for so great a murther so rashly commytted but they aunswered him againe saying shoulde hee abuse our sister as a whoore Gene. 34. all Dorcas or Tabitha â—ignifieth a do a Robucke a pricket or a â—allow deere readâ— of her in Tabitha Drusilla signifieth bedewed or sprinckled with deweof a quiet kinâ—ed She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa and a Iew borne in the yeare of the world 4179. who being first marryed to Azizo forsooke him and became afterwarde in the yeare of the world 4193. wife to Felix by whose counsayle he called for Paule and heard him intreate or preach of the fayth of Christ. Acts. 24. 25. E Edna or Anna sig pleasure time She was the wife of Raguell mother of Sara the wife of young Tobie Who at Tobies first coÌ„ming to her house to wooe her daughter verie courteouslie entertained him when shee vnderstoode whose sonne hee was and that hee was indeede her neere kinsman And when she heard that olde Tobie her cosin was blinde she was verie sorowfull and wept for his trouble Afterwarde hauing giuen her consent to her husband that Sara her daughter should be maried to Tobie she was present at the contract making and solemnization of the marriage betweene them and when night came and the feastes were done she prepared another faire chamber for her daughter to lie in as her husbande Raguell had commanded her and seeing her daughter fall a weeping when she should goe to bed for feare least the euill spirite Astrodias woulde come againe and slaie Tobias that night as hee had done her other seuen husbandes before Edna like a tender hearted mother wiped away her daughters teares and comforted her saying bee of good cheere my daughter the Lorde of heauen and earth shall giue thee ioye for this thy sorrowe Bee of good comfort my daughter weep not so her daughter being well comforted went to bed And in the morning Edna sent her maide to see whether Tobie were aliue or not who finding them both a sleepe and aliue went and tolde her master and dame and they for ioye praysed God together And when the dayes of feasting were ended and her daughter was to goe her way with her husbande to his friendes and countrie Edna blessed her daughter and gaue her ghostly instruction like a godly mother saying first to her The God of heauen blesse thee my daughter and make thy children to
y e people had giuen her and gaue the Canopie which she had taken from his bed for an oblation to the Lord. So the people reioyced as the vse is by reason of the victory for the space of three moneths and Iudith remained with them in Ierusalem by the Sanctuarie And after this euery one returned home to his owne house inheritance And Iudith went to Bethulia remained in her owne possession was for y e time right honorably taken in all the countrey land of Israel Unto her vertue also was chastitie ioyned so y t although many desired her yet she neuer knew man nor companied w t any all the dayes of her life after that Manasses her husband was dead and gathered to his people But on the high solemne feast dayes she went out with great worship increased more more in honor waxed old in her husbands house where when she had been a widow three yeeres foure moneths was become an 105. yeres old After that she had made her maide Abra free and distributed her goods to them y t were neerest of her kinred to her husband her she died in Bethulia there was most honorably buried beside her husband Whose death the Iewes or people of Israel lamented with mourning vii daies together euery yeere solemnized y e day wherin she got the victorie as a holy day to be kept for euer amōg their fastiuall daies And there was none y t made the childrē of Israel any more afraid in the dayes of Iudith nor along time after her death There was another woman called Iudith which was the daughter of Beeri an Hittite one of the wiues of Esau who with her mate Bashemath was a griefe of mind to Isaac Rebecca her father mother in lawe for her disobedience and rebellion towares them Gen. 26. 34.35 K Keren-happuch or Cornu-sibii signifieth the horne or childe of beautie She was the youngest of Iobs three daughters that he had after his fall and sister to Ieminah and Kezia a verie beautifull virgin as her sisters were vnto whom Iob her father gaue an inheritance amōgst his sonnes to her preferment and portion Iob. 42.14 Ketura or Cetura or Chethura signifieth smelling sweete like spices or perfuming or bound a good sauour Shee was the second wife or concubine of Abram whom he tooke as some think whiles Sara was yet aliue and who bare him vi sonnes as appeareth Gen. 25.1.2 Kezia or Cassiam signifieth as pleasant as Cassia or sweete spice Shee was the seconde daughter of Iob a most beautifull comely woman and virgin vnto whom also with her sisters Ieminah and Karen-happuch her father gaue an inheritance for her portion among their brethren Iob. 42.14 L Lea or Lia. signifieth painfull or weeried Shee was the eldest daughter of Laban the sonne of Nahor Abrahams brother and sister to Rahel but being bleare eyed or squint eyed shee was nothing so faire and beautifull as her sister Rahel was yet when her sister Rahel for whom Iacob serued seuen yeres should haue been giuen vnto him in marriage y e same night after the wedding feast kept by Rahel her father to prefer his eldest daughter in marriage before the yōgest especially being somwhat deformed couered his daughter Leahs face with a vaile in signe of chastitie shamefastnesse as the maner of virgins or young maried wiues then was so in the darke in steede of her sister Rahel brought her to bed to Iacob who lay with her and so she preuented her sister Rahel in marriage became Iacobs first wife this was in the yeere of the worlde 2252. And her father gaue his maid Zilpa to Leah to be her waiting maid seruant Which deceit in Laban caused Iacob to serue seuen yeres more for Rahel her sister But when the Lord saw that Lea was despised not so well beloued of her husband Iacob as her sister was shee in her affliction had recourse vnto God by prayer because children are a great cause of mutuall loue betweene man wife he heard her prayer and made deformed Lea fruitfull faire Rahel barren so y t the same yeere Leah conceiued bare a sonne called his name Ruben saying Because the Lord hath looked vpon my tribulation giuen me a childe now therefore my husband will loue me And the next yeere being the yere of the world 2253. she conceiued againe bare another sonne called his name Symeon saying because the Lord hath heard that I was hated therefore he hath giuen me this sonne also And in the yere 2254. shee conceiued againe the third time bare a sonne called his name Leuy saying Now at this time will my husband keepe mee commpanie because I haue borne him three sonnes Lastly in the yeere of the world 2255. she conceiued bare him another sonne called his name Iudah saying Now will I praise the Lord so she left bearing Afterward when she saw that for her fruitfulnes she was enuied of her barren sister Rahel that she her selfe also now had left bearing then shee gaue Zilpah her maid vnto her husband Iacob to wife who bare him a sonne Leah called his name Gad saying God doth increase me with a company or multitude of children Again Zilpah her maid conceiued and bare another sonne whose name Leah called Asshur saying Ah blessed am I for the daughters will blesse me After this in the yeere of the world 2256. it chanced that Ruben her eldest sonne in the time of wheat haruest went out into the field found certaine hearbes called Mandrakes whose roote hath a certaine likenes of the figure of a mā and brought them home vnto his mother Lea. And when Rahel her sister heard thereof she went to Lea her sister desired her to giue her of her sonnes Mandrakes but Lea vnwilling so to do answered said to her sister Rahel Is it not enough that thou hast taken away mine husband but wouldst take away my sonnes Mandrakes also Wel quoth Rahel let him sleepe with thee this night for thy sonnes Mandrakes And so Iacob cōming out of the field at euening Lea went out to meet him and said Come in vnto me lie with me this night for I haue bought paid for thee with my sonnes Mandrakes So Iacob did and God heard Leah and she conceiued by him that night bare vnto Iacob the fift sonne called his name Issachar saying God hath giuen me my reward because I gaue my maide to my husband In which wordes she offended because in steede of acknowledging her fault shee boasteth there as if God had rewarded her therfore After that in the yeere of the world 2257. Lea conceiued againe and bare Iacob the sixt sonne of her owne bodie called his name Zebulim praysing God and saying God hath indued me with a good dowry now will mine husband dwell with me because I haue borne him
blessed and holy virgin and mother of Christ our Sauiour whose parents are not expressed in Scripture by name but as some thinke she was the daughter of Heli otherwise called Ioachim and of Anna his wife borne in the yeere of the world 3948. in the daies of Cambalinus and before the birth of Christ xv yeeres But whose daughter soeuer shee was certaine it is that both she and her husbande Ioseph came of the princely race and royall stocke or linage of king Dauid and that she was neere cosin to Elizabeth S. John Baptist his mother as shall appeare and Marie the wife of Cleophe was her sister also Nowe this blessed virgin being affianced or betrothed to a certaine good man of her owne stocke and tribe of Iuda named Ioseph So it was that before she came to dwell with him the Angel Gabriel in the yeere of the worlde 4142. being sent of God came and saluted her as she was in her house at Nazareth a Citie of Galilee saying Haile thou that art beloued orgladnesse be vnto thee which art highly receiued into fauour full of grace the Lorde is with thee blessed art thou among women The Virgin seeing the Angel was sore abashed and troubled at his wordes and mused much in her minde what maner of salutation that should be Then saide the Angel Feare nor Marie for thou hast found fauour with God for loe thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus he shal be great and shall be called the sonne of the most high And the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid and he shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shal be none end Then Marie because she woulde be resolued of all doubtes to the ende shee might the more surely imbrace the promise of God saide vnto the Angel How shall this be seeing I knowe no man The holy Ghoste quoth the Angell shall come vpon thee and the power of the most high shall ouershadowe thee and secretly woorke in thee aboue all naturall reason Therefore also that holy and pure thinge which shall bee borne of thee shal be called the sonne of GOD. And thy cosin Elizabeth she hath also conceiued a sonne in her old age and this is her sixt moneth which was called Barren For with God shall nothing be impossible Then saide Mary beholde the handmaide of the Lorde be it vnto me according to thy worde So the Angell being departed from her vpon this shee prepared her selfe with speede to goe and visite her cosin Elizabeth and comming to Hebron where her cosin dwelt shee entred into the house of Zacharias and saluted her cosin Elizabeth his wife who no sooner heard the salutation of Mary but the babe myraculously sprang in her belly beeing filled presently with the holy Ghoste she cryed with a loude voice and saide to Marie Blessed art thou amōg womē because y e fruite of thy wombe is blessed whence cōmeth this to me that the mother of my Lorde should come to mee c Then Mary beleeuing all these thinges to be performed which were tolde her by the message of the Angell with a ioyful heart and mind made a notable song in the praise of God for his mercy towardes her saying My soule doth magnifie the Lorde c. as in the first Lampe of Uirginitie Page 48. Which song being ended she remained with her cosin Elizabeth about three monethes and then returned home to her owne house againe to Nazareth a Citie of Galilee Where being found with childe of the holy Ghoste as the Angell had saide before her husband she came together that her husband had taken her home vnto him Then Ioseph her husband being a iust man vpright and fearing God and therefore suspecting y t she had cōmitted fornication before shee was betrothed vnto him and not willing to make her a publike example was minded to put her away secretely and woulde neither retaine her which by the lawe shoulde be married to another nor by accusing her woulde put her to open shame for her fact But whiles he thought these thinges beholde the Angell of the Lord appeared to him in a dreame and by reuelation saide vnto him Ioseph thou sonne of Dauid feare not to take Mary for thy wife for that which is conceiued in her is of the holy Ghost and she shall bring foorth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus for he shall saue his people from their sinnes And all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet Esay 7.14 saying Behold a virgin shal be with childe shall beare a sonne and they shall call his name Emmanuel which is by interpretatiō God w t vs. Then Ioseph being raised from sleepe did as the Angell of the Lorde had inioyned him and tooke his wife Marie home vnto him But he knew her not till shee had brought forth her first borne sonne nor at any time euer after Shortly after it chaunced that Ioseph her husbande went vp from the citie of Nazareth to the lande of Iurie to a citie called Bethlem and shee also being great with childe went with him there to be taxed according to the Emperour Augustus commaundement because they were of the house and linage of Dauid And being forced to lie in the stable for lacke of roome in the Inne her houre came to bee deliuered there she being now about the age of xvi yeres as it is said brought forth Christ Iesus the sauiour of the worlde her first begotten sonne and wrapped him in swadling clothes and laide him in a cratch or manger because there was no other roome or conuenient place for them in the Inne whereby appeareth her pouertie at that time and their crueltie both towards her and her babe which woulde not pitie a woman in such a case Which strang or rather ioyful newes being by Gods angel reueiled vnto the shepheards in the field they ran with all hast to Bethlem and there first found both Marie and Ioseph and the babe laid in the cratch and when they had seene it they published it first abroad to the world and all that heard it wondred but Marie kept all these sayings and pondered them in her heart And the Shepheards returned praysing God for all that they had heard seen of our sauiour Christ. And when y e eight day was come they circumcised her child his name was called Iesus as the angell had so named him before he was conceiued And when the dayes of her purification after the Law of Moses were come she went with her childe Iesus and her husband to Ierusalem to present him to the Lord and there according to her pouertie offred two yong pigions and a payre of turtle doues for an oblation according to the lawe for her manchilde that was holy vnto the Lord. And when she heard olde father
Leaprosie as white as snowe in the yeere of the worlde 2516. Then Moses partly for pittie to see his sister in such a lothsome case and partly at the earnest request and intercession of Aaron his brother who saide to Moses Alas my Lorde I beseech thee lay not the sinne vpon vs which we haue foolishly committed and wherein we haue sinned Let her not I pray thee be as a childe dead of whom the fleshe is halfe consumed when hee commeth out of his mothers wombe hauing as it were but skinne bone Moses besought the Lorde for his sister saying O Lorde I beseeche thee heale her nowe but the Lord made him aunsweare saying if her father in his anger and displeasure had spit in her face shoulde she not haue beene ashamed seuen dayes Let her be shut out of the host seuen dayes and after she shal be receiued So Miriam was shut out of the host seuen dayes as the Lorde commaunded and the people remoued not till Miriam was restored and receiued in againe into the host Finally in the yeere of the worlde 1554. when she had liued 119. yeeres after the birth of Moses and when Moses and the children of Israel were come into the desert of Sinai to the citie Cades fortie yeere after the departure out of the land of Egypt Myriam there dyed and was buried when shee had liued aboue a 130. yeeres Exod. 2.4.7.6.20 15.20 c. Num. 12.1 20.1 1. Chro. 6.3 Milcha Milcah or Melcha or Melea sig a Queene his Queene or aduiser fulfilling She was the daughter of Haram Abrahams youngest brother the sister of Lot and as some thinke of Sarai the wife of Abraham and also was the wife of Nahor Abrahams second brother so that her husband and her father were naturall brothers the sonnes of Terah and she her selfe neere vnto her husband who was her vncle which kynde of marriage was after forbidden by the lawe after she bare vnto her husband Nahor eight sonnes to wit Uz Buz. Kemuel that was afterwarde Prince of the Assyrians Chesed Hazo Pildash Iidlaph and Bethuel which was the father of Rebecca that afterward became wife to Isaack so Milcha was Rebeccaes grādmother her mates name was Reumah Gen. 11.29.22.20 There was another woman called Milcah whiche was one of the fiue daughters and coheires of Zelohehad of the tribe of Manasses as yee may reade in Mahlah her sisters storie Number 26.33.27 1.36 Molecheth signifieth a Queene She was the sister of Gilead and daughter of Machir and bare vnto her husband three sonnes called Ishbod Abiezer and Mahalah 1. Chro. 7.18 N Naamah or Naama signifieth comlinesse fayre beautifull or greatly mouing affliction She was the daughter of Lamech and Zillah and the sister of Tubalkain the cunning brasier and smith Gen. 4.22 There was another woman called Naamah which was an Ammonitesse one of the wiues of king Salomon who bare vnto him a sonne called Rehoboam that after was king of Iuda 1. Kings 14. 21. Naarah or Naara or Naari signifieth a puzill a damosell striking of or walking She was one of the two wiues of Ashur the father or Prince of Tekoa her mates name was Heleah and she bare vnto her husbande foure sonnes called Ahuzam Hepher Temeni and Haashtari 1. Chro. 4.36 Naomi or Noemi or Mara sig fayre comely or prouoking much or greatly assuring Bitter She was the wife of a certaine man called Elimelech dwelling in the land of Iuda in a citie called Bethlem and for because of the present dearth which was ouer all the lande of Iuda in the time that the Iudges ruled She went with her husband and her two sonnes called Mahlon and Chilion into the countrey of Moab to soiourne where in processe of time her husband first died and her two sonnes w t whom she remained being married to two of the Moabitish damosels to wit Orphah Ruth died there also So that Naomi which had dwelt in the land of Moab ten yeeres was now left desolate both of her husband and of her sonnes Then Naomy hearing how the Lord had visited her countrie againe with plentie returned from Moab homewardes againe her two daughters in lawe Orpha and Ruth bringing her on y e way in her iourney And when shee sawe they had gone a good way with her and coueted not to returne from her shee saide vnto them Goe nowe my daughters and returne eche of you vnto your mothers house and the Lorde deale as kindly with you as yee haue dealt with the dead men my sonnes and with mee their sorowfull mother And the Lorde graunt that you may finde rest eyther of you in the house of her husband and so kissed them to haue bid them farewell But when she saw that they wept and would not depart from her she sayde vnto them agayne returne my daughters I pray you for what cause will yee goe with me Are there anie moe children within my wombe to bee your husbandes Turne againe therefore I say and goe your way for I am too olde to haue an husband And if I should say I had hope of children or if I had an husband this night or had already borne sonnes Woulde yee tarrie for them till they were growen of age and refrayne from taking of husbandes so long No not so my daughters it greeueth mee much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me Then they wept altogether and Orpha kissed her mother in lawe and tooke her leaue and returned into her owne lande of Moab agayne But because it was Gods woonderfull prouidence that Ruth shoulde become one of his housholde shee abode still with Naomy But Naomy did all that shee could to perswade her likewise to depart and returne with her sister saying beholde thy sister in law is gone backe vnto her people and vnto her Gods returne thou also after her But when Naomy saw that for no entreaty Ruth would depart from her but was stedfastly mynded to goe on with her she left speaking vnto her And so when they came to Bethlehem Iuda which was about the beginning of barley haruest or in April where when her cōming was noysed abroad the women of the citie which saw Naomy knowing her to come of a great familie and to haue been of great reputation when she dwelt among them said one to another is not this Naomy Naomy saide shee call me not Naomy that is beautifull but call me Mara that is bitter for the almighty hath geuen mee much bitternes I went out full and the Lorde hath brought me againe emptie Why then call yee me Naomy seeing the Lord hath humbled me and the almighty hath brought me vnto aduersitie And so Naomy remayned in Bethleem Iuda her daughter in law Ruth with her where shee liued poorely by the corne that Ruth gleamed for her sustenaunce in the fieldes of Booz her husbande Elimelechs kinsman and when Ruth brought home the corne and tolde her where shee had it she
Idols were the cause that Rahel and some of Iacobs family worshipped strange Gods as appeareth Gen. 35. where Iacob was commaunded by GOD to clense his houshold and to cause them to put away the strange Gods from among them and to worship God aright in Bethel So when Iacob Rahel were gone LabaÌ„ hasted after as fast as he could ouertaking Iacob Rahel at Mount Gilead there he chid Iacob for stealing away his heart carrying away his daughters without leaue taking of him made no litle ado with Iacob for his Gods saying Wherfore hast thou yet stollen away my Gods for he wist not y t Rahel his daughter had stollen them and therefore hee layde them to Iacobs charge But Iacob altogether ignoraunt of such matter guiltles bad Laban make search for his Gods saying search thou all y t I haue with whoÌ„ thou findest thy Gods let him not liue Wherevppon LabaÌ„ began and searched Iacobs tent Leas tent the two maydens tentes but found not his Gods and when he came to search Rahel his daughters tent she hauing hid his Idols in the Cammels lytter sate downe vpon theÌ„ as her father was ruffling about the place where she sate she said vnto him O my Lord be not angrie y t I caÌ„not rise vp before thee for the custome of women is vpon me so the thing for all his searching was not known TheÌ„ after a litle chiding had betwixt Iacob LabaÌ„ there was a couenaÌ„t of peace made betwixt them vppon condicion y t Iacob should vse Rahel Lea his wiues wel to take no mo wiues vnto theÌ„ to vexe them whervnto Iacob easily grauÌ„ted so LabaÌ„ hauing blessed Rahel Lea his daughters he took his leaueâ— departed back again Iacob went on his iourney to meet Esau his brother placing his wife Rahel her soÌ„ne Ioseph last y t they might be furthest froÌ„ daÌ„ger wheÌ„ she met her brother in lawe Esau Rahel drew neere did reuerence vnto him and so tooke her leaue departed safe with Iacob vnto Sichem And when she was going vp with her husbaÌ„d to Bethel to dwel she put away the strange Gods that she had stollen from Laban her father and earinges that houng in her eares and gaue them to Iacob when he reformed his housholde who tooke her Idols and superstitious trashe and hidde them vnder an Oke by Sichem And when she departed from Bethel and came within halfe a dayes iourney to Ephrath Rahel there by the way trauelled with her second child and in traueling beeing in greate paynes and sore labour the mydwife to comfort her sayde vnto her feare not Rahel for thou shalt haue this sonne also but she through sore and perillous labour being about to yeelde vp the ghost euen in the byrth called her childes name Benony y t is the sonne of my sorrow but his father Iacob called his name Beniamin and so she died in childbed in y e yeere of the world 2275. after that she had bin married 23. yeeres to Iacob shortly after y e death of her nurse Rebecca was buried in y e way to Ephrata which is BethleheÌ„ in y e border of BeÌ„iamin where Iacob caused a piller of stone to bee set vpoÌ„ her graue as a ceremony to testifie the resurrectioÌ„ to come not generally reueyled which piller was euer after called Rahels piller or graue or sepulchre stone Gen. 29.30.31.33.35.48.7 1. Sam. 10.2 After whose death y e prophet Ieremy loÌ„g after did coÌ„pare y e destruction captiuity of the Iewes to y e destructioÌ„ of the Beniamites or Israelits saying This saith y e Lord a voyce was heard on hye mourning bitter weeping Rahel weeping for her childreÌ„ refused to be coÌ„forted because they were not aliue but dead y t is the Beniamites Israelites were so destroyed y t if Rahel the mother of Beniamin coulde haue risen againe to seeke for her children she should haue found none remayning Ier. 31 15. Which prophecie of Rahel her children was afterward fulfilled at the byrth of our sauiour Christ Iesus when y e cruel blooddy tyrant king Herod renewed the sores of the Beniamites suffered long before by causing all the young children vnder 2. yeeres old y t were in Bethlehem to be slaine of purpose to kil Christ among them but al in vain for mauger his head Christ did doeth raygne a king blessed foreuer Math. 2.18 Rebecca or Rebekah sig great patience much sufferance she that hath beene well rewarded Gods glorie bearing afausone grosse or welfauoured wenche c. Shee was the daughter of Bethuell the sonne of Milcha the wife of Nahor Abrahams brother borne in the yere of the world 2118. and sister to Laban who being a very fayre maide and bewtifull virgin vnknowne of man as she went on a tyme with a pitcher vpon her head to the common wel without the Citie to drawe water it chaunced Abrahams seruant or stewarde whom he had sent to get a wife for Isaak his Sonne to stand by the same well with ten Camelles lying thereaboutes who when the mayde had filled her potte and set it vpon her head ready to goe away desired her that he might drinke a little of her water And she very courtuously set downe her potte and not only gaue him drinke but also shee powred out the reste into the water trough and ranne againe to the well and drewe water for his Camelles also vntill they had all dronken their fill Then Abrahams man perceyuing thereby that God had hearde his prayer and graunted his request to make his iourney prosperous in that hee sawe this was the woman whome God had prouided for his maisters Sonne tooke out two golden eareringes of two sicles weight which were worth 32 s and two bracelets of golde weighing ten sickels which were worth 23. poundes and gaue them to the mayde demaunding whose Daughter shee was I am quoth Rebecca the Daughter of Bethuel the Sonne of Milcha which shee bare vnto Nahor Then tell mee I praye thee sayde the man is there â—oome in thy fathers house to lodge in yea quoth shee there is both roome and lodging and also both lytter and prouender enough for your beastes Blessed bee God quoth hee that hath dealte so mercyfullye with my mayster and hath brought mee the right waye to my maysters Brothers house Then Rebecca hearing him speake of her fathers Brother ranne home and told al things what the man had sayd in the presence and hearing of Laban her brother who beholding the earinges and bracelettes vppon his sisters handes and marking what shee said ranne presentlye forth to meete the manne and with gentle entertainment brought him home into the house and sawe his Camelles drest and prouided for of prouender and when he had so done hee set meate also before the man to eate but the man would not eate before he had done his maisters message and declared the cause wherefore
his master had sent him together with the manner of his meeting with Rebecca their Daughter at the well whom he disired them to giue to his maysters Sonne to wife Wherevnto Laban her brother and Bethuel her mother so soone as they perceiued by his discourse and tale that he tolde that this was Gods ordinaunce they yeelded to the mans request saying This thing is procured of the Lorde we cannot therefore saye vnto thee neyther euill nor good Behold Rebecca is before thee and at thy commaundement take her and goe that shee may bee thy masters sonnes wife euen as the Lorde hath ordeined Which words so greatly reioyced the man that he hauing first praysed the Lord for his mercy towardes his maister and for that he had his request graunted tooke forth more iewelles of gold and siluer and riche apparell and gaue them Rebecca in the presence of her friendes Hee gaue giftes also vnto her brother and mother for tokens of goodwil and to requite their courtesie and then satte downe and did eate and drinke merily with them And on the morowe when the man made haste to bee gone with Rebecca her brother and mother to shew that parentes haue not authoritie to marye their children without consēt of the parties called the Damosel forth to aske her counsel and to know whether she would goe with the man or noe And she being content to goe with him prepared her selfe readye but before shee went her brother and mother blessed her saying Thou art our sister grow into thousandes and thy seede possesse the gate of thine enemies and be victorious ouer them which blessing was afterwarde fullye accomplyshed in Iesus Christ. So Rebecca taking her nurse Deborah and her maydens with her shee lefte her brother and mother and rode away with the man who brought her towardes Isaak his maisters sonne and when shee espyed Isaak comming by the way in the fielde to meete her shee sayde vnto the seruant who is yonder man that commeth in the fielde to meete vs It is Isaak my maisters sonne quoth the seruant who walketh yonder praying in the fieldes as his manner is so when shee came neere him shee alighted and in token of shamefastnesse and chastitie as the custome of euery spouse firste brought vnto her husband was she tooke a vaile couered her head face and was deliuered vnto Isaak being 40. yeares old who brought her vnto his late mothers Saraes tent so she became his wife and this was in the yeare of the world 2148. was deerely beloued of him Wherby he hauing newly left mourning for his mother Sara that was lately departed this lyfe was now by Rebecca his wife greatlye comforted and cheered againe to his great comfort And this maryage was made in the yeare of the worldes creation 2148. Afterward Rebecca hauing bin xx yeares barren and without anye childe at y e last at the earnest petition prayers of her vertuous husbād whom God heard conceiued with 2. children at once when she felt them striue together within her wombe she made her mone to God saiing Seeing it is so that one shal destroy an other why am I thus with childe but God made her answere saying There are two manner of people in thy wombe two nations shal be deuided out of thy bowels and the one nation shal be mightier then the other and the elder shal be seruant to the younger And so when her time was come to bee deliuered she brought forth two twinnes the one red rough that came out first whose name was called Esaw the other white and smoothe that came out last held his brother by y e heele whose name they called Iacob which two afterward became mighty men in the world But Rebecca loued Iacob her youngest sonne better then Esaw her eldest for Esaw had married in processe of time two wiues at once of the daughters of the Hittites one called Iudith y e other Beshemath who were a continual griefe of minde vnto her for their disobedience rebellion And to preferre Iacob before Esaw she sayd vnto Iacob Heare mee my sonne Behold thy father is blinde as thou knowest I haue heard thy father say to thy brother goe and kill some venison and make mee meat therof such as I loue that I may eate blesse thee before y e Lord afore I die Now therfore my sonne heare my voyce in that which I cōmaund thee Get thee now to y e flock bring me thence 2. good kids y t I may make pleasant meate of thē for thy father such as he loueth thou shalt bring it him to eate that he may blesse thee before his death Which subtill dealing of Rebecca with her husband is blame worthy because she should haue taryed til God had performed his promise made towardes Iacob the younger and not to haue sought by this sinister meanes to preuent Esaw Then sayd Iacob vnto her Mother my brother Esaw is a rough man I am smooth and if my father shal happē to feele me I shal seeme vnto him as I went about to deceiue him so shal I bring a curse vpō me not a blessing Wel quoth Rebecca vpō me be thy curse my sonne only heare my voice go fetch me y t kids so he went fet thē vnto her she made pleasant meat therof such as his father her husband loued And when she had done shee fet out certeine fayre cloathes of Esawes put thē vpon Iacob and couered his hands and the smooth of his necke with Goates skinnes and put the meat in Iacobs handes to cary to his father By which pollicie of Rebecca Iacob gat firste his Fathers blessing to fulfill the word of y e Lord who before had sayde to Rebecca that the elder shoulde serue the younger But when shee heard how Esaw her sonne threatned to kill her sonne Iacob his brother for stealing awaye thus by subtyltie his blessing she tolde it Iacob saying Thy brother Esaw threatneth to sleye thee therefore my sonne heare my voyce make thee ready and get thee to Laban my brother at Haran and there tarye with him a while vntyll thy brothers furye and fiercenesse be asswaged and that his wrath bee turned awaye from thee and hee forget the thinges which thou haste done vnto him and then will I send and fetch thee away from thence for why should I bee depriued of you both by murder in one daye And when shee had giuen her sonne Iacob this counsaile to flye away she wente to Isaak her husbande to perswade him to anger for Iacobs departure and sayde I am weary of my life for this Iudith and Bathshemath the daughters of Heath my sonne Esaws wiues for they continually vexe my heart with their disobedience and therfore if my sonne Iacob should take a wife also of y e daughters of Heath such a one as these are of the daughters of that lande what good should my life
condemnation in the day of iudgement Luke 8.3 Tabitha is by interpretation Dorcas that is a doe a deere a robucke or fawne Shee was a certeine godlye woman and a disciple of Christe dwelling at Ioppa who in her lyfe tyme hadde beene vertuouslye occupyed and especiallye in the workes of mercie relieuing the poore and needie And while Peter was preaching and dooing his office at Lydda which was a Citie not farre from Ioppa it was her chaunce to fall sicke and dye And when her friendes after their custome hadde doone with washing her dead corpes and layde it forth in an vpper chamber to bee annoynted readye to the buryal they sente for Peter to come vnto them who beeing come they hadde him vppe to the chamber where the dead corse lay and where the widdowes came aboute him weeping and laying forth the coates and other garmentes which Tabitha had prepared in her lyfe tyme for the poore before him Then Peter put them all forth of the chamber and being alone kneeled downe and prayed and turning him to the dead body sayde Tabitha arise at the which wordes she arose and looked vpon Peter who then gaue her his hand and lift her vp and called the Saintes and widowes and restored Tabitha vnto them aliue which he did not for her own sake but for their sakes that were alyue to the intent they might hereby haue occasion to beleeue and glorifie God the authour of that myracle wrought by Peter And this was done in the yeere of the world 4179. Acts. 9.36 c. Tahpnes or Taphnes or Taphnes signi a priuy temptation a flight a couered banner Shee was a Queene and the wife of Pharao that was king of Egipt in the dayes of Solamon aâ—d sister to the wife of Hadad the Edomite that first rebelled against king Salomon whose sonne her nephew called Genubath shee weaned and brought vppe in her husbande Pharaos house amoÌ„g y e sons of Pharao as one of her own 1. Ki. 11.19 Talitha signi mayden She was the little daughter of Iarus one of y e rulars of the sinagogue who being of the age of 12. yeeres fel sick died was restored again afterward at y e earnest request of her father to life by Iesus speaking onely these two wordes Tabitha cumi which is by interpretation Mayden arise and straight wayes she arose and walked which myracle greatlye confirmed the fayth of her father and all that heard therof Mark 5.22.41 Tamar or Thamar signi a palme tree or a date tree a date a chaung or exchaunge bitternesse a sharpning to displeasure She was first the wife of that wicked man Er the eldest sonne of Iudah the fourth sonne of Iacob Leah after the death of Er whoÌ„ the Lord slewe for his wickednesse she was giuen by her father in lawe Iudah to Onan his second sonne to wife and so she became wife to two natural brothers to the end there should be seede raysed vp by one brother to an other brother if the firste died without issue which order was then vsed in the olde lawe for the preseruation of the stocke that the childe begotten by the second brother should haue the name and inheritaunce of the first and this is now in the new testament vtterly abolyshed But Onan her husbande knowing that the seede shoulde not be his refused to lye with Thamar his wife for which his wickednes the Lord slewe him also as hee had done his brother Er. Now Thamar being a widdowe againe and Iudah fearing to marry his thirde sonne vnto her least he should die also sayd to his daughter in law Thamar Thamar remayne a widdowe in thy fathers house til Selah my youngest sonne growe vp to mans state So Thamar for as much as shee could not marry in any other family so long as Iudah would reteine her in his wente and dwelte a widdowe in her fathers house during which time Suah Iudahs wife also dyed so that he became a widdower And when it was told Thamar that Iudah her father in law was a widdower and that he had left mourning and was gone to a place called Timnah with his friend Hyra to see his sheepeshearers she perceiuing that Selah was not giuen to her in marryage caste off her widdowes garments from her and couered her with a vayle and wrapped her selfe and so went disguised like a common harlot and satte downe in an open place by the hye way side going to Thimnah And as Iudah her father in law passed that way and saw one sit muffled with her face couered like a whore and being wonderfully blinded by God that he could not know her by her talke to bee his daughter in lawe hee wente vnto her and sayde Come I praye thee lette mee lye with thee What wilte thou giue mee then quoth shee I will quoth hee sende thee a kidde from the flocke Then leaue me a pledge quoth she till thou send it What pledge shal I leaue thee quoth Iuda thy signet quoth she vpon thy finger thy cloake and thy staffe He did so and lay with her and she was begotten with childe by him at the same time which was in the yere of the world 2283. And then she arose and went and put her vayle from her and put on her widdowes rayment againe Afterward Iudah comming to his flocke according to his promise sent her a kydde by his friend Hyra to the ende no other might know of his wickednesse and gaue him charg to bring with him his ring cloake and staffe that hee had left with her in pledge Who comming to the place and finding not the woman there hee asked of the men there aboute where the whore was that sat in the hye way as they came They made answere againe there was no whore there Then Hyra returned to Iuda and told him he could not finde her Well sayd Iuda who feared man more then God as it appeareth let her take it to her least we be ashamed Now was Tamar coÌ„ceiued with childe and when she had gon three monethes the thing was espyed and one came and told Iuda that his daughter in law Tamar had played the whore and was with childe Then bring her forth quoth hee and let her bee burnte Whereby wee see that the lawe which was written in mans heart taught them that whordome shoulde be punished with death Albeit as yet no lawe was giuen And as shee was lead forth to the fire to be burnt to death she sente the pledges to Iudah her father in lawe saying by the same man to whome these thinges doe pertaine am I with chylde Then Iudah knowing his pledges that is his ring his cloake and staffe and hauing the horror of the sinne condemning him sayde she is more righteous then I yea shee ought rather to accuse mee then I her for shee hath done this deede through my defaulte and negligence because I gaue her not to Sela my sonne as I promised So was Tamar saued from
and slept with me had not I lift vp my voyce and cryed as loude as I could but when he hearde me so crie then for haste he left his garment behinde with me fled away and is gone out So shee layde vp Iosephs garment by her vntill her Lord and husband Potiphar came home And then at his returne shee vp and tolde him also the same false tale of Ioseph saying The Ebrewe seruant which thou hast brought vnto vs came into mee in thine absence to mocke me and do me vilanie and shame But as sone as I lift vp my voyce and cryed he left his garment with me and fled out with speede When Potiphar heard his wife thus report of Ioseph his seruant whom he so much loued and trusted hee being too light of credence so sone without further and better tryall to beleeue the false and slaunderous reporte of his wife beganne to waxe wroth with Ioseph and nowe causlesse turned his good opinion of Ioseph into ielosie his loue into hatred and his trust into tyrannie For presently vpon his wiues suggestion he apprehended Ioseph and for the harlot his wiues sake he cast poore innocent Ioseph in the prison where hee lay fettered with yrons in the stockes and was very euil intreated for the space of three yeeres vntill by Gods prouidence hee was deliuered by Pharao king of Egypt Gen. 39.7 c. Q Queene of Saba Queene of Saba or of Ethiopia dwelling in the South partes of the worlde farre from Ierusalem when shee heard of the great fame of king Salomon that went farre and neere ouer all the worlde concerning the name of the Lorde his wisedome and high fauour that he was in with the Lorde Shee came in the yeere of the worlde 3137. with a very great traine from the vttermost partes of the earth to Ierusalem to proue Salomon with harde questions and to knowe whether his wisedome were so great as the reporte was and hauing brought with her great and many presentes to giue him as namely much golde precious stons and sweete odours shee came to Salomon and communed with him of all that was in her heart vnto whom Salomon declared al her hard questions neyther was there any question so hard propounded by her but Salomon did resolue and expounde it vnto her Now when shee sawe his wisedome his stately buildings and the whole trade and goodly order of his house in euery thing shee was greatly astonished and saide vnto the king It was a true reporte that I heard in mine owne lande of thy sayings actes and wisedome Howebeit I beleeued not this report till I came and mine eyes haue seene it and nowe beholde I must needes confesse that the one halfe of thy great wisedome and prosperitie was not tolde mee For thou farre exceedest the fame that I heard of thee and hast more wisedome and prosperitie then was reported Happie are thy men and happie are these thy seruantes whiche stande before thee alwaye and heare thy wisedome Blessed bee the Lorde thy God which loued thee to set thee on his throne of Israel as king in stead of the Lorde thy God because the Lorde thy God loueth Israel for euer to establishe it therefore hath hee made thee king ouer them to execute iudgement and iustice and to do equitie and righteousnes Then shee gaue the king sixescore talents of gold and all her precious stones and sweete odours that shee had brought neither was there such sweete odors since as the Queene of Sheba gaue vnto the king And Salomon the king beside that which of his kingly liberalitie for recompence of that treasure which she brought gaue vnto the Queene of Sheba euery pleasant thing that shee asked and so shee returned and went with all her seruauntes home to her owne countrey 1. King 10. 1. 2. Chron. 9.1 Whose fact and not whose person our Sauiour Christ him selfe commendeth and recited to condemne and rebuke the vnfaithfull Iewes that woulde not beleeue him without signes and tokens saying The Queene of the South shall rise in iudgement with this generation and shall condemne it For shee came from the vttermost partes of the earth to heare the wisedome of Salomon and beholde a greater then Salomon is here Math. 12.42 Luke 11.31 And it came to passe as Iesus saide these thinges a certayne woman of the company lift vp her voyce and sayde vnto him Blessed is the wombe that bare thee and the pappes which thou hast sucked but Christ perceiuing that shee omitted the chiefe prayse which was due vnto him gaue her a priuie taunt and said Yea rather blessed are they that heare the worde of God and keepe it For they are blessed in deede to whome hee communicateth him selfe by his woorde Luke 11,27 S Samaritesse IN Samaria a Citie of Syria adioyning to Iudea and the chiefest Citie of the tenne tribes There was a certayne poore widowe whiche had been sometime wife to one of the sonnes of the Prophetes who in his life time being fallen in debt not by vnthriftinesse but by the hande of God died and left her verye poore and not able to paye his creditors who neuerthelesse being very cruell towardes her and coueting to haue her children serue it out as slaues vnto them when shee heard that Elisha the Prophet was come into the Citie Samaria shee came crying and making great mone vnto him and sayde Thy seruaunt mine husbande is dead and thou knowest that thy seruaunt did feare the Lorde and the creditor is come to take my two sonnes to bee his bondemen Then Elisha being mooued to pitie her miserie demaunded of her and said What shall I doe for thee tell mee What hast thou at home Thine handmaide quoth shee hath nothing at home saue a pitcher of oyleâ— Goe thy way sayde Elisha and borrowe as many emptie vesselles among thy neyghbours as thou canst gette and when thou commest home hast shut thy dore vpon thee powre out the oyle that is in thy pitcher into all those emptie vesselles till they bee all full and then set them aside So the poore widowe departed and did as Elisha bad her And when the emptie vesselles were all full shee saide vnto her sonnes bring mee yet an other vessell There is no more quoth they and with that the oyle in her picther ceased to augment and increase in the vesselles After this shee went and tolde Elisha the man of God that shee had done as hee bad her Nowe goe sayde Elisha and sell the oyle in the vesselles and with the money that aryseth thereof pay thy husbandes creditors and them that thou art in debt vnto and liue thou and thy children on the rest 2. King 4.1 c. By which story the holy Ghost doeth giue vs to vnderstande that God neuer fayleth to prouide for his seruauntes their wiues and children if they trust in him that his doctrine and profession shoulde be kept without slaunder And that he suffereth his children many tymes to bee
After that in the yeere of the worlde 3088. Bethsabe conceiued agayne and brought forth another sonne called Salomon 2. Sam. 11.12 Lastly when Dauid was waxed old and fallen into exteeme age and Abishaag the Shunamite her handemayde ministred vnto him Bethsabe vnderstanding by Nathan the Prophete that Adonia the sonne of Aggit her mate beganne to aspire to the kingdome of his father Dauid yet lyuing shee by the counsayle and aduice of Nathan the Prophete who taught her her lesson went vnto the king her husband and making her humble obeysaunce vnto the king as he sate in his chaumber Abisag the Shunimite or young virging ministring vnto him he saide vnto her Bethsheba what is the matter Shee answered my Lorde thou swearest by the Lorde thy God vnto thine handemaide saying assuredly thy sonne shall raygne after mee and hee shall sitte vppon my throne But beholde now is Adoniah king and thou my Lorde the king knowest it not so closely is the matter kept from thee by flatterers For hee hath offered many oxen fatte cattell and sheepe and hath called all the kings sonnes and Abiathar the priest and Ioab the captayne of the hoste but my sonne Salomon thy seruant hath hee not bidden And nowe my Lorde O king the eyes of all Israell waite on thee that thou shouldest tel them who ought to sit on the seate of my Lorde the King after him for else when my Lord the king shall sleepe with his fathers I and my Sonne Salomon shal be reputed vile and so put to death as wicked transgressours and sinners And lo the Queene had no sooner ended her tale but the Prophet Nathan came and confirmed her wordes to bee true Whereuppon the King called for Bethsabe againe who was gone aside while Nathan talked with the king swore vnto her to assure her that Salomon her Sonne should be that day proclaymed King and raigne in his steade after him Then Bethsabe the Queene humbling her selfe to the grounde did yeelde reuerence and thankes vnto the King and desyred of GOD that her Lord King Dauid might liue for euer Afterwarde when Dauid was dead and her Sonne Salomon reigned King and was established in his throne it chaunced that Adoniah whose purpose she preuented came vnto her and she suspecting him as her priuy enemy and fearing least he would worke more treason still against the King her sonne demaunded first of him whether he came peaceably and to good intent or no. And when hee answered yea and that he had suite vnto her then she bad him say on for shee would heare him and vnderstand his suite So Adoniah made this request vnto her that she would vouchsafe to doe so much for him as to goe vnto the King her Sonne and speake vnto him to giue him Abishag the shunamite to wife for sayd he I knowe the king wil not say thee nay then Bethsabe willing to pleasure euen her very enemy especially in so small a matter as she thought sayde vnto Adoniah well I will speake for thee vnto the King my Sonne So Bethsabe comming vnto the king Salomon her sonne to speake vnto him for Adoniah the king as soone as he sawe her rose vp to meete her and in token of reuerence and that others by his good example might haue her being his mother in greater honour and to teach all children how hye in dignitie soeuer they are aboue their parentes their duetie towardes their parentes he bowde or humbled him selfe vnto her and sitting agayne in his throne he caused a seate to be set for his mother by him and shee satte on his right hande Then shee preferring Adoniah suite sayde vnto Salomon I desire a small request of thee saye me not naye vnto whome the king gently aunswered Aske on my mother for I will not say thee nay My request is quoth shee that thou wilt let Abisaag the shunamitisse be giuen to Adoniah thy brother to wife But king Salomon wisely perceiuing further mischiefe to lurke in that request then his mother who made it a light matter was aware off and knowing that if hee shoulde graunt Abishag that was so deere vnto his father at her request vnto Adoniah hee woulde afterwarde by that meanes aspire vnto the kingdome answered his mother thus O good mother and why doest thou aske Abisaag the Shunamite for Adoniah you might as well aske for him the kingdome also for hee is mine elder brother and hath for him both Abiathar the priest and Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah as thou knowest as if he woulde say if I should graunt you the one he will thereby soone aspire to the other hauing such meanes therfore I cānot for my safety graunt your request so preiudiciall to my royall estate so shee departed without her purpose and Salomon wisely to preuent the aspiring purpose of Adoneah went straight waies and put him to death 1. King 1.2 Finally so godly wise and learned a woman was this Bethsabe that Salomon her sonne being nowe a king yea and a most wise and learned king yet she to shewe her duetie motherly affection towards him her childe taught him the doctrine and preceptes of good life and howe he shoulde rule and gouerne to the glorye of God and his perpetuall prayse and renowne Her wordes and doctrine which shee taught Salomon and wherein shee exhorted him to chastitie sobrietie and iustice are these What my Sonne And what the Sonne of my wombe And what O Sonne of my desires Giue not thy strength vnto women nor thy waies which is to destroy kings for women are the destruction of kings if they hate them It is not for kings O Lamuel for so was Salomon also called it is not for Kinges to drinke wine nor for Princes strong drinke that is the king must not giue himfelfe to wantonnesse and neglecte his office which is to execute iudgement least he drinke and forget the decree and chaunge the iudgement of all the children of affliction Giue yee strong drinke vnto him that is ready to perish and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart Let him drinke that he may forget his pouertie and remember his miserie no more for wine doth comfort and cheere the heart of man as Psal. 104. 15 Open thy mouth for the dombe in the cause of al the children of destruction That is defend their cause that are not able to helpe them selues Open thy mouth I saye iudge righteouslye and iudge the afflicted and the poore Pro. 31.1.2.3 c. Reade more of the conditions and properties of a worthy woman and vertuous wife described by Bethshabe in the prayse of women Pro. 31.10 Bilha or Bala or Baala after some translations signifieth old or fading a pretye one the lesser swalowed vp hauing her his man troubled shedding of an vnderling had In getting vp Destroying She was a young Damosell which serued Laban the father of Rahel and when Rahel his daughter should be marryed to Iacob Laban gaue Bilha his mayde to Rahel
sixe sonnes Last of all in the yeere of the world 2258. she conceaued brought foorth Iacob a daughter whose name she called Dinah Now when Iacob was to depart away from Laban with his wiues Leah Rahel such goods and cattell as God had blessed him with in his seruice for recompence of his true seruice Iacob perceiuing Labans children to murmure against Iacob as though he had inriched himselfe of their fathers substance to their impouerishment called his wife Leah and Rahel tolde them of that discourtesie and what the Lord had reueled vnto him concerning his departure froÌ„ Laban Leah Rahel said vnto Iacob their husbande Haue we any more portion in our fathers house doth not he count vs as strangers for he hath solde vs in that hee hath giuen vs vnto thee in recoÌ„pence of thy seruice which is a kinde of sale hath eaten vp and coÌ„sumed our portions money therfore all y e riches which God hath taken from our father is ours and our childrens Nowe then whatsoeuer God hath put in thy minde to doe doe it Whereuppon Iacob with his two wiues Leah and Rahel departed from their father Laban and returned towardes their owne countrie and hauing deuided his familie into order Leah his wife and her children were formost next the maides and their children And when they met his brother Esau comming against him to meete him Lea with her children came neere and made obeisance vnto him very reuerently And so passing on their iourney safely to Sechem a citie in the lande of Canaan there shee rested a while and gaue her daughter Dinah a little too much libertie to go abrode to gaze vpon the women of that Countrie by meanes whereof vnawares her faire daughter was violently taken rauished and deflowred and abused as a whore by Shechim the sonne of Hamor to his and his Countries destruction as appeareth in the storie of Dina. Gen. 29.30,31.33.34.1 Lydia signifieth natiuitie or generation birth begetting aforehande builded She was a cetaine woman and seller of purple of the Citie of Thiatyria who being a very deuout woman and a worshipper of God she came together with other women to the assemblie of the Apostles and Christians to the Common prayer and exercise of the worde then vsed by a riuers side without the Citie of Philippi where her heart was so by the Lorde opened at the Preaching of Paule that she gaue diligent eare and attendance to the thinges which Paul spake and was with all her housholde presently conuerted baptized to the christian faith After this she besought Paule and the other Disciples saying If yee haue iudged me to bee faithfull to the Lorde come into my house and abide there and so she constrained the Apostles to tarry with her who founde so much good faithfulnesse in the woman that afterward being cast into prison deliuered again they returned into her house to comfort the brethren which resorted thither Act. 16.14.40 Loys or Loyde signifieth better she that hath got profite Shee was a faithfull godly woman grandmother to Timothie who alwaies brought vp her children familie in the feare of God and faith knowledge of Christes doctrine as appeareth 2. Tim. 1.5 Loruhamah â—ign not obteining mercy She was the daughter of Hosea the Prophet whom Gomer y e daughter of Deblaim bare vnto him her brothers name was Loammi and when she was borne brought foorth into the worlde the Lord said vnto Hosea her father call her name Loâ—ruhama for shee is the childe of fornication of an adulterous woman and of one that of long time hath accustomed to plaie the harlot therefore I will no more haue pitie vpon the house of Israel but forget them put them cleane out of my remembrance reade this mistically Hosea 1.6 M Maacah or Maacha or Maakah or Michaiah signifieth a woman bruised or pressed Shee was the daughter of Tasmai king of Geshur and one of the wiues of king Dauid vnto whom shee bare a sonne called Absolom who afterward rebelled against his father to his owne destruction 2. Sam. 3.3.1 Chro. 3.2 There was another woman called Maachah or Michaiah which was the daughter of Abishalom Uriel or of Gibea or as it is in the second of the Chr. 11.20 of Absalom whom some think was Dauids sonne and one of the xviii wiues of y â— wicked licentious king RoboaÌ„ the sonne of SalomoÌ„ king of Iuda vnto whom she bare foure sonnes called Abiiam Atthai Ziza Shelomith And because her husband loued her best aboue all his xviii wiues and lx Concubines Therefore in his life time he made her eldest sonne Abi Abiiah or Abiiam y â— chiefe ruler amoÌ„g his brethren ordeined him to raigne as king after him for y e loue he bare to his mother as appeareth 2. Kin. 15.2.2 Chro. 11.20 21.22 13. 2. But after the death of her sonne Abiiam she was deposed by Asa her sonnes sonne froÌ„ her Regencie because she had made an idol in a groue was an idolatresse woman and Asa brake her idol stamped it into powder burnt it at the brooke Ridion And yet for all this Asa herein shewed y t he lacked zeale for whereas she ought to haue dyed both by the couenant y t he made with God to slay man woman childe also by the law of God Deut. 13.6 Yet hee gaue place to foolish pitie wold seeme after a sort to satisfie y t law 2. Chr. 15.16 There was also another womaÌ„ called Maachah which was one of the concubines of Caleb the sonne of Hur bare vnto him v. sonnes called Sheber Tirhanah Shaaph the father or prince of Madmannah and Sheua the father or prince of Machbena of Gibea and a daughter called Achsah or Axa 1. Chro. 2.48.49 Moreouer there was yet another woman called Maachah which was the daughter of Ir or Aher and sister to Huppim Shuppim after she became the wife of Machar the sonne of Manasses and bare vnto him two sonnes called Peresh and Sheresh 1. Chro. 7.12.15 16. Lastly there was yet a fift woman called Maacha which was the wife of Ieiel the father or Prince of Gibeon vnto whom she bare ten sonnes Abdon Zur Kish Baal Ner Nadab Gador Ahio zechariah Mikloth her sonne Ner begat Kish which Kish begat Saul who afterward was y e first king of y e Israelites so y t this Maacha was y e great grandmother of Saul and the first woman of whose rase and stock the first king that euer was ouer the people of God came 1. Chro. 8.29 9.35 Mahalath or Maheleth or Malath or Malaah signifieth a Queere or companie of singers a Harpe weaknesse pardon She was the daughter of Ishmael Abrahams eldest sonne the sister of Naabaioth and one of the wife 's of Esaw whoÌ„ he tooke for his third wife besides the rest of his two other Heathen wiues Iudith and Basmath thinking by marrying of her to