The fourth Age. Before) Joshua II. Joshua, being confirmed in his government by God, sends forth spies from Before Shittim to the city of Jericho, who, being harboured by Rahab, are privily sent away, when search is made for them.
Upon the tenth day of the first month, (April 30) to wit, the same day that the Paschal Lamb was to be chosen out of the flock, the Israelites under the con- duct of Joshua, a type of Jesus Christ, go up out of the river Jordan into the promised land of Canaan, a type of a more heavenly country. They pass through the river on dry ground, the waters being for the present divided; for a memo- rial of which miraculous passage, Joshua sets up 12 stones in the very channel of Jordan, and taking 12 other stones out of the midst thereof sets them up at Gilgal, the place where they next encamp.
from the top of mount Gerizim expostulates with them the wrong they had done to his father's house; and by way of a parable foretells their ruin: which done, he lies, and dwells quietly in Beer.
Abimelech, having reigned three years over Israel. Gaal a Shechemite con- spires against him; which being discovered to him by Zebul, he utterly destroys the city of Shechen, and puts all the inhabitants to the sword, and burns the temple of their god Berith with fire; from thence he goeth and hyeth siege to Thebez, where he is knocked on the head with a piece of a millstone, cast upon him by a woman from the walls, and then killed outright by his armour-bearer. Tola the son of Puah, after Abimelech, judgeth Israel 23 years. Jair the Gileadite succeeds Tola, and judgeth Israel 22 years.
The Israelites, forsaking again the true God, fall to worship the gods of several nations, and are given up into the hands of the Philistir.es and Ammon- ites; which fifth thraldom lasteth 18 years. Upon their repentance, and aban- doning their idols, at length they obtain mercy.
Jephthah the Gileadite, being made captain of the host of Israel, subdues the Ammonites; before the battle he vows his daughter unawares to be offered in
XII. 6, sacrifice, and afterward performs it. He puts to the sword 42,000 Ephraimites, who had behaved themselves insolently against him, and judgeth Israel 6 years Ibzan the Bethlehemite succeeds Jephthah, and judgeth Israel 7 years. Elon the Zebulonite succeeds Ibzan, and judgeth Israel 10 years. Abdon the Ephraimite succeeds Elon, and judgeth Israel 8 years.
The day following, Joshua renews the use of circumcision, which had been omitted 40 years. Upon the 14th day of the same month, in the evening, the Israelites celebrate their first passover in the land of Canaan.
Next day after the passover manna ceaseth.
Our Lord Jesus, Captain of his Father's host, appears to Joshua, the typical Jesus, before Jericho, with a drawn sword in his hand, and promiseth there to defend his people.
Jericho, the ark of the Lord having been carried round about it, is taken the seventh day, the walls thereof falling down at the sound of the priests' trum- pets; all the inhabitants are put to the sword, except Rahab and her family.
The Israelites besiege Ai, and are smitten by their enemies, God having aban- doned them for sacrilege committed by Achan: Achan's sin being discovered by the casting of lots, and himself found guilty, he is stoned to death, and, to- gether with his children and cattle, burned with fire. God being pacified here- by, Ai is taken by ambushment and utterly destroyed.
On mount Ebal, according to the law made, is an altar erected, and the Ten Commandments engraven on it; the blessings and cursings are repeated on mount Ebal and mount Gerizim, and the book of the law read in the ears of the people.
The kings of Canaan combine against Israel; only the Gibeonites craftily find a way to save their own lives by making a league with them; but are after- wards deputed to the servile offices of the house of God.
Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, with the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, hearing that Gibeon is fallen off froi them, join their forces together and besiege it; but Joshua raiseth the siege, pursueth those five kings, and smiteth them as far as Azekah, the Lord in the meanwhile killing more with hailstones from heaven, than the Israelites with their swords. Joshua com- mands the sun to stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, by the space almost of one whole day, until the Israelites are fully avenged of their enemies. The five kings hide themselves in a cave at Makkedah; from whence they are brought forth, scornfully used, and hanged.
From the autumn of this year, wherein, after the falling of manna, they began to till the ground, the rise of the sabbatical years is to be taken.
Joshua, now grown old, is commanded by God to divide all the land on the west of Jordan among the nine tribes remaining, and the other half-tribe of Manasseb. The Lord and his sacrifices are the inheritance of Levi.
Eli the high priest (in whom the high priesthood was translated from the fam- ily of Eleazar to Ithamar's) succeeds Abdon, and judgeth Israel 40 years. The Israelites again provoke the Lord to anger, and he delivers them into the hands of the Philistines. This sixth thraldom begins seven months after Eli's entering
XIII. 1, 2, upon the government, and lasteth 40 years, even till seven months after his
death, when the ark was brought back again.
Samson the Nazarite, as an angel had foretold, is born at Zorah.
Whilst Eli the high priest executeth the office of a judge in civil causes under the Philistines, Samson takes an occasion to quarrel with them, by mar- rying a woman of Timnath; for having on the day of his betrothing propound- ed a riddle to the Philistines, and laid a wager, his wife tells them the meaning of it: enraged hereat, he goes and slays 30 men of Askelon, and gives them the suits of raiment which he had stripped off their bodies, in performance of the wager which he had lost, and returns home to his father.
Samson again in harvest-time goes to present his wife with a kid at her fath er's house, but finds her given away in marriage to another man; Sainson re solves to be revenged; he catches 500 foxes, and tying fire-brands to their tails, turns them all into the corn-fields of the Philistines, and into their vineyards, and olive-gardens, and sets them all on fire. The Philistines take Samson's wife and father-in-law, and burn them; Samson in revenge slays a great inulti- tude of them, and sits down upon the rock Etam, from whence being taken by 3000 of the Jews, and by them delivered into the hands of the Philistinos, be slays of them a thousand men with the jaw-bone of an ass; in which place he is miraculously refreshed, when thirsty and ready to faint.
Samson is betrayed by Delilah his concubine, bereaved of the hair of his Naz- ariteship, and delivered to the Philistines, who put out his eyes and bind him with chains of brass. The Philistines gather together to offer sacrifice to Dagen their god, and Samson is brought to make them sport; whose hair being grown, and his strength in a great measure restored, he takes hold of the two chief pil lars whereon the house stood, (wherein were the princes of the Philistines, a d a great multitude of people) and pulls down the house, killing more men at Lis death, than he did in all his life-time. So he died, having judged Israel in the
1 Sam. IV. days of the Philistines 20 years.
The rest of the kings, with whom Joshua had waged war for six years, resolve to set upon him with united forces: but Joshua comes upon them unawares, slays them, and possesseth their countries.
Joshua now roots out those giants, the Anakims, with their cities, out of the hill-countries, out of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and generally out of all the mountains of Judah and all Israel. Andhaving gotten the whole land into his hands, he divides it among the children of Israel according to their tribes; and the land rested from war.
The first sabbatical year, or year of rest; from hence the year of Jubilee, oг every fifty years' space, is to be reckoned.
The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh, (thought to be the same with Salem,) where it continued 328 years.
The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with a blessing are sent home to their possessions on the other side of Jordan.
Joshua gathers together all Israel, exhorts them to obedience, briefly recites God's benefits to them, reneweth the covenant between thent and God, and dieth 110 years old.
After the decease of Joshua, and the elders who outlived him, and who re- membered the wonders which God had wrought for Israel, there succeeds a generation of men which forget God, and mingle themselves with the Canaan- ites by marriage, and worship their idols. In this time of anarchy and confu- sion, when every man did that which seemed right in his own eyes, ali those disorders were committed, which are reported in the five last chapters of the Book of Judges; to wit, the idolatry of Micah, and the children of Dan; the war of the Benjamites, and the cause thereof. God, being highly provoked, gives them up into the hands of Cushan, king of Mesopotamia; which first ca- lamity of theirs holds them but eight years.
Othniel, the son of Kenaz, and son-in-law to Caleb, stirred up by God as a judge and avenger of his people, defeats Cushan, and delivers the Israelites out of bondage; and the land rested forty years after the first rest which Joshua procured for them.
Othniel dying, the Israelites fell again to sin against God, and are given over into the hards of Eglon king of Moab, who, joining with the Ammonites and the Amalekites, overthrows the Israelites, and takes Jericho; and this second oppression continueth 18 years.
Ehud the son of Gera is raised up by God to be an avenger of his people; for feigning a message to Eglon, he runs him into the belly with his dagger; then getting away, be gathers all Israel into a body on mount Ephraim, and slays 10,000 of the most valiant men of Moab: and the land resteth 40 years after the former rest obtained by Othniel.
After him, Shamgar, the son of Anath, slayeth 600 Philistines with an ox- goad, and he also avengeth Israel.
The Israelites, after the death of Ehud, returning to their old sin, are given up by God into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan; and this thraldom of theirs continueth 20 years.
Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth, a prophetess, who at this time judgeth Israel in mount Ephraim, and Barak of the tribe of Naphtali, being made captain of the host of Israel, in sight of Megiddo, overcomes Sisera, captain of Jabin's army, whom Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite afterward kilis in her own tent. For a memorial of which victory Deborah composeth a song; and the land resteth 40 years after the former rest obtained by Ehud.
The Israelites sinning again are delivered into the hands of the Midianites; which fourth thraldom lasteth 7 years. Hereupon they cry unto God for help, and are reproved by a prophet. Then Gideon the son of Joash, of Manasseh, is by an angel from God sent to deliver them. He first overturns the altar of Baal and burns his grove, and is called Jerubbaal. He out of 32,000 men, which came unto him, chooseth only (God so commanding) 300: but with them he puts to flight all the host of the Midianites, whom the Ephraimites afterward pursue, and slay their princes Oreb and Zeeb. Gideon having pacified the Ephraimites, who complain that they were not called to the battle at first, passeth the river Jordan, and defeats the remainder of the Midianitish army; he chastiseth also the men of Succoth and Penuel, who had refused him victuals in his journey; and slays the two kings of the Midianites, Zebah and Zalmunna. After which great victories, the Israelites offering to settle the kingdom upon him and his posterity, he refuseth it; but receiving their golden ear-rings, he makes thereof an ephod, which afterward proves an occa- sion of idolatry. The Midianites being thus vanquished, the land enjoys rest 40 years, after the former rest restored to them by Deborah and Barak.
1 Chron.
XII.
1 Samuel XXVIII.
1 Chron.
XII. 23.
2 Samuel
11. 8,
12
The Israelites take up arms against the Philistines, but with very ill success for they lose 4000 men in one battle. Then they send for the ark of the cove nant from Shiloh, and cause it to be brought into the camp. The Philistines, seeing now all lie at stake, encourage one another to behave themselves like men that day; and so falling on, they slay of the Israelites 30,000 men. The ark of God is taken, and Hophni and Phinehas, priests, and sons of Eli, are slain Of all which, when tidings are brought to old Eii, frighted thereat, he falls from his chair and breaks his neck, in the 98th year of his age.
The Philistines, having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house of Dagon their god. But when Dagon bad been found twoseveral times fallen grov- elling before it, and broken in pieces, and the inhabitants of the place sorely plagued, they remove it from thence to Gath, and from thence to Ekron. But the same plagues and judgments following wherever it went, after 7 months, liv the advice of their priests, they send home the ark again with presents and gifts into the land of the Israelites, and it is brought to Beth-shemesh, where 50,070 men are smitten for looking into the ark. From hence it is carried to the house of Abinabad in Kirjath-jearim, who sanctifieth his sou Eleazr to keep it. After 20 years tl. Israelites, by Samuel's persuasion, solemnly repent at Wiz- peh, and, upon their conversion, God by thunder from heaven delivers them from the invasion of the Philistines, who are subdued, the hand of the Lord being against them all the days of Samuel.
Samuel, being grown old, takes for his assistance in the government hus sons; by whose ill management of affairs, the Israelites require a king to be given them: whereupon God gives them a king in his wrath, to wit, Saul the son of Kish, after Samuel had judged Israel 21 years. Saul is privately anointed by Samuel, and afterward publicly proclaimed king at Mizpeh. Aben a month after Jabesh-gilead is besieged by Nahash king of the Aminonites, and the siege raised by Saul: whereupon the whole congregation of Israel, coming together at Giigal, again proclaim Saul king.
David the son of Jesse the Ephrathite, born at Beth-lebem-judah 30 years before he succeeded Saul in the kingdom. He was his father's youngest son. God rejects Saul, and sends Samuel to Beth-lehem, there to anoint David king, whom saul ever after extremely persecuteth:
Yet Jonathan, Saul's son, loveth him, and oftentimes rescueth him from Saul's cruelty.
David, having Saul twice in his power, forbears to hurt him. David, fearing he may some time or other fall into the hands of Saul, fies to Gath unto king Achish, carrying with him 600 men, and having obtained of him the town of Ziklag to dwell in, he continueth one year and four moils in the land of the Philistines; from whence he invadeth the countries of the Gesh- urites, Gezrites, and Amalekites, and puts to the sword all, both men and women. not leaving one alive to carry the news thereof to king Achish.
Achish, proposing to make war upon the Israelites, takes David along with him in that expedition, to whom, whilst he is won his march with his 600 men, repair a great many others of the tribe of Manasseh, and join with him.
Saul, seeing the army of the Philistines, is in great fear, and (Samuel being now dead) goes to En-dor to consult with a witch there; the woman raiseth an apparition of Samuel, and Saul receives from it that dreadful doom, The Lord wili deliver Israel, together with thyself, into the hands of the Philistines.
The princes of the Philistines growing jealous of David, he and his company early the next morning leave the army, and return to Ziklag.
The armies join battle, and the Israelites are defeated; the three sons of Saul are slain, and he himself falls on his own sword.
Three days after, an Amalekite brings Saul's crown, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and presents them to David, professing that, finding ho fallen upon his sword, he had killed him outright, and taken the crown fror) off his head: whereupon David causeth him to be put to death, for stretching forth his hand to slay the Lord's anointed, and lamenteth the death of Sadat Jonathan his son in a funeral song. David, having asked counsel of God, gas up to Hebron with those that are about him, where he is anointed king by the men of Judah, his own tribe, in the 30th year of his age; and there he ros seven years and six months.
Abner, who was captain of the host of Saul, carries Isbosheth, Saul's son, to Makanaim, and there makes him king over the rest of Israel.
After two years there arise frequent and mortal skirmishes between a part of men on David's side, beaded by Joab, David's nephew, and another party or
He comes to David, and is kindly received; returning, he is treacherously murdered by Joab. David much laments his untimely death, and buries him at Hebron.
Baanah and Rechab murder their lord and master Ishbosheth, as he lieth resting himself upon his bed. They bring his head to David, who in detesta- tion of their treason causeth them immediately to be put to death.
The captains and elders of all the tribes coming to Hebroa, anoint David a third time, and make him king over all Israel.
David with all Israel marcheth to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, and taketh the fort of Zion, and calls it the city of David, and making Jerusalem the seat of his kingdom, reigneth there over all Israel 33 years.
The ark of the covenant, which in the first sabbatical year was brought from Gilgal to Shiloh, is this year, being also a sabbatical year, brought from Kir- jath-jearim out of the house of Abinadab, and placed at Zion; 30,000 choice men of Israel attending it, and singing the 60th Psalm.
David now dwelling in his house of cedar, which he had built, and living in a full and perfect peace, imparteth to Nathan the prophet his purpose of building a house for God; but is answered from God, that this was a work which should be done, not by him, because he was a man of blood, and trained up in war; but
which passeth from hence till the birth of Solomon is spent in wars; wherein David subdues the Philistines, Edomites, Amalekites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Syrians, and extends his kingdom to the utmost bound of that land which had been promised to the seed of Abraham, and never possessed by any of them, save only by David and his son Solomon.
At the end of this year Joab, going with the army against the Ammonites, besiegeth Rabbah, the metropolis of Ammon, whilst David takes his ease at Je- rusalem, and there commits adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hits tite, who was then in the army, whom he also procures to be slain.
The child so gotten in adultery is born. David is convicted by Nathan the prophet of his sin, and he repents; in testimony whereof be composeth the 51st Psalm. The child dieth.
Bathsheba becomes now David's wife, and beareth him a son, unto whom, as unto one who should prove a man of peace, God gives the name of Solomon; and, as to one beloved of the Lord, the name of Jedidiah.
Amnon, David's eldest son, defloureth his sister Tamar.
Absalom avengeth his sister Tamar, and killeth his brother Amnon; for which thing he fleeth to Geshur in Syria, where he continues three years with king Talmai, his grandfather by the mother's side.
After three years exile he returns to Jerusalem, where he continues two years, before the king his father admits him into his presence, and is reconciled to him.
David, tempted by Satan, commandeth Joab to number the people: God, offended therent, sends a prophet to put three plagues to his choice, viz. the famine, sword, or pestilence. David chooseth to fall into the hands of a merci- ful God, rather than into the hands of men. So God sends a pestilence, whereof 70,000 men die in one day. The angel being about to destroy Jerusalem. God bids him hold his hand; for he beholds David repenting in sackcloth, and en- treating him to spare the innocent people, and to turn his hand upon himself, and upon his father's house.
Rehoboam is born unto Solomon by Naamah, an Ammonitish woman.
David, being now 70 years of age, and broken with continual cares and wars, grows so weak and feeble, that clothes can no longer preserve heat in hum. Therefore Abishag, a young virgin, is appointed to keep him warm. Adonijah, seeing his father thus declining, by the assistance of Joab and Abiathar, makes himself king which David understanding, he presently commands Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, with other great men, to anoint Solomon king. Adonijah hearing this, betakes himself to the sanctuary, and is pardoned.
David, having given instructions to his son Solomon, dieth; after he had reigned in Hebron seven years and six months, and 33 years in Jerusalem over all Israel.
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, gives his daughter in marriage to Solomon. The Lord appears to Solomon in a dream, and bids him ask what he will, and it shall be given hin. Solomor asketh wisdom; God gives him wisdom from above, and adds thereunto riches and honour. Of this divine wisdom Solomon makes an eminent manifestation in judging between two harlots.
1 Kings ΧΧΠ. 41. 2 Chron. ΧΧ. 31.
XVII. 7. 1 Kings XX. XXI.
ΧΧΙΙ.51. 2 Kings 111. 1. I. 17.
1 Kings XXII. 2 Chron. XVIII.
2 Kings
1. 1. III. 5.
2 Sam. VIIL. 2.
Asa in the twentieth year of Jeroboam succeeds his father Abijam, and reigna Nadab in the second year of Asa succeedeth his father Jeroboam in the king. dom of Israel, and reigneth not full two years.
Nadab at the siege of Gibbethon (a town of the Philistines) is slain by Baasha of the tribe of Issachar in the third year of Asa; and the same year having made bimself king over Israel, be utterly destroyeth the whole race of Jerobo am, and reigneth 24 years. At this time lived the prophets Jehu, Hanani, and Azarias.
Asa destroyeth idolatry, and, enjoying ten years of peace, strengthens his kingdom with forts and a standing army.
Zerah the Ethiopian with an innumerable army invadeth Judah: Asa over- comes him, sacrificeth to God of the spoil, and maketh a solemn covenant with God. He also depõseth Maachah his grandmother, a great patroness of idol- atry; bringeth into the temple those things which his father and himself had consecreted unto God, and enjoys a long peace.
Elah the son of Baasha succeeds his father in the kingdom of Israel.
In the second year of his reign, and the twenty-seventh of Asa's, Zimri, one of his captains, conspires against him, kills him, and reigueth in his stead. As soon as he sits in the throne, he destroyeth the whole family of Baasha; but the army which then lay before Gibbethon makes Omri their king, who presently besiegeth Tirzah, and taketh it; which Zimri seeing, he sets on fire the king's palace, and perisheth in the flames.
The people of Israel are now divided into two factions; one follows Tibni the son of Ginath, and endeavours to make him king; the other adheres to Omri, but Tibni dying, Omri reigns alone in the 31st year of Asa.
Omrı having reigned six years in Tirzah, removes the seat of his kingdom to Samaria, a place which he himself had built.
Ahab succeeds his father in the kingdom of Israel, and reigneth 22 years in Samaria. He did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. Jehoshaphat succeedeth his father Asa in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel, and reigneth 25 years in Jerusalem.
Jehoshaphat being settled in his kingdom, and having demolished the high places and groves, in the third wear of his reign he sends Levites with the princes to instruct the people in the law. God in the meantime subdueth his enemies under him.
Ben-hadad king of Syria layeth siege to Samaria, who by the direction of a prophet is beaten off, and a vast number of the Syrians slain.
Ahab, not being able to persuade Naboth to sell him his vineyard, falls sick upon it; Jezebel his wife, suborning false witnesses to accuse hini of blasphemy, causeth Naboth to be stoned, and puts the king in possession of the vineyard. Whereupon the prophet Elijah deuounceth judgments against Ahab and Jer- ebel; wicked Ahab repenting, God defers the judgment.
Ahab in the seventeenth year of the reign of Jehoshaphat maketh his son Ahaziah his associate in the government of his kingdom.
Jehoshapirat also maketh Jehoram his son copartner with him; whence it is, that Jehoram the son of Ahab, who succeeded his brother Ahaziab in the king. dom of Israel, in the 18th year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, is said to have begun his reign in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat.
Ahab having got Jehoshaphat to assist him in the siege of Ramoth-gilend, before he goes, he asketh counsel of 400 false prophets, who promise him vic tory and success; but by Jehoshaphat's advice Micaiah, a true prophet of God. is consulted, who foretells his overthrow; and according to his word Ahab is slain at Ranoth-gilead, and buried at Samaria.
Ahab being dead, the Moabites revolt from Israel, who had continued in sub jection ever since king David's days.
Abaziah king of Israel, lying ill of a fall, sends to consult Baal-zebub the god of Ekron concerning his recovery. Elijah the prophet meeteth the messenger 2 Kings I. and telleth him Ahaziah sņall surely die; whereupon two captains over fifty
Solomon's temple finished in the eleventh year of bis reign; having been seven years and a half in building.
Solomon this year (being the 9th Jubilee, and opening the fourth Millenary of the world) with great magnificence celebrates the dedication of the temple. at which time God giveth a visible sign of his favour.
Solomon having, as it is with reason believed, forsaken his lusts and vanities, to which he had been too intemperately addicted, and written, as a testimony of his repentance, his book called, The Preacher, dier. He reigned 40 years. The Israelites assemble at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, Solomon's son, king over all Israel. The people by Jeroboam sue unto him for a removal of some grievances; to whom Rehoboam, by the advice of young men, returning a harsh answer, alienates the hearts of ten tribes from him, who make Jeroboam king over them, and fall at the same time from the house of David, and from the true worship of God.
Jeroboam, in the beginning of his reign, repairs Shechem, destroyed by Abimelech 258 years before, and there dwells; afterward going over Jordan he builds Penuel, and at length makes Tirzah the seat of his kingdom. But fearing
men apiece are sent to apprehend bim, and bring him before the king: Elijah calleth for fire from heaven, and destroyeth both them and their companies. A third captain with his fifty men being sent, and behaving himself submissively, Elijah goes along with him; the prophet certifies the king that he shall not come down from his bed alive. So Ahaziah dieth having governed (partly by bimself, and partly together with his father) two years.
Jehoram succcedeth his brother Ahaziah in the kingdom of Israel in the latter end of the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, and reigneth twelve узаrs. Elijah is taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot.
Jehoshaphat grown old gives to his sons many gifts with fenced cities in Judea; but his eldest son Jehoram he now more absolutely investeth with the throne of the kingdom in the fifth year of Jehoram king of Israel.
Jehoram now, by the death of his father, has the kingdom of Judah to him- self, which he holds four years. He is no sooner settled in his throne, but he puts all his brethren to the sword, with many of the princes of Israel. At this time the Edomites, who ever since king David's time had lived in subjection to Judah, revolt, and (as it was foretold by Isaac) they forever shake off his yoke, Libnah also, a city of the priests in the tribe of Judah, falls off from him about this time.
Jehoram following the counsel of his wicked wife Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab king of Israel, sets up in Judah, and even in Jerusalem itself, the idolatrous worship of Baal, and compels his subjects thereto; a letter which was left for him by Elijah the prophet comes to his hands, which reproves him, and denoun- ces all those calamities and punishments which afterward befell him.
Ahaziah succeeds his father in the kingdom of Judah (having had part of the government bestowed upon him the year before) in the 12th year of Jehoram king of Israel, and reigneth one year in Jerusalem.
Jehoram king of Israel, and Abaziah king of Judah, lead their armies to Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, who had newly succeeded Ben-hadad in the kingdom of Syria; Jehoram is dangerously wounded, and retires himself to Jezreel to be cured. In the meantime Elisha sendeth a young prophet with instructions to anoint Jebu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nishi, at Ra moth-gilead, king over Israel, and to open to hím the will of God for the rooting out of the house of Abab; who, being proclaimed king by the soldiers, marcheth straight to Jezreel, killeth Jehoram in the field of Naboth, and causeth Jezebel tobe castout at a window, where she is eaten by dogs. He despatcheth letters also to Samaria, and causeth seventy of Ahab's children to be beheaded. Then taking with him Jehonadal the son of Rechab, he comes himself to Samaria, and de stroys the whole family of Ahab, and all the priests of Baal. Nevertheless, hav- ing put down the worship of Baal, he departs not from the worship of Jero- boam's golden calves, but maintains that idolatry all the time of his reign, which
Jehu proceeds farther, and executes the divine vengeance upon the idola- trous house of Judah, he pursues Ahaziah, who fled towards Megiddo, and over- taking him at Gur, canseth him to be killed in his chariot. Going also to Sama- ria, he mecteth with 42 of Ahaziali's kinsınen, whom he causeth to be slain. Athaliah the daughter of Ahab, seeing her son Ahaziah dead, usurps the king- dom, destroying those that had right to the succession, but Jehoshebe the uangh ter of king Jehoram, and wife to Jehoiada the high priest, takes Jehoash, being then an infant, and sou to her brother Ahaziah, and hides him in the temple, and so saves him from that massacre which was made of the rest of the blood
Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, is taken into the consortship of that kingdom by his father in the 27th year of Jehoash king of Judah, and reigneth 16 years.
Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the high priest, for reproving the people et Judah that fall to idolatry after the decease of Jehoiada, is stoned to death in the court of the house of the Lord by the commandment of king Jehoash, who the next year after is murdered by some of his servants, as he lay in his bed; and Amaziah his son succeedeth him.
Jehoahaz dieth, and Jehoash his son succeedeth in the kingdom of Israel. Not long after his father's funeral he visits Elisha the prophet, then lying sick, and with many tears asketh counsel of him, who promiseth him victory over the Syrians. A dead man is brought to life by being laid in Elisha's grave.
Jeroboam the second is this year taken into the consortship of the kingdom of Israel by his father Jehoash, going to war against the Syrians. This is gath- ered from Azariah king of Judah's beginning his reign in the 27th year of this Jeroboam.
Amaziah king of Judab, growing proud upon a victory obtained against the Edomites th's 14th year of his reign, provoketh Jehoash king of Israel to battle. Jehoash overcomes him, and takes him prisoner, breaks down 400 cubits of the wall of Jerusalem, and having spoiled the temple and the king's house of a vast treasure, returns to Samaria.
Jehoash dies fifteen years before Amazialı, and Jeroboam the second, his sou, reignetli in Samaria 41 years.
Amaziah, finding a conspiracy against him at Jerusalem, flies to Lachish, where he is murdered; after whom comes his son Uzziah, or Azariah, in the 27th year of Jeroboam the second, and reigneth 52 years in Jerusalem.
Now is held the 13th Jubilee under the two most flourishing kings; in whose times live sundry great prophets in both kingdoms; Isaiah and Joel in Judah; Jonas, Hosea, and Amos, in Israel.
Jonas of Gath hepher, a town belonging to the tribe of Zebulon in Galilee of the Gentiles, (observe here the biindness of the Pharisees, John vii. 52.) wasaf- terward sent into Nineveh, the metropolis of Assyria, where both king and peo- pie at his preaching repented.
Jeroboam king of Israel (under whom that kingdom came to its full height of glory) dieth; after his death all things fall into confusion, and the state is reduced to a plain anarchy, which lasteth 11 years and a half; for such an in- terregnum or vacancy the synchronism of Kings requires, that the six months of Zachariah the son of Jeroboam may answer the 38 years and one month of Shallum, who murdered him in the 39th year of Azariah, or Uzziah, king of Judah. Zachariah the son of Jeroboam, the 4th and last of the race of Jehu (as was foretoid) begins his reign over Israel in the Sath year of Azariah, or Üzziah, king of Judah, and reigneth 6 months.
Shallum the son of Jabesh, at the end of 6 months, murders him in the sight of the people, and reigns one month in the 59th year of Uzziah king of Judah. After Zachariah's death follow those direful calamities foretold by Amos the prophet.
While Menahem in these broils iabours to get the possession of the kingdom, Pul king of Assyria invadeth his country, to whom Menahem giveth 1000 tal- ents of silver, and afterward reigueth quietly 10 years.
Pekahiah succeedeth his father Menahem in the 50th year of Uzziah king of Judah, and reigneth 2 years,
Pekah, one of his captains, kills him in his own palace at Samaria, and reign- eth 20 years.
Jotham succeedeth his father Uzziah in the kingdom of Judah at the age of 25 years, and reigneth 16 years in Jerusalem.
Jotham subdues the Ammonites, and makes them tributary for 3 years. Un- der him and his two successors the prophets Micah and Hosea execute their prophetical office. About this time lived the prophet Nahum, and prophesied the destruction of Nineveh.
Ahaz succeedeth his father Jotham. in the 17th year of Pekah king of Israel, and reigneth 16 years.
This year Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel are confederate against Judah, which strikes a great terror into that netion; but unto Abaz, God, by the prophet Isaiah, sends a gracious message, with a promise of deliver- ance; for a sign whereof (when the incredulous king, being bid to ask a sign, refused to do it) God gives him the promise of Immanuel to be born of a virgin. Rezin and Pekah now lav siege to Jerusalem, and therein to Ahaz, but are beat- en off; Ahaz is no sooner delivered from his enemies, but he forsakes God his deliverer, and falls to idolatry. Wherefore God gives him over into the hands of the king of Israel, who slays of the men of Judah 120,000 in one day, with a great inany of the nobility, and carrieth away 200,000 captives; but these, by the advice of the prophet Oded, are released and sent home.
Hoshea the son of Elah murders Pekah king of Israel, and gets the kingdom into his own hands; it is said, in the 20th year of Jotham, that is, from the time that Jotham first began to reign, which is the same with the 4th of Abaz bis Hoshea, by reason of the tumuits and disorders which ensued, cannot be said to have reigned till 9 years after, the state continuing all that time in great confusion, without auy form of governinent.
Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, comes up against Hoshea, and makes him to serve him, and pay him tribute.
Hezekiah succeedeth his father Ahaz in the kingdom of Judah: he destroyeth idolatry and prospers: he also celebrates a solemn passover, and reigneth 29 years in Jerusalem; his father had made him in the last year of his reign, his assistant in the government.
Hoshea king of Israel, having consulted with So king of Egypt, refuseth to pay tribute to Shalmaneser; provoked hereby, and jealous of some farther design in that confederacy of Hoshea with the king of Egypt, Shalmaneser layeth siege to Samaria, and toward the latter end of the third year taketh it, and carrieth away the Israelites captive into his own country. This was the end of the king- dom of Israel, when it had stood divided from the kingdom of Judah 254 years. Sennacherib king of Assyria, coming up against Judah, besiegeth their fen- ced cities, and taketh many of them, but is pacified by a tribute.
About this time Hezekiah falls sick, and is told by Isaiah that he shall die; Isaiah but pouring out his tears and prayers unto God, he recovereth his health, and XXXVIII obtaineth a prolongation of his life and kingdom for 15 years. For a sign a here- of the sun goes ten degrees backward.
2 Kings
XIX.
Isaialı
XXXVII.
Sennacherib, not observing the articles of peace, layeth siege to Jerusalem, and sendeth a blasphemous letter to Hezekiab; which he opening, and spreading before the Lord in the temple with many tears, craves assistance from God against the Assyrians. Whereupon the prophet Isaiah assures him that God will deliver hin, and defend that city. The self-same night an angel of the Lord slays 185,000 men in the Assyrian army; and the next morning Sennacherib de- parteth, and returns to Nineveh; where not long after, whilst he is worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, he
2 Chron.
XXXIV.
2 Kings
XXIII. 29.
Zechar.
XII. 11.
2 Chron.
XXXV.
25. Lam.
IV. 20. 2 Kings XSUL
This year he giveth order for the repair of the temple. Hilkian the high priest, having found a book of the law, sends it to the king, who hears it read all over to him; and thereupon asketh counsel of Huleah the prophetess, who prophesieth the destruction of Jerusalem, but notin his days. Josiah calling to him the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, with the priests and prophets, causeth the book of the law to be read over before all the people, and reneweth the cov- enant between God and the altar at Beth-el, as was foretold; and keepeth a most solemn passover. At this time a war breaks out between the king of Egypt and the king of As- syria. Josiah unadvisedly engageth in this war against Necho king of Egypt, and is slain in the valley of Megiddo. The good king being thus taken out of the world, whose life only kept off the Babylonish captivity from that nation, not only the people then living bewailed his death, but even in after time a pub- lie mourning for him was kept. The propbet Jereiny also in remembrance thereof composeth his Lamentations; wherein bewailing the calamities which were shortly to befall that people, as present before his eyes, in a most compas- sionate manner he points, as it were with his finger, at the death of Josiah as the source and original of all those ensuing miseries.
After the death of Josiah, the people anoint Shallum, one of his younger sons, to be their king. After three months reign he is deposed by Pharaoh Necho, who makes Eliakim, his elder brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem, and XXXVL changes his name into Jehoiakim; but Jeboahaz be carries along with him
Dan. I. 2.
2 Chron.
XXXVI.
2 Kings
XXIV. 2.
Jerem.
XXII. 18.
XXXVI.
2 Kings XXIV. 8. 2 Chron.
captive into Egypt, where he ends his days.
Jehoiakim, at 25 years of age, begins to reign, and he reigneth 11 years. Uriah and Jeremiah prophesy against Jerusalem; the former is put to death, the latter is acquitted, and set at liberty. About this time Habakkuk also prophesieth.
This year is Nebuchadnezzar the great made by his father Nebopolazzar his associate in the kingdom of Assyria and Babylon; into whose hands God de- livers up Jehoiakim, who is put in chains to be carried to Babylon; but upon bis submission and promises of obedience is left in his own house, where he lives a servant to Nebuchadnezzar 3 years. Front which entering of the king and people of the Jews into the subjection and service of Nebuchadnezzar are the 70 years of the captivity of Babylon to be reckoned, which were foretold Ly the prophet Jeremy.
Nebuchadnezzar gives order to Ashpenaz, master of the eunuchs, that he shall carry from thence of the children of Israel, both of the blood royal (as was foretold by the prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah) and also of the nobility the choicest youths both for beauty and wit that he can find; who, being educated 3 years in the language and sciences of the Chaldeans, may afterward he fit to serve the king in his palace; among whom, of the tribe of Judah, are Damel, called Belteshazzar; Hananiah, called Shadrach; Mishael, called Meshach; and Az- ariah, called Abed-nego; their names being thus changed by the master of the eunuchs.
Whilst Nebuchadnezzar pursues his victories over the king of Egypt, his father dies; which coming to his knowledge, he gives order for the bringing away of the captives, and posts with a small company the nearest way to Laby- lon, where he is received as the lawful successor to his father's dominions. He causeth to be brought to Babylon what he thinks fit of the vessels and furniture of the temple, and placeth them in the house of his god, viz. Belus.
Jehoiakim, having lived 5 years in subjection to the king of Babylon, falls off. and rebels against him.
This year (being the second of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, taking it as it began at his father's death,) Daniel recovers Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and interprets it to betoken the four chief monarchies; whereupon he and his companions are highly advanced.
Nebuchadnezzar sends an army, consisting of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, against Jehoiakim; these waste the whole country of Judea, and carry away from thence 3023 captives: Jehoiakim also is taken prisoner; whom they put to death, cause his carcass to be drawn out at the gate of Jer.. salem (as was foretold by the prophet Jeremiah) and leave it without the walls unburied.
Jehoiachin (called also Conias and Jeconias) at 18 years of age succeeds his father Jehoiakim, and reigns 3 months in Jerusalem.
Against him Nebuchadnezzar leads an army, and besiegeth Jerusalem; Jebor
XXXVI. Jiachin with all his kindred and courtiers come out to meet him. Nebuchadnez. 9.
zar makes them all prisoners, enters Jerusalem, and takes all the treasure he cat Isaiah find in the temple and the king's palace, breaking in pieces all the vessels of XXXIX. gold and furniture which Solomon had made for the temple; he carrieth away
6. Jerem.
XXIV. 1. Ezekiel
XVII. 12.
1. 2, 3. Baruch
2 Kings
XXIV. 17,
2 Chron.
XXXVI.
2 Kings XXV. Jer. I. 3.
XXXIX.
2 Kings
XXV. 21. Jerem.
XLIX. 7.
Ezekiel XXV. 12.
Manasseh at 12 years of age succeedeth his tather Hezekiah, and reigneth 55 years. He setteth up idolatry, and sheddeth much innocent blood. Wherefore loman God delivers him up into the hands of the Assyrians, who in the 22d year of his
captive to Babylon the king, his mother, wives, courtiers, magistrates, and 10,000 able men out of Jerusalem, leaving none behind bat the poorer sort of people; and out of the country round about he carried also away 8000 artificers; among the captives are Mordecai, and F.zekiel the priest; Ezekiel therefore in his prophecy reckons the time all along from the beginning of this captivity An epistle, said to be Jeremiah's, is now sent to the captives, admonishing thein to beware of the idolatry which they shall see in Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar before his departure from Jerusalem makes Mattaniah, Jebo iachin's father's brother, king, changing his name into Zedekiah.
Zedekiah, beginning his reign at 21 years of age, reigneth 11 years; be, by re belling against Nebuchadnezzar, or rather by continuing in an open rebellion (as his fathers had done) against God, brought upon Jerusalem and the whole nation of the Jews those long-deserved calamities which Gou lind so often fors warned them of by his prophets; for, in the latter end of the 11th year of 7 ede kiah, Jerusalem, after a long siege, is taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and his Chal- deans enter it. Zedekiah flees away by night, but, being pursued, is taken, and brought prisoner to Riblah, Nebuchadnezzar's head quarters; there having first seen his children slaughtered before his eyes, he has afterward those eyes put out, and being loaden with chains, is carried away captive to Babylon. Abouta month after the taking of the city, Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, sent by Nebuchadnezzar, makes his entry into it, sets are to the temple, the king's palace, and some noblemen's houses, and so layeth the whole city in ashes; the walls of Jerusalem being razed to the ground, all that were left in the city, and those that a little before had fallen to the Chaldeans, with what treasure he can find, doth Nebuzar-adan carry with him into Babylon.
And thus was Judah carried out of her own land 466 years after David began to reign over it, 388 years after the falling off of the ten tribes, and 134 years after the destruction of the kingdom of Israel.
Obadiah the pre bet denounceth God's judgments against the Edomites, who now insult over the calamity of the Jews. The same do Jeremy and Eze- kiel, and the author of the 79th and 157th Psalnis, who wrote all about the same time.
The sixth Age of the World.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR, proud of his victories over Egypt, and his conque
of Judea and other countries, and boasting the magnificence of his build- ings, falls distracted, and is driven from the society of men.
After seven years spent among the beasts of the field, his understanding re- turning to him, he humbly acknowledgeth the power of God, and his goodvess toward him: and is restored to his kingdom. A few days after he dies, baving reigned about 20 months together with his father, and 45 years by hiniseif.
In the third year of Belshazzar, Daniel receives the vision of the ram and he- goat, betokening the destruction of the Persian monarchy, and the great misery which Antiochus should bring upon the people of God.
This year Belshazzar makes a great feast for all his nobles, and causeth to be brought forth all the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar XXVII. 7. bis grandfather had brought away from Jerusalem, to the glory of his idols, and dishonour of the true God. In the midst of all this jollity a hand appears writing on the wall of the room in which the king and his numerous guests sit drinking. The king, greatly terrified hereat, sends for his Chaldean astrologers and wizards, and commands them to read the writing. and give him the inter- pretation of it; but they not being able to do either, Daniel is sent for, who reads the writing, and gives the king the interpretation of it: whereupon Dan- iel is publicly proclaimed the third man in the kingdom. The same night Bel- shazzar is slain, Babyion taken by Cyrus, and the empire translated to the Medes and Persians, as had been sundry times foretold by the prophets.
Is. XIII. Hab. II. Jerem.
XXV. 12.
L. LL.
Dan. V. 31. VI. 6.
IX.
Jerem.
XXIX. 10. Dan. IX.
Cyrus having given the kingdom of Babylon to Darius the Mede, reserving some palaces in the city for himself, he returns through Media into Persia. Daniel's greatness raising envy in some principal courtiers and officers, these contrive bis rain: but finding nothing in his managemer.t of affairs whereof to accuse him, they resolve to order matters so, that Danil's piety toward God shall become an offence worthy of death. They move the king to make a de- cree, that for 30 days no petition shall be made to any god or man but to him- self only. Which decree Daniel breaks by making supplication to his God, and is for doing so cast into a den of lions: but being found to have received no hurt there, Darius commands the conspirators to be cast into the same den, who are presently devoured; and the king publisheth a decree, that all persons throughout his donținions shall reverence and fear the God of Daniel.
Towards the end of the first vear of the reign of Darius the Mede, to be reck- oned from the subversion of the Babylonish empire, begins the 70th year of the captivity of the Jews, which, by Jeremiali's prophecy, was to be the last year of their calamity. Upon consideration of which time so near at hand, Daniel pours out most fervent prayers to God for the remission of his own sins, and those of his people; and nd for that promised deliverance ou out of their captivity. To whom the angel Gabriel brings an answer not only of this, but also of the spiritual deliverance of the church by the death of the Messiah; uttering that memorable prophecy of the seventy weeks.
Cyrus, his father Cambyses, and his father-in-law Cyaxares both dying, Persia falls to him by inheritance, and Media by contract of marriage: and so he is bossessed of the whole castern empire; frong which time both Xenophon (Inst. lib. &.) reckons the 7 years of his reign, and the Holy Scripture out of the rec- Ezr. 1. 2. ords of the Medes and Persians, reckons this his first year; for it teacbeth us,
that in this year came forth that renowned edict of his, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah, &c. At which time the 70 years of the Labylonish captivity being expired, (as was foretold by Isaiah and Jeremiah, the former making inention of Cyrus by name) he gives leave to all the Jews, dwelling in all parts of his dominions, to return nto their own country, and commands them immediately to fall in hand with rebuilding of the temple.
He restoreth also all the vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from thence; and contributes toward the building.
Before Neh. V.14. Nehemiah having governed Judea 12 years, returns to the king of Persia. Christ 442 415.
This year is the 21st Jubilee, the last that ever the prophets of the Old Testa ment saw: for that place in Nehemiah, chap. xii. 22, is not to be understood of the last Darius, but of Darius Nothus, who now reigns in Persia; the full histo- ty of Nehemiah ending with the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus father of this Darius Nothus.
Hitherto (saith Eusebius in his Chronicle, to the 32d year of Artaxerxes) the Divine Scriptures of the Hebrews contain the annals of the times. But those things which were done among them afterward we must deliver out of the books of the Maccabees, and out of the writings of Josephus, who have deliv- ered a general history of the Jewish affairs from thence down to the times of the Romans.
That Malachi, the last of the prophets, was conteraporary with Nehemiah, appears from hence, that he nowhere exhorts the people to the building of the temple, as Haggai and Zachary did; but, the temple heing now built, he reproves those disorders, which Nehemiah at his second return with a new commission from Babylon saith he found in bis absence to have crept in among the Jews; as marriage with strange women, withholding of tithes, and abuses in the wor- ship of God. And because a succession of prophets was not to be expected, as before, he exhorteth the people constantly to adhere to the law of Moses, till Christ the chief Prophet should appear; whose forerunner John the Baptist should come in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers unto their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. See 1 Mac. iv. 46, and ix. 17.
LEXANDER the Great, king of Macedonia, passeth out of Europe into Asia, and begins to lay waste the Persian Empire. Manasses, brother to Jaddus the high priest, refusing to put away his strange wife, is driven from the sacrifice: Sanaballath his father-in-law, governor of Samaria, revolteth from Darius, obtains leave of Alexanderto build a temple on mount Gerizim, ard makes Manasses high priest thereof; to which resort all such as are entan- gled in unlawful marriage, with all such offenders as think themselves not safe at Jerusalem. This was the rise of that schismatical conventicle of the Sama ritans. See John iv. 20.-
The Jews therefore return into their own country; the poorer sort having pire allowance made them to defray their charges upon the way. The number of the children of the province, or Hebrews born in Chalder, which with their captain Zerubbabel, and their high priest Jeshua, return out of captivity, is 42,360, besides proselytes, men-servants, and maid-servants, to the number of 7,387. Now the particular sums of Ezra's catalogue being cast up amount only to 29,018; and those in Nehemiah's account make but 31,051, both which come far short of that universal sum of 42,360, which at the bottom of each catalogue is said to be the number of the whole congregation. Wherefore the He- brews in the xxixth chapter of their great chronicle tell us, that to complete the full sum 42,360, we must cast in those of the other ten tribes of Israel, who came up out of the captivity with the Jews. For even till the last extirpation of the Jew- ish state there remained some relics of the other ten tribes, not only in the dis- persion, and at Jerusalem, and other cities of Judah; but also of those who kept L.still in their own seats; for Shalmaneser swept not away all out of the whole ten tribes, but left a remnant of them in their own country, who were afterward, together with the Jews, Benjanites, and Levites, carried away by Nebuchad- nezzar into Babylon, and are now dismissed and sent back again by Cyrus.
In the second year after their return from Babylon, in the second month, they appoint Levites to oversee the work of the house of God, and lay the foundation of the temple; the old men lamenting, who 53 years before had seen the old tem- ple standing, and the younger sort rejoicing to see the new one going up.
The Samaritans by the means of certain courtiers about Cyrus, whom they had bribed for that purpose, disturb the Jews in their work of the temple. In the beginning of the reign of Artaxerxes (called in profane story Camby- ses) the Samaritans, who, whilst Cyrus lived, had secretly undermined the Jews, now openly frame a direct accusation in writing against the inhabitants of Ju- dalı and Jerusalem, and present it to the king, who presently forbids the Jews to proceed in the building.
In the second year of king Darius Hystaspes (the same with Ahasuerus) Ze- rubbabel and Jeshua, incited by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, set for- ward the building of the temple.
Haggai prophesieth that the glory of this second temple shall be greater than that of the former; not as being a more magnificent structure, but in regard the blessed Messiah shall one day honour it with his presence, and from thence propagate peace to all nations.
About this time Zechariah the prophet exhortesh the Jews to repentance. Ahasuerus puts away queen Vashti his wife, and not long after espouseth Es- ther, the niece of Mordecai the Jew.
In the sixth year of Barius, or Alhasuerus, the termple is finished; the dedica- tion whereof is celebrated with great joy and abundance of sacrifices, the Priests and Levites, every one in his place, attending on the ministry of the temple. The passover also is celebrated.
Haman an Agagite, of the race of the Amalekites, a great favourite of king Ahasuerus, offended at Mordecai, because he falls not down and adores him, as others do, resolves to be revenged of the whole nation of the Jews, (which was ever averse to his) and to root it out; for the executing of which purpose, that he may find a successful time, he causeth Pur, that is, the lot, to be cast before him, for to know the day and month wherein the Jews shall be destroyed, and the lot falls on the 12th month Adar.
Haman obtains an edict from the king, that all Jews, without respect to sex or age, upon the thirteenth day of the month Adar, be put to death in all the provinces of the king's dominions. Hereupon Mordecai, Esther, and all the Jews, humble themselves before the Lord by fasting and prayer.
Ahasuerus nearing it read in the chronicles, that a conspiracy had been discov- ered to him by Mordecai, comminandeth that he be publicly honoured, and that by Haman himself, his deadly enemy.
Esther, entertaining the king and Haman at the banquet, maketh suit for her own life, and her peopie's, and accuseth Haman. The king, understanding that Haman had provided a gallows for Mordecai, causeth him to be hanged thereon. In memory of this great deliverance the two days of Purim are made festival. Ezra the priest, a man skilled in the law of Moses, obtains a large commission from king Artaxerxes, to settle the Jewish commonwealth, and to reform the church at Jerusalem.
In the seventh year of Artaxerxes, Ezra, with a great multitude of Jews, sets out from Babylon. Ezra obligeth those who had takeu strangers to wife to send them back. In the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah a Jew, one of his cup- bearers, being made governor of Judea, obtains leave to build the walls of Je- filled before the passion of our Saviour
Dan. IX. rusalem, and finish that great work. Here begin Daniel's 70 wecks to bé ful-
Ptolemeus Philadelphus, son of Ptolemeus Soter, being a great favourer of learning, builds a most magnificent library at Alexandria. Demetrius Phale rius, to whom he had committed the care of procuring all sorts of books, and out of all countries, persuades him to employ 72 Jews in translating the Holy Scriptures out of the original Hebrew into the Greek tongue, which was done in the seventh year of his reign. The king also dismisseth many captive Jewa and dedicates many presents to the tearple of God at Jerusalem.
177. 2 Mac. III.) One Simon, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, governor of the temple, falling out with Onias, the high priest, goes to Apollonius the governor of Celosyria, and informs him that there is a vast treasure in the temple: Apollonius acquaints king Seleucus his master with it, who presently sends his treasurer Heliodorns to Jerusalem, to bring this money away. Heliodorus entering the temple, is by angels struck down in the very place, and carried from thence half dead; bus by the prayers of Onias he is soon after restored to his health. Returning to Seleucus that sent him, he magnifies the holiness of the temple, and the power of God dwelling in it.
Jos. Ant. I. 12. c. 11. 164. 1 Mac. VI. 2 Mac.
possession of the kingdom Nemeus Philometor king of
gh priest at his nuptials.
Ar, enters into Cilicia with an
of Syria to Apollonius, who
I. 13. c. 5. of Syria, espousethee daughter Egypt. Alexanderars Jonathan
Χ. 21.
Id. ibid.
1 Mac.
X. 49, 50.
Joseph.
ubi supra.
1 Mac.
Χ. 51.
Jos. c. 7.
1 Mac.
Χ. 75.
Jos. Ant.
I. 13. c. 8.
1 Mac. XI.
Jos. loc.
citat.
1 Mac.
XIII.
Jos. Ant. lib. 13.
c. 10. 11.
1 Mac.
XIII.
31, 32. Jos. Ant.
I. 13. c. 12.
1 Mac. XIV. 18. Jos. Ant.
1 Mac. XVI. Jos. Ant.
L. 13. c. 14.
Demetrius Nican of Demetriu army. King Alexsives the son sets upon Jonathanst; Jonathan defeats him, and takes Joppe and Azotus, and burns Dagon.
Ptolemeus Philof Egypt, comes to the relief of king Alexander his son-in-law; Alcatefully sets Ammonius to lie in anibush to kill him. The treache covered, Ptolemeus takes away his daughter from Alexander, aper to Demetrius. Alexander having been driven from Antioch, the if that place make offer of the kingdom to Ptole- meus; but he refusersuadeth them to accept of Demetrius for their king.
Alexander retureat army. Ptolemeus and Demetrius unite their forces, and overcopitched battle; but Ptolemeus dies of the wounds which he receivead seen the head of Alexander sent to him by Zabdiel an Arabia onathan besiegeth the citadel at Jerusalem, held by a garrison of Complaint hereof being made to Demetrius, Jonathan appeaseresents, and obtaineth new favours for the Jews. Demetrius incurred of bis soldiers by abridging their pay in time of peace.
Tryphon, with ars that revolted from Demetrius, undertakes to establish Antiochu Alexander Balas, in the kingdom of Syria.
Demetrius is va young Antiochus, and made to fly into Seleucia. Great honours arous conferred on Jonathan, who assists him against Demetrius.
Jonathan renewce with the Romans and Lacedemonians, and for- Ufies Jerusalem.
Tryphon contri may quit himself of Antiochus, and reign in his stead: but fearing opposition, he invites him to come to Ptolemais, and bring with hy of his soldiers, promising to deliver that city into his hands. Jonatting no treachery, comes only with 1000 men to Tryphon at Ptoless soon as he is entered the city Tryphon com- mands the gates tJonathan is taken prisoner, and all his men put to the sword.
The Jews hererchoice of Simon Maccabeus for their general in the place of his bithan. Tryphon leads an army against Simon. He promiseth for 100silver to release Jonathan; the money being paid him, he broaks hand puts Jonathan to death. Simon erects a state- ly monument for ind his brethren.
Tryphon murdersing Antiochus, and puts the crown on his own head. The Romans amnians renew their leagues with Simon, and write them in tables of t
Simon has the and high priesthood settled on him and his heirs: the Jews are by hscharged from all manner of tribute to any foreign prince. He takesrtress of Jerusalem, drives out of the city all idola- ters, clears the hor idols, and placeth in the city such as are true worshippers of Ge
Tryphon's vices, so odious to his soldiers, that they submit them- selves to Cleopatras's relict. She marrieth Antiochus Soter, Deme- trius's brother, anan to be crowned king. Antiochus drives Tryphon out of Syria, besie Dora, whence he flies to Apamea, where he is ta- ken and slain.
Simon the high rsing the cities of Judea, and taking care for their orderly governmenwn with his two sons, Mattathias and Judas, to Jericho; Ptolemeof Abubus, Simon's son-in-law, invites them to a castle which he ha called Dochus, and there, whilst he entertains them at a banquet, y murders them. John Hircanus succeeds his fa- ther in the high pr
Here ends the firsaccabees, containing the history of forty years. John Hircanus tam, and demolisheth the temple on mount Gerizim 200 years after it hit by Sanaballat.
Judas, eldest sorus, otherwise called Aristobulus, and surnamed Philelien, succeedsin the government and the high priesthood: he was the first of ant the return from the captivity of Babylon, set a crown upon his henged the state into a monarchy.
Anna the prophater of Puanuel, of the tribe of Asher, this year becoming a widowat from the temple, but serveth God with fasting Luke II. and prayer night a 84 years together, until such time as she sees
ESUS cometh to Jerusalem at
temple, scourgeth out those that bought and sold there.
the time of the passover, and entering, a sign of his authority: Christ bids them destroy that temple, (understangit The Jews temple of his body) and in three days he will raise it ap.
Herod the tetrarch casteth John the Baptist into prison for reprehending
incest with his brother Philip's wife, and other evils done by him.
Christ discovers himself to the woman of Samaria.
He goes throughout all Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, and working
Matthew called to be a disciple.
The second passover of Christ's ministry, John v. 1. compared with iv. 3. 4. frow which the second year of the seventieth week of Daniel begins. ESUS comes up to Jerusalem at the time of the feast, and heals on the sab- bath-day a mau that had an infirmity 38 years, lying at the pool of Bethesda. He makes a most divine apology to the Jews that sought to kill han, because le said that God was his Father.
Christ out of the multitude of his disciples chooseth 12, whom he alleth
Mat. X. 1. Apostles: namely, Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew. Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon called Zelotes, Judas the bro her of James, and Judas Iscariot. To these our Saviour chiefly directs his di course in that glorious, full, and admirable sermon on the mount.
Jesus sends his 12 apostles by two and two to preach, and heal the sick..
John the Baptist is beheaded in prison by Herod's command.
Jesus feeds 5000 men, besides women and children, with five barley loaves
and two little fishes. He refuses to be made a king.
The third passover of Christ's ministry, John iv. 4. from which the third year of the
seventieth week of Daniel begins.
ESUS is transfigured on the mount;
Moses and Elias are seen to talk
him; and a voice from heaven is
beloved Son; bear him.
Christ payeth tribute to Cesar.
heard a second time, saying, Thi is my
A certain village of the Samaritans refuseth our Saviour entertainme it in his way to Jerusalem: the disciples, desiring to call for fire from heaven to con- sume them, are severely reprehended.
The seventy disciples are sent out by two and two to work miracle, and to
Christ teacheth bis disciples to pray.
Christ raiseth Lazarus, that had been buried four days.
Caiaphas, high priest of the Jews, prophesieth concerning the death of Christ.
Zaccheus a publican converted.
Christ restoreth to blind Bartimeus his sight.
Mary the sister of Lazarus anoints our Saviour's feet with costly spikenard,
and wipeth them with the hair of her head.
Christ rideth in triumph into Jerusalem; the multitude spread their garments in the way, and cry, Hosanna to the Sor of David. Coming near the city he weeps over it, and foretells its destruction. He enters the temple, and castein out those that bought and suld there; and heals the blind and iame.
Ile curseth the fruitless fig-tree, and the next morning it is found dried pa
withered. Thence he takes occasion to shew the power of faith.
The fourth passover, in which Christ our passover wns suærefiered, 1
he slain, April 2.) ir the evenin
John XIIL ples, and institutes the sacrare
« FöregåendeFortsätt » |