The strage.

Daniel
VIII. 1.

V.

537.

586.

The

Per-

sian

Em-
pire

535.

Jerem.

Dan. V.

Js. XIII.
Hab. II.
Jerem.

XXV. 12.
L. LL.

Dan. V. 31.

VI. 6.

IX.
Jerem.
XXIX. 10.
Dan. IX.

Ezr. I. 2.

Isaiah
XLIV. 28.
XLIV.
1, 13.

Ezra I.

5, 6.

II.
Nehem.
VIL

Cyrus having giver 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 ruin: but finding nothing in his management of affairs whereof to
accuse him, they resolve to order matters so, that Daniel'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 dominions shall reverence and fear the God of Daniel.

Towards the end of the first year 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 Jeremiah'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 for that promised deliverance 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
possessed of the whole eastern empire; from which time both Xenophon (Inst.
lib. &.) reckons the 7 years of his reign, and the Holy Scripture out of the rec-
ords of the Medes and Persians, reckons this his first year; for it teacbeth ns,
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 kingdous 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)
Le 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.

The Jews therefore return into their own country; the poorer sort having
allowance made them to defray their charges upon the way. The number of
the children of the province, or Hebrews born in Chaldea, which with their
captain Zerubbabel, and their high priest Jeshua, return out of captivity, is
42,350, 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 29,18; 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
Acts up out of the captivity with the Jews. For even till the last extirpation of the Jew-
XXVI. 7. ish state there remained some relics of the other ten tribes, not only in the dis-
Lam. I. 1.persion, and at Jerusalem, and other cities of Judah; but also of those who kept
Luke II. still in their own seats; for Shalmaneser swept not away all out of the whole ten
36. tribes, but left a remnant of them in their own country, who were afterward,
together with the Jews, Benjamites, 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-
sex) the Samaritans, who, whilst Cyrus lived, had secretly undermined the Jews,
now openly tame a direct accusation in writing against the inhabitants of Ju-
dali and Jerusalem, and present it to the king, who presently forbids the Jews
to proceed in the building.

534
629.

In the second year of king Darius Hysaspes (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 nagnificent structure, but in regard the
blessed Messiah shall one day honour it with his presence, and from thence
propagate peace to dl nations.

About this time Zechariah the prophet exhorteth 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 Darius, or Ahasuerus, the temple 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, comunandeth 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 people'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 men skilled in the law of Moses, obtains a large commission
from king Artaxerxes, to settle the Jewish commonwealth, and to reform the
church at Jerusale

In the seventh year of Artaxerxes, Ezra, with a great multitude of Jews, sets
out from Babylon.

Ezra obligeth those who had taken 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-
rusalem, and finish that great work. Here begin Daniel's 70 weeks to be ful-
filled before the passion of our Saviour

Nehemiah having governed Judea 12 years, returns to the king of Persia.
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
ry 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 his 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
Luke I. 17. before, he exhorteth the people constantly to adhere to the law of Moses, till
Matth. 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.

XI. 14.
XVII. 12.

I. 11. c. 8.
Id. ibid.

Jos. Ant. ALEXANDER 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 Alexander to 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. -

Jos. Ant.

Alexander marcheth toward Jerusalem, intending to besiege it. Jaddus the
I. 11. c. 8. high priest, hearing of it, putteth on his priestly ornamems, and accompanied
with the people all in white, goeth out to meet him. Alexander, seeing his
habit, falls prostrate before him, saying that, whilst he was in Macedonia, a
man appeared unto him in the very same habit, who invited him to come into
Asia, and promised to deliver the Persian Empire into his hands. After this
he goes to the temple, and offers sacrifice according to the high priest's dire
tion. They shew him the prophecy of Daniel, That a Grecian should come
and destroy the Persians; whereby he is mightily confirmed in his persuasion
that he himself is the man. Lastly, he bestoweth on the Jews whatever favours
they desire, and departeth.

Daniel
VIII. 7.
XI.13.

Jos. Ant.
I. 12. c. 1.

1 Mac. I.

Jos. Aut.
I. 12. c. 1.

I. 12. c. 2.

2 Mac. III.

The Persians are overcome, Darius slain, and Alexander remains universal
monarch of the eastern world.

Alexander, having reigned six years and ten months dieth; his army and do
minions are divided among his captains. Antigonus makes himself governor of
Asia; Seleucus of Babylon and the bordering nations; Lysimachus hath the Hel
lespont; Cassander, Macedon; and Ptolemeus, the son of Lagus, gets Egypt.
Ptolemeus, surnamed Soter, makes himself master of Jerusalem by a strata-
gem; for he enters the city on a sabbath-day under pretence of offering sacri-
fice; and whilst the Jews suspect nothing, but spend the day in ease and iale-
ness, he surpriseth the city without resistance, and maketh the citizens captives
He sendeth several colonies of Jews into Egypt, and puts great confidence in
them.

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 Jews
and dedicates many presents to the temple of God at Jerusalem.

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, be magnifies the holiness of the temple, and the power
of God dwelling in it.

Antiochus Epiphanes succeeds Seleucus in the kingdom of Syria, and reign
eth 11 years, and some months.

Jason, by corrupting king Antiochus, obtaineth the office of high priest.
Menelaus, brother to Simon the traitor, being employed by Jason to carry the
money to the king, promiseth 300 talents of silver above what Jason had sens
and getteth the priesthood to himself.

Menelaus, not paying the money he had promised the king at his admission,
is summoned to appear before Antiochus ; he substituteth Lysimachus his brother
in his place.

Antiochus taketh Jerusalem, and sacking it, pillageth the temple, destroyetb
40,000 of the inhabitants, and selleth as many more. He endeavoureth also
abolish the worship of God, and forceth many Jews to forsake their religion
The Samaritans now disown their relation to the Jews, to whom in prosperity
they pretended alliance, and consecrate the temple on mount Gerizim to Jupiter.
Perseus, having made war upon the Romans, is this year overcome by them
and the kingdom of the Macedonians ends, when from Carauus it had stood
626 years. Nevertheless the relics of the Macedoniar empire, while that of the
Roman was rising, did yet survive in the Ptolemies of Egypt, and the kings of
Syria.

King Antiochus, by a public edict, commands all nations that are subject unto
him to observe the same way of divine worship, and laying aside their peculiar
customs, to profess the same religion with the Grecians; the punishment of
death being threatened unto such as shall be disobedient; and he appoints over
seers over every people and nation who shall compel them hereunto. Of the
Jews, many choose rather to undergo the most crue torments, than to offer sacri-
fice unto idols; all which martyrdes, with those glorious sufferings of the sev
en Maccabean brethren, are recorded in the two Books of Maccabees.

Mattathias, a priest, with his five sons, slay those that are sent by king Antio
chus to compel them to offer abominable sacrifices, and after betake themselves
to the desert. They are followed by many others, of whom a great number are
stifled in their caves, because they would not defend themselves on the sab-
beth-day. Mattathias abolisheth that superstition, and exhorts his sons to assert
their privileges, and deliver their country from bondage.

Mattathias dies, and Judas Maccabeas takes upon him the management of
this affair. He delivers his country, and purgeth it from the abominations
which had been committed in it.

Appollonius, governor of Samaria, having raised an army among the Gentiles
and Samaritans, falls upon the Jews; but is discomfited and slain by Judas
Maccabeus.

Seron also, governor of the lower Syria, musters up all the forces under his
command, and invades Judea; him Judas Maccabeus encounters, slays 800 of
his men on the place, and puts the rest to flight.

Judas Macerbeus defeats a great army, which Antiochus sent against the
Jews. Lysias returns with a greater power; Judas kills 5000 of his men, and
causeth him to retreat. He purifieth the temple, and setteth it in order, after it
had lain desolate three years; and buildeth a wall about Sion.

Antiochus is taken with a violent pain in his bowels, and such a rottennesa
seizeth his flesh, that worms breed in it; he confesseth that he is plagued for
the wrong done to Jerusalem, and dieth in the 149th year of the kingdoin of the

150.

148.

X. 21.

146.

145

144

149.

142.

139.

138.

Id. ibid.

1 Mac.

X. 49, 50.

Joseph.

ubi supra.

1 Mac.

X. 51.

Jos. c. 7.

1 Mac.

X. 75.

Jos. Ant.

I. 13. c. 8. 1 Mac. XI. Jos. loc. citat.

1 Mac. XI.

XI. 54. Jos. Ant.

L. 19. c 9.

1 Mac.

XI. 55.
XII.
Jos. Art.

I. 13. c.
8. c. 10.

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.

I. 13. c. 13.

I. 13. c. 12.

sets upon Jonathant; 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; Alatefully sets Ammonius to lie in anibush to kill him. The treachecovered, 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 Ptolemeus; but he refusersuadeth them to accept of Demetrius for their king.

Alexander returat army. Ptolemeus and Demetrius unite their forces, and overcopitched battle; but Ptolemeus dies of the wounds which he received 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 his soldiers by abridging their pay in time of peace.

Tryphon, with rs 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 are us conferred on Jonathan, who assists bim against Demetrius.

Jonathan renewce with the Romans and Lacedemonians, and forufies 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 h of his soldiers, promising to deliver that city into his hands. Jonatting no treachery, comes only with 1000 men to Tryphon at Ptoleas soon as he is entered the city Tryphon commands the gates & Jonathan is taken prisoner, and all his men put to the sword.

The Jews here choice 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 stately monument for nd 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

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 takes rtress of Jerusalem, drives out of the city all idolaters, clears the hor idols, and placeth in the city such as are true worshippers of Ge

Tryphon's vicen so odious to his soldiers, that they submit themselves to Cleopatras's relict. She marrieth Antiochus Socer, Demetrius's brother, anam to be crowned king. Antiochus drives Tryphon out of Syria, besie Dora, whence he flies to Apamea, where he is taken 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 he called Dochus, and there, whilst he entertains them at a banquet,y murders them. John Hircanus succeeds his father 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, succeeds in the government and the high priesthood: he was the first of an 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 widowot from the temple, but serveth God with fasting and prayer night a 84 years together, until such time as she sees Christ in the empl

Jerusalem & this by Pompey; who meddles not with any of the
treasure which wasple, but makes the Jews tributary to the Romans.

Here begin the er Roman Cesars, when Julius Cesar, having over-
throw Fompay at t)Pharsalia, was made perpetual dictator.
Herod, theson ofr Antipater, an Idumean, is this year by the Ro-
mans declard king

Herod, assted be Roman general, lays siege to Jerusalem, and
takes it; theoldierrners of the city with blood, rapine, and cruelty.
Bell. c. 13. Antigonus, princh priest, is by Sosius carried away prisoner to
Rome, and rod possession of the kingdom.

About thisme bylonian, descended from David, flourished at Je-
rusalem; on of whles was Jonathan, the son of Uzziel, the famous
author of Chadease.
4 V

ՏՐ

1, 14.

John I.

Josephus, callec, Valerius Gratus, the, Toward the end c in the place of Vale John the Baptist by preparing the after bira may be by he may know scending and rẻ Holy Ghost.

Jesus, entering u dan, and is baptized, made of the blessed Ti praving, the heavens are

descends upon him; and t This is my beloved Son, in wh

John sees it and bears recoru,

Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, re,

the wilderness, where he fasteth fort the devil.

After this our Lord returns into Galilee.

John gives testimony to our Saviour passing by

and Nathaniel, acknowledge him to be the Messias, and

Christ at a marriage in Cana of Galilce, turneth water into his first miracle.

The second passover of Christ's ministry, John v. 1. compared with iv. 3. t. from
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

VI, VII. JESUS conman 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 hian, because le said that God was his Father.

VI. 20. Mark VI. 7. Mat. X. 1. Mark VI. 35. Luke

IX. 12.

John VI.

1, 15.

Matth.
XVII. 1.
Mark
IX. 1.
Luke
IX. 28.
Matth.

XVII. 24.
Luke

IX. 51.
X. 1.

John XI.

1. Luke

33.

Christ out of the multitude of his disciples chooseth 12, whom he alleth 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 3000 men, besides women and children, with five barley loves 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.

JESUS is transfigured on the mount; Moses and Elias are seen to talk with

and a voice from heaven is heard a second time, saying, Thi is my beloved Son; bear him.

Christ payeth tribute to Cesar.

A certain village of the Samaritans refuseth our Saviour entertainne it in his way to Jerusalem: the disciples, desiring to call for fire from heaven to consume them, are severely reprehended.

The seventy disciples are sent out by two and two to work miracle, and to preach.

Christ teacheth his 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 Son of David. Coming near the city he John XII. weeps over it, and foretells its destruction. He enters the temple, and cisteli Isa. LII. out those that bought and suld there; and heals the blind and jame. Zech.IX.9. Math.